Following an expected lull over the holiday period the forums have burst into life again with more stories, experiences and information requests from Hua Hin’s visitors and residents. HHAD posted its annual readership stats which showed an increase on the previous year despite 2009 being a very slow one for businesses in Hua Hin. Current monthly readership is now over 58,000 and rising.

Photos of Hua Hin, specifically historical and old ones, were discussed as a few long term residents shared their images. The difference between the town now and say 15 years ago is astonishing, for one you could actually walk across Petchkasem road without risking death! The one time sleepy fishing village has been transformed into a modern metropolis in no time, much of which can be attributed to the 2007-8 property boom. Even in today’s tough times new resorts are springing up such as the Intercontinental, Best Western and a number of new properties in Khao Takiab. Hua Hin’s boom is not over yet, it has just taken a nap for a year or so.

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Sofitel Centara Grand Resort & Spa, on behalf of Hua Hin Hotelier’s Club, has cooperated with the Vintage Car Club of Thailand, the Tourism Authority of Thailand, and Hua Hin City Municipality to hold the annual Hua Hin Vintage Car Parade on December 18-20, 2009.

A 50 classic car procession will be on the move from Sofitel Centara Grand Bangkok on Friday morning (18th) and will drive by King Rama II Park in Samut Songkram before lunch in Phetchaburi. The parade will arrive in Hua Hin for the official ceremony in the evening.

The rally will be on the move around Hua Hin throughout the Saturday (19th) and will be based at the Sofitel. More information on the event and images can be found here: [Hua Hin Vintage Car Parade 2009].

Bikers from all over Thailand will roar into Hua Hin this weekend for the annual Hua Hin bike week (which is actually only two days). The event is held at 48 rai on the canal road and features live music, tattoo contests, bike shows, miss Hua Hin bike week, and a number of market stalls selling biking products and the regular event fayre. The gathering starts on Friday the 4th at 4pm until midnight and the main event will be on the Saturday where riders convene at the Rama 6 army camp to spell out “Long Live The King” with their bikes to honour His Majesty’s birthday. Having a bike is not mandatory but an interest in them helps as there will be plenty of mean machines there. Updates and photos will be on the forum as usual.

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An annual meet up for HHAD forum members was announced this week. These informal gatherings provide a great opportunity to put names to faces and meet new people in the area. Previous years have seen events and parties on local beaches and in local bars and restaurants, this year it will be held at the Hua Hin Fishing Lodge, just 10km west of town center. Saturday December 12 has been the democratically elected date most convenient for the majority. Families are also welcome to the afternoon gathering which will consist of a good ‘chin-wag’ and a couple of cold brews with fishing optional. All are welcome so see you there.

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We are sad to announce the loss of a good friend and long-time forum member this week. Chris Brown passed away in the evening of Friday October 30 in a hospital in Prachuab following long term illnesses. Chris, known as ‘Guess’ on the boards, befriended many Hua Hin expats during his time here running the Sugar Cane bar, many would visit the bar just to have a chat with the man that has been referred to as a ‘font of knowledge’. He moved to Bangsaphan last year to settle down a little following persistent illness but remained active on the forum where he became known for his dry sense of humour. Chris will be missed by many, rest in peace friend.

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The high speed Hua Hin to Pattaya ferry service got a news update as many suspected that the project, like others before it, had fallen by the wayside. Permits and licenses to operate the service have been granted however the Swedish company that owns the project will not start it until they are 100% happy with the vessel. Public safety is their highest concern so they are modifying the ferry so that it complies with their high standards. Be sure to check the forum for more updates and news.

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This week has been one of mayhem on the roads as the security clampdowns for the ASEAN meeting begun in earnest on Monday. Those resident in Hua Hin who have registered their vehicle with the military and got the green sticker will just get waved through the multiple check points fringing the town so their only gripe will be the extended times it will take to get anywhere on the roads. Nothing different to any long weekend in Hua Hin really – just more traffic cones!

The whole registration and processing system was quite efficient so there is really no excuse for anyone permanently residing here not to have their little green security clearance. The military seem to have more of an air of approachability about them and often flash the occasional smile, maybe they don’t see many farangs. The police on the other hand also have a smile but it’s because they know they’re about to get a little tea money from you!

Petchkasem Road is now a long strip of orange with four confusing lanes and fewer opportunities to turn on or off it – that will definitely be one to avoid this weekend unless you wish to spend most of it staring at the car in front! It sounds the perfect opportunity to get out of Hua Hin, drive down the coast and find a secluded beach to chill out on.

