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Sydney 2011 farewell Australia

March 4, 2016 by David Herd

This is not a travel blog just my personal photo collection

Sydney 2011 farewell Australia 

Sydney 2011 farewell Australia

 Sydney 2011 farewell Australia is about my life changing event when on October 18 I left my home, friends, relatives and country to live in Thailand. I had two trips to Sydney in September & October and stayed with my cousin Debbie at her home in Balgowlah before jumping on a plane to Bangkok on October 18.

Dinner at Manly

Sydney 2011 farewell Australia

I had many friends to farewell including Paul Slaughter and his lady Clode who was a flight attendant for Air Canada.

Richard aka 003 1/4

Sydney 2011 farewell Australia

Richard & I have been friends since 1976 and had many great times together over the years. Obsessed with luxury cars and women on a scale far higher than I.

Richard’s latest jigger

Sydney 2011 farewell Australia

From memory he also had a beautiful restored red E-Type jag at his Gold Coast home and a 911 turbo Porsche at his Sydney apartment. The Porsche he has owned since new in about 1977, it was fitted with some unusual modifications similar to some sort of secret agent. 🙂

1999

Sydney 2011 farewell Australia

My home in 1999 and our two toys, Rick’s E-Type and my Mercedes Sports.

My brother Bryan

Sydney 2011 farewell Australia

Lunch at Mosman with Bryan & Rick a couple of days before flying to Bangkok.

Old friend Peter Hesky

Sydney 2011 farewell Australia

Another friend from 1976, (WOW! 40 bloody years) Sadly I don’t hear from Peter anymore, from what I’m told he has turned into quite a recluse and rarely ventures out of his home in Castle Cove.

Some well built lads here

Sydney 2011 farewell Australia

Holly, Bolt & Al and not sure of the ladies name. We are at a very good Japanese restaurant opposite the Oaks Hotel.

Talking about the Oaks, here it is.

Sydney 2011 farewell Australia

One of Australia’s great pubs, was my local for many years from 1977 to 1987.

My gorgeous niece’s

Sydney 2011 farewell Australia

Drinks at my favourite pub with my favourite two girls, Elyssa & Laura.

Sydney Swans V Brisbane Lions.

Sydney 2011 farewell Australia

Australian football aka AFL at the Sydney Cricket Ground, watching the game from Peter Hesky’s private box. 

Dinner with friends

Sydney 2011 farewell Australia

Fortuna Court Chinese restaurant in Crows Nest has been a favourite restaurant for over 30 years, & I must say it has not changed one bit in that time. The guy I’m about to put to the sword is Warwick Robinson who I have known for over 30 years. He never did pay the ransom to me for not taking his life. 🙂

Sydney 2011 farewell Australia

Sydney 2011 farewell Australia

Leaving Australia was a huge decision, two major factors came into play when making the decision. First was purely financial, I had not worked since 1997 instead I travelled the world like a man possessed. Consequently I spent a huge amount of money in the process and I always knew it had to come to an end. My only regret was the timing of the Global Financial Crisis in 2007/8 which coincided with me needing to sell my home to pay off the huge mortgage created by my travels. My home took me 3 years to sell, had I have sold in 2006 I would have realized around $250K more than I finally got in 2011. Oh well them’s the breaks and I have no regrets because those years of travel were wonderful and irreplaceable.

The second reason for my decision to move to Thailand was triggered by the first. I found myself in a position where I could no longer live at the same level in Australia that I was accustomed to. However I could live to that level in Thailand which was only around 1/3 the cost of living in Australia.

It is now 2017 my 6th year living in Thailand and the move has turned out to be one of the best decisions of my life. I plan to stay another 5 years before moving back to Australia to live out my final days. At the moment that’s the plan but plans can change. 🙂

Here is my view in Pattaya

Sydney 2011 farewell Australia

 

There are many people around the world who regularly criticize Pattaya, my message to them is simple, stay where you are because we don’t want you here.  Our stress free Pattaya life has no time to waste on the knockers and whiners, having said that thanks for visiting my Sydney 2011 farewell Australia photo blog.

