bangkok | Hello from the Five Star Vagabond

Two days Bangkok

November 6, 2021 by David Herd

Two days Bangkok

Two days Bangkok seemed like a week because of all the walking I did, over 20,000 steps in 48 hours. By the time I got home to Pattaya I was desperate for a foot & leg massage. 🙂 My hotel was in a graet location, only 50 meters to Chit Lom sky train.

Nice room

Great value at a low cost of B1100 pn, or $45 AUD.

An added bonus

A very nice view from my room. For a terrific room rate just book through THIS LINK.

Chit Lom station

Taken from the Golden House hotel, a terrific location. Only 5 minutes walk to Central Embassy shopping mall.

Looking in the oposite direction

One of the many fantastic Bangkok buildings.

But wait, there is more….

Always someting to look at in this great city.

A shot from Chit Lom BTS.

And always something to photograph. 🙂

My favourite bangkok restaurant

This is one of 3 El Mercado branches, for more photos please follow THIS LINK.

Oysters from France

Here is the main reason I love to dine at El Mercado. Beautiful Fine de Clare No 3 at B886 or $36 AUD, quite a good price for Bangkok, although I get them for $23 at L’Auberge in Pattaya. These were Fine de Clare No 3.

The Fines de Claires Oysters are exclusively produced in the Marennes-Oléron basin in France. They have an elongated shell which makes them easily recognizable.

The Fines de Claires Oysters are less fleshy than normal oysters and have a softer-coloured flesh. The Fines de Claires Oysters are rich in water and have a stronger, slightly sweeter taste thanks to the « affinage” made in ponds connected to seawater during the last weeks of the farming.

JW Marriott on Sukhumvit

For many years I have been enjoying breakfast here.

And here it is

Poached eggs, avocado & crispy bacon.

Late night snack

Only the lonely. 🙂

Golden House location

A great location in Bangkok.

Thanks for visiting my Two days Bangkok photo blog, there is no doubt this is one of the world’s great cities.

Soapy Massage Pattaya Bangkok

Spectacular Bangkok Sky Bars

Fresh seafood Bangkok

Pattaya live webcam

Hawker Chan Hollys Coffee

Le Bordeaux Pattaya Restaurant

Atlantic Bar North Pattaya

Art of desert Pattaya

Breakfast Bake n’ Brew

Food review Pattaya 2020

Counter only started November 6 2021.

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El Mercado Bangkok 2021

November 5, 2021 by David Herd

calle 35-El Mercado-Bangkok-food-oysters

El Mercado Bangkok 2021

El Mercado Bangkok 2021, any time I visit this great city this restaurant is on the top of my list. They now have three branches, but so far I have only been to two of them. This photo blog is on their Calle 35 branch at 15/8 M Tower, Sukhumvit 35 Alley, Khlong Tan Nuea, Watthana, Bangkok 10110. Phone: 02 011 1712

A fairly compact venue

However there is also an upstairs section. They have a home delivery service as well as three branches in Bangkok. Check out their website on THIS LINK.

Quite a stylish unique fitout

All products provided by El Mercado will be delivered as per strict temperature control: – Seafood 2 to 5 degrees . – Dairy 4 to 10 degrees

Bread, pastries & croisants

After you dine make sure you take some of these home for later. 🙂

Here is an outdoor area for the smokers

It would be ok to sit here at night but certainly not at lunch time.

Here is what I always order.

Oysters from France, beautiful Fine de Clare No 3.

B886 or $36 AUD, quite a good price for Bangkok, although I get them for $23 at L’Auberge in Pattaya. These were Fine de Clare No 3.

Lots of wine available

A very important addition. 🙂

Sauces & mustards etc

As well as the wine, make sure to take home some condiments.

El Mercado started with 4 people “doing it all”, 6 tables, 10 cheeses and cold-cuts, a coffee machine and lot’s of ideas, dreams and hopes.

As a concept, El Mercado means “Market” in Spanish and it refers to a place to find a variety of the fresher and finest foods, usually seasonal, at a reasonable prices. Check out their fabulous seafood on THIS LINK.

