| No visit to Thailand is complete without a trip to | | | | Luang Phor Thuat lived his life. He was known for |
| the beautiful resort beaches of Hua Hin. Located | | | | performing miracles and his former residence is |
| 200 miles south of Bangkok, Hua Hin is one of the | | | | now a large public park featuring a giant statue of |
| oldest and most popular sandy destinations in the | | | | him as its centerpiece. |
| country. | | | | At night Hua Hin comes alive with a large open-air |
| While many of the other beach resorts in Thailand | | | | market where you can buy nearly anything under |
| - including Phuket and Samui - have been over | | | | the moon, and see what types of interesting fish |
| developed and overrun with tourist hotels and | | | | and fruits the locals like to eat. You can also |
| restaurants, Hua Hin has retained its traditional | | | | sample any of the many excellent seafood |
| charm as both a resort and a working fishing | | | | restaurants that surround the market. |
| village. | | | | If you want to sample local products, look for |
| The beach is over five miles long and surrounded | | | | things made from Khommaphat, which is a type |
| by some of the best, yet least expensive, golf | | | | of cotton unique to the Hua Hin region. They use |
| courses in the entire world. The city itself was | | | | it to make everything from shirts to large |
| discovered more than 80 years ago by King | | | | decorative pieces of art. |
| Rama VII. He chose the place as his home away | | | | The one downside of Hua Hin is that it does not |
| from home when he wanted to escape the heat | | | | have as active a nightlife culture as the other |
| and humidity of the capital city. | | | | beach resort towns in Thailand. Your best bet is |
| Once King Rama built his palace in what had up | | | | to hit the Soi Bintabaht and Soi Selakam areas |
| until that point been a fishing village, other Siam | | | | where you can find local beer bars. By royal |
| nobility were soon to follow - which fueled the | | | | decree, there are no go-go bars in town. |
| growth and popularity of Hua Hin. | | | | Hua Hin has three important regional festivals, |
| The king's palace - called Klai Kangwon, which | | | | including:o The Thailand's International Kite Festival |
| means "Far From Worries" - remains an official | | | | is held from March through May in Hua Hin during |
| royal residence and popular attraction to this day. | | | | even numbered years. It features stunt kites, big |
| Public tours are easy to arrange - even when | | | | kites, little kites, high tech kites, traditional Thai |
| members of the royal family are staying there! | | | | kites, and displays of international kites.o Hua Hin |
| Be careful outside the palace, however, because | | | | Jazz Festival is held through the month of June on |
| security is very tight and any type of public | | | | the beach. It attracts world-class Jazz musicians |
| intoxication or other bad behavior near the palace | | | | and is considered one of the most popular events |
| is dealt with very strictly by the local police | | | | in Hua Hin.o Hua Hin Vintage Car Rally. Sponsored |
| officers. | | | | by Vintage Car Club of Thailand and the Tourism |
| While the main tourist activity is to lie out on the | | | | Authority of Thailand, the car rally is held every |
| sandy beach and have locals bring your drinks or | | | | December. All of the cars in the rally are vintage |
| provide massages, there are sites to see when | | | | from the 1920s, in celebration of when the King |
| you've decided you've had your fill of fun in the | | | | discovered the city. |
| sun. | | | | Getting to Hua Hin is easy from nearly any part |
| Most of the wealthiest families in Thailand have | | | | of Thailand. It is hooked up to most of the major |
| built their summer homes near the palace or on | | | | rail lines and you can get a direct train from |
| the beach, which means there is beautiful | | | | Bangkok. There are also several bus routes from |
| architecture to see as you stroll around and | | | | both Bangkok and Malaysia. |
| explore Hua Hin. | | | | Overall, the weather is temperate. There is a brief |
| Khao Takiap is a large hill that is filled with beautiful | | | | rainy season in the spring, but the showers tend |
| Buddhist temples and offers the best overhead | | | | to be very short and are often over in five |
| view of the city, the port and the ocean. It is a | | | | minutes or less - so you can get right back to the |
| four-kilometer hike, so you may want to rent a | | | | sun and fun! |
| bike or motorcycle to take you to the top. | | | | You will notice that there are many, many more |
| The Hua Hin railway station is one of the oldest | | | | Thai tourists in Hua Hin than in the other national |
| stations in Thailand and is so beautiful that it is | | | | beach resorts. While westerners do come to Hua |
| considered one of the country's landmarks. | | | | Hin, there are far fewer of them here than in |
| The Spirit Houses of Brassiere Beach has a really | | | | Phuket or any of the other beach towns. |
| odd history. Legend has it that the daughter of a | | | | This leads to a certain charm, because Hua Hin |
| local fisherman was eaten by fish because she | | | | has yet to be completely corrupted by tourists - |
| was too beautiful to live in the world. Today, men | | | | and you can feel like you are having a very |
| and women leave brasseries on the beach in | | | | authentic Thailand vacation experience! |
| order to ask the gods for good luck. | | | | So, next time you are in Thailand, hop on the |
| Namtok Pa Lau is an 11-tier waterfall located | | | | train and check out the beautiful beaches, |
| about 30 miles outside of town. It is easy to get | | | | waterfalls and temples of Hua Hin. Consider it a |
| to by bus, and is particularly popular on hot and | | | | royal experience! |
| humid days. | | | | You'll be glad you did! |
| Wat Huay Mongkol was where famed monk | | | | |