As usual the Songkran festivities last month went off with a blast, downtown Hua Hin was a throng of activity over the main wet day on the 13th. Fortunately for many though the water throwing only lasted one day in Hua Hin and life returned to normal on the Monday. A couple of the braver members took a stroll around town and caught some of the action on camera; the results are on the forum. The town has been busy last month but mainly with Thais from the big city enjoying a number of public holidays.

Although Hua Hin is definitely slowing down in terms of tourism the forums remain busy as ever with a lot of often heated debate on issues revolving around life in Thailand. Many of the topics discussed affect most expats living here, which is why they can frequently go on for several pages online. Both pros and cons of life in Hua Hin are examined by those that live here, those that want to and those that simply enjoy the destination as a holiday. Many quickly realize that the holiday romance with the place can rapidly give way to a more frustrating experience when living here full time. That said though it is still one of the best places in the region to be based, which is why foreigners continue to flock to Hua Hin.

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Well its that time again, the 7th annual Hua Hin jazz festival is almost upon us. As usual there is very little information or promotion for the event, they seem to like leaving it until the last minute which doesn’t help anyone planning a trip from overseas. What we have found out is that the dates will be the 13th and 14th of June and there is likely to be two stages again which will alleviate some of the overcrowding problems we had at last year’s jazz festival. The lineup is also similar to previous years with performances by Ibrahim Electric, Michael Blake, Malene Mortensen, Bill Bruford, and a number of Thai jazz bands. See you on the beach!

More photos from the 2007 Hua Hin Jazz Festival can be found at www.jazzfestivalhuahin.com

Firstly we would like to wish all of our members and readers a happy Songkran and hope you enjoy the festivities in April. The fun only lasts for one day in Hua Hin so make sure you’re prepared. Speaking of events we had a grand time at the kite festival and have the photos to prove it online. The attendance was good and there was a lot to take in with stunt kites, formation flying, balloons and some large airborne sea creatures!

The forums have attracted a lot of readers and new members in March with topics ranging from jellyfish on the beach to seasonal differences and as always the weather. If you don’t know by now this month and next will be scorchio! April to June is the hottest time of the year in Hua Hin.

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Managed to find it this year for the first time, as usual very little promotion in town and local media and I only heard about this annual international event the day before. The road out of town was very busy with confused drivers looking for the site of the kite festival which also wasn’t sign posted at all. It was held in the Rama IV camp around 15km north of Hua Hin where a wide open space played host to all manner of kites ranging from a huge octopuss, to pandas, Chinese dragons and parrots. There was also and impressive display of stunt kite flying and formation flying. The heat however was quite punishing and the only option of shade was a series of tents under which the locals huddled on the floor out of the searing tropical sun. The event is definitely worth a visit but like many held in and around Hua Hin it could do with better organization and promotion.

More images of the Hua Hin kite festival 2008 can be found in the Hua Hin photo gallery.

Another busy month all round on the forums as people login from across the globe to find out what is happening in Hua Hin. We had some interesting first impressions on Hua Hin from recent visitors and some varying angles on them from the old hands and expats. Hua Hin seems to be slowly becoming a more family orientated resort; evidence of this can be seen in high season as more families flock to the beaches of Hua Hin. The emergence of a number of luxury boutique hotels and resorts also appears to be changing the direction of the town and aiming at more affluent visitors. This can only be good news for Hua Hin and we hope the authorities will keep up with the pace.

Back to the forums again where a couple of readers had tough times getting visas in neighbouring countries such as Malaysia, we all hope that the new government won’t continue the trend of clamping down on visas but nobody is holding their breath. There has also been a lot of news discussion on the new iteration of TRT and how, if at all, they will be an improvement over the old government … only time will tell.

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I sometimes eat dinner at the restaurant at the corner of Naresdamri Road. In addition to providing a passable pizza, it was a pleasant place to take in the passing scene. Running past the Hilton and restaurants catering to tourists, Naresdamri Road is the main tourist drag and it is always bustling in the early evening as night falls and the sunbathers go looking for their evening meal. The restaurant has a thoroughly European ambiance with its red-checkered table cloths and chianti bottles on the wall. The only suggestion that one was in Thailand was the Thai staff. The restaurant was packed with patrons, virtually all of them European. It was the height of the tourist season.

