Pattaya > < Hua Hin

[Randy Cornhole]

Sorry Steve iv'e no idea as the whole week was a long time ago and a complete blur.
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Why drink and drive when you can smoke and fly!
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[STEVE G]

I know what you mean Randy, a resident of the Isle of Man once described the place to me as an island where 80% of the population were alchoholics and the other 20% were under the age of 12.

[JimboPSM]

[prcscct]

FYI, the mini bus service is now advertised at 800 Baht o/w, with group discounts. Pretty clear they were losing their shirt at 490 o/w.

No word on when/if the boat service will start. It was initially advertised "early March". Pete

[thechairman18]

I just phoned them, and was told to go and book at the Buffelo Bill Bar.
The one-way fare to Pattaya is now 800 baht. 400/450 was an 'opening offer'

thechairman18
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The darkest hour is only 60 minutes

[Guess]

[thechairman18]

I booked a return trip, back to Pattaya, for yesterday Mon 26th March with someone called Martin, who said he is one of the owners/partners of the mini bus service.
I was told to be at the Buffelo Bill pub/restraunant, in Hau Hin at 12 mid-day.
I arrived at the pick up place, at 1130.
Their agent, said that he had been told that they were to pick me up, but he had been unable to contact them, as their mobile was switched off.
I waited till 12, 1230, and when I tried to phone them, it was still switched off.
When it got to 1pm, the bus had not arrived, and their phone was still switched off.
The owner of Buffelo Bills, who said he is only their agent, and has no other connextion to them, was most upset, as it is the third time, that they have failed to turn up.
He told me, that he will no longer take bookings on their behalf.
I then had to make my way to Pattaya, by the A/C bus, and arrived home about 830pm.
I texted them to ask why they let me down, but although the got the text, they have so far not responded.
I never got to use this service, and doubt whether it will last much longer.
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The darkest hour is only 60 minutes

[smiles]

[johnnyk]

the chairman18:
Count your blessings, you didn't actually go on open water with these clowns.
If they can't turn up or turn on their phone then God help anyone if the bloody boat hits a reef or a storm comes up.
Most professional.

[Jockey]

Thailand plans more ferry routes
source: Bangkok Post: 28 Apr 2008

More ferry routes plan for the Gulf

New ferry routes will be introduced in the Gulf of Thailand and along Bangkok's canals under a plan drawn up by the Transport and Tourism and Sports ministries.

Deputy Transport Minister Anurak Jureemart and Tourism and Sports Minister Weerasak Kohsurat, both from the Chart Thai party, said that if implemented, the plan would feature new ferry routes in the Gulf to serve both passengers and cargo, the development of ports along its coasts, the zoning of beaches and upgrading tourism services on Bangkok's canals.

According to Mr Anurak, there will be six projects to serve their idea.

Firstly, both ministries will push for concessions for ships that will ply between the towns on the east and western coasts of the Gulf.

That should reduce the need for cargo trucks seen as a source of bottlenecks on the south-bound highway in Phetchaburi and Prachuap Khiri Khan provinces. This should greatly improve the traffic situation and in turn benefit tour buses and passenger cars in the upper Gulf.

Secondly, the ministries will promote the use of speedboats, such as hydrofoils, to ply between the eastern and western coasts of the Gulf and between the region's tourist destinations.

Recommended routes are Ko Chang to Ko Samui, Puek Tien to Laem Chabang, Hua Hin to Pattaya, and Cha-am to Chanthaburi.

Thirdly, the ministries will promote waterway tourism in the Chao Phraya river in Bangkok, Ayutthaya, Nonthaburi and Samut Prakan provinces.

Such activities in canals around the historical Rattanakosin island, including the Phadung Krungkasem canal, would also be encouraged.

On top of that, beaches in tourist towns would be zoned for water sports and to offer natural retreats.

The plan also includes the setting up of more marinas and floating markets.

''Although the Transport Ministry is the one which supervises the ports, it does not know how to promote them. The Tourism and Sports Ministry knows very well how to do that, but can't do it without their cooperation.

''As the ministers of both ministries are from the same party, we can talk. With their cooperation, I expect a new era of waterway tourism,'' Mr Anurak said.

Both ministries will form a joint committee to work out the details of the six projects.

Wanchai Sarathulthat, former permanent secretary of the Transport Ministry and the current chairman of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), will head a committee that will include representatives from the TAT, the Marine Department and the Transport Ministry.

Supoj Saplom, director-general of the Rural Roads Department, said a ''Thai riviera'' project proposed by his department would help support the ministries' projects as it called for road improvements for a combined distance of 615km along the western coast of the Gulf of Thailand.

If all goes according to plan, the riviera project will connect over 100 tourist destinations in Chumphon, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Phetchaburi and Ranong provinces.

The department has finished the design of the riviera and is now awaiting its environmental impact assessment report. It will take nine years and an estimated budget of 6.89 billion baht to complete. It will begin with the construction of 81 routes, worth 300 million baht, in the first phase next year.

Mr Supoj said the road project was proposed so that it could be adjusted to bring improvements to ports along the coast
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[The understudy]

Hi there Y'all!!!

Thank you Jockey for this important piece of News. I think it's a good Idea which the travel and Sports Ministry has in mind.
The 1st point of setting up cargo routes between the eastern an western seaboard would be utmost iimportant a Many "Hok and Sip Lor trucks or Lories are plowing through Petchaburi on their way south. And Manu of them are from the Northeastern Isaan Provinces.
The 2nd point which promoting and connnecting trips from Important Tourist Destinations as example mentioned Cha Am to Chantaburi or Hua Hin to Pattaya via Speedboats, Hydrofoils or even Jetboats seems to me an obvious to follow through. But we must not forget the Sea Conditions during High and Low Seasons which can be quite diffrent @ times Which our fellow Barry S is surely familiar with. This idea of establishing a Riviera along the Sseabords with ports and Marinas can boost the Economy greatly. Let's wait and See if this Very Important string of Projects can really takes off!!! As they had envisioned!!
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I feel loney you're the one nad only that makes my dreams come true.
I'm having a dry spell (in Love) which til now lasted 7 years snd still ongoing.

[The understudy]

Continue from my above Post

If there will be new routes across the Golf of Thailand that would make the Hua Hin & Beyond Area again suitable for A major Theme Park as Visitors from the other side of the Bay will come over.

Your's The understudy!!!
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"I Feel Lonely You're the one and only that makes me feel so Blue,
I feel loney you're the one nad only that makes my dreams come true.
I'm having a dry spell (in Love) which til now lasted 7 years snd still ongoing.

[Chas]

Pattaya to Hua Hin I can understand, but who would ever want to go from Hua Hin to Pattaya?

One small observation, that Gulf is not the gentle smooth ocean you may imagine. I remember vividly a trip out to some islands south of here ( Koh Tao/ Koh Samui ?) In a speedboat that held about a dozen people and it was an experience I will never forget. It was dead calm at the shore but we met huge waves not far out and were battered and tossed about mercilessly the entire trip. MOST unpleasant! Catamaran or hydrofoils? maybe. Really BIG vessels. . .perhaps. What it is like out there in the open Gulf needs to be considered at any rate.

[Hobiecat]

[barrys]

And as I've pointed out before, the roughest sea conditions with the highest waves in the northern part of the gulf are in December and January, which just about torpedoes (excuse the pun) any boat service between Pattaya and HH in the high season.
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Barry Stone
Mermaid Cruises
Tel. 032-632223 (office)
084-8007400 (mobile)

www.huahincruises.com