Kiting Thailand
 

Hey,

Anyone kited at Hua Hin, Chumphon, Koh Samui or Koh Pha Ngan? I am going in October and staying til April.

Any first had info appreciated. I have seen all the websites. I want personal reports only please.

I was there during 04-05 (at time of Tsunami) from December thu April. Kited at Koh Samui and mostly at Hua Hin.

Thailand can be a fun place to kite, and I certainly would not leave my gear at home, but don't count on consistent winds. You have to follow the wind around though, and the pattern from year to year is a bit fickle. Bring small-medium-large kites. No real wave riding anywhere. Lots of choppy waves when it's blowing.

If I were you I would plan on a side trip to Viet Nam for a few weeks minimum. I went to Mui Ne for a 10 day trip and ended up staying 7 weeks.

But Thailand is a cool place to visit and travel around. The food, the culture, the people, the sights...certainly makes up for lack of wind and kiting if that happens to you. But you need to just plan side trips around the country - lots of cools paces to visit - and not get obsessed and sit on the beach frustrated - but then you can always just sit there and relax and get a massage for a few dollars/hr and have an awesome fresh meal for a few dollars.

FYI...(according to friends who live there) since the Euro has risen over the dollar so much the dollar buys much less...sposedly everything has gone up almost double since I ws there..but it's still cheap compared to Europe, Hawaii, and lots of other places.

Either way - go and enjoy this fabulous country.


also a recent thread from kiteforum

http://www.kiteforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=2343584