M Magazine Vol. 1/2014 by M Magazine Hua Hin

NO.5 JAN - MAR 2014

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HIGH TEA @CENTARA NIGH OUT @CHA-AM THE DOG @VILLA TRAVEL @KHAO PANOUEN THUNG ARCHITECTURE @ASLO

LUXURY HUA HIN BUY SELL

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Price from THB: 25,000.- per week

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HAPPY NEW YEAR 2014

CONTRIBUTORS TO THIS ISSUE Arut Hoimook Richard Campbell Khasaya Fueki PHOTOGRAPHIC CONTRIBUTORS Jutamas Khongpoonvirun Arut Hoimook

ENGLISH TRANSCRIPT EDITOR

Richard Campbell Khasaya Fueki CONTACT US mmagazine.huahin@gmail.com +66 (0)82 296 8224 +66 (0)86 129 4484

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Contents Meet : News & Events 06 Manifesto : Interview The Dog@Villa

Must Do : Hight tTea @Centara

Must See : Cha-am Fishing Habour

Meal : Be;ella Restaurant & Pizzeria 26 Margarita : Night Out at Soi Bus Station 28 Miles : Hong Kong

Mountain : Nature & Wild life 42

NO.5 JAN - MAR 2014

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HIGH TEA @CENTARA NIGH OUT @CHA-AM THE DOG @VILLA TRAVEL @KHAO PANOUEN THUNG ARCHITECTURE @ASLO

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ON THE COVER

Chiara Capobanco, The Harpist @Centara

HUA HIN ‘CONCOURS D’ELEGANCE’

From 29th November to 1st December the 2013 Hua Hin Concours was held at venues in and around town. This is an annual event, which has been held since 2008 and is really all about nostalgia. Accordingly the main venue, the Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas, was most appropriate with its olde world charm and gracious surroundings. The full title for an automobile concours is really “Concours d’Elegance”. This is from the French language meaning a competition of elegance, dating back to 17th Century French aristocracy who paraded horse-drawn carriages in the parks of Paris during summer weekends and holidays. Over time carriages became horseless and the gatherings became a competition among automobile owners to be judged on the appearance of their vehicles.carriages became horseless and the gatherings became a competition among automobile owners to be judged on the appearance of their vehicles.

06 MMAG. / MEET

TEXT BY KHASAYA FUEKI

Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia. It is the fourth most populated city in Australia, with an estimated population of 1.9 million. Perth is very isolated. Djakarta is closer than Sydney. Bali is considered to be the ‘local’ holiday destination for many Perth people and the rest of Australia referred to collectively ‘the Eastern States’. However a direct flight from Bangkok to Perth takes just 7 hours. The time difference is only I hour so it’s very user friendly for visitors from South East Asia. Perth is all about the outdoors; the river and the beaches. Like beautiful cities around the world you’ll find fine restaurants, boutique shopping, markets and culture but what people find so special about this city is access to a wide river, white sandy beaches and parkland right on the city doorstep and ………………….. the weather! River frontage and fantastic ocean beaches are not dominated by resorts but accessible to everyone. Perth is not inexpensive but the waterfront is free! Family bar BQs are a very popular pastime and the weather makes this a year round passion. The weather is essentially Mediterranean. Summer (December to February) is hot and dry but cooled in the afternoon by a reliable sea breeze known as the ‘Fremantle Doctor’. Winters (June to August) are cool but never too cold. Spring (September to November) and Autumn (March to May) are just perfect! A list of Perth attractions and for that matter the rest of Western Australia has filled many a good book. However we have opted for a virtual short holiday - Seven Days in Perth. No time allowed for lolling around the pool or reading a good book. This is a full-on schedule with each day spent getting to know Perth a little bit better!

