We will always cherish the time we spent at Mandarin Oriental Bangkok Hotel and there is no mystery why. It is no secret that we love heritage hotels and Mandarin Oriental Bangkok is a fine example of such. This hotel is one of the best hotels in the world and we can only confirm this. For those who missed our first article here is a link to it, otherwise please continue with our Hotel Oriental Bangkok History Part 2.
Fresh Wind: 1893 – 1919
In 1893, Siam was a buffer state among two strong enemy countries – British Burma and French Indochina. Siam was surprisingly strong enough to maintain ‘independence’. Even Siam’s first railway was opened without any help from France or Britain. In the same year difficulties between France and Siam reached their climax. It started with the ‘Paknam Incident’.
Three French ships were fired by Siamese and as a result, France blockaded Bangkok. French warships anchored directly in front of the French Embassy and the Oriental Hotel. The King of Siam diplomatically solved this situation, but the price was high. There was a huge payment and the cession of a certain territory. Three years later after the Anglo-French Declaration of London was signed, King Chulalongkorn did a European diplomatic tour. His nine-month tour was successful and Siam was well accepted among leading countries of that time.
Collapse and Women Empower
For quite some time the hotel was working fine and it was known as a high social hub. However, in 1899, Hurst decided to sell his interests in the Oriental Hotel to a syndicate of a Mr. W Downie. During the following three years the Oriental underwent further expansions and improvements. These times were also very turbulent for the hotel.
In 1903, the hotel was taken over by F S Robertson, but not for long. Just a few months later he had to leave town in a hurry, due to his debts. The hotel was closed down temporarily for two years when it was established back by Mr. Carl G Edwards, an American. Management was proposed to Mme M O Bujault. She engaged Viennese orchestra, revived the tradition of musical dinners, and employed a new French chef – Monsieur Brier. From this time on the cuisine in Oriental Hotel was at exquisite level.
Maria Marie
Successful years of Madame M O Bujault lasted only till 1910. She was the first women manager of The Oriental, but certainly not last. Her successor was Maria Marie, who became a legend in her own right. The hotel was in its ‘golden era’, with its patron – Peter Carl Fabergé. He is a well-known jeweler known for the precious Fabergé egg. At Oriental Hotel he did a few successful exhibitions where he caught the eye of the new King Vajiravudh – Rama VI, who became his valued customer.
The Oriental Hotel became a famous center not only for travelers but also for diplomats and businessmen. It even became the seat of a diplomatic mission. In 1913, the Imperial & Royal Austro-Hungarian Legation in the Kingdom of Siam established a chancery at the hotel. Good relationships lasted only one year. World War I started and even here far away from action one could still feel it. Naturally, the effects weren’t so disastrous but the egos of Austrian diplomats were hurt when they weren’t invited to a French garden party. Nevertheless, The Great War left a huge crisis all over the world. Luxury travels were out of business and a hotel like The Oriental was affected.
You Might Also Like
1920 – 1940
The hotel was badly affected by the global economic crisis. In 1920, M Henri Cucherousset, correspondent of the Hanoi journal L ‘Evil Economique de l’Indochie came to Bangkok. He did an article about the Oriental Hotel, which wasn’t in its best form. He deplored its lack of ‘a drawing-room for ladies’ and a ‘proper bathing accommodations’. Worst of all he critiqued its generally rundown appearance. Henri Cucherousset had dared to attack a national institution. The response of the public can be described as frantic. The answer to this was a new firm raised capital of 60,000 Baht. The idea was Maria Marie’s, who became one of the shareholders and was appointed a managing director.
Renovations went amazingly well, and the Oriental Hotel was once again admired and praised. In the city, new hotels opened and started to compete with the Oriental Hotel. Even so, guests mostly stayed in the Oriental Hotel, they recognized it as much more than only luxury accommodation. After all, this was the oldest hotel in Bangkok with a rich historical background and Royal appearance. After the renovation, Daniel C Sweeney, a seasoned illustrator, arrived. He drew posters for leading Asian hotels. Among them are also the Grand Hotel Metropole in Hanoi and the Continental Palace in Saigon. His work for the Oriental Hotel is considered one of his finest pieces of art.
The Connections
Siam offered four aerodromes, in 1924. However, plains in that time were rare and mostly used by the military. Later in the 1930s, it was more common to travel by plane. At that time the travel from London to Bangkok lasted nine days and it wasn’t considered as safe travel. After all, first air hostesses were trained nurses. The first group of aerial travelers landed at Don Muang airport in 1931. Among them were also Oriental’s first air-borne guests.
The train connections became much more expanded as well. You could easily visit most of the Siam’s parts. Wealthy citizens of Bangkok traveled to Huan Hin, where it was the legendary Railway Hotel and only 5 minutes away, the brand new Royal Golf Club. This Club is the first golf course of international standards in Siam. It had been completed in 1924 and carved on over 240 acres of natural terrain. The course was designed by Arthur O Robins, who was a Scottish railroad engineer.
