Allmänn info om Hua Hin

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Tyvärr blir den här trådens inlägg på engelska. Min avsikt är att i den här tråden lägga upp information om Hua Hin som kan vara till nytta för behövande. Stundtals vistas det många svenskar här förutom vi som redan bor här permanent.

Göran

Hua Hin Hospitals and Clinics

The main medical centres, with contact details are listed below:

San Paulo Hospital
A private hospital in central Hua Hin. It is well organised and staff speak English. This will probably be the best hospital to visit first as long as your ailment is not too serious. The accident and emergency ward is always efficient and attention to detail is good. Rooms are comfortable and the level of patient care is exemplary. For more serious conditions, however, Petchaburi or Bangkok may be your best bet. San Paulo also has dental and physiotherapy clinics. Prices for treatment in San Paulo can be extremely expensive so it is advisable to have health insurance if you need to go here.
Tel: 032 532576-85.

Hua Hin Hospital
This is the main public hospital in Hua Hin. It can get extremely busy, but is certainly a good option for minor ailments. A new extension has now been completed and the level of patient care has improved as a result. It is significantly cheaper than San Paulo.
Tel: 032 520401.

Hua Hin International Polyclinic
This clinic is staffed by doctors and nurses from Petcharat Hospital in Petchaburi. As a result, the standard of care and medical advice is some of the best in town. They do not offer rooms, but this is as good a medical facility as any in Hua Hin for an initial consultation with a doctor and has first-class dressing facilities for wounds and a dental clinic.
Tel: 032 516424.

Hua Hin Red Cross
As the name suggests, this facility is able to provide good and efficient medical care for non-serious conditions. It’s always busy with locals, which is a good indicator of its professionalism and price.
Tel: 032 512567.

Petcharat Hospital, Petchaburi
This is quite simply the best hospital in the vicinity of Hua Hin if you have a real emergency or complicated complaint. It is private, so prices will be relatively high, but all serious medical cases, especially those involving damage to the head, will be referred here from Hua Hin. NOTE: the hospital is an approximate 45 min drive from Hua Hin.
Tel: 032 417070-8.

Pranburi Hospital
This facility is situated some 25km south of Hua Hin on an army base. As a result, it has an excellent reputation and will accept foreigners.
Tel: 032 612757.

Cha-am Hospital
Tel: 032 471808.

Ear, Nose and Throat Clinic
Situated on Petchkasem Road, on the west side just before you get to Hua Hin Polyclinic, this is run by a doctor who has residence at the military hospital in Pranburi. Although small and busy, the service is excellent. During the week, the clinic is open after 5PM. At weekends, there is a limited service during day hours. Appointments can be made and are advisable as it gets busy but they cannot be made by phone, only in person.

Dr Sumet Clinic
Located at 87/5 Petchkasem Road opposite soi 80 this clinic specialises in babies and children offering vaccinations and full diagnosis. Dr Sumet is a very good pediatric doctor which is why the place is always full! Opening times are Monday – Friday 07.30-12.00 and 16.00-21.00 and Saturday 08.00-12.00 and 16.00-21.00 call them on 032-533404.

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Hua Hin Schools

Please be aware that many of the schools websites are in poor condition and rarely updated so you could be looking at information several years old. Here are a list of most of the local schools in Hua Hin.

Baan Hua Hin Municipality School
Age 3-15 years old.
Primary [Anuban] 1-3. Certificate. Free of charge. [Included Lunch, School bag]
Secondary [Prathom] 1-6. Certificate. Free of charge.
High School [Matthayom] 1-3. Certificate. 2 Terms/Year. [1st Term May-Oct, 2nd Term Nov-Mar]
Tel. 032-511106
Headmaster Mr.Wirat Maneepruek

Wat Nong Kae Municipality School
Age 3-11 years old.
Primary [Anuban] 1-3. Certificate. Free of charge. [Included Lunch, School bag]
Secondary [Prathom] 1-6. Certificate. Free of charge. 2 Terms/Year. [1st Term May-Oct, 2nd Term Nov-Mar]
Tel. 032-511847
Headmaster Mr.Pichaya Mahasook

Baan Bo-Fai Municipality School
Age 3-11 years old.
Primary [Anuban] 1-3. Certificate. Free of charge. [Included Lunch, School bag]
Secondary [Prathom] 1-6. Certificate. Free of charge. 2 Terms/Year. [1st Term May-Oct, 2nd Term Nov-Mar]
Tel. 032-520390
Headmaster Ms.Kanokwan Kaikaew.

Baan Kao Tao Municipality School
Age 3-11 years old.
Primary [Anuban] 1-3. Certificate. Free of charge. [Included Lunch, School bag]
Secondary [Prathom] 1-6. Certificate. Free of charge. 2 Terms/Year. [1st Term May-Oct, 2nd Term Nov-Mar]
Tel. 032-572253
Headmaster Mrs.Somruthai Jermprapai.

Baan Takiab Municipality School
Age 3-11 years old.
Primary [Anuban] 1-3. Certificate. Free of charge. [Included Lunch, School bag]
Secondary [Prathom] 1-6. Certificate. Free of charge. 2 Terms/Year. [1st Term May-Oct., 2nd Term Nov.-Mar.]
Tel. 032-511607
Headmaster. Ms.Kamolrat Kaewkerd.

