Category: Thailand

A Few Days in Hua Hin

7th to 13th September 2018

Spent time in Hua Hin solely with the intention of relaxing; no rushing about on this trip.

The railway station is a tourist attraction in itself – there is even a royal waiting room though it doesn’t seem to have been used for a long time.

Hua Hin Railway StationHua Hin Railway StationHua Hin Railway StationHua Hin Railway StationHua Hin Railway Station Royal Waiting RoomHua Hin Railway StationHua Hin Railway StationHua Hin Railway Station 

The hotel was supposedly 3.5 stars but personally I doubt that, there was nothing wrong with it and it’s main point was its convenient location but it wasn’t a patch on the Royal Pavilion where we stayed last time. You get what you pay for – this was much cheaper.

Hua Hin Tanawit Hotel and SpaHua Hin Tanawit Hotel and Spa

A lot of time was spent eating; good food especially seafood was everywhere. There was one notable restaurant which was always crowded. When we first came across it there was a queue waiting for a vacant table.

Hua Hin RestaurantHua Hin Restaurant

In the event we ate there several times and by coming early never had to queue. Most of their food was delicious.

Hua Hin Restaurant FoodHua Hin Restaurant Food

They were popular (famous?) for their claypot, personally it, like the similar steamboat, left me cold – I just don’t like boiled meat; boiled fish is OK but boiled meat? Not for me! The rest of their food was fine.

Hua Hin Restaurant FoodHua Hin Restaurant

Hua Hin has plenty of other restaurants.

Hua Hin Restaurant FoodHua Hin Restaurant Food

There was food on the jetty, at the night market and just about every street in town.

Hua Hin JettyHua Hin JettyHua Hin JettyHua Hin JettyHua Hin JettyHua Hin Day MarketHua HinHua Hin Night MarketHua Hin Night MarketHua Hin Night Market

A short walk from the hotel was all the usual sights and sounds of urban Thailand.

Hua Hin WaterfrontHua Hin WaterfrontHua Hin WaterfrontHua Hin Hua Hin Hua Hin Hua Hin Hua Hin WaterfrontHua Hin BeachHua Hin BeachHua Hin WaterfrontHua Hin BeachHua Hin BeachHua HinHua HinHua HinHua HinHua Hin

It is definitely the off season with only a few Europeans about; there are a few pommie accents but the majority seem to be German or Scandinavian. The mainstay of the tourism industry at this time of the year seems to be coach loads of China Chinese visiting for a few hours (that is my observation only it might not be the case).

Crossing the Border into Thailand

7th September 2018

After Langkawi it seemed a good idea to spend a few days in Thailand. Hua Hin is a Thai seaside town a few hours south of Bangkok on the Gulf of Thailand that used to be a favourite holiday spot for the late king of Thailand. I had been there a few years previously and seen all the sights so it seemed a perfect place to go and laze and enjoy the local food.

The Malaysian/Thai Border

The nearest road crossing into Thailand from Malaysia is at Changloon or Sadeo (depending on which side of the border you are on). In the Duty Free zone on the Malaysian side we hired a Thai driver to take us to Hat Yai Railway Station for 700baht ($30).

The whole customs post area is undergoing massive redevelopment and we accidentally bypassed the Malaysian Customs post so had to return on a motorcycle taxi to get our passports stamped properly before being allowed through the Thai immigration.

Hat Yai

The overnight special express to Bangkok doesn’t leave until 6.45pm so there were a few hours to kill. First order of business was to put the cases in the left luggage office and find something to eat as lunchtime had been and gone. There is a Chinese restaurant a short distance from the station which makes a great Chicken Rice.

Hat Yai Chinese RestaurantHat Yai Chicken Rice

We already had our ticket to Hua Hin.

SRT Train Ticket Hat Yai to Hua HinBut, after eating, it was back to the station to buy some tickets for the return journey in a few days time. First the ticket from Hua Hin to Hat Yai, then the shuttle train ticket from Hat Yai to Padang Besar (the rail crossing point into Malaysia) for when we return in a few days time.

SRT Train Ticket Hua Hin to Hat YaiSRT Train Ticket Hat Yai to Pedang Besar

I have been to Hat Yai many times and the train timetable hasn’t changed at all in that time. Having said that, as a timetable it is perhaps more of a suggestion than an actual event but it seems to work. Just be warned – trains are never early.

Hat Yai StationHat Yai StationHat Yai StationHat Yai StationHat Yai Station

The timetable may not have changed but the carriages on the First Class Sleepers certainly have. Previously they were a bit tired and very 1950ish but the new rolling stock is a similar design but quite modern with screens in each compartment offering a GPS view of your progress and some entertainment. The carriage has several toilets and a shower.

SRT 1st Class SleeperSRT 1st Class SleeperSRT 1st Class SleeperSRT 1st Class Sleeper

Dinner on the train wasn’t that bad – Well, not compared to airline food.

SRT 1st Class Sleeper Food

The train arrived in Hua Hin at 6.30am – ie stupid o’clock – but, on the bright side, it was the coolest part of the day and only a short walk to the hotel.