MAD DOGS, ENGLISHMEN & GEESE

Slow, slow and slower – that is the cheapest way to travel we are  discovering, BUT can we do it.  I am not the worlds most patient person and love to keep finding new places and things.  One night while sitting out by the pool we saw a firely buzzing around.  It then settled very near a gekko which promptly chomped it.  The firefly lit up and the gekko dropped it instantly. Anyway to this end we are staying for one week with golf friends in Hua Hin – with a great day out to Ratcahapuri Golf Course.  Round of golf (18), cart, caddie and beer 4400B for both of us.

One night while sitting out by the pool with our friends we saw a firefly buzzing around.  It then settled very near a gekko which promptly chomped it.  The firefly lit up and the gekko dropped it instantly. The area we thought would suit us best for the rest is Sam Roi Yot Beach. Quieter and more laid back, and close to one National Park, with 2 others not too far away.  Much more our style – and better still a cheap local golf course, a little rough but good enough especially for 100B each per round.

Hua Hin and all the surrounding areas have large xpat communities, many of which are English.  Regardless of nationality there are some very interesting characters, from people with world records, engineers, artists, rich and poor alike.
Getting to Hua Hin was a bus from Phuket to Surat Thani – at one point I looked down and there was a Gerbil?  or some kind of small mammal under my feet looking at me.  It scarpered and then a few minutes later a young lady started getting agitated – turned out it was an escaped pet.  Then a train from Surat Thani to Hua Hin, very slow as they are doing major works on the whole line and building flyovers for the roads. Great scenery though so well worth it and good pricing.

There is some great accommodation for those xpats who come out and live on retirement visas.  For 4,000,000 upwards you can buy a large house with a swimming pool and be very comfortable. We were staying south of Hua hin and there are so many houses being built you wonder who is going to live in them as from what we can tell many xpats are leaving due to changed retirement rules.  Steve & I saw this house we would love to do up – need to be very wealthy though.

Had a great walk up more mountainous paths to a fantastic view point in Sam Roi Yot National Park. Hot and humid again, we met a few unprepared people on their way up (no water). Next plan a cave but a Religious day and bursting at the seems so decided to come back another day.  On our return another day we were early so had to wait for the park to open. Up and up another steep climb again. great not many people (one in fact).  Stopped for a quick coke then head towards the cave almost believing it was going to be a level path. First thing Carol noticed was movement in some trees, only monkeys! No Dusky Langurs which were fantastic to see especially the young ones with their white eye rings (pity no pink babies). Carry on with walk, more steps and more steps ever upward. Close to the top a local said only 100mts to go then down. Anyway down we go into an amazing Temple at bottom. When you first get there it looks like an empty cave with a little green oasis inside – very pretty. Meandering through that to another and the temple appears through a frame of stalactites and stalagmites. Ranger had told us be there at 10 oclock. 10 oclock arrives and the sun shines through the open cave straight on to Temple Brilliant.  On the way down the path up was packed, pity they all missed the best part.

Travelling around we hired a car (expensive) for a week which was great except for all the Soi Dogs and Geese in Sam Roi Yot that wandered out into the road all day and evening. We did get very attached to the geese though.  It was funny of an evening to watch their antics with the bikes and cars.  Unfortunately the night before we left one got hit and killed (they had been there for years). Also Scooters with no lights, quite stressful but worthwhile.  Also we hired a Scooter for running around, not good for long journeys as painful on ones nether regions.

Visiting 3 National Parks over our visit we noticed a common theme of lack of TLC. A dodgy walk along a board walk in Sam Roi Yot National Park, it definitely needed TLC by the bucket pretty good for birding, We had to do it from both ends as middle was a bit sus. 

Closed roads in Kaeng Krachan and closed walks and campsites in most.  Many things in need of repair.  

On our way to Kui Buri, we were nearly there when a tropical rainstorm hit, do we keep going or not? Decide to continue for a recce. Rain Stops hopes are up. Arrive at park expecting to pay 850 baht for vehicle, but lucky us a couple of Dutchmen and Ladies knew we were coming (not sure how) and waited.  This way it was so much cheaper. Set off in the back of a ute, rangers spoke to other tours heading back in no Elephants no Guars, Bummer. Mooched around park for a bit and on the final stop 2 Elepahnts and a herd of Guars (Locals call them cows, but as big as the Elephants), On the way back another small herd of Guars very close which was excellent.  Kaeng Krachang was our favourite park though, with a lot more wildlife and birds. Excellent accommodation and staff. 2 birding trips and 2 sessions in a hide. The guide got really really excited when he spotted a Red Bearded Bee-eater.  Apparently not seen much. We also saw Lar Gibbons among other things, fantastic as we had seen them in rehab place in Phuket but never expected to see them in the wild.

Getting lost as we do we came across a cave called Lub Lai Cave, we thought it would just be a cave with a Buddah, but really surprised us by being huge caverns that went all over.  Many stalectites and mites, with very attractive shapes and colours. 
In between all these trips we chilled out in Sam Roi Yot – or did we?  In order to keep busy we played golf and volunteered to help a local Brit expat do some work around his bar.  This included building a bonfire for guy fawks night, creating bike stands and other odd jobs.  Hard work, but fun.

A group of young Europeans spent time cleaning rubbish from the beach, just because they thought it a good thing to do.

We followed suit and did the same too on a regular basis – till the tides and storms brought in the Jelly fish.  Not game after that as they are not the friendly type.

One of the best things about staying longer in a place – apart from less travel costs, is that you get to know the best eating spots at the best prices.  The local expats are a mine of information and great fun to talk to.  I recommend the Searchlight Bar, best bar along the beach.