Destinations, Photography, Short and Sweet and Scattershot, Thailand

Memories of Hua Hin

November 12, 2013


So, Hua Hin.

The vacation city overlooking the Gulf of Thailand was our final stop in Southeast Asia. A spot where we dropped our bags, dropped our go-go-go, and took time to indulge in slow days, fast motorbikes, fresh fish, old gardens, hot coffees, and torch-lit dinners along the sandy shore.

Prior to arrival, we’d explored Wats in Bangkok, taken the overnight train to Chiang Mai, relaxed among the dragonfruits growing in the northern Thai countryside, dabbled in the kitchen, crossed into Laos and floated two days down the Mekong River, bused into Cambodia in time to join nationwide mourning for the death of a king, and eventually ended up full circle back in Bangkok, prepared for one final Asian adventure before departure to New Zealand.

Remember that whole “Short and Sweet” thing?

This is where I’d normally want to sit and describe everything…the minibus that drove us south from Bangkok, down the coastline, to our destination at Nern Chalet (featured in our Where to Stay in Southeast Asia series)…


Dinner at Nern Chalet

I’d want to share the views from our beachfront room overlooking the bay…tell you about the evening’s cotton candy thunderheads and flashing lightning storm (the very same display of nature that Torre was witnessing on her little island, out across the water)…

…list the names of each temple and night market and score on fabulous street food…



…walk you through the fishermen’s market and share the catch of the day…



…bring out the humor in Ted’s coffee finds…

…and the serenity of our walk down the shoreline, up to the impressive towering Buddha set golden against the rocky outcrop…



…but to do all of that would take far, far too much time.

Too much for now.
Too much for tonight.
Too much for life’s current shape.

To let that explanation be enough takes surrender on my part.

I’d rather sit here and weed out passive sentence structure, flesh out paragraphs, add hyperlinks to fascinating sites, caption every photo, give addresses and day by day recommendations…but no.

Instead, I’ll revel in the memories, take joy in sharing tidbits and snapshots, and be grateful for lessons in letting go.

xx Bethany

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8 Comments

  • Reply Cindy Buck November 13, 2013 at 6:03 am

    Can’t tell you how much I love the way you write and your ability for storytelling. These pictures are simply beautiful. What wonderful memories you two have from such a magical time in your lives. Thank you for sharing this. Like looking at a postcard, I almost feel like I can walk out my front door and into these frames. >3

    • Reply Bethany ~ twoOregonians November 14, 2013 at 9:06 am

      When I think about how beautiful the world can be, it just overwhelms me. So many colors, so many people and places…

      I’m so glad to be able to share them! xoxo

  • Reply CJ November 13, 2013 at 7:58 am

    Even the snippets of memories are enough…. Just beautiful.

    • Reply Bethany ~ twoOregonians November 20, 2013 at 1:48 pm

      Happy to hear it, sweet friend! xx

  • Reply Lindsay November 13, 2013 at 2:31 pm

    This is enough! It looks like heaven right now (as I sit here in Illinois just two days after our first snowfall of the season)! I’ll have to go back to Thailand as I missed Hua Hin last summer!

    • Reply Bethany ~ twoOregonians November 20, 2013 at 1:49 pm

      Snow…how is it nearly winter already? Can it be true that 2013 is almost over??

      I miss Thailand, too. I really enjoyed seeing your pictures before we visited, and now that we’ve been, I’d love to go back. The flavors, the colors, the mix of landscapes… And the affordable, wonderful Thai massage!

  • Reply thetravelchica November 16, 2013 at 8:01 am

    I need to remember to stick with snippets more often too :-)

  • Reply Bethany ~ twoOregonians November 20, 2013 at 1:51 pm

    I’m always wanting to add extra layers of thoughts…information…tips…details. I love details. But, I’m also willing to bet that not everyone even combs through the posts looking for all those extra tidbits. I do it because I love it — but now that I’m needing to switch gears, I think I can grow to love the small posts and simple things, too. :)

    Hope you’re doing well these days! So fun seeing you in Portland this past summer.

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