As I watch from my perch at one of the restaurant’s outdoor tables, I can see dozens of European tourists ambling down Naresdamri Road. I listen to the voices trying to discern their nationalities - German, for the most part, but also some unfamiliar tongues. Danish？ Finnish? Most tourists in Hua Hin are from northern Europe. They are mostly middle-aged couples, the men wearing shorts and flowered shirts and sandals, the women in shorts and halter tops. Hua Hin tends to attract older visitors since it is quieter and more laid back than some of the flashier tourist spots such as Pattaya and Phuket.

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For many years getting a decent map for the Hua Hin area was an arduous task. Hannes at Pasta Factory has done about the best drawn maps and these can be found around town or online at HHAD - the rest of the mapping efforts have been very amateur and far from accurate. Keeping a map updated is a lot of work as the town is ever changing. Google Earth maps have never been usable as it was always low resolution for Hua Hin so no detail can be made out … until now! They recently upgraded the satellite imagery for the Hua Hin area with covers from the airport to just beyond Khao Takiab and about 15km west to the bypass. You can get to an elevation of 300 meters with a clear view of the town showing vehicles, buildings and all natural features. What would be grand though if there was an online version of this with all of Hua Hin’s accommodation, shops, services, property, attractions and golf courses accurately marked. Well its just arrived and can be found online at www.maphuahin.com

High season is in full swing both in downtown Hua Hin and on the forums. Many new members logged in to meet and greet the old hands and to find out about visiting and living in Hua Hin. Hot topics of the month included the ever present danger of traffic and driving on the roads in Hua Hin. The town has expanded at a phenomenal rate however the roads sadly haven’t. Nearly everyone who has driven in Hua Hin has at least one horror story about reckless driving and road accidents, we cannot stress it any further; stay safe, have eyes in the back of your head and drive sensible. The phrase “when in Rome” definitely does not apply to driving standards in Hua Hin if you want to stay alive!

Also on the subject of dangerous motorized menaces was a discussion on jetskis at the beach in Khao Takiab. These have really got out of control lately and are simply an accident waiting to happen, plenty of complaints were voiced on the board and we hope something will be done about them soon. There seems to be very little regard for swimmers by the people renting them and the people riding them.

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Firstly the staff and moderators at HHAD would like to wish all of our readers and sponsors a Happy New Year. We have many things planned for 2008 with the introduction of a number of new websites and online services. Our sales and marketing group at HuaHinMedia.com have reported that our readership for 2007 exceeded 500,000 making HHAD the best read website for the area.

Plenty of topics on the forum last month with the most popular discussions being about the current high season and events and activities over the holiday period. A number of bars and restaurants put on Christmas and New Years dinners, the most popular being Crawfords, Jungle Juice, Johnny Walkers and Coco 51. As usual local fine food purveyors Hua Hin Ham & Bacon Company were flat out supplying the expat population of Hua Hin and beyond with Turkeys and Hams for the festive day.

There was also a lot of discussion on the alcohol ban and the unfortunate situation in downtown Hua Hin where the farang bars were ordered to close and Thai venues seemed to remain exempt. A disappointing turn of events for tourists who have spent a year saving for a holiday to Hua Hin only to be told that bars will be shut over the Xmas weekend for an election that they cant vote in. Many places were sympathetic and continued to offer alcoholic beverages to tourists albeit disguised in a coffee cup though the majority in Hua Hin’s busy centre simply remained closed in fear of large fines from the local constabulary.

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On Wednesday 12th December 2007, the ‘Jazz train’ made its inaugural journey from Hua Hin to Baan Krut. The idea came from Khun Ray, the owner of ‘Ray’s Place’ bar & restaurant and a selection of musicians who jam in the restaurant on Monday evenings, for patrons’ enjoyment.

At about 11am, passengers started to congregate at Hua Hin Railway Station. We signed in with our tickets and received our name badges and information sheet. Then we waited for the train’s arrival. Many passengers found that their friends were fellow passengers, and the buzz of greeting and chatter mixed with the sound of music, being played live on the platform. Refreshments were already being served and some passengers eagerly partook of the cool beer or soft drinks, while waiting in the heat.

At about midday the train arrived and the 68 and a half (my little boy) passengers and the musicians and staff got onto the train in a surprisingly orderly fashion. One 3rd class car was reserved for us, and it was definitely a bit of a squeeze to get us all in. I found myself near the centre of the car & sitting with complete strangers, with my little boy perched on my lap. I admit to dreading the journey, fearing my legs would go to sleep before an hour was up.

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Thought I’d take a trip down to Dolphin Bay last weekend to catch up with an old friend and check out the place that I last visited 3 years ago.