Thanks for visiting my El Mercado Bangkok 2021 photo blog.

Amazing shopping mall

Chinatown Bangkok

Notorious Nana Plaza

The fabulous Commons

Patpong red light district

Canal cruise long-tail boat

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Mahanakhon Sky Walk Bangkok

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Nana Plaza Bangkok

September 12, 2021 by David Herd

Sex in the city

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.

Was Lollipop, now Suckers

I prefer the name Lollipop but I guess they are now referring to the people who enter the premises.

Here is the name a few months ago

This post is going to show you the old and the new Nana Plaza Bangkok

The more things change the more they stay the same. Can you believe it’s 2018 & Lollipop returns.

Lollipop just refuses to die.

Nana Plaza Bangkok

Nana Plaza Bangkok seems to be forever changing not always for the better. In fact Soi Cowboy is more spectacular and the girls seem friendlier, the downside is that it is more expensive.

December 2014 with friends

I like to stay at the Dynasty Hotel which happens to be only 40 meters from Nana Plaza so it is a very convenient drinking spot for me. In the photo above is Bow, Matt Harkness and Roland Bonnici.

The Plaza comes alive after 9 pm

The later it gets the busier it becomes.

Entrance from Soi 4 to Nana Plaza Bangkok

The plaza does not look too appealing in daylight.

Spellbound

Nana Plaza Bangkok is square-shaped, with a single opening on the west side, and consists of a ground floor and two additional floors. It started as a restaurant area in the late 1970s. During the early 1980s, a few go-go bars appeared and gradually replaced the restaurants.

The composition of the bars has changed over the past few years; the last non-go-go bar, the Woodstock Pub, was sold in 2005 to the Rainbow Group and reopened as “Rainbow 4.” A few bars offer a more pub-like or beer bar format without dancing; as of late-2009 only the Cathouse remained. Three short-time hotels operate on the top floor. Short-time hotels rent out rooms by the hour or more to the NEP patrons to take a bargirl (or kathoey) for commercial sex.

Most bar girls working at bars in Nana Plaza are willing to leave with customers upon payment of a bar fine.

Spellbound is now Bangkok Bunnies

The more things change the more they stay the same. It is a never ending cycle at Nana Plaza, one business goes bust and another steps in. Bangkok Bunnies is one of the largest clubs in the complex. The photo was taken February 20 2016 as was the following YouTube video.

Now in November 2018 there has been a name change.

The more things change the more they stay the same. I first came to Nana Plaza in 1996, & here I am again in October 2018 drinking ice cold Tiger beer & listening to the Eagles sing Hotel California, the perfect song for this incredible venue. “You can check out any time you want but you can never leave.”

Nana Plaza Bangkok at sunset

My favourite Nana plaza girl

Her name in Phung but to me she will always be Cleopatra. I met her at the Plaza in 2001 and for the next 7 or 8 years each time I would visit Bangkok I would look her up. She left the Plaza 3 or 4 years ago and I believe she now lives with a guy in Europe.

Kathoeys or LadyBoys

Most bars in Nana Plaza do not employ kathoeys, but several do so exclusively. As of mid-2013, these venues are Obsession, Voodoo (ground floor), Casanova, Temptations (middle floor), Carnival and Cascades (top floor). With the exception of Voodoo which exclusively employs post-op kathoeys, the staff at the remainder are almost all “pre-operation”, in contrast to the kathoey bars in Patpong. A number of post-op kathoeys can be found at other bars managed by the Crown Group, namely Lollipop,Hollywood Rock, Fantasia, and G-Spot as well as the independently run Erotica.

Here is Cleo in June 2006

Hard to believe 15 years has flashed by.

September 2006

Nana Plaza Bangkok with some Australian friends in 2006, from the left is Tony Murphy, David Herd (me) John Sinclair & Brian Rawnsley.

Sinclair has a black list.

There are quite a few of us on s black lit so I thought I would design a shirt in appreciation.

More friends at Nana in 2008

Good friends Nick & Sharon from the Gold Coast and Rod Perrin from the NSW central coast who lived in Pattaya. RIP

Nana Plaza 1999

Poor quality photos from the early digital cameras.

