Hua Hin Breaking News: Long term Hua Hin resident and editor in chief of Asia Times Online, Allen George Quicke, has been killed in his home in Hua Hin on the evening of Tuesday August 17. Police have investigated the crime scene following the discovery of his body by a house maid, neighbours have reported that there were sounds of an argument during the night. Quicke, 57, was a South African national who spent many years in Australia before moving to Thailand to head the team at Asia Times, then a print publication. He was well known around the town's many expat bars. Messages of condolence and news updates can be found on the Hua Hin Forum [read more].

The murder in Hua Hin is the second in less than a month following expat Raymond Hind's death at the end of July [read more].

Hua Hin's golfing giveaway
Hua Hin News July: Well not quite a giveaway but for the months of August and September you can enjoy discounted green fees at many of Hua Hin's top class golf courses. The Hua Hin Golf Festival draws golfers from across the region and gives the local expats a chance to get out on some of the town's golf courses without breaking the bank. With green fees at 800 baht and caddy an additional 250 there is no better time to get out on the following courses: Royal Hua Hin, Palm Hills, Springfield, Majestic Creek, Lake View, Kaeng Krachan and Sawang. More information can be read here: Hua Hin Golf Festival 2010.

For those that prefer a little more nautical entertainment the Hua Hin Regatta will be running from August 3 to 10. More information: Hua Hin Regatta 2010.

Low season to no season in Hua Hin
Hua Hin News May 20: With Thailand’s political crisis deepening and tourist numbers plummeting the situation seems to be going from bad to worse for those in business in Hua Hin. Violence on the streets of Bangkok once again cased chaos as anti-government protesters clashed with security forces in deadly shootouts. Foreign countries issued travel advisories warning against coming to Thailand and foreign arrivals dropped by almost half in May.

The western media certainly have not helped the situation by sensationalising reports, publishing biased commentaries, and labeling the country as a war zone. Hua Hin as usual has seen little effect aside from the drastic drop in foreign tourism at an already quiet time of the year. Domestic tourism is on the increase though as Bangkokians flee the city in droves and Hua Hin’s inadequate road system grinds to a halt again.

All of this leaves businesses that cater to foreigners in a quandary, the bills still need paying but there is little coming in. The town’s expats and retirees also seem to be hunkering down as both the Euro and Sterling took a beating recently, the still inexplicably strong Thai Baht only makes life here more expensive by the day for those relying on income from overseas.

The smart business owners are starting to offer more incentives, promotions and price cuts to the ever budget conscious customer. The rest will have a battle just to survive this year. Hua Hin's only active web board, HHAD, has also taken this route with a number of low cost marketing options for small businesses that are seeking a large internet audience. For less than ten baht a day local establishments and businesses can get an advertorial thread in the forum that they can instantly update with news and promotions with the option of interacting with existing and potential customers. With over 80 readers per hour on the forum it is clear that there are plenty of people still out there interested in Hua Hin related venues, businesses and products.

Commentary and opinion from those in Hua Hin on Thailand's political unrest can be read here: Political unrest and rally

A musical summer in Hua Hin
Hua Hin News Apr 21: Hua Hin's visitors and residents will be treated to a musical summer with two beach fesitvals scheduled for May and June.

The Honda Summer Music Fest returns for its third year on May 1st, it is held in Khao Takiab and features a big lineup of reggae, ska and rock bands. Thousands of young revellers journeyed to the beach last year so this year is expected to be the same. More information and updates can be found here: Honda Summer Music Fest 2010.

The annual Hua Hin Jazz Festival will be back on June 18 to 20 according to TAT. The line up has been posted here: Hua Hin Jazz Festival 2010 and on the Hua Hin Jazz Festival website.

Flying high in Hua Hin
Hua Hin News Mar 12: Hua Hin is flying high this month with the Hua Hin Kite Festival held at the Naresuan Camp (14km north of town) and the Hua Hin Kiteboarding Competitions on the beach at the Intercontinental hotel.

The kite festival comes to Hua Hin every two years and attracts competitors from across the globe, there are a number of events such as stunt kite flying, exhibition kites, speed kites and kite fights. There is also a parachute show and radio controlled model airplane show. More details can be read here: [Hua Hin Kite Festival 2010].

The kiteboarding competitons will also attract many competitors as it is the first prefessional kitesurfing event in Asia. There will be a Grand Slam event with big prizes along with a photo competition for the general public. More details can be read here: [Hua Hin Kiteboarding Competitions].

New directives from Hua Hin Immigration
Hua Hin News Jan 22: In an effort to alleviate some of the escalating confusion over immigration policies Hua Hin Immigration Department have released a set of directives for publication on the town’s web board. The perplexity has come about regarding a 24 hour reporting rule which states that an alien re-entering the country on a non-immigrant visa must report to their local immigration department within 24 hours of their arrival or face a fine. The inconsistencies in the enforcement of such a rule have been clearly documented with some foreigners getting fined and others not and some immigration bureaus enforcing it while others don’t.

The set of guidelines and a new form to go alongside the 90 day report form in the aliens’ passport reaffirms that Hua Hin is indeed enforcing this regulation. Also included in the directives is a cross-provincial regulation that requires aliens to report to police with 48 hours if they travel to another province for over 24 hours. The enforcement of this though is likely to be virtually impossible unless the system is computerised. The full set of directives can be read here : [Hua Hin Immigration Directives].

Computers for kids from Hua Hin’s web community
Hua Hin News: A project setup by members of Hua Hin’s internet forum, HHAD, has so far resulted in the donation of two computers to the Mercy House Orphanage in Pranburi. The initiative was the brainchild of one of the websites moderators who saw the need to regenerate old e-waste in the form of spare and unwanted computer parts with the dual benefits of recycling and computer experience for needy kids.

Requests were made online and in local print media for donations of any working computer components that could then be used to build reconditioned PCs for donation to worthy causes in and around Hua Hin. Anything is accepted as long as it works; keyboards, monitors, speakers, CDROM drives, memory, hard disks and computer cases – it can all be re-used.

A lot of positive response had already been generated through the forum for the Orphanage so it was decided that they would be the first recipients of any results from the new project. A drop point was setup at the Hua Hin Ham and Bacon shop in Soi 41 where people could leave their bits. So far two fully operational computers with peripherals including printers and a scanner have been delivered to the Orphanage.

The team is currently working on repairing inoperative machines they currently have at the center and are requesting more working components and spare PC parts from any individuals or businesses in Hua Hin that wish to donate to this cause. They would like to thank everyone that has helped so far with deliveries and donations. More information can be found on the Hua Hin web board for those that would like to get involved: [ Computers for kids in Hua Hin ].

Hua Hin News : On The Grapevine