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Sokha Beach Resort Sihanoukville

October 29, 2017 by David Herd

Ideal spot to chill out

Sokha Beach Resort Sihanoukville

Sokha Beach Resort SihanoukvilleSokha Beach Resort Sihanoukville has a great pool & a beautiful private sandy beach. Exceptional food & very good rooms, what more could you possibly want? 🙂

Pool bar

Sokha Beach Resort Sihanoukville Cocktails or a cold beers at the pool bar.

There are two room sections, we stayed at the cheaper option, the Sokha Express. You still have full use of all the facilities, for a great room rate just book through THIS LINK.

If you prefer the Sokha Beach Resort use THIS LINK for a discount.

It doesn’t get much better than this. 🙂

Sokha Beach Resort SihanoukvilleRarely were there many pople in the pool which made it absolutely ideal.

But wait, there’s more……

Sokha Beach Resort SihanoukvilleThe beautiful beach has pure white sand and warm tropical water.

The beach goes on forever, where are the people???

Sokha Beach Resort SihanoukvilleGenerally Asian people like to stay out of the sun so us foreigners have the place to ourselves. 🙂

 The main building

Sokha Beach Resort Sihanoukville Breakfast is served here & it’s as good as it gets a you can imagine.

The property is huge

Sokha Beach Resort Sihanoukville The deck is around 500 meters from the main building & pool. It’s worth the walk however, you have the choice of two excellent restaurants, Lemongrass & the Lotus.

Why do they call it “The Deck”?

Sokha Beach Resort SihanoukvilleWell it’s pretty bloody obvious if you ask me. 🙂

Lemongrass Restaurant

Sokha Beach Resort Sihanoukville Food was very good & the place almost deserted.

Soup to die for.

Sokha Beach Resort Sihanoukville

I really do love my soup.

Serendipity Beach

Serendipity Beach SihanoukvilleThis is where most people dine at night, it’s the net beach & all the action is here. Only a 10 minute Tuk Tuk ride.

Tuk Tuk

Sokha Beach Resort Sihanoukville The ten minute ride to Serendipity is only $2 or $3 USD.

Lovely ladies They were working at a wedding that was in the hotel grounds.

This is supposed to be happy hour. 🙂

Sokha Beach Resort Sihanoukville Nobody looks happy, & in fact there certainly were not. 🙂

Drinks are 2 for one at happy hour between 5 & 7 pm.

Sokha Beach Resort Sihanoukville  Sokha Beach Resort Sihanoukville

Pizzas & burgers are reasonably priced as well.

The Beach Bar

Sokha Beach Resort Sihanoukville Sadly is closes around 7.30 pm.

I guess they want you at their casino.

Sokha Beach Resort SihanoukvillePart of the hotel & when we went there there were more staff than customers.

Sadly this lovely coastal village is never going to be the same, just read THIS STORY.

 Zagreb Croatia                      Rio de Janeiro                  Brisbane River 

Zagreb Croatia bars restaurants        a7ff7566-9628-434d-a2b1-8c6e8b9a9021       IMG_0100

       

     Koh Samui                                   Korea                                  London

32780a6c-baf6-428a-bd71-68b1bed30b4c         Changdeokgung Palace (2)        IMG_7042

         Bangkok                                   Osaka                                     Pattaya

Soi Cowboy (25)          Osaka 1st night (17)       Walking St Pattaya is wild & sexy 

                                     

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Koh Rong Sihanoukville Cambodia

October 26, 2017 by David Herd

40 minutes by fast boat.

Koh Rong Sihanoukville Cambodia

Koh Rong Sihanoukville Cambodia

Koh Rong Sihanoukville Cambodia is only 40 minutes by fast boat. It seems  a little like Koh Samui 25 years ago, lots of backpackers & hippies.

Leaving Plantation Beach

Koh Rong Sihanoukville CambodiaThe fare each way to Koh Rong Sihanoukville Cambodia is $13 USD.

500 Horsepower

Koh Rong Sihanoukville CambodiaA very fast smooth ride.

 Koh Rong Sihanoukville Cambodia Pommie backpackers

Koh Rong Sihanoukville CambodiaThere were 4 or 5 English backpackers shrieking to each other over the engine noise, as you can see Steve is not too impressed. 🙂

 Our first glimpse of the island.

Koh Rong Sihanoukville CambodiaIt was like travelling back in time. 🙂

Vagabonds

Koh Rong Sihanoukville CambodiaVagabonds cafe I’m sure has seen it’s share of vagabonds, however this is the first visit by the famous FiveStarVagabond. 🙂 🙂 🙂

The Rising Sun

Koh Rong Sihanoukville CambodiaWe settled here for a couple of cold beers and a Phad Thai, the place is run by 3 friendly Italians from Milano.

And here they are…..

Koh Rong Sihanoukville Cambodia Living the dream on Koh Rong Sihanoukville Cambodia.

