Thanks SJ
I just checked out the schedule you linked to and I suddenly feel much better informed about what is coming up.
As I suspected, everything happens at Dusit. .out of town . .except for an audience at Klai Kang Won and a party at Marukataiawan. .which will doubtless see the main road closed down between these two palaces for quite some time.
Someone please remind me again how this is going to benefit Hua Hin.
Now that ASEAN summit is excellent for Hua Hin!
, maybe I was being too literal with my initial reaction dude. 
Re: Thanks
It will benefit many Hua Hin people for sure, there's an argument by some it will raise the profile of Hua Hin (I'm not really arguing that). The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced that due to Hua Hin's now higher profile they are implementing the construction of a parallel railway line from Bangkok to Prachuap Kiri Khan resulting in jobs and contracts for companies (not sure how much the holding of ASEAN summit has contributed to this!?).Chas wrote:Someone please remind me again how this is going to benefit Hua Hin.
There will be 2,000 wealthy'ish people spending money on hotels, food, shopping, taxi's etc etc, I for one can handle inconvenience for a week if it means the struggling small businesses get a much needed cash boost, we can't relate to that as we have cash.
SJ
This page of their site about events and meetings says Hua Hin. Maybe they are hoping the Myanmar delegation go to Cha Am 
http://www.aseansec.org/2-2009.htm
Jim, think it's cos the meetings are being held in Dusit Thani Hua Hin, whose address is Cha Am
Confused ? you will be.
SJ
http://www.aseansec.org/2-2009.htm
Jim, think it's cos the meetings are being held in Dusit Thani Hua Hin, whose address is Cha Am
Confused ? you will be.
SJ
Personally I think the ASEAN conference in HH is a good thing - if it brings more money to local business in these hard times it has to be advantageous. Have also seen long awaited road improvements going on such as that horrible bottleneck at the G-supermarket.
The only grumble I have is about the collapse of the internet infrastructure and for anyone that relies on this for their income these two weeks will be a struggle. Motorcades and traffic mayhem is commonplace these days in Hua Hin so I can't see the summit making much difference.
The only grumble I have is about the collapse of the internet infrastructure and for anyone that relies on this for their income these two weeks will be a struggle. Motorcades and traffic mayhem is commonplace these days in Hua Hin so I can't see the summit making much difference.
Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed? - Hunter S Thompson
the latest?
Rumor has it that the markets will be closed for four days. Which markets. .all of them? Night markets? Wet market? How does this help local business . ..if true?
Are any local small hotels booked with conferees?
2000 people coming here ? Where is this number from?
Rumor has it that something is happening at "disfunction junction" I rarely pass that way. .what is happening if anything?
How many of the 2000(?) people will ever leave the Dusit? Do we really expect Gloria Macapagal and the Sultan of Brunei to stroll down Bintabat arm in arm and stop by for a chat and a few beers?
Both the Dusit and the Sheraton use "Hua Hin" in their advertising because it has more ad value than Cha am. IMHO it is a deceptive practice.
Are any local small hotels booked with conferees?
2000 people coming here ? Where is this number from?
Rumor has it that something is happening at "disfunction junction" I rarely pass that way. .what is happening if anything?
How many of the 2000(?) people will ever leave the Dusit? Do we really expect Gloria Macapagal and the Sultan of Brunei to stroll down Bintabat arm in arm and stop by for a chat and a few beers?
Both the Dusit and the Sheraton use "Hua Hin" in their advertising because it has more ad value than Cha am. IMHO it is a deceptive practice.
I hear you
I hear you about the internet Buks. It is slow these days and I do depend on it for my living too . .if it goes out next weekend, I will have to travel to BKK or wherever immediately and find a way to get on line.
I know that to live here happily, you just have to get used to not knowing half of what is going on around you and having only the vaguest idea about the rest. That is a given.
But to see something this big coming here for four days. .and then to see SO little information/ interest/ buzz/ discussion . .nothing but local rumors and what we can see around us.
Hey, HHAD is a forum that can get wound up to 200 posts about olives in a salad. . . .yet this is IT for a major international conference??
PS. Will there perhaps be a parade?
I know that to live here happily, you just have to get used to not knowing half of what is going on around you and having only the vaguest idea about the rest. That is a given.
But to see something this big coming here for four days. .and then to see SO little information/ interest/ buzz/ discussion . .nothing but local rumors and what we can see around us.
Hey, HHAD is a forum that can get wound up to 200 posts about olives in a salad. . . .yet this is IT for a major international conference??
PS. Will there perhaps be a parade?