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The big news of the week has been the railway accident in Khao Tao which appeared on the forum within a couple of hours of it happening. As foreign and local news organisations scrambled for the story the grim details began to emerge and messages of condolence hit the board. These incidents are quite rare in Thailand which is a surprise considering the number of dangerous crossings and the antiquated rail system that runs throughout the country. Many railway crossings in Hua Hin, such as the one on soi 94, have been the scenes of accidents as they have no barrier and are very poorly signposted.

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In the run up to the ASEAN conference on October 23-25 a number of security precautions are being taken by the local authorities in Hua Hin. One of them is the registration of all Hua Hin residents and their vehicles for a sticker allowing them to travel in and out of the city limits during the meeting. This implies that security will be heavy handed with road closures, check points and parking restrictions – the authorities obviously do not want a repeat of the circus caused by the red shirted mob at the last conference in Pattaya. The sensible thing to do for this weekend (and the week running up to it) would be to leave Hua Hin completely.

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The bars of the block received some attention this week as readers posted their raves and rants on Hua Hin’s nocturnal establishments. The bar scene has mushroomed over the years and what once was a sleepy town with two or three watering holes now has hundreds of them. A common complaint about some bars in the binta-block area is bill padding whereby additional items mysteriously appear when it is time to check bin. This does occur from time to time, occasionally intentional and often accidental; furthermore customers often get confused especially after consuming 12 Changs. The bars in town change hands so frequently that a good bar this year could be a bad one next and due to astronomical rents a lot of bars are now popping up out of town as Hua Hin’s urban sprawl spreads further afield.

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There have been a lot of questions for the expats this week as people turn to the forum in search of answers to some often quite bizarre requests. Many are simply asking where to by certain items however those items occasionally raise a few eyebrows. Starting with the sensible stuff the list has recently included distilled water, maids, aerial photography, grass seed, bedding, wood carving and pest control. Moving on to the realms of the strange we get TDS (total dissolved solids) meters, pith helmets and boomerangs. The mind boggles … maybe Hua Hin’s expats are getting bored with beaches and golf!

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An interesting discussion was started on our perceived and actual status in Thailand and whether we consider ourselves tourists or residents here. Income is probably the major factor as many still rely on incomes from overseas and are heavily affected by exchange rates; others work in Thailand and get paid in baht. The bottom line, as aptly posted by one observant reader, is that most other countries allow you to take part and become integrated with society if you move there and make the effort. You can achieve a status close to its nationals with relative ease (depending on the country), get loans, credit cards, buy property, apply for citizenship, and even vote in some instances.

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With the dramatic increase in burglaries in and around Hua Hin there have been a few topics on home security devices and techniques. Many have opted for those unsightly but effective grills around the windows and doors to act as a deterrent. Other options ranged from motion sensors and alarm systems, lighting that operates on a timer or light sensitivity switch and the old favourite; a big snarling dog. Some of the more extreme suggestions and questions involved electric fences, razor wire and firearms – and yes, they were serious. It does make you wonder if things have really got that bad in Hua Hin and it should be renamed ‘Hinchester’, or whether people are generally more paranoid in the current economic climate.

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Another wave of house break-ins has been hitting Hua Hin residents as many share their experiences on the board. Certain areas have been named and the problems remain the same, namely sleeping security guards, ineffective police, and more opportunists looking for a quick and easy buck by targeting farang housing developments. An alarm is a good deterrent though a determined thief will soon get around one if they want to. A good business opportunity for someone would be to setup a security company that patrols these areas after dark, a job that the police should really be doing but we know how that works here.

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Hua Hin’s annual Golf Festival is now underway and golfers can enjoy a round for 800 baht at most of Hua Hin’s major golf courses. There are a couple that won’t play ball, namely Black Mountain that still wants 1,500 and Banyan that forces you to take a cart at an additional 650. The rest including Royal Hua Hin, Majestic Creek, Palm Hills, Springfield and Lakeview are offering the discount. A topic has been started for readers to share their Hua Hin Golf Fesitval stories and and questions about the event.

Local restaurants received both praise and criticism as diners shared their experiences on the forum. A couple of anonymous members claimed that anonymity on the internet was unfair on local businesses however we feel differently. Not many publications let people discuss both the good and the bad aspects of dining out, and everyone is welcome to get online and have their say. The internet should be used as a guide, there is no substitute for visiting a venue yourself and getting first hand experience, naturally some will be better than others.

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