Hard at work

Koh Rong Sihanoukville Cambodia Well somebody has to do the heavy lifting. 🙂

Crystal clear water here.

Koh Rong Sihanoukville CambodiaAs you would expect for a tropical island.

The essence of Koh Rong

Koh Rong Sihanoukville Cambodia This shot captures the essence of Koh Rong for me,  a lazy tropical island full of backpackers & hippies.

Talking about backpackers…..

Koh Rong Sihanoukville CambodiaHere is a perfect example, sadly I arrived 30 years too late. 🙂

Guess I’ll go fishing instead. 🙂

Koh Rong Sihanoukville Cambodia Crystal clear water & lots of fish big & small.

Koh Rong Sihanoukville Cambodia

Koh Rong Island Sihanoukville CambodiaA nice way to explore the island would be to hire a log tail boat.

Life is very very casual here.

Koh Rong Sihanoukville CambodiaYou can rent a room overlooking the beach for around $10 USD per night.

Use THIS LINK to book & get an excellent discount.

Back to Sihanoukville

Koh Rong Sihanoukville Cambodia We had a bigger boat which took 5 minutes longer.

Sadly this lovely coastal village is never going to be the same, just read THIS STORY.

 Zagreb Croatia                      Rio de Janeiro                  Brisbane River 

Zagreb Croatia bars restaurants        a7ff7566-9628-434d-a2b1-8c6e8b9a9021       IMG_0100

       

     Koh Samui                                   Korea                                  London

32780a6c-baf6-428a-bd71-68b1bed30b4c         Changdeokgung Palace (2)        IMG_7042

         Bangkok                                   Osaka                                     Pattaya

Soi Cowboy (25)          Osaka 1st night (17)       Walking St Pattaya is wild & sexy 

                                     

             Chiang Mai                      Pattaya                      Chao Phraya river

Chiang Mai with Tone        9a1fec74-4461-46cd-8663-97f5893c8f6e (1)   191de3bb-38fc-45cd-bce7-ef24081c554b

 
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That’s all folks

1g Duck

Check out these great photo blogs.

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Extreme poverty Phnom Penh

November 11, 2015 by David Herd

 On display at the Foreign Correspondents Club.

Extreme poverty Phnom Penh

Extreme poverty Phnom Penh

Extreme poverty Phnom Penh

Extreme poverty Phnom Penh & in fact throughout Cambodia, is everywhere you look. There is a huge gap between rich & poor. Apart from this I found the people to be some of the nicest I have met anywhere in Asia.

My recent journey in May 2010 from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville was delayed because I was enjoying myself so much in the city I found it hard to leave.

I returned in October 2017 & couldn’t believe the changes, mainly due to Chinese investments.

The Foreign Correspondents Club

Extreme poverty Phnom Penh

I was so surprised by the number of quality restaurants and bars, excellent food, good service and nice decor. On the other side of the coin is the poverty, Cambodia is certainly a third world country struggling to drag itself into the 21st century. Like most poor countries the gap between rich and poor is immense.

The foreign correspondents club.

Extreme poverty Phnom Penh

Relaxing most days in the Foreign Correspondents Club overlooking the Mekong River is like being transported 60 years back in time. Sipping a gin & tonic in the big comfortable leather chairs makes you feel like you are in an Oliver Stone movie covering the Vietnam war.

Shutters on the windows

Extreme poverty Phnom Penh

Letting in the breeze.

Extreme poverty Phnom Penh

Extreme poverty Phnom Penh

Here is a lovely family playing cards under a tree on a public footpath seemingly without a care in the world.

Happy face selling sunglasses

Extreme poverty Phnom Penh

A lasting memory for me is how nice the people are, sure many of them will try to sell you something, however they do it with a smile on their face and without the persistence and aggression of their counterparts in Vietnam and Indonesia.

Taxi

Extreme poverty Phnom Penh

A huge bonus in Phnom Penh which is out of character with every other Asian city I have ever visited, is how slow the Motorcycle taxis travel, there is no stress or haste, you sit back, relax and enjoy the ride, plus as you can see the seats are very comfortable.

Monkeys

Extreme poverty Phnom Penh

This photo was opposite our hotel, notice the wire grill on one of the upstairs homes. A simple explanation, it is there to stop the dozens of noisy monkeys from entering the home. Every day they scamper along the rooftops and balconies making one hell of a racket, quite funny really.

Malis Restaurant at 136 Norodom Boulevard, Phnom Penh

Extreme poverty Phnom Penh

The Mali restaurant was an excellent example of the high quality restaurants in Phnom Penh, great food and fabulous decor. There is another bonus you can buy bags of Cambodian pepper to take home with you, many people, myself included, believe Cambodian pepper is the best in the world.

Malis Restaurant

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Travel tips. Have dinner at the Mali restaurant and buy some pepper to take home, please click here.

Le Grand Palais Phnom Penh

Extreme poverty Phnom Penh

For a very good discount just book through THIS LINK.