Nana Plaza 1999

Very different now in December 2015.

Nana Plaza 1997

Nineteen years ago and nothing much has changed.

Gorgeous girls in Nana Plaza 1997

Nana Plaza in my opinion was much better in the 90s.

My gorgeous Jane

I met Jane in Nana Plaza Bangkok in 1999 and I took her to Pattaya and Koh Samui.

Here is beautiful Cleo saying goodbye

I have great memories of time spent with Cleo.

Hooters arrives in Nana

Right opposite Nana Plaza Hooters on December 23rd 2015, it may prove to be a little too expensive for the Soi 4 Nana Cheap Charlie’s.

Hooters Bangkok Nana Plaza

The entrance to Nana Plaza, Hooters and the Hillary bar.

This photo says it all.

Quintessential Nana Plaza. Here is the my history over the last 20 years.

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.

The best Bangkok budget hotel I have ever stayed in.

Check out this link to see the surrounding area.

Well you have now seen the old and the new Nana Plaza Plaza Bangkok, thanks for visiting.

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Fabulous Commons Bangkok

August 18, 2021 by David Herd

Fabulous Commons Bangkok

Fabulous Commons Bangkok located in Thonglor is a wonderful venue for many interesting restaurants. Diners can order their favorite dishes from the various food kiosks to dine at the central communal area before heading upstairs for dessert and shopping.

Meat & Bones

Great name for a restaurant. 🙂 There are two options: the standout eight-hour-roasted beef ribs (B480) and six-hour-roasted pork ribs (B280), both cooked in a smokehouse and slathered with the in-house recipe of rubs and barbecue sauce.

Soul Food

Risky Chicken (B250) wraps up a meal of somtam with fried chicken in a Conkey’s brioche bun, while the Khao Soy Cowboy (B259) sees pulled pork in khao soy curry mixed with sweet potato and mustard pickles.

Live lobster available

Excellent lobster sandwiches here which cost about B900.

The Lobster Lab

With years of experience as one of Thailand’s top seafood importers, The Lobster Lab serves fresh lobster from Maine and a bevy of other high-quality seafood. Grab a roll to go, or enjoy a spread of hearty sharing dishes like lobster mac-and-cheese or a plate of oysters.

Roast

This business had a big hand in kick-starting Bangkok’s brunch craze, it serves all-day dishes like crab cakes with eggs Benedict (B360), corned beef hash (B280), and a sinfully rich strawberry waffle (B260). Other meals are represented on the menu too, such as lunch (burgers) and dinner (steak frites B890, roast chicken B480). Thanks to carefully-sourced beans roasted in house, the coffee here is excellent.

My brother Warren Herd

Studying the excellent menu at Roast.

Excellent pasta

I chose this pasta which was very good indeed.

Kitchen at The Roast

Very clean and efficient.

Barrio Bonito

Established about eight years ago on Koh Chang, Barrio Bonito quickly earned itself Tripadvisor’s no. 1 restaurant spot on the island. Co-owner Mariana Villalobos Torres, a self-taught chef from Mexico City, turns out authentic native dishes on a short menu that rotates daily. Usual offerings include burritos, tacos and queso (cheese fondue) with different fillings and toppings like homemade chorizo, slow-cooked pulled pork, beef and lamb.

The Beer Cap

Unlike its sister venue, Brew, The Beer Cap focuses on niche craft beers, both on tap and by the bottle. When we last visited, there were six beers on tap: BrewDog Punk IPA (B160/260 per pint/half-pint), Holgate (B220), Chainbreaker White IPA (B240), Epic Escape IPA (B220), Epic Mid Mountain mid ale (B220) and Limburgse Witte (B140/240). Bottles are categorized by style (not country of origin like at Brew) and cover brands like Hitachino, La Trappe, Rogue and Chimney.

Communal dining section

This ambitious project works kind of like a food court, only a really, really good one. Diners can order their favorite dishes from the various food kiosks to dine at the central communal area before heading upstairs for dessert and shopping.

