So now its our last day in Hua Hin. Its been a bit chilly and dull for the last 2 days, only getting up to 27 or 28 (hey - it
IS winter), but today is already looking like its going to be a stonker! Michelle unfortunately succumbed to "Bangkok Belly" and was out of action for most of yesterday and the night before. Poor thing! Especially after we'd just had a fairly overpriced meal at an Itallian restaurant.
So as Michelle said, we went to Chopstick Mountain, Khao Takiap. Its the site of a Buddhist Temple, as well as a 19m tall Buddha in Thai Style (Phra Pang Haan Yad), a sitting buddha in Chinese style, a hindu statue of Vishnu, some chinese temples and carvings.... or castings since they're made out of concrete and painted.
Choppstick Mountain is also called Monkey Mountain, and its not just a clever name...
Yep - HEAPS of monkeys - several large families of them, and the industrious people of Thailand have set up wee stalls where you buy buckets of peanuts, bananas and corn to feed them...
... or more accurately, they mob you for food
I'm figuring that they're pretty well fed, cos they got a bit fussy with us...
Hehe.
So that was really cool, I think Arina wants to take a monkey home with her.
Other than that Hua Hin has just been about relaxing, eating, drinking, swimming... the usual New Years stuff. I mentioned that the beach is crazy. Its crammed with little makeshift restaurants selling food, beer and massages. Hawkers rock up and down the beach selling the usual wares,
Loads of old European men and their Thai wives getting sun baked (or wind-baked for the last 2 days!). Its not seedy per-se, but its definately geared up towards locals and ex-pats and Europeans.
So with all this going on, theres barely enough room for anyone to do something simple, like walk along the beach.
Halarious!
Hmmm.... hopefully Michelle doesn't mind that I posted her photos.
Also, the tuk-tuk drivers here must make a killing. They charge a flat fee everywhere so getting around costs a fortune, but we're making the most if it and splitting it 4 ways with Arina and Jared does help.
Anyway I'm off to enjoy a few more western comforts, tomorrow we go to Kanchanaburi, and its bye-bye to our beautiful resort and hello budget guest houses...
Happy New Years to all, much love
Hua Hin - random bar where thai women allowed Arina to sing... after much peer pressure!
Kanchanaburi sunset
Death Railway and the monkey that likes to steel peoples bags and cameras... thankfully not ours!
Hellfire Pass
train ride in Central Thailand
Wat Prathat Doi Suthep - 2 of the MANY Buddha statues there
Hmong women
Chiang Mai Wall
THC Roof top bar