The little town of Phu Noi is just on the outskirts of Sam Roi Yod national park and can be reached in about 45 minutes by car from Hua Hin. We stayed in a nice little suite with pool and all the trimmings, only a short stroll to the beach.

The serviced apartment can be rented daily or weekly [more details].

The beach and surrounding area is a haven for wildlife and is especially famous for migratory birds. From the accommodation was a view over marshlands and across to the peaks of Sam Roi Yod (which actually means 300 peaks). A great spot for those into their ornithology:

Sunset over SRY

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We are all deeply saddened this month at the loss of our good friend David Geoffrey Boycott or “Dr Dave” as he was known amongst us. David passed away early last month and was cremated in Hua Hin temple on the 14th or November. He was an integral part of HHAD running all of the sales and marketing and moderating the forums, he will be deeply missed by all of us here on the site and out sincere condolences go out to his family here and in the UK. As a reflection of the sad news the forum has had a quiet month although readership remained high as people logged on from across the globe to pay their respects to the great man. A gathering was held at Johnny Walkers bar last month to raise a drink to Dave and listen to some of his music.

Local news and discussion revolved around the opening of a new Makro store in Pranburi, the Japanese population in Hua Hin and more sad news with the closure of the Hua Hin Dog Rescue Center. There was also news of local events such as the Hua Hin Vintage Car Parade, Pranburi Triathlon, Jazz Train and a number of other local events and parties over the festive season. For those wanting to get out onto the ocean try the Buccaneer, a new pleasure boat operating from Hua Hin, they offer cruises, fishing trips and parties onboard.

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Last month saw the introduction of a couple of new sections on the Hua Hin forum, the first of which being a family and lifestyle section that offers a place to discuss family life, schools, children and household issues in Hua Hin. We also now have the “Entertainment Zone” where you can discuss books, movies and music. On the same subject there has been quite a bit of demand for some kind of book exchange here in Hua Hin, a couple of the bars and guesthouses have small book corners but it maybe time for something bigger.

More new accommodation options are cropping up as old houses are being converted into new boutique hotels, Naebkehardt Road has seen many of these new arrivals over the past year. The latest being Baan Talay Chine which offers luxury suites with private pools, finely decorated in oriental style. You can find more details and book it online now through HHAD.

There also seems to be demand for more recreational facilities in Hua Hin, especially for children. Public parks would be ideal but considering the inflated costs of land and the cost of construction they still remain a pipe dream. As mentioned last month there are now organized events and workshops for kids offering a range of activities from beach parties to art and crafts. Take a look at events.wt-thailand.com for more details.

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The race will be professionally managed by international race organizers and will take place on the beaches in front of the five-star Evason resort and backroads of Pranburi, a Thai fishing village on the east coast of Thailand, just south of Hua Hin.

The inaugural race will take place on Saturday 20th October 2007 and is planned to become an annual event and an essential fixture in the Asian triathlon calendar.

International professional athletes will compete with local triathletes in the Olympic distance elite race, while a sprint distance short course will be set to attract corporate racers and fun runners.

We have received permission from the Royal Palace, and are now happy to announce that the proceeds of this event will be donated to the Royal Project Foundation of His Majesty King Bhumibol.
Also, H.S.H Prince Bhisadej Rajani has confirmed his presence at the event on 20th October.

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At midnight, as I was shutting my kitchen door, I noticed a large frog by the door frame. It had flesh pink patches and looked sorry for itself. Unsure whether it had been squashed, I did not fancy picking it up with my hands, so used a pan and brush. I was careful and pushed it onto the pan. It was alive. I put it in the garden, on the grass then went indoors.

Call me soft but I began to think that if it had been in the house then it might be starved of water, so I filled a jug and went outside. It was were I had left it. When I poured the water over it it hopped away. Not huge leaps and not fast but it seemed to be okay. It had gone in the morning. At least I don’t have a chlorine swimming pool.

Why am I writing about frogs? Eighteen months ago when I moved into the house and after a huge rainstorm the noise from what must have been thousands of frogs woke me. I thought I had left a machine on and went to investigate until I realised. Since then several new houses have been built around me and the noise is far less. I assume the digging has driven the frogs away and it is something else that makes me sad, although I still hear a fair number, especially in my garden, after rains.

They are also a delicacy. Wander through the tracks around the village and the marsh at night, even on the main road, you will see people with miners’ hats on collecting frogs for supper.

I prefer a round of toast with blackcurrant jam myself.