Good low cost hotel. The Pickled Parrot is a budget hotel run by an Australian, rooms are fine and there is a good bar & restaurant on the ground floor, the location is excellent. The best hotel booking site is Agoda, you have a choice whether to pay now or later when you check out of your hotel.

Good Phnom Penh information site. Please click here.

Please click on Google + to help my page ranking. 

Long tail boat

Extreme poverty Phnom Penh

The mighty Mekong river.

A terrible cruel sight, dying in the heat.

Extreme poverty Phnom Penh

Heartbreaking to see these poor birds suffer in 35 degree heat.

Hot truck probably owned by a government official.

Extreme poverty Phnom Penh

Many expats in Cambodia tell me a lot of government officials spend foreign aid money on expensive cars etc for their own benefit, while continuing poverty Phnom Penh prevails.

Pickled Parrot

Extreme poverty Phnom Penh

A bunch of Aussies, next to me is Roger Gaffney who now lives in Saigon, then old mate Tony Murphy with his camera locked and loaded. Can’t remember the other 2 guys.

A great way to relax in the heat of the day.

Extreme poverty Phnom Penh

Life generally is fairly lay-back in Cambodia.                         

The mighty Mekong River

Extreme poverty Phnom Penh

Mekong River Phnom Penh Cambodia is certainly changing rapidly, not necessarily for the good I’m afraid. However there are still many wonderful experiences to enjoy in this fascinating country.

                  I have been lucky enough to visit some of the worlds great rivers as well as the Mekong, the Nile, the Amazon, the Mississippi and the Yangtze. And of course in Australia the Murry and the Darling.      

Pretty face at the market

Extreme poverty Phnom Penh

And I certainly don’t mean Murphy. 🙂

Riverside restaurant

Extreme poverty Phnom Penh

A great place to sit & watch the mighty Mekong roll by.

 Thanks for visiting Extreme poverty Phnom Penh post

 
Extreme poverty Phnom Penh
 
Thanks for visiting my Extreme poverty Phnom Penh photo blog. Great hotel discounts here.
 

Plantation Urban Resort and Spa

Extreme poverty Phnom Penh

Just book through THIS LINK for a very good discount.

 
  Here are some more posts to check out           
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.               

 

 Soi Cowboy                  Nana Plaza                    Patpong

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  Please check out these fabulous posts
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Rio de Janeiro                  Singapore                    Eastern Europe
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    Bangkok Bars                         Tokyo                      Cape Town Safari
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               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
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 That’s all folks

1g Duck

 

Pattaya live webcam
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Before we move on to Sihanoukville please watch the Phnom Penh slide show.

 

Without a doubt AGODA is the best online Hotel booking site.


Click on the photo below to see another great post.

 

Before you go check out the LadyBoy show in Pattaya

 

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Magic Marble Mountain Vietnam

July 24, 2015 by David Herd

Marble Mountain Vietnam

Marble Mountain Vietnam

 Marble Mountain Vietnam where the statues are hand carved by certified and regulated stone mason artists. These artist begin a lifelong apprenticeship from a very young age and spend their life learning the trade.

 Huge statue

Marble Mountain Vietnam

 Mined from the famous Marble Mountain, in Vietnam, the premium marble offers quality and colours that can’t be found anywhere else in the world. Plus the skill of the Vietnamese ensures a wonderful product.


 

Many beautiful statues

Marble Mountain Vietnam

I had to stop myself from sending a whole container home. TripAdvisor rate Marble Mountain 2nd out of 97 things to do in Danang.

Marble Mountain Vietnam

Marble Mountain Vietnam

 The stone carving village of Dong Hai, located next to the Marble Mountains in Vietnam is famous for traditional stone engraving and stone-cutting craft.

 

A Vietnamese Venus de Milo

Marble Mountain Vietnam

The statues here are rather extraordinary, all shapes and sizes. 

Bangkok to Danang

Marble Mountain Vietnam

There are about seven low cost flights per week from Bangkok to Danang, it only takes around 90 minutes.

Tiger on the prowl

Marble Mountain Vietnam

This guy is a rather mean looking beast. It reminds me of a funny story of my brush with a tiger in Chiang Mai, check out THIS LINK for the full story.

David Herd at Marble Mountain

Marble Mountain Vietnam

Thanks for visiting my Marble Mountain Vietnam post, please have a look at some more posts if you have the time. For great hotel rates simply use this link.    

         Hoi An, midway between Hanoi & HCMC, fly into Danang take a taxi south, on the way make sure you visit Marble mountain.

 

               

                      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
                                            d0c59ff5-7f2b-41b5-9312-4556d4a62037            01a75360-9573-473f-acba-3a187f779b7f
 

Slide show here.

Pattaya live webcam
 
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That’s all folks

1g Duck


  • Lyme Regis Jurassic coast

Counter only started June 16 2020.

