little by little

little by little, we discover more about this town - Hua Hin.

I read about many expatriates retired here at Hua Hin, but we did not get to meet them, we are hanging around the tourist spots most of the time.

It wasn't a love at first sight, perhaps it is a good thing that we saw the worst to start with. The gap between rich and poor is huge here, any foreigners would be considered rich compare to what a local life might live like yet you have Bangkok Elites driving their Mercedes 500 all over and owning building after building of hotel or residential development. I once took Victor to a local noodle stand, he could not survive eating locally at where local people dine but he can definitely eat local food in a more established restaurant.

Golf is expensive, a round of golf cost US$ 80 each; this is because we are paying tourist price in the mean time. The best course here cost about US$ 32,000 to join but we have to buy a property inside the gate which I don't like that location, it's in the middle of no-where and have to drive 15 minutes to go out for dinner or something. Another option is to live south to avoid all the hustle and bustle of town area, belong to a golf club which is not as prestige as the best course but cost a lot less --- US$ 15000 for 15 years of membership. Immediately we bring down the cost of play for only paying caddie fee 250B = US$ 8 + caddie tip 300B = US$ 10 + yearly dues 20,000B = US$ 630

It doesn't take long for Victor to meet people, he spoke to our rental agency's owner and immediately joined their golf group to go for a out-of-town golf expedition. I am going to fly back to hong kong this evening, will leave this place at 2:00pm to get to Bangkok Int'l Airport to catch a 7:00pm flight. I just drove him to the opposite side of our hotel for their golf van to pick him up, drive together with the group to go to a golf course built inside a Thailand National Park located south-west of Bangkok, it takes a little over an hour drive from here. Instantly he is playing 100B = US$ 3 nassau with this group of expats! Hope he makes some birdies to win some $.

Overall we spent the most of our money on golf, eating out every meal everyday and grooming. We have thai massage 3 times a week, I did not buy much but I will when I arrive to hong kong. Right now at where I am, I feel like I don't know where am I going, I am just as confuse as Victor who is a known-certain foreigner, I can hide behind my tanned skin and no one knows I am not thai if I don't start speaking in English. But I don't know where to shop in great price like the way I do in Hong Kong. I keep going into tourist spots where a pair of sunglasses cost US$300 in Hua Hin Thailand, which discourages my shopping mode.

Victor is on his way to golf with his new group of British expats, I will go fix my hair before I fly back to Hong Kong this evening. Will keep you posted of my favourite Asian City --- Hong Kong!