Came across this article in today's Telegraph. A reporter visits some of Thailand's beach resorts and compares them to how they were ten years ago. There's a short section on HH:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/bestb ... sited.html
The Beach revisited
Do not know about that. Have not been on Koh Kud.
He is certainly right about Koh Lanta!
But in 5 years he might have to report another "Paradise lost" due to today's report.
The 5-star Pimalai is very nice indeed and located on the most beautiful beach of Koh Lanta, Ba Kan Tiang Bay.
But for people not able or willing to spend 10,000++ Baht per night there is a very nice small (15 rooms only) boutique beach front hotel next door called the Phra Nang Lanta.
He is certainly right about Koh Lanta!
But in 5 years he might have to report another "Paradise lost" due to today's report.
The 5-star Pimalai is very nice indeed and located on the most beautiful beach of Koh Lanta, Ba Kan Tiang Bay.
But for people not able or willing to spend 10,000++ Baht per night there is a very nice small (15 rooms only) boutique beach front hotel next door called the Phra Nang Lanta.
We are all living in 'the good old days' of the future.
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Khundon1975
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lomuamart
Back in 1997 my wife's Aunt and sometimes business partner in Thailand, was in Hua Hin scouting for a film location. She liked HH so much she got a house on the beach near the palace and set up her office for her film company there.
Hua Hin was a quiet little town then, ideal for commuting (by road or by air) from BKK unlike today, though the journey/road is better, the town is much busier than in 1997.
I spoke to her in 2000 when she was just starting work on the film "The Beach" (she was the Art Director) and there was some sort of kerfuffle in the press about using Maya Bay for the film, as it was in a National park. However, TIT as they say and Danny Boyle and the American studio got their way.
Looking at that video in your link, it now looks like Piccadilly circus on a bank holiday, not at all like she remembered it when we spoke about the film.
I think that Alex Garlands original theme of a secret beach, hidden away to all but the most adventurous of spirit, works better.
Now it's packed with boats stinking of diesel and petrol. That in itself kills it for me.
I wonder what Maya bay and Koh Phi Phi would look like now if the film had not been made there?
Edit for typo.
Back in 1997 my wife's Aunt and sometimes business partner in Thailand, was in Hua Hin scouting for a film location. She liked HH so much she got a house on the beach near the palace and set up her office for her film company there.
Hua Hin was a quiet little town then, ideal for commuting (by road or by air) from BKK unlike today, though the journey/road is better, the town is much busier than in 1997.
I spoke to her in 2000 when she was just starting work on the film "The Beach" (she was the Art Director) and there was some sort of kerfuffle in the press about using Maya Bay for the film, as it was in a National park. However, TIT as they say and Danny Boyle and the American studio got their way.
Looking at that video in your link, it now looks like Piccadilly circus on a bank holiday, not at all like she remembered it when we spoke about the film.
I think that Alex Garlands original theme of a secret beach, hidden away to all but the most adventurous of spirit, works better.
Now it's packed with boats stinking of diesel and petrol. That in itself kills it for me.
I wonder what Maya bay and Koh Phi Phi would look like now if the film had not been made there?
Edit for typo.
I've lost my mind and I am making no effort to find it.
The article in the OP touches on one of the reasons why I like to live in Hua Hin; it has been a holiday resort for a long time so I don't feel like I'm ruining anything.
There is something strange about this desire to visit attractive, remote locations and then advertise them to the world so that they can be ruined in the way that it has been done by such businesses as the Lonely Planet.
It reflects on peoples inner greed that they can't just enjoy something without destroying it for profit.
There is something strange about this desire to visit attractive, remote locations and then advertise them to the world so that they can be ruined in the way that it has been done by such businesses as the Lonely Planet.
It reflects on peoples inner greed that they can't just enjoy something without destroying it for profit.