Wintering in Thailand according to Khun Peter
Help! My street, winter last year
Now that Sinterklaas has arrived again and will soon be replaced by Santa Claus, it can still be held out until the turn of the year in the Netherlands.
The months of January, February and March, on the other hand, are the most depressing months of the year in my opinion. Actually, I'm just waiting for spring to come again. Escaping this useless period is a welcome thought.
Winter prices
The plan is therefore as follows: grab your toothbrush and close the door behind you in the gray gray Netherlands in mid-January. Then board the plane to Bangkok. As soon as the leaves come back on the trees, do the same in reverse. They call it hibernation.
Overwintering is usually synonymous with retired or elderly Dutch people who flee the harsh winter to prevent rheumatic complaints and stiff muscles. Life then mainly moves to Spanish Costas and then joins the local bingo in Benidorm with the walker in the back of the traffic jam.
Well, I had something else in mind...
Hua Hin
The choice for my temporary winter residence has become Hua Hin. According to many Thailand visitors, the Thai Benidorm, or a retirement home. In my opinion, that is grossly exaggerated. I like coming to Hua Hin. Not only because friends and acquaintances live there, but also because it is a cozy and stylish seaside resort. It is uncluttered and relaxed. No screaming neon lights and Gogo bars touting female merchandise here. Nightlife is subdued. Nevertheless, you can enjoy a cool beer in one of the many bars. The beaches are pleasant, there are many excellent restaurants, the Nightmarket is fun. The nightclub under the Hilton Hotel is a good choice to let your feet off the floor for a while.
My girlfriend also thinks Hua Hin is an excellent choice. This is undoubtedly related to my earlier comment: the lack of a vibrant nightlife. Like many Thai ladies, she is rather careful with her farang boyfriend. She apparently doesn't want to tie the cat to the bacon knowing that the spirit is willing but the flesh usually weak. Obviously I am strictly monogamous. When I say that to my girlfriend, she looks at me with a smirk and starts laughing. No idea why?
work
Apart from choosing Hua Hin, I don't come to vacation during my flight from frozen car windows, chilblains and thick coats. The goal is as simple as it is boring: just work. For my livelihood I only need a laptop, internet connection, a desk and an office chair. 80% of my work consists of coming up with and writing texts, which can be done anywhere in the world. By uniting the useful and the pleasant, productivity and creativity will only increase, I firmly believe. My partner agrees with my evil plans and guards the fort in the Netherlands. Nothing stands in my way anymore.
To reinforce my plan, I am already looking around for a plane ticket and a suitable accommodation. A plane ticket is not that difficult. A house should also work. For about 15.000 baht (€ 350) per month, you can rent a fully equipped multi-person bungalow in Hua Hin or the surrounding area. That's fine to do. If there is anyone who knows a nice accommodation in that price range: send an email to: [email protected] An internet connection is a requirement.
I will also have to arrange a visa for this period, so a visit to the Thai consulate in Amsterdam is also planned. In any case, the necessary arrangements.
Tips
I intend to write about it from time to time in the near future. This to prevent future hibernators from possible tips to provide. Of course I am also curious about tips from others, the seasoned hibernators so to speak. There is no point in reinventing the wheel twice.
Three months in Thailand staying is not a bad prospect. Life there is cheap and pleasant. And that's why I can now finally say: 'Jan Splinter will get through the winter this way!'
[Obviously I am strictly monogamous. When I say that to my girlfriend, she looks at me with a smirk and starts laughing. No idea why?]
Are you really serious, that you have no idea?
@ No Hansy, do you know why?
Let me be careful, I think I know.
In the image of the Thai woman, the man is never monogamous, especially if you live apart for a few months.
As long as you're with her, she'll believe in your monogamy. Once you're gone, you'll find your pleasures elsewhere. Just using the hand will dismiss them as nonsense.
So you won't be able to make her understand that you don't waste your time in NL.
Please confirm/deny.
@ Hansy, it was meant to be somewhat ironic. You can say a lot about me, but I am not naive. So I understand why she doesn't believe me. By the way, my monogamous behavior is no joke. I swear on the grave of my dead goldfish.
A little about your visa Peter. I have now done it in writing for the first time.
Everything sent to Amsterdam incl. a return envelope with postage for registered mail. Received everything at home within 5 days. well arranged.
Saves another trip to Amsterdam.
Frank
@ Frank, maybe I will too. Thanks for the tip.
My girlfriend thinks exactly the same as you put it and Peter writes about nightlife and tying the cat to the bacon.
