Hua Hin - our new home in Thailand
Small but regal seaside resort Hua Hin is the oldest seaside resort in Thailand. The place was of particular importance during the reign of King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX), who led Hua Hin to prosperity as the summer residence of the Thai royal family. Many buildings and palaces were built during his reign and made Hua Hin a real pearl on the Gulf of Thailand. Since then, the city has developed into a fashionable seaside resort on the new Thai Riviera. Hua Hin is about 3 hours' drive south-west of Bangkok and is well developed thanks to extensive infrastructure measures. Around 43,000 people currently live in Hua Hin and the surrounding area, around 12% of whom are emigrants from all over the world. There is a German bakery, a Swiss butcher, English pubs and everything else that we have in Europe. Of course, the main attractions are various markets with fresh seafood and exotic vegetables and fruits, which we often only know from photos.
The climate in Hua Hin is subtropical and has an average temperature of 27.2 degrees per year without major fluctuations. There are actually only two real characteristics of the seasons: the rainy season (May to October) and the summer season (November to April). The rainy season brings the monsoons to South Asia, with moderate rainfall in the Hua Hin region due to its proximity to the mountains bordering Myanmar. Hua Hin is more known as a dry area during the monsoon season. It rains almost every day, but only once in the form of a thunderstorm or short warm land rain, then it quickly dries up again. The heat in the Thai summer can be tolerated very well by the sea and there is always a pleasantly cool Bise from the wooded mountains to Hua Hin._cc781905-5cde-3194-bb3b -136bad5cf58d_
Ever since the royal family regularly stayed in Hua Hin for their summer holidays, there is no lack of cultural highlights and leisure activities at a high level. In addition to countless markets, natural beauties, national parks and cultural and Buddhist sights, there are all kinds of distractions throughout the year. Boredom is not an issue for us anyway, but in between things can be colorful with us.
Hua Hin is world-renowned for its top world-class golf courses. International golf tournaments are regularly held here in a total of 8 golf resorts in and around Hua Hin. Numerous mostly Asian or Australian holidaymakers come to Hua Hin especially for golfing.
In mid-April, the wildest party ever takes place and the whole of Thailand is in a state of emergency. "Songkran" is celebrated excessively as a New Year's and water festival - you shouldn't drive a car on these days and it's best to go shopping in swimming trunks. Songkran has its origins as a Buddhist holiday, where in the hottest month of the year, homage is paid to the element of water as the source of life. What is made of it on the streets can be seen here - a huge water fight! You get splashed everywhere and everywhere - and you should return the favor in equal measure. I'll get myself a big bazooka water cannon in spring :-) Either join in - or stay at home (Photos: Thai Tourism)
A similarly grand festival, albeit far quieter and more festive, always takes place on November 10th - at the time of the full moon in the 12th month of the Thai cycle. The festival is called "Loy Krathong", which means something like "drifting raft". In the evening, people put small banana leaf boats with flowers, a candle and incense sticks on the water. The custom comes from Hinduism as a thank you to the flow of life and the beginning of a new cycle, accompanied by inner cleansing and letting go of the past. Today, modern Thais tend to associate the festival with wishes that set off as a candle on the water. If the candle is still burning after the next bend, the wishes you sent will come true (hopefully). 3194-bb3b-136bad5cf58d_ _cc781905-5cde-3194 -bb3b-136bad5cf58d_ _cc781905 -5cde-3194-bb3b-136bad5cf58d_ _cc781905-5cde-3194-bb3b-136ba d5cf58d_ _cc781905-5cde- Image Sources: Hua Hin Tourism, Google
Anyone who is wild about water sports will of course also find all kinds of opportunities to let off steam in the wet element in Hua Hin. There are two large aqua fun parks with giant slides and outdoor pools in Hua Hin City, which guarantee eventful days especially for families with children. Hua Hin hosts an annual regatta that attracts international sailors and thousands of onlookers.
But the real attraction is kite surfing - a kind of wind surfing hanging from a kite. Steady winds provide the best conditions and make Hua Hin Beach one of the top spots in the world for the international kitesurf specialists. Many top-class competitions take place here, but beginner courses are also offered for young people to adults from the upper section of the beach. It looks really spectacular when the pros fly across the water as fast as an arrow pulled by their kites and show their acrobatics in the air. 3194-bb3b-136bad5cf58d_ _cc781905-5cde-3194 -bb3b-136bad5cf58d_ _cc781905 -5cde-3194-bb3b-136bad5cf58d_ _cc781905-5cde-31 94-bb3b-136bad5cf58d_ _cc781905-5cde-3194 -bb3b-136bad5cf58d_ Bildquelle: Hua Hin Tourism
Yes, and then of course there is the top highlight of the year: The Hua Hin Jazz Festival. Every year in June, this free festival takes place on Hua Hin Beach - and the real stars of the scene put the microphone in their hands. The Jazz Festival also dates back to a fondness of the late King Rama IX. He was an enthusiastic jazz musician himself and even composed a few pieces himself. So you can enjoy this festival right on the beach for a whole weekend with a bottle of wine in the basket and your feet in the warm sand. bb3b-136bad5cf58d_ _cc781905- 5cde-3194-bb3b-136bad5cf58d_ _cc781905-5cde-3194-bb3b -136bad5cf58d_ _cc781905-5cde -3194-bb3b-136bad5cf58d_ _cc781905-5cde-3194 -bb3b-136bad5cf58d_ _cc781905 -5cde-3194-bb3b-136bad5cf58d_ _cc781905-5cde-3194- bb3b-136bad5cf58d_ Bildquellen: Hua Hin Tourism, Google
The Kite Festival, like many other events, takes place here in Hua Hin / Cha-Am every year. A colorful sky that leaves no room for bad thoughts....
There is always something going on somewhere on the beach in the evening. There are countless little surfer bars, hotel lounges, shacks, hippie beach bars and live music to delight everyone. Simply put your feet in the warm sand and let your soul dangle.....
We could list great things for hours here, Hua Hin and its surroundings are so colorful and diverse. Whether you prefer to take it easy and contemplative, like we do, or prefer action - there is everything here. You will certainly soon be able to read about such activities from us in the following blogs. This should be enough for a first impression of our new home.
After all, we want to bring the scent into your nose - and not tell anything about the steak :-)