Please note, this is not part of my Travel Blog. It’s part of my personal history.
Tyrrel’s Hunter Valley
Sydney Melbourne Hunter Valley
Sydney Melbourne Hunter Valley in 1996 started on the Gold Coast where I was living life to the max. The highlight was a great road trip in my Porsche 928 with good friend Ross Kennedy to the Hunter Valley, Sydney, Falls Creek & Melbourne. Also caught up with an old friend from the Gold Coast Jill McCrossan, one very sexy lady.
Talking about sexy ladies
Well Emily certainly was in that category.
Please note, this is not part of my Travel Blog. It’s part of my personal history, check it out if you wish, also note this post contains nudity, so if you are bothered by naked humans please leave now.
Drinks at Saks
Drinks at Saks before going to the Ray White ball at the Sheraton Mirage. From the left we have a girl whose name I forget, then Phil (Swifty) Gregory, Claudia Scrupin, Duncan McGuiness, Emily and yours truly David Herd.
Little did they realise at the time but Swifty and Emily would marry and have a couple of kids.
Great photo, if I say so myself. 🙂
Such a beautiful big smile.
Saks was our main haunt
Saks was a great bar at Main Beach owned by Duncan McGuiness and Steve Solomon. Their main business was building upmarket housing estates. A couple of very nice guys who sadly went broke around 2011 and their company Solmac went into liquidation.
Saks with Eugene and Debbie. This was a memorable night at Saks, I watched as Plugger Lockhart kicked a famous point to put the Swans into the Grand Final.
One of the hottest babes in 1996
I met Donna Turnerin Sydney when she was 18 yo, even after various husbands and 3 or 4 children she still looks as hot as ever, especially in my kitchen. 🙂
Hot Hot Hot in Sydney Melbourne Hunter Valley
It is now 20 years later in 2016 and Donna is still a hot chick.
My favourite song from 1996
The technicolour team
Duncan McGuiness, Jim Bell, Ross Kennedy and David Herd.
At the polo
These two gorgeous babes were known as Lushy and Mushy, can’t remember their real names. 🙂
Ami and Alan Pearson.
Alan was a friend of mine when I lived in Adelaide in the 70s, he now earns his living as a musician in Airlie Beach.
Mami & Mariko
Two gorgeous Japanese girls who often called into my home in Upton St for drinks and fun.
I did mention fun didn’t I? 🙂 🙂 🙂
Everybody loves Tim Tams.
Billy James & Allison Schroeder
Billy was a well known Gold Coast real estate identity and Allison one of the sexiest chicks in town.
Allison 18 yo in in 1987
I was lucky enough to take Allison out a few times in 1987 my first year living on the Gold Coast. Although I was about 25 years older than her I used the “tried & true” technique, I promised her the world and bought her an atlas. 🙂
Visiting Tim in Sydney
Ross Kennedy and I took a road trip in my Porsche to Falls Creek for some skiing, stopping on the way at the Hunter Valley & Sydney. I knew about Rossco’s fascination with gangsters and the underworld so naturally I took him to meet Big Tim Bristow at his home in Newport.
Tim’s beast
We were there an hour or two listening to some of Tim’s stories most of which I had heard before many times. As usual Tim’s phone never stopped ringing, but there was one call Ross & I will never forget. Roger Rogerson was in many ways more notorious than Tim, he was known for being a ruthless crooked cop who shot first and asked questions later, the most famous case being where he shot and killed Warren Lanfranchi in a back alley in Chippendale.
Oaks Hotel with old friends
Derek Pugh, Ian Rich& Paul Slaughter, Pauls sister on the left and his girlfriend Clode on the right.
Falls creek, let the games begin.
We had a terrific few days, drinking too much and having some of the most spectacular falls ever seen at Fall’s Creek. Little did I realise after this 1996 adventure I would never ski again.
Melbourne
Drinks with Rossco’s friends in South Yarra, from the left Ross Kennedy aka “Shoeless Joe Jackson, David Herd aka “The Cincinnati Kid”, Craig Belcher and Johnny Mac.
Yum Cha in Chinatown
This gorgeous girl Jaqui O’Brien actually lived in my house for a few months in 1987, she then worked with me for a short time in 1998. A lovely lady until she had one drink too many, she then turned into a nightmare. Rossco came up with a classic name for her, “Jacqui Petrol”. 🙂
Rossco & DH
The high rollers have hit town. 🙂
On the subject of gorgeous girls
Meet Jill McCrossan, another super hot chick I was lucky enough to be involved with.
