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First six months 2020

January 27, 2020 by David Herd

First six months 2020

First six months 2020                 First six months 2020

First six months 2020 happily living in Thailand with a view to die for. For most of December & January we have had severe pollution in Pattaya (and elsewhere), the government seem to lack the skill & the will to solve this unhealthy problem. Most of it seems to come because farmers burn off their sugar cane crops, surely they would be easy to find & 6 months in jail may make them think twice next year.

The first was January 10 & finally we got clean air on January 26, however within a couple of days the pollution was back. The 2nd photo is June 12th, what a fabulous clear day it was.

Beach Quarter

First six months 2020

Mid January the old Mantra site (part of the Amari Hotel) is almost completed, can’t wait for it to open. 🙂

Two new chairs

First six months 2020

I’m guessing I spend 8 to 10 hours a day in both these chairs.

Pothole & one of the Squabblers

First six months 2020

 Pothole, aka John Martin has 2 sons aged 9 & 11, this is Tyrone who has just busted open his piggy bank to find just over B110,000 or $5,300 AUD, both sons are very good savers. 

Fabulous chicken teriyaki skewers.

First six months 2020

 The food park at Central Marina is one of my favourite eating spots. Normally I have a wonton soup & 2 chicken skewers for a B100, or $4.80 AUD, this day I had 4 skewers for B60, or $2.90 AUD.

Genki Soi 4 North Pattaya

First six months 2020

 A very authentic Japanese restaurant with good quality reasonably priced food.

View from my balcony

First six months 2020

 Without a doubt I am lucky enough to see some of the best sunsets in the world from my condo, for more please follow THIS LINK.

New drains on Beach Road

First six months 2020

 For many months they have been digging up Beach Rd to improve the drainage system, only time will tell if it’s worth the effort. 🙂

Painting Markland Condo

First six months 2020

These guys seem to have no fear. 🙂

Spiderman is here wearing thongs. 🙂

First six months 2020

 I would certainly have a heart attack if I tried this. 🙂

Toast Skagen

First six months 2020

My favourite entree at the Beefeater restaurant.

Clean up Pattaya Beach

First six months 2020

The beach will be clean, the water not so much. 🙂

Holiday Inn at happy hour

First six months 2020

Drinks & dinner at Holiday Inn with Mark Yagalla, buy a bottle get one free. 🙂

Healthy lunch at home

First six months 2020

 It’s hard to find good avocados in Thailand, most of the time I use them for smoothies. The avocado bistro in Bangkok is an exception.

Soi 2 North Pattaya

First six months 2020

 Lots of construction & renovations happening in Soi 2, I’m directly above this hotel on the 20th floor in Markland Condo.

Rain at last

First six months 2020

 It’s March 15 & this is the 1st significant rain we have seen this year.

2nd Road North Pattaya

First six months 2020

Only 9 am & this tall LadyBoy is dressed to kill. 🙂

The result of the Coronavirus

Pattaya storm water solution

March 2020 and Chinese tourists are not allowed to swarm into Pattaya, many business owners are suffering but residents like myself are loving the peace & quiet.

February 2020

First six months 2020

What a fabulous smile, this is little Charli with her mum Laura, my gorgeous niece.

Two of our local lads at the Holiday Inn

First six months 2020

 Greg Clee & David Rose enjoying a drink at the Holiday Inn.

My million dollar view

First six months 2020

 From my balcony on March 26 2020.

First six months 2020

First six months 2020

Now anybody who has been to Pattaya & some parts of Bangkok knows the uneven footpaths are rather treacherous. Yesterday morning while walking I was briefly distracted which resulted in “a leap of death.” With 109 kg crashing to the ground strangely enough, (don’t laugh) it was my two big toes that came out the worst. Both toenails were damaged rather badly, but I assure you my friends I was shaken not stirred, I’m guessing no morning walks for a few days.

