Beach Club Pattaya Bay is a fantastic location to enjoy a cocktail or 3 and watch the sunset. You can swim in the ocean or the 2 beautiful swimming pools.
Relax with a cold beer
No doubt this is one of the best locations in Thailand, happy hour is 5 to 7 pm every day and the food is very good.
Tapas for lunch at Beach Club Pattaya Bay
This is a great spot to have lunch, swim and check out the eye candy.
Did I mention the sunsets
We have some wonderful sunsets in Pattaya.
Breathtakingly beautiful
Sunset over the gulf of Siam.
Beach Club Pattaya Bay Seafood Buffet
The seafood feast on Friday and Saturday night was initially priced at 999 Baht but I believe now it has become more expensive.
Do you have a sweet tooth?
A huge variety of beautiful deserts.
My Australian friends
The beach club is on of the first paces I take my friends who are on holiday from Australia.
Muay Thai World Champion
This is Nathan Corbett from Australia’s Gold Coast in Thailand training for his next title fight. He absolutely loved the Beach Club. Nathan has held 11 World Champion titlesin three different weight divisions, not only is he a champion fighter he is a very nice person.
Watching the sun go down while enjoying a cocktail.
Take a look at this photo, you could be anywhere in the world.
Beach Club Pattaya Bay
grab a chair, order a cocktail and take a swim in the pool or the bay.
Private tent
From memory you pay 1000 Baht or $30 usd to hire for the day, however if you spend the same amount on food and drink the tent is free.
Another view of the tents
Tents, what tents? I don’t see any tents. 🙂
Beach Club Pattaya Bay is a beautiful setting
As I said earlier you have the choice of 2 swimming pools of the sandy beach.
Manly Sydney beach-side suburb is one of my favourite places in Australia. Most visitors arrive by ferry from Circular Quay, a 30 minute journey which showcases the best harbour in the world.
A great place for drinks, food and lots of eye candy.
Cold beer beside the harbour
Sunday afternoon is a busy time at the Manly wharf hotel.
Old friend Paul Slaughter
We have enjoyed many Sunday afternoons drinking cold beer and watching the young girls pass by. Both of us fully realise at our age we are totally invisible to them. Ah! I’m so happy to be living in Pattaya. 🙂
Fish & chips at Manly beach
I was showing my friend Sue from Shanghai the delights of manly, so naturally we had to sample the famous fish & chips. 🙂
Sydney Circular Quay Manly Ferry is one of the most famous trips in this great city. I remember a slogan from when I was a child, “7 miles from Sydney & 1000 miles from care”. This was the slogan used by the Port Jackson & Manly Steamship Company in 1940 to describe Manly “Australia’s Premier Seaside Resort”.
Nice small hotel in a good location, for a great room rate just book through THIS LINK.
Docked at Manly wharf.
You can sit here and watch the ships roll in.
Lunch at Manly
Sue & I eating traditional fish & chips at Manly beach, and they said in the 40s, “7 miles from Sydney & 1000 miles from care”. 🙂 Thanks for visiting my Sydney Circular Quay Manly Ferry photo blog.
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.
Spanish Coast Ibiza Madrid was a shock to me when I returned after 36 years since my last visit. I couldn’t believe the number of condominiums along the Costa Brava.
Please forgive the photo quality, my 1.2 mega pixel Canon was my first ancient digital camera.
Ibiza beach
It was the off season in April so the people were few and far between, consequently I thought Ibiza was fairly overrated.
Valencia
This trip was part of an around the world journey starting in Bangkok before moving to Spain then on to Venezuela, Cuba and Los Angeles.
David herd in Valencia
Valencia was founded as a Roman colony in 138 BC. The city is situated on the banks of the Turia, on the east coast of the Iberian Peninsula, fronting the Gulf of Valencia on the Mediterranean Sea. Its historic centre is one of the largest in Spain.
Better shot of the same place.
Found this on my friends Jean-Paul Facebook page.
Benidorm, we hated it. 🙂
I think the average age of the English and German tourists was mid 70s, there were walking frames everywhere. We went to a couple of bars and restaurants that were copies of similar places in Blackpool.
Cold beers in Benidorm
I was travelling with Les who was a friend from the Gold Coast.
