The Hua Hin Citizen Journal was born on 3rd October 2025 after a tricky pregnancy which was originally meant to be the 1st September. Proud father, AWOL, and mother, AWOLonline, were joined by uncle, Sentlive, to announce the new arrival.
Family History



AWOLonline was originally the website supplement for the free AWOL weekly newspaper which was distributed in and around the Hua Hin area in Thailand every Friday from 2008 to 2018. The newspaper reached the 450 issues and nine years in circulation milestone in October 2017. Unfortunately the printed paper had to cease publication with it’s 472nd issue on 30th March 2018 due to the Thai authorities not renewing the work permit of the Managing Editor, rendering us unable to continue in print.
The website continued but with gradual changes, moving towards a less local focus with the content, but there was always a place for anything connected to Hua Hin, as it was, and still is, our home. With the arrival of the Journal, that focus shifted back towards the local area, and a revival of what made the printed AWOL popular, with a slight twist – asking the citizens of the area, and anyone who has a connection to it, to contribute their stories, information, images, thoughts and opinions on the place we all love.
Sentlive is involved from a business perspective, as the overall ‘owner’ of the Journal and AWOL now; it is a UK based company that created the Sentlive app, which provides a personal safety service and private social media platform that gives its users the privacy, control of their data, and peace of mind that can’t be found anywhere else, which is completely free to join (with paid options for additional features) and totally ad free. The app is available directly from the Sentlive website and has no connection to either Apple or Google to enhance the privacy features.
Our Home – Hua Hin
For those of you who have never been to Hua Hin, it is a seaside resort about 3 hours drive south from Bangkok, and was the official residence of His Majesty King Bhumibol until he passed away in 2016. Other members of the Thai Royal Family still visit the once quiet fishing village, which has now grown significantly, and was declared as a city in 2025.
Hua Hin has a large and continually growing number of expatriates from many countries who either live there permanently or for extended periods every year, as well as a thriving tourist sector and many major hotels, although it still retains the feel of a working Thai town rather than just a resort.
North of Hua Hin, about 20 minutes away is Cha Am, a resort town more frequented by Thais than foreigners, but that too has a growing number of expats making it their home, preferring its slightly more sedate style. South of the city centre are Khao Takiab and Khao Tao, which have become the place that many Hua Hin residents will head to for day time beaches, night time entertainment, and, particularly with the latter, an even more laid back atmosphere, with many expats making them their home. Further south still is Pranburi, about 30 minutes drive, and in particular the beach area known as Pak Nam Pran, which is starting to grow in a similar fashion as Hua Hin has experienced, with many new restaurants and bars opening.
AWOL was distributed widely in most of these areas, aimed at a readership of English speaking expats and Thais – it was the only weekly English language publication for the area. Every issue of the paper produced is still available in our chronological gallery of back issues, which can be downloaded in PDF format or read online. It now stands as somewhat of a historical archive of the town and what was happening then.
If you have any feedback, questions or comments for us, please use the Contact Us button found on every page. We would be delighted to hear from you.
