Hua Hin - Hua Hin, Thailand
Hua Hin, Thailand
So my time in Hua Hin has almost come to an end! It's been different to previous places in the sense there is literally no backpacker scene here. I've not met anyone or had more than a 5 min conversation in 3 days. Usually this would bug me but I've enjoyed just chilling out, beaching it, wandering around, people watching etc. Hua Hin is known for it's fishing villages. Apparently the seafood here is the best in Thailand (obviously I haven't tried any). The night markets are full of giant lobsters, prawns, crabs and all sorts of fish. I can imagine this place is heaven for a seafood eater. The town seems very popular with expat couples and young families, and reminds me a lot of Denia back home in the sense of long beaches and seafood markets but has a buzzing city life too. Not ideal for backpackers, but ok just to chill out for a few days.
The last time I wrote was Monday, my last full day in Bangkok. I had a pretty chilled out day and then in the evening I met up with Ian, the father of Zoe who is a good friend of mine from Spain, and his friend Bruce. They both know Bangkok well as they have been coming for years for work. We went to the Lebua sky bar which was the bar in The Hangover 2. Amazing views over Bangkok - better than the first sky bar I went to because it's more central. It's a bit of a swanky and expensive bar so we skipped drinks and just enjoyed the view instead. Then we went to a basement bar and had a few good glasses of wine. That's when it got messy! Think we eventually rolled in about 4.30am and I had a train the next day. Not a smart move haha
The train here was hell. At Bangkok station I'm sure I asked for 1st class to Hua Hin but when I got on the train I noticed my ticket said 3RD class. No disrespect to the people that were in this part of the train by choice but it was bloody horrendous. Hard bench seats and just a pathetic fan on the ceiling. Noisy as well as food/drink sellers would come down the aisle screaming their services every 5 minutes. The drunk guy sitting opposite me also spilled half his bottle of Thai whiskey all over my legs and feet leaving me stinking of booze!
So 6 awful hours later I arrived in Hua Hin. It was fairly dark by this time so the station was all lit up. It's an amazing station. After googling it later, a lot of people consider it to be the most attractive train station in SE Asia! A quick tricycle taxi ride later (in hindsight I could have walked, I was in it for 2 minutes) I arrived at my guest house and checked in. The place is in a really good location just off the daily night market.
Yesterday I spent the afternoon at the beach getting some colour on my skin. Unfortunately that colour is a reddish/pinkish/lobster colour. The sun is clearly a lot stronger here than back home. Hua Hin beach is ok, but some parts have been affected by the recent oil spill in Thailand. I managed to find a great spot though with white sand and palm trees.
Today after a walk down the beach I went to a place called Khao Takieb. It's a small mountain on the coast that is also known as Monkey Mountain. I had to see this, so after a quick climb I found myself literally surrounded by monkeys. Little ***** they were as well! Trying to steal my camera and sunglasses haha. Luckily the woman who feeds them chucked a big bucket of bananas out so they quickly lost interest in me and the other tourists! I'm writing this from the Hua Hin shopping mall. Stopped by here to see if there was a decent movie on at the cinema tonight, but the only one in English is Thor 2. Haven't even seen Thor 1 so I think I'll just get an early night (again!) and head off tomorrow morning.
I was supposed to be staying here until Saturday but my skin can't take any more sunbathing and I think I've done most of what Hua Hin has to offer! Tomorrow I'm going to head to Kanchanaburi which is where the River Kwai is and therefore the infamous Death Railway and Bridge over the river Kwai. I've heard there's more of a backpackers scene there so hopefully I'll find a bit more to do.
Until next time! x
Here are the links to all my photos. You don't have to be a facebook member to see them!
Pai
Chiang Mai
Chiang Rai
Bangkok
Hua Hin