Hello from the Five Star Vagabond

Welcome to 700 travel blogs, to access a full index on your mobile please scroll to the bottom & choose from 700 locations. Email is [email protected]

Beckington Trowbridge West England

June 4, 2017 by David Herd

Church of St George, Beckington

Beckington Trowbridge West England

Beckington Trowbridge West England

Beckington Trowbridge West England 2009, how did I find myself there you may well ask. Quite simple really, since 2007 I have been travelling to England to visit my friend Alan who is a guest of Her Majesty. His brother Bill Austin and I have become good friends as well, so I stay with him and his partner Joan Baptiste, and between visiting Alan Bill and I tour around the country.

So to answer the question, Bill lives in Beckington and works for the council in Trowbridge. Beckington village is 5.8 miles from Trowbridge town centre and 10 miles from the historical city of Bath.

Church of St George

Beckington Trowbridge West England

The church is just across the road from Bill and Joan’s home and dates back to the 14th century.

Warminster Road

Beckington Trowbridge West England

The church is on the right just up the road and Bill’s home is on the left.

Bill and Joan’s Beckington home.

Beckington Trowbridge West England

Here is their delightful home, I feel a little sorry for Bill because no sooner has he got the place perfect Joan decides she wants to move elsewhere. 🙂

My friends Joan Baptiste and Bill Austin

Beckington Trowbridge West England

Bill works for the local Trowbridge council.

Woolpack Inn Warminster Road

Beckington Trowbridge South West England

For local news bookmark this link for the Wiltshire times.

Typical Beckington home

Beckington Trowbridge West England

Typical local stone houses.

Trowbridge

Beckington Trowbridge West England

 There is evidence that the land on which Trowbridge is built was being farmed more than 3,000 years ago. In the 10th century written records and architectural ruins begin marking Trowbridge’s existence as a village.

The Trowbridge fair

Beckington Trowbridge West England

The annual fair attracts lots to locals.

Beckington Trowbridge West England

Beckington Trowbridge West England

A peaceful area around a pond in the park.

Trowbridge Fair

Beckington Trowbridge West England

The locals are patiently waiting for the music to begin.

The rocket man

Beckington Trowbridge West England

A beautiful at the Trowbridge Fair, perhaps I’ll blast off.

Arrested for stealing a spacesuit

Beckington Trowbridge West England

The long arm of the law.

Out on bail

Beckington Trowbridge West England

I know what you are thinking, here are two dinosaurs. 🙂 🙂 🙂

 The White Hart Ford, Chippenham

Beckington Trowbridge West England

One of the great pleasures of touring around the UK is the thousands of wonderful pubs. In the last week or so we have visited many on our road trip that took us through Bath, Plymouth, Penzance, Lands End and St Ives.

Road trip

Beckington Trowbridge West England

This is a wonderful part of England, a very interesting coastline. 

The White Hart

Beckington Trowbridge West England

Many of the pubs are quite ancient.

Location, White Hart to the Woolpack Inn

Beckington Trowbridge West England

Thanks for visiting my Beckington Trowbridge South West England photo blog.

 More posts for you to see

Pattaya Hilton

Pattaya hotels, Hilton & Holiday Inn

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

 Soi Cowboy                  Nana Plaza                    Patpong

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

 
  Please check out these fabulous posts
       Gold Coast                              Pattaya                          Cinque Terre
bd96516a-84df-4ca0-86e6-c757cc9053d1          01a75360-9573-473f-acba-3a187f779b7f          e18b6c87-5adc-4a80-92cf-6c643ad130c1
 
Rio de Janeiro                  Singapore                    Eastern Europe
f044491e-69aa-4082-b49b-1ff33557d7d4          60e7d26d-1039-4dde-863d-62b66656ccbf          1bea4a99-cb07-4161-83ba-75c0ef2b63cc
    Bangkok Bars                         Tokyo                      Cape Town Safari
d0c59ff5-7f2b-41b5-9312-4556d4a62037          f5e9441a-4154-44e0-a362-18b662d40b48          2a2b79ea-bc5f-46e3-8448-2e71658eff14 
               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          b1c99886-3940-4dda-b350-44c5e5c77e41
 
 That’s all folks

1g Duck

 

 

Europe before Covid-19 & mass immigration.

Counter only started June 16 2020.

This gallery contains 1 photo.

Discovering South West England

June 3, 2017 by David Herd

Shaftesbury in Dorset

Discovering South West England is a total pleasure.

Discovering South West England

Discovering South West England, I have taken thousands of photos there and this one is my favorite. It is Gold Hill, Shaftesbury which is in Dorset. There is a nice tea room at the top of the hill where you can enjoy scones with jam & cream while enjoying the view. I will try to give you some useful travel tips towards the end of this post.

Lyme Regis, Dorset.

Discovering South West England

 Lyme Regis in Dorset is a special place, the coastline in either direction is magnificent. The cliffs over the  boarder are grey and crumbling, those eastwards, towards Charmouth are also unstable – especially after heavy rain, and those at Black Ven are capped with a layer of Gold. The town is noted for the fossils found in the cliffs and beaches, which are part of the Heritage Coast—known commercially as the Jurassic Coast—a World Heritage Site. For information please click here.

Lyme Regis South west England

Discovering South West England

 A beautiful part of the English coastline.

