Mai Tai is a bit more locally oriented watering hole next to Hua Hin Hilton on the tourist district. The price levels are quite the same as in surrounding pubs, but the atmosphere is different. However, don’t expect to have any “authentic” Thai experience, but more like of a bit shabby bar, television shouting Thai soap opera or sports, and surprisingly inattentive service.

The beer is cold, and they serve some more complex drinks, such as local variant of Irish coffee. The price level is just right, so you could booze the whole night and still have a lot of money left.

Mai Tai, Naretdamri Road (next to Hilton Hua Hin), Hua Hin, Thailand

We have lately been unlucky with our travel plans. First, we were planning to go to Porvoo last Saturday, but Aapo got sick. We couldn’t go there on Sunday either, as I spent most of the day in hospital with him — not that there were any real danger, but just to get stronger medication. The service was so slow there that we’d been better off at home. But that would be another story, a long one, so maybe some other day.

The next trip was scheduled in mid-June, to visit Tallinn in Estonia for a couple of days. The gang would have included our family and my little sister’s family. But she was advised not to go due to her late-stage pregnancy.

We decided to skip the trip altogether and start planning a new one on August — if they can travel with their newborn…

Ice cream is an excellent cure for feeling tired of Thailand’s hot and humid weather. One of the best ice cream parlours we found is located in Sailom Pavilion mini-mall, in middle of the busy Hua Hin tourist district.

The ice cream just melts into your mouth. Savouring the taste inside is a good option, as air-conditioning takes care of the heat and you can focus on the taste, not the constant fear of dropping some melting ice cream on your clothes — as is the case outside.

The ice cream is comparatively expensive, but just peanuts against the prices in Western countries.

The Cream & Fudge Factory, Damnern Kasem Road (in Sailom Pavilion mall), Hua Hin, Thailand

If you are looking for something fast and small to eat, check out New York Deli / Coffee World / Pizza Corner restaurant in Sailom Pavilion minimall on Darmern Kasem Road. The place does not serve any Thai food, so it may cure homesickness, too.

There are three counters in the restaurant, one for each brand. You seemingly can shop anything from any counter and get them into single bill — at least in our case. The deli has some good hot sandwiches, pizza counter sells pizza by slices and the coffeeshop has sweet stuff and of course a good selection of hot and cold drinks.

New York Deli, Damnern Kasem Road (in Sailam Pavilion minimall), Hua Hin, Thailand