Tom's travels - Hua Hin after dark

[pharvey]

Is "After Dark" going PC?... Just a question.

[PeteC]

"After Dark" has to, to a degree. It's "Night Crawlers" that doesn't have to at all.

[pharvey]

"After Dark" has to, to a degree. It's "Night Crawlers" that doesn't have to at all.

Ahh.. My mistake..... Apologies yet again. Getting senile.... And too old obviously for Night Crawlers!!

[uncle tom]

Yesterday's update delayed for a fact check..

Romantic Bar

Location: Soi Bintabaht, in the 'Walking Street' area, about 20m from Poonsuk Rd

This is, as confirmed by it's former boss (but still very much around) the oldest surviving bar in the 'Bintablock' area using the same name. U Turn Bar has been around longer as a bar, but was called Tulip Bar apparently, when the Romantic opened in 1999.

Which bar is the oldest of them all in town is an interesting question - Linda Bar in Soi 80 looks as old as the hills, but I've no idea when it started.

This bar has for many years been my primary watering hole, and has also been a focal point for many others as a place to meet up. The bar has been an active marriage market for its girls over the years, and the friendship and camaraderie of the bar frequently sees former 'staffers' returning to visit with their new husbands in tow, not to mention the odd brat running around.

The current boss has given the place a lick of paint since taking over a year ago, but the mottled grey decor is not to everyone's liking. Worse is that 'my' chair at the corner of the bar, has been replaced by a L shaped bench seat..

To be fair, the new boss has had a very tough act to follow, but whilst I still call in most evenings, I no longer feel part of the furniture as I once did..

[uncle tom]

Two birds, one stone.

I needed to buy my year's supply of Allopurinol, which I take daily to ward off gout. It's wonderful stuff, and really works, but you have to be very careful with the dosage. I can get this in the UK with an annual prescription charge ticket which would set me back £104. Shopping around in Hua Hin a couple of years ago, where it's available over the counter, I found a vast range of prices, varying from 95 baht to 20 baht a strip.

Then one pharmacy offered it to me for 15 baht a strip if I bought full boxes of 50 strips. As I take two tabs a day, this works out at £28 a year - almost a quarter the price of getting it on prescription in the UK, and no need to get a fresh supply every 28 days.

That pharmacy has no English shop sign other than the word 'Pharmacy' painted on the windows. It's located on the corner of Dechanuchit and the fishing pier road.

However they didn't have a full box in stock, but could order it - about ten minutes they said..

..some things the Thais get right - a shop being able to phone up and get fresh stock delivered by motorbike in minutes is one of them.

So instead of waiting I went next door but one, back up Dechanuchit

NETE Massage

Checked the price first as I won't pay more than 300 for an oil massage (there was a concerted attempt to raise the price to 350 across the town a couple of years back, which customer boycotting reversed)

On the menu, the option of Coconut oil massage was offered for 350, but I didn't ask for that.

Masseuse was about 60 which was good:

a) Because you usually get the full hour with an older lady
b) She is usually very experienced and knows her craft
c) If you're not looking for 'extras' it can be tiresome if the masseuse touts them, which an older lady won't

Massage room was a private cubicle with raised table, but no face hole. Being just over 6ft tall I found the table had the common problem of being just a little shorter than was ideal.

She proceeded to use the coconut oil even though I hadn't asked for it, but I said nothing. Her use of the oil was sparing and the massage was very professional. A good job done.

Afterwards I proffered a 500 note for payment and was given 200 back - no charge for the coconut oil.

I tipped her 40.

A competent shop.

[uncle tom]

Oraya's restaurant

Location: Soi Selakam, behind Limelight bar (take the right fork in the road)

A unique family run restaurant this, and definitely one for those who want to get a better understanding of Thai cuisine.

Unusually, the kitchen is at the front, and at quieter times of the day, customers can get hands-on experience of Thai cooking methods.

At busy times, booking a table is strongly recommended as the restaurant is invariably busy around 7pm. Service can be slow at peak times as the kitchen does not compromise on quality.

The menu is flexible, and as the proprietor's English husband likes a few home comforts, English meals can be produced with a little notice (they usually have fish and chips on the menu on Friday's) The pricing is very competitive.

This is one of the few businesses in Hua Hin where the property is owned by the family, and the proprietor's aged father who owns the building, can often be seen sitting quietly and serenely.