El Campella near Alicante
Revisiting this seaside village was full of nostalgia for me. I had great memories from way back in the late 60s when I was travelling around Europe in a VW Kombi with 2 Kiwi guys. Campella was one of our favourite places where we ate Paellas and washed them down with gallons of Sangria. In those days the men would go fishing off the African coast and the women would sit on the beach making and repairing the huge fishing nets. It was a different world then.
This was 1965
This was Rosemary & Mary, two American girls we met in Campella all those years ago. 🙂
Here are the 2 kiwi guys
Keith Wagstaff & Dick, the photo was taker in Konstanz in Switzerland.
Deja vu
So here I am again 36 years later eating Paella and drinking red wine, the more things change the more they stay the same.
La Manga
We stayed one night in La Manga, who knows why? Certainly nothing to write about here.
On to Madrid for a little history
It was nice to leave behind the walking frames and pommies (Englishmen) drinking pints and singing songs from WW2.
Madrid
I really need to visit Madrid again one day.
Palace Hotel
Thanks for visiting my very ordinary post on Spanish Coast Ibiza Madrid with poor quality photos, please have a look at some better efforts in the section below.
Road Trip Nha Trang via Dalat by mini bus with a one night stopover in Dalat. We travelled through some very interesting countryside stopping often for food and drinks.
Riding to school
Young girl wearing the traditional ao dai. The name “ao dai” was originally applied to the outfit worn at the court of the Nguyễn Lords at Huế in the 18th century.
A tip for the boys
I gave these boys a tip which made them very happy indeed.
Another happy face in Vietnam.
So many happy faces in Vietnam.
Beautiful country heading north
Rice terraces from the highway.
Village on the river
A whole town sits on the water.
What more could you want?
Vietnam’s version of waterfront homes.
HCMC Nha Trang Dalat Vietnam
Compare the above and below photo and see if you can spot the difference.
Looks the same doesn’t it?
Of course you picked it, the mother is rocking the baby. 🙂 🙂 🙂
Paddling by foot
That’s a new technique.
Dalat market
Night market in Dalat.
Fresh fish at Dalat
Đà Lạt, the capital of Lâm Đồng Province in southern Vietnam’s Central Highlands, is centred around a lake and golf course, and surrounded by hills, pine forests, lakes and waterfalls. Known as the “City of Eternal Spring” for its distinctive temperate climate, Đà Lạt was developed as a resort by the French in the early 1900s, and many reminders of its colonial heritage remain.
Off to training
The kids are looking good in their karate outfits.
Lovely smile in Dalat
So many smiling faces in this great country.
HCMC Nha Trang
Thanks for visiting myHCMC Nha Trang Dalat Vietnam post, this is really a worthwhile adventure if you want to see life in the countryside, this was 2003, check out some more recent Vietnam posts below.
Ancient Town Vietnam Central Coast is Hoi-An featuring wonderful French colonial buildings including this beautiful Japanese covered bridge which dates back to the 18th century. Probably the most photographed place in Hoi-An.
Crossing the bridge
I’m not sure what the ladies are selling.
For a great hotel rate just book through THIS LINK.
This is my favourite photo.
The culture & heritage is mostly from the Cham people whose kingdom originally stretched from Hue South to Phan Thiet (South of Nha Trang) – the Champa’s most likely originally from Java. The original Cham political capital was Tra Kieu, the commercial capital was Hoi An and the spiritual capital was My Son (Hindu). The Cham people were Hindu, and by the 10th century the influence of Arab traders to Hoi An resulted in some converting to become Muslims.
The second major influence was from the Chinese, firstly from traders but especially the escaping Ming Dynasty armies who after settling in Hoi An for some years moved further south and created Saigon as a major trading port.
Beautiful faces
Hoi An is midway between Hanoi & HCMC, you can fly into Danang then take a taxi south, on the way make sure you visit Marble mountain where you can watch beautiful statues being made and perhaps even order one to be shipped home.
Marble Mountain Vietnam where the statues are hand carved by certified and regulated stone mason artists. These artist begin a lifelong apprenticeship from a very young age and spend their life learning the trade.
Travel Tip. Hoi-An has the reputation as the place to go to have clothes made, I think one of the best strategies is to take some of your favourite items and have them copied at a fraction of the price you would pay at home.