Weymouth Travelling South West England

Discovering South West England

Weymouth is a seaside town in Dorset,  situated on a sheltered bay at the mouth of the River Wey on the English Channel coast. The town is 13 kilometres (8 mi) south of Dorchester and 8 kilometres (5 mi) north of the Isle of Portland. The town’s population is 52,323 (2011). The town is the largest settlement in Dorset following the unitary authorities of Bournemouth and Poole   The history of the borough stretches back to the 12th century; including involvement in the spread of the Black Death, the settlement of the Americas, the development of Georgian architecture, and preparations for World War II. Fishing and trading employ fewer people in the area since their peak in earlier centuries, but tourism has continuously increased its presence in the town since the 18th century and is now the primary industry.

Weymouth is a tourist resort, and its economy depends on its harbor and visitor attractions; the town is a gateway situated halfway along the Jurassic Coast, a World Heritage Site on the Dorset and east Devon coast, important for its geology and landforms. Weymouth Harbour is home to cross-channel ferries, pleasure boats and private yachts, and nearby Portland Harbour is home to the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy, where the sailing events of the 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games were held.

Discovering South West England to Dorchester 

Discovering South West England

Dorchester is the county town of Dorset. A historic market town, Dorchester lies on the banks of the River Frome, in the Frome Valley, just south of the Dorset Downs and north of the South Dorset Ridgeway, that separates the area from Weymouth, 8 miles (13 km) south. Dorchester is noted as being home and inspiration to the author Thomas Hardy, whose novel The Mayor of Casterbridge was based on the town. In the 2001 Census the official population of Dorchester was 16,171, although by 2010 this was estimated to have risen to 18,280.

St Ives in Cornwall

Discovering South West England

St Ives is a seaside town, civil parish and port in Cornwall. The town lies north of Penzance and west of Camborne on the coast of the Celtic Sea. In former times it was commercially dependent on fishing. Wikipedia

Discovering South West England to St Ives

Discovering South West England

Lots of narrow winding lanes some too narrow for vehicles.

Lands End, Cornwall.

Wandering around South West England

 Here we are at Lands End in Cornwall, England’s most westerly point. Wind levels in winter reach around 20-25 knots, which is windier than most of England. The highest temperature recorded is 28.9 °C, and the lowest temperature recorded is -3.4 °C.

For a great room rate just book through THIS LINK.

Most westerly point in England.

Discovering South West England

Such a wild rugged coastline.

The famous Roman Baths in Bath.

Discovering South West England

I’m sure these baths have not changed in centuries.

Beautiful city of Bath

 

Discovering South West England

This is certainly one of my favourite English cities Discovering South West England.

So many pubs & such little time.

Discovering South West England

English pubs have got to be the best in the world, then again I have never been to Ireland. 🙂

Please click on Google + to help my ranking. 

Bradford on Avon

Discovering South West England

We have traveled north now to Bradford on Avon in west Wiltshire, one of my favourite English villages with some excellent pubs & restaurants.

My niece Laura love the scones at The Bridge Tea rooms.

Discovering South West England

Can afternoon tea get any better than this?

Tithe Barn Bradford on Avon

Discovering South West England

A tithe barn was a type of barn used in much of northern Europe in the Middle Ages for storing tithes—one tenth of a farm’s produce which was given to the Church. Tithe barns were usually associated with the village church or rectory and independent farmers took their tithes there.

Tithe Barn

Discovering South West England

The village priests wouldn’t have to pay tithes—the purpose of the tithe being their support—and some had their own farms anyway, which are now village greens in some villages.

Houseboats on the Kennet and Avon Canal.

Discovering South West England

The ducks or drakes deciding whether to go for a swim or a walk. 🙂

Two Dinosaurs at the Trowbridge show in Wiltshire.

Discovering South West England

Oh well, it is better to be a “has been” than a “never was”. 🙂
 
For a great discount on your room rate just book through THIS LINK.
 
 

Super travel tips. Great Britain has an excellent rail service, save up to 80% by booking your ticket before you arrive, just click here. London Underground’s Piccadilly Line provides the most cost-effective rail route between Heathrow Airport and the capital, so look for accommodation around Earl’s Court, Gloucester Rd or Knightsbridge. For more information click here.

Here is an excellent hotel close to Gloucester Rd underground.

For lots of things to do in Bath please click here.

For information on beautiful Bradford on Avon just click here.

Wandering around South West England is certainly one of my favorite parts of this wonderful country.                     

                        Here are some more posts to check out
 

           

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

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

 
  Please check out these fabulous posts
       Gold Coast                              Pattaya                          Cinque Terre
bd96516a-84df-4ca0-86e6-c757cc9053d1          01a75360-9573-473f-acba-3a187f779b7f          e18b6c87-5adc-4a80-92cf-6c643ad130c1
 
Rio de Janeiro                  Singapore                    Eastern Europe
f044491e-69aa-4082-b49b-1ff33557d7d4          60e7d26d-1039-4dde-863d-62b66656ccbf          1bea4a99-cb07-4161-83ba-75c0ef2b63cc
    Bangkok Bars                         Tokyo                      Cape Town Safari
d0c59ff5-7f2b-41b5-9312-4556d4a62037          f5e9441a-4154-44e0-a362-18b662d40b48          2a2b79ea-bc5f-46e3-8448-2e71658eff14 
               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          b1c99886-3940-4dda-b350-44c5e5c77e41
 
 That’s all folks

1g Duck

 

Europe before Covid-19 & mass immigration.

Counter only started June 16 2020.

This gallery contains 3 photos

Road Trip South Australia

April 13, 2017 by David Herd

Road trip with Japanese students.

