Actually getting to Hua Hin proved difficult until I realised it is pronounced Hoi Hin, then everyone knew where I wanted to go. Rather than take an expensive taxi to the southern bus terminal Sai Tai or Dai or something I used one of the mini-buses that runs from the Victory Monument β baht against baht but the difference more than made up in the sheer convenience of being able to get to the mini-bus via the BTS.
It worked out at around three hours travel time and it has to be said that there wasn't a huge amount of legroom for farang-sized passengers. An amusing start to the venture, some twenty-something Thai bint got in the front at the last moment, giving her Thai husband a goodbye kiss and even before the driver had engaged gear was on her mobile to her farang boyfriend in Hua Hin.
The temptation to say something in English, such as get back to bed honey, was great but I managed to resist! Later, she phoned her backup boyfriend with the promise of short time in the evening. Wasn't sure if I should be amused or depressed. The driver, some tubby wannabe who scowled at me but soon cheered up as he overheard the bint lying to the farang and by the end of the journey was almost bursting out of his face in happiness β I think he had lined up a quickie at journey's end!
He endeared himself to the passengers by stopping halfway to fill up with gas as in the natural stuff rather than petrol which took about twenty minutes and left us scowling in the searing midday heat!
Of course, when he was ready to leave he expected everyone back in the mini-bus in nanoseconds and was most annoyed when some elderly lady took five minutes to stagger on. The bus also stops at Cha Am, albeit on the main road with a thirty minute walk to the beach and dropped several people off en route, so if you live on the outskirts of Hua Hin it would probably be quite useful.
