subject: Swiss Sheep Farm Latest Hua Hin-cha-am Roadside Attraction [print this page] The Hua Hin-Cha-am area seems to be adding a new attraction almost every month to entice visitors down to their lovely province by the sea. In the wake of two floating markets and the dazzling Santorini Park, visitors can now stop a half a kilometer before the fork to Cha-am at the exotic and curious Swiss Sheep Farm.
Newly opened, the farm is a hodge-podge of Western icons, like something you might find along Route 66 in the southwestern US. An old Dodge site passively on the grounds in the shadow of a Dutch windmill. A bright red English phone booth tempts one to enter and call the culture police.
And of course the star attraction is the sheep in the sheep-fold, which is something of a petting zoo for kids human ones who may never seen fuzzy animals besides a cat. Families and young couples can be found here amusing themselves with these friendly animals that seem to enjoy being petted, posed, and cradled by giggling visitors.
The Swiss Sheep Farm is located on a 20-rai plot in the bucolic countryside a few hours south of Bangkok. It makes a pleasant stop for students, couples, and families who wish to get right in there amongst the cuddly sheep, feed them some grass, or offer a bottle of milk to a little lamb.
Its a great place to stretch ones legs and take some deep breaths of country air after escaping the bustling, booming capital. Thais will particularly love the cute settings for photo ops or perhaps shooting a YouTube video; Westerners will rather wonder whats going on here, while being pleasantly amused all the same.
The sheep farm is a diverting rest stop before heading on to your hotel, hitting the beach, or maybe doing some shopping and sight-seeing in Cha-am or Hua Hin. There is a restaurant to have a bite and use the facilities, and even a few rides for the kids.
Although there are no lectures on sheep farming or educational speeches for the visitors yet, parents will have fun trying to explain the significance of the Western cultural artifacts sprinkled about the place. Its a most curious place indeed and all in good fun.
The sure-to-be-popular Swiss Sheep Farm is located on the left side of Phetkasem Road (Highway #4) at kilometer 201 when coming from Bangkok, just before the PTT station and not far from the fork in the road mentioned above; going straight leads you on to the bypass to Pranburi.
The farm is open 10 am to 7 pm daily, with adults being charged 50 Baht and children 30 Baht to enter. For more information and further details, visit their website at www.swisssheepfarm.com.