Road Trip South Australia

Surfers Paradise Road Trip South Australia

Road Trip South Australia reminds me of the last frontier and the road trip I took in 2003. Three Japanese students, Yukako, Megumi & Noriko & I travelled from the Gold Coast in Queensland, through Broken Hill  NSW to Coober Pedy in South Australia, a fascinating opal mining town where most of the population live in underground houses, then on to Ayers Rock and back home to the Gold Coast via Hervey Bay where we went whale watching. On our marathon journey all through the Australian Outback we traveled 7,300 kilometers  which was around 82 hours behind the wheel. 

The above photo is at Tenterfield on the New England Highway.

Peter Allen Motor Inn

a87c5f32-93ed-48a3-9ce7-e1a600c5c54f (1)

This famous Australian singer son writer was born in Tenterfield. For a discounted room rate just book through THIS LINK.

Listen to Peter sing one of his famous songs about the Tenterfield sadler.

The first stage

Surfers Paradise Road Trip South Australia

Across  NSW to South Australia.

Surfers Paradise Road Trip South Australia

Surfers Paradise Road Trip South Australia

Our first day on the road, we will overnight in Broken Hill.

Trades Hall in Broken Hill.

Surfers Paradise Road Trip South Australia

 The Trades Hall is Broken Hill’s most historically important building. 

Broken Hill in outback NSW.

Surfers Paradise Road Trip South Australia

Broken Hill over 1,100 km (680 mi) west of Sydney and  surrounded by semi-desert.

For a very good discount on a Broken Hill hotel just book through THIS LINK.

Typical outback building

Surfers Paradise Road Trip South Australia

 In the 19th and early 20th century Broken Hill was home to a community of Afghans. Afghans worked as camel drivers in parts of outback Australia, and they made a significant contribution to economic growth when transport options were limited. The camel drivers formed the first sizeable Muslim communities in Australia, and in Broken Hill they left their mark in the form of the first mosque in NSW (1891).

Wilmington South Australia

Surfers Paradise Road Trip South Australia

 Wilmington is a farming community, known for sheep, wheat and barley, but more recently for the planting of olive groves.

Road Trip South Australia, the general store

Surfers Paradise Road Trip South Australia

Wilmington is 305 kilometres north of the state capital, Adelaide.

This was at Byron Bay near the start of our journey.

Surfers Paradise Road Trip South Australia

Such lovely young girls,  Noriko Megumi & Yukako. Thanks for visiting my Surfers Paradise Road Trip South Australia photo blog. Next stop is Coober Pedy.

 Lots more posts here;

   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 Tone9a1fec74-4461-46cd-8663-97f5893c8f6e (1)191de3bb-38fc-45cd-bce7-ef24081c554b

Bangkok Hotels        Pattaya Hotels
d0c59ff5-7f2b-41b5-9312-4556d4a62037b1c99886-3940-4dda-b350-44c5e5c77e41
Pattaya live webcam
9a1fec74-4461-46cd-8663-97f5893c8f6e (1)

That’s all folks

1g Duck

Counter only started June 16 2020.

This gallery contains 2 photos

Brisbane City South Bank

August 29, 2016 by David Herd

Brisbane City Hall

Brisbane City South Bank

Brisbane City South Bank

 Brisbane City River South Bank was a pleasant surprise for me, it had been many years since I last visited and the changes were many. Way back in the 90s when I worked for Metway Bank and the NRMA I would travel there regularly for the endless tedious meetings banks & insurance companies were famous for. This trip was purely for pleasure after spending 10 days on the Gold Coast.

Uniting Church Albert St

Brisbane City South Bank

Across the road from City Hall stands this delightful old church which was originally built in 1888.

From the old to the new

Brisbane City South Bank

Infinity tower is the magnificent tall building (81 floors) on the left and the monster on the far right is 1 William Street which will house only government departments. The photo was taken from the William Jolly Bridge.

The William Jolly Bridge

Brisbane City South Bank

The art deco design bride was built during the depression and opened in March 1932.

 Sunday Suitcase sale August 21st 2016

Brisbane City South Bank

The majority seemed to be backpackers selling their old clothes.

Treasury Casino

Brisbane City South Bank

  Treasury Casino was formerly the Lands Administration Building until it became a casino in 1995.

Many cranes on the skyline

Brisbane City South Bank

There is no doubt Brisbane is in the middle of a building boom, just count the cranes on this small part of the city.

CityHopper is free

Brisbane City South Bank

The CityHopper lets you travel the Brisbane river for free, the ferries run every 30 minutes between 6am and midnight, seven days a week. Follow the link below for all the information.

Simply hop on and hop off and enjoy all the Brisbane River and city sights.

City Cat

Brisbane City South Bank

Another great way to see Brisbane’s city and suburbs. Check out THIS LINK for my photo blog.

A sunny Sunday afternoon at South Bank.

Brisbane City South Bank

Lots of people cross the river to visit South Bank with its many attractions.

South Bank tranquil garden

Brisbane City South Bank

The garden has a genuine rain forest feel.

A beautiful pagoda.

Brisbane City South Bank

This Nepalese Pagoda was originally brought to Brisbane for Expo 88, in fact I actually remember seeing it back then. Incredibly this is one of only three Nepalese peace pagodas in the world to be located outside of Nepal.

As you can see from my Brisbane City South Bank photo blog there is so much to see in this great city.

The Wheel of Brisbane

Brisbane City South Bank

Nowhere near as large as London or Tokyo but it certainly looks very nice at night. ?