Last edited by Chas on Mon Feb 23, 2009 10:40 am, edited 1 time in total.
It will benefit many Hua Hin people for sure, there's an argument by some it will raise the profile of Hua Hin (I'm not really arguing that). The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced that due to Hua Hin's now higher profile they are implementing the construction of a parallel railway line from Bangkok to Prachuap Kiri Khan resulting in jobs and contracts for companies (not sure how much the holding of ASEAN summit has contributed to this!?).
Great, that's just what we need, twice as many trains to kill people at unguarded crossings.
Here's what they should do if they get any infrastructure money out of this and honestly want to make Hua Hin a better place to live for all:
- Fix the crumbling roads and sois
- Put up automatic gates at all the unguarded railway crossings in both Hua Hin and Takiab
- Finish the road expansion plan laid out years ago to have a parallel road that would take some of the traffic off Petchkasem.
- Put (working) traffic lights at the intersections of all sois that cross the railroad tracks (102, 94, 88, 56, etc).
- Move the entrance and exit to Market village to a single double wide driveway, make a break in the median and put a traffic light there.
- Turn on the light at Chomsin and Nebkahard
- Finish the new intersection construction at Chomsin and the RR track
- Take away the manual controls of the traffic lights on Petchkasem Road from the traffic police... they only make things worse by leaving the lights green in one direction for 5 minutes.
- Pay the police more so that maybe, just maybe, there will be less corruption.
- Find a new space downtown for a permanent Immigration office.
- Build some subsidized (or completely free) apartment block housing for the very poor Thais who can't earn a living for their families and have to live in those tin shacks on RR land.
- Neuter and Spay all stray dogs and put down the ones who are so sick that they will not survive anyway and possibly open a decent shelter to get them off the street.
Will any of these things happen in my lifetime? I doubt it as TIT. They are all logical things to do in any civilized society that has responsible government officials!
Looks like they are going to try to confine the ASEAN protests to Bangkok... my guess is that there will be roadblocks with checkpoints both north and south of Hua Hin to stop any stray protests from coming here during that time... not a good time to travel out of town by car I suspect...
Bangkok Post:
FARMERS, MILK PRODUCERS MAY JOIN RALLY
Special Branch Police have identified three potential protest groups, with one expected from abroad, during the Asean summit which starts next week.
Branch commissioner Theeradech Rodphothong said the red-clad United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) supporters plan to gather at Sanam Luang on Tuesday and have threatened to stage a protracted rally by surrounding Government House.
The SBP was monitoring the movements of the indebted farmers group and the disgruntled milk producers from Saraburi to see if they would carry out their threat to join the UDD protest.
The farmers are frustrated with what they call the government's indecision to settle their debt problems. The milk producers, meanwhile, have cried foul over an oversupply of raw milk in the market which they attribute to graft in the supply chain.
Among the protesters, northern corn farmers
Observers say although the UDD has given its word that it would not hold any demonstration at the Feb 27-Mar 1 summit in Cha-am, Phetchaburi, its protest in Bangkok was bound to affect the overall security climate.
Pol Lt-Gen Theeradech admitted that if the farmers and the milk producers join forces with the UDD protesters in Bangkok, the situation would certainly become more complicated and difficult to deal with.
The commissioner said other home-grown opponents of Asean governments represented at the summit could also descend on Cha-am.
In addition, the summit may also face the wrath of environmentalists and human rights advocates.
But what is worrying the SBP the most is the planned demonstration by the UDD and its possible hook-up with the farmers group.
Pol Lt-Gen Theeradech said intelligence and security officials of Asean countries met last week at the request of the SBP to prepare the best possible protection measures for those attending the summit.
Officials of each country would take care of travel arrangements of their respective leaders, but work with their Asean counterparts in intelligence gathering to find out if protesters from their countries were planning to rally in Bangkok and what their demands were.
The commissioner said the summit required the intelligence agencies of member countries to tap into one another's information. The cooperation would allow for a comprehensive, regional-level security plan to be mapped out and put into effect.
Shinawatra Habunpad, a UDD leader and head of a taxi drivers club, confirmed the UDD's decision yesterday that red-clad supporters will not hold a protest at the Asean summit.
But the group has also confirmed that Government House would be surrounded on Tuesday as planned. The gathering will last at least three days.
Mr Shinawatra said motorcycle taxis and cabs would be on hand to take red-clad supporters from major transport points and skytrain and underground stations to the rally site.
Puea Thai spokesman Prompong Nopparit claimed the government was planning to dispatch 10,000 security officials in red shirts to infiltrate and monitor the UDD's movements.
