Trip report

[Jim]

After being back in Farangland for a week or so now, it is overdue that we should share what we found in the previous fortnight. This is a quick summary with lots missing, but I hope its helpful.

1. Suvarnabhumi. Worked perfectly both in and out. Queues not too bad at all, no problems with immigration. On arrival we were through immigration, baggage and were in the booked taxi in about 40 minutes.

2. The road out of Bangkok as far as the start of the Cha-am bypass is just shocking. The 3 lane bits that are finished are superb and give a hint of how much better it'll be when it's all finished. In the meantime, it's shit.

3. Tourist numbers even accounting for it being low season are lousy. Speaking to many bar and restaurant owners, all say its the worst its ever been. If you like it quiet, now's the time to go.

4. Amazing how much smarter the town is getting. Each gap of a few months just shows how much more is being done to tidy the town up further. In another year there'll be nothing left except new boutique hotels and tailors.

4. Tailors. There's new ones cropping up everywhere. When did those two opposite Jasmine's open up for goodness sake. There were far too many inthe first place and now there's twice as many. And in Bintabaht. In Buddha's name, why are there tailors in Bintabaht?

5. Bintabaht. I may be getting old these days, but every bar is exactly the bleedin' same, differentiated only by which football match is on the tv.

6. There's never been so many annoying hawkers in stupid Karen hats selling those f***ing croaking frogs.

7. A quick run through of some of the restaurants we went to:
La Mer - just superb, for lunch and dinner. Can't recommend it too highly.

Sara Jane - new place on Poonsuk. We were confused by the sign saying Thai Issan Pizza, but luckily it meant that it all 3 separately and not together. We had a couple of really nice Issan things.

Coco 51 - still very very good.

Nahb Talay - we like this place. We were the only ones there, but that the same with almost everywhere. It's expensive, but it has its own car park which is a big help in peak season. Good scoff and nice service. Both of which you pay for.

Papa John - exactly the same, but in the middle of nowhere so at least you can get there now.

Let's Sea - similar to Nahb Talay. Very good but pricey. Great setting and the best hong nam in town.

Caruso - we're convinced this is the best pizza, but you are open to attack from the karen hats and croaking frogs.

Ban Monta - took the recommendations on here and tried the fillet steak. Very good.

Monsoon - this is an old favourite. Love the tables on the balcony upstairs watching the world amble by on the road below. Does a great mussaman.

8. Tripped down to Ao Manoa and the waterfall about 20 mins south of there. A great drive out and love the directions to get to Ao Manao - go to Prachuap, turn left, turn right in town, keep going through the airforce base, cross over the runway, past the golf club and you're there!! The waterfall is good too, easier walking that Pala-U and just as good. As I say, i cant remember its name but it's about 20 mins drive further south and turn right towards Myanmar!. It does though cost 400B each yet again to get into the national park.

9. Also went up the Kaeng Krachan dam for the first time. Well worth the trip, great views and found a really nice place for lunch right on the lake.

10. The strangest sight was a girl on a bike and her passenger on the canal road, both with jumpers over their heads like they were celebrating a goal. Were they just practicing driving blind?

Hope this may be of some use to some of you. We had a good trip.

Cheers

Jim

[rosso]

Hi

thanxs for your report.....now I cant wait to come back....just have to wait another 19 days .....

regards
Rosso

[STEVE G]

The thing that baffles me about all those tailor’s shops in Hua Hin is that I don’t remember ever seeing a single customer in any of them; how do they stay in business?
How many cheap suits can you sell in one town?

[hogus]

Have been in the shop of my favorite tailor to give some new orders 2 days ago.
He told me, there are nearly 80 tailor shops in town now and more about 50 optical shops.
Only hell knows, how they can alive...or is all just another unimaginative way to "laundry" money?

[STEVE G]

Have been in the shop of my favorite tailor to give some new orders 2 days ago.
He told me, there are nearly 80 tailor shops in town now and more about 50 optical shops.
Only hell knows, how they can alive...or is all just another unimaginative way to "laundry" money?
:shock:

The place must be an absolute Mecca for poorly-dressed, myopic holiday makers!

[BaaBaa.]

The place must be an absolute Mecca for poorly-dressed, myopic holiday makers!

For the Tailors sake I hope they get the suit before the Glasses.

[pfotoguy369]

Thanks for the TR. always good to have heads up on places and`things to do.

As`far as the tailors so far they're not as pad a Pattaya. they try to grab your hand to shake`it then wont let go.

I dont know how`they make a living either there in every third shop.
and I too never see any body in them.

I wore suits and ties for almost 30years. those days are through.

[Hobiecat]

Let's Sea - similar to Nahb Talay. Very good but pricey. Great setting and the best hong nam in town.

I went in to the hong nam there and liked it so much I thought I'd light up a smoke and stay a while. Greatplace to take a s^!t. Wish I brought my fishing rod.

[Bamboo Grove]

The thing that baffles me about all those tailor’s shops in Hua Hin is that I don’t remember ever seeing a single customer in any of them; how do they stay in business?

Could it be the profit margin?

There's never been so many annoying hawkers in stupid Karen hats selling those f***ing croaking frogs

I think they are Akha rather than Karen. Still I agree with you about the frogs.

A very good report, Jim.

[skildpadden]

But could you recommend any good tailor for a first time visitor to Hua Hin?

[Len]

I have never had a problem with the tailors. Look scruffy, unshaven and head bowed as you walk past and you can see them thinking "poor bastard, he wouldn't have a brass razoo. I don't want him in my shop" They don't even acknowledge you . . . Has worked a treat . . .