Takeaway only

First six months 2020

 Starbucks & the few restaurants that are open can only serve takeaway due to Covid-9 restrictions. No big deal, I’m happy to sip coffee by the beach. 🙂

Pattaya beach has never looked so beautiful.

First six months 2020

However the thing I miss most are the restaurants. 

More drinks at the Holiday Inn

First six months 2020

John Martin & David Robertson, aka Pothole & Chocolates. Chocs lives in Surfers Paradise & spends quite a bit of time in Pattaya, he rents one of Pothole’s studios in Markland, & pays far too much rent. 🙂

Beautiful clouds

First six months 2020

April 20th & a beautiful morning.

Combating the virus

First six months 2020

Who is that masked man?

Hamish has a barbecue 

First six months 2020

That’s Jonathon Sheaffe & his girlfriend Anne with Hamish Elton.

Sausages & chicken

First six months 2020

 So much food & such little time. 🙂

Proud father with baby Jasmine

First six months 2020

One month old & gorgeous.

Creme brulee

First six months 2020

 Perfect end to lunch at the Longhorn Steakhouse.

Amazing cloud

First six months 2020

May 5th at sunset.

Robin Hood Tavern

First six months 2020

Sunday roast is very good value at around $16 AUD.

First six months 2020

First six months 2020

Another of the many business closures due to Covid-19, this was a massage parlour in Soi 1 opposite my condo.

Pattaya Bay looking fabulous

First six months 2020

 I never grow tired of the view from my balcony.

Ancient timber ferries

First six months 2020

Lots of character but I( would not like to be onboard in a storm. 🙂

Beach re-opens June 1st.

First six months 2020

 After many weeks you can now go to the beach.

First six months 2020, at last a foot massage

First six months 2020

I can now enjoy a massage after the salons have been closed because of Covid-19.

Lunch at Miyazaki

First six months 2020

Teriyaki chicken was delicious. 

Best pancake I have ever tasted.

First six months 2020

Holly’s cafe at Terminal 21.

Magnificent clouds June 1st 2020

Fascinating clouds Pattaya Beach

 The view from my balcony.

Safe at last

First six months 2020

Building lifeguard towers on Pattaya Beach. 🙂

And here it is.

First six months 2020

I really wonder if it will ever get used. 🙂

Soi 2 hotel construction

First six months 2020

 View from my balcony June 29th.

Holiday Inn opens again June 25

First six months 2020

 So happy to be able to relax here after 2 months of shutdown due to Covid-19 restrictions.

Delicious food

First six months 2020

 Fettuccine with smoke salmon & asparagus, washed down with 2 glasses of Wolf Blass shiraz.

Thanks for visiting my First six months 2020 photo blog, life in Thailand has been very good even with the virus restrictions.

For what it’s worth in my humble opinion the danger from Covid-19 has been greatly exaggerated. 

  Here are some more posts to check out 

         Sydney                               Paris                                   Bangkok           
 497d0b6e-c0bd-4ba2-86be-c02100f050a8        65470622-d17a-4b90-bf97-2574df4c412d        1a2160c1-41f7-465a-954c-631e083eb229
          Tokyo                        Rio De Janeiro                        Budapest
f59e958e-8eaf-48b4-8e96-c291a0c13d1a        f044491e-69aa-4082-b49b-1ff33557d7d4        a6a948cd-f30a-49ea-a905-82be4d202cc9
           London                            Beijing                            Capetown
2246c6cf-5fa6-4fbe-ac30-b569253ad2a6        f65d714b-f44c-4b2e-9505-3511ebecbb80        4e82052a-24d0-41e1-ab84-10e8f27634d1
 
            Great hotel room rates anywhere in the world if you            
 book through these links below.  Book now & pay later.
                                                                 Plus free cancellation .
                                               Bangkok Hotels                    Pattaya Hotels
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A-One hotel on Beach Road

Seven deadly Songkran days

For a great room rate at the A-One hotel opposite the beach just book through THIS LINK.               

 
 
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That’s all folks

1g Duck

Counter only started June 16 2020.

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