07 MMAG. / MEET

The ‘horseless carriages’ on display at the Centara were certainly elegant and guests attending the cocktail party at the Centara on 30th November were equally so. In the spirit of the occasion many guests dressed as they would have done when the motor vehicles on show were first parading along the boulevard to impress passersby. For the men bow ties and hats were in vogue and for the ladies colourful silk organza dresses with matching millinery set the scene. The vehicles on show ranged from the fuel guzzling American ‘muscle cars, to British classics to iconic European favourites. Some extremes were in evidence. At one end of the spectrum was the ‘Peel’, a three-wheeled microcar which held the record for the smallest automobile to go into production, powered by a tiny 49 cc engine delivering a top speed of 60 KPH. At the

08 MMAG. / MEET

other of the scale, a Cadillac Eldorado with a massive 6384 cc V8 power plant or perhaps the Ferrari 512 BB capable of speeds over 300 KPH. It was easy to be nostalgic about the familiar lines of the VW beetle or combi van and the French Citroen with its ability to magically raise and lower its suspension because the unique hydropneumatic suspension. But then no one could ignore the aristocratic Rolls Royce, the German engineering of the Mercedes-Benz, the fast lines of a Chevrolet Stingray or Camaro or the understated Porsche and BMW. The 1922 Austin Seven could be described as an original ‘compact’ with 290,000 produced. Being one year older than the original Hua Hin Hotel (now the Centara), perhaps some of the first guests arrived driving this rather cute ‘people mover’.

All this and not one Toyota or any other Japanese manufacturer on show! However my ‘nostalgic moment’ was to relive the experience of owning a 1967 MGB many years ago. Nothing better than cruising on a warm evening with the hood down. Mine was ‘baby blue’ in colour rather than the traditional British Racing Green on show. The Hua Hin Concours is a fantastic nostalgic opportunity, regardless of whether you are a motoring fan or not. This is an opportunity to soak up the atmosphere of yesteryear and to reminisce about the times when chrome rather than plastic was important and Japanese cars didn’t rule the road!

09 MMAG. / MEET

Travelling on business or for vacation? Great! But what to do with your dog while you are away? You may have friends and family to dog-sit for you, but it is not easy to find someone trustworthy and willing to do such a big favour. Taking your dog to stay at a dog hotel may be the best choice for many. Luckily there are many places to take your dog to stay overnight, but how you know that your dog is safe, secure and comfortable? In preparation for this issue we had a great opportunity to visit and talk to the owner of The Dog@Villa, Khun Paweena Supradit Na Ayutthaya.

12 MMAG. / MANIFESTO

13 MMAG. / MANIFESTO

This doggie hotel is one of the most well-known in Hua Hin. The Villa is situated in a quiet area almost at the end of Hua Hin Soi 32. When we arrived it was very surprised to notice that there was no dog smells. The facility was very clean and also had a nice outdoor space. Inside the Villa, there are separate rooms, which are designed for different types of dogs. Besides the awesome dog hotel facility, a dog spa and grooming service is available. We did a short tour around the Villa, a photo shoot and played with happy little dogs before sitting in the garden to conduct a short interview with Khun Paweena. She is a real dog lover who has considerable knowledge about dog behaviour of many breeds. She also holds PR and MBA degrees, has worked in luxury hotels and previously owned several other businesses.

You and the dogs – from Khun Paweena

“I love dogs. When I was very young, I was given dogs as presents from family members or friends of my mother. They knew that I loved dogs and took good care of them. Most of the dogs were imported breeds, so I had to read many books to know how to take good care of them. At that time the books about dogs were only English language publications. this was a trick of my mother, as she wanted me to learn to read English language books.”

14 MMAG. / MANIFESTO

“When I studied at high school, I had five dogs and all ate expensive pet food. The cost of taking care of my dogs was up to 7,000 baht a month. I decided to earn extra money by direct selling cosmetics. I went to many houses in the neighbourhood, knocking on doors to sell my products. At that time I was only thinking about earning money for my dogs and was never shy about selling. It was so successful that I was promoted by the cosmetic company. Sometime the company invited me to conferences and asked me to tell the Members how I reached my goals.”

Could you give a short history of The Dog @Villa?

“About five years ago, my husband and I visited Market Village, which was newly built at that time. He told me that I should open a business about dogs because he knew that I was a real a dog lover and had never seen me without the dog. He thought that it would make me happy to do something that I love.” “When I came back home, I decided to start a dog grooming service. I did some research and made a business plan to apply for space at the Market village. I also took extensive dog grooming courses. The grooming service was the first stage and then the dog villa followed.

How many dogs you can keep?

“We also provide dog therapy, spa and grooming. Also provide detox and skin treatment (depending on the type of dog). For the dog spa, we use very special oils, which can be absorbed by the dog’s skin. The dog is then very relaxed and calm.”

