Cha-am ing?

A serious attack of ‘man ‘flu’ has limited my exploring activities over the last few days but has given me a chance to catch up on what has been going on back in Blighty. This didn’t take long as, clearly, the usual post festive torpor has limited any earth shattering developments other than Liverpool’s magnificent win against Man City, of course. The collapse of Carillion, UK’s second largest construction company, caught my eye, though. I’m sure there will be many an ‘expert’ view of what went wrong but my simple observation is that the company was too focussed on sales growth (largely by acquisition which is never easy) rather than profit. Anyway, what really interests me is the question of why our glorious government kept on awarding Carillion large contracts when it knew the company was in trouble? Doubtless the demise of Carillion will be thoroughly investigated but will similarly searching questions also be asked about what would appear to be, at the very least, the reckless or naive actions of certain MPs ?

About 2.5 hours drive south west of the the hustle and bustle of Bangkok is the coastal town of Cha-am, located 25km north of the better known resort of Hua Hin. I’ve never been here before and if I’m brutally honest, I’m not sure if I ever will again! It’s OK I suppose but neither has the character of a quaint Thai village or small town nor the facilities and amenities of a popular tourist destination. I’m happy, therefore to be staying in a small hamlet about 7km inland from Cha-am itself. As with so many places just a few miles from the tourist ‘traps’, it’s all a bit rundown

and very rural

although it does boast a DIY laundrette in the main street!

Hidden away in the middle of this agricultural community is a tiny little oasis of a ‘resort’ comprising 4 bedrooms in the main house and a mere 4 bungalows

spread out in a beautifully mature landscaped garden

bursting with colour and all manner of wildlife.

This little gem was designed, built and has been owned by Rudi The German for the past 17 years who is now looking for another project and wants to sell it. If I was 20 years younger I would be seriously tempted as it really is an idyllic spot.

The downside is that there are no nearby shops although mobile sellers of foodstuffs are never far away.

Watermelons at a little more than 50p each is unreal!

There is, however, one restaurant – bizzarely, a Mexican –

owned by a curious, late middle aged Brit from the Manchester area! Quite why he chose to settle here and then offer this type of culinary fare in is a question as yet unanswered. It’s a funny old world!