Travel Photographer - Dr. Jeff Harper Photo Blog

It wasn't a Thai holiday, so it was a good time to drive the 2 1/2 hours from Bangkok to the seaside town of Hua Hin.

Hua Hin is a sweet little seaside town with just enough tourism to have a variety of restaurants and shops of interest. We are here in the Not The Tourist Season. It is growing fast.

There are interesting seafood restaurents built on piers over the Gulf of Thailand.

There are a number of large hotels and beach front condominiums along this part of the coast.

There was a surprising lack of tourists at the hotel beach areas. The weather was fine . . . there were occasional afternoon tropical showers to keep the temperature down.

This artist serves the tourist trade by making family portraits from photos from iPhones.

Hua Hin is a nice place to stroll around in to sample the wonderful Thai treats . . .

. . . like sticky rice and mangoes. The best dessert on earth (in my estimation).

You never know who you will run into. This young man lived in Los Angeles, California for many years before deciding he had a better life in Thailand as a street cart barista. "You don't know the difference until you lived somewhere else. I love my life in Thailand."

Making a living selling vegetables door to door in Hua Hin.

People who work outside in the sunshine often completely cover themselves from head to toe.

It looks like she has dome a little grocery shopping for herself as well . . .

Hua Hin sees many new European retirees every year. In this case, a Frenchman came to Hua Hin 25 years ago and opened up this beach side French restaurant. It serves delicious food. Real French food.

The view from the French restaurant is very relaxing.

After lunch we strolled over to a nearby Chinese Buddhist Tempe.

I love exploring these temples . . . and paying respect to The Buddha and what he hoped for all of us.

I love the decoration and the array of colorful votive items at these Chinese temples.

A small incense pot and altar. Touching.

The view from the Chinese temple back to Hua Hin town. As can be seen, Hua Hin sits on a narrow coastal shelf between low hills and the Gulf of Thailand.

Back at our seaside lodgings . . . the view from above.

A lone fishing (squid) boat waiting for the crew.

A Hua Hin blue hour sunset (looking east, away from the setting sun).

A Hua Hin sunrise sea.