Internet woes are affecting Maxnet users in Hua Hin as the provider seems plagued with constant problems. Repetitive page refreshing, inconsistent connections, and email server problems are common and the blame is usually put on the user, not the supplier. Funny that, as it seems a whole bunch of users have the same problem – must be a faulty batch of routers! DNS server problems, whereby the internet provider has trouble resolving web addresses, are very common with Maxnet so a number of solutions have been posted as it looks like assistance from TT&T will be a long time coming.

A scam uncovered at Bangkok airport made the international news and caused quite a stir this week. A British couple were accused of theft from a duty free shop, it works whereby the shop assistant slips an extra item into the bag which is not on the receipt then informs the police who demand outrageous bribes and threaten with jail time. In these hard times everyone is suffering but to bite the hand that feeds you and cause further damage to Thailand’s declining tourism industry is just sheer lunacy. Maybe it’s all part of the strive for “self sufficiency”!

Crime on housing developments is on the rise again, not surprising really as packs of low-paid labourers from up-country are easily eyeing an increasing number of unoccupied properties around Hua Hin. The boys in brown doing anything about break-ins or catching any crooks is about as likely as Michael Jackson making a comeback. The trend would be good news for anybody thinking of setting up a professional security company to replace the lay-about guards that are probably tipping off the thieves for a cut of the loot! Cynical? Not us!

A lack of seating at the park stage meant bums on cold concrete and a general shortage of good food stalls at the Park and along Damnoen Kasem Road was quite bizarre considering the enthusiasm for food in Thailand. The music, as always, made up for these minor shortfalls with top performances from Shakatak and Koh Saxman. We did miss our favourites Prode and T-Bone though and hope they’ll return next year. Photos from the event can be found on the forum and at www.jazzfestivalhuahin.com.

A new online photo gallery for Hua Hin has also been launched; it offers images from around town, the general area, Hua Hin events and other locations in Thailand. Readers are welcome to submit their own images to the gallery which will, over time, grow into an impressive pictorial resource. Check it out online at www.huahinpictures.com.

Schooling in Hua Hin always generates a heated debate from parents and teachers alike. The two main schools in town, Somtawin and Yamsaard, are constantly being compared, neither is at true international standard but they are the only choice for Hua Hin resident parents. Many parents cannot justify the hefty fees for kindergarten that these two are charging and home schooling options have been discussed.

There has also been a lot of discussion on teaching styles, school politics, and curriculums with the general consensus being that Hua Hin is in dire need of a professionally managed international school. Education in Thailand is unlikely to improve soon as political bickering seems to take precedence so parents are constantly seeking the best options for their children. The downside is that it costs a fortune.

A topic on budget eateries generated a healthy response as many expats are seeking alternatives to the high priced tourist restaurants in the center of town. The good news is that there are hundreds of them just outside of the metropolis, the best spots being along the canal road, further north and south on Petchkasem, Sois 88 and 94, and along the railway road. It’s true; you can get a good feed for two and a couple of beers for less than a grand!

Naturally the discussion evolved into one on long term options which are also becoming rather limited for those under 50 without an overseas income, it appears that if you are old and wealthy you’re welcome. Getting a work permit is no longer that easy in the current economic environment as many companies can’t afford the expense or deal with the ever increasing bureaucracy of hiring a foreigner.

The majority of expats and long term residents are generally pessimistic about the trend of clampdowns and increase in requirements that have been imposed on them over the past 8 years. While its neighbours are waking up and slowly opening up Thailand seems to be closing the door on everyone in its myopic strive for a “better class of farang”.

More talk on 24 hour reporting often imposed by local immigration caused a stir. As always there is absolutely no consistency with some people getting fined and others not and nothing ever being written or offered as a way of guidance. You just have to take your chances.

On the brighter side of things a few HHAD members donated old computer parts that were cobbled together to build a working system which was then delivered to Pranburi for the Mercy House Orphanage. The project was developed to re-use old e-waste and provide no cost computers for needy organisations in and around Hua Hin. With the first one already out of the door they are working on the next so if you have any spare working computer parts or peripherals and want to make a difference get online and find out how.

The drop point for any donations for the orphanage is the Hua Hin Ham & Bacon shop on soi 41. The tech heads will make collections and start building, latest updates will be posted on the forum.

Plenty of questions were raised on the Hua Hin property market which seems to have died a death (or gone into serious hibernation). The majority of houses populating Hua Hin’s rapidly expanding suburbia are for sale but the prices seem to be artificially elevated so nothing is moving. This leads one to the thought that people that have purchased don’t really need to sell and are just trying to make a buck, there are very few ‘bargains’ or ‘fire sales’ in Hua Hin.

The government recently added to the misery of those that enjoy a tipple now and then by increasing taxation on alcohol by up to ten percent. Since most of the population is known for its tendency to crack open a cold one on a hot afternoon the price hike will no doubt affect all but the ardent teetotalers out there.

