Smiles
January 17th, 2008, 12:12
Settled into a very sweet townhouse in Hua Hin on January 1/08. It took us some searching during the first week in December, but we soon scammed a great deal (by serendipity really ... right time, right place, right day) on a 2 story, 2 bedroom attached townhouse. Basic furniture included (as well as a second TV), 2 hong nams, Romeo & Juliet balcony, room for the car / OR / a garden in front (the garden won out). All that and a 5 minute walk to the beach and downtown Hua Hin. 8000 baht a month. A deal in my opinion.
Originally, before leaving, I had budgeted for a place in this very soi for "about" 12,000 to 18,000 a month (we had scouted it out a few years ago). . . with the possibility of luck being with us and finding one for 10,000. So we could not be more happy with the price we ended up with.
Please indulge me with the vanity of putting up a few shots of our new home in Hua Hin.
'House & Gardens' (Hua Hin Ed./Jan/08):
These next 4 shots of our front 'yard' after a bit of a makeover . . . a big ass umbrella for shade, a few plants (being added to weekly), a foot bath to wash off the sand, and cool the feet, and a good cleansing job on the cement (which had gone to the dogs a bit before we moved in).
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v18/sawatdeephotos/home16.jpg
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v18/sawatdeephotos/home15.jpg
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v18/sawatdeephotos/home14.jpg
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v18/sawatdeephotos/home1.jpg
This taken out through the front door. All the windows and doors have mosquito coverings, and are very necessary here. Not sure if this is the case in other parts of Thailand (I had not really noticed before) but the little buggers are out in force between about 5PM thru 7PM. Not sure why they seem almost non-existent before and after those hours.
The early evenings have been cool and breezy in Hua Hin most of January and sitting outside in the setting sun (with mosquito coil!) with a cool beer(s) or (in Pot's case) a glass of wine has been a gentle pleasure in this gentle town.
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v18/sawatdeephotos/home7.jpg
His Majesty surveying his new kingdom just after taking possession.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v18/sawatdeephotos/IMG_1076.jpg
This is a very pretty little Soi just off Petchasem Rd (the main drag of Hua Hin). All amenities can be found on the 2 arteries of this soi, including 2 very tiny gay bars .... one of which we frequent regularly for a beer or a glass of wine before calling it a night, or sitting in the twilight talking to some of the guys who work there. It's not a gogo bar, but one of the townhouses (exactly the same size as ours) turned into a small and very easy-going host bar.
Next door (blue gates) the old Thai lady has 3 dogs and about 15 birds (love birds, a Myna bird ~ I think ~ and a couple of small parrot-like things). The birds ~ unlike the dogs ~ are reasonably quiet at most hours, but start quite the racket at about 6:30am. At first I thought it would be a pain, but now ~ like living next door to a train track ~ we hardly notice, and in fact the bird songs at that time of the morning are a small and regular pleasure. I'm glad they are hers and not mine . . . I get the music, but she cleans the cage.
This bird speaks Thai. Loudly. In the morning.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v18/sawatdeephotos/IMG_1074.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v18/sawatdeephotos/home18.jpg
Looking straight down from the bedroom balcony into the Soi. A great old coconut tree next door gives us shade . . . another item which get the benefit of, without the maintenance.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v18/sawatdeephotos/IMG_1065.jpg
Thai's contented lives:
Thai people sleeping at odd hours is rarely indicative of boredom. In fact, far from it .... it is often the desire to make up for energy lost during accumulated sanook events: e.g. eating too much at Swenson's, chopping exhaustion, playing with beach dogs (the healthier and better-fed version of the Soi Dog), having too many arguments in ones second language (often ending with "you think too much", as if that were a reasonable conflict-ending statement) extended sexual bouts (apres-arguments :blackeye: ), working too hard in the heavy sand at the beach concession hefting too many plates full of Beer Singh yai .... etc etc etc.
So it's home from the fray, lie down for 5 minutes .... off to lah lah land for 2 hours of pure REM moments (a state which takes him all of 30 seconds to reach) and multiple unconscious changes of positions.
Much like the deliciously pornographic bas-relief carvings on ancient Hindu temples, here are a few shots of my old man in various positions of his sleepy time time. Each one has a different name (like Thai smiles), but they are secret . . . though all Thai men ~ especially customer-less motorbike taxi guys and song taoew drivers at 2 in the afternoon ~ will recognize them.
The Teddy Bear position. No teddy bear? Grab whatever is handy and pretend. As the say; " ... any bear in a storm ... "
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v18/sawatdeephotos/home5.jpg
A variation on above .... with the added advantage of helping to hold the wall up. While asleep, the foot charmingly taps out a tune reverberating through the wall from the next door stereo system.
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v18/sawatdeephotos/home8.jpg
This one included to point out to all that Thai butts do not necessarily disintegrate after the age of 35. My guy is reasonably vain, and when he saw this shot he immediately exclaimed " .. nice ass ... " I could do nothing but agree.