Felling no pain
I’m too sexy for my shirt. 🙂
A day at the beach in Coffs Harbour
We had a great couple of days at Tony Murphy’sapartment, the spa was excellent. 🙂
Both sides look great
A great view from every direction.
Meanwhile back on the Gold Coast
Natalina from the coast and Rodney Rosenfeld from Melbourne.
John Sinclair & John Cece
Both these guys moved from Adelaide to the Gold Coast, they were good friends and now mortal enemies. 🙂
Great fun in Manila
Here I am with Simone and Doug Ritchie in some club in Makati. 🙂
Pascal, Junko and Rene
Pascal was gorgeous girl, 1/2 French & 1/2 Vietnamese, Junko is the Japanese wife of my good friend Phil Thomson and Rene was a rather sexy Australian girl. 🙂
And the beat goes on
This is a rather significant photo, on the left is Larry Krausz, a good friend to all of us. It’s now 2017 and he is fighting a huge battle in Robina hospital on the Gold Coast. Larry suffered a major stroke on October 28th in Pattaya where he had been living large for almost a year. Our best wishes are with Larry, hopefully he will recover enough to lead a comfortable life.
Maybe one more look at Donna
Certainly one of the sexiest ladies ever to decorate my kitchen. 🙂
One more shot of lovely Emily
As you can see Emily was a total knockout.
New Years Eve at Mustang Sally’s.
One of my regular Main Beach haunts.
Farewell folks
Thanks for visiting my Sydney Melbourne Hunter Valley photo blog.
This is not a travel blog just a personal photo collection from 2000.
Bangkok Samui sexy babes
Bangkok Samui sexy babes in the year 2000. I spent New Years Eve two years in a row, 1999 in Samui for the millennium & in Pattaya NYE 2000. The millennium was special for me due to a brief romance with the Italian princess pictured above. He name in Barbara Manelli and she was hot, hot, hot. 🙂
This it not part of my travel blog, just part of my personal photo & travel history from 2000.
Thailand New Years Eve
Thailand New Years Eve This is how Chaweng beach looked early New Years Eve 1999, in fact my friends and I had dinner right there on the beach. The photo quality is terrible due to the early days of digital cameras.
New Years Eve 1999
It was a terrific night on the beach even though my whirlwind romance with Barbara aka Gypsy was over by then.
Barbara Manelli aka Gypsy.
Oh my! She was one of the sexiest most gorgeous ladies I have ever had the pleasure to be with. The affair didn’t last much more than a week but the memories will stay with me forever.
Be patient we will move on shortly. 🙂
The romance was short but sweet. 🙂
Even now in 2015 I still occasionally think of her with affection.
I stayed at the Relax Bungalows a few times and found them very comfortable on a quiet section of the beach. Still very cheap if you book through Agoda, between $50 and $60 per night.
Dr Evil and his two favourite ladies, Jane & Gypsy. In fact Jane was with me in Koh Samui in August 1999 when I first met Barbara.
My special three pack.
This is a special photo, only 6 or 7 times in my life have I been able to get 3 girlfriends in the one photo, priceless.
Bangkok Koh Samui sexy babes
So many girls and such little time.
One girl and two boys.
That’s Thailand for you, sometimes things can be very confusing. Of course one of the boys is Pothole aka John Martin, and he doesn’t care which one he winds up with. 🙂
Girls from Soi 33 Santana Bar
Soi 33 was one of the best areas for bars and restaurants.
John Sinclair loves Bangkok
My friend John in a familiar pose.
Bangkok girl called Dow.
What a gorgeous face.
Another Bangkok girl who’s name I forget
I do remember however that she was a very sweet lady.
Great shape in Bangkok
I am fairly sure she hits the gym. 🙂
Cold beers in Pattaya
Tony Murphy, Michael Dowd, John Sinclair, Rush and David Herd.
One final look at Gypsy
Barbara will always be one of the most exciting ladies I have ever known’ Many thanks for visiting my Bangkok Samui sexy babes photo blog.
This it not part of my travel blog, just my personal photo & travel history from 2002.
Two Thailand trips
Two Thailand trips in 2002, by my standards it was a very quiet year for travel. Shanghai & Beijing however gave me a great introduction to China. Digital cameras were in their early stages so the photo quality is very average indeed.
