Hua Hin’s expats and visitors were shocked last month by the brutal murder of British retiree Raymond Hind in what was later discovered to be a pre-meditated attack carried out and arranged by relations of his estranged Thai wife. The forum was the first place to break the news in English, word of which spread rapidly as messages of support and condolence for the family poured in from across the globe. Ray Hind was 68 years old and will be missed by many friends here in Hua Hin and his daughter and granddaughter back home in the UK. RIP Ray.
As shocking as they are, incidents such as this remain few and far between here in Hua Hin, especially when compared to what goes on across the pond in Pattaya. A glance at any local newspaper will reflect this however as Hua Hin continues to grow the bad elements are likely to increase along with the good.
On a brighter note Hua Hin enjoyed another influx of domestic tourism last month for the Cha-am Reggae Festival on July 31st which attracted revellers from Bangkok and beyond. This month the town plays host to hundreds of golfers who have made the annual pilgrimage to enjoy the Hua Hin Golf Festival. During the two month long event select courses are offering 800 baht green fees, which is a discount of up to 70% on some of them. Golfers will have the choice of playing at Royal Hua Hin, Springfield, Majestic Creek, Lakeview, Palm Hills, Milford (The Eagle as its now known), Kaeng Krachan or Sawang at this great rate for all of the month and into September.
The Hua Hin Regatta also takes place in August; it is a draw for sailing aficionados across the region as teams compete for the coveted King’s Royal Vega Rudder trophy for various classes. Down on the beach near the Sofitel was the best place to view the week long event which came to a conclusion on August 8th.
Discussion on the brand new Sea Pine military golf course in Khao Takiab continued as Hua Hin’s expat golfers eagerly await the opening of the areas first and only links-style golf course. It is unlikely to be open to the public for another couple of months and green fees are likely to be in the region of 1,000-1,500 baht. Check the forum for the latest news and updates.
Property questions started to trickle in following a two-year-long slump in the market; maybe they are an indication of renewed interest in Thailand’s real estate sector. Self builds and construction was among some of the topics discussed and the various pleasures and pitfalls of building your own home were laid out.
Two more computers were donated to the Mercy House children’s home in Pranburi as part of the C3HH project devised by forum moderators and members which recycles old computer components for rebuilding and donation to charities and good causes in the area. Another children’s home, this one in the Pala-U area, was also highlighted so if you’re feeling generous please take a look on the forum for more details of how you can help.
The ‘ask the expats’ section has not been short of bizarre requests recently, some of which included bilge pumps, scaffolding, upholstery cleaners, importing stereos, asbestos and the age old question of cost of living. If you need an answer quick you’ll get it on HHAD.