The Lake Club Golf Section was supposed to have organised this tour of Hua Hin, but due to poor response, only pakdokter and Peter ( Zahardin) O'Malley were left with our confirmed bookings to fly to Bangkok from where the tour was supposed to start. At the last minute, Fiona, Peter's partner, unfortunately suffered a 'sciatica', and they too had to drop out. So only pakdokter and partner were left to execute this 'mission'!
The flight to Bangkok on MH was full with holiday-makers, December being a holiday season for most parts of the world. Suvarnabhumi was packed with travellers - KLIA was rather quiet by comparison. However it must be remembered that more than half of travellers to Malaysia came in through the LCCT.
Pakdokter had arranged 'online', a limousine pick-up and transfer to Hua Hin, and the driver was waiting for us at the arrival hall as promised. The brand new Toyota Innova was big enough for our original group of four, luggage and golf bags.
The drive to Hua Hin was smooth and fast. Taking the Rama 11? highway which bypassed the city along the south-western ringroad - it was a 6-lane highway all the way to Hua Hin. We reached Hua Hin in 2 hours and 30 minutes - the last time pakdokter visited Hua Hin some 10 years ago or so, it took us almost 5 hours with a lunch break in between! Things have really changed over the decade....
And Hua Hin is no longer a small 'fishing village'! So many new developments have taken place with many new hotels and condominium blocks and malls, some still under construction.
banners in celebration of His Majesty's birthday...
our airport limousine was brand new....
We checked in at the Hilton Hua Hin which was smacked by the beach-front in downtown Hua Hin. The last time here, we stayed at the Sofitel Centara next door, an old establishment with the 'aura' of Singapore's Raffles, Penang's E & O or Surabaya's 'the Majapahit'. Hilton was equally luxurious but modern.
the rows of elephant fountains welcomed us at Hilton....
banners celebrating His Majesty's birthday was put up everywhere....
the swimming pool was inviting...but the sea was rough....
breakfast by the pool-side..
lovely lift-lobby...
happy to be in our spacious suite at last.... 
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