A keen golfer at that time was also Oriental’s manager Maria Marie. She was the Siamese woman champion for a few years in a row. In 1928 she got divorced and married Arthur O Robins in London in 1932. After 22 years of managing the hotel, Maria decided to retire. Her son was planned as her predecessor, but after his wife’s death, the plans changed. After her son couldn’t take over, so she put a couple, Lt Col and Mrs. Sylow, in charge.
Political Instability
On 24 June 1932, occurred the most important political change of that period. The country’s educated ruling class, calling themselves as the People’s Party, staged a bloodless coup which finally brought to an end Siam’s days as an absolute monarchy. King Prajadhipok signed the nation’s first constitution in December that same year. Nationalism in the Kingdom was growing, the same as a friendship with Japan. In 1939, Siam’s name was officially changed to Thailand.
At the beginning of World War 2, the Marie-Robins’ family received news that the manager of the Oriental Hotel had been killed in a car accident. Maria and Arthur went to Bangkok and were lucky to be able to formally transfer the hotel’s lease and sell all equipment and stocks. As British subjects, after the Thai declaration of war against Britain, they were taken to a camp in the Jungle. Later they managed to escape that camp and return to Britain.
After WW2
The second Great War was at the doors. Japanese troops began to blockade French Indochina. Thailand signed a treaty of friendship with the Empire of the Rising Sun and officially joined the axis side. Japanese armed forces requisitioned the Oriental Hotel. The average occupancy was 25 guests per night. In February 1942, the Japanese International Tourism Bureau requested that the Imperial, the most prestigious hotel in Tokyo, take over the management at Oriental Hotel. American forces regained their power in the Pacific and it became clear that American forces were heading for Okinawa and eventually for the Japanese mainland. On 14 December 1944, American aircraft bombed Rama VI Bridge across the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok. After the war, the hotel was requisitioned by the American armed forces. Unsurprisingly the interior was already in a bad shape at that time.
Correspondents and journalists used to sit on the terrace, sipping cold drinks and swapping the stories. Among them was also famous Colonel Jim Thompson.
Jim Thompson and Oriental Hotel
Jim Thompson was a close friend of Germaine Krull, a famous photographer. She reported the return of King Ananda Mahidol from his studies in Switzerland, took portraits of Jean Cocteau, Andre Malraux, and Einstein, she took photographs of de Gaulle and Churchill during the liberation of Paris. Jim one day proposed to Germaine a partnership and idea of taking over the Oriental Hotel.
Krull decided to team up with the Thompson for the sake of the hotel’s revival. Their partners were General Chai Prateepasen, HRH Prince Bhanu, Mr. Pote Sarasin, and Mr. John Wester. On 9 May 1947, the Bangkok newspaper Liberty reported about Madam Germaine Krull as a manager of the Oriental Hotel. Madam Krull was busy restoring life to this remarkable institution. There was a lot of work needed to revive this “Old Lady”. Just a few weeks after she had taken over, Madam Krull opened a Bamboo Bar. Bamboo Bar became Bangkok’s most fashionable hangout. The menu in the Bamboo Bar was quite simple, but for that time very “advanced”. American sandwiches, hot dogs, hamburgers, and fried chickens were filling the guests, while live music established a nice atmosphere.
Thai Silk
Krull and Thompson didn’t agree over various things, one of them was architectural change and the reconstruction of a new wing. Thompson bailed out and sold his shares. Later he established his own silk company, which made Thai silk famous and brought him fame and wealth. To be honest, the Tower wing (the new wing, today is known as a Garden wing) is designed well. As we know Jim Thompson had a great taste for design and décor!
Conclusion
I hope you enjoyed our Oriental Bangkok History part 2 article. As you can see today Mandarin Oriental Bangkok Hotel is full of heritage. After all, it is one of the oldest hotels in the world. And not only that, one of the best as well. Next time we will check the modern history of this heritage hotel.
Main Source for Oriental Bangkok History is Andreas Augustin – The Most Famous Hotels in The World – The Oriental
[1] Andreas Augustin – The Most Famous Hotels in The World – The Oriental, page 35.
[2] Andreas Augustin – The Most Famous Hotels in The World – The Oriental, page 77.
[3] Andreas Augustin – The Most Famous Hotels in The World – The Oriental, page 57.
[4] Andreas Augustin – The Most Famous Hotels in The World – The Oriental, page 78.
[5] Andreas Augustin – The Most Famous Hotels in The World – The Oriental, page 58.
[6] Andreas Augustin – The Most Famous Hotels in The World – The Oriental, page 67.
[7] Andreas Augustin – The Most Famous Hotels in The World – The Oriental, page 64.
[8] Andreas Augustin – The Most Famous Hotels in The World – The Oriental, page 78.
[9] Andreas Augustin – The Most Famous Hotels in The World – The Oriental, page 78.
[10] Andreas Augustin – The Most Famous Hotels in The World – The Oriental, page 100.
[11] Andreas Augustin – The Most Famous Hotels in The World – The Oriental, page 78.
[12] Andreas Augustin – The Most Famous Hotels in The World – The Oriental, page 78.
[13] Andreas Augustin – The Most Famous Hotels in The World – The Oriental, page 88.
You might also like