Hoi-An French colonial buildings
One of the many Hoi-An French colonial buildings.
Please click on Google + to help my ranking.
Fu kien restaurant
A typical Hoi-Ann street scene.
Beautiful buildings
There are so many wonderful buildings.
Lanterns
There is a photo opportunity around every corner.
We asked where he was taking the duck?
He said I am taking it home to eat it.
Hoi Ann timber delivery
Firewood for cooking I imagine.
Ancient Town Vietnam Central Coast Hoi Ann market
Morning gossip at the market.
Banana anyone?
It is a hive of activity on the waterfront.
Happy faces
Non la (palm-leaf conical hat) is a traditional symbol of Vietnamese people.
During the war the Americans used the name China Beach to refer to the beautiful 30 km sweep of fine white sand that starts at Monkey Mountain and ends near Hoi An. Soldiers would be sent here for some R&R from bases all over the country.
Pothole shopping for art
Pothole aka John Martin shopping for some genuine reproductions. 🙂
For a great hotel rate just book through THIS LINK.
Hanoi to Bangkok
It was the start of the Sars problem.
Thanks for visiting my Hoi-An French colonial buildings photo blog, one of my favourite places in Vietnam, however the image that sticks in my mind most of all are the beautiful faces of the people and their children in this amazing country. Have a look at some of my other Vietnam posts.
For a great hotel rate in China Beach just book through THIS LINK.
Prague capital Czech Republic, in 1993 I travelled by train through unspoiled mountainous landscape from Berlin to this fascinating eastern European city.
Many historical events occurred there, and it is a traditional setting for demonstrations, celebrations, and other public gatherings. I borrowed this photo from Wikipedia, there was no blue sky when I was there. 🙂
It was very cold
It was February or March and very cold, here I am outside Outside St. Vitus Cathedral.
At the Prague railway station I was approached by a well dressed elderly man asking if I had accommodation. He took me to his home where he and his wife rented a couple of rooms. It was a lucky break for me, the room was comfortable and cheap ($23 aud) with an excellent breakfast. Vaclev was a university professor and told me a lot about the history of Prague. On his day off he kindly gave me a tour of this wonderful city which was extremely kind of him.
Here is where I stayed about 3 stations from the centre of Prague.
Cold night in Prague
Freezing actually. 🙂
Crossing the Charles Bridge
The historic bridge that crosses the Vltava river in Prague, Czech Republic. Its construction started in 1357 under the auspices of King Charles IV, and finished in the beginning of the 15th century.
Lunch with Oliver
Oliver is a good friend of Andre Buzek (the crazy dentist) who was also from Prague. We spent some time together drinking beer and discussing Andre’s crazy antics. 🙂
Here’s cheers Oliver, nice to meet you.
Sadly our friend Andre lost his life in a car accident in Cub a, RIP.
Prague capital Czech Republic
Prague 1993 and McDonald’s had already arrived.
A lasting memory
It was quite late one evening and I was the only one in the Old Town square. Suddenly I was hearing trumpets playing in the deserted snow covered square in the heart of Prague. It was a fantastic mystical moment I will never forget. I borrowed the above photo from Wikipedia.
In the fourteenth century the city built around the Prague Castle expanded to the right bank. The history of the square goes back even further: as early as in 1091 a market existed at the site of the Old Town Square.
I hope to visit again one day.
My apologies for the quality of the photos, they will certainly improve on my next visit.
Brazil Italy Thailand Adventure 2006, once again my journey began with a flight from the Gold Coastto Sydney in October 2006, before arriving in Rio de Janeiro.
A friend in Sydney hosted a dinner at his hotel with several friends, great food and 2 very sexy waitresses.
This it not part of my travel blog, just part of my personal photo & travel history from 2006. Mainly revolving around the many people who helped make it another memorable year.
Freeway Hotel Crayfish
Crayfish? I can’t see any Crayfish. 🙂
Peter plays it cool
The following day I missed my Qantas flight to Rio through a mix up with the airline. I had to purchase another ticket, luckily a couple of months later Qantas reimbursed my original ticket.
A terrific night
GREAT FOOD, GOOD WINE & HOT BABES, WHAT MORE COULD YOU WANT?
Copacabana Beach Rio de Janeiro, say no more.
