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Published: September 1st 2007
The Anantara Resort & Spa
This place was gorgeous!!So while we were in Bangkok, Ricky’s mate from work, Gavin and his wife Claire were relaxing in a tranquil Thai resort on the beach at Hua Hin. We decided to join them for a couple of nights before we embarked on the remainder of our journey to the other side of the world in Melbourne.
Hua Hin lies 250kms south of Bangkok so, given that our luggage consisted of 5 massive suitcases, flying there just wasn’t an option. We found a taxi driver who had a taxi-van that would take us for 3000THB (less than £30). Not bad, although when we got out of Bangkok and the lines on the road disappeared, I began to think paying the excess weight costs would have been the safest option. Especially in Thailand where I don’t think there are ANY health and safety laws for anything and most definitely not on the roads. I have since met someone from Montrose who was actaully fined in Bangkok for not wearing his seatbelt in the front seat of a taxi - I suspect the police man may have been going on a night out that particular night.
It was a varied and interesting
Our apartment
We definitely had a room with a view drive. Street food traders lined the whole highway selling, rice, drinks, fruit. How anyone managed to stop and get back on the highway without loosing life was completely beyond me. The bus stops interested me, they were like big shelters with a fancy rooftop, hmmm, so different. What was crazy? - the disappearance of the smog when you leave the city. It was like clouds lifting. Motorcycles littered the edges of the highway, with women holding small babies balanced on the back. No helmets, no shoes. Mad!
2 and ½ hours later we reach the “Anantara Resort and Spa” situated just outside town and right on the beach. This place is amazing. I felt like I had just walked into a Thai set in Florida’s Universal Studios. It was out of this world - luxurious and peaceful. We receive fresh cold palm juice as we checked in and were then taken to our apartment. You could open our patio doors and literally walk onto the beach. There were about 5 different restaurants in the resort and one of which was also on the beach. One morning, we ordered breakfast for the room and the waiter set our table on
the patio and served our breakfast, right there on the beach!! In 37°C heat - Unbelievable!!!
Happy hour in the pool bar, where the bar stools are actually in the pool was 1pm-2pm and 5pm-6pm was amazing so we never really left the pool the first day, well, only to visit the loo - ach, it’s a hard life!! Gavin and Claire joined us for some happy hour pool drinks and then we headed into town for some dinner. We went to an amazing Italian to take a break from the spicy Thai cuisine. They had already checked out the nightlife in the town so we went to “The Brewing Company” to experience yet another brilliant Thai live band. Ricky nearly pulled a Thai bloke (well - the Thai bloke was doing his best) and Gavin managed only to keep his eyes open in 1 photo (of about 12!)!
We set Gavin and Claire a challenge to get home for less than 100THB (£1!) which they did - woohoo!!! We got home in style though and each got a ride on a motorbike taxi!!
(Dad- Ricky did say to the guy that he would give him 150THB
Hua Hin!
Even the signposts are so different if he went slowly and didn’t kill me!!)
I didn’t have a helmet on, but I definitely had my shoes on!!
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ladyvivander
non-member comment
anantara
I agree the anantara resort is fab, my daughter married there two years ago and the whole thing, service, food etc was first class. On the downside there is no respite from the dreaded mozzies, except in your room, so if you are prone to being bitten beware!