Supot Songsiang, an activist of the Mae Ramphung conservation group in Prachuap Khiri Khan, said local environmental groups were still undecided whether to bring any environmental issues to the attention of Asean leaders.
He said local conservation groups were clear in their aim and had no hidden agenda.
Bangkok Post:
FARMERS, MILK PRODUCERS MAY JOIN RALLY
Special Branch Police have identified three potential protest groups, with one expected from abroad, during the Asean summit which starts next week.
Branch commissioner Theeradech Rodphothong said the red-clad United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) supporters plan to gather at Sanam Luang on Tuesday and have threatened to stage a protracted rally by surrounding Government House.
The SBP was monitoring the movements of the indebted farmers group and the disgruntled milk producers from Saraburi to see if they would carry out their threat to join the UDD protest.
The farmers are frustrated with what they call the government's indecision to settle their debt problems. The milk producers, meanwhile, have cried foul over an oversupply of raw milk in the market which they attribute to graft in the supply chain.
Among the protesters, northern corn farmers
Observers say although the UDD has given its word that it would not hold any demonstration at the Feb 27-Mar 1 summit in Cha-am, Phetchaburi, its protest in Bangkok was bound to affect the overall security climate.
Pol Lt-Gen Theeradech admitted that if the farmers and the milk producers join forces with the UDD protesters in Bangkok, the situation would certainly become more complicated and difficult to deal with.
The commissioner said other home-grown opponents of Asean governments represented at the summit could also descend on Cha-am.
In addition, the summit may also face the wrath of environmentalists and human rights advocates.
But what is worrying the SBP the most is the planned demonstration by the UDD and its possible hook-up with the farmers group.
Pol Lt-Gen Theeradech said intelligence and security officials of Asean countries met last week at the request of the SBP to prepare the best possible protection measures for those attending the summit.
Officials of each country would take care of travel arrangements of their respective leaders, but work with their Asean counterparts in intelligence gathering to find out if protesters from their countries were planning to rally in Bangkok and what their demands were.
The commissioner said the summit required the intelligence agencies of member countries to tap into one another's information. The cooperation would allow for a comprehensive, regional-level security plan to be mapped out and put into effect.
Shinawatra Habunpad, a UDD leader and head of a taxi drivers club, confirmed the UDD's decision yesterday that red-clad supporters will not hold a protest at the Asean summit.
But the group has also confirmed that Government House would be surrounded on Tuesday as planned. The gathering will last at least three days.
Mr Shinawatra said motorcycle taxis and cabs would be on hand to take red-clad supporters from major transport points and skytrain and underground stations to the rally site.
Puea Thai spokesman Prompong Nopparit claimed the government was planning to dispatch 10,000 security officials in red shirts to infiltrate and monitor the UDD's movements.
Supot Songsiang, an activist of the Mae Ramphung conservation group in Prachuap Khiri Khan, said local environmental groups were still undecided whether to bring any environmental issues to the attention of Asean leaders.
He said local conservation groups were clear in their aim and had no hidden agenda.
-
Wanderlust
- Legend
- Posts: 2862
- Joined: Wed Aug 04, 2004 12:27 pm
- Location: Hua Hin
hhfarang,
While I agree with you, there may be some very good reasons why some of what you suggest has not already been done, other than lack of funds;
- Fix the crumbling roads and sois May not be worth doing on many roads because of how much heavy traffic will continue to ply up and down e.g. cement and gravel trucks. However the real problem is the local (and national) corruption that prevents these roads being built to the required standard in the first place.
- Put up automatic gates at all the unguarded railway crossings in both Hua Hin and Takiab Money might be better spent on an ad campaign to make people aware of the dangers when crossing the railway - even the crossings with gates have pedestrians and motorcycles crossing them when the lights are flashing and the gate is down!
- Finish the road expansion plan laid out years ago to have a parallel road that would take some of the traffic off Petchkasem. I think it is a fairly well established fact that building more roads is not very effective at reducing the traffic and will probably result in a very nice, very underused expensive road.
- Put (working) traffic lights at the intersections of all sois that cross the railroad tracks (102, 94, 88, 56, etc). I don't really understand what this would achieve to be honest!
- Move the entrance and exit to Market village to a single double wide driveway, make a break in the median and put a traffic light there. Something should certainly be done about the traffic situation at MV but I'm not sure that would do it. When they were building it I was hoping that they would have the foresight to build an access road in at the back to avoid the inevitable chaos that has resulted, exacerbated by the way Thais use the roads and how inept the police often are at dealing with it.