The photo above shows the team in Bangkok celebrating John Sinclair turning 60. From the left is John Martin aka Pothole, Michael Dowd, John Sinclair, Apple Pie, David Herd and Tony Murphy.
Happy birthday John
Birthdays seem to roll around so fast the older you get.
Christy’s in Soi 33 Bangkok
Soi 33 Sukhumvit in Bangkok.
Here was my choice.
That is a super smile.
This really needs no caption.
You gotta love Thailand.
Hit the road Jack
John Sinclair and Bruce Donnachie outside the Office in Soi 33, it is a terrific sports bar with lots of TVs and good looking staff.
Phung, aka Cleopatra
My favourite Nana Plaza girl, we met last year in 2001 and hooked up with each other for quite a few years until about 2009. I believe she found a sponsor and is living in Europe now.
The Bus Stop in Soi 4 Nana
Mike Dowd, David Herd, Pothole Martin and John Sinclair. Once again I’m so disappointed with the photo quality, early days of digital cameras. This was actually AFL grand final day 2002 when Brisbane Lions beat Collingwood.
The Office in Soi 33.
Even now in 2015 the Office sports bar in Soi 33 is still open.
Pothole Bin Ladin and Apple Pie.
Our regular village idiot with his new girl. When things became serious we were not allowed to call her Apple anymore, Champen was her name. 🙂 I really have to relay this funny story, Pothole took Apple to Australia a couple of times and they planned to marry. At that time in 2003 little did he realize she was actively managing 4 or 5 other suitors from Europe and America. He only discovered the truth much later after cracking into her Hotmail account.
Anyhow Pothole actually used some common sense (most unusual for him) and presented Apple with a pre nuptial agreement for her signature. Her assets were about $16,000 worth of jewellery that he had given her, his were way in excess of $1,000,000. This all happened on a Thursday night, then Friday he came home early from work to discover her jewellery laid out on the bed alongside a suicide note. I think I already mentioned that he was known as the village idiot, and in keeping with this image he raced up to North Sydney police station distraught and weeping, and pleaded with the local cops to help him find her. They came to his apartment, took photographs and asked many questions.
He called me during the day totally distressed and I gave him the following advice, I said “pack all her clothes etc in her suitcase, leave it outside the door and get your locks changed. Naturally my advice didn’t go down all that well. Much later that evening who should turn up all bright and bubbly, you guessed it, Apple Pie, aka Champen. 🙂 He of course forgave her and took her back, even after finding out she was in fact having a long lunch (and who knows what else?) with a friend of his.
Two things about Apple however, she was the best Thai cook I have ever seen, secondly she finally moved to England, married an ex cop and had a lovely daughter. The husband was awarded an MBE or similar around 2013 and Apple rolled up at the Palace with him when he received his award. Not a bad ending for a chick from Nana Plaza. 🙂
As I said previously, Pothole is known by many as “the village idiot”, but he is our village idiot and he has provided us with a huge amount of entertainment over the years. His final piece of stupidity in the above “Apple Pie” saga was showing her my texts and relaying the advice I gave him to her, consequently I had abusive phone calls from Apple indicating I was the villain in the whole fiasco. That’s our Pothole for you. 🙂
Master chef 2003
This girl could really cook Thai food. What a difference in photo quality in just one year.
From 2003
Sue on the right was one of my girlfriends from Shanghai, I took her to Sydney for a weekend. The other girl is Apple.
Bee from Bangkok on her 21st birthday.
Another funny story, I was drinking in the Big Dog bar in Nana plaza when this gorgeous little girl rolled up about 8pm to the hamburger stand in her pyjamas and slippers. She looked so cute I went and spoke to her, well to cut a long story short the next night we got together for her 21st birthday, you gotta love Thailand.
You saw Bee, well here is Beer. 🙂
Beer was a dancer at Rainbow 3 in Nana Plazaand a girl with a terrific personality.
Na was one of my favourite girls.
Another funny story, as you can see I met Na in a beauty salon in Soi 22 when she was giving me a pedicure. For a couple of years every time I came to Bangkok we would get together. Mostly she would arrive at my hotel around midnight after she finished work.
Lovely Na
Things were fine for a long time until one day she said to me “I can’t see you any more David”. I was very surprised and asked her “why not, have you found another boyfriend”? She said “no, I have found a girlfriend”. Looking back I guess this was a “George Costanza” moment, I had driven a girl to lesbianism. 🙂
John settles Murphy’s debt
Luk closed her shop for 10 days to look after one of our friends. When he left to go back to Australia he completely forgot to leave her any money (on purpose I might add). John Sinclair being the gentleman he is made sure she had enough to cover her expenses.