Kao Pi Tak Municipality School
Age 3-11 years old.
Primary [Anuban] 1-3. Certificate. Free of charge. [Included Lunch, School bag]
Secondary [Prathom] 1-6. Certificate. Free of charge. 2 Terms/Year. [1st Term May-Oct., 2nd Term Nov.-Mar.]
Tel. 032-512097
Headmaster. Mr.Samarn Boonhor.

Baan Samor Prong Municipality School
Age 3-11 years old.
Primary [Anuban] 1-3. Certificate. Free of charge. [Included Lunch, School bag]
Secondary [Prathom] 1-6. Certificate. Free of charge. 2 Terms/Year. [1st Term May-Oct., 2nd Term Nov.-Mar.]
Tel. 032-534102
Headmaster. Mrs.Jeerapong Sriroong.

Hua Hin Vitthayalai School (Salesian School)
Age 3-18 years old.
Primary [Anuban] 1-3. Certificate. 11,300-10,880 Thb/Term.
Secondary [Prathom] 1-6. Certificate. 5,000 Thb/Term.
High School [Matthayom] 1-6. Certificate. 6,000 Thb/Term.
2 Terms/Year. [1st Term May-Oct., 2nd Term Nov.-Mar.]
Tel. 032-511233 Fax. 032-533771
Website: http://www.hv.ac.th
Headmaster. Father. Prasert Somgham.

Hua Hin School
Age 12-18 years old.
High School [Matthayom] 1-6. Certificate. 2,500 Thb/Term.
High School [Matthayom] 1-6. [English Program] 17,500 Thb/Term.
2 Terms/Year. [1st Term May-Oct., 2nd Term Nov.-Mar.]
Tel. 032-511127 Fax. 032-512128-9 press 100
Website: http://www.huahin.ac.th
Headmaster. Mr.Anu Theeranuwat.

Wang Klaikangwon School
Age 12-18 years old.
High School [Matthayom] 1-6. Certificate. Free of Charge.
2 Terms/Year. [1st Term May-Oct., 2nd Term Nov.-Mar.]

Age 3-11 years old.
Primary [Anuban] 1-3. Certificate. Free of Charge.
Secondary [Prathom] 1-6. Certificate. Free of Charge. 2 Terms/Year. [1st Term May-Oct., 2nd Term Nov.-Mar.]
Tel. 032-520478, 032-521013
Tel. & Fax. 032-522350
Website: http://www.kkws.ac.th
Headmaster. Mr.Seree Warapo.

Hua Hin Wittayakhom School
Age 12-18 years old.
High School. [Matthayom] 1-6. Certificate. Free of Charge. 2 Terms/Year. [1st Term May-Oct., 2nd Term Nov.-Mar.]
Tel. & Fax. 032-511399
Email: kor_or_rut@hotmail.com
Headmaster. Mr.Boonnum Laohasatid.

Hua Hin Commercial College
Age 15-19 years old.
College 1-3. Certificate. – Pre-Bachelor’s Degree 1-2. Certificate. Accounting Marketing Business Computer Business English Tourism Industry
2 Terms/Year. [1st Term May-Oct., 2nd Term Nov.-Mar.]
Tel. 032-520400 Fax. 032-520774
Website: http://www.huahincommercial.com
Headmaster. Mr.Chanakarn Orsuwan.

Darunsuksa School
Age 3-11 years old.
Primary [Anuban] 1-3. Certificate. 3,320-2,700 Thb/Term.
Secondary [Prathom] 1-6. Certificate. 2,530-1,900 Thb/Term.
2 Terms/Year. [1st Term May-Oct., 2nd Term Nov.-Mar.]
Tel. 032-511107

Darunsuksa Primary School
Age 3-5 years old.
Primary [Anuban] 1-3. Certificate. 1,500 Thb/Term. 2 Terms/Year. [1st Term May-Oct., 2nd Term Nov.-Mar.]
Tel. 032-520431
Headmaster. Mr.Pisit Sriard.

Matthayomsathukarn School
Age 3-11 years old.
Primary [Anuban] 1-3. Certificate. 4,530 Thb/Term.
Secondary [Prathom] 1-6. Certificate. 2,630 Thb/Term. 2 Terms/Year. [1st Term May-Oct., 2nd Term Nov.-Mar.]
Tel. 032-511165
Headmaster. Mrs.Kanya Teamtad.

Klaikangwon Industrial and Community Education College
Age 15-19 years old.
College Industrial Mechanic Industrial Factory Mechanic Electricity Electronics Commercial Accounting Marketing – Pre-Bachelor’s Degree Industrial Mechanic Electricity Electronics Commercial Accounting Business Computer
2 Terms/Year. [1st Term May-Oct., 2nd Term Nov.-Mar.]
Tel. 032-520500, 032-520481
Website: http://www.kkwind.net
Headmaster. Mr.Surasak Srinoi.

Silpakorn University Phetchaburi IT Campus
Age 18-22 years old.
Bachelor’s Degree. Faculty of Animal Sciences and Argricultural Technology. Faculty of Management. Marketing. Hotel & Hospitality. Business English. Tourism. Faculty of Information and Communication Technology. 2 Terms/Year. [1st Term May-Oct., 2nd Term Nov.-Mar.]
Tel. 032-594029-30 Fax. 032-594026
Website: http://www.pitc.su.ac.th
Headmaster. Dr.Assist.Direkrut Buavetch.

