Thailand flood, road map updated every day.

ดู แผนที่น้ำท่วมทางหลวง โดย กรมทางหลวง ในแผนที่ขนาดใหญ่กว่า

For those people looking for info about the highways in Thailand which are effected by the flood here is a map which will be updated every day.
Thai speaking people can call for more information about the highways. The phone numbers are 1586 and 1784.

According to this map the highway from International Airport Subvrnabhumi in Bangkok to Hua Hin is still open. Just a small part of this road, 3-6 km, is flooded with 20 cm of water.
Volunteers are helping out filling and piling up sandbags to protect the airport. It's not easy for disabled travel in Thailand at this moment.

Update Floods Hua Hin, Thailand

Hua Hin Station
Hua Hin, Thailand

Every day we hear news about the flooding in Thailand on our national broadcasting channels. We hear that the situation in Bangkok is very critical. But the International Airport Suvarnabhumi in Bangkok and the roads to Hua Hin are still open. Japanese experts are monitoring Suvarnabhumi Airport daily.
Protection of the airport has the same priority as Siriraj Hospital where the King resides at this moment.

Many people have left Bangkok and moved to Hua Hin and other towns. They have rented a house, live in a hotel or guesthouse or live in their own condo or apartment. Tourists and local people are safe in Hua Hin, Cha-am and Pranburi.

All these people have to eat while they are here. As results there is a shortage of beer and Coca Cola. Malaysia helps out and is sending supplies to Thailand.

More information about the floods can be found on the website of the Bangkok Post, a news paper in English.

We keep you updated.

Thailand Floods, Road travel Bangkok / Hua Hin

Here is a road map of Bangkok which shows the flooded areas. Travelling can be difficult due to high water levels. Flooded areas disabled local people to drive to work and travel to family.
Arrival by plane is still possible because there is a dam around the international airport Suvarnabhumi in Bangkok. Travel towards the popular tourist destination like Hua Hin, Pattaya and Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai is also possible.

More information can be found on the website of the Ministry of Foreign affairs The Netherlands. Or an English version of the Tourist Authority Thailand.

And the weather forcast for the Province Prachuap Khiri Kan where Hua Hin is located can be found on the website of the Thai Meterological Department.

We keep you updated.

Festivals Hua Hin, Loi Kratong

November 10, 2011
Loi Krathong festival

Thailand knows many festivals and one of these is the Loi Krathong festival. Loi Krathong is the festival of light. It is celebrated on the evening of the twelve lunar month, on November 10, 2011.

When the moon rises people gather along lakes, rivers and canals toput their self made Krathongs into the water. A Kratong is made of banana leaves, with a candle, myrte and Thai coins. Sometines it contains lotus flowers and carved fruit and vegetables.

The Krathong is an offer to the "Mother of the water" and when it floats away it tkaes sins and bad luck with it. The further it flats away the more happiness and prosparity it will bring in the future.

When you are in Hua Hin you can watch the parades coming from the Hua Hin train station onto the Petchkasem Road to the Queen's Park, where opening ceremonies with music are held. Around midnight local people will put their Krathongs into the water.

Many tourist and temporary residents watch this event. In case you need a nap due to your handicap take this in the afternoon and be part of this festival later that day.  Find yourself a nice spot comfortable sitting in your wheelchair and make some colourfull pictures to remember this special event during your disabled holiday in Hua Hin, Thailand.

Design for all, Society for accessible travel and hospitality

SATH, Society of Accessibility
for Travel and Hospitality, USA

September 2011
Design for all, India

A few months ago Mrs. Jani Nayar invited us to write an article about accessibility for the disabled traveller in Thailand. Mrs. Nayar is executive coordinator of SATH (Society for Accessible Travel and Hospitality) in New York and was guest editor of the September newsletter from Design for all in India. We were very honoured with her request and happy about the possibility to promote accessible travel in Thailand.

In our article we wrote about accessible (public) transport, accessible accommodations and accessibility of tourist sights in whole Thailand, but mainly in Bangkok and Hua Hin.

Go here to read the article, page 55 to 64.

Review of Australian guest in Accessible Holidays Apartment

A review of our Australian guest in wheelchair accessible Apartment. He travelled with his Thai wife and daughter. We like to thank him for this review and hope to meet him again in Hua Hin.

Travel! Just do it!

If you have a disability, especially one requiring a wheelchair, the trepidation and anxiety that can fill your mind can be enough to put you off going anywhere.

Even when you do commit it’s hard to muster that natural excitement you should be allowed when going abroad. On the flipside the rewards for ‘just doing it!’ can be well worth it and to get some peace of mind before setting off- Research!

My recent trip to Hua Hin in Thailand was wonderful and it came down to the homework I did. You are not the only one in the world with a disability who wants to enjoy their life. Duh!  I found a couple from Holland who have a villa and an apartment in Hua Hin that I could rest assured was wheelchair accessible as he needs it to be as he has muscular atrophy. And they have thought of everything from roll-in showers, electric beds, private pool hoist, air-con, beach wheelchairs, portable ramps, airport transfers and transport in an accessible van right through to recommending a competent nursing agency that can assist anyone who requires it.

Hua Hin itself is a quite laid back and mellow town when compared to Bangkok, Pattaya or Phuket. It is where the King lives and where many Thai people themselves choose to holiday. Thai hospitality in my opinion is unsurpassed and Hua Hin is a non-threatening place not so renowned for sex tourism as other places. The healthy fresh seafood and Thai offerings are a sumptuous delight and combined with swimming and massages I left with more vitality than I arrived with no doubt.