           I’ll leave it to the late great Glenn Frey to explain how I feel right now.

     

                     Here are some more posts to check out                            

       

     Life 2015                     Family history                   Life 1982

2835141a-02cf-4cda-a909-2a8408a99f47        6a173a01-9744-404a-a45f-87a975ec90fa          d5436828-abbc-4da1-a638-7f90436c6417

  Adelaide 1972                 Iron Bar Freddy               Sydney 2006

417091_10150704751043594_62315468_n          Susies home Newport 1 (1)        April24FreewayHotel-33 (1)

Thailand 2008                Gold Coast Babes               World trip 2003

Fun in Pattaya-116         92bfa275-a122-4078-9970-1e24188a5917        CopacabanabeachNov2003-124

             Great hotel room rates anywhere in the world if you book
                  through these links below.  Book now & pay later.
Free Cancellation. 
                              Bangkok Hotels                    Pattaya Hotels
                         d0c59ff5-7f2b-41b5-9312-4556d4a62037              01a75360-9573-473f-acba-3a187f779b7f
 
 That’s all folks
1g Duck
Pattaya live webcam 
 
9a1fec74-4461-46cd-8663-97f5893c8f6e (1) 
 

 Soi Cowboy                  Nana Plaza                    Patpong

 Soi Cowboy (5)           e1274c0c-cf4d-4406-b5dc-d9e8071e382e            8993ef02-ccf3-46a7-8b6d-fc11af9d93ad

 

 That’s all folks

Thailand Europe Vietnam Japan

Australian adventures

  • Melbourne


Counter only started June 16 2020.

This gallery contains 3 photos

Ten Thailand travellers Pattaya

November 21, 2014 by David Herd

It started in Bangkok

Ten Thailand travellers Pattaya

Ten Thailand travellers Pattaya

Ten Thailand travellers Pattaya 2011 without any doubt was one of the best holidays I have ever had. Good friends & close family made it very special indeed. Here is a whole bunch of Herds plus Bjorn  from Germany who is Michael’s other half, my two lovely nieces Laura & Elyssa and my brother Warren.

Sadly we lost Bjorn early 2016 after he fought a long battle with cancer.

2011  was frantic, two trips to Thailand in January and July before moving there permanently on October 20th. Including visits to Krabi & the River Kwai. A few days in Langkawi Malaysia with my brother Warren. Sydney twice in September and October, then 3 weeks after settling in Thailand I was off to England for 3 weeks which included a road trip from Edinburgh to Glasgow via Fort William in the north of Scotland. All this coupled with clearing out all my worldly possession from my Gold Coast home before settlement on October 11. I am weary just writing about this frantic life changing year.

 

Post by Travel blogger Fivestarvagabond.com".

Nana Plaza Bangkok

Ten Thailand travellers Pattaya

What sort of uncle would expose his nieces to such a infamous sinful environment? His name is David Herd and I’m guilty as charged. 🙂

Beergarden Soi 7.

Ten Thailand travellers Pattaya

First night in Bangkok the games begin. 🙂

Massage to star the day

Ten Thailand travellers Pattaya

One of the great pleasures in Thailand.

MBK shopping mall with Tom.

Ten Thailand travellers Pattaya

Amazing who you run into in Bangkok. 🙂

LadyBoy delivery

Ten Thailand travellers Pattaya

We gave this LadyBoy 400 Baht to knock on Don’s hotel room and say “hello baby” when he opened the door. We were all hiding in the hallway trying not to laugh. After I got the photo Don sent her away. 🙂

Don sadly passed away on 30th May, 2016 after a long battle with cancer, RIP buddy.


The gang at the Sabai Resort

Ten Thailand travellers Pattaya

The girls bought the shirts, they claimed the captions matched our personalities.

Hard Rock hotel

Ten Thailand travellers visit Pattaya

Having fun at Hard Rock Hotel Pattaya.

Don, Nok, David and Bill at Sabai Resort

Ten Thailand travellers visit Pattaya

Don Wenham (RIP) from the Gold Coast, Bill Austin from Wiltshire & Nok from Thailand.

