New directives from Hua Hin Immigration
Hua Hin News Jan 22: In an effort to alleviate some of the escalating confusion over immigration policies Hua Hin Immigration Department have released a set of directives for publication on the town’s web board. The perplexity has come about regarding a 24 hour reporting rule which states that an alien re-entering the country on a non-immigrant visa must report to their local immigration department within 24 hours of their arrival or face a fine. The inconsistencies in the enforcement of such a rule have been clearly documented with some foreigners getting fined and others not and some immigration bureaus enforcing it while others don’t.

The set of guidelines and a new form to go alongside the 90 day report form in the aliens’ passport reaffirms that Hua Hin is indeed enforcing this regulation. Also included in the directives is a cross-provincial regulation that requires aliens to report to police with 48 hours if they travel to another province for over 24 hours. The enforcement of this though is likely to be virtually impossible unless the system is computerised. The full set of directives can be read here : [Hua Hin Immigration Directives].

Hua Hin Vintage Car Rally 2009
Hua Hin News: Sofitel Centara Grand Resort & Spa, on behalf of Hua Hin Hotelier’s Club, has cooperated with the Vintage Car Club of Thailand, the Tourism Authority of Thailand, and Hua Hin City Municipality to hold the annual Hua Hin Vintage Car Parade on December 18-20, 2009.

A 50 classic car procession will be on the move from Sofitel Centara Grand Bangkok on Friday morning (18th) and will drive by King Rama II Park in Samut Songkram before lunch in Phetchaburi. The parade will arrive in Hua Hin for the official ceremony in the evening.

The rally will be on the move around Hua Hin throughout the Saturday (19th) and will be based at the Sofitel. More information on the event and images can be found here: [Hua Hin Vintage Car Parade 2009].

Hua Hin Bike Week 2009
Hua Hin News: Bikers from all over the Kingdom are to descend on Hua Hin on December 4 and 5. The annual event will be held at the 48 Rai park on the canal road (find it on the Hua Hin Map). The event is a must see for bikers and will include live music, tattoo contests and bike shows. Photos from last year can be seen here: Hua Hin Bike Week 2008, and discussion can be found here: Hua Hin Bike Week 2009.

ASEAN security lockdown in Hua Hin
Hua Hin News: This week has been one of mayhem on the roads as the security clampdowns for the ASEAN meeting begun in earnest on Monday, October 19. Those resident in Hua Hin who have registered their vehicle with the military and got the green sticker will just get waved through the multiple check points fringing the town so their only gripe will be the extended times it will take to get anywhere on the roads. Nothing different to any long weekend in Hua Hin really – just more traffic cones!

The whole registration and processing system was quite efficient so there is really no excuse for anyone permanently residing here not to have their little green security clearance. The Internal Security Act has been implemented by the government who do not want a repeat of the circus caused by the red shirted mob at the last conference in Pattaya.

Petchkasem Road is now a long strip of orange with four confusing lanes and fewer opportunities to turn on or off it – that will definitely be one to avoid this weekend (October 23-25) unless you wish to spend most of it staring at the car in front! It sounds the perfect opportunity to get out of Hua Hin, drive down the coast and find a secluded beach to chill out on.

Computers for kids from Hua Hin’s web community
Hua Hin News: A project setup by members of Hua Hin’s internet forum, HHAD, has so far resulted in the donation of two computers to the Mercy House Orphanage in Pranburi. The initiative was the brainchild of one of the websites moderators who saw the need to regenerate old e-waste in the form of spare and unwanted computer parts with the dual benefits of recycling and computer experience for needy kids.

Requests were made online and in local print media for donations of any working computer components that could then be used to build reconditioned PCs for donation to worthy causes in and around Hua Hin. Anything is accepted as long as it works; keyboards, monitors, speakers, CDROM drives, memory, hard disks and computer cases – it can all be re-used.

A lot of positive response had already been generated through the forum for the Orphanage so it was decided that they would be the first recipients of any results from the new project. A drop point was setup at the Hua Hin Ham and Bacon shop in Soi 41 where people could leave their bits. So far two fully operational computers with peripherals including printers and a scanner have been delivered to the Orphanage.

