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Gold Coast life 1999

July 31, 2016 by David Herd

Enjoying the last year of the 90s, please note, this is not part of my Travel Blog. It’s part of my personal online photo albums.

Gold Coast life 1999

Gold Coast life 1999

Gold Coast life 1999 was not too different from previous years except for the fact I was no longer working. In 1998 I decided to take a year off work and travel, little did I realise I would never go back to full time work again.

I have often wondered if I made the right decision to retire and travel the world. On one hand had I continued to work for another 6 or 7 years I obviously would have been far better off financially, however on the flip side I can never replace the wonderful years of travel I enjoyed during those years.  Consequently looking back in 2016 I’m very happy with the decision I made. Take a look at my travel record for 1999 below. 🙂

An incredible year for travel

Gold Coast life 1999

 The photo above was taken in Koh Samui with Francesca & Barbara from Florence. In 1999 I had three trips to Thailand, February, August & December, my first trip to Rio for Carnival in February was part of an around the world adventure with my friend Larry Krausz. Another fabulous 2 month around the