Although the distance between Cha am and Hua Hin is less then 20 miles, the difference between the two towns couldn’t be more marked. Hua Hin has clearly targeted the western tourist but hasn’t totally abandoned it’s roots.
It’s full of excellent international and regional restaurants and bars but has not succumbed to the seediness of the likes of Pattaya largely due to the regular presence of the Thai Royal family who have a large home here.
Being a comfortable 3 hour drive from Bangkok, it’s a popular weekend home spot for Thais
and retirement foreigners. Property development is everywhere.
Hua Hin beach is not the best I’ve seen but there are some excellent semi deserted spots close by
and of course, there are the markets.
At first, I thought the taxidermist had been having some fun with this moggy until it yawned and went back to sleep again!
What I like most about Hua Hin is the olde world charm in parts of the town despite the obvious explosive growth in other areas over recent years. Nowhere is this more evident than the listed building that is the train station
built in the early 20th century and lovingly maintained ever since.
The trains themselves though have been upgraded to semi modern diesels
one of which took me on a 5 hour journey through rice fields which later gave way to palm oil and rubber plantations 
and finally to Surat Thani from where I caught the high speed ferry to Koh Samui
a mere 45 minutes away, albeit through some fairly choppy water!
I have visited Koh Samui many times before so might have given the island a miss on this particular trip. However, as my daughter arrives here in less then 1 week’s time I just had to be here. There are far worse places to spend a few days in late January/early Feb!
Phileas
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