Cha-Am blog by onlychaam

It finally looks like the rainy season is in full swing, even in my neck of the rice fields where it is usually quite dry. We still get a beautiful weather in the mornings, but the evening showers now begin earlier and last longer, and it also rains during the night.

The annual food festival is back again in Cha-Am, from September 25 to October 4. It’s called “kin-hoy doo-nok tok-meuk”, which means eat shellfish, watch birds and catch squid. The eating part takes place on the beachfront (central viewpoint) where there will be food stalls offering fresh shellfish, fish and seafood. After dark, you can board a fishing boat with the local fishermen (7 to 10 persons per boat) and they will show you how to catch squid when they venture close to the surface of the water. And as for the watching part, they organize bird watching expeditions to various sites within 10 to 15 km of Cha-am Beach. So if you are interested in watching birds, joining a squid-fishing trip or just enjoying fresh seafood on the beach, don’t miss this festival!

I went to Bangkok yesterday for a bit of shopping and to have some paperwork done. I had decided I would try the new minivan service which opened a few days ago near the main traffic lights intersection, on Phetkasem road. It’s 20 baht cheaper than the other service (which is based a few meters away, down Narathip road), but the main difference is that there is a schedule, and the vans start on time even if they are not full. Otherwise it’s exactly the same route and the same stops. The driver, though, was not good at all. A bit on the ‘wairoon’ side, driving dangerously and uncomfortably, keeping himself busy every second by changing CD, sipping coffee, eating gum, slapping the wheel, changing position, drinking water… just like he was on ya-baa! Ha ha, but of course that is impossible. Anyway we managed to get to Victory Monument in one piece, just around 8:00 am. We had left at 5:30, but there was the usual traffic jam before reaching the expressway and on Rama IX bridge.

The old service is based very close to the BTS (Victory Monument, exit #2) whereas the new service is based on the other side of the roundabout, near the big Canon sign, a 10 minute walk from the BTS. Not a problem when you arrive fresh in the morning, but not a pleasant walk after a day of shopping. So for the journey back I used the old service again and the driver was OK, not as reckless as the wairoon one (but still tailgating like a madman – always bound to happen I guess).

So, which service will I use next time? Hmmm… probably my own car! It’s a nightmare to drive in Bangkok, especially as I don’t have a good sense of direction, but at least I can do the tailgating myself and I can take my own drugs (coffee and M150, that is).

กลับมาอีกครั้งกับงานเทศกาลกินหอย ดูนก ตกหมึก ในปีนี้ตรงกับวันที่ 25 กันยายน – 4 ตุลาคม  2552  ณ ชุดชมวิวหาดชะอำ

     -  มีการออกร้านจำหน่ายอาหารทะเล จากร้านอาหารและโรงแรมชื่อดังในชะอำ  ท่านจะได้ลิ้มลองอาหารทะเลสด ๆ รสชาติอร่อย  มากกว่า 50 ร้าน พร้อมด้วยลานเบียร์สด ที่หลายท่านชื่นชอบ

     -  กิจกรรมทัวร์ดูนก นานาชนิดที่ บึงตะกาดพลี และวนอุทยานเขานางพันธุรัตน์ ท่านจะได้พบกับธรรมชาติที่สวยงามและเพลิดเพลินไปกับการดูนกหลากหลายชนิด

     -   ตอนกลางคืน มีกิจกรรมการลงเรือออกทะเลไปตกหมึก ซึ่งเหมาะกับท่านที่ชอบความสนุก และท้าทาย

     -   มีการแสดงทางศิลปวัฒนธรรมบนเวที พร้อมกับคอนเสิร์ตนักร้องดังที่ท่านชื่นชอบ งานนี้ชมฟรีตลอดงาน

สำหรับท่านที่ชอบบรรยากาศทะเลไม่ควรพลาดงานนี้เพราะจะจัดปีละ 1 ครั้งเท่านั้น และขอขอบคุณข้อมูลดี ๆ จาก การท่องเที่ยวแห่งประเทศไทย สำนักงานเพชรบุรี โทรศัพท์ 0 3247 1005-6

A new language school has just opened in Cha-Am. It’s called Insight English, and it is located in a small soi near the main traffic lights intersection (when coming from Hua Hin, it’s the soi on the left just before Home Mart – see our interactive map). All teachers are native, and the English teacher we met is quite handsome according to my Thai female staff, who has now found a new motivation to learn English! It may be also a good opportunity for all Swedes and Danes out here to brush up your skills!

But the great news is, Insight English also provides Thai courses. As far as I know it’s the only place in Cha-Am where you can get lessons in Thai (I mean professional lessons). The Thai teacher only speaks Thai in class, but she’s perfectly bilingual in English.

The school is settled in a very nice and clean environment. They maintain a pretty garden with a swimming pool, and you can enjoy a coffee under the sala during the break. You are welcome to go there to get more information and to test your level before joining a class. Don’t forget to mention you heard of them through Onlychaam.com, and maybe they will be nice to us and my secretary can get the English teacher’s phone number.

OK it wasn’t really holidays, as I just kept myself busy cleaning my 2 rai garden. Moving bricks and roof tiles from one side to another, cutting grass, weeds and the like (which is virtually an endless activity, as it grows so fast), and getting rid of stones and rocks. It wasn’t really summer either, but as I am working with Europe and the US, I thought I could take a break while they are on holidays too. It’s supposed to be the rainy season here in Thailand, but it’s still quite dry around Cha-Am. Just some showers in the evenings, and not everyday. But sometimes I drive a few kilometers north or south and find the roads are wet because it’s been raining. Maybe I live under a microclimate?

A few things have been happening in Cha-Am, mostly new places opening. There are even rumours of a Burger King opening! We will keep you posted.