Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Khao Takiab
About 7km south of Hua Hin, Monumental Chopstick Mountain guards the southern end
of Hua Hin beach and is adorned with a giant standing Buddha. Atop the 272m mountain
is a Thai-Chinese temple (
Wat Khao Lat
) and many resident monkeys who are not to be
trusted - but the views are great.
On the southern side of Khao Takiab is
Suan Son Pradipath
(Sea Pine Garden), a muddy
beach maintained by the army and popular with weekending Thais. Green
sŏrng·tăa·ou
go all the way from Hua Hin to Khao Takiab village, where you'll find loads of simple
Thai eateries serving fish straight off the fishing boats that dock here.
The nearby
Cicada Market
(Th Phetkasem; dishes 45-120B; 4-11pm Fri & Sat, 4-10pm Sun)
hosts lots
of outdoor food stalls at the weekend and is a pleasant, mellow spot with live music from
7pm. It's just before Khao Takiab on the left-hand side of the road. You can catch a green
sŏrng·tăa·ou
(20B, from 6am to 9pm) from Hua Hin's night market; a hired túk-túk (pro-
nounced
đúk đúk;
motorised three-wheeled taxi) will cost 150B one-way.
Activities
With nine courses scattered around its environs, Hua Hin continues to be an international
and domestic golfing destination.
Cycling is a scenic and affordable option for touring Hua Hin's outlying attractions, es-
pecially since hiring a taxi to cover the same ground is ridiculously expensive. Don't be
spooked by the busy thoroughfares; there are plenty of quiet byways where you can en-
joy the scenery.
Kiteboarders flock to Hua Hin for the strong winds that blow almost all year round.
Kiteboarding Asia
( 08 1591 4593;
www.kiteboardingasia.com
; South Hua Hin; beginner courses 11,000B)
This long-estab-
lished company operates three beachside shops that rent kite-boarding equipment and of-
fer lessons. The three-day introductory course teaches beginners the physical mechanics
of the sport, and the instructor recommends newbies come when the winds are blowing
from the southeast (January to March) and the sea is less choppy.
KITEBOARDING
Hua Hin Golf Centre
GOLF
