The beach seem to been cleaner than before, the Marlbrough style cowboys who ply their horses for rides on the beach carry plastic bags to pick up the poop. May be its because HM the King is now virtually permenantly in residence in Hua Hin that the local council seem to be making a better effort to keep it neat and tidy.

Walking through the town I noticed that the number of Indian restaurants has grown from one to three, no doubt needed to feed the employee of the expanding numbers of Indian tailor shop that are popping up around the town.

There are a couple of interesting restaurants to visit one is Chomtalay beach restaurant, ( Phetkasen Road Tel 0-3254-7253-4, fax 0-3254-7345) just past the airport traveling from Cha-am. It’s undoubtably the best sea front restaurant serving Thai food. For French head to Brasserie de Paris, 3 Naresdamri Road, phone 0-1826-6814. And if you are looking for somewhere for a Roast lunch on Sunday, I can thoroughly recommend Buffalo Bill’s Steakhouse and Grill, Damnoenkasem Road (Tel 0-3253-2727) a choice of four types of meat for Baht 290, generous well cooked portions with a wide variety of vegetables.

Even when His Majesty is in residence I am told that its now possible to visit the grounds of Klai Kangwon Palace, possibly more in the style of a family beach resort that the traditional image of a palace. Its open 8am –4pm daily and is well worth a visit.