The first time I came across the name Hua Hin was when I booked a Bell Travel Services bus from Suvarnabhumi to Pattaya. I noticed that they also had a bus headed to the other side of the Gulf of Thailand. If you look at a map of the country, you will notice that there is some sort of a huge cove south of Bangkok. Pattaya and Hua Hin share that opening into the sea with the capital, to the east and to the west respectively. And so I decided then that a future trip to the kingdom will include Hua Hin. We are all about convenient transport links, you know.
I took that bus on the way back, because my flight was departing from Suvarnabhumi. We arrived 15 minutes early despite the supposed four-hour journey and the traffic in Samut Sakhon because of ongoing highway repairs. If you are coming from Bangkok as I did, the best option would be to book a minivan via 12goasia. These minivans depart from Mo Chit’s NEW van terminal. The task of finding your van is a bit daunting in a sea of minivans going everywhere and everyone just speaking Thai. Just go to the counter for assistance and hope for the best.
The name of the province where Hua Hin can be found is Prachuap Khiri Khan, one of Thailand’s 76 provinces. The province occupies the area that serves as the narrow neck connecting the block of Thailand’s central and northern areas to its narrow provinces down south. Hua Hin is one of the eight districts and also serves as the main city. It used to be a small fishing town before the Thai royal family turned it into their own personal resort. Since then, it has become a destination of choice for residents of Bangkok who want a quick weekend getaway. As for me, I can’t help but compare it to Pattaya, which is defo more rowdy and lively.
There were a lot of foreigners and the beach seemed to be the main attraction, along with a mall called Venezia which tries to emulate the Italian city, as seems to be en vogue here in Southeast Asia. I decided to look for other attractions to explore and narrowed down my choices between Wat Huay Mongkol and Phraya Nakhon Cave. The former is a buddhist complex; the latter, a cave by the beach which has a sort of shrine deep inside, where the sun shines directly on if you arrive there at the right time of day. Wat Huay Mongkol is nearer and more accessible. I decided to be adventurous.
There is one train a day from Hua Hin to a nearby town but the timing is in the evening. Group tours online seem to be only available on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I only had Monday free. Another option is to hire a sedan from Hua Hin taxi which will cost you THB2,400 (~PHP4,200) per car for 10 hours with the driver, gas, and waiting time already included. Booking a Grab from Hua Hin is easy. The problem is going back. I took my chances. The Grab car from Hua Hin cost THB509 (~PHP875) for the one-hour ride. When we arrived, the driver said he could take me back to Hua Hin for the same amount.
I added another THB500 (~PHP860) for waiting time. When you get there, go to the booth for the admission ticket which costs THB200 (~PHP345) and the roundtrip boat ride for THB400 (~PHP690). You also have the option to go on a 30-minute trek which starts at the entrance right next to the booth. The boat ride takes just five minutes and eliminates this 30-minute trek. Either way, your end destination is Laem Sala Beach, where a 30-minute hike up rocky hills to the cave awaits. Weigh your options, with time availability and fitness levels as variables. If you have pre booked roundtrip transpo anyway, this would be better as a leisurely trek.
I was in a rush because the driver only gave me an hour and a half so I zoomed all the way up then down in just 30 minutes. My legs were dead after that. Once in the cave, the only attraction there is the shrine in the middle, underneath the cave hole in the ceiling where the sun shines through, with a backdrop of greenery that complements the brown and gray of the cave. The cave also has stalactites if you are interested in that. Otherwise, it’s just the shrine in different angles that you will be taking photos and videos of. The inside of the cave is really peaceful in spite of people coming and going. You will surely find a spot there to call your own.
[SAM ROI YOT] Phraya Nakhon Cave
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