The main topics for most of my recent articles have been about places to eat or activities to do in Hua Hin, Thailand. Living in an area with fun activities and great places to eat are important but today I want to share with you something I’ve been overlooking, the long stayers coming here to live for 3 months to a lifetime from many different countries.

Maybe you are already living in Thailand and thinking about moving to Hua Hin or your reading this from your computer in one of the 191 countries in the world (possibly 192 if you consider Taiwan) thinking about a warmer climate, a slower pace of life, (insert reasons here).

In the decision making process, you have a good idea as to why you want to move here. The next smart question to ask would be, besides living with Thais, not including tourists, who are the people that may be your neighbors or future friends and what would you do here for a living if you’re not a retiree or recent lottery winner?

Because I have the good fortune of operating a rental agency, I get to meet the people who are coming to settle here and during the tours to view homes, they share their stories with me. Maybe a few of these stories may inspire you in making the move to Hua Hin, Thailand and give you some ideas as to what you can do here for work.

Andre, a computer programmer from Norway contacted us with a few selections from our website to give us an idea of what he was looking for and we met with him to discuss possibilities. His girlfriend, studying in Bangkok during the week, would be coming to visit him on week-ends so it was important to be near activities, restaurants and shopping as he did not want to drive a motor bike. One vital detail was: he needed a house with a great internet connection to do his work in the evenings. Andre works for a bank in Norway and writes bank codes for on-line banking and the internet speed needed to be a minimum of 2 megabytes and reliable. Well any houses with a TOT line had to be eliminated as the service often goes down or is just too slow. The house had to have a TT&T line to apply for TT Maxnet Internet service, a more reliable service at a reasonable price. The best is CAT Telecom but it comes at a hefty price compared to the other providers. Andre would begin his work around 2pm and finish his on-line shift around 10pm. We found him a rental matching all his specifications, in town, on the beach within his budget. I am meeting more and more people who are working from there rentals in Hua Hin with a good internet connection.

Charles owns a company called Stylus Sounds and builds luxury home cinemas all over Thailand. He could really live anywhere in Thailand but chose Hua Hin because of its up and coming status as a really great place to sell his products and services (he recently opened a showroom on Petchkasem Rd.), raise his young family, activities, and proximity to Bangkok for business. As well he loves driving so if needs to go to Phuket or Samui to meet clients as well, it’s basically one road to both. Imagine that, selling high end stereo equipment and building the best home cinemas in Thailand as his job.

I met Liz & Tony about a year ago and they were coming to Hua Hin from Miami to begin teaching at what is probably the best Bilingual English/Thai School in Hua Hin, Yamsaard. They have 2 young kids and needed a safe house, not too far from the school at a very good price as they were on a budget. Foreign Teachers make a very good salary compared to Thais but need still need to budget carefully, especially with two young kids. Still with both of them working, and the school subsidizing their kids school fees, they were able to get a nice 3 bedroom,2 bath, near the beach, fully furnished house and buy a car. To live as most Thais do is very inexpensive but to live a full foreign lifestyle is not cheap, most of us make a compromise in the middle and have a great lifestyle. If you live within your means, Thailand is very easy to get by with some monies left over to save.

Jacques use to own a furniture factory in France, sold it and moved to Hua Hin. As he was still too young to retire, he decided to open a furniture shop. For the first year he lived in a furnished condo until he found a very reasonable un-furnished house on our website for only 25,000.00THB with large garden and pool. Being in the furniture business it was easy enough to furnish and also display his home as a show room for potential clients who would choose to furnish their entire homes with him, dramatically reducing their costs. Jacques loves to travel across Thailand searching for unique items to offer and include in his interior designs making him truly passionate about his work. Most buyers who come to Hua Hin, only spending 4 weeks a year here would rather have a professional do all the work so that they can enjoy their holiday. Why would you go on holiday to work?

These are just a handful of stories of the neat people I meet in the rental business. Depending on the response I get from our readers, I will continue to write brief stories about our clients and how they find happiness in the land of smiles all within there budget.

The Tourism Authority of Prachuabkhirikhan, Thailand is inviting residents and tourists to visit the 500 rai water lily swamp in Sam Roi Yot National Park.The swamp is opened to visitors from now until the end of March 2009. The park is only 45 minutes from the Hua Hin Center.

In addition to the massive swamp abundant with lilies, you are also surrounded by the majestic mountains within the national park. Here you will also have the chance to see up to 250 types of bird species who have migrated there for the season.

Still want to have more fun! You can go and explore the Phra Ya Nakorn Cave where the Kuha Karuehaad Throne built for King Rama V is and admire the caves awesome stalagmites and stalactites. Make sure to bring your camera!

if you still have time and are planning on spending a full day in the area, I recommend you take the boat tour along the Khao Daeng Canal and visit the mangrove forest.

Are you a homeowner or someone renting a home that needs some general repairs done?

If you need a plumber , an electrician, a tiler, or some general work to be carried out call Martin at 086-168-9992 or e-mail him at swifty2653@gmail.com.

In our continued effort to bring you the new and best of everything in Hua Hin, Thailand, here are a few new places for you to check out when you have some free time.

Pates, Cheeses, Cold Cuts and More….

It use to be difficult to find delicious cheeses, cold cuts and pates but no more. A new deli shop called “French Touch Delicatessen “has opened on Soi 47/1, 13/54 Petchakasem Rd. The menu is simple but if you want to try a variety of what the owner has to offer simply ask him to make you an assortment plate to try a bit of everything.

New French Restaurant: The Blue Orchid (22/65 Naebkehard Rd.)

A new Tapas Bar has opened in what use to be the Nam Talay restaurant opposite Putahracsa Boutique Hotel. I have yet to go and eat there, so if you go, please send us your comments. But I have seen the interior and it is a cool contemporary design with comfortable lounge to enjoy a cocktail before dinner.

The Thymes Restaurant @ the Herbs by the Sea Hotel

Located in what is quickly becoming the Soho area of Hua Hin, The Thymes restaurant is located at 1/12 Naebkehard Rd. (Corner soi 41) on the top floor of the Herbs by the Sea Hotel. The restaurant offers an Italian & Mediterranean menu with choices sure to satisfy all. Set menus start from 599.00THB. The panoramic views are super while dining alfresco. Open daily from 11am to 10pm. Call +66 (0) 32 512 289 for reservations.

Zar’s Used Book Shop Opens on Soi 94

Hua Hin use to have a few good second hand book shops but over the last few years they all closed. Of course one can go to Asia Books or Bookazine and buy new but I still prefer to save a couple hundred Baht and buy 2nd hand. If you also like to save as I do, a new used hand book shop has opened on Soi 94 and is open daily from 9am to 7pm.