One aspect I truly enjoy in running a rental agency in Hua Hin, Thailand are the many interesting people I get to meet who share there unique stories with me while we visit properties together. The following story comes from a client who rented a condo from us for his holiday and after mentioning I would like to learn more about his story, sent in the following write up for us to post.

I have been going to Cambodia for many years. I think I first went there in 2002 and helped out at an orphanage in Siem Reap. A few years later I was in Laos and met a monk there who became a very close friend. He told me of an orphanage in Battambang that was run by a monk that he knew. I visited there a few times and it was on one trip there that I found myself in Phnom Penh. I had met a girl on a bus who said I should visit the orphanage that she worked at but when I got there I found it was a scam. So I asked my tuk tuk driver to take me somewhere that I could donate the rice and money I had. That is how I ended up at my sons orphanage for the first time. I had a great time there. The staff and kids were great. We played volleyball, I took a couple of language lessons, and we generally hung out. The orphanage in Battambang received a great deal of help from sponsors in Australia so I figured my time and energy was best spent in Phnom Penh. I was already looking into adopting and had done a lot of research, including talking to many people who had adopted. So after spending time there I figured I wasn’t getting any younger and now was the right time. Also I had got on with Ati and Ato like a house on fire. The school I work for was fantastic and they gave me support and time off so that I could spend time in Cambodia with the boys and well as deal with the courts first hand. This was a great way of doing things. It meant that I could spend a lot of time with the two boys and allowed them to form a real bond before I took them back to China, where I live. It made the transition much easier for them. We do go back to Cambodia which helps them keep ties with their routes and I have stepped up my involvement there. I raise funds to help put kids into English language programs so that they can have a much better chance of getting work when they leave the orphanage. Learning English helps break the cycle of poverty.
Please check out the website:

http://web.me.com/helpingorphanages/Site/Welcome.html

I aim to raise $10 000 to send 10 more kids to school and provide food, transport and other essentials.

Cheers

Paul Underwood

Living in Hua Hin for nearly five years now, I have witnessed the transformation of this small fishing village into a “mini” city with many new restaurants, specialty shops, Malls (we now have 3 compared to only one 2 years ago) and lots of new activities for couples and families.

One stretch of road with special interest to share with you is Naebkehard Road, between soi 41 to 57. This is the new Soho area of Hua Hin and is becoming not only a great area for boutique hotels, but also trendy restaurants with entertainment and art galleries. It’s an excellent alternative for spending time with friends or family compared to the center of town where traffic is heavy and parking difficult. Naebkehard road is wide with lots of parking and safe sidewalks along the whole street.

One new trendy accommodation is called the Green Gallery Bed & Breakfast next to Coco 51 Restaurant ( the restaurant offers Live Jazz in the evenings) corner soi 51 and Naebkehard Rd. They have four types of rooms, The Silhouette, The Chandelier, The Light House, and The Green Room to offer guests. During the day, on the same soi, a delicious papaya salad and fried chicken restaurant is set-up and is famous among the locals.

Other attractions nearby are The Golden Palace Shop (where all the King’s favorite foods are sold), The Palace, The King’s Running Track, and The Music Room.

If you are willing to venture out a little farther, The Dusit Thani Hua Hin is featuring an exhibition of Paintings from local Hua Hin artists until January 19th 2009 from Noon to 10pm daily. As well The Happy Gallery in Khao Takiab is presenting Art Forever: Tradition meets Modern until January 11th 2009 from 10:30am to 8pm daily.