- Turn on the light at Chomsin and Nebkahard Would seem to be a logical thing to do and I would add all the other traffic lights, particularly the soi 56/Canal Road one, and not turning all of them off after about 10pm!
- Finish the new intersection construction at Chomsin and the RR track That actually does seem to be happening - the shrine has gone and the area is being prepared.
- Take away the manual controls of the traffic lights on Petchkasem Road from the traffic police... they only make things worse by leaving the lights green in one direction for 5 minutes. Hear, hear!
- Pay the police more so that maybe, just maybe, there will be less corruption. And take the police force out of politics as much as possible - did you know that every time the local or national government changes there are wholesale moves of police at all levels dependent on who they supported? That is insane!
- Find a new space downtown for a permanent Immigration office. I think it would make more sense if it was somewhere between Hua Hin and Cha Am from both a cost and logic perspective, and parking! Especially if the new province thing comes about.
- Build some subsidized (or completely free) apartment block housing for the very poor Thais who can't earn a living for their families and have to live in those tin shacks on RR land. Not sure about this one; while I am in favour of low cost public housing generally, it might be seen as a loss of face to be living in it as there is a certain amount of honour and dignity of 'making it on your own' even if that involves tin shacks next to the railway. Maybe initiatives to help them own land and build their own houses might be better received?
- Neuter and Spay all stray dogs and put down the ones who are so sick that they will not survive anyway and possibly open a decent shelter to get them off the street. Agreed, although private organisations are already taking this on and have been for some time; again maybe a campaign to educate people to be more responsible dog owners might be more effective?
Will any of these things happen in my lifetime? I doubt it as TIT. They are all logical things to do in any civilized society that has responsible government officials! Those last three words sum it up unfortunately; while I am sure some Thais will go into politics with the best intentions, many only see it as a gravy train to line their own pockets and enlarge their face in the community. This leads to public construction projects often going to the least qualified bidder, but the one who contributes most to the relevant individuals bank accounts, and ends up with shoddy roads and a waste of public funds as they are endlessly repaired. Two local examples come to mind that have been built in my 7 years in Hua Hin - the road through Khao Takiab, and the canal road, both of which have deteriorated massively since they were built because of sub standard materials and construction initially.
While I agree with you, there may be some very good reasons why some of what you suggest has not already been done, other than lack of funds;
- Fix the crumbling roads and sois May not be worth doing on many roads because of how much heavy traffic will continue to ply up and down e.g. cement and gravel trucks. However the real problem is the local (and national) corruption that prevents these roads being built to the required standard in the first place.
- Put up automatic gates at all the unguarded railway crossings in both Hua Hin and Takiab Money might be better spent on an ad campaign to make people aware of the dangers when crossing the railway - even the crossings with gates have pedestrians and motorcycles crossing them when the lights are flashing and the gate is down!
- Finish the road expansion plan laid out years ago to have a parallel road that would take some of the traffic off Petchkasem. I think it is a fairly well established fact that building more roads is not very effective at reducing the traffic and will probably result in a very nice, very underused expensive road.
- Put (working) traffic lights at the intersections of all sois that cross the railroad tracks (102, 94, 88, 56, etc). I don't really understand what this would achieve to be honest!
- Move the entrance and exit to Market village to a single double wide driveway, make a break in the median and put a traffic light there. Something should certainly be done about the traffic situation at MV but I'm not sure that would do it. When they were building it I was hoping that they would have the foresight to build an access road in at the back to avoid the inevitable chaos that has resulted, exacerbated by the way Thais use the roads and how inept the police often are at dealing with it.
- Turn on the light at Chomsin and Nebkahard Would seem to be a logical thing to do and I would add all the other traffic lights, particularly the soi 56/Canal Road one, and not turning all of them off after about 10pm!
- Finish the new intersection construction at Chomsin and the RR track That actually does seem to be happening - the shrine has gone and the area is being prepared.
- Take away the manual controls of the traffic lights on Petchkasem Road from the traffic police... they only make things worse by leaving the lights green in one direction for 5 minutes. Hear, hear!
- Pay the police more so that maybe, just maybe, there will be less corruption. And take the police force out of politics as much as possible - did you know that every time the local or national government changes there are wholesale moves of police at all levels dependent on who they supported? That is insane!
- Find a new space downtown for a permanent Immigration office. I think it would make more sense if it was somewhere between Hua Hin and Cha Am from both a cost and logic perspective, and parking! Especially if the new province thing comes about.