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v18/sawatdeephotos/home9.jpg
When I saw this shot I did a bit of a double take and had to look closely at what I soon realised was the end of his belt. I'm sure you did as well .... :geek:
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v18/sawatdeephotos/home10.jpg
A favourite of mine, one which has on occasion been taken advantage of. This position is rare, and, like the Snow Leopard, very difficult to photograph.
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v18/sawatdeephotos/home11.jpg
Cheers ....
Originally, before leaving, I had budgeted for a place in this very soi for "about" 12,000 to 18,000 a month (we had scouted it out a few years ago). . . with the possibility of luck being with us and finding one for 10,000. So we could not be more happy with the price we ended up with.
Please indulge me with the vanity of putting up a few shots of our new home in Hua Hin.
'House & Gardens' (Hua Hin Ed./Jan/08):
These next 4 shots of our front 'yard' after a bit of a makeover . . . a big ass umbrella for shade, a few plants (being added to weekly), a foot bath to wash off the sand, and cool the feet, and a good cleansing job on the cement (which had gone to the dogs a bit before we moved in).
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v18/sawatdeephotos/home16.jpg
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v18/sawatdeephotos/home15.jpg
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v18/sawatdeephotos/home14.jpg
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v18/sawatdeephotos/home1.jpg
This taken out through the front door. All the windows and doors have mosquito coverings, and are very necessary here. Not sure if this is the case in other parts of Thailand (I had not really noticed before) but the little buggers are out in force between about 5PM thru 7PM. Not sure why they seem almost non-existent before and after those hours.
The early evenings have been cool and breezy in Hua Hin most of January and sitting outside in the setting sun (with mosquito coil!) with a cool beer(s) or (in Pot's case) a glass of wine has been a gentle pleasure in this gentle town.
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v18/sawatdeephotos/home7.jpg
His Majesty surveying his new kingdom just after taking possession.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v18/sawatdeephotos/IMG_1076.jpg
This is a very pretty little Soi just off Petchasem Rd (the main drag of Hua Hin). All amenities can be found on the 2 arteries of this soi, including 2 very tiny gay bars .... one of which we frequent regularly for a beer or a glass of wine before calling it a night, or sitting in the twilight talking to some of the guys who work there. It's not a gogo bar, but one of the townhouses (exactly the same size as ours) turned into a small and very easy-going host bar.
Next door (blue gates) the old Thai lady has 3 dogs and about 15 birds (love birds, a Myna bird ~ I think ~ and a couple of small parrot-like things). The birds ~ unlike the dogs ~ are reasonably quiet at most hours, but start quite the racket at about 6:30am. At first I thought it would be a pain, but now ~ like living next door to a train track ~ we hardly notice, and in fact the bird songs at that time of the morning are a small and regular pleasure. I'm glad they are hers and not mine . . . I get the music, but she cleans the cage.
This bird speaks Thai. Loudly. In the morning.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v18/sawatdeephotos/IMG_1074.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v18/sawatdeephotos/home18.jpg
Looking straight down from the bedroom balcony into the Soi. A great old coconut tree next door gives us shade . . . another item which get the benefit of, without the maintenance.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v18/sawatdeephotos/IMG_1065.jpg
Thai's contented lives:
Thai people sleeping at odd hours is rarely indicative of boredom. In fact, far from it .... it is often the desire to make up for energy lost during accumulated sanook events: e.g. eating too much at Swenson's, chopping exhaustion, playing with beach dogs (the healthier and better-fed version of the Soi Dog), having too many arguments in ones second language (often ending with "you think too much", as if that were a reasonable conflict-ending statement) extended sexual bouts (apres-arguments :blackeye: ), working too hard in the heavy sand at the beach concession hefting too many plates full of Beer Singh yai .... etc etc etc.
So it's home from the fray, lie down for 5 minutes .... off to lah lah land for 2 hours of pure REM moments (a state which takes him all of 30 seconds to reach) and multiple unconscious changes of positions.
Much like the deliciously pornographic bas-relief carvings on ancient Hindu temples, here are a few shots of my old man in various positions of his sleepy time time. Each one has a different name (like Thai smiles), but they are secret . . . though all Thai men ~ especially customer-less motorbike taxi guys and song taoew drivers at 2 in the afternoon ~ will recognize them.
The Teddy Bear position. No teddy bear? Grab whatever is handy and pretend. As the say; " ... any bear in a storm ... "
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v18/sawatdeephotos/home5.jpg
A variation on above .... with the added advantage of helping to hold the wall up. While asleep, the foot charmingly taps out a tune reverberating through the wall from the next door stereo system.
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v18/sawatdeephotos/home8.jpg
This one included to point out to all that Thai butts do not necessarily disintegrate after the age of 35. My guy is reasonably vain, and when he saw this shot he immediately exclaimed " .. nice ass ... " I could do nothing but agree.
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v18/sawatdeephotos/home9.jpg
When I saw this shot I did a bit of a double take and had to look closely at what I soon realised was the end of his belt. I'm sure you did as well .... :geek:
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v18/sawatdeephotos/home10.jpg
A favourite of mine, one which has on occasion been taken advantage of. This position is rare, and, like the Snow Leopard, very difficult to photograph.
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v18/sawatdeephotos/home11.jpg
Cheers ....