Not all the shops are accessible and the curbs can be high but if cautious you can just use the roads and find the places you can get into, like wonderful restaurants on stilts where the water is lapping under you and the seafood is still alive in brine tanks nearby. That’s fresh! Go onto the jetty and watch the boats come in or right near the apartment you have the night market for shopping and more eateries. Don’t be afraid to get a real cheap feed from the street vendors either- satay sticks, dried and rolled flat squid and banana roti’s or corn on the cob with spiced sugar, Thai grapefruit with a sugar/chili blend. Yum!

I write this for anyone who thinks of travelling but lets the perceived difficulties get in their way. Yes things can go wrong and awkward moments may arise but that goes for anybody disabled or not. The comforts of home are great but so are the experiences to be had away from your own doorstep.

Hanneke Fronik

Food for winners, survivors of the fittest.

Elephant Polo Tournament
King's Cup Hua Hin
5 September 2011

Last Monday a great spectacle began and Gehandicapten.com was present with a few guests of their wheelchair accessible accommodations to witness the ceremonial opening of the King's Cup Elephant Polo Tournament in Hua Hin. We saw the Parade and the Elephant buffet and were amazed how well trained  these elephants were and how close we could get to make some pictures.

Twelve international teams will compete for the King's Cup. From Tuesday till Sunday matches will be held with the semi-finals on Saturday and the finals on Sunday.  A Royal Representative will handover the King's Cup to the winner. More information about the matches and the rules can be found in this booklet.

The tournament is held on the Somdej Phra 16th Infantry Division Suriyothai Camp in Hua Hin opposite Suan Son Beach. Just follow the road signs after the flyover and you will get their. The entrance is free and it is wheelchair accessible. Only keep in mind that the tournament is held on grass grounds and although it is fairly smooth it can be a bit bumpy to you and your wheelchair. And in case you use a manual wheelchair you might need some assistance.

A few tips. It is an open area fully exposed to the sun and rain. So take at least a hat, sun screen, drinking water and a umbrella with you to see these giant suvivors of the fittest.

Have fun.

Company clothes for Wheelchair Thailand employees.

August 3, 2011.
Wheelchair Thailand
Wheelchair accessible Pool villa Coconut Grove, Hua Hin.
Adapted apartment Tira Tiraa with wheelchair access Hua Hin Centre.

Company Cap Wheelchair Thailand http://www.gehandicapten.com

Since four years our employees are very proud to work for our company. They enjoy welcoming you as our disabled guests. They are a blessing to our guests in wheelchairs and can almost fulfill every wish. We are very happy they work for our company and together we make your holiday one you never will forget.

Do you like to work for Wheelchair Thailand? Are you looking for a job as driver in our company car or care taker / second housekeeper in pool villa Coconut Grove in Hua Hin? Write your job application letter and resume in English to info@gehandicapten.com .

Review Accessible apartment in Canet Plage, France

View to Canigou from Canet en Roussillon.


Just a review in Dutch from one our our customers in our wheelchair accessible apartment in Canet en Roussillon, South of France. Their story can be translated woth Google translate from Dutch into English.

Beste Jan en Hanneke,

Nu alle spullen van onze vakantie weer zijn opgeruimd heb ik gelegenheid om jullie een emailtje te sturen.

Allereerst willen we jullie bedanken voor de geweldige verrassing die ons te wachten stond ter gelegenheid van het 10 jarig bestaan van jullie activiteiten. Theo en Johanna hadden een leuk voorstel namelijk een etentje bij een thuisrestaurant in de buurt van de Canigou. Op woensdag in de tweede vakantieweek zijn we naar Prades gereden, waar Theo en Johanna ons hebben meegenomen naar een thuisrestaurant in klein dorp in de buurt waar gastvrouw Isabel een heerlijke maaltijd had gemaakt. Naast de indrukwekkende omgeving van de Canigou en de huiselijke sfeer van het restaurant hebben we allen genoten van de heerlijke voor- hoofd- en nagerechten, afgesloten met een lekker kopje koffie en een stevig drankje.

Hierna zijn we nog naar een ommuurd stadje geweest waar we op een terrasje nog wat hebben nagepraat, kortom een dag om niet te vergeten.

We hadden dit jaar wat minder weer dan de andere jaren, er was vrij veel wind en de avonden waren wat kil. Alleen de laatste avond was het aangenaam weer. Maar als je het weer in Canet met het weer in Nederland vergelijkt dan hadden we nog veel geluk.

We hebben dit jaar wat meer tochtjes gemaakt en dat ging goed.

Tot ziens, J en D.

Do you like to have more info about this apartment then take a look at our homepage here. Or just write an email.

We already take reservations for next years high season and school holidays.

Accessible restaurants in Hua Hin Thailand

August 1, 2011
Hua Hin, Thailand

After searching and visiting many restaurants we have found another restaurant with wheelchair access. Or better you can sit outside underneath a roof protected from the rain and the sun with tables where your wheelchair and legs fit under. And this restaurant is worthwhile a visit.

The restaurant called S&S Indian Food is a family business where they prepare fresh food every day. And you can taste this. We have eaten Chicken Tikka Missala and Chicken Do Piyaza together with Naan and Yellow rice, a soda water and a Diet Coke. And this for 270 Baht.
You can find this restaurant on Soi 94 at the left side before the railway crossing.

So when the quality of the food is perfect, the price is right and the place is wheelchair accessible we will visit and tell them how good the food is. So have dinner with them. They deserve it.
And give your review here.