- Build some subsidized (or completely free) apartment block housing for the very poor Thais who can't earn a living for their families and have to live in those tin shacks on RR land. Not sure about this one; while I am in favour of low cost public housing generally, it might be seen as a loss of face to be living in it as there is a certain amount of honour and dignity of 'making it on your own' even if that involves tin shacks next to the railway. Maybe initiatives to help them own land and build their own houses might be better received?
- Neuter and Spay all stray dogs and put down the ones who are so sick that they will not survive anyway and possibly open a decent shelter to get them off the street. Agreed, although private organisations are already taking this on and have been for some time; again maybe a campaign to educate people to be more responsible dog owners might be more effective?
Will any of these things happen in my lifetime? I doubt it as TIT. They are all logical things to do in any civilized society that has responsible government officials! Those last three words sum it up unfortunately; while I am sure some Thais will go into politics with the best intentions, many only see it as a gravy train to line their own pockets and enlarge their face in the community. This leads to public construction projects often going to the least qualified bidder, but the one who contributes most to the relevant individuals bank accounts, and ends up with shoddy roads and a waste of public funds as they are endlessly repaired. Two local examples come to mind that have been built in my 7 years in Hua Hin - the road through Khao Takiab, and the canal road, both of which have deteriorated massively since they were built because of sub standard materials and construction initially.
Your list
HHF I agree with your list and I know we all could add to that list . .you missed a few things!
But to stay on topic, I wonder if ANY of these much needed improvements will be on the "TO DO" list generated by ASEAN coming to town. That goes back to the original question. . .. if money IS pouring in and things are getting done. . what will still be here at the end of March? (Lanterns and flowers will be long gone.)
But to stay on topic, I wonder if ANY of these much needed improvements will be on the "TO DO" list generated by ASEAN coming to town. That goes back to the original question. . .. if money IS pouring in and things are getting done. . what will still be here at the end of March? (Lanterns and flowers will be long gone.)
Re: the latest?
The Sultan is a down to earth, friendly fellow, and he would stop for a chat, but definately not a beer.Chas wrote: How many of the 2000(?) people will ever leave the Dusit? Do we really expect Gloria Macapagal and the Sultan of Brunei to stroll down Bintabat arm in arm and stop by for a chat and a few beers?
Both the Dusit and the Sheraton use "Hua Hin" in their advertising because it has more ad value than Cha am. IMHO it is a deceptive practice.
Have to agree with you Chas, about the information. The linked site is still claiming tha the meeting is on the 15th January, at the Conrad Hotel in Bangkok.
http://www.14thaseansummit.org/main.php#
May you be in heaven half an hour before the devil know`s you`re dead!
Just because the ASEAN conference has been changed to Hua Hin I do not see why residents expect all their complaints to be dealt with. It is only lasting 4 days yet reading some threads you would think the inconveniences were lasting for ever.
As I have said before we should be pleased and thankful for those things which have been done and I see plenty of them with my own eyes.
As I have said before we should be pleased and thankful for those things which have been done and I see plenty of them with my own eyes.
To be positive here, as it's an unavoidable 'incoming' event, if you look at other cities that have hosted events of this magnetude then most of what was done before the event has been maintained afterwards. A good example of this would be Korat before and after the 24th SEA Games or Khon Kaen when it host the ASEAN meeting about 6 years ago.
They 'spruced-up' the whole place (grass in the central reservations and flowers/asthetically pleasing objects everywhere, new pavements/road resurfacing etc) as it was a bit of a mess in some ways and it is still maintained now, 14 months after the event in Korat and Khon Kaen is a lot nicer now than it was then.
Hopefully the same will apply to Hua Hin. The underlying problem is that this only happens as a result of extrinsic motivation, wereas intrinsic motivation would be 'the way to go'.
Suppose it should happen in these sort of places just because they want it to be nice rather than let's do it because we have to, as we can't have "visitors" seeing it as it really is and thinking the place is a mess. As usual, the truth would never do, would it?
springs eternal!
They 'spruced-up' the whole place (grass in the central reservations and flowers/asthetically pleasing objects everywhere, new pavements/road resurfacing etc) as it was a bit of a mess in some ways and it is still maintained now, 14 months after the event in Korat and Khon Kaen is a lot nicer now than it was then.
Hopefully the same will apply to Hua Hin. The underlying problem is that this only happens as a result of extrinsic motivation, wereas intrinsic motivation would be 'the way to go'.
Suppose it should happen in these sort of places just because they want it to be nice rather than let's do it because we have to, as we can't have "visitors" seeing it as it really is and thinking the place is a mess. As usual, the truth would never do, would it?
springs eternal!Resolve dissolves in alcohol