Location

Thanks for visiting my Fabulous Commons Bangkok photo blog, if you visit Bangkok make sure you visit the Commons.

Everything you wanted to know about Bangkok but were afraid to ask. 🙂

Amazing shopping mall

Chinatown Bangkok

Notorious Nana Plaza

Patpong red light district

Canal cruise long-tail boat

Spectacular Bangkok Sky Bars

Mahanakhon Sky Walk Bangkok

Jim Thompson Bangkok Museum

Soi Cowboy Bangkok

Pattaya live webcam

Counter only started August 18 2021.

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Bangkok vaccination center

July 14, 2021 by David Herd

Bangkok vaccination center

Bangkok vaccination center located at Bang Sue railway station on the northern side of the city. Three brave Aussie geriatrics hired a taxi & headed north from Pattaya to face what the press was calling total chaos.

Bang Sue Grand Station, which began construction in 2013, is equipped with 24 tracks and is capable of accommodating up to 40 trains at the same time. Sitting very close to the Sirat Expressway, Bang Sue Grand Station covers an enormous 1,280 acres, positioning it to become the largest railway station in all of Southeast Asia.

Surprise surprise

Where is the so called chaos? We were surprised & happy to find a well organised facility with friendly staff on standby to assist everybody. The patients were 98% Thai with the majority quite elderly & wheelcair bound.

This was not a surprise as foreigners,or Farangs as they are known had to be aged over 75 to qualify for the free vaccination. AstraZeneca was their weapon of choice.

The whole process was simple

The most time was taken by the blood pressure testing, for some unknown reason we all tested high time & time again. Daryl was the biggest problem with a reading just under 200, initally I was 170 but after a couple of extra checks & waiting 20 minutes in between I came in around 130.

I’m next in line

I can’t help repeating how friendly & helpful all the staff were, they helped make the whole process stress free. 🙂

Bangkok vaccination center, my turn for the needle 🙂

I hardly felt a thing, who’s a brave boy then? 🙂 🙂 🙂

The happy geriatrics

After the injection you have to wait for 30 minutes to ensure there is no adverse reaction to the vaccine. Glad to say we were all fine & feeling no effects whatsoever. On the left is Ron Sievers who was accompanied by his Thai girlfriend, she was a great help in making sure we had a trouble free experience.

Meet Sirisak

A very good driver with a nice large SUV, took us there, waited 2.5 hours & back to Pattaya for B2000 + tolls.

Health authorities on Wednesday said 87 more Covid-19 fatalities and 9,317 new transmissions around Thailand occurred on Tuesday, bringing the accumulated toll to 2,934 deaths and the number of cases since the start of the pandemic to 363,029.

14 Jul 2021 at 08:33

Thanks for visiting my Bangkok vaccination center photo blog, I hope it may encourage you to get the jab. 🙂

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Foodland low cost breakfast

June 28, 2021 by David Herd

Foodland low cost breakfast

Foodland low cost breakfast is the best value in Pattaya & Bangkok, only B65 or $2.70 AUD. This low price is available everyday between 6.30 & 9.30 am. I’m a regular at the Terminal 21 branch in Pattaya.

Very busy prior to Covid-19.

Now due to Covid customers are way down. Often there are only 6 or 7 other people there beside me.

Modern open kitchen.

One thing is for sure, currently with so few customers the breakfast arrives in record time. 🙂

OK, here it is.

Includes orange juice, toast & jam & tea or coffee.

Scrambled eggs this morning

They were excellent. One thing to remember, right now it’s a little difficult to get to the branch at Terminal 21 before the mall opens due to a new carpark being built. You must enter from the back road.

Next door to the restaurant is a supermarket

I often do my shopping after breakfast, sadly however it’s too early to buy booze but 5 minutes down Pattaya Nua is the wholesale part of Best supermarket. 🙂 See more about this market by following THIS LINK.

An excellent deli

The supermarket has an excellent deli with a hugh selection of cold meats.

