Renting a car in Hua Hin
We decided on a Thailand road trip soon after we discovered Myanmar was not due to open its borders anytime soon due to COVID 19. The plan was to head South from Hua Hin, possibly ending up close to the Thai-Malay border, around the city of Hat Yai. Dimi liked the idea of a 4×4 pickup car to allow for practical use like off-road access, but also because it would just be plain fun to drive. In our search for car rental places in Hua Hin, Easy Car Rental caught our eye. Their website states they offer cars at a fair and competitive, all-inclusive price, with many great reviews both on their website and Google. Unfortunately, after we enquired in person, the owner was reluctant to rent us any car due to our plan of travelling far south, which would incur high mileage. However, he suggested several other rental places we could turn to. Even though we left empty handed, I would recommend this place due to the owners’ genuine attitude to help us. We ended up renting from Thai Rent a Car, as they gave us a very good price: ฿320 (~€9) per day for a Nissan Almera 1.2L for 2 weeks, 2 drivers, with unlimited mileage. The following day was to be the start of our 13-day road trip to explore new places… Let’s hit the road… Jack! ♫
Day #1 (20/6/2020)
Distance travelled: 112.6 km
Driving from Hua Hin to Prachuap Khiri Khan
After travelling to many places on scooters during our Asia trip, it was a lovely treat to now have the opportunity to listen to some Thai music while on the road. We set off early from our Airbnb to head to Little Blues Crafts and Cafe in Nong Kae for coffee and cake.
Once satisfied with our morning’s work, a route was mapped to head straight to Prachuap Khiri Khan city. I apprehensively – for my first time driving an automatic car, and also outside of the UK – got behind the wheel… no pressure. Fast forward the part where I somehow managed to slam the car to an abrupt halt in the middle of the motorway, whilst preparing to turn left (thank God no-one was close behind us!), we pulled up an hour later to the coast, safe and sound to stop for pictures and lunch.
I found the roads on the way there very smooth compared to the UK, and the average speed limit, set at 80 km/h, not observed by anyone, including me! There were many signs warning about speed cameras, but I couldn’t see neither any of them nor the white sensor lines on the road.
Wat Khao Chong Kaeo (Temple) in Prachuap Khiri Khan City
We found a Thai food restaurant, on the road, opposite the beach with a menu in English, offering a variety of dishes for cheap. With our bellies full of rice, we parked the car at a 7/11 to top up our mobile data, withdraw dough, and on foot, we made our way towards Wat Khao Chong Kaeo (Temple), high up on a hill. Macaques littered the path and watched us closely as we walked by, some even showing us their canines in a threatening manner. Many people had sticks, to guard themselves against those naughty enough to come close. We climbed the 395 steps to the top, walked around the peaceful temple grounds and snapped pictures of the Gulf of Thailand that stretched way out into the distance.
At Prachuap Khiri Khan Night Street Market
Down below, we spotted a promenade hosting a long array of brightly-lit stalls and many people. We assumed it to be a night market. We made our way down for a nosey, being careful not to piss off the many macaques we again encountered. At the entrance of the night market stood a policeman, armed with a thermal thermometer to point at our foreheads and to ensure that we wore face masks.
It was a typical market setting, selling clothes at one end and food at the other for fair prices. We bought two homemade sweet pies for ฿80 and sat listening to live music on Saranwithi Bridge, while grey clouds gathered above, creating a wonderful coloured sky for the golden hour. We sauntered our way back through the market (picking up tea along the way for ฿80) and headed back to the car in search of our first night’s camping spot in the dark.
Camping in Prachuap Khiri Khan National Park
After driving through villages and leaving the main road, we eventually turned onto a dirt track and settled by a cute little pond where we were met by three friendly dogs. I gave each a small piece of my pie, not forgetting Dimi. Initially, several scooters drove past us as we set up the tent… Then silence. We were to be completely on our own from now on. Once we had finished our tea – rice and meat followed by a luminous green fruit which tasted like pickled guava – we made ourselves comfy. Meanwhile, the wind picked up outside and the odd dog could be heard barking in the distance.
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