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Beautiful China Beach Vietnam

July 24, 2015 by David Herd

White sand & a bright blue ocean

Beautiful China Beach Vietnam

Beautiful China Beach Vietnam

 Beautiful China Beach Vietnam is in Da Nang, a port city along the coast of the South China Sea. While there is not a great deal in the city in terms of restaurants and bars at the moment, Da Nang has been targeted for massive investment by both the government and private companies alike, and is tipped to be a major destination for both tourism and commerce.

Beach Vendors

Beautiful China Beach VietnamAlthough I was last there in 2003 I’m sure nothing has changed with the persistent beach vendors. They do not like taking no for an answer and there is really no escape from them.


Everything is for sale

Beautiful China Beach VietnamJohn Martin aka Pothole examining the merchandise.

 

Two Americans

Beautiful China Beach VietnamWe met two nice Americans on the beach and had lunch together washed down with some cold beers. Notice my Lee Child novel close by. 🙂

For a great hotel rate just book through THIS LINK.

Shelter from the sun.

Beautiful China Beach Vietnam

 In more recent history, Danang is best-known for its role in the American Vietnam War. The Danang Airbase was a major American airbase, used both by the Americans and the South Vietnamese. Nearby China Beach, named after its beautiful china-white sand, was home to the 510th Evacuation Hospital, where wounded American soldiers would come to recover. China Beach itself was an American in-country R&R spot, nicknamed the “Five and Dime”. The Vietcong, meanwhile, had their own hospital surprisingly close by in the caves of the Marble Mountains.

 Beautiful Vietnamese face

Beautiful China Beach VietnamMy travelling partner John Martin aka “Pothole” was a bit of a lunatic, he is an excellent reason for travelling alone. 🙂

I forget what the young girl was selling however I just had to capture that beautiful face.

Marble Mountain

Beautiful China Beach VietnamIf you find yourself travelling from Da nang to Hoi An make sure you visit Marble Mountain.

China Beach Vietnam

Beautiful China Beach VietnamChina Beach Vietnam is a great place to relax however I would suggest you stay at Hoi An which is only 45 minutes away by taxi.

Beautiful China Beach Vietnam

 


Beautiful China Beach Vietnam

Beautiful China Beach Vietnam

 Who needs people when you have beautiful white sand & a bright blue ocean. 🙂

David Herd at China beach.

Beautiful China Beach Vietnam

Thanks for visiting my Beautiful China Beach Vietnam travel page, one of my favorite places in Vietnam, however the image that sticks in my mind most of all are the beautiful faces of the people and their children in this amazing country. Have a look at some of my other Vietnam posts.

For a great hotel rate in China Beach just book through THIS LINK.

                    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
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            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
                                            d0c59ff5-7f2b-41b5-9312-4556d4a62037            01a75360-9573-473f-acba-3a187f779b7f
 

Slide show here.

Pattaya live webcam
 
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That’s all folks

1g Duck

                            

Counter only started June 16 2020.

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Road Trip Nha Trang

May 25, 2015 by David Herd

Leaving HCMC

Road Trip Nha Trang

Road Trip Nha Trang

Road Trip Nha Trang via Dalat by mini bus with a one night stopover in Dalat. We travelled through some very interesting countryside stopping often for food and drinks.

Riding to school

Road Trip Nha Trang

 Young girl wearing the traditional ao dai. The name “ao dai” was originally applied to the outfit worn at the court of the Nguyễn Lords at Huế in the 18th century.

A tip for the boys

Road Trip Nha TrangI gave these boys a tip which made them very happy indeed.

 

Another happy face in Vietnam.

Road Trip Nha Trang

So many happy faces in Vietnam.

Beautiful country heading north

Road Trip Nha TrangRice terraces from the highway.

Village on the river

Road Trip Nha Trang

A whole town sits on the water.

What more could you want?

Road Trip Nha Trang

Vietnam’s version of waterfront homes.

HCMC Nha Trang Dalat Vietnam

Road Trip Nha Trang

  Compare the above and below photo and see if you can spot the difference.  

Looks the same doesn’t it?

Road Trip Nha Trang

  Of course you picked it, the mother is rocking the baby. 🙂 🙂 🙂  

Paddling by foot

Road Trip Nha Trang via Dalat

That’s a new technique.

Dalat market

Road Trip Nha Trang

Night market in Dalat.

Fresh fish at Dalat

Road Trip Nha Trang

     Đà Lạt, the capital of Lâm Đồng Province in southern Vietnam’s Central Highlands, is centred around a lake and golf course, and surrounded by hills, pine forests, lakes and waterfalls. Known as the “City of Eternal Spring” for its distinctive temperate climate, Đà Lạt was developed as a resort by the French in the early 1900s, and many reminders of its colonial heritage remain.

Off to training

Road Trip Nha Trang via Dalat

    The kids are looking good in their karate outfits.

Lovely smile in Dalat

Road Trip Nha Trang

    So many smiling faces in this great country.