Pattaya Klang branch

Located 200 meters north of Big C, sit at the counter if there is a spare seat. 🙂

Bangkok Dim Sum

January 14, 2021 by David Herd

Bangkok Dim Sum

Bangkok Dim Sum is one of my regular lunches when I visit the big mango. Very good quality reasonable price food & a good variety. Here are three of my favourite places around Sukhumvit in Nana, JW Marriott, Landmark Hotel & the Ambassador in Soi 11.

Ambassador Hotel Soi 11

This is where I go most of the time, good quality at a reasonable price & never crowded.

Delicious food at the Ambassador

How good does this look?

Soi 11 Ambassador Hotel

A good low cost place to stay in the heart of the action, for an excellent room discount just use THIS LINK. If you want to see some of the great bars & restaurants in Soi 11 just follow THIS LINK.

Landmark Hotel Sukhumvit

High quality restaurants & food. In the basement there is a terrific bar called the Huntsman, which is designed like an upmarket English pub, please check out THEIR LINK here.

Noodles & wontons & celery at the Landmark

An unusual dish but very good.

Pork Shumai at Landmark

Compulsory with every dim sum meal. 🙂

JW Marriott Hotel Bangkok

Excellent hotel with some very good restaurants.

JW Marriot at Nana

On the corner of Soi 3 & Sukhumvit.

Bangkok Dim Sum, sticky rice at the Marriot

This is a great place to stay if you want some luxury with loads of nightlife at your doorstep, including the infamous Nana Plaza. 🙂 Once again for a very good room discount just book through THIS LINK.

Talking about Nana Plaza

Well here it is, one of the world’s most famous red light districts. Of course right now in January 2021 we are in the middle of the Covid-19 crisis, consequently Nana Plaza is in temporary lockdown.

Breakfast at the Marriott

This is definitely my favourite venue for breakfast when I’m in Bangkok, poached eggs, avocado & crispy bacon, delicious.

Brad Robbins & I at The Ambassador January 2019

Thanks for visiting my Bangkok Dim Sum photo blog.

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Counter only started January 14 2021.

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Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park

October 17, 2020 by David Herd

Great location

Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park has 1,388 rooms and suites & convention and meeting facilities that can cater for over 1,000 people. Situated in Soi 22 & walking distance to BTS Skytrain Station Phrom Phong, Emquartier & the Emporium.

Credit for all the photos must go to the Marriott, the high quality of these shots inspired me to write this photo blog.

The Lobby

As you would expect there is Complimentary Wi Fi in the lobby & all rooms.

ABar Rooftop

I don’t know of any city in the world with more rooftop bars than Bangkok.

Surrounded by a concrete jungle. 🙂

Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park has everything you could wish for in a luxury Bangkok hotel.

Goji Kitchen + Bar

Specializing in Parrilla-grilled meats and ocean-fresh seafood, Goji Kitchen’s expert chefs use only the best ingredients to create memorable dining experiences.

Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park ABar

Being an Australian pensioner sadly the bars & restaurants are a little above my budget.

ABar Seating Area

There are so many choices to sit & enjoy the great views of Bangkok.

ABar Balcony

The balcony looks very nice as well.

Perhaps a game of 8 ball while sipping a cocktail?

The facilities at this magnificent hotel are endless.

The Sky Suite

The penthouse duplex unit is nestled on the 37th and 38th floor of the hotel building, featuring a spacious space of more than 1,002 square meters in total, transforming the top levels of Bangkok’s largest hotel into the guest’s own private residence. Marriott Marquis’ new crown jewel features two luxurious levels of living space, three bedrooms (one master with a super-king bed and two spacious doubles), a huge marble master bathroom, two further en-suite bathrooms, a spacious living room, pantry, and a huge entertainment area complete with a grand piano and a circular dining space with seating for up to 16 guests. The entire suite is wrapped in floor-to-ceiling windows, encompassing spectacular views of Bangkok’s ever-changing skyline. Crowning atop the suite is the outdoor Sky Garden guests could privately unwind with family and friends. Privacy of exclusive guests is also guaranteed with private lift access.

ABar Rooftop

Looks like a good spot to watch the sunset.

