Thursday, January 17, 2008

Hua Hin. Great side trip from Bangkok.



Hua Hin is a destination I enjoy visiting whenever I get the chance.
Most tourists think of Bangkok, Phuket or Pattaya when they think of Thailand, but for those who want a less hectic and less commercialized holiday destination, Hua Hin fits the bill perfectly.

One of the things you will notice when you arrive there is that the lack of commercial development on the beach and its surrounds.
This is quite extraordinary, especially for a country such as Thailand which is known for its rapid rate of development, but the city’s governors have elected to keep the beachfront unspoiled by pressures of progress.

Stroll on the beach and you will see the remnants of an old fishing village, with boats moored in the bay and seaweed decorating the old decaying vessels.
This gives the beach a sleepy, old fashioned feel.
Horse riding is a Hua Hin tradition and you can still hire a horse and go for a gallop on the beach.
Where else in the world could you do that now?

The food is great in Hua Hin. Everybody loves Thai Food, but unfortunately many of the establishments in the touristy parts of Thailand are not dishing up the best on offer.

Hua Hin does things better. In keeping with the slower pace of the place, meals take longer to prepare and more care is taken in the quality that is served to the customer.
I found the best meals were served in the guesthouses of Hua Hin. .Things took a little longer to cook but the meals were excellent. If you fancy European cuisine, there is plenty of that on offer throughout the town

A word about guest houses. The term guesthouse brings to mind an image of low cost backpacker style accommodation.
Nothing could be further than the truth.
The Guesthouses of Hua Hin are wonderful. They are small, family owned businesses that offer large, clean rooms with big well appointed bathrooms. Typically they will also have air-conditioning, plenty of hot water and cable TV.
Nightlife is more or less a quiet affair, with a couple of streets of bars and discos.
Yes, this pales in comparison with Bangkok or Pattaya but if you are looking for plenty of night time action then Hua Hin is probably not the place for you.

Golf however is another story. Hua Hin is noted as a world class city for golf in Asia.
Two more luxurious golf courses are opening soon. You can even organize a golf holiday where things like green fees, caddies, equipment and tuition are prearranged for you.
I really feel totally relaxed when I visit this place.

My favorite guesthouses are Leng Guesthouse
A and B Guesthouse.

The rooms are nice and reasonably priced. Both these guesthouses had large balconies which are just thing for afternoon reading.

A and B. Guesthouse http://www.abguesthouse.com/adress.htm
Leng Guest House http://www.lenghotel.com/

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