Hua Hin Then and Now Comparison

[Dannie Boy]

Yes. I drive past your house twice a week, and it's amazing how it has developed. When we were all in search of red bricks a couple of weeks ago, I went from Wijitra Village (where friends used to live) to the red bricks on Google street view. In many cases the imagery was 2019. It was incredible how much development has gone on in that small area in the last 4 years. Of course, you live in a very popular area at the moment. I too have also been noticing all of the little bars and restaurants popping up in the area.

As I've already said, my first visit was about 2000, and yes, the basic Binthablock infrastructure was there then. Temple restaurants hadn't arrived, because my daughter had a small pitch there selling Isaan food. She was kicked off when the restaurants came. Quite amazing they've been and gone again

Those temple restaurants were one of the highlights from the mid 2000’s and I would eat in one or other of them 2-3 times a week during my holiday visits.

Just remembered the name of my favourite one - Moon Smile and Platoo.

[Big Boy]

Remember it well. Always packed, and often people waiting for a seat. It's great to see they've used the space so well now.

[STEVE G]

On my first visit in 2003, the temple wall restaurants were there but they weren't permanent structures, I remember sitting outside the old Hogsbreath bar on the other side of the street in the afternoon and watching them build up the restaurants and food stalls every day.

[VincentD]

Unlike most of you, I'd fit into the Bangkok weekender crowd..
Got my first car circa 1992 and remember parking it at the Melia. The furthest out of town we stayed was that the Dusit, but I did like the Hin Suay Nam Sai place, the kids and extended family spent at lot of time at the pool. Closer into town, the Hua Hin Grand, City Beach, some small hotel opposite the Centara, and even one night at the Centara (think it was called something else) - never again. Too many hisos. Towards Takiab the Sailom and the Chai Talay condos when you could still get them for a weekend. Loved the long pool and the beach access.
When you come with extended Thai families the main objective is food, especially seafood, and shopping. Not entirely in that order. And a lot of driving around just to see the places. I remember going to that cave with a sala in it; we had to get a boat from the temple and were the only people there that day. And any place the Thais get their seafood fix. The night market. Those stalls at the foot of Khao Takiab. And anywhere between Bangkok and Hua Hin where the places looked busy enough or sold khanom (sweets and snacks).
I didn't join the board till early 2004, didn't know it existed. My brother found the HHAD website and I joined the first meetup at JW's cafe. Can still picture Buksi in his maroon HHAD t-shirt..
Came up for the jazz festivals, but I think it was only the first one that I really liked. As I said, your typical Bangkok weekender.
Haven't been back for a while, perhaps sometime next year when I finally get my cataracts done and can drive long distance again.
And yes, I prefer the Hua Hin of old.

[Dannie Boy]

Remember it well. Always packed, and often people waiting for a seat. It's great to see they've used the space so well now.

That was probably me!!

One of the memories of this restaurant was the lady owner/chef - she used to wear the brightest red lipstick imaginable, but her food was great, my particular favourite was a really spice prawn and pineapple curry with a lot of coconut sauce - used to burn the back of my throat off!!

[caller]

As I've already said, my first visit was about 2000, and yes, the basic Binthablock infrastructure was there then. Temple restaurants hadn't arrived, because my daughter had a small pitch there selling Isaan food. She was kicked off when the restaurants came. Quite amazing they've been and gone again

In 2003, there were a couple (or more) of 'pop-up' restaurants alongside the temple wall, I have no idea what time they started, but it was only in the evenings. I used one that served a fearsome Pad Krapao, that was somehow wonderful at about 2am! They were taken down and removed by day time as far as I can recollect. I never saw them there anyway.

I was really surprised when I saw the permanent restaurants, as I always understood the reason the earlier versions had to be removed, was because of the temple. But the whole thing was, as now, contradictory.

EDIT Just saw Steve's post on the same subject.

[Big Boy]

On my first visit in 2003, the temple wall restaurants were there but they weren't permanent structures, I remember sitting outside the old Hogsbreath bar on the other side of the street in the afternoon and watching them build up the restaurants and food stalls every day.

My daughter was probably there at that point.