Rooms are beautiful

As you would expect. 🙂

You may prefer a suite

For an excellent discount just book through THIS LINK, you will have the option of paying later or a free cancellation.

Sunset cocktails

A perfect way to start the evening. 🙂

Here is Michael Hogan

Michael is a fellow Australian from south east Queensland, he is the execrative chef at the Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park. This photo was taken when he was at the JW Marriot on Sukhumvit at Nana. Here is what they say about him; Executive Chef Michael Hogan is pushing the envelope on local cuisine at Goji Kitchen & Bar! Showcasing stellar products from small, regional farms and turning them into contemporary fares, inspired by Thai staples.

Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park

Thanks for visiting my Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park photo blog, & don’t forget to use THIS LINK for a discounted room rate.

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Longhorn Steakhouse Pattaya

July 8, 2020 by David Herd

Longhorn Steakhouse Pattaya

Longhorn Steakhouse Pattaya is located in the arcade off 2nd road opposite Mike shopping mall. In the same arcade you will find Patrick’s & the Beefeater.

A table or a booth sir?

Plenty of space between the tables. 🙂

Walking Street

This is dated 1960, however it should show 1980, the reason is I actually took the photo on my first visit to Pattaya.

The original photo

That’s my friend Rob Symonds walking towards the camera. We have visited Manila & Hong Kong on the way to Thailand. Follow THIS LINK for more 1980 photos.

July promotion was exceptional value.

B595 or $19 USD.

Lobster Bisque to begin

It tasted as good as it looks. 🙂

Australian Ribeye

At Longhorn Steakhouse Pattaya this Australian Ribeye was extremely tender & tasty.

Guess who was celebrating his birthday?

Guilty as charged. 🙂

Creme Brulee is a favourite of mine.

It was a toss up between this & the Tiramisu. Creme Brulee is a dessert consisting of a rich custard base topped with a texturally contrasting layer of hardened caramelized sugar. It is normally served slightly chilled; the heat from the caramelizing process tends to warm the top of the custard, while leaving the center cool. The custard base is traditionally flavored with vanilla in French cuisine or with cinnamon and lemon in Catalan cuisine, but can have other flavorings. It is sometimes garnished with fruit.

Toast Skagen, one of my all time favorites.

The Beefeater also offers Skagen. Toast Skagen is an appetizer and Swedish food. Consisting of two slices of toast, mayonnaise and many prawns. Sometimes crabs are used instead of shrimp. The name of the dish originated from Skagen in Denmark, but the dish is not very well-known and most popular in Sweden, which was created by the restaurant and chef from Stockholm Tore Wretman. He introduced the Toast Skagen … Wikipedia

Australian Shiraz

Tonight I chose to take my own wine as it was a special occasion, the corkage fee is B300, or $9 USD.

Tiramisu

Very rich, I prefer the Creme Brulee.

Longhorn Steakhouse Pattaya

Thanks for visiting my Longhorn Steakhouse Pattaya photo blog, I highly recommend this excellent restaurant. Don’t forget In the same arcade you will find two other very good restaurants Patrick’s & the Beefeater.

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Counter only started July 8 2020.

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First six months 2020

January 27, 2020 by David Herd

First six months 2020

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

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

Beach Quarter

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

Two new chairs

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

Pothole & one of the Squabblers

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

Fabulous chicken teriyaki skewers.

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

Genki Soi 4 North Pattaya

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

View from my balcony

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

New drains on Beach Road

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

Painting Markland Condo

These guys seem to have no fear. 🙂

Spiderman is here wearing thongs. 🙂

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

Toast Skagen

My favourite entree at the Beefeater restaurant.

Clean up Pattaya Beach

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

Holiday Inn at happy hour

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

Healthy lunch at home

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

Soi 2 North Pattaya

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

Rain at last

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

2nd Road North Pattaya

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

The result of the Coronavirus

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

February 2020

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

Two of our local lads at the Holiday Inn

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

My million dollar view

From my balcony on March 26 2020.

First six months 2020

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

Takeaway only

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

Pattaya beach has never looked so beautiful.

However the thing I miss most are the restaurants.

More drinks at the Holiday Inn

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