2-3 Hours From Bangkok

[think_too_mut]

Centara Grand, accross the road, almost in the shaddow of The Hilton.

 

Built in 193. as Railway Hotel. Last time I saw it it was Sofitel, now it has changed again.

 

 

It has tried a movie career: it was this hotel that palyed the role of the Phnom Penh hotel in "The Killing Fields" and that's where the beginning of the movie was shot.

 

 

[Flashermac]

The hotel scenes were shot here, the embassy evacuation in Nakhorn Pathom and the airport scenes at the old Don Muang Airport (long since torn down). I had a tiny part in the film as a U.S. Marine. My one line got cut out.

[Mekong]

My one line got cut out.

 

I very much doubt that "Do you spit or Swallow" would have made it past the censors in 1984!

[think_too_mut]

Potty mouth.

 

Just look how clean the main thoroughfare at Hua Hin is. Almost as clean as Singapore is:

 

 

Nothing bad to catch eye:

 

 

My wife would be proud, when we bring our Japanese friends. Clean and fine:

 

 

[Flashermac]

Amazingly clean for Thailand. The soi on live on looks like that, but it certainly doesn't near the market. The 7-Eleven also has trash thrown around outside, even though there is a rubbish bin right next to the door.

 

BTW the line was - "Let's go, Marines." I think they shot around 5 hours of film, then trimmed it down to two. I'm on screen for a couple of seconds. I knew people who were cut out completely.

[waerth]

They shoot 5 hours of film for a 30 second commercial

 

For movies they use god nows how many hours of film. What they meant with 5 hours of film was probably the amount they picked for the edit table!

[Flashermac]

I can easily believe they ran up a tremendous number of hours, since every thing we did had to be done over and over and over ad nauseam. That one experience was enough to put me off ever wanting to be in another movie.

[think_too_mut]

Back from Hua Hin Sheraton. Spectacular place.

 

 

30% of the rooms are right on the water:

 

 

Dusit Thani, bare 1km away (towards Hua Hin) my last years love is not any worse.

True it does not have "jump into water straight from your room":

 

 

I actually walked to see it again, pictures are from yesterday:

 

 

 

 

By price, they are comparable, Sheraton may be a bit more expensive but not enough to rule it out.

 

Sheraton pros:

New, 6 years only facility, architectured in accord with contemporary demand.

Everything operates 24 hours, any room service is around the clock.

 

Sheraton cons:

Staff behave like in a choreography (artificial courtesy)

No lift (although it is max 1 floor to climb)

Ultra, even vulgarly, modern.

Promotes alienation.

Vehicles bomb searched (a mirror on a club, going around the car an looking if something is attached) in light of US Embassies closures in Islamic countries.

 

Dusit Thani pros:

Staff cordiality.

Feeling like at home in every corner of the facility.

Fosters friendships. Not that I need friends but at Dusit my daughter (joyful and friendly) had some child to play with every minute of our stay, that is an important part of her holiday and memories. At Sheraton not a single word exchanged with anyone. Perhaps, the architecture of the laguna simply makes people drift on their own.

 

Dusit cons:

Although in immaculate condition, it is a 30 years old architecture.

While inside the room, looking from the balcony inwards, you would not know you are not in Sheraton.

 

The verdict: next year I will take my business to Dusit Thani again. To continue awarding Thais for operating the chain at world class level while remaining what they are. At Sheraton, they are also same Thais, many could even be ex Dusit staff, but now trained to wear smiles in a cramp.

And, why would I have to think of planted bombs in my hotel? At Dusit it will never happen.

[baa99]

Thanks for the update.

[think_too_mut]

Some 45km before Hua Hin is new Santorini Park.

 

 

Went there Friday, it says opening is 17. august. I guess that means the water park part of it will be open. Then, it's a full day place.

 

Shopping village is open (bizzare that you have to pay 50B to get into a shopping mall). Quite nice in there:

 

 

So nice that pics are taken:

 

 

 

 

It does give the feeling of the Greek island (been to Santorini before)

 

 

 

Ferris wheel ride is whopping 120 B per person. There other rides too, 1,000B for cover all ticket.

 

Water park next to it (I guess with water park ticket entry to the shopping mall will be included) looks as big as maybe 80% of the Black Mountain park in Hua Hin.