Somtawin Hua Hin School

The school was opened in March 1972, Somtawin is firmly established in Hua Hin and currently caters for Kindergarten level through to grade 10. Somtawin is essentially split into two parts, a Thai only section and an “international” offering classes in English. In April 2005 it provided the first opportunity in Hua Hin for Mattayom students to join a full English program. All subjects are offered in English (except Thai) and include Mathematics, Science, English, Social Studies, Health, Art, Occupational Technology and Computing. The school has all western teachers and the occasional east Asian. They also offer a wide variety of extra activities including swimming, sports, music, dance, science clubs and scouts.

Extra tuition for foriegn students is available to bring them up to speed, this includes Thai for western students and English for Asian. Pricing is additional and runs at approximately 500 baht per hour.

Costs for Somtawin English School are in the region of 40,000 baht per term, there are two terms per year.

Somtawin Witead Suksa
Located on Hua Hin – Nongplub Road on the way to Pala-u waterfall, the school is only 15 km to the west of Hua Hin city centre in a beautiful rural setting, the surrounding mountains providing a constant fresh breeze. STW offers a range of education from Kindergarten to Grade 12.

The English Curriculum was developed under the framework of the National Curriculum and started on the May 17, 1998. All subjects in the English Program are conducted in English by native English speaking teachers. The Thai language lessons are taught by Thai national.

The school offers eight IGCSE in English, Mathematics, Science, History, ICT, Chemistry, Biology and Physics. These examinations are set by the Oxford Board and Taken at the British Council, Bangkok

There are 3 buildings in the school area of 80 rai which consist of a Kindergarten Building, a Primary and Secondary Building and a Building for parents. There are 12 Classrooms, a library, Computer Lab, Art and Activities room, Science Lab, Football field, Basketball field and a play ground.

To contact the school white to
Somtawin Witead Suksa Huaymongkhon School
192 Moo. 13 Hua Hin – Nongplub Road, Hinlekfire, Hua-Hin,
Prachuap Khiri Khan THAILAND. 77110

โรงเรียนสมถวิล วิเทศศึกษา ห้วยมงคล
192 หมู่ 13 ถนนหัวหิน-หนองพลับ อ.หัวหิน จ.ประจวบคีรีขันธ์ 77110

E-Mail : admin@somtawin.ac.th

Somtawin Thai School
Ages 3-11 years old.
Primary Thai [Anuban] 1-3 [Thai] Certificate. 5,000 Thb/Term
[Included Stationary, Books, etc.]
Secondary Thai [Prathom] 1-6 [Thai] Certificate. 5,000 Thb/Term
[Included Stationary, Books, etc.]
Primary & Secondary International [English] Certificate. 38,500 Thb/Term 2 Terms/Year (Not including books). [1st Term May-Oct, 2nd Term Nov-Mar]

Headmaster: Mr Wichian Watthanajit.
Web: http://www.somtawinschoolhuahin.com

Yamsaard Hua Hin School

This is a relatively new addition to Hua Hin schools, it is located at the end of Soi 94. They offer both kindergarten and primary bilingual programs. “We teach English through a phonics approach as well as “theme-based” approach. Homeroom teachers are foreign and Thai nationals. Students will have opportunities to practice English with foreign teachers all the time. English is used as a medium of instruction in main subject areas; English, Math, Science, Art and Computers.” They also offer extra English programs, extra curricular activities and summer camps.

Prices for Yamsaard Hua Hin School are similar to those at Somtawin, 66,500 baht per year or you can pay it in three parts of 30k, 20k and 20k.

Yamsaard Hua Hin School
Soi 94 (Maegeb – Bongai)
Hua Hin, Prachuabkhirikhan
Tel +66 (0)87-6946420/1.
Web : http://www.yamsaard.ac.th
Email : yamsaard@hotmail.com
Hua Hin universities

Unfortunately, the number of schools/colleges in Hua Hin that offer international programs is very limited. Those that do are listed below:

Webster University
143 Moo 5, Tambon Sampraya
Cha-am
Petchaburi 76120
Tel: +66 (0)32 456169
Email: admissions@webster.ac.th
Website: http://www.webster.ac.th

Ratchamongkhon University : 032 572284

These universities are primarily for further education so there is very little in the way of internationally recognised English language qualifications for ages 5 to 16 in Hua Hin.
Nursery and Kindergarten

One of the more popular nurserys in Hua Hin is called Pratthana Nursery and is located on Petchkasem road near the Hin Nam Sai Suay condo complex. It is professionally managed however no English language tuition is offered. Kindergarten starts at age 2 and costs 2,500 baht per month per child, times are 8am until 3pm. They also offer a pickup service, price for this depends on your proximity to the school. At age 3-4 children move classes to a pre-school environment where the basics can be taught (all Thai).