The team is currently working on repairing inoperative machines they currently have at the center and are requesting more working components and spare PC parts from any individuals or businesses in Hua Hin that wish to donate to this cause. They would like to thank everyone that has helped so far with deliveries and donations. More information can be found on the Hua Hin web board for those that would like to get involved: [ Computers for kids in Hua Hin ].

Hua Hin Golf Festival 2009
Hua Hin News: There is no better time to enjoy a round of golf on one of Hua Hin's top courses throughout the months of August and September as most are offering a discount green fee of 800 baht. Add the caddie fee and a tip and you're looking at a round of golf at Royal Hua Hin, Majestic Creek, Palm Hills, Lakeview, or Springfield for 1,300 baht. Banyan has a compulsory cart at an additional 650 and Black Mountain are not participating in the golf festival. Read some of the Hua Hin Golf Festival stories and more information here: [ Hua Hin Golf Festival 2009 ].

To find out more about golfing in Hua Hin click here:
Hua Hin Golf Courses
Hua Hin Golf Tours

Hua Hin Regatta 2009
Hua Hin News: The 2009 Hua Hin Regatta kicks off on Wednesday July 29 and runs through until Sunday August 2. The annual sailing event draws contestants from across the globe to Hua Hin to compete in various heats and categories. It has been running since the year 2000 in honor of His Majesty King Bhumibhol Adulyadej who excels in sailing sportsmanship in Thailand. The event will be taking place along Hua Hin beach at the entrance to the Sofitel, read more: [ Hua Hin Regatta 2009 ].

Hua Hin mourns Khun Tuck
Hua Hin News: Sunday July 12th saw a Royal Cremation Ceremony for Khun Tuck Dechapanya at Hua Hin Temple.

Khun Tuck passed away on July 2nd and has been at the Hua Hin Temple for nine days allowing everybody who knew time to pay their respects for this community spirited man. Each day, water from the Palace was brought to the temple for his blessings and on Sunday 12th the fire for his cremation was also brought from the Palace. High praise indeed for a man that spent his life working for and looking after the people of Hua Hin.

Khun Tuck had to deal with some of the more serious aspects of his career in politics and in trying to get compromises to many disputes he arbitrated on behalf of individuals or groups who found themselves with no option or voice to remedy any problems they encountered with governance or business’ in Hua Hin. This he undertook without regard to the amount of work it entailed.

He is perhaps most famous for his work in ensuring that Hua Hin residents had a safe and clean supply of water for every citizen. He genuinely deserved the familiar title of ‘Loong’ Tuck (Uncle) bestowed and used by all Thai residents for his tireless commitment to their causes.

In recent years, and in proliferation to the beach resort style that Hua Hin offered, he took it upon himself to try and work with expats living in Hua Hin to sort out some of the complaints they had.

This was in no way a guarantee of them not falling foul of unscrupulous people and businesses, but it did offer some arbitration and those that were honest enough to put trust in these conciliatory measures, often came away with much more than they would have if they had relied on the costly and huge time frames involved in court actions.

Belying his 80 years of age, Khun Tuck was sharp enough to spot the ones who just wanted out of pre signed contracts by twisting facts and agreements to suit their need for refunds or undoing contractual obligations for services they had signed for. He would, on occasion, send these people away to find a lawyer and follow judicial procedure through the courts.

Despite dealing with these many problems and his own career and business interests, (he had his own Newspaper and Security Company), he always found time for his passion in life which was music. Regardless of not being able to read musical notation, he managed to be able to play many instruments to a very high standard. Most notably was the Violin, an instrument he also taught to his children and grandchildren. At the 100th anniversary of his school two years ago, he was on the stage with the other musicians, joining in with the party atmosphere and dancing along with everyone.

He was also a man of patience and this is borne out in his nightly trips to his local Wat, where he would sit and meditate in the quiet temple grounds for hours on end, sometimes even sleeping on the temple floor. A vegetarian for almost his whole life, Khun Tuck had no knowledge of ever being sick, colds and flu seemed to bypass him, other ailments avoided him and until his recent, sudden sickness to cancer, he had never taken any medication his whole life.

The impact this man had on Hua Hin will be hard to replace, his command of English was excellent and his forthright, ethical stance on helping them who maybe, could not help themselves, is irreplaceable. His knowledge of all things Thai, both cultural and administrative was vast. This information and help will be lost for many people living within the Hua Hin area, Thai and Expat alike.

Hua Hin News : On The Grapevine