When was your first visit to Hua Hin?

Post by **caducus** » Mon Feb 16, 2009 10:01 pm

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 My hotel was either next to or has been replaced by the present-day Chat Chai hotel.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.

Post by **STEVE G** » Mon Feb 16, 2009 10:05 pm

I first visited Hua Hin in 2003 on the recommendation of a friend who had been visiting Thailand for many years.
I had been living in Jakarta for some time and was looking for a base in SE Asia that was a bit more pleasant and friendly.

Post by **dtaai-maai** » Mon Feb 16, 2009 10:08 pm

caducus wrote: ... and a Bangladesh Biman flight back to London.

Brave man!

First visit to Thailand 1987. First visit to HH 2004, living in HH area since 2006. Sometimes I wonder why.

Post by **Fybo** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 3:05 am

Sept 1999; come over on a golfing holiday - and have been coming back every year since.

Will be back in HH in May, cant wait.

Post by **hhfarang** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 10:20 am

My first visit was some time in the third quarter of 1975.

Cadacus,

Would you happen to have any old photos of Hua Hin at that time that you could scan and post? I'd love to see Petchkasem road in 1975!

Post by **caducus** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 1:18 pm

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.

Post by **jimk** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 1:53 pm

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.

Post by **raphoedon** » Fri Feb 20, 2009 6:51 am

World cup b4 last, first trip for my mates village wedding.Fellin love with the place. Been back twice a year scice.
Can't see that happening this year as the £ is on its arse.

Post by **Bamboo Grove** » Fri Feb 20, 2009 4:28 pm

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.

Post by **jimbeam1** » Thu Mar 12, 2009 10:21 pm

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

Post by **Khundon1975** » Thu Mar 12, 2009 10:30 pm

Passed through in a car, on the way to SP in 85 (I think

) not much in HH then. Roads were crap I remember.

Post by **hhfarang** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 9:36 am

Roads were crap I remember.

Most of the roads still are crap...

Post by **Nisakiman** » Wed Mar 18, 2009 4:10 am

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!

Post by **Khundon1975** » Wed Mar 18, 2009 5:22 pm

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.

Post by **lazerlab** » Wed Mar 18, 2009 9:34 pm

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