Pratthana Nursery
41/79 Petchkasem Road
Hua Hin, Prachuabkhirikhan
Tel: 032-547363.
Private schools and companies

There are a couple of small private businesses that offer language tuition in Hua Hin:

TEC (Thai-English Center) : 083-7079898

WECI : 032-536889

Yamaha Music School : 081-8804054

TLC Thai Language Centre : 032 533 428, http://www.huahinmedia.com/huahintlc.php

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Police Contact Numbers

Police Alarm Number: 191

Hua Hin Tourist Police
Hua Hin Tourist Police office is situated at Damnoen Kasem Road Tel 1155.

Hua Hin Police Station
The police station is situated on Damnoen Kasem Road. Tel. 032-511027

Hua Hin Railway Police
Hua Hin Railway Police office is situated at Damnoen Kasem Road next to Hua Hin Train Station Tel 032- 511047

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Telecom

Land Lines
The two providers are The Telephone Organisation of Thailand (TOT) and Thailand Telephone and Telegraph (TT&T). There really isn’t much to choose between the two and if you need a line put into your house, your decision is likely to be influenced by your location that will then determine how quickly service can be provided and at what cost. Both providers are becoming quicker at installing new connections, but your wait can vary from a few days to 3 months, depending how far you are from the centre of town.

Local calls are cheap, with a standard tarrif of 3 Baht per call for unlimited duration. Longer distance becomes more expensive, so do make sure you understand where the locale around Hua Hin finishes.

International dialing facilities can be secured through The Communications Authority of Thailand (CAT), however we really would advise against this service as international calls can be made cheaply from a mobile or through the telephones at CAT’s offices next to The Post Office on Damnoern Kasem Road.

Payphones
These can be found all over Hua Hin and are still quite popular, particularly with the locals. They will accept 1, 5 and 10 Baht coins and the instructions for use are straightforward. Some accept phonecards only, or a combination and some allow international calling (not advisable).

NOTE: when using a land line to call another national number (even mobile ones), try to prefix it with 1234….. This will reduce your billing by 50%. You won’t be able to call everyone using this system and the service gets very busy at times, resulting in an engaged tone. It is worth trying though.

Mobile Phones
As mentioned at the outset of this section, the choice available is staggering and you really do need to shop around to find the service provider and model that suits you best. Hua Hin has as good a selection as anywhere else in Thailand (with the obvious exception of Bangkok). The main providers are AIS, DTAC, Hutch, Orange and One to Call.

Undoubtedly, the best way to go with these is to use the “pay as you go” service. Top-up cards can be bought all over Hua Hin (7-11s are particularly convenient) and they come in 50, 100, 500 and 1,000 Baht denominations.

Look out for advertised special promotions that relate to your service. As competition is fierce, you will quite often find that calls to other mobile users can cost as little as 1 Baht for an hour at particular times of the day. Furthermore, mobiles can be a great way to communicate internationally. Again, check for special promotions that will give details of access numbers to prefix your chosen number. With these, calls can cost as little as 5-7 Baht a minute. Quite a saving from a standard fee of around 40 Bath a minute otherwise.

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Internet

Connection Types and Options

Dialup
This is the oldest method of connecting to the internet using a standard modem and your telephone line. Maximum theoretical speed is 56Kbps however it is likely to operate at half of this speed. Packages can be purchased on an hourly or monthly basis from local stores. This method is not recommended for people who need to rely on internet access.

ADSL
Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) is also loosely termed “broadband” meaning high bandwidth connection however it can be as slow as dialup at peak times. It is a service that can be enabled on your existing telephone line (providing you are in the catchment area) for a monthly fee. It requires a special ADSL modem or router (which is a little more stable) and can be left connected permanently.

Local providers have a number of different packages however it should be noted that the cheaper ones are often over subscribed (too many users sharing the connection) resulting in slower than the advertised connection speed.

Providers (ISP’s)
Most internet packages can be purchased through the main two providers in Hua Hin – TOT (032-519000-1) and TT&T (032-532018). They both work with a number of independent Internet Service Providers (ISP’s) such as Ji-net, KSC, Pacific, CS Loxinfo, and True. A full list of providers and their websites can be found here:

http://www.cat.net.th/thix/

Satellite
This is the option for those that cannot get a telephone line as they live too far away from the center of town. Setup and hardware is a little more expensive however you are saving the cost of a telephone line installation. Satellite connections are often unreliable when there is heavy cloud cover so be prepared for rainy season! CS Loxinfo are the primary provider of satellite internet connections with their ipStar system, full details can be found here:

http://www.csloxinfo.com/ipstar2_e.asp

Wireless
Wifi in Hua Hin is a very recent thing with a couple of coffee shops jumping onto the trend. Home use is very dependent on location to the signal and proximity to town. One local internet cafe called Sunshine has started their own wireless internet service for customers with monthly subscriptions, they are in the process of expanding their wireless network to cover most of Hua Hin and eventually its surrounds.

A new company is offering free Wifi in Hua Hin but the service is extremely slow and unreliable running at only 100kbps.

Mobile wireless devices can also be purchased locally for those that need to be online while on the move. The Hutch USB modem is becoming quite popular however connection speeds can also vary dramatically, more information can be found here:

http://www.hutch.co.th/broadband/index_en.htm
You can also connect to the internet via mobile phones using GPRS or EDGE which is slightly faster, the closer you are to the signal tower the better your connection will be.

