- The dangerous act of motor cycles mounting the pavement to get ahead of the queuing traffic at traffic lights. When Rider demonstrated this act in Bangkok a while back, I didn’t appreciate just how dangerous an act it was. Having been on the receiving end 3 times already on this visit, I can assure you, it scares the hell out of me when I hear an engine revving directly behind me.
- There seems to have been a large increase in the volume of traffic. Vehicles are using what were the smaller, quieter roads as rat runs. These smaller roads were not meant for the volume of traffic they are carrying.
- I notice the MacDonalds drive through kiosk by the traffic lights on Petchkasem Road has doubled in size. Business must be good.
- Prices on the road outside the Hilton up to the Fishing Pier have ballooned. I was noticing the displayed prices, which were easily equivalent, if not more when compared to prices back home. OK, maybe on one of the piers you could be getting that special ambience that is Hua Hin, but other places look out on to a busy, dirty road. We ate at Lek Lek’s last night for a fifth of the price, where the food was every bit as good. The road outside was no dirtier nor any less busy.
- No cars permitted sign on the road from the Hilton to the turning for the Chinese Temples. 4 cars passed us as we walked that stretch. TIT.
- The only buildings I’ve noticed are the development on Satakurn Square and the Villa Supermarket.
- We’ve used 5 Tuk Tuks so far, and the cost has always been (what I consider to be a reasonable) 100Baht each time.
- Something I’ve never said about Hua Hin before, the beach looked less than clean, and this morning there were hundreds of dead fish being washed ashore. It just made me wonder why people were still swimming, and what was the killer substance they were swimming in?
- The way to phone cheaply to the UK has changed. It’s no longer 00944, but is now 0050044.
- I’m no longer Hansum
. I’ve walked the length of Binthabaht, and haven’t had anybody tell me that I’m Hansum. Maybe these Thai opticians aren’t as good as they claim to be.- After dragging a Baby Annabelle doll halfway across the world for one of my grand daughters, I see that UK standard toys are now available in Hua Hin. Decent batteries for the toys are also available.
As I said, these are just my observations in the first 3 days back in Hua Hin.