What should the dog owner prepare before bring them?

“Cleaning and disinfection of our facilities is also very important. We clean our facility twice daily and you can tell that there are no bad smells here. We also choose environmental friendly disinfectant, which is not dangerous to the dogs.”

“We can keep about 22 dogs in our facility. The dogs are separated by size and breed.”

“Prepare food and bring their favourite toy. We also need some information such as eating times, where the dog stays and sleeps (inside or outside) and the dog’s behaviours. This information will be very useful for us to provide the most suitable accommodation and make the dog feel comfortable.”

What is the difference between The Dog @Villa and other dog boarding homes / pet day care?

“At The Dog @Villa we observe the dogs’ behaviours and analyse their situation. It takes time, but it is worthwhile when you see that the dogs are happy to be here. We also try to make them feel comfortable; like having a holiday! We provide clean facilities and accommodation in a pleasant environment. We are friendly and treat them the way we would treat our own dogs.”

Are the more service that The Dog @Villa provides? “We also provide a service to take dogs to swim in the ocean.”

What is your secret of running a good and profitable business? “Do it with love and care.”

The Dog@Villa Soi 33 Hua Hin, Prachuapkirikhan, 77110 Tel. +66 (0)86 688 2338

15 MMAG. / MANIFESTO

How does Hydrogen help your body?

A molecule of water “H2O”, consists of one atom of oxygen bound to two atoms of hydrogen. In our bodies, hydrogen functions as an antioxidant, helping to prevent cell damage and inflammation, protect DNA and combat out-of-control cell growth.

The Benefits of Drinking Hydrogen Water: Prevent Metabolic Syndrome.

A disorder characterized by a constellation of symptoms (including obesity, insulin resistance, high cholesterol and hypertension), metabolic syndrome is associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Dr. Nakao and colleagues conducted a study of 20 patients at risk for metabolic syndrome, instructing them to drink about two quarts of hydrogen-rich water per day for eight weeks. Blood tests were done at the start, middle and end of the study period. Results: After eight weeks, participants showed, on average, a 39% increase in blood levels of antioxidant enzymes, 8% increase in blood levels of HDL “good” cholesterol and 13% decrease in total cholesterollevels of improvement that significantly lowered their risk for metabolic syndrome.

Improve Health for Diabetes and Prediabetes patients.

A Japanese study involved 36 patients with either type 2 diabetes or impaired glucose tolerance (a prediabetic condition in which blood glucose levels are higher then normal). Some patients drank about 30 ounces of hydrogen-rich water daily for eight weeks.. the rest drank the same amount of plain water. Results: Hydrogen-rich water consumption was associated with significant decrease in LDL “bad” cholesterol and urinary markers of oxidative stress as well as improved glucose metabolism.. in two-thirds of prediabetes patients, oral glucose tolerance test results to normal. Among plain water drinkers, there were no significant changes.

Ease the negative side effects of radiation treatment for Cancer.

In a 2011 study, Dr. Nokao’s team looked at 49 liver cancer patients undergoing radiation, a treatment that often increases fatigue and negatively affects quality of life. Participants who drank about two quarts of hydrogen-rich water daily for six weeks showed lower blood levels of oxidative markers (by-products of cell injury caused by free radicals) and reported higher quality of life than participants who drank tap water. Hydrogen-rich water did not compromise radiation’s therapeutic antitumor effects, Dr. Nakao noted. In addition, animal studies show that consumption of hydrogen-rich water may help reduce the risk for atheroscleosis.. prevent stress-induced declines in learning and memory.. slow the progression of Parkinson’s disease.. prevent or ease colitis.. reduce allergic reaction.. improve kidney function in kidney transplant patients.. and lessen kidney toxicity and other side effects of the chemotherapy drug cisplatin.

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FOR SALE ON AVALON Just 1 Â˝ km. from the City Centre of Hua Hin in the lush project of Avalon, there is a small scale apartment complex for sale. It contains four comfortable apartments and a very large covered terrace with private pool for each apartment. Ideal for a retired couple who want to stay active and meet people. Currently with an occupancy of less than 60%, the complex generates a yearly income of 36,000 Euro , steadily increasing by about 10% per year. All furniture and a website are included in the sale.