The bickering in the property section continued and the moderators had their work cut out as the usual trouble makers engaged in another round of digital mud-slinging. There will always be a number of distinct groups when it comes to real estate in Thailand, those that think everything is rosy and it is perfectly safe to invest here (these are usually involved in the industry in some way), those that would prefer to rent than put money into something they can never legally own and those that have been burnt already and are out for some kind of justice.

The advise that has always been given when dealing with real estate in Hua Hin is to use a competent lawyer, preferable a Bangkok one as Hua Hin’s legal ‘professionals’ are often involved in the property industry anyway. Another solid suggestion is to never invest more than you can afford to lose because, as we all know by now, you can’t own it anyway!

An interesting trip report was posted on visiting the Philippines and how it compares to Thailand. There was little to separate the two as tourist destinations though the Philippines did have the upper hand on costs (it worked out to be around 30% cheaper), communications (everyone speaks English), nightlife and cultural barriers whereas Thailand came up better for cuisine, transport infrastructure and crime/safety.

The visa situation is very similar between the two countries however there are less bureaucratic restrictions over there whereas Thailand seems to be continually clamping down on the requirements for long-term resident foreigners. The full report, lots of comments, and many photos can be found on the forum.

Hua Hin is expected to be jam packed over the festival weekend so it pays to book your accommodation early to avoid disappointment. Previous years have seen overcrowding problems as an incoming tide reduces the beach venue size; this year will be much better as the organisers have reverted back to a two stage event. The main stage is likely to be on the beach at the Sofitel with the second ‘Jazz Royale’ stage at the red cross park just down from Hua Hin railway station. For more information, lineups, schedules and images check out www.jazzfestivalhuahin.com and for discussion on the event take a look at the Hua Hin forum: Hua Hin Jazz Festival 2009.

Takiab beach the following day looked like the Lebanon and the sad fact is that a lot of the plastic discarded by revellers the night before will end up washed out to sea. Thai fishermen are bad enough with their polystyrene contributions to marine habitats, and teenagers with plastic bottles just compound a problem that nobody seems to care about.

One thing that can be said is that it doesn’t seem like the Thai youth are suffering too much from the global financial slowdown, some of the cars they were driving were worth more than most people’s houses.

Hua Hin in general doesn’t seem to be that affected on the surface but then the town is unique; a large number of local Thai business people, property owners and old time Hua-Hinians are affluent enough to ride out any financial storm anyway. It has always been the town for the elite and the aspiring.

Just look at the boutique hotels that are popping up along Naebkehardt road like mushrooms after the rain. With fewer tourists than ever before many of these places are perpetually empty, aside from the odd long weekend when the wide boulevard-like road is lined with Benzes bearing Bangkok plates. The owners don’t seem to mind though; it’s just something else to spend money on.

The property pot started to bubble again as articles from the UK media stated that buyers have lost money following investments into property around Black Mountain Golf Course. The cause, they claim, is Joe Cole who endorsed a condominium complex and encouraged people to invest. Well good ol’ Joe got his pad for free and the company responsible for the development has now gone bust according to the Mirror tabloid.

Not sure what is more astounding, the premise that people will buy into something they can’t fully own in a foreign country they have never been to without seeing the finished product just because the pictures looked pretty on the website or that they’ll buy it because a football player has one.

Caveat emptor is a phrase we often hear when dealing with real estate in Thailand - it should be written in bold and capitals when referring to real estate in Hua Hin.

Live music, thumping speakers and raucous fairgrounds are a great attraction to anyone that doesn’t live within a 2 kilometer radius of the event but for those that live and operate businesses down Naebkehardt road it has been a week of misery.

Local residents have raised petitions signed by over 700 people requesting that the fair is moved to a more suitable location such as the 19 rai park, just a couple of kilometers north. The park often holds similar such events including the Hua Hin Food Festival and Loy Krathong celebrations. The petition fell on deaf ears … it seems the powers that be have been spending too much time with their heads up against those monolithic bass speakers!

More raucous noise is expected this Saturday (May 2nd) as the second Honda Summer Music Fest kicks off on the beach in Khao Takiab. The Thai beach version of Woodstock primarily features reggae, ska and funk bands from around the country and largely attracts hordes of teenagers from Bangkok. If you live in the area and like your music loud it is worth a look, if you don’t then give it a miss as Takiab town will be turned into one huge car park on Saturday night. Accommodation in the village is already jammed to the rafters.

The Hua Hin Fishing Lodge held a fishing competition for local kids from the Mercy House Orphanage in Pranburi last week. A great day was had by all and a variety of fish found their way out and back into the lakes to the delight of the children. Photos from the day can be found on the forum, similar events are to be planned in the future so if you have a bit of spare time and want to get involved with good causes locally get online for more details and updates.

The golfers have been out and about seeking packages and bargains that are becoming more and more elusive in Hua Hin. It seems that you need to travel to another province to find a reasonably priced round of golf, Hua Hin courses are still price targeting those rapidly dwindling tourists and largely ignoring the expat market. Just under two hours in the car will take you to Dragon Hills in Ratchaburi province where you can play 18 holes, stay in the course hotel, have breakfast, and play another round the following day all for 1,400 baht per person – its even cheaper if you go during the week – bargain!