These two look like they mean business.
Alan Austin and his wife Renata
Alan & I met in Rio and became very good friends, unfortunately the following year he ran into some problems with the English authorities and I now visit him every year in various English prisons.
Shenanigans Ipanema
Monday nights here there are lots of specials and the place gets really crowded. The guy in the red shirt is Alan’s Las Vegas friend Jay.
The girl from Copacabana
I was relaxing on the beach when this vision appeared in front of me. I have never been one to let a golden opportunity pass so I brushed up on my social skills and introduced myself. Her name was Mel and she came from neighbouring Niteroi. Lo & behold within an hour we were in my apartment making mad passionate love. This certainly was one on the best days of my trip. 🙂
Mel from Niteroi
Mel is around 6′ tall with amazing green eyes, a total knock out. It is 2015 and I still have her photo on a shelf in my condo. 🙂
John, an Aussie guy who owned “The Office” restaurant.
John was an Aussie guy from Sydney and we swapped many stories about people we knew and knew of, mainly well known Sydney gangsters. 🙂 The following year John in fact was abducted by Brazilian gangsters who forced him to go to his home in Angra Dos Rios and pen his safe which they cleaned out.
Cabo Frio
Here is my friend Renilda, she lives at Cabo Frio near Buzios with her son and lots of pet dogs. We met in 1999 on Copacabana beach and have had a lot of fun together. I have not seen her since I took this photo in 2006 but I hope we meet again one day.
Sueli and Silmarinha Oliveira
I actually met Sueli online so on my way to Fortaleza I decided to stop at Teresina to meet her and her lovely family.
Fortaleza is in the state capital of Ceará, located in Northeastern Brazil. With a population close to 2.3 million (metropolitan region over 3.4 million), Fortaleza is the 5th largest city in Brazil. Fortaleza is one of the three leading cities in the Northeast region together with Recife and Salvador. The city will be one of the host cities of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, for which Brazil is the host nation.
We rode in a beach buggy along the beautiful long beaches and wandered through the amazing coloured sands of Canoa Quebrada.
Belem at the mouth of the mighty Amazon
Such a beautiful face, (of course I mean the girl) these two were dancers on a cruise I took on the Amazon.
The catch of the day
Belem is at the mouth of the Amazon river which represents more than half the planet’s remaining rainforests and comprises the largest and most species-rich tract of tropical rainforest in the world. Founded in 1616 by the Kingdom of Portugal, Belém was the first European colony on the Amazon but did not become part of Brazil until 1775. The newer part of the city has modern buildings and skyscrapers. The colonial portion retains the charm of tree-filled squares, churches and traditional blue tiles. The city has a rich history and architecture from colonial times. Recently it witnessed a skyscraper boom.
Old man of the sea
By now his skin must be like leather.
2.30 am flight Belem to Rio
Ah! Copacabana I have missed you so much. 🙂
Lets not forget Ipanema.
Ipanema is even more beautiful than Copacabana.
Lets have one last look at Mel
This is the photo I still have in my room today in 2016.
Here is my friend Francesca, I was lucky enough to be able to crash on her couch for a few days.
The Old Bridge Florence
Certainly one of the most famous landmarks in this great city.
Great Pizza in Florence
People queue every night to get into this tiny restaurant in Florence, the chef is from Naples and only has 3 choices on the menu, all magnificent.
Ines from Rio de Janeiro
Ines is the daughter of my friend Reni from Cabo Frio, she was in Florence at the same time as I was. Francesca cooked dinner while we chatted about old times in Rio.
Beautiful San Gimignano
San Gimignano is famous for its Medieval village architecture, unique in the preservation of about a dozen of its tower houses, which, with its hilltop setting and encircling walls form “an unforgettable skyline”
When you visit Portofino make sure you have your credit card, seafood soup 26 Euros. Maybe they charged me extra because I was dressed so upmarket. 🙂 🙂 🙂
Club Med 2 is a five-masted computer-controlled sailing ship owned and operated by Club Med and operated as a cruise ship. It combines the power of seven computer-operated sails with more traditional diesel-electric power, having four diesel generators that power two electric motors.
Arriving in Bangkok
My gorgeous friend Cleo who I catch up with every time I am in Bangkok.
