The signs are up for Hua Hin Bike Week 2013. Sponsored by the Vampire MC, the event will be held the 6th and 7th of December.
[Updated 29 Nov 2013–please read update at bottom]
It’s not stated where it will held but it was 19 Rai Park last year and this is much better than 48 Rai where it was held previously. Continue reading
The brain cells must be going faster than realized. Had driven by Vic Hua Hin several times in the past few weeks and couldn’t figure out why they would build a club/disco so far south of town. It looked like something more for the Bangkok crowds so didn’t think much more about it but did note that at least it wasn’t as ugly as Plearnwan and certainly had much better parking facilities.
Then last week observed that the new buildings going up just south of Vic were to be a school for the performing arts–Patravadi High School no less and couldn’t imagine why anyone would build a high school next door to a club/disco.
But then late, late last night had an epiphany and realized what was what.
It had been years since FBF had commuted in Bangkok. This was long before our current wireless days with iPhones and netbooks so there wasn’t much to do while stuck in traffic but read. Long traffic jams often made short shrift of magazines and books and sometimes one had to resort to reading the Post. Even on a good news day it didn’t take long to read the first section and one was then stuck with their Arts section. That’s where he’d seen the name Patravadi.
The Judy Garland of Thailand. Hair the opposite of Khunying Porntip, often on TV in a special with her name in the title. The name that comes to mind when putting the words Thailand and Broadway together.
The Vic isn’t going to be a club or disco. It’s either a super club or theater, in the live, so close you can smell them, sense of the word. Original name too, if ว was pronounced like a V.
Late night/early morning research then led to the fact that the Fringe Festival 2010 will be held at the Vic. (It was so late that FBF kept reading the venue in the Thai flyer as Wat Hua Hin rather than Vic Hua Hin and was wondering why all these concerts where being held in the Hua Hin Temple…)
The festivities kick off on the 22nd of January and continue most weekends through late February. There will be concerts, plays, musicals, puppet shows and comedies. Tickets are from free to 1,200 Baht, depending on the show.
There will even be a Thai-US Country music battle with the US represented by a Kyle Dillingham from Enid*, Oklahoma, that little zit off the panhandle of the Great State of Texas.
Kyle ain’t no Johnny Gimble or Doug Kershaw but he’s one of the featured performers in Patravadi’s Phra Lor which debuted last summer at the Patravadi Theater in Bangkok and will be presented in Hua Hin January 29-31, 2010.
So, polish your shoes and iron your suit and get ready to get cultured. If you have teenagers who are aspiring entertainers, check out the high school.
Art and Culture are coming to Hua Hin.
*Two old wildcatters, Wiley and Will, had dug their last dry hole and had just gotten plumb tired of Champlin getting all the good leases. They decided to head west where they’d heard that Okies were treated right nicely in CalifornIa. It was a particularly windy day in the Dust Bowl, and as they headed west they passed a wide place in the road and noticed a couple of buildings almost covered in tumbleweeds. Wiley asked his buddy, Will, “What in blazes was that?” Will was driving as it was the only way he could get even with Wiley for the way he flew, so he looked in the rearview mirror and replied, “eniD.”
The Hua Hin Countdown & Food Festival will be held at 19 Rai from 28 December 2009 through 5 January 2010.
These events are usually pretty good. There’s plenty of space and ample parking. The music might not be the Luk Tung headliners like at the music festivals but there’s usually a different band or two each night doing Thai and Western covers. Other entertainment is also provided by various schools featuring dancing and singing by students.
All types of foods are available from the stands surrounding the seating area offering everything from satay to burgers to grilled seafood, somtam and chicken. Portions are small and inexpensive so it’s an ideal opportunity to sample a variety of dishes without breaking the bank. Singh and Leo beer are in abundance and there are plenty of tables and chairs. The facility has improved greatly over the years as it’s now sealed, has a large permanent stage and toilet facilities.
It’s also very family friendly and there are small toys, balloons and other trinkets for sale to keep the children busy while the adults munch out and people watch.
19 Rai is near Queen’s Park, across the road from the beach, roughly behind Klai KangWan Temple or Index, accessible from Phetkasem Road via Soi 19 or Soi 35.
The Hua Hin Bike Week 2009 was a raging success. Many, many bikes and bikers from all over the country and Malaysia and Singapore. Lots of Chang, food, music and old friends catching up. Hats off to the Vampire MC of Hua Hin.
Billy’s Birthday party was also quite a night. Biggest crowd this party goer has seen since Randy’s Birthdays at Goldfingers. The band was excellent and still had the crowd going long after FBF headed home. The biggest surprise was that locals were heavily outnumbered by tourists and passersby. Will try to post some photos on the Billy’s Bar page. Can’t wait til next year.
The Hua Hin Rock Festival is this Saturday, the 19th, and there are sound trucks up and down the Sois reminding folks. Posters are everywhere so the road to Khao Takieb should be quite backed up all day Saturday. Too bad the road to Khao Takieb is the only road through Hua Hin…
It looks like the Intercontinental Hua Hin is finally open. At least all the trucks are off the street and traffic is much better in that part of town though the Marrakesh down the road has a long way to go and the earthmovers are still quite busy.
The new golf course at the Suan Son Army Camp seems to be coming along. Sprinklers are going full throttle and the heavy equipment seems to have all moved up to the Marrakesh operation in town. Shouldn’t be too long before the course opens.
Speaking of the Intercontinental, Maria Sharapova and Venus Williams will be celebrating New Year’s Eve at the new resort before facing off in the Hua Hin Centennial Invitation tennis match next year. This event is being organised by the Lawn Tennis Association of Thailand under the patronage of His Majesty the King and the city of Hua Hin.
The Hua Hin Centennial Invitation will be held at Centennial Park* (currently under feverish construction at Soi 112), on Saturday 2 January 2010 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the seaside resort and usher in the New Year in exciting fashion with two of the most popular tennis players in the world.
After their singles match, Maria and Venus will combine with local stars Paradorn Srichaphan and Danai Udomchoke for a set of mixed doubles.
There are other activities and festivals coming up over the holidays so there are places to go and things to do other than the mandatory gala dinners at the big hotels. Additional posts will be added soon with the details.
*Centennial Park is south of town at Soi 112, just past the big curve to Pranburi. It’s just south of the ramp of the overpass, across from the Mobil station. As it’s still under construction, it’s difficult to be sure, but it appears that parking will be limited.