HCMC Nha Trang

Road Trip Nha Trang

Thanks for visiting my HCMC Nha Trang Dalat Vietnam post, this is really a worthwhile adventure if you want to see life in the countryside, this was 2003, check out some more recent Vietnam posts below.                       

                   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
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           London                            Beijing                            Capetown
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            Great hotel room rates anywhere in the world if you            
             book through these links below.  Book now & pay later.
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Ancient Town Vietnam Coast

May 24, 2015 by David Herd

Japanese Covered Bridge

Ancient Town Vietnam Coast

Ancient Town Vietnam Coast

Ancient Town Vietnam Central Coast is Hoi-An featuring wonderful French colonial buildings including this beautiful Japanese covered bridge which dates back to the 18th century. Probably the most photographed place in Hoi-An.

Crossing the bridge

Ancient Town Vietnam Coast

I’m not sure what the ladies are selling.

For a great hotel rate just book through THIS LINK.

This is my favourite photo.

Ancient Town Vietnam Coast

The culture & heritage is mostly from the Cham people whose kingdom originally stretched from Hue South to Phan Thiet (South of Nha Trang) – the Champa’s most likely originally from Java. The original Cham political capital was Tra Kieu, the commercial capital was Hoi An and the spiritual capital was My Son (Hindu). The Cham people were Hindu, and by the 10th century the influence of Arab traders to Hoi An resulted in some converting to become Muslims.

The second major influence was from the Chinese, firstly from traders but especially the escaping Ming Dynasty armies who after settling in Hoi An for some years moved further south and created Saigon as a major trading port.

Beautiful faces

Ancient Town Vietnam Coast

Hoi An is midway between Hanoi & HCMC, you can fly into Danang then take a taxi south, on the way make sure you visit Marble mountain where you can watch beautiful statues being made and perhaps even order one to be shipped home.

 

Here I am at Marble Mountain just north of Hoi-An.

Ancient Town Vietnam Coast

Marble Mountain Vietnam where the statues are hand carved by certified and regulated stone mason artists. These artist begin a lifelong apprenticeship from a very young age and spend their life learning the trade.

Travel Tip. Hoi-An has the reputation as the place to go to have clothes made, I think one of the best strategies is to take some of your favourite items and have them copied at a fraction of the price you would pay at home.

 Hoi-An French colonial buildings

Ancient Town Vietnam Coast

One of the many Hoi-An French colonial buildings.

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Fu kien restaurant

Ancient Town Vietnam Coast

A typical Hoi-Ann street scene.

 Beautiful buildings

Ancient Town Vietnam Coast

There are so many wonderful buildings.

 Lanterns

Ancient Town Vietnam Coast

There is a photo opportunity around every corner.

We asked where he was taking the duck?

Ancient Town Vietnam Coast

He said I am taking it home to eat it.

Hoi Ann timber delivery

Ancient Town Vietnam Coast

Firewood for cooking I imagine.

Ancient Town Vietnam Central Coast Hoi Ann market

Ancient Town Vietnam Coast

Morning gossip at the market.

Banana anyone?

Ancient Town Vietnam Coast

It is a hive of activity on the waterfront.

Happy faces

Ancient Town Vietnam Coast

Non la (palm-leaf conical hat) is a traditional symbol of Vietnamese people.

Great looking kids in Hoi Ann.

Ancient Town Vietnam Coast

Another couple of great Vietnamese smiles.

China Beach

Ancient Town Vietnam Coast

During the war the Americans used the name China Beach to refer to the beautiful 30 km sweep of fine white sand that starts at Monkey Mountain and ends near Hoi An. Soldiers would be sent here for some R&R from bases all over the country.

Pothole shopping for art

Ancient Town Vietnam Coast

 Pothole aka John Martin shopping for some genuine reproductions. 🙂

For a great hotel rate just book through THIS LINK.

Hanoi to Bangkok

 Ancient Town Vietnam Coast

It was the start of the Sars problem.

Thanks for visiting my Hoi-An French colonial buildings photo blog, one of my favourite places in Vietnam, however the image that sticks in my mind most of all are the beautiful faces of the people and their children in this amazing country. Have a look at some of my other Vietnam posts.

                         
 

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Slide show here.

Pattaya live webcam
 
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Sexy Soi Cowboy Bangkok 

Beautiful Budapest

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War Remnants Museum HCMC

January 20, 2015 by David Herd

From Vietnam’s perspective

War Remnants Museum HCMC

War Remnants Museum

War Remnants Museum HCMC is an moving disturbing experience, it shows the terrible atrocities inflicted on the Vietnamese people from their point of view. I vividly remember the My Lai Massacre from so long ago in 1968, I recall how shocked I was that US troops could slaughter these poor women & children.

Boeing CH-47 Chinook

War Remnants Museum

 The Boeing CH-47 Chinook is an American twin-engine, tandem rotor heavy-lift helicopter. Its primary roles are troop movement, artillery placement and battlefield resupply. It has a wide loading ramp at the rear of the fuselage and three external-cargo hooks. With a top speed of 170 knots (196 mph, 315 km/h) the helicopter is faster than contemporary 1960s utility and attack helicopters. 

