Hot topics this month on the Hua Hin forum were actually wet topics as there was plenty of discussion on the recent deluges we have had. Several tropical storms have caused heavy rainfall in the area and some flooding along Petchkasem Road and down town. The concern is that this is the beginning of the rainy season and we have another four months of it to look forward to!

The theme park saga raises its head again with reports in national newspapers of large expanses of land in Cha-am being earmarked for development. Plenty of discussion on this as the arguments for and against such a large development and impact on the local community are laid out. Another related topic is the future of Hua Hin and what it will be like in the year 2029 some have visions of a great Riviera of resorts and high rise condos stretching from Hua Hin to Cha-am, high speed monorails linking it to Bangkok and international air connections. Others see it as possibly going back to its old quiet fishing village origins following an economic and political collapse in the Kingdom. Either way change is inevitable and it made for an interesting discussion.

Accommodation hunters have another option as we welcome Putahracsa resort to our booking system, luxury villas are on offer here however they also have a fine restaurant and bar and welcome local expats. Accommodation will become scarce for the Hua Hin jazz festival weekend so get online and book early. The organizers finally unveiled the press release and official dates of 8^th and 9^th of June. It seems to be a smaller affair this year with only one main stage and two nights. Hope to see you there.

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Having just returned from Phuket I thought I would compare it to Hua Hin from a purely tourist point of view. I’ve broken the categories down for easier viewing and comparison:

Accommodation:
We stayed in a 3/4 star hotel with pool walking distance from Karon beach, the week spent there was booked on the internet at a rate of 1,500 baht per night. There are fewer options in Hua Hin with these facilities at this price but they can be found, accommodation options in general are better in Phuket but then the place is much bigger.

Admiring an Andaman sunset

Transport:
I drove myself and found that the roads in Phuket are much bigger, more organised and traffic seems to flow better without the bottlenecks and crazy makeshift police barricades that can be found in Hua Hin. That said there did seem to be a greater volume of traffic there, the likes of which Hua Hin only experiences on weekends. Hua Hin is far better for public transport and motorbike taxis, Phuket seems to be overrun with a taxi mafia with fixed inflated prices.

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Every year this huge market and fair comes to town, it occupies most of the length of Naebkehardt Road and lasts about a week. Most of the produce is OTOP stuff and includes clothing, toys, household appliances, furniture, ornaments, tools, electrical goods, plants, food, and media. There is also a large fairground for the kids and a number of attractions where you can win prizes. A big stage has been erected on the corner of soi 51 where local bands play. It is extremely popular and very busy so expect a long walk as you will not be able to park anywhere near it!

Little known to many there is a Kung Fu school in Hua Hin, its actually located in Khao Takiab and school is probably the wrong word to describe it. Most visitors to Thailand that already have an interest in martial arts want to get into Muay Thai because its the “thing to do”, they overlook more effective martial arts like the ancient Chinese system of Wing Tsun. WT is a self defense system that teaches self discipline and awareness along side speed and reflexes, its not all about fighting and can also be used as a method of relaxation through its forms or “Siu Nim Tao”. The camp offers group and individual courses with optional fitness programs so if you have an open mind and are interested in learning something new get yourself along there, more details can be found on their website: www.wt-thailand.com

For the first time in a few months I was out on two wheels this morning, and I don’t mean the motorised type. Hua Hin is a great place for bicycles if you get out of the centre of town where you’re likely to end up as roadkill. Take the canal road north and turn off any of the bridges on the left and pedal towards the hills. You will soon find yourself in open country side surrounded by plantations, fields, lakes and a housing estate or twelve. The roads here are quiet both from noise and traffic so you can take it at a leisurely pace and enjoy the scenery. The closer you get to the hills the more rural it becomes with cattle crossings, local kids playing in streams, rickety old houses and the occasional Buddhist shrine. The contrast between downtown Hua Hin and the surrounding country lanes just a few kilometers away is astounding, what a great way to spend the first couple of hours of the day!

Last week, I went on a mission. That was to find out some concise details about schools in Hua Hin for friends. All they wanted was contact telephone numbers and addresses. If I could find out more about certain English language curricula, so much the better. So, off I went.

First stop was the Tessabahn Tourist Office. They were really helpful, but couldn’t answer my questions. So, I was pointed in the direction of Hua Hin’s Education Department just up the road. Now, I’ve lived here for some time with my Thai wife and I never even knew the office existed.

Went into there very politely and was met with a barrage of questions and suspicions. “How did you find out where we are?” “The Tessabahn told me”.

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Following on from the post on behaviour on the beach I would like to add one about temples. These are places of worship so a bit of respect really is required from people visiting them. I was up at Wat Khao Takiab yesterday, it was busy as many people were making merit for Macha Bucha day. On seeing shirtless farangs wandering around the complex it was painfully obvious that this behaviour is unacceptable, however the benevolent Thais will not say anything about it. It took another farang to politely indicate that walking around a temple with no shirt on really is a bad idea. The culture guide on the website and similar ones in guide books should be read and adhered to for visiting Thailand.