But indeed there is nothing wrong with Hua Hin, although I already made a picture the first day there
of 200 TB for driving without a helmet, but the thai were just as good.
Fines for riding a motorcycle without a helmet.
I think that's great.
Even though most of the time it will be teamoney for uncle cop.
Too many times have I seen brains, or sawdust, spilling down the street.
That was the umpteenth accident involving a motobike.
Even with a helmet on your personal computer, an accident with a motorcycle is very painful if you ride with shorts and a t-shirt.
Completely right, but my girlfriend had rented a scooter with 2 helmets and my big head didn't fit in there.
By the way, I had to pay at the desk, so don't think teamoney, uncle police officer asked if my girlfriend still had a sister.
Haha, yes those helmets there are really only designed for Thai heads, if you manage to get it on, the strap is too short again. 😉
Peter, what a wonderful feeling that seems to me, hibernating in Hua Hin. Can't your friends in Hua Hin even look for a suitable house for you? Usually they know many more possibilities than we do from the Netherlands. I personally think Hua Hin is a nice place, you quickly feel at home.
@ Lenny, it's definitely already being looked at. There are also several websites of brokers with offers on them. But broadening your field of vision a bit never hurts.
Nice Peter,
Would like to hear and maybe see something about wintering Hua Hin. Want that too.
As you may know I have been doing this for several years in Pattaya. I'll write a piece for you about my experience here. Maybe nice in the series "overwintering". Make something. Not good money back we'll see.
Although I know that your own experiences are not always shared by third parties, but that's for later
Ruud
Hi Peter, you are doing a very good job, with a caveat.
You have to leave as early as the end of November.
That commercialized Christmas in the Netherlands drives you crazy, doesn't it?
And those queues at the Appie Hein from mid-December? That's not what you're waiting for.
And a Christmas dinner outside in the Netherlands means paying way too much, dense buildings in the restaurants, and you have to be able to book the second dining session - because people can usually book in two sessions - otherwise you can't have a quiet dinner.
How different it is in Hua Hin, by the way I'm not crazy about that night market, it really dies of tourists. But that shopping center is great, at least if all the shelves are filled again.
We (my German wife and I) traveled at the end of September for 220 euros, with Airasia from Paris to Kuala Lumpur, and after acclimatizing to Penang for a week, flew on to Guilin for around 100 euros. South West China is beautiful, great weather so far, we are now in Jinghong on the Mekong, close to Myanmar, highly recommended!!! . But how low is the water! The boats to Chang Saen are not running. We fly from Kunming to Mandalay at the beginning of December, and then to Bangkok at the beginning of January.
Have fun in Hua Hin, work them there, and come winter earlier next time.
Santa Claus in Thailand at 35°C is also not a porem IMHO
Hi Peter,
good plan, since my pre-retirement I have been going to Udon Thani for about three years on average for 5 months, from the beginning of October. My girlfriend has a spacious house and car, I take care of the dog and fireplace (…). I will be back at the end of February to do my own garden and the tax authorities a good service.
Western holidays under summer temperatures, I find it a blessing. And of course Naga and Loy Kratong are also fun to experience. there are still some festivities in December, including at my girlfriend's school in Udon, so we won't be bored at all before January either.
Next week I'm going for a trip to southern Thailand that is not recommended by anyone, visiting terrorist centers such as Songkhla, Pattani and Narathiwat. Will we survive again? And with hotel prices of around 700 Baht per night, it is again extremely cheap.
Enjoy your wintering in Hua Hin.
Nice to experience that with your stories about it Khun Peter, we would love to imitate you (but then leave before Christmas) but unfortunately we cannot just continue our activities elsewhere in the world, that is of course very nice if that is possible.
That nightclub cost a god's fortune last year, haha. Monopoly…..Played a top band!
Marcos.
They have no monopoly at all.
On the way to Pala-U, out of the center on the right, there is also a very large discotheque open until 3 am.
Unfortunately, many people think that Hua hin ends as soon as you cross the railway tracks.
It is precisely the tourists who receive a map from the middle class that are misled as if Hua hin only consists of a few streets.
After years of living here I still come across new places every day where I can have a great time.
@ Pim. I stayed there for 2 days in transit to a wedding. I had a great time there and I don't know the way in Hua Hin at all. You live there and you are certainly right. Even had my best steak ever at a German restaurant! But don't ask me for the name here either.
Hoy Peter enjoyed your message as every day
Everything has been arranged with us again, tickets and visas, apartment for three months, man, are we looking forward to it, our stay (my wife and I) is in Jomtien and from there we make stairs. The same place for years, and we like it fine