When was your first visit to Hua Hin?
My first visit was some time in the third quarter of 1975. In those days I was a self-styled 'world-traveler' and I spent a few days in Hua Hin on a slow journey from Surat Thani (after having spent some time on Koh Samui) to Bangkok.
I stayed in a wooden Chinese-owned hotel on the main road, almost opposite the night market. My hotel was either next to or has been replaced by the present-day Chat Chai hotel.
My room did not have TV, mini-bar, air-conditioning, or its own bathroom. But it was only 20 baht a night.
When I had nothing left to read on the beach, I finally managed to check-out and take the bus to Bangkok and a Bangladesh Biman flight back to London. It wasn't terribly easy to find work in those days, but I did make a point of putting a small portion of my first payment of unemployment benefit into my bank account to start saving for my next trip.
I touched down at Don Mueang early in 1977 and I've been living and working in Thailand ever since.
I stayed in a wooden Chinese-owned hotel on the main road, almost opposite the night market. My hotel was either next to or has been replaced by the present-day Chat Chai hotel.
My room did not have TV, mini-bar, air-conditioning, or its own bathroom. But it was only 20 baht a night.
When I had nothing left to read on the beach, I finally managed to check-out and take the bus to Bangkok and a Bangladesh Biman flight back to London. It wasn't terribly easy to find work in those days, but I did make a point of putting a small portion of my first payment of unemployment benefit into my bank account to start saving for my next trip.
I touched down at Don Mueang early in 1977 and I've been living and working in Thailand ever since.
- dtaai-maai
- Hero
- Posts: 14268
- Joined: Mon Jul 30, 2007 10:00 pm
- Location: UK, Robin Hood country
I have nothing from that period. I do, however, have a photograph taken from one of the rooms at the back of the Suphamit Hotel either in the very late 1970s or the early 1980s. I still stay at the Suphamit on my occasional visits from Bangkok, so next time down I'll try to locate the exact room and take another photograph from the same angle - but you'll have to wait a few weeks or so as I'm rather busy at present.
When I tell the truth about the length of time that Ive been here (not too often) I invariably get a reply that I must like it here. My usual reply is that I do quite like it and I might even consider settling down here some time.
When I tell the truth about the length of time that Ive been here (not too often) I invariably get a reply that I must like it here. My usual reply is that I do quite like it and I might even consider settling down here some time.
Late 1962, just after the Cuban missile crisis. I was bumming round the world at the time and had just spent a month or so in Petchaburi with a friendly and hospitable Thai family. I hitched a ride with a vanload of travelling salesmen who stopped for the night in Hua Hin. We all slept on the floor of a room above the Bata shoe shop on Petchkasem Road, across the road from Chartchai Market. It's still there. My share of the cost of the room was 2 baht, I remember. The next day we continued south, on a bumpy dirt road, and I parted company with them at the crossroads outside Chumphon. I spent the night in a petrol station and awoke to find the road under water and most of the trees flattened. I'd slept through one of the worst storms ever to hit southern Thailand - on a workbench in a corrugated iron shed. I must have been tired.
- Bamboo Grove
- Moderator
- Posts: 5291
- Joined: Mon Jan 13, 2003 12:59 pm
- Location: Macau, China
Welcome to the forum, jimk. Your whole story of your trips to Asia in the early 60´s is well worth sharing, if you have time to tell it.
Back in Bamboo Grove
http://bamboogrovestories.blogspot.com/
http://bamboogrovestories.blogspot.com/
Hi,
I first came to Hua Hin Oct 2006. I spent a couple of days in Bangkok, then flew down to Samui, for a few days. Made my way by ferry and vip bus to Hua Hin. Was captivated by its charm. I live in Korat now, but come back often to visit friends. Hope to move down soon. It was my first visit to Thailand.
jb1
I first came to Hua Hin Oct 2006. I spent a couple of days in Bangkok, then flew down to Samui, for a few days. Made my way by ferry and vip bus to Hua Hin. Was captivated by its charm. I live in Korat now, but come back often to visit friends. Hope to move down soon. It was my first visit to Thailand.
jb1
- Khundon1975
- Rock Star
- Posts: 3472
- Joined: Wed Jan 14, 2009 4:05 am
- Location: Boo, I'm behind you.
- Khundon1975
- Rock Star
- Posts: 3472
- Joined: Wed Jan 14, 2009 4:05 am
- Location: Boo, I'm behind you.
Nisakiman wrote:1971
Not much more than a fishing village then, if I remember right. I was hitch-hiking from Bangkok, and stopped off for a few days R&R. On my way to Australia. The next time I hit HH was about 8 years ago. My word! Certainly had changed a bit!
Nisakiman
A chap from UK came into our coffee shop in 2002. He was a photographer from National Geographic, who had been documenting Hua Hin for the Royal family for over 30 years.
He showed me pics from early years and just a few fishing huts where Hilton is now.
I wished I had asked him for some copies, as they would show how HH has grown over the years.
I've lost my mind and I am making no effort to find it.
My first visit to Hua HIn was in April 2007. I remember that it was very mutch heavy rain back then. Pala U Road looked more like a river. Now i live in HH. permanently. But I will soon move to Surin, because of my business. My first visit to Thailand was Desember 1986.
I should have been moving to Thailand in the eighties. I feel that I have been waisting years in freezy & expensive No(r)way for Thailand
I should have been moving to Thailand in the eighties. I feel that I have been waisting years in freezy & expensive No(r)way for Thailand
Always look at the bright side of life !