Many public forums fall foul to trouble makers and time wasters who have little better to do than hide behind pseudonyms on the internet and have a go at other people. This is the nature of the beast and often explains why forums are so popular, in a virtual world someone can say what they like without any comeback. Just as well HHAD is well moderated and the spurious among its membership are easily spotted and exposed … Hua Hin is still a small town.

The 24 hour reporting rumours cropped up again too as a couple of unlucky readers had bad experiences at local immigration. The majority however has never had to report in after leaving the country and has never been fined for not doing so; it all leaves us a bit mystified really. This is nothing new though with Thai immigration rules and the ever-shifting sands of bureaucracy at our local office here in Hua Hin!

More concern was aired from users of foreign bank cards in Thai ATM machines. According to a report by the Thai Bankers Association there will be an increase in the fee to use foreign ATM cards to 150 baht. As usual there is no consistency here, some banks have done it and others haven’t, also the norm is the concept of upping the price and trying to squeeze a bit more out of the farangs when the chips are down!

Rising hot season temperatures are causing Hua Hin’s visitors and expats to cool off by taking a swim. This is not as easy as it sounds since the only options seem to be the hotels who charge non-guests a fair whack for using their pool, finding a mate that has a house with a pool or jumping in the ocean and risking the jellies. Palm Hills used to be a good option until they quadrupled their prices overnight a couple of years back, Sport Villa is not bad either but it does get busy. So here is a business opportunity for someone with a bit of land and a spade!

Many expats have grown a little tarnished over the years and avoid Songkran at all costs; we still find it a great day out providing it doesn’t get out of control. Hua Hin only celebrates the 13th but as you read this people will still be flinging cold water at each other in different provinces around the country.

Due to recent turmoil in the city the government have extended the holiday this year so town may be a bit busier than usual over the weekend. That’s one thing we can thank the red shirts for, we can also thank them for ruining the Kingdom’s reputation (even further than it is already), and further damaging a fragile economy that they all need to depend on.

As peace and normality descend once more to the streets of Bangkok we’re left wondering how long it will last for. Thaksin’s quest for revenge knows no bounds; he will not stop until he gets back at those who ousted him in 2006, no matter how many livelihoods or lives are destroyed in the process. Democracy is a word that gets bandied about a lot here but doesn’t really apply to Thailand yet as it has never truly had it; none of the political parties were fairly elected so both sides are as bad as each other. They should just wear orange shirts and get on together!

This time of year is also the hottest so if you have yet to experience a Hua Hin hot season get ready to cook! Tempers often fray as the temperatures rise so our advice is stay off the roads and on the beach for as long as possible! It is also a great time to take a sea cruise, the oceans are calm and the water is often clearer this time of year, especially further south. We can recommend Mermaid Cruises and the Mai Thai for boat trips around the coast, details and trip photos can be found on the forum both operators offer charters and trips for individuals.

Thai New Year also marks the end of the high season, not that there was much of one this year, so those of you lucky enough to be based in Hua Hin will find things a little quieter for the next few months. Many of those in business will need to tighten belts or invest wisely in marketing and promotion; of course Hua Hin Media can accommodate all needs especially in these hard times!

A 90 year lease does not exist as one inopportune home buyer later discovered following consultations with a Bangkok lawyer. Only the first 30 years of a property lease in Thailand is covered by law so the rest is just a loose agreement which is probably not worth the paper it is drafted on. The company route to buy property as a foreigner is pretty much a dead end also since the last wave of government restrictions included the enforcement of checks on operational, tax paying, companies with Thai shareholders – who will all be investigated. Not the most welcoming option for a retired couple seeking a holiday home in the tropics.

The general consensus from those in the know and those who just want to stick an oar in is that any foreigner considering a property purchase in Thailand should use a Bangkok lawyer to draw up the contracts and assist with the process. Many Hua Hin legal firms are often involved in the real estate industry so may not be able to be as unbiased about things as an independent legal adviser from Bangkok.

Another albeit cynical approach to real estate in Thailand is don’t buy what you can’t afford to lose as you can’t really own it anyway!

As political tensions mount again in the capital discussion continues on the board, the general feeling by most is that enough is enough. Whether it’s the reds or yellows there will be no winners to this futile face-off regardless of who is in the government hot seat. If the Democrats remain and Thaksin continues to elude justice the street protests will intensify, if the reds win and the government steps down Thaksin will return and the yellows will take to the streets.

With global economies in tatters and Thailand’s rapidly taking a nose dive the people on the streets shouting about politics should just put aside their differences, take off their red and yellow shirts, and work together at making Thailand the land of smiles once again as the country will be the biggest loser in the long run if the absurd merry-go-round continues.

As a final note we’d like to wish all readers and contributors a happy Songkran, if you’re looking to get wet this year head into town on Monday.