[GaryP]

Back in January I started a thread asking if anyone had done this journey and how long it took.

Thought some of you might like to know how things went.

Picked the car up the day before I plan to travel to Hua Hin, after driving it for 30 minutes I realise that the car I had hired was totally unsuitable for the 650km journey. Me being the penny pincher I am had hired a small Suzuki 4X4, the ride and road holding were c**p. Tried to upgrade, but Budget had nothing to change it with due to their losses from the tsunami.

The next day the journey takes me 10 hours after NO SLEEP the night before.

The reason for no sleep. A lady I took to Phuket from BKK.

On the last night we went out for a meal and drink, everythings going fine, the previous 4 days had been great. As the evening goes on she gradually gets drunk and more moody. Then she informs me it's her Mothers birthday the next day and she had told her Mother I would give her 10,000Baht as a present and that if I didn't give it to her she would have to honour the promise herself. I told her no way and then things got really interesting.
I said I'm going back to our hotel, she could stay or follow. In the Tuk Tuk she was crying. I went to our bungalow and went to bed. She ordered a couple of double whiskies, drank them outside and sp***d up over the balcony and then came in and expected me to sign the bar chit. I refused and she started to argue.
At this point all I wanted was a good night sleep as I was thinking about the long drive in a crappy car and how to defuse the situation with her. After half an hour of her going on I decided I had had enough, packed my bags and told her she could stay there for the night as I was booking into another hotel for the night.
I went to reception, paid my outstanding bill, went back to the Bungalow to collect my suitcase, only to find her sitting on it, refusing me to leave. I didn't want to use force to shift her because i thought it might have repercussions, so, after trying to reason with her for 15 minutes I told her to let me have the suitcase or I will call the Police. She told me to call the Police. So I did.
They were as nice as pie to me. Really polite and sympathetic. Even helped me book into the hotel across the road.
You'd think that was the end of it, but I made one other mistake. I couldn't sleep after all the fuss so at 5.00am I book out, load up the car and decide to go to my original hotel to apologise for all the hassle. Big mistake. She was sitting in reception. When she saw me it all went off again. Eventually left for Hau Hin at 6.00am.
As a first time vistor to LOS I regard this episode as part of the learning curve of dealing with Thai women.
Has it put me off?
Has it heck, within 2 days of coming home I'd booked my flights to go back.
Roll on June, can't wait for episode 2.

Gary