The restaurant is normally closed on Sundays.

A great little eatery, but not if you're in a hurry..

[falanglongtime]

Thanks for these, very informative and nicely timed. I'll be in HH early March. PS: Hut Bar would be an interesting review.

[Lost]

Enjoying reading your excellent reports Tom and, echoing the above sentiment, it really is a useful 'in and around town' thread. Looking forward to some more.

[uncle tom]

Nees Tiki Bar

Location: On Google maps, the road is called Petchkasem road (not to be confused with the similarly named main drag) It's basically an alleyway that runs next to the temple wall leading into Dechanuchit and is about 30m down from that road.

This bar is arguably the craziest in town with a loud and outrageous mamasan who assails passers by with cries such as 'buy beer - free condom'. Upon ordering a drink she will almost always say 'and you buy me drink also?' - but she's not offended if you decline.

There's usually a handful of girls in there - one last year was by some margin the smallest bar girl I've ever seen, a thirty something single mother standing barely four feet tall and as light as a feather, who adored being cuddled by big men. Despite her diminutive stature there was nothing shy or retiring about her - I gather she may return.

The bar's opening times are erratic, stock control is chaotic and the last time I attempted to play pool the table was way off level - but what else do you expect?

[thecolonel]

Nees Tiki Bar

Location: On Google maps, the road is called Petchkasem road (not to be confused with the similarly named main drag) It's basically an alleyway that runs next to the temple wall leading into Dechanuchit and is about 30m down from that road.

This bar is arguably the craziest in town with a loud and outrageous mamasan who assails passers by with cries such as 'buy beer - free condom'. Upon ordering a drink she will almost always say 'and you buy me drink also?' - but she's not offended if you decline.

There's usually a handful of girls in there - one last year was by some margin the smallest bar girl I've ever seen, a thirty something single mother standing barely four feet tall and as light as a feather, who adored being cuddled by big men. Despite her diminutive stature there was nothing shy or retiring about her - I gather she may return.

The bar's opening times are erratic, stock control is chaotic and the last time I attempted to play pool the table was way off level - but what else do you expect?

I can't make those directions add up. Dechanuchit is Soi 57 is it not? I can't connect that with the Temple???

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[PeteC]

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nees-Tik ... 4170761472

There's also a Nees Tiki Club... two Nees battling it out?

https://www.facebook.com/NEES-TIKI-CLUB ... 7165634008

[hhinner]

Nees Tiki Bar

Location: On Google maps, the road is called Petchkasem road (not to be confused with the similarly named main drag) It's basically an alleyway that runs next to the temple wall leading into Dechanuchit and is about 30m down from that road.

This bar is arguably the craziest in town with a loud and outrageous mamasan who assails passers by with cries such as 'buy beer - free condom'. Upon ordering a drink she will almost always say 'and you buy me drink also?' - but she's not offended if you decline.

There's usually a handful of girls in there - one last year was by some margin the smallest bar girl I've ever seen, a thirty something single mother standing barely four feet tall and as light as a feather, who adored being cuddled by big men. Despite her diminutive stature there was nothing shy or retiring about her - I gather she may return.

The bar's opening times are erratic, stock control is chaotic and the last time I attempted to play pool the table was way off level - but what else do you expect?

I can't make those directions add up. Dechanuchit is Soi 57 is it not? I can't connect that with the Temple???

Sent from my Redmi Note 4 using Tapatalk

He means the alley runs from dechanuchit up past the temple.

[uncle tom]

My mistake - it's the continuation of the temple wall - the buildings on the other side may not belong to the temple.

Dechanuchit is also shown as 57 on maps

Nees Tiki and Nees Tiki Club are the same (I think..)

[Gus]

I am not sure if Kontiki Bar is where ??? works, she is good fun but has not had a baby herself.

[thecolonel]

My mistake - it's the continuation of the temple wall - the buildings on the other side may not belong to the temple.

Dechanuchit is also shown as 57 on maps

Nees Tiki and Nees Tiki Club are the same (I think..)

Ah OK, this is the bar next door to Johnny's 56(sometimes known as Johnny Walkers bar). On the other side of Johnny's is the vacant former food hall site

Also, fwiw, I think those walls are not the temple walls(hence my confusion) but those of the school that fronts Nebkaeheardt, but I could be wrong

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