PRICE 21 MILLION BAHT (90% FINANCE POSSIBLE)

The owner is a well known architect, who has designed and constructed the building in 2007. Her reason for selling is the fact that running the complex from abroad is not efficient. You can contact the owner directly , either through her web sites: www.beststayinthailand.com www.hofvanchartreuse.nl

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Afternoon Trips

High Tea at the Museum of the Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas

19 MMAG. / MUST DO

HIGH TEA AT THE MUSEUM Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday afternoon you can enjoy High Tea at the Museum of the Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas. In a cosy and authentic atmosphere at the Tea and Coffee Corner, there many delicacies to enjoy prepared by their talented Chefs. The Museum is actually the entrance of the former Railway Hotel and located in the original lobby. This is a unique setting, making it the ideal place for a stylish get together or simply just to daydream. Nowadays the Museum is connected to seventeen hotel rooms and surrounded by a beautiful green garden. Many memories of the former Railway Hotel remain with historical pictures and furniture. There are frequent reminders of the past, such as the first telephone switchboard and an original writing

20 MMAG. / MUST DO

desk. The original front desk is kept in perfect condition and now used as a bar counter. A new and unique service allows you to write an authentic postcard picture written on the original writing desk, which can then be posted in the mailbox close by. The Museum Terrace is the perfect place to enjoy the weekend High Tea with its outstanding colonial ambiance and beautiful views across green gardens.

CENTARA GRAND BEACH RESORT & VILLAS HUA HIN

The High Tea offers a choice of brands and flavours for perfect tasting tea and fresh brewed coffee. Only the best brands are selected for the Museum’s Tea and Coffee Corner. You can also choose from delicious pastry choices. Alternatively there are chocolates, mousse, lots of cakes, cones with whipped cream, jams, various delicious sandwiches, crepes ending with fresh seasonal fruit choices. The classical harpist Chiara Capobinanco, makes it even more memorable with the beautifully elegent tones of her harp. Chiara is a Music Graduate in Harp at the Conservatorio “G. Verdi” Milano (Italy). She started playing with many different Orchestras (Opera and Symphonic) when she was fifteen years old, touring all over Europe. In London she has played at many renowed venues such as Claridge`s Hotel, Dorchester Hotel, Park Lane Hotel and the Grosvenor House Hotel.

She has performed at concerts and events with both classic and Irish harp as a solo harpist and alongside other musicians. Chiara has studied a range of different musical styles, giving her a varied repertoire ranging from classical, medieval, renaissance, Irish, popular to contemporary music. This is the perfect accompaniment for a lazy afternoon High Tea. You are welcome at The Museum Tea and Coffee Corner for High Tea every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 3 pm until 6 pm. Prices start from 550 THB. The Tea and Coffee Corner is also open daily from 10.00 a.m. – 7.00 p.m.

Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas Hua Hin 1 Damnernkasem Road, Hua Hin 77110 Tel. +66 (0)32 251 1014

21 MMAG. /MUST DO

ARCHITERIOR is established in 2005 and is active all over Thailand. It is a group of young architects, interior designers and graphic designers under the inspiring guidance of Mr. Arthid Longha. ARCHITERIOR is specialized in making designs for housing projects and condominiums, but also designs single houses. If you wish, the process can be from sketch to detailed building drawings, with artist impressions, interior design etc. TELEPHONE: + 66 89611-3115 E-MAIL: view3d_sun@hotmail.com

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C H A - A M

GET UP EARLY TO VISIT THE CHA-AM FISHING HARBOUR

24 MMAG. / MUST SWW

TEXT BY KHASAYA FUEKI

Many people who visit Cha-Am take the time to go to the breakwater on the Southern side of the fishing boat harbour. This is because at the end of the one kilometre breakwater pathway, the giant squid statue that is visible from much of the Cha-Am beach can be seen ‘up close and personal’. However visitors often quickly pass through the entry to the breakwater and miss out on seeing what the squid statue celebrates and what the fishing harbour is all about; a fishing industry that provides local restaurants and vendors as well as the rest of Thailand with THE BEST sea food! At daybreak every morning fishing boats return to the sanctity of the harbour with their catch of squid, fish and a variety of shellfish. This is one reason why Cha-Am is so popular with visitors whether they are Thai people or foreigners; really fresh seafood.