The result
Luk is a lot happier now.
Two Thailand trips 2006.
As I am so disappointed in the photo quality I have jumped forward to 2006 to show better shots of my favourite Bangkok girl Cleo.
Thanks for visiting my Two Thailand trips photo blog.
Three Fabulous Thailand trips 2003, in fact the whole year was frantic, not sure how I survived, it was one of the busiest & best years for travel that I have ever experienced. I went toVietnam twice in January & April, Thailand in April & July, then around the world in November starting in Chile, then on to Rio De Janeiroin Brazil, Barcelona & Bangkok on the way home to Australia.
Low tide at Pattaya beach
The skyline has changed a lot since 2003, now in 2015 there is a building boom in condominiums and hotels.
Golf at Phoenix with John and Andy
Andy got tied up with a Thai girl who relieved him of his one million GBP inheritance.
Marta was quite a wild Russian girl, I chatted to her on Walking St and invited her to join us at Cosy Beach. We had a great day culminating in an even better night. 🙂
The rear view
Here is Marta again at my hotel, the Sunshine Vista in Soi 3. There are more photos in the slide show at the end, I can’t show them in this part of the post as Photobucket censor any bare boobs. 🙂
John Martin aka Pothole at the Sunshine Vista
Certainly one of the craziest people I know. He moved to Pattaya a year or two after this, grabbed a girl off the pole and produced two children with her.
John Sinclair, Sinclair Waters (RIP) and Bob Dark.
Sinclair is famous for adding people to his “black list”, after a couple years of being in favor in 2016 he put me back on it. 🙂
We are just a bunch of naughty little boys. 🙂
Thai music on Beach Rd Pattaya
Traditional Thai music.
Here are some gorgeous Thai girls from 2003
How sweet they were. 🙂
Oysters
At the Lobster Pot in Walking Street, there are many seafood restaurants where you overlook the bay.
Lunch at Fuji
Here is a typical Thai story, I invited Ja in the yellow to lunch, she worked in the phone section of Big C. However unbeknownst to me she then invited 4 of her friends to come and enjoy a free lunch at my expense. 🙂 This is quite normal in Thailand and it’s not the first, and won’t be the last time I have been caught.
Soi 4 hotel Pattaya
New hotel Soi 4, + North Shore in the background.
Fresh food in Soi 3
Thai people have taken street food to an art form.
Still same price in 12 years later in 2015
Foot massage still same price 12 years later in 2015, however the Thai massage is now 200. I still have 4 or 5 foot massages every week.
Chinatown is a “must see” part of Bangkok, another good look into the past is “Jim Thompson” house. I also love taking a cruise on a long tail boat along the mighty Chao Phraya river. Make sure to stop off at Wat Arun, “The Temple of Dawn”.
Here is an amazing sight in Chinatown.
Fresh fish in Bangkok Thailand
Bangkok babe
Some of the most beautiful babes in the world.
Lovely Jane from Bangkok
This is my friend Jane, we first met in 1999 at Nana Plaza. I took her to Koh Samui for a holiday.
On the left is Nok in 2003, the next photo shows her in January 2011. A couple of years later she quit Pattaya to live in the country with her new baby.
Here is Nok in 2011.
Here is a coincidence for you, I published this post two days ago on April 30 2015, then last night on May 1st I ran into Nok who is back working at the Atlantic. Her theme song should really be “All my life’s a circle”.:)
Harry Chapin - All My Life's a Circle
Mable from Beijing
I met Mable online in a chat room, she was one of my excellent guides when I went to Beijing where she lives. In 2003 I flew her to Thailand to meet me for a holiday. We visited Bangkok, Pattaya and Koh Chang.
Notice how the sand enhances the colour of the towel.
Towel, what towel? I don’t see a towel. 🙂
John Sinclair at Cosy Beach
In 2015 the Navy removed all the food vendors from Cosy Beach, such a shame.
Many thanks for visiting my Three Fabulous Thailand trips photo blog.
Three Fabulous Thailand trips, Citadines in Soi 11
The rooms are compact and nicely laid out including a kitchen if you like to prepare some food. This is now my hotel of choice, plus Soi 11 is a great street for bars and restaurants.
This it not part of my travel blog, just my personal photo & travel history from 2003.