 Approaching Equilibrium

IMG_0086

A rather interesting sculpture

Brisbane City South Bank

Brisbane City South Bank

This sculpture in front of the Queensland Art Gallery is named “Approaching Equilibrium”, I guess people with more understanding of art than I possess will appreciate it. In my opinion a better name would be “Big Black Mosquito”. 🙂

The heart of Brisbane

Brisbane City South Bank

The Queen Street Mall is certainly the heart of Brisbane, no traffic, lots of shops & restaurants.

Relax in the Mall

b1206537-a901-4ffe-9cb4-970e4613930e

A great “people watching” place where you can enjoy dinner & a glass of wine.

Lots of colour, lots of shops

Brisbane City South Bank

Day or night the mall is a hive of activity.

Eagle Street pier

Brisbane City South Bank

Eagle Street is Brisbane’s business hub, jump on a City Cat and cruise along the river past many of the cities landmarks.

Huge towers beside Eagle Street wharf.

Brisbane City South Bank

Lots of offices and lots of good bars & restaurants to capture the workers for lunch and dinner.

Brisbane City South Bank

Brisbane City South Bank

Cruise past the wheel on your way to lunch at The Regatta Hotel, you won’t be disappointed. 🙂

The Regatta Hotel

Brisbane City South Bank

The perfect spot for lunch or dinner, great steaks and good service. Check out my photo blog here.

Regatta Hotel

Brisbane City South Bank

Thanks for visiting my Brisbane City South Bank photo blog, this city has improved out of sight in the last 20 years.

Here are some other Brisbane photo blogs to check out.

City Cat cruise                        Hotels                               Restaurants    

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

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

 
  Please check out these fabulous posts
       Gold Coast                              Pattaya                          Cinque Terre
bd96516a-84df-4ca0-86e6-c757cc9053d1          01a75360-9573-473f-acba-3a187f779b7f          e18b6c87-5adc-4a80-92cf-6c643ad130c1
 
Rio de Janeiro                  Singapore                    Eastern Europe
f044491e-69aa-4082-b49b-1ff33557d7d4          60e7d26d-1039-4dde-863d-62b66656ccbf          1bea4a99-cb07-4161-83ba-75c0ef2b63cc
    Bangkok Bars                         Tokyo                      Cape Town Safari
d0c59ff5-7f2b-41b5-9312-4556d4a62037          f5e9441a-4154-44e0-a362-18b662d40b48          2a2b79ea-bc5f-46e3-8448-2e71658eff14 
               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          b1c99886-3940-4dda-b350-44c5e5c77e41
 
 That’s all folks

1g Duck

 

 

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.

Check out these great photo blogs.

Counter only started June 16 2020.

This gallery contains 2 photos

Jomtien Beach Pattaya south

April 9, 2016 by David Herd

Fishing boats on Jomtiem beach

Jomtien Beach Pattaya south

Jomtien Beach Pattaya south

Jomtien Beach Pattaya south in my mind used to be Pattaya’s poor cousin, well times have changed. There are many people who prefer to live in this quieter area on the Thai coast rather than busy gridlocked Pattaya beach. The beach stretches for miles & miles and the water is much cleaner than Pattaya bay.

Relax in the shade

Jomtien Beach Pattaya south

Sabai sabai means relax in Thai, one of about 10 words I know the meaning of. I have only been living in Thailand five years so that equates to 2 words a year, hmm I guess I’m a little slow. 🙂

Building boom

Jomtien Beach Pattaya south

The first couple of photos may have given the impression of a sleepy backwater, well nothing could be further from the truth, High rise condos and hotels are exploding on the skyline. This monster has the unfortunate name of Cetus which always reminds me of part of the female anatomy.

 Jomtiensaineung Road

Jomtien Beach Pattaya south

 Chom Tian is the name you will often see on road signs, located 165 km south-east of Bangkok and a few minutes south of Pattaya.

Magic sunset at Jomtien

Jomtien Beach Pattaya south

A great time of the day to swim or just enjoy a cocktail by the beach.

https://www.facebook.com/jomtienplazacondotel/videos/2084677088444742/?t=0

Lots of restaurants

Jomtien Beach Pattaya south

The beach is about 6 kms long and there are many restaurants opposite where you can enjoy the sunset and the sea breeze.

Indian, Italian, French and many others.

Jomtien Beach Pattaya south

So many restaurants and so little time.

Natan’s is my favourite

Jomtien Beach Pattaya south

Put Naten’s on your bucket list, it is in my top 6 restaurants in Pattaya and Jomtien. The food and décor is exceptional and rather inexpensive

Drifters Beach Cafe

Jomtien Beach Pattaya south

A little further south overlooking the beach is a nice little cafe bar where you can enjoy a cocktail or a pizza while watching the beautiful sunset.

Location

Jomtien Beach Pattaya south

You really need a car to get to Drifters cafe.

Thailand’s ugly overhead power lines

Jomtien Beach Pattaya south

A common sight in Thailand, the next photo highlights the highly trained workmen.

Master electrician at work

Jomtien Beach Pattaya south

Workplace health & safety is not a high priority in Thailand, however there is a guy holding the ladder  ?

Miles of sandy beach

Jomtien Beach Pattaya south

No problem finding a place to sit at Jomtien. 🙂

Restoring the beach, July 2021

 Jomtien Beach Pattaya south        Jomtien Beach Pattaya south

Certainly a worthwhile excercise.

Jomtien Pattaya south

Jomtien Beach Pattaya south

Thanks for visiting my Jomtien Pattaya south photo blog, lots more to see just follow the links below.