This is a working fishing village, not built as a tourist attraction or contrived in any way, but well worth a visit if you want to see how the ‘catch of the day’ arrives. Boats of various sizes and shapes ply the inlet before offloading their catch. The catch is sorted on the spot and may be quickly sent on its way to Bangkok markets but is also purchased for local consumption. Anyone who is looking for seafood fresh from the ocean can bargain for their preference straight from the boat. At the entry to the fishing village, on the nearby beach front and within the village there are many restaurants where ocean delicacies can be enjoyed from morning ‘til night. You can be assured that this is about as fresh as seafood can get! Many of the families who are operating these seafood restaurants have been involved in the fishing industry over generations; they really know their seafood!

25 MMAG. / MUST SEE

Where To Go The fishing harbour is at the Northern end of the Cha-Am Beach. Just follow the beach road North then cross a small bridge and you will see the entry. It’s an easy bicycle or motor bike ride or you can just walk along the beach, you won’t miss it! To visit the Squid Statue turn right and the path to the breakwater may be followed out to sea. Another option is to turn left then cross a narrow bridge across the inlet to the Northern breakwater. This part of the fishing village is not often considered by visitors but may give you an even more authentic taste of the fishing village.

A Final Word The Cha-Am Fishing Harbour is a very significant local resource and is the main reason why visitors to our town are able to enjoy the best seafood available anywhere! Every year in September Kin Hoy Doo Nok Tok Meuk, Cha Am’s annual seafood festival, celebrates this local industry with live music and concerts every night, as well as a large number of food stalls offering a great range of seafood cuisine. The question is how can the fishing harbour and village be included in the tourist experience without challenging the simple and untainted lifestyle of the Thai people whose way of life is an important part of the Cha-Am community. We hope that careful and well considered management results in the retention of this traditional lifestyle but also allows visitors to enjoy this important part of the Real Thailand!

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BELLA RESTAURANT & PIZZERIA More Than Just Beautiful Pizza.

28 MMAG. / MEAL

Bella Restaurant & Pizzeria Cha – Am, More Than Just Beautiful Pizza. Bella Pizza was a well-known culinary institution in Cha – Am for over 6 years. With an established clientele of diners, often travellers who would return year after year, the restaurant could always be relied upon to serve the finest Italian and European cuisine in town. The friendly Thai owners were also well known to both regular visitors and the locals, speaking English, Danish, Norwegian and even a smattering of Polish, as well as Thai. However things needed to change. Not only had the restaurant outgrown the premises, but there were also family needs to be considered. A decision was made to move to purpose built premises. Purpose built for a fine European dining experience and purpose built as a new home for the owners and their two young sons. Just before Christmas 2012, enter Bella Restaurant & Pizzeria. After all, the name Bella Pizza did not really do justice to a menu which has much more to offer than just sensational pizza. The setting is away from the main entertainment precincts and allowed the owners’ dreams to be realised. Apart from a relaxing indoor / outdoor garden setting, the premises boasts a full size snooker table if you are in the mood for a gentle game with your favourite tipple after dinner. Very civilised!

The owners of this fine Italian restaurant are Kesron (Tip) and Surapun (Dang) Watanasombut. You may ask how these two Thai people know so much about authentic Italian cooking. One answer is that Khun Dang has a background of more than 20 years in Europe as well as in Bangkok. Khun Dang began his restaurant resume in Sweden. He was sent there as a 20 year old by his parents to study hospitality. His family, including a brother who manages a restaurant in Bangkok have a long history in the business of restaurants. Eventually he took over an Italian restaurant in Sweden which he operated for many years before returning to Thailand. Despite the Italian emphasis Khun Dang is eager to comment that there are many other European and Thai options available. However it’s hard to resist pizzas with names such as Vesuvio, Capricciosa, Quattrostagioni and Pescatore. I know them all well, although I would find it hard to recommend one over the other. Each is presented on a pizza base home made from a recipe which is a guarded family secret! I’ve also tasted the delights of the pasta, spaghetti and lasagne dishes available in many different combinations.