Samui Bangkok Pattaya 2004
Samui Bangkok Pattaya, another three trips in 2004. It was a quieter year for travel after my amazing busy year of travel in 2003.
One of my favourite pastimes
I have to maintain my 110 kilo weight. 🙂
Another favourite pastime.
Her name is Jan and she soon became my favourite Pattaya princess.
Another Cherry Bar princess
A beautiful smile & a very sweet lady.
Aussies out of control
Richard Blair aka Mr Stingy out of control in a Soi 8 beer bar. He only recently discovered Pattaya and was carrying on like most newbies.
Samui Bangkok Pattaya
Another two Aussies, John “Pothole” Martin and Ken Shelly have discovered their nirvana.
Pothole & friend
Here is Pothole with what seems to be an attractive Thai lady that he had just negotiated a short time liaison in his hotel room. Of course she turned out to be a LadyBoy which made absolutely no difference to him, in fact he happily described the whole event in great detail to the rest of us sitting around the pool. My only comment is “too much information”.
Happy street vendor
Thai people have taken street food to an art form, however care should be taken when choosing what to eat.
Gorgeous Thai girl at Sabai Lodge
As they say in the classics, if you have got it, flaunt it. 🙂
The flight to Samui was very tiring for Stingy, on another note Thailand is the only country in the world he is considered a “handsome man. 🙂
“Stingy” Blair and Ken.
It was around this time I gave Richard the nickname Stingy. It came about when he and Ken were on the beach and a Thai lady was reading his palm. She looked at him and said “you are a very wealthy man, but Stingy”. Of course she was spot on, so many times Richard would be drinking with Ken and showing off by buying lots of drinks for the girls behind the bar knowing that Ken would have to pay half the bill, but the girls would think he was the hero. As soon as I heard what the girl on the beach had said I gave him the label “Stingy” which has stuck with him until today in 2015. I also taught Ken to always have separate “bins”, meaning Bills, when drinking with Richard so he couldn’t pull his usual bill splitting stunt.
Koh Samui sunset
Taken at Chaweng beach from my preferred beachside hotel, the Baan Chaweng hotel.
There are a number of reasons I prefer Samui to Phuket, first they restrict building to not exceed the height of the palm trees. Secondly there are not as many noisy Australian tourists which suits me fine. Like most places however progress has not been kind, to me Samui was more enjoyably in the late 90s and early 2000s. Many of the older charming buildings in Chaweng have been replaced by gold shops etc, such is life.
Ken Shelly and a BBQ prawn
I used to see a lot of Ken in these early days, however in the last couple of years when he comes to Thailand he does his best to avoid me, (he is not alone) c’est la vie. 🙂
Nana Plaza Bangkok sex sin sleaze it’s all there. I have been a frequent visitor for 20 years & have seen the LadyBoy population rise from 10% to around 40% today. This does not suit me at all, give me the sexy young girls any day.
Sadly Richard passed away aged 76 on October 15 2022.
Phung aka Cleopatra
My favourite Bangkok girl, we met in 2001 at Nana Plaza and got together every time I was in town until about 2009 when she left the business. It’s now 2015 and I hear she is living with a guy in Europe.
Cleo with the huge smile
Without a doubt one of the most terrific Thai ladies I have ever met.
John Sinclair and Rod Perrin, RIP.
Rod was an ex Sydney cop who retired and moved to Forster on the NSW coast. These days he spends most of his time in Thailand. John was originally from Adelaide and after 3 or 4 failed marriages moved to the Gold Coast. He spent around 10 years there before moving to Thailand around 2002.
Gorgeous Eve likes her pepper hot.
The biggest pepper grinder I have ever seen. Eve has a German sponsor from Airlie Beach, a very odd type of man who regularly travels to Thailand. I am on his black list, then again I am on quite a few blacklists. 🙂
Atlantic Bar Pattaya
Another gorgeous girl in Pattaya.
One more to finish
So many girls & such little time. 🙂
You too can have a body like this if you abuse it.
Thanks for visiting my Samui Bangkok Pattaya photo blog from 2004. I eventually moved to Thailand in 2011 and am enjoying a stress free life in paradise. I do an around the world trip each year, please check out Seven Super Cities trip in 2014 and my Eastern European Odyssey in 2015.
One night Bangkok, never enough, plus one night Bangkok makes a hard man humble, Not much between despair and ecstasy, One night in Bangkok and the tough guys tumble, Can’t be too careful with your company, I can feel the devil walking next to me.