Ten Thailand travellers Pattaya have dinner at Rimpa Lapin

Ten Thailand travellers Pattaya

Rimpa Lapin is a terrific beach-side Thai restaurant 30 minutes north of Pattaya.

Amari Hotel

Ten Thailand travellers Pattaya

A great spot to enjoy a cold beer.

Great photo at the Amari hotel

Ten Thailand travellers visit Pattaya

Bill Austin with Warren & his two daughters Elyssa & Laura.

Sunday lunch at the Mantra

Ten Thailand travellers Pattaya

I have lost count of the great Sunday lunches I have enjoyed with friends and family at the Mantra.

Alaskan crab at the Mantra

Ten Thailand travellers Pattaya

It does not get any better than this. 🙂

The fabulous Mantra restaurant, Amari hotel in Pattaya Thailand.

 

Coffee with the boys.

Ten Thailand travellers Pattaya

Bill Austin from Wiltshire, Denis Freemongrell from Oz, Don Wenham & Tony Murphy from The Gold Coast.

Pattaya Hilton

Ten Thailand travellers Pattaya

Great food and great friends.

Australia day at LK Metro

Ten Thailand travellers visit Pattaya

Bill with the girls at the Billabong Bar in LK Metro. Owned by an old friend of mine Greg Johnston. Greg actually sold the bar in 2014.

Billabong Dundee no doubt.

Ten Thailand travellers Pattaya

I have known Greg for over 30 years, he is keen to sell the bar/hotel and move to the country for a quieter life.

Exploitation at the Cherry Bar

Ten Thailand travellers Pattaya

What sort of uncle would encourage his niece to pole dance at a Thai beer bar? You guessed it, David Herd would. 🙂

Off to Rimpa Lapin

Ten Thailand travellers Pattaya

One of the terrific Pattaya beach-side restaurants.

Tom Yum soup at Rimpa Lapin

Ten Thailand travellers Pattaya

A big bowl for a little girl. 🙂

My favourite room 311 at the Sabai Resort.

Sabai Resort Pattaya

This is my favourite pool side room.

Don bought 20 watches to sell in Australia

Ten Thailand travellers Pattaya

Buying watches at Cosy Beach, genuine copies of course.

Don on the right sadly passed away on 30th May, 2016 after a long battle with cancer, RIP buddy.

Forget the watches I prefer this.

Ten Thailand travellers Pattaya

You gotta love those hot sexy Russian babes.

Even sexier from behind

Ten Thailand travellers Pattaya

Words fail me.

The beach club at the Pullman Hotel

Ten Thailand travellers Pattaya

Wongamat and Cosy beach are two great places to check out the Russian eye candy.

 

Centara Grand at Wongamat

Ten Thailand travellers Pattaya

Thanks for visiting my Ten Thailand travellers Pattaya photo blog.

Here are some more posts on my wild wicked ways. :)                    

   Life 2015                     Family history                   Life 1982

2835141a-02cf-4cda-a909-2a8408a99f47        6a173a01-9744-404a-a45f-87a975ec90fa          d5436828-abbc-4da1-a638-7f90436c6417

  Adelaide 1972                 Iron Bar Freddy               Sydney 2006

417091_10150704751043594_62315468_n          Susies home Newport 1 (1)        April24FreewayHotel-33 (1)

Thailand 2008                Gold Coast Babes               World trip 2003

Fun in Pattaya-116         92bfa275-a122-4078-9970-1e24188a5917        CopacabanabeachNov2003-124

             Great hotel room rates anywhere in the world if you book
                  through these links below.  Book now & pay later.
Free Cancellation. 
                              Bangkok Hotels                    Pattaya Hotels
                         d0c59ff5-7f2b-41b5-9312-4556d4a62037              01a75360-9573-473f-acba-3a187f779b7f
 
 That’s all folks
1g Duck
 

 Soi Cowboy                  Nana Plaza                    Patpong

 Soi Cowboy (5)           e1274c0c-cf4d-4406-b5dc-d9e8071e382e            8993ef02-ccf3-46a7-8b6d-fc11af9d93ad


Counter only started June 16 2020.

This gallery contains 2 photos