29 MMAG. / MEAL

Plank steak is one of the many European options. Khun Dang explained to me that plank steak requires the cooking process to include an infusion of the smoky qualities of the wooden serving platter into the ingredients for a quite unique flavour experience. Presentation is very important aspect of this dish with a perimeter of very light and ‘fluffy’ mashed potato on the platter as well as a cooling salad accompaniment. Additionally you may consider Vienna Schnitzel or Pepper Steak if you wish to choose an alternative to the Italian offerings. Khun Dang explained that Thai people often accompanying European diners will not be disappointed as Thai food of many varieties is always on the menu. After all the menu is more than 8 pages long so no one will go away without finding a dish to satisfy their taste buds. I may add that Khun Dang’s penchant for things Italian also extends to a choice of motor vehicles. Khun Dang is the proud owner of three Alpha Romeo Bertoni GTC 2000 motor vehicles produced in the mid 1970’s. These days he usually drives a latter model vehicle although also an Alpha! I am sure many will know that ‘bella’ is Italian for ‘beautiful’. The word really means both beautiful in appearance and beautiful within. Yes, it looks beautiful when it arrives at the table and yes, it tastes beautiful in your mouth! Bella Restaurant is the Northern side and Western end of Nongjong Road, Cha- Am. This is the dual carriage-way road from the beach to meet Petchakasim Road opposite the Cha - Am Forest Park.

30 MMAG. / MEAL

Bella Restaurant & Pizzeria 328/19 (Bong Hang Rd.), Cha-am, Petchburi 76120 Tel. +66 32 470 980

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Finance Possible! • Near Wat Khao Noi, soi 56, close to city center • Presale and Reservation possible • Start building: expect quarter 4. 2013 or quarter 1.2014 • Units: studio, 1 bedroom and 2 bedrooms • Seaview.

Reservation Now Only 100,000 THB

32 MMAG. / MARGARITA

“HULLO WELCOME” – TO SOI BUS STATION CHA-AM TEXT BY KHASAYA FUEKI

The name Soi Bus Station is a little misleading; sure there is an office for a mini bus operator but it’s certainly not the focus of this Soi. This Soi is about indulgence; an ‘entertainment zone’ in Cha – Am, it provides a real ‘smorgasbord’ of dining and entertainment options! The choices are Beer Bars (25 at last count!), Restaurants (choose from Italian, Swiss, French, Swedish, English, Norwegian and Thai), Coffee Shops, Massage and Hairdressing/Manicure. You can also arrange for a tattoo and even have your washing done! The other feature is the numerous comfortable guest houses typically costing plus or minus 1,000THB per night. Soi Bus Station runs East / West from the beach road and central to the beach area. The Soi is split into two lanes with a central strip. The buildings on each side are two or three stories high to accommodate Guest House rooms with the central ‘island’ as a single storey for many of the open Beer Bars. What Can You Expect? In the high season Soi Bus Station begins to awaken in the late afternoon and becomes a somewhat chaotic, brash and raucous scene as the night progresses. Bars such as the ‘Monkey Bar’, ‘Silver Bar’, ‘Travellers Bar’, ‘Birdie Bar’

and many more start to crank up the music, though not often live. Pool tables are a-plenty and lots of good service with cold beer awaits. Drink costs are not ‘over the top’ as the competition is fierce! The chorus of ‘Hullo, Welcome’ greets every passer bye. This is not the place for a translation but please note that ‘hullo dark ling’ is not the same as ‘hullo darling’! For expats and visitors this is the venue for a ‘boy’s night out’ or a bar crawl. Playing pool into the night is a common activity; though look out for local ‘experts’! Not everyone is perfectly well behaved or politically correct so for the more conservative visitor this may be a little disconcerting! However violence or aggression is a big No No! One of the features of Soi Bus Station is the number of birthday parties where you may be invited to enjoy ‘free’ food’ (‘free beer tomorrow’) and join in Karaoke which seems to be mandatory with a birthday. Strangely enough there always seems to be more birthdays in the high season! Every tourist town in Thailand needs a ‘Soi Bus Station’ and Cha –Am is no exception. If you are in the mood, take a stroll and take in the scene. I guarantee you will be smiling during your ‘tour’ and having a really good night out on the town! 33 MMAG. / MARGARITA

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36 MMAG. / MILES

photo by funwallz.com

TEXT BY RICHARD & DORIS CAMPBELL

HONG KONG 37 MMAG. / MILES

photo by wallpaperank.com My journey started from Heathrow London, on a cold late November morning. Both my wife and l were returning back to Hong Kong after 25yrs, having previously served in the Royal Military Police with HM Forces between 1986-88.