We have all heard the song and some of us have been lucky enough to live the dream. 🙂
The photo above is at Nana Plaza with Greg Clee, John Sinclair and Sean Fenton, all Aussies who love Thailand.
This it not part of my travel blog, just part of my personal history from 2007.
One Night in Bangkok - Murray Head (HQ Audio)
“One night in Bangkok and the world’s your oyster
The bars are temples but their pearls ain’t free
You’ll find a god in every golden cloister
And if you’re lucky, then the god’s a she
I can feel an angel sliding up to me”
One night Bangkok, never enough
Say no more…….
Khaosan Road
“Khaosan” translates as “milled rice”, a reminder that in former times the street was a major Bangkok rice market. In the last 20 years, however, Khaosan Road has developed into a world famous “backpacker ghetto”. It offers cheap accommodation, ranging from “mattress in a box” style hotels to reasonably priced 3-star hotels. In an essay on the backpacker culture of Khaosan Road,
Khaosan Road cafe
There are several pubs and bars where backpackers meet to discuss their travels. The area is internationally known as a centre of dancing, partying, and just prior to the traditional Thai New Year (Songkran festival) of 13-15 April, water splashing that usually turns into a huge water fight. One Thai writer has described Khaosan as “…a short road that has the longest dream in the world”.
What a beautiful face.
A pedicure in Bangkok is an absolute please when done by such a beautiful girl.
The craft is designed to carry passengers on a river & may include a lightweight long canoe hull, up to 30 meters long, and a canopy. There is a great variation among these boats, some have evolved from traditional craft types, while others have a more improvised look, the sole defining characteristic is a second-hand car or truck engine.
Ok, lets go yo Pattaya
Another beautiful face is Dah who was working at the Honey Pot in Soi 2 when I met her last year.
Dah in 2006, 15 kilo lighter
Same pretty face however she was 15 kilo lighter when I met her last year.
This is where I stayed for 7 years each time I would visit Pattaya until I moved to Thailand from Australia in October 2011. A great location with a reasonable price, I preferred room number 311.
Ian Finlay (RIP March 2009) Ooy, Cate and John Sinclair enjoying a good night at the Atlantic bar.
Sean gets engaged.
Sean Fenton and Ann get engaged, it is now 2015 and they are living happily in Townsville with a number of children. On the left is Brad Robbins also from Townsville and on The right Greg Clee who is my neighbour in Pattaya.
Sean’s bucks party
Hamish Elton, Greg Clee and Sean winding up for a huge night.
Attitude
Hello sexy man, where you go?
Tiny girl at the Honey Pot
Rod is a fairly big guy, in fact he used to be a Sydney cop, he towers over the little waitress.
Honey Pot Soi 2
It was my favourite bar for 2 or 3 years, sadly the original Honey Pot is now closed. Typical Pattaya, nothing stays the same for too long.
Honey Pot
One of my favourite Honey Pot girls, I love the sexy glasses, and if you look through the slideshow you will notice one night she was wearing red & white socks, the Sydney Swans colours. 🙂
Sabai Wing Soi 1, 3 swimming pools and nice rooms, 100 meters from BigC, great value at only $23 usd per night as of August 15. I live in the high-rise in the background, Markland. For a great room rate book here.
U Too bar
Moved several years ago to Drinking St 2nd Rd north Pattaya.
Cate, Tammy and I decided to spend a few days in Koh Samui.
One night Bangkok, never enough, thanks for visiting.
Glenn Frey says it better than I can.
When I’m in Bangkok I like to stay in Sukhumvit Soi 11, here is an excellent budget hotel, if you USE THIS LINKyou will get a great rate of around B1100 per night, or $30 USD.
I flew to Adelaide in October then drove to Philip Island along the Great Ocean Road before staying with friends at the winery in Dromana. A couple of days wandering around Melbourne I flew to the Gold Coast for a week to catch up with friends.
This is not part of my travel blog, just lots of photos from 2014 featuring friends, family & trips.
I have to tell you, life is very good in Thailand.
Drinks with Barrie Comfort
A nice Pommie guy who also lives in Markland. I have given him the nickname “Butterfly Dundee”, because he is always photographing butterflies. 🙂
Kayo flew over from Tokyo for a visit.
I have known kayo for around 10 years, we met in Australia when she and I were living on the Gold Coast. I caught up with her in Tokyo in February and she flew to Thailand for a few days in August.