Around this time of year (November to February) Hua Hin experiences some really high tides so if you enjoy a beach walk in the morning you could find it rapidly turning into a surf or swim! The photo below was taken looking north from the Wora Bura Resort in Khao Takiab … beach, what beach?

I’ve recently discovered some fantastic beaches and little spots further south of Hua Hin where you can have kilometers of golden sand to yourself. This place is called Bang Berd and is located around 25 minutes south of Bangsaphan (2 hours from Hua Hin), there is a small town to the northern end of the beach and the bit we found was accessible through a Royal compound so there was no chance of any of the development that is rapidly enveloping Hua Hin and its surrounds. The ocean was crystal clear and as warm as bath water, also nice and shallow and safe for the kids. The beach is totally unmanaged so the only drawback was the long line of trash, bottles, fishing castoffs and polystyrene marking where the high tide reaches and running the length of the beach - a good 20km. All of this had been cast off from local fishing boats which can be seen at night illuminating the horizon like shining emeralds. Its such a shame that there is little respect for the environment and ocean especially from people that make their living from it, it wont last forever!

Last week I found my self amidst a sea of screaming Thai’s for an event I admit I was slightly apprehensive about. I had heard mumblings of wild west style shootings and mass fights during a Carabow gathering. Nevertheless undaunted I purchased a shiny ticket, donned my cricket pads, crash helmet and safety glasses and ventured forth (actually I was about 300th). After the resident band entertained us with the usual mix of Deep Purple and CCR the great man entered the building. The buzz was immediately apparent as he walked through the room surrounded by some unusually large bodyguards. People were whooping and screaming, I have never seen so many camera phones held aloft in one place! I assumed they must have replaced the humble cigarette lighter that we used to wave during rock concerts?
I have to admit I thoroughly enjoyed the evening even though I didn’t understand a single word or uttering from the great man, I just cheered when everyone else did and took another slug from my bottle of red label. He started warbling at about 23:30 and played until 02:00, albeit with some strange Carabow lookalike strumming in the middle of his set? The standard of musicianship was as good as any band I’ve heard, tight and together with some good harmony’s. Eventually I emerged outside within a sea of Thai’s all swaying from the effects of an evening quaffing copious amounts of hard liquor and having a good time. I would certainly go again, Fantastic!

One of my favourite spots around Hua Hin has finally lost the battle with the development of a new housing complex right on the beach. Turtle Hill Residence will turn a quiet little bay with one of the best beaches for miles into a suburban nightmare. The construction alone will have a vast impact on the surrounding area which up until quite recently was completely natural. That said, half the beach still remains so if you get the chance get down there while it still lasts, the sea is clear and deep, ideal for swimming and there are still a couple of good local restaurants on the beach - who knows when they will be replaced by a Seven-11 to service the new inhabitants of “Turtle Hill”.

I’ve been living here in HH for almost 9 years. I’m still relatively young - 48 yrs old. I’ve travelled a bit and in every country I’ve been to the visitors have generally treated the country they visit with a measure of respect.

So, why, oh why, do I walk the beach this morning and see western ladies going into the sea topless? Don’t these people understand anything about Thai culture? I think not.

It’s a real eye opener when you can understand a little bit of the language and hear the comments that are made about these topless wonders, by the Thais.

It certainly made me cringe. The Thais have no respect for them and the culprits didn’t even notice. Then again, they probably didn’t give a damn. “It’s what I do back home in the summer, so I’ll do it here”, without any consideration for the locals.

As for me - well I’m happily married to a Thai lady and I bet she wouldn’t expose herself to all and sundry anywhere, anytime. Despite Thailand’s reputation for raunchiness, it’s actually nothing like that - except in certain areas that can be found all over the world, even on your own doorstep back home.

So, that’s a bit of a rant to start off with, but it does grate on me when the locals are offended. If you only knew what they were saying about you, topless ladies!!

Hua Hin town center contains a labyrinth of tiny streets all taking you somewhere interesting, a place to relax and have a coffee or a restaurant you haven’t yet tried, all you have to do is just turn off the main roads and explore. The locals are very friendly and will always smile if you approach them politely. Take the kids with you and see how many spirit houses they can count on the way round. Tip - don’t forget to look up. Believe me there are a lot….!
If your a budding snapper the photographic opportunities are endless so don’t forget that camera. Remember just don’t stick to the main streets there are some fascinating sights out there to savour, Enjoy….

The English translates to Flintstone Hill probably because thats what its made of. This is a great little place that doesn’t get many visitors which is probably a good thing! Only a couple of kilometers west of the city it provides a number of good viewing points to take it all in. Best times to visit are early morning and dusk where you’ll often come across a number of people far fitter than I who have cycled or run up it. There are landscaped gardens, some kind of butterfly park that never seems to be open, resident peacocks and other wildlife and the odd statue. I like the serene ambiance up there, no traffic noise … bliss!