So we started our 5day stop-over and over the next few days visited many places which we frequented all those years ago. Tsim Sha Tsui, Star Ferry, Central and of course the famous Peak Tram. So many changes, some good some not so.

We made the long flight to Kuala Lumpur before transferring on to Hong Kong. Having arrived we quickly passed through customs and got our taxi to Shatin and the Regal Riverside Hotel. This area of Hong Kong is known as the New Territories and is located about 20-30minutes further north of the main Kowloon peninsula.

The population of this small enclave in the South East of China is now around 7.5 Mil, densely condensed into around 426 sq miles. Daytime temperatures were around 23-25c but it became a little chilly in the evening with temps falling to about 15c, so eating out was not an option. However, that didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t stop us enjoying and exploring the back streets for the food vendors and eating houses.

The hotel was large (1200 rooms) and on the banks of the Shing Mun River. We were on the 13th floor with fantastic panoramic views, especially at night when all the neon lights and riverside was alight with colour.

38 MMAG. / MILES

PHOTOS: Toerisme Brugge - Jan Darthet

photo by Toerisme Brugge - Jan Darthet

The changes which have been made and were most notable which we noticed were more buildings (huge skyscrapers,) reclaimed land around the Star Ferry area of the island and huge Plaza shopping areas. As has already been mentioned the vast population in this small area does make it very chaotic at times especially when using public transport. The cleanliness has greatly improved since l was there last, when there where numerous open meat & veg markets, these have now been made into clean covered shopping areas. The island now mainly services the mainland Chinese, which are now the predominant tourist group.

1843, it is now open to the Chinese and as such is now a holiday destination. So we had a lovely stay and saw what we had come to see after all these years, we even amazed ourselves that we still knew where we were going, albeit, the surroundings had changed dramatically. Would l go back again, yes but only for a short stay and maybe stay on the other side of the island, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think that we can leave it another 25yrs though?

If you are going to Hong Kong anytime soon enjoy.

There are European and other groups which still visit Hong Kong, along with the liners which make a stopover at Ocean Terminal, however, after the handover in 1997 to China from its previous status as a British Colony, which it had been since

39 MMAG. / MILES

SEAVALON 8 Rai of absolute beach front in Au Noi Bay, Prachuabkrirkhan with condo building license. PRICE 72,000,000 THB

+66 (00)84 893 4325 (Eng./Dutch) +66 (0)90 789 7449 (Thai) Email : pdbsunset@hotmail.com

BOX LAND OFFERS

LAND IN HUAY SAI TAI Cheap land plot for sale to build your own house,100 m. from Palm Hills Golf course, ONLY 2,500 squm. +66 (00)84 893 4325 (Eng./Dutch) +66 (0)90 789 7449 (Thai) Email : pdbsunset@hotmail.com

BOX LAND OFFERS

LAND PLOT FOR SALE AT PALM HILLS GOLF COURSE Large big plot for sale; 6000 sqm. PRICE 18,000,000 THB. Finance possible with easy conditions. +66 (00)84 893 4325 (Eng./Dutch) +66 (0)90 789 7449 (Thai) Email : pdbsunset@hotmail.com

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AVATAR Small project near Akami Village, Nongkhon 8 km. from Hua Hin city Your own design possible plot and house to be negociated. +66 (00)84 893 4325 (Eng./Dutch) +66 (0)90 789 7449 (Thai) Email : pdbsunset@hotmail.com

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SUMMERLAND Last few plots on project Summerland 3 km. from Hua Hin city

On the way to Black Mountain Golf Course

PRICE 5,000/sqm.

+66 (00)84 893 4325 (Eng./Dutch) +66 (0)90 789 7449 (Thai) Email : pdbsunset@hotmail.com

BOX LAND OFFERS

TOWNHOUSE FOR RENT NEAR PALM HILLS Townhouse has 2 floors, 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, kitchen area and living area. Car park in infront of the townhouse. Simple but cheap! Only 5,000 THB/month. (minimum 1 year rental contract) Call +66 (0)84893 4325

PONGNARESH CONDO BUILDING SOI 88 69 units, all rented out. Rental income per year > 2,400,000 THB. SALES PRICE 47,000,000 THB FINANCE POSSIBLE Building is well maintained and in a good shape. +66 (0)90 789 7449 Email : mmagazine.huahin@gmail.com

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ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS WITH US IN THIS SPACE. OUR READERS WANT TO KNOW YOUR PRODUCT OR SERVICE. Call us at +66 (0)82 296 8224 Email: mmagazine.huahin@gmail.com

SPACIOUS (134 SQM) LUXURIOUS CONDO CONDO FOR RENT South of Hua Hin city.

The condo ontains three beautiful bedrooms, a large shady balcony with a four person jacuzzi, and outdoor furniture. The rental price includes wireless internet and cable television and, welcoming cool drinks ( water, sodawater, beer, etc.). Call +66 (0)81 763 5493 SUPER SALE: INFRA RED SAUNA FOR SALE. Including radio and cd., working on normal electricity plug Cheap land plot for sale to In box, free delivery in Hua Hin Area build your own house

Huay Sai Tai

SALES PRICE 30.000 THAI BAHT Call: 08 4893 4325

Mountain

42 MMAG. / MOUNTAIN

PANOEN THUNG MOUNTAIN K A E N G

K R A C H A N

N A T I O N A L

P A R K

Photo & Story by Arut Hoimook

43 MMAG. / MOUNTAIN

After being closed for three months during the rainy season (August – October), Kaeng Krachan National Park is now open again for all nature lovers. This is Thailand’s largest rain forest National Park covering an area of 2,914 sq. km. It is located in Petchaburi and Prachuap Khiri Khan Provinces, just a couple of hours drive from Bangkok and less than an hour from Hua Hin.

Why not pamper your adventurous soul? Where is the nearest place to witness a sea of mist? Panoen Thung Mountain, Kaeang Krachan National Park is definitely the answer. All our outdoor equipment was packed and our 4 WD car hit the road heading towards the Park. After a drive of 1.5 hours, we were at the Park Headquarters to enjoy a magnificent view of Kaeng Krachan Dam and to complete the admission form. The road to Panoen Thung campsite opens and closes on a strict timetable. •

Heading in : 5am - 10am and 2.30pm - 3pm.

•

Out from capmsite 12 Noon - 1pm and 4.30pm - 6 pm.

44 MMAG. / MOUNTAIN

We drove past Baan Klang Camp Site where bird watchers often come to observe birds, butterflies and exotic wild animals. More than 400 species of birds have been sighted here. As well as birds, elephant trails and giant black squirrels can be seen around the area. We arrived at Panoen Thung campsite in the late afternoon where we were to spend the night. The campsite was nice with clean bathrooms and surrounded by natural beauty. The Park Ranger allows you to cook your own food or you can buy meals from a small restaurant. Sunset over the mountain range is also recommended. We took a short walk to enjoy the spectacular view. The sound of gibbons woke me up as I was sleeping in my tent. After travelling a further 36 kilometres, I felt like I was standing in the front of the sea, but it was a blanket of mist over the lush green forest and hills below. It was the most unforgettable experience ever! The sun was rising through the mist and hornbill birds flew past us. We took a deep breath, something you could never do in Bangkok!

Contact Information: Kaeng Krachan National Park Tel : 032-467326 Email : k.krachan_np@hotmail.com

45 MMAG. / MOUNTAIN

RENTAL DELUXE

FOR MORE INFO send email to

luxury long term rental

rentaldeluxehuahin@gmail.com Tel. +66 (0)81 763 5493

FOR RENT

Beautiful Penthouse with private pool on the roof • • • • •

2 storises with lounge on the top floor Sea & Mountain view 2 bedrooms 2 bathrooms Close to Sai Noi Beach

Price 25,000 THB/ WEEK

www.rentaldeluxehuahin.com

FOR SALE ON AVALON

Just 1 Â˝ km. from the City Centre of Hua Hin in the lush project of Avalon, there is a small scale apartment complex for sale. It contains four comfortable apartments and a very large covered terrace with private pool for each apartment. Ideal for a retired couple who want to stay active and meet people. Currently with an occupancy of less than 60%, the complex generates a yearly income of 36,000 Euro , steadily increasing by about 10% per year. All furniture and a website are included in the sale.

PRICE 21 MILLION BAHT

(90% FINANCE POSSIBLE)

thuchkaewgorapinb@gmail.com