                           Here are some more posts to check out      

 

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

 

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

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

 Soi Cowboy                  Nana Plaza                    Patpong

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

 
  Please check out these fabulous posts
       Gold Coast                              Pattaya                          Cinque Terre
bd96516a-84df-4ca0-86e6-c757cc9053d1          01a75360-9573-473f-acba-3a187f779b7f          e18b6c87-5adc-4a80-92cf-6c643ad130c1
 
Rio de Janeiro                  Singapore                    Eastern Europe
f044491e-69aa-4082-b49b-1ff33557d7d4          60e7d26d-1039-4dde-863d-62b66656ccbf          1bea4a99-cb07-4161-83ba-75c0ef2b63cc
    Bangkok Bars                         Tokyo                      Cape Town Safari
d0c59ff5-7f2b-41b5-9312-4556d4a62037          f5e9441a-4154-44e0-a362-18b662d40b48          2a2b79ea-bc5f-46e3-8448-2e71658eff14 
               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          b1c99886-3940-4dda-b350-44c5e5c77e41
 
 That’s all folks

1g Duck

 
9a1fec74-4461-46cd-8663-97f5893c8f6e (1)

Pattaya live webcam

Click bottom right hand corner for full screen.

Counter only started June 16 2020.

This gallery contains 2 photos

Victor Harbor South Australia

November 19, 2015 by David Herd

Built in 1866

Victor Harbor South Australia

Victor Harbor South Australia

Victor Harbor South Australia is a city on the coast of the Fleurieu Peninsula, about 80 km south of Adelaide. The city is the largest population centre on the peninsula, with an economy based upon agriculture, fisheries and various industries. It is also a highly popular tourist destination, with the city’s population greatly expanded during the summer holidays.

One of the main activities

Victor Harbor South Australia

Let the games begin in Victor Harbor. I’m guessing this may well be the main sporting activity in this South Australian town. 🙂

Victor Harbor South Australia

Victor Harbor South Australia

Some lovely old stone buildings in Victor Harbor.

Victor Harbor South Australia The Anchorage

Victor Harbor South Australia

A rather typical South Australian hotel.

Victor Harbor South Australia

 

Victor Harbor South Australia

Quite a pleasant 80 kilometer drive south of Adelaide.

Norfolk Pines

Victor Harbor South Australia

All around this part of the coast from here to Adelaide you will find Norfolk pines.

Aldinga Beach

Victor Harbor South Australia

On my way to Victor Harbor I drove along the coast to Cape Jervis via Aldinger Beach.

Roadside cafe & hotel

Victor Harbor South Australia

Stopped here for coffee about an hour south of Adelaide. I certainly would recommend a road trip around this coastal area.

Cape Jervis

Victor Harbor South Australia

These are the only shops in this desolate South Australian town, why anybody would live here is beyond me.

What a monstosity

Victor Harbor South Australia

Clearly the builder never employed an architect, good luck trying to sell it.

The Kangaroo Island ferry at Cape Jervis

Victor Harbor South Australia

Thinking back I wish I had taken the time to travel to Kangaroo Island. Oh well, perhaps I’ll return one day however I doubt it. One thing I know it’s not a place I would like to be in winter.

Kangaroo Island fires January 2020

Australia burns Xmas 2019Almost half of Kangaroo Island has been scorched as damage assessments continue into the devastating bushfires still burning on the South Australian island.

Smoke on Kangaroo Island

Australia burns Xmas 2019

Overnight, many residents and tourists evacuated to Kingscote where they spent a sleepless night on the town’s oval and close to the jetty. Evacuees and residents have been stranded with many road closures still in place.

 Back to civilization

Victor Harbor South Australia

I enjoyed my short road trip, in 24 hours I will visit Hahndorf on my way to Phillip Island via the Great Ocean Road. Thanks for visiting my Victor Harbor South Australia photo blog.

          Checkout some more of my terrific blogs on the links below.       

     Istanbul                                 Budapest                        London

Fascinating Istanbul Asia Meets Europe     Hungarian Parliament Building (2)       The Walkie Talkie (5)    

          Mostar                           Dubrobnik                            Split

43638e36-5da5-4162-98e3-635e2c149837        IMG_7425    Split Ancient Croatian Coastal city                     

                 Saigon                            Zagreb                          Vung tau

Ho Chi Minh City South Vietnam       Main Square (3)     Vung Tau statue (6)

 
9a1fec74-4461-46cd-8663-97f5893c8f6e (1)

That’s all folks

1g Duck

Check out these great photo blogs.

 

Counter only started June 16 2020.

This gallery contains 2 photos

Myeongdong Seoul South Korea

October 24, 2015 by David Herd

City Skyline Seoul South Korea

Myeongdong Seoul South Korea

Myeongdong Seoul South Korea

Myeongdong Seoul South Korea in September 2015 was my first visit, in the three days I covered a lot of ground & convinced myself to return in the future to see more of the country.

One of 29 bridges in Seoul South Korea

Myeongdong Seoul South Korea

 One of 29 bridges between Incheon International airport and the city.

Myeongdong Seoul South Korea

Myeongdong Seoul South Korea

I stayed at the Savoy Hotel in Myeongdong which is a very lively part of the city and one of Seoul’s main shopping and tourism districts.

Savoy Hotel 

Myeongdong Seoul South Korea

The Savoy is in the heart of the action, right outside the door are shops, restaurants and crowds of people day and night. The room was good and the location perfect, use this link for a very good room rate.

 Love this sign at me room in the Savoy Hotel

Myeongdong Seoul South Korea

I was on the 7th floor so I hope it is a long rope. 🙂

Savoy entrance

Myeongdong Seoul South Korea

The hotel was a little hard to find so make sure you have the right directions.

Lots of hotels here with great room rates.