War Remnants Museum

The CH-47 is among the heaviest lifting Western helicopters. Its name is from the Native American Chinook people.

M.41 tank

War Remnants Museum

The M41 was an agile and well armed vehicle. On the other hand, it was noisy, fuel-hungry and heavy enough to cause problems with air transport.

War Remnants Museum

In 1952 work began on lighter designs (T71, T92), but those projects came to nought and were eventually abandoned.

War Remnants Museum M48 Patton

War Remnants Museum

The M48 served as the U.S. Army and Marine Corps’s primary battle tank during the Vietnam War. It was widely used by U.S. Cold War allies, especially other NATO countries.

War Remnants Museum

The M48 Patton tank was designed to replace the previous M47 Pattons and M4 Shermans. Although largely resembling the M47, the M48 Patton was a completely new tank design. Some M48A5 models served well into the 1980s with American forces, and many various M48 Patton models remain in service in other countries. The M48 was the last U.S. tank to mount the 90 mm tank gun, with the last model, the M48A5, being upgraded to carry the new standard weapon of the M60, the 105mm gun.

M.132 A1 Flame Thrower

War Remnants Museum

The vehicle was based on an M113. The driver sits in the front left of the hull. A small cupola in the center of the hull mounts an M10-8 flame gun with a coaxial 7.62 mm caliber M73 machine gun. The weapons could be traversed though 360 degrees and elevated to +55 degrees and depressed to −15 degree. The passenger compartment was removed, and replaced with an M10 fuel and pressure unit and four spherical 50 gallon fuel tanks.

War Remnants Museum

The 200 gallon fuel capacity enabled it to fire for up to 32 seconds, and the pressure unit enabled it to reach targets at a range of 200 meters.


M107 – 175 MM Gun

War Remnants Museum

  The M107 175 mm self-propelled gun was used by the U.S. Army from the early 1960s through to the late 1970s. It was part of a family of self-propelled artillery that also included the M110. It was intended to provide long-range fire support in an air-transportable system. It was exported to several other countries including Germany, South Korea, Spain, Greece, Iran, Israel, Italy, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and Turkey.

War Remnants Museum

The M107’s combat history in U.S. service was limited to the Vietnam War; it also saw extensive combat use in Israeli service. The M107 was the last self-propelled gun (high velocity, low trajectory, long range) in the U.S. Army inventory. It shared many components with, and in many cases was replaced by, later versions of the M110. Although withdrawn from U.S. service in the late 1970s, it continues in service with some armies as of 2010.

 War Remnants Museum

War Remnants Museum

It looks like a Gatling gun to me.

Met a couple of military guys , one was an ex Lieutenant Colonel whose name is Lance Gatling, you guessed it, his great great Grandfather was Doctor Richard Gatling who invented the Gatling gun in 1861 during the American civil war. Naturally talking to these guys I learnt some interesting facts, America lost about 600,000 in the civil war. In World War II, they lost about 200,000, & 54,000 in Vietnam. The primary cause of death in the Civil War was disease and infection.

OK, lets go to the air.

War Remnants Museum

This one does not look very lethal.

Fighter plane

War Remnants Museum

It’s a real buzz being so lose to these planes & tanks etc.

Jet Fighter

War Remnants Museum

Still looks sleek & deadly to me.

War Remnants Museum

War Remnants Museum

I wrote this several years ago for my photo album

War Remnants Museum

Check out my Vung Tao blog here.

I Was Only 19 - The Lancer Band (Australian Army)

 

 


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Pattaya Hilton

Pattaya hotels, Hilton & Holiday Inn

This is the view from Horizons the amazing rooftop bar. A great five star hotel located opposte the beach & above the Central Festival shopping mall. Just book through THIS LINK for an excellent room rate. 

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Big Bold Bustling Beijing

April 23, 2014 by David Herd

Big Bold Bustling Beijing is so big so busy, even crossing the road is an experience not to be forgotten. Motor vehicle drivers and people on bicycles couldn’t care less about pedestrians or traffic lights; in fact they use them as target practice. To make matters worse the streets are so wide it can take an eternity to get across; everyone huddles into a little mass of humanity and shuffles slowly between the oncoming vehicles, oh what a relief it is each time you make it to the other side.

Apart from all that it is a fascinating city full of history and wonderful breathtaking palaces, parks and buildings, and the food, well the food, Peking or should I say Beijing duck is to die for. Not to mention all of the other wonderful cuisines available, even though half the time you don’t know what you are eating. Having said that I must admit the best Peking duck I have ever eaten was the previous week in Shanghai, but that’s another story.