Welcome Inn Soi 3 North Pattaya
One of my favourite places to eat in Pattaya, close to where I live and the food is terrific and very cheap. Sadly it was demolished June 2015.
Greg’s Kitchen
My brother Warren and Lenny Schorsy at Gregs Kitchen. Sadly we lost Lenny in April 2016 to a brief illness, RIP.
Mike Beard the cartoon man.
Mike has lived in Pattaya for 20 years and produces some of my favourite cartoons.
Roland is a very happy Sydney barrister who often visits Thailand for business reasons.
Ooa a gorgeous girl at Drinking St
Sadly this gorgeous babe went back home to the country about a month later.
David Herd Thailand 2014 at Drinking St
A week or two after this photo was taken sadly this beautiful young girl decided to leave Pattaya and go back to her home in the country.
I just ordered a double Jack Daniels.
I leave a bottle or two at the Cherry bar then pour my own at my leisure. The charge s only $10 and the girls provide me with ice & soda. Life is good for David Herd Thailand. 🙂
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.
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.
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.
Three Thailand trips in February April and July. The best was certainly in July when my good friend Phil Thomson arrived with his 21 yo son Michael to introduce him to life in Thailand. Michael’s mother is Japanese and he speaks the language fluently. Being a young good looking guy the girls in the bar made quite a fuss of him.
This post focuses on the July trip with Phil & Michael Thomson.
Michael, Jan & Phil
I think Dad is having more fun than Michael. 🙂
Yes here is proof Michael’s dad is a party animal
Of course Dad had no fun at all. 🙂
Anne and Michael
Anne was so pleased to find some young fresh meat she latched on for a few days.
Nana Plaza and everyone is happy.
We found Muk in “The Office” off Soi 33.
Pizza in Soi 33
Good Italian food here, about 200 meters along Soi 33 on the right.
I met this lovely lady in Soi 33
Her name is Muk and she now works in the country at a 7 11 shop, we sometimes chat on Facebook.
Nana Plaza, game on.
Michael is very happy to be introduced to Nana Plaza.
A rainy night in Soi 33
Nice Ferrari outside the Office.
This cheeky lady is named Ice.
I met Ice a couple of years ago when she was dancing in a club in Nana Plaza, I try to catch up with her each time I come to Thailand.
Herbie and the Thomsons at the Mantra
Herbie Pastor is a very interesting guy from Las Vegas who now lives in Pattaya. He has some terrific stories from his days of owning a casino there as well as a well known New Orleans strip club.
The Honey Pot in Soi 2
This was one of my favorite drinking holes, air conditioned and great music. Sadly now in 2014 along with all the other Soi bars it has closed.
Another reason I liked the Honey Pot.
I rest my case.
While we are on the subject
I can never show too much of Jan, in my eyes she was the most gorgeous Thai girl I knew.
Greg Clee is a partner in a go go bar in Walking St Pattaya, Pothole aka John Martin is I a guy I have know for many years. 🙂 Three Thailand trips in 2009 was a lead up to me moving there from Australia in October 2011.
This is not part of my travel blog just my personal photographic history.
Thailand Brazil England
Thailand Brazil England 2009 are not included in this post, they are trips I made through this year, as well as visiting Sydney in November. Brazil was another great experience which included a fascinating tour through Rocinha Favella. My England trip included Lands End, as well as St Ives & the nice seaside village of Lime Regis.
So althoughThailand Brazil England are not included in this post you can access them by clicking on the above links.
Seaway with Labrador in the background.
If I had the money this is the type of boat I would like to own.
I clearly remember one night Dani trying to climb through a gap at the top of my front gate and getting jammed. Her screams could be heard for miles.
Super high tide at home
A tide like this only happened two or three times a year, always at however.
Phil Thomson and I had the same model Lexus.
Mine was the white one, even though it was only a 1998 model it is best value car $ for $ I have ever owned.
One of my lovely Japanese borders
Tall and beautiful.
Old friend from the 80s.
The shortest lady in the black top is Teresa Hamilton-Smith who was one of my girlfriends in Sydney in 1982, that’s her daughter on the right & on the far left is her sister Lexi Hamilton-Smith. Terry is married to an English guy & now lives in the U.K.
Tony & I have been friends since the early 80s, of course I now live in Thailand but when I visit the Gold Coast Tony & his wife Nikki always find a bed for me in their lovely home.