Kinnor Cafe Myeongdong Seoul South Korea

Myeongdong Seoul South Korea

Not far from my hotel was this delightful cafe with a good breakfast and exceptional coffee. However you must visit Itaewon, one of the best restaurants streets I have ever been to in the wonderful world.

Cafe Kinnor

Myeongdong Seoul South Korea

I quickly became a regular customer here.

Itaewon 

Itaewon Seoul good bars restaurants

The restaurant choices are simply mind boggling at Itaewon.

Choong Ang High School near  Bukchon Hanok Village

Myeongdong Seoul South Korea

A very attractive school building near Bukchon Hanock village.

Paris Baguette cafe

Myeongdong Seoul South Korea

Probably the most expensive sandwich I have ever eaten. Halfway through I broke a front tooth (crown) and for the next 10 days had to endure rather unattractive photos whenever I smiled. 🙂

JD, my terrific taxi driver

Myeongdong Seoul South Korea

I had a stroke of luck finding this friendly interesting taxi driver who spoke perfect English. He was a wealth of information regarding people and places in Seoul. Here are his phone numbers, from outside the country, 82 10 5396 8225 or within Seoul 010 5396 8225. Apart from being so helpful he has wi fi in his taxi, what a find.

Parliament house Seoul

Myeongdong Seoul South Korea

We stopped on the way to the airport to take some photos.

What a monstrosity

Myeongdong Seoul South Korea

This strange looking sculpture is near the airport, I had no idea what it represented when I first saw it. The JD my taxi driver explained it was a ballistic missile pointing at North Korea. He also added many females had quite a different explanation for it. 🙂

Thanks for visiting my Myeongdong Seoul South Korea post

Myeongdong Seoul South Korea

For a hotel in a great location just use this link for a very good room rate.                   

                    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

 

Pattaya live webcam
 
9a1fec74-4461-46cd-8663-97f5893c8f6e (1)

That’s all folks

1g Duck

 

Counter only started June16 2020.

This gallery contains 2 photos

Cape Town City South Africa

April 2, 2014 by David Herd

Long St Cape town City

Cape Town City South Africa

Cape Town City South Africa

Cape Town City is an interesting mix of new & old, Long Street is one of the main streets located in the City Bowl section of Cape Town. It’s famous as a bohemian hang out, the street is lined with many book stores, pubs, & many ethnic restaurants and bars.

Many interesting buildings

Cape Town City South Africa

Unlike my other posts on Cape Town city which are all very positive, I was disappointed in Long Street. I chose a hotel in the city just to be near this Street because of the information I had received when researching my trip. As it turned out I found the restaurants rather ordinary, plus walking down the street alone at night was rather intimidating. I have been alone at night in some of the most dangerous cities in the world so I do know what I’m talking about, Cape Town city at night was certainly a bit edgy.

These guys are here for a reason

Cape Town City South Africa

Many of these public safety guys are all over the Cape Town city, there is obviously a very good reason for their presence.

Here is what how the websites describe Long Street, It’s probably fine if you are a backpacker or with a group of friends, however for anyone else my advice is go to the V & A Waterfront which is totally the opposite to Long Street;

MOTHER CITY PARTY CAPITAL

If you’re looking for fun vibes and an excuse to stay out all night, visit Long Street, party capital of the Mother City.

One of the many great old buildings

Cape Town City South Africa

The old buildings in Cape Town city certainly have character, plus if you are drinking on the first floor verandas you won’t be bothered by the many beggars. The locals call Cape Town city the Mother city.


 

 Grand Daddy Hotel

Cape Town City South Africa

Contrary to what I said before I did have an enjoyable meal at Grand Daddy Hotel.

Cape Town city Grand Daddy Hotel

Cape Town City South Africa

This was a nice meal at a very reasonable price.

To receive my latest posts please follow me on Twitter

Time to leave Long Street

Cape Town City South Africa

I have no idea what this building is, if I ever go back to Cape Town I’ll find out and let you know.  😳

Metlife Centre

Cape Town City South Africa

The Metlife Centre, is a 28 floor, 120 meter tall modernist skyscraper situated close to the Cape Town International Convention Center in the City Bowl area of Cape Town city, South Africa. The spired antenna on the building’s roof is 22 m/72 feet tall and was lifted into place by helicopter just prior to its completion in 1993.

A 30 minute walk

Cape Town City South Africa

From V & A Waterfront to the city is about 30 minutes walking.

 Castle of Good Hope

Cape Town City South Africa

 The Castle of Good Hope is a star fort built in the 17th century in Cape Town city, South Africa. Originally located on the coastline of Table Bay, following land reclamation the fort is now located inland.

Hotel on St Georges

Cape Town City South Africa

A very good value hotel in the city center with very helpful staff. Ask for a double bed, NOT two singles jammed together. Book here for a good price. The real shining lights for me in Cape Town city were V & A Waterfront, the wonderful Table Mountain & the impressive coastline.

                         Here are some more posts to check out 

          Istanbul                                 Budapest                        London

Fascinating Istanbul Asia Meets Europe     Hungarian Parliament Building (2)       The Walkie Talkie (5)    

          Mostar                           Dubrobnik                            Split

43638e36-5da5-4162-98e3-635e2c149837        IMG_7425    Split Ancient Croatian Coastal city                     

                 Saigon                            Zagreb                          Vung tau

Ho Chi Minh City South Vietnam       Main Square (3)     Vung Tau statue (6)

Pattaya live webcam
 
9a1fec74-4461-46cd-8663-97f5893c8f6e (1)

That’s all folks

1g Duck

Many more photos below.

