Stray fireworks, wandering bears & leaving Hua Hin

Thailand Beach Fireworks and a Chaotic Night in Hua Hin

The firework fiasco

Since having kids, we’ve generally been fast asleep in bed long before midnight on New Year’s Eve. Thailand was planned to be no exception, but when we heard there would be a 10pm beach firework display, we thought we might actually have a chance of staying up to see the spectacle.

Thailand beach fireworks lighting up Hua Hin shoreline during a New Year’s Eve celebration

With the kids just about keeping their eyes open, we popped down to the beach around 9pm. We were greeted by a vibrant set‑up: live music, glowing lanterns drifting into the pitch‑black sky, and a general good vibe. The only slight concern was how freely people were able to set off their own fireworks… almost anywhere.

All was going well. Despite some huge yawns from the kids, we were ten minutes away from the show when suddenly it happened.

Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a bright light shoot into the busy crowd about thirty metres away, followed by a loud bang, then flames, then screams. A split second later, another flash and bang into the crowd, more fire, and suddenly dozens of people leapt up, screaming and running towards us.

Alex shot off in the opposite direction as fast as his hero, Sonic. Sofia followed, faster than a galloping horse, while mum and dad plodded along behind, trying to keep an eye on them disappearing into the chaos.

It happened so quickly it was hard to know exactly what had gone on, but all we could hear were dozens of kids crying — including ours. From that moment on, the slightest whimper of a bang brought immediate screams of “let’s get out of here!”

We jumped straight into a tuk tuk and headed home. As we rattled away, we could just make out the main display starting through the gaps between the larger hotels lining the strip.

Friends told us the next day — they’d been right next to where it all kicked off — that the first firework exploded on some guy’s foot and set his shoe alight, and the second hit one of the paper lanterns and set that on fire. Thankfully, no one seemed to be injured… just some upset kids and a guy needing a new pair of trainers.

What was meant to be a fun family night watching the Thailand beach fireworks in Hua Hin quickly spiralled into chaos.

A stark reminder of how quickly things can go wrong with fireworks.

We have wheels!

On a brighter note, we now have a hire car, and having wheels has made a huge difference to our daily flexibility. No more waiting around for cabs, and we now have the ability to pull over at any time for a wee stop — a luxury we no longer take for granted.

There’s just one strange issue with the car. Whenever the kids close their window, the seatbelt warning flashes and beeps. The only way to fix it is for me to quickly unfasten and refasten my belt like some sort of panicked airline passenger.

So, the kids are banned from opening the windows via the window lock under my control. No big deal. Unless someone farts — then they’re totally trapped.

Family Wildlife Adventure in Kaeng Krachan National Park

The noodle‑hunting bear

Having the car meant we could finally explore further afield, so we headed straight to Thailand’s largest national park, Kaeng Krachan, just over an hour’s scenic drive away.

The official website promised big leopards, panthers, even a remote chance of a rare tiger, plus gaur (a type of buffalo), tapir, bears, monkeys, deer, elephants, and thirty species of snake — much to Alex’s delight, given his latest obsession.

The drive from the park entrance to the visitor centre was a beautiful twenty‑minute journey through thick rainforest. But we didn’t see anything except several large poos — evidence that something sizeable did indeed exist in the park, just not at that precise moment.

I’d read somewhere that the edges of the campsite were a good place to spot snakes, so off we went snooping about in the intense heat, probably irresponsibly, in the bushes. A nearby staff member later informed us it was far too hot for snakes and they only come out in the wet season. Much to Alex’s disappointment.

Feeling a little dejected, we decided to walk up a hill behind the visitor centre where sun bears are apparently often seen. On the way up, we spotted some Dusty Leaf Monkeys playing in the trees — a lovely surprise. At the top, though, no bears. So, we trudged back down to feed the hungry bellies at the small café.

As we arrived, we saw a crowd gathered behind the café, cameras out. Clearly something was happening. We raced over and there it was — a massive sun bear just mooching around the house behind the café.

A grizzly this was not, but it was still a decent size as it wandered through the garden, clearly drawn by the smell of food. Me and the kids debated whether its favourite dish was curry or noodles. Noodles won unanimously.

As the excitement died down and people returned to their lunches, we took our seats to order. Suddenly the bear reappeared, just a few feet from the café. The owners kept him at bay with a broom gently tapped across his nose.

Stubborn as anything, he didn’t go far — instead wandering up the front steps of the house, trying to get inside. Thankfully, the owners had what I can only describe as a bear gate strong enough to keep a hungry sun bear out.

A brief encounter, but one we’ll remember forever.

Kui Buri National Park and Our Distant Elephant Sightings

The world’s most distant elephants

The next day, we headed to another national park with lower expectations — and certainly none of seeing snakes.

Kui Buri is famous for its 95% success rate of spotting wild elephants. We paid the 850 baht for a guide and 4×4 to take us out.

I may have been spoilt in the past from African adventures where I’ve been fortunate enough to see elephants within a stone’s throw, so naturally that’s what I was expecting.

We did see elephants… but they were so far away they may as well have been cardboard cut‑outs shoved on the horizon. If we hadn’t rented binoculars — and if my camera didn’t have a half‑decent zoom — we’d have been none the wiser.

Still, even from a distance, it was great to see these gracious animals in their natural habitat.

Leaving Hua Hin

It’s with mixed feelings that we now say goodbye to Hua Hin after a two‑month stint. We’ve had an action‑packed time, striking a good balance between chilling, living a daily life, and visiting the many attractions the region has to offer.

We’ve said goodbye to the many friends we’ve made, and now all that remains is to clean the apartment and figure out how to explain the dent in the wall, the broken window lock, broken door lock, broken sink plug, and a broken bin.

Kids — can’t take ’em anywhere.

But we’re ready to move on and explore different parts of the country. We’ll spend a few days breaking up the long journey south, where the stunning Andaman Coast islands await us.

I, for one, will be keeping my finger hovering over that window‑lock button as a weapon should anyone step out of line…