My friend “The General”

Big Bold Bustling Boisterous Beijing

I was only there for one week in 2002, not enough time so I will just have to go back again one day. I did have time enough though to see the Great wall, the Forbidden city, the beautiful Summer Palace, Tienanmen square and the bomb shelter built in 1969 to hold a mere 5 million people. Everything here is built on a grand scale, there are hundreds of new high-rise buildings under construction, on one site alone I counted 25 cranes working.

The Great wall of China certainly deserves to be the second most visited tourist attraction in the world, construction period was 770 to 256 BC and it is around 6300 kms long.

The size of the wall is amazing

Big Bold Bustling Boisterous Beijing

The Great Wall of China is a series of fortifications made of stone, brick, tamped earth, wood, and other materials, generally built along an east-to-west line across the historical northern borders of China in part to protect the Chinese Empire or its prototypical states against intrusions by various nomadic groups or military incursions by various warlike peoples or forces. Several walls were being built as early as the 7th century BC; these, later joined together and made bigger and stronger, are now collectively referred to as the Great Wall. Especially famous is the wall built between 220–206 BC by the first Emperor of ChinaQin Shi Huang. Little of that wall remains. Since then, the Great Wall has on and off been rebuilt, maintained, and enhanced; the majority of the existing wall are from the Ming Dynasty.

With my friend Mable in Beijing

Big Bold Bustling Boisterous Beijing

Beijing was a little complicated for me because I had to juggle two lovely ladies. I met Mable on an internet chat site shortly before arriving in Beijing, and I met my other friend Sonia on the Gold Coast in Australia a couple of months prior to that. My big problem was they both wanted to take me to the main attractions, so I had to duck & weave a little to avoid doubling up. One day I went to the Great Wall with Sonia and the next day to The Summer Palace with Mable, etc etc. On a couple of occasions they missed bumping into each other at my hotel by only 15 minutes, it really was a little stressful. 🙂

You met Mable, now meet Sonia.

Big Bold Bustling Boisterous Beijing

  As it turned out when we returned to Australia Sonia moved interstate and got married and one year later I flew Mable to Thailand and we holidayed on Koh Chang. Soon after that we lost contact, both ladies obviously quickly came to the same conclusion (rightly so) that I was not a good prospect for a long term relationship.  

The Summer Palace

Big Bold Bustling Boisterous Beijing

 The Summer Palace is a vast ensemble of lakes, gardens and palaces in Beijing, China. The Summer Palace is mainly dominated by Longevity Hill and the Kunming Lake. It covers an expanse of 2.9 square kilometres, three-quarters of which is water.

Beijing from The Summer Palace

Big Bold Bustling Boisterous Beijing

The Summer Palace is located northwest of Beijing’s center in Haidian District, between the Fourth and Fifth Ring Roads.

The Summer Palace

Big Bold Bustling Boisterous Beijing

  The Summer Palace started out life as the ‘Garden of Clear Ripples’  

The Forbidden City

Big Bold Bustling Boisterous Beijing

The Forbidden City was the Chinese imperial palace from the Ming dynasty to the end of the Qing dynasty. It is located in the centre of Beijing, China, and now houses the Palace Museum. For almost 500 years, it served as the home of emperors and their households, as well as the ceremonial and political center of Chinese government.   Built in 1406 to 1420, the complex consists of 980 buildings and covers 720,000 m.

Big Bold Bustling Beijing Tiananmen Square

Big Bold Bustling Boisterous Beijing

Located at the center of Beijing City is Tiananmen Square, where you can visit Tiananmen Tower, Monument to the People’s Heroes, Great Hall of the People, Mao Zedong Memorial Hall and see the national flag raising ceremony. Please click on Google + to help my page ranking.   

Big Bold Bustling Beijing sidewalk cafe 

Big Bold Bustling Boisterous Beijing

No different to 50 other world cities.

Haoyuan Hotel Beijing

Big Bold Bustling Boisterous Beijing

I loved my hotel, the Haoyuan, a traditional Chinese design walking distance from some excellent shopping malls and restaurants.

 Haoyuan Hotel

Big Bold Bustling Boisterous Beijing

The rooms are reasonably priced and the staff are very friendly and speak perfect English.

A very pretty lady

Big Bold Bustling Boisterous BeijingThe following year I flew her to Bangkok & we holidayed in Pattaya & Koh Chang.

Thanks for visiting my Beijing post, please check out Shanghai.

 Big Bold Bustling Boisterous Beijing

My apologies for the average quality of the photos, it was 2002 and digital cameras were in the early stages.

Thanks for visiting my Big Bold Bustling Boisterous Beijing photo blog.

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Seven deadly Songkran days

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Going Home by Kenny G.

KENNY G- GOING HOME

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Jim Thompson House Museum

December 13, 2013 by David Herd

The legend lives on.

Jim Thompson House Museum

Jim Thompson House Museum

Jim Thompson House Bangkok Museum showing traditional Thai architecture combined with Western influences.   In 1967, Jim Thompson went on holiday with friends to the Cameron Highlands in Malaysia. There he set out for a walk in the surrounding jungle but never returned. Thus began the Jim Thompson legend.  

Jim Thompson House is a museum in Bangkok. It is a complex of various old Thai structures that the American businessman Jim Thompson collected in from all parts of Thailand in the 1950s and 60s.

Jim Thompson House Museum

Jim Thompson House Museum

Jim Thompson, an American businessman was perhaps ‘the best known foreigner in Bangkok, and possibly in Southeast Asia’. “In the twenty years before his ill-fated holiday in Malaysia, he had accomplished more than most men in a full life. He had built a major industry in a remote and little known country whose language he could not speak; he had become an authority on an art that, previously, he scarcely knew existed and had assembled a collection that attracted scholars from all over the world; he had built a home that was a work of art in itself and one of the landmarks of Bangkok; and, in the process of doing all this, he had become a sort of landmark himself, a personality so widely known in his adopted homeland that a letter addressed simply ‘Jim Thompson, Bangkok’ found its way to him in a city of three and a half million people.”

Living Room

Jim Thompson House Museum

In 1958 this American businessman began what was to be the pinnacle of his architectural achievement, a new home to showcase his art collection. Formed from parts of six antique Thai houses, his home (completed in 1959) sits on a klong (canal) across from Bangkrua, where his weavers were then located. Most of the 19th-century houses were dismantled and moved from Ayutthaya, but the largest – a weaver’s house (now the living room) – came from Bangkuar.

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Silk Loom at Jim Thompson House.

Jim Thompson House Museum

With his natural flair for design and colour, and driven by his single-minded dedication to reviving the craft, Thompson soon gained worldwide recognition for his success in rebuilding the silk industry in Thailand, for generating international demand for Thai silk and for contributing to the growth of the silk industry.

Spooling silk at Jim Thompson House

Jim Thompson House Museum

Jim Thompson Bangkok Museum is only about 15 minutes walk from the MBK centre.

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Elevated rooms.

Jim Thompson House Museum

In the hot and humid tropical climate, the airy, open quality of a Thai house and the broad overhangs of its roof protect the interior from both sun and rain. Elevated houses facilitate the circulation of air and offered a more comfortable living space. It was cooler to live in and protected the home from the risk of floods in the monsoon season. It also offered protection from hostile wildlife. The open space beneath the house was versatile. It was used as a living area in the hot season, as storage for the season’s harvest, and as a place to keep livestock.

All visitors have a guide.

Jim Thompson House Museum

It’s such a popular Thailand tourist destination you are not allowed to walk around the property by yourself, you must wait for a guide to take you in groups.

Rice storage.

Jim Thompson House Museum

This separate room was where they stored the rice. It is such a unique property in the heart of Bangkok, you can see why it’s such a popular Thailand tourist destination.

Entertainers at Jim Thompson Bangkok Museum

Jim Thompson House Museum

These lads looked terrific in their traditional costumes.

Thai welcome at Jim Thompson House.

Thai welcome at Jim Thompson House in Bangkok, beautiful dancers.

 

Here is a slide show.

 

Jim Thompson in 1962

Jim Thompson House Museum

A rare old photo of Jim Thompson.

Thanks for visiting my Jim Thompson House museum photo blog. 

When I’m in Bangkok I like to stay in Sukhumvit Soi 11, here is an excellent budget hotel, if you USE THIS LINK you will get a great rate of around B1100 per night, or $30 USD.

Thanks for visiting my Jim Thompson House Bangkok Museum photo blog.

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Holiday Inn

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Fabulous views, excellent restaurants & a very good room rate if you book through THIS LINK.

The building in the middle is the Holiday Inn, on the left is the Amari Hotel which is another very good five star hotel. Use THIS LINK to book for a very good room rate.

Sabai Wing North Pattaya

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The best Pattaya budget hotel, 3 pools & opposite Central Marina shopping mall. For a great room rate just book through THIS LINK.

Sutus Court is a great budget hotel right i the heart of one of Pattaya’s main bar areas, just use THIS LINK for a terrific room rate. 420/100 Moo 9 Soi Buakhao.

Pattaya Hilton

Pattaya hotels, Hilton & Holiday Inn

This is the view from Horizons the amazing rooftop bar. A great five star hotel located opposte the beach & above the Central Festival shopping mall. Just book through THIS LINK for an excellent room rate. 

 Soi Cowboy                  Nana Plaza                    Patpong

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1g Duck

 

 

Click here for my post on Bangkok bars.

 

 


Heavy rain in Pattaya

 

Tropical storm floods Pattaya, I love to see the storm clouds roaring across Pattaya bay from my condo. https://fivestarvagabond.com/tropical-storm-floods-pattaya/

Posted by Travel blogger Fivestarvagabond.com” on Saturday, April 4, 2015

The River Kwai

 

On the Burma railway the dead POWs included 6,904 British personnel, 2,802 Australians, 2,782 Dutch, & 133 Americans.

Posted by Travel blogger Fivestarvagabond.com” on Thursday, February 19, 2015

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