Click here to check out my mini safari 3 hours north of Cape Town.

 

Here is my post on the Italian Alps

 

This gallery contains 2 photos

Loving charismatic Cape Town

April 1, 2014 by David Herd

Cable car to the top

Loving charismatic Cape Town

Loving charismatic Cape Town

Loving charismatic Cape Town & especially one of Cape Town’s most popular tourist attractions with approximately 800,000 people a year using the cableway.  On the 29 December 2004 the cableway passed its 16 millionth visitor.

Loving charismatic Cape Town which lived up to what people had told me to expect, charismatic, colourful & spectacular. The city is dominated by the mystical Table mountain however the coastline & the V & A Waterfront have a huge amount of appeal also.

From the cable car

Loving charismatic Cape Town

It’s a long way down, if you are afraid of heights you may find this ride a little challenging.  😳

Top of the mountain

Loving charismatic Cape Town

Lots of thrill seekers actually climb to the top, I guess it also saves spending money on the cable car.


 

Downtown Cape Town from the mountain

Loving charismatic Cape Town

Cape Town is such a windy city Table Mountain is often closed to tourists.

Signal Hill

Loving charismatic Cape Town

Signal Hill, or Lion’s Rump, is a landmark flat-topped hill located in Cape Town, next to Lion’s Head and Table Mountain. The hill was also known as “The Lion’s Flank”, a term now obsolete.

Hout Bay

Loving charismatic Cape Town

  The sheltered bay of Hout Bay has a white sand beach, a popular attraction for tourists and locals alike. Hout Bay has one of the busiest fishing harbors in the Western Cape with and established tuna, snoek and crayfish industry. The harbor is home to the Hout Bay Yacht Club and several restaurants.  

Coast near Hout Bay

Loving charismatic Cape Town

Certainly the best way to get an appreciation of Cape Town is to ride the on & off bus, there are two routes, the red & the blue line. The blue is more interesting but does not include Table Mountain.

View from the bus

Loving charismatic Cape Town

  Cape Town has a beautiful coast line, one of the beaches however are clogged with seaweed which prevents swimming.  

Waterfront homes

Loving charismatic Cape Town

Some waterfront homes have a height restriction that does not let them build above street level giving unobstructed views from the road.

Green Point Lighthouse

Loving charismatic Cape Town

If you were a Victorian-era sailor home from the sea in Cape Town, the Lighthouse Service beckoned. You learnt your new trade at the Green Point lighthouse, which was built in 1824. This lighthouse was designed and built by a German stone-dresser and architect called Herman Schutte. It was commissioned by the acting governor of the Cape, Sir Rufane Donkin, and building began in 1821. To receive my latest posts please follow me on Twitter   

Camps Bay Cape Town

Loving charismatic Cape Town

Camps Bay is an affluent suburb of Cape Town. In summer it attracts a large number of foreign visitors as well as South Africans looking for a beach holiday, there are lots of trendy restaurants opposite the beach.

Here is where I had lunch in Camps Bay.

Loving charismatic Cape Town

For most of the 1800s Camps Bay was undeveloped. Lord Charles Somerset used the area for hunting and used the Roundhouse as his lodge. Kloof Road was built in 1848 and in 1884 Thomas Bain was commissioned to build a road from Sea Point to Camps Bay using convict labor. The road was completed in 1887 and named Victoria road to honor Queen Victoria’s jubilee in 1888. The road allowed people to cycle out to Camps Bay which had gained popularity as a picnic site. This led to the development, in 1901 of the Camps Bay tramway to bring people out for the day and with it the development of the tidal pools, the Rotunda (now the Bay Hotel) and a pavilion for concerts and shows. In 1913 Camps Bay was incorporated into Cape Town although it was still seen as a recreational area rather than a residential area.

Camps Bay

Loving charismatic Cape Town

The first residents of Camps Bay were the San (Hunter Gatherers) and the Goringqhaique, Khoi pastorates. When Jan van Riebeek established a refreshment station for the VOC (Dutch East India Company), the 12 Apostles were covered in forests with lion, leopard and antelope.

Camps Bay beach

Loving charismatic Cape Town

  Everywhere you look in Cape Town there is a stunning view.   Please click on Google + to help my page ranking.  

Table Mountain from the bus.

Loving charismatic Cape Town

No matter where you go in Cape Town Table Mountain is nearly always in sight, it totally dominates the landscape.

Bus route

Loving charismatic Cape Town

A great way to see the city.

Loving charismatic Cape Town

Loving charismatic Cape Town

Check out my Safari post & the V & A Waterfront for lots more Cape Town information and photos. More photos in this slideshow.  

 
Here are some more posts to check out 

     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

Pattaya live webcam
 
9a1fec74-4461-46cd-8663-97f5893c8f6e (1)

That’s all folks

1g Duck

 

 Click on the photo below to see one of my posts on France.

 

Check out one of my Brazilian posts

 

Tokyo is a fabulous city

 

This gallery contains 4 photos

Great food Waterfront Cape Town

March 30, 2014 by David Herd

Food, food & more food

Great food Waterfront Cape Town

Great food Waterfront Cape Town

Great food Waterfront Cape Town, I had a terrific dinner at OYO restaurant & cocktail bar, the entree pictured above was as good as I have had anywhere in the world. Prawn and avocado tian with sesame wonton crisp’s and a touch of “caviar” for around $9. A dozen Oysters were only $22.

Food & the magic mountain, two things stick in my mind when I think of Cape town,  great food at V & A Waterfront and the magnificent Table Mountain with clouds cascading over the top.

 LIFE DOESN’T GET MUCH BETTER THAN THIS

Great food Waterfront Cape Town

Add a stunning view, excellent decor and very efficient staff to the great food and you have all the ingredients for a very good evening.

I have eaten oysters all over the world, please check out THIS LINK.

Great food Waterfront Cape Town & wonderful smiling faces

Great food Waterfront Cape Town

Two of the friendly staff at OYO, how about those terrific smiles?


Den Anker, Belgium restaurant & Bar

Great food Waterfront Cape Town

Great statue on the bar at Den Anker, they import their beers from top Belgian producers to ensure that locals have the opportunity to taste the best Belgium has to offer. Here is their description of what they serve; “We have 6 amazing beers on tap as well as some really exciting bottle brands.Liefmans Cuvee Brut is a firm favorite and if you are feeling a little adventurous you may like to try a Duvel Tripel Hop. We serve Trappist beers, Orval, Westmalle and Chimay for the real traditionalists. Beer drinkers wanting to sample Kwak beer should check the state of their socks. The draught beer is served in so special (and expensive) a glass that we demand one of your shoes as a deposit. It’s kept in a basket at the bar till you’ve returned our glass.”

Great food Waterfront Cape Town at Den Anker

Great food Waterfront Cape Town

Den Anker also serves great food V & A Waterfront.

Den Anker overlooks the water

Great food Waterfront Cape Town

The whole V & A Waterfront offers so many choices of restaurants and bars with wonderful views, great food and reasonable prices.

Table Mountain from V & A Waterfront.

Great food Waterfront Cape Town

Table Mountain, one of the greatest sights in the world. I spent hours watching the clouds cascade over the edge while sipping Belgium beer at Den Anker bar & restaurant.

A breathtaking view at Great food Waterfront Cape Town

Great food Waterfront Cape Town

It is mystical and magical, you can watch it for hours.

Belgium beer at Den Anker

Great food Waterfront Cape Town

After spending time in Brussels & now Cape Town I have decided Belgium beer may be the best in the world.

Please click on Google + to help my page ranking.

 

Awesome view from Great food Waterfront Cape Town

Great food Waterfront Cape Town

There is a great view in every direction, I spent hours captivated. I felt so lucky have the beautiful blue sky to enhance my photographs.

Great food Waterfront Cape Town

Great food Waterfront Cape Town

The Victoria & Alfred Waterfront in the historic heart of Cape Town’s working harbour is South Africa’s most-visited destination, having the highest rate of foreign tourists of any attraction in the country, Situated between Robben Island and Table Mountain and set against a backdrop of sea and mountain views, it offers a variety of shopping and entertainment options to visitors, intermingled with office locations.

Nice colonial building on the waterfront.

Great food Waterfront Cape Town

Next time I visit I’ll choose a hotel near the V & A.

Victoria & Alfred Waterfront

Great food Waterfront Cape Town

Prince Alfred, second son of Queen Victoria, began construction of the harbor in 1860. The first basin was named after himself, the second after his mother, hence the name. The Victoria & Alfred Waterfront development is a renewal project that incorporates much of the historic harbor infrastructure. The whole complex is managed by a private company owned by Transnet. An international consortium of Dubai World and London & Regional Properties acquired the development in 2006 at a record value in South African terms of 7.4 billion rand.

Hildebrand restaurant

Great food Waterfront Cape Town

I had an excellent dinner including 2 dozen oysters at the Hildebrand restaurant. So many places here serve great food V & A Waterfront.

You gotta love Belgium beer

Great food Waterfront Cape Town

 This is one of the two best restaurant precincts I have ever visited, the other one is in Seoul in Korea.

Many Thanks

Great food Waterfront Cape Town

Thanks for visiting my Great food Waterfront Cape Town photo blog. 

To receive my latest posts please follow me on Twitter 

Check out my mini Safari trip 3 hours north east of Capetown.

Video of Table Mountain

Table mountain from Capetown's V A Waterfront

 

 

                   

 
 Here are some more posts to check out

         

   Gold Coast                              Pattaya                          Cinque Terre
bd96516a-84df-4ca0-86e6-c757cc9053d1          01a75360-9573-473f-acba-3a187f779b7f          e18b6c87-5adc-4a80-92cf-6c643ad130c1
 
Rio de Janeiro                  Singapore                    Eastern Europe
f044491e-69aa-4082-b49b-1ff33557d7d4          60e7d26d-1039-4dde-863d-62b66656ccbf          1bea4a99-cb07-4161-83ba-75c0ef2b63cc
    Bangkok Bars                         Tokyo                      Cape Town Safari
d0c59ff5-7f2b-41b5-9312-4556d4a62037          f5e9441a-4154-44e0-a362-18b662d40b48          2a2b79ea-bc5f-46e3-8448-2e71658eff14 
               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          b1c99886-3940-4dda-b350-44c5e5c77e41
 That’s all folks

1g Duck

Pattaya live webcam
9a1fec74-4461-46cd-8663-97f5893c8f6e (1)

 

Check out some of the crazy things I see every day at my home in Thailand

 

 

Before I arrived in Cape Town I was in Brussels

 

Here is my post on the Italian Alps

 

Check out these great photo blogs.

World is my oyster

Tokyo fabulous food

Upmarket Chinese Food Sydney

Food review Pattaya Thailand

Good English restaurants

Amazing World Food 

Fresh seafood Bangkok

Steakhouse New York

Pattaya live webcam

Counter only started June 16 2020.

This gallery contains 3 photos