[Vise]

I'm not sure how I stack up among everyone else here, but I was 19 when I came to Hua Hin for the first time, back in the spring of 2003. I wasn't a shy person, but was still kind of feeling out who I was when I enrolled at Webster University in St. Louis, Missouri, USA in the fall of 2002. I was accepted into their study abroad program, and went to the now defunct Webster University Thailand campus way out in the countryside between Hua Hin and Cha-am. I loved the experience so much that I came back for my spring 2004 and spring 2006 semesters. Webster University is a very artsy fartsy liberal arts school, and gave students a lot of general education credits that they could use to take any class they want, and it would count towards their graduation. Basically, I took all of my serious classes in the USA, and signed up for my gen-ed classes while in Hua Hin. This was a good strategy, because I skipped a lot of classes, and because Webster University Thailand kind of had a "fake it until you make it" attitude towards their campus academics. I'm sure there were good programs on offer there, but I know the school struggled to properly staff and equip the school. I'm not surprised that it closed, but very disappointed that it did, because it was an extremely special time in my life, one that I think about often.

Most of my memories of Hua Hin at that time period were of the downtown area, especially Binta, where I spent waaaaay too much time drinking (even for a college kid). Some of my favorites at that time were The Ship (owned by Eddy who owns Murphy's now), London, Octopus, Heaven (I think it was there then, possibly under a different name - they had the great live band), Hilton (because what the hell did I know), and King, though to be honest, I would pop into any place that looked busy and exciting. I used to stay out playing pool and darts and talking to women who in any other place would have been way out of my league until late, and then grab some food from some late night stall in the night market and take a motorbike taxi home, only to do it all again the next day.

I loved exploring the city, just walking through it all randomly down streets. There was always a bar to pop into, but also I loved the markets, the buildings, the atmosphere. It had a very exciting energy, where it felt like anything could happen. Being from Missouri, I had never lived close to the beach, and that was an added plus. I loved meeting and talking to people from all over the world, and since most of the English speakers were on holiday, it meant that everyone was ready to hang out and have fun. From Hua Hin, I was able to travel all around the region, from Singapore to Cambodia, and many different cities around Thailand. I feel like I gained a lot of confidence through travelling around on my own, and having so many great experiences helped me figure out who I was at the time.

Student housing at the time was in Hin Nam Sai Suay and the VIP Condochain (which was a bit "rustic" at the time, and now seems to be absolutely on the verge of collapse from some of the recent pics I've seen). Getting into the city required a motorbike or hopping on one of the busses (I forget the name of that type of bus) for 10 baht. Occasionally, I would walk it, and it was cool to see some of the empty places in between the built up areas. I remember seeing large snakes crossing the highway, as well as seeing the King's motorcade as he travelled between Hua Hin and Bangkok. I loved the smell of the air at night when I walked through less busy places, and never felt at risk of being held up (whether or not this was a real possibility was something I hadn't considered at the time...I may have just been extremely lucky).

I don't remember exactly how I got wind of this forum, but I had been a member under a different username since about 2004. I met a few people around 2006 at the Hua Hin After Dark party. Ever since I've left, I've been a lurker in the forum, and it helps me keep up with the place, though I'm sure so much has changed that I wouldn't recognize most of it.

[VincentD]

At a guess, the Understudy, but I could be wrong..

[Vise]

Haha...Viseman

[bigston]

Would be nice to see for many of us, some " Old " vs " New "
happy snaps taken over the years

[STEVE G]

...... Some of my favorites at that time were The Ship (owned by Eddy who owns Murphy's now)....

I did quite a bit of drinking in The Ship around that period, I remember very late nights!

[2dandan]

[/quote]
Just remembered the name of my favourite one - Moon Smile and Platoo.
[/quote]

After the temple restaurants closed they moved to to the Plaza which closed down due to Covid. Moonsmile and Platoo is still on the go and they have reopened in a small unit on Chomsin Road (about 200m on left after the T junction after the railway crossing). It’s still got the same owner and she still wears her bright red lipstick.

[dtaai-maai]

At a guess, the Understudy, but I could be wrong..

I'm pretty sure you're wrong, that's waaaay too understated for the Understudy!

[Dannie Boy]

Just remembered the name of my favourite one - Moon Smile and Platoo.
[/quote]

After the temple restaurants closed they moved to to the Plaza which closed down due to Covid. Moonsmile and Platoo is still on the go and they have reopened in a small unit on Chomsin Road (about 200m on left after the T junction after the railway crossing). It’s still got the same owner and she still wears her bright red lipstick.
[/quote]

Thanks for the update - it’s many years since I last tried her fiery prawn curry but I think a visit may be in order