The need for speed

If you want to test your connection speed remember to use an international server such as the one suggested below. The Thai technicians will test your connection on a local internet speed test server which of course will read higher.

http://speedtest.net/

Censorship and Blocking

Unfortunately reports of internet censorship in Thailand have been on the increase recently however this is unlikely to affect you as the primary targets are local websites, adult sites and websites promoting illegal activities in Thailand. Many of the providers have also blocked P2P file sharing networks such as Bit Torrent.

In an effort to reduce spam they have also blocked SMTP port 25 which will only affect you if you use your own domain name for email. You will not be able to send mail unless you use the SMTP server of your provider, those that use Hotmail, Yahoo!, AOL, Gmail or any other web based email will not be affected.

ISP SMTP Mail Servers

A full list of ISP SMTP mail servers can be found here, the ones available in Hua Hin have been highlighted bold:
Provider DNS SMTP (Out going mail servers)

A-Net – mail.a-net.net.th and smtp.a-net.net.th
Asia Access – bkk1.asiaaccess.net.th and smtp.asiaaccess.net.th
Asia Infonet – classic.asianet.co.th
ClickTA – mail.clickta.com
CS Internet . mail.cscoms.com
Data Line Thai – mail.linethai.co.th
Far East Internet – mail.fareast.net.th
Hi Net – mail.cathinet.com, relay.cat.net.th and mail.cat.net.th
Hutch – smtp.hutch.co.th
Idea Net – mail.idn.co.th
Infonews – smtp.infonews.co.th
Internet Thailand – mail.inet.co.th, mozart.inet.co.th and access.inet.co.th
Ji-Net (Max-Net) – net1.ji-net.com, smtp.tttmaxnet.com and smtp.ji-net.com
KSC – ksc.th.com, mail.ksc.net.th and totadsl.th.com
Loxinfo – mail.loxinfo.co.th, smtp.loxinfo.co.th and mail.csloxinfo.com
RoyNet – mbox.roynet.co.th
Samart – smtp.samart.co.th
Siam-It Online – mail.siamit.co.th
World Net – mail.wnet.net.th
True Internet – roamai.asianet.co.th, roam.truemail.co.th, mail.asianet.co.th and classic.asianet.co.th
TOT – smtp.totonline.net and smtp-adsl.totonline.net
TOT-biz services – 203.151.141.222
Goldcyber – smtp5.totonline.net
Pacific Internet – smtp.pacific.net.th and smtp5.totonline.net
Silvercyber – totadsl.th.com and tot.pacific.net.th
Supercyber – totadsl.th.com and tot.pacific.net.th

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Media

Television

Sadly high quality English language television is lacking in Hua Hin, there are a number of local Thai channels that primarily broadcast soap operas, game shows and news programmes. There are two options for English language TV:

Cable
Run by a local company the cable TV option offers around 10 English language channels including movies, music, news (Fox News) and a couple of lifestyle channels. Unfortunately though much of what is broadcast here is several years old and the channels tend to be changed frequently due to licensing problems. Cable TV costs 300 baht per month (750 for 3 months), the company can be contacted on 032-512558.

UBC/True Visions
This is a premium satellite TV solution offering a number of movie, sports, news, kids and entertainment channels, unfortunately it is subject to ever increasing Thai censorship policies. Startup costs can be a little expensive however they often run promotions, monthly cost is approximately 1,000 baht and upwards depending on your selected channels and packages. They can be contacted on 02-2717171 (+9 for English) or through any of the local vendors.

Radio

The radio phenomenon in Hua Hin really has only taken off in the last year. There are at least ten local Thai radio stations and one or two English language ones. More and more Hua Hin radio stations are gradually filling the airwaves.

Print and News

There are an number of local English language magazines and newspapers for Hua Hin, the longest running and most popular is the Hua Hin Observer, a free monthly magazine with articles and features on the town. Hua Hin Today, a bi-monthly paper costing 20 baht an issue, also offers news however a lot of it tends to be municipality based. Their website is listed below:

http://www.observergroup.net

A Bangkok outfit called the Big Chili has released an edition for Hua Hin, another monthly magazine with features and articles. Many of the local publications now are packed with real estate advertisements reflecting the huge expansion of the market in Hua Hin. There are also plenty of small tourist handouts with a few token paragraphs and a map however these tend to change frequently and offer nothing of use to the long term resident. Sadly though on the whole there is very little in the way of real reporting, journalism, and news in English in Hua Hin.

Internet

Although there are countless websites for the Hua Hin area very few of them offer any information of real value to the ex-pat. Hence the creation of this site which aims to fill the void. Our sister site is a comprehensive guide for tourists and attractions in Hua Hin and can be found at:

http://www.tourismhuahin.com

Hua Hin Blog
This is a recent addition to our sister site which will hopefully expand as time goes on and we find writers that are interested in contributing on life in Hua Hin, it can be found at:

http://www.huahinblog.com

Hua Hin Message Board
There is only one active message board for Hua Hin, it has been running for seven years and has over three and a half thousand members. You can get quick answers from people that live in Hua Hin:

http://www.huahinafterdark.com/forum/

Hua Hin Internet and Media Services
A media solutions provider in Hua Hin that specialises in marketing local businesses to all forms of local media can be found at:

http://www.huahinmedia.com/

Internet, computer and website solutions can be found from another local company that has been operating in the area for several years and has a good reputation:

http://www.digitalmetrix.net/

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Snakes

Snakes in Hua Hin

As Hua Hin is located quite centrally in Thailand, it is home to numerous species of snake. In total, there are some 60+ varieties in Thailand. Most are found all over the country, whilst others are localised in the north and south and not found in Hua Hin. However, over 40 can be resident either in Hua Hin or in outlying areas, so it’s important to be aware of them. If you spend any amount of time here, you’re sure to come across one at some point.

Not all are venomous and the strength of venom varies considerably from species to species. Some are extremely toxic and medical attention must be sought immediately, whilst others inject only a small amount of weak venom and other than a bite resulting in painful swelling, there is no real risk to humans. Others still are totally harmless.

Temperaments are changeable as well. Some snakes are known for their aggression and will strike with very little provocation. Others (even poisonous ones) are shy and retiring and really do need a good reason to attack you.

On the whole, it is a good general rule that snakes are not interested in humans. They do not feed on us, preferring small mammals and amphibians instead, so a snake bite is usually the result of provocation by you, surprise on the snake’s behalf (i.e. you’ve stepped on it), threats to its well-being and disturbing an adult with its young. You’re more likely to come across snakes at night when they hunt. During the day, they rest and only if you disturb one are you likely to see it.

They cannot hear, so if you are in an area where there might be snakes, say on a golf course, it’s wise to carry a golf club or length of wood with you to beat the ground, especially if you’re venturing into long grass. A snake’s sense of feel is highly developed and the vibrations the “beating” causes will make most snakes scurry off before you even see them.
Snake bites

If you are unlucky enough to be bitten, here are some dos and don’ts. Firstly, unless you are 100% certain that the snake is non-venomous, assume the worst and get medical attention as soon as possible. Always try to identify the snake – its colour, shape of head and size etc – as this will help doctors give you the necessary anti-venom. If at all possible, try to bring the dead snake along with you, although this will not always be practical. You must immobilise the part of the body that has been bitten, as often as not the leg and try to keep the victim as calm as possible. Any increase in pulse rate will only spread the poison more rapidly. DO NOT attempt to suck the venom out or cut the wound with a knife. These actions will only lead to more damage. Try to clean and cover the wound to prevent secondary infections and if there is no chance to get the victim to medical facilities within 30 minutes, apply a touriquet, but be careful not to to apply pressure to the wound and only do so if you are confident about applying it correctly.

There are plenty of snakes around Hua Hin – you can get them in your garden and they will also venture into the centre of town occasionally. However, please do try and remember that many species are endangered nowadays and if you treat your encounter with one correctly, you will have virtually no chance of being bitten. Even if you are, anti-venom is so effective these days, very few bites result in death.

Snake Types

Venomous Snakes
Cobras are renowned as extremely venomous snakes and the bite will be fatal if medical attention is not received quickly. There are a number of varieties. The common, or monocled cobra is normally active at night and they can climb and swim. When threatened, they rise up and spread their necks. As long as you remain calm, they will usually leave you alone.

King cobras are again mainly nocturnal and can swim and climb. They are large, with an average size of 400-450 cms and can move extremely quickly when standing erect. Despite reports to the contrary, they are not aggressive and will normally flee from you.

There are two types of spitting cobra – the Indochinese and the Equitorial. Both are deadly and can spit venom up to a distance of 3m into an attacker’s eyes. Needless to say, this can result in extreme damage, particularly to the corneas.

Kraits are also found around Hua Hin. They are nocturnal and actually shun daylight. There are two types common to the locality – the Banded and the Malayan or Blue. Normally living near water, both are non-aggressive and will usually only strike when threatened. The venom is highly dangerous and fatal.

Sea snakes can be found around all Thailand’s coastal areas and river mouths. They only come on shore to lay eggs, will bite if provoked and are regarded as semi-poisonous. Please note that no anti-venom is yet available.

Vipers are all too common around Hua Hin and their aggressiveness, size of fangs and strength of poison makes them one of the most dangerous species in the country. There are a number of different types – the Chain and the Malayan Pit are extremely venomous and immediate medical attention is necessary. There are 9 types of green viper all of which are poisonous, but the venom is not too strong and serums are available for all. The bite of these will result in a lot of pain and possible necrosis, but rarely leads to death.

Two more need to be mentioned – the Pope’s and Mangrove pit vipers. The first is very dangerous as well as aggressive and quick-moving. The second is also aggressive, but the venom is not too toxic and extreme pain is the only normal result of a bite.

Non-venomous Snakes
There is a whole host of snakes around Hua Hin that present no threat whatsoever to humans. However, they can be mistaken for poisonous varieties and, more importantly, the other way round. Some have fangs and can inflict a painful bite and secondary infections are possible. They can also be aggressive which makes up for their lack of venom. The most common are pythons, pipe snakes, worm snakes, sunbeam snakes, whip snakes, cat snakes (although very mildly poisonous and non-aggressive), golden tree snakes (again slightly venomous, but no real threat), bronze backs, bridle snakes, rat snakes and wolf snake.

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Vets and Pet Hospitals

The BRC Pet Centre on the corner of Petchkasem Road and Soi 47 is a good general shop. The owner speaks English. Tel 032 515554.

There are numerous vets in town, but do choose carefully. The two most highly recommended are The Pet Hospital on Soi 55/1. The staff speak reasonable English and most procedures can be done here including microchipping. Tel 032 530213.
Alternatively, there is The Hua Hin Vetinary Hospital on the canal road, just past the traffic lights from Soi 56. They are open 24 hours, can perform most procedures and have a pet grooming facility.

There is a big university hospital for animals being built on the main road to Pranburi, just south of Khao Takiab. Hopefully, this will be able to provide good, affordable treatment when finished.

As a general guideline, rabies jabs cost 100 Baht, combined injections (covering parvo, lepto and distemper), about 200 Baht. Rabies shots should be given once a year and are a legal requirement. The combined vaccinations are not necessary by law, but you are strongly advised to have them done. The diseases they protect against are common around Hua Hin and they can kill your pet very unpleasantly.

Parasites are another big problem, particularly fleas, ticks, mosquitoes, lice and worms. These can be kept at bay using imported oral medicines (which are expensive), or by means of a cheaper 2 monthly jab from a vet. Sprays, powders, shampoos and tick collars are also good.

As a final note, be aware that animals can be treated differently by their owners in Thailand and some of the sights you come across can be quite distressing. Hua Hin has suffered from a stray dog problem in the past, but with a great deal of time, effort and dedication put in by volunteers, the number of abandoned, diseased and injured animals on our streets is beginning to decline and the situation is now more under control.

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Hua Hin Municipality

Tessaban

The whole Hua Hin municipality is located in Prachuab Khiri Khan Province and has a total land area of 86.36 sq kms. The town of Hua Hin has a population of approximately 85,000.

The offices themselves are located on the west side of Petchkasem Road at the main junction with Damnoen Kasem Road (pitcured left). Most of the land around Hua Hin is either owned by the military, agricultural or unoccupied, although the town is expanding rapidly.

As a well-established beach resort, Hua Hin attracts large numbers of tourists each year who take advantage of the world-class facilities the town has to offer. The area is protected as a pollution control area and is under environmental monitoring.

Hua Hin residents elect a Mayor and between twelve to twenty-four assemblymen. The latter then choose two to four councillors from among their number who make up the executive councils, together with the Mayor. The current Mayor of Hua Hin is Khun Jira Phongphaiboon (2008).

The mayor has two advisors, a secretary and three deputies who make up the Municipal Executive Board. The Municipal Council has 18 National Assembly Representatives. Municipal Management has a Clerk and two deputies who report to the Executive Board.

There are ten departments within Hua Hin Municipality:
Education
Finance
Technical
Technical and Planning
Public Health and Environment
Water Works
Sanitation
Social Welfare and Medical – this is administered by the Office of Municipal Clerk.

Bills and Services

Electricity
The office is situated on Petchkasem Road, heading south of the town centre, opposite Condochain.

This is almost certainly going to be the largest bill you’ll get on a monthly basis. It’s difficult to give an accurate guide to how much they will be as it will depend on the size of your accommodation and particularly how much you use air conditioning.

As a general rule of thumb, running one air conditioning unit for 12 hours a day for a month will result in a bill of around 2,000 Baht, including your other electrical requirements. Estimate about 50 baht a day for one unit. If you don’t have air conditioning and simply run fans, then bills can be as low as 700-800 Baht per month.

Gas
Most of your cooking is likely to be done using a gas bottle. These can be obtained from many locations around town, so you’ll need to find the one most convenient for you. As they’re somewhat heavy, they’ll normally be delivered to your address. The cost is approximately 750 Baht and they can last for up to 3 months, depending on how much you cook. Contact details for delivery are on the business directory.

Water
The office is on the south side of Damnoern Kasem Road, between the Tessabahn and the railway station. It’s actually tucked away off the road, but you can see where it is from the large water tower that sits beside it. Bills are cheap and as long as you don’t have a swimming pool or other appliance that uses a large amount of water, they are not likely to be over 100 Baht a month.

Telephone
The two main offices are the Telephone Organisation of Thailand (TOT), based on the north side of Damnoern Kasem Road, between the Tessabahn and the railway station.

Local calls are cheap at 3 Baht each, while longer distance are more expensive. Bills include your internet time as well and will vary depending on the package you have. As long as you’re not a big telephone user and have home ADSL, bills should be between 1,000-1,500 a month.

Thailand Telephone and Telegraph (TT&T) are based on Petchkasem Road, south of the town centre before you get to the new shopping mall (on the east side of the road). Prices are similar to TOT.

Television
The cable TV office is located off the northern side of Chomsin Road, just past the Chinese Temple. Prices are either 300 Baht a month or 750 Baht for 3 months.
More information on local television options can be found on our media page.

Refuse Collection
This is organised by the Tessabahn (local council 032-511047) and collections are daily from “wheelie bins” that can be found all over the centre of town. This service is free.

If you live outside the municipal catchment area, you’ll need to organise private collections that will obviously cost.

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Hua Hin Fire Brigade

Hua Hin Fire Brigade is located at the top of Damnernkasem Road on the right hand side of the road.

In case of fire call the Fire Brigade on the emergency number 199.

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Hua Hin Immigration office

Hua Hin Immigration Office is located at Soi 23 in Hua Hin. All members of the Immigration office speak English.

Without seeing the type of passport it is impossible for the office to answer telephone enquiries relating to visas and permissions to stay. In order to avoid misunderstanding you should bring your passport with you to the office.

The office is extremely busy for its size. In one month, more than 1,000 cases are processed by this office. When you apply for work permit the office normally checks if the job can be done by Thai person. The employer will be asked why they need to hire a foreigner, if a Thai person can do the job. The work permit will be issued according to the visa type and renewal date. Normally it is initially for only a maximum of three months.

There are 9 full staff. Apart from from the sub-inspector, there are 2 investigators, 5 persons to administer extension of stays and 1 person to receive reports on foreigners staying in the kingdom.

Operating hours are 8:30hrs to 15:30hrs, Monday to Friday except public holidays.

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Dentists in Hua Hin

Dental 2000
20/45 Phetchakasem Road
tel. 032 536 957

Hua Hin International Poly-Clynic
Phetchakasem Road
Tel: 032-516424

Cool Smile Dental Clinic
100/2-3 Nabkanad Road
Tel: 032-513989 or 089-8115802

Sudjitr Dental Cinic
72/3 Naebkahad Road
Tel: 032-515947

Hua Hin Dental Clinic
1/5 Sra Song Road
Tel: 032-531510

Thawatchai Dental Clinic
94/5 Nabkhad Road
Tel: 081-8478837

Typical Charges by Hua Hin Dentists :

Tooth filling: 400 – 800 Baht
Tooth extraction: 400 – 800 Baht
Scaling and polishing: 800 – 1,500 Baht
Dental x-ray: 100 Baht
Porcelain fused to metal crown: 6,000 Baht
Porcelain fused to gold crown: 12,000 Baht
Denture repair: 400 Baht
Denture reline: 1,500 Baht
Porcelain facing veneer: 7,000 Baht
Root canal anterlor tooth: 3,000 Baht
Root canal premolar tooth: 5,000 Baht
Root canal molar tooth: 7,000 Baht
Dental bleaching: 6,000 Baht
Orthodontic treatment: 35,000 Baht
Fixed crown per tooth: 800 Baht
Dental implant 1 unit: 50,000 Baht

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Hua Hin Post Office

Hua Hin Post Office is situated on Damnoen Kasem Road, opposite Hua Hin Police Station.

The following items can be sent at the Hua Hin Post Office:

Letters, Aerogrammes, Postcards, Printed papers, Small Packet, Domestic Parcel, International Parcel, EMS, Certified Mail, Registered Mail, Insured Mail and Express Delivery.

Letters can also be posted using post boxed located through out Hua Hin. They are emptied before 15:00 Monday to Friday.

The post office is open from 8:30 to 16:30pm Monday to Friday and from 9:00 to 12:00 on Saturday, Sunday and during holidays.

The remittance service is available from 8:30 to 15:30pm Monday to Friday.

The telegraph service is available from 8:30 to 16:30pm Monday to Friday and from 9:00 to 12:00 on Saturday, Sunday and during holidays.

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Useful Hua Hin Phone Numbers

Police: 191
Police (English): 0 32 515 995
Tourist Police: 1155
Ambulance: 0 32 532 576
Fire Brigade: 199
TAT Regional Office – Region: 2 0 32 471 005-6
The Communication Authority of Thailand (Hua Hin): 0 32 511 351
Tourist Information: 0 32 611 491
Information: 0 32 602 019
Hua Hin Local Police Station: 0 32 533 440-1
Hua Hin Tourist Police: 0 32 515 995
Railway station: 0 32 512 770, 0 32 511 073
Bus station of Hua Hin: 0 32 511 654, 0 32 512 543, 0 32 511 230
Hua Hin airport: 0 32 520 343
Hua Hin Hospital: 0 32 520 401
San Paolo Hospital: 0 32 532 576-85
Polyclinic International: 0 32 516 424, 0 32 516 425
Department of Land Hua Hin office: 0 32 536 164, 0 32 512 407
Local Government (Hua Hin): 0 32 521 340, 0 32 532 471
Hua Hin local water supply: 0 32 511 677
The Power Board of Hua Hin: 032 512 215, 0 32 513 165
Red Cross: 0 32 512 567
Wild life Rescue Center: 0 32 458 135

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Jag har tidigare informerat om att servicenivån byggs ut mer och mer här i Hua Hin och nämnt Bangkok Hospital, FN Outlet och Boonthavorn som exempel på byggen som pågår eller på väg att starta.

Nu vet vi också vad det skall bli av den tidigare öppna platsen mitt emot Tessaban och polishuset. Där pågår ett bygge sedan något halvår tillbaka och det blir en shoppingarkad. Market Village får konkurrens, vilket inte är fel.

http://www.huahinnadpobmarket.com/htmlen/default.html

Göran

[Gray]

Res artikel om Hua Hin i dagens SvD http://www.svd.se/resor/nyheter/dags-for-budgetresa-till-thailand_5061897.svd

[Montnoveau]

‘Fiskeby’ ?
Jo, tjena 🙂

[Author]

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