Even from an early age, Prince Bhumibol showed himself to be quite precocious and lively, with interests that ranged from sports, music, science and technology to carpentry and the arts. The bespectacled young prince displayed agility in various sports, including skiing, badminton and water sports.
But it was in the field of technology where Prince Bhumibol excelled, especially mechanics and electricity. When the Princess Mother inquired how her younger son was in the possession of a new toy, she discovered that it was a reward for fixing his nanny’s sewing machine. At the age of 10, he was able to build his own radio with metal coils he won at a school raffle, and a 10-franc investment to buy black ore to make a receiver for radio waves.
One of Prince Bhumibol’s childhood activities was to build a dam in a stream near their summer school on Les Pleiades mountain.
Music was another leisure activity for the young Mahidols. While Princess Galyani Vadhana played the piano, Prince Bhumibol started learning to play the accordion, but later switched to the saxophone when King Ananda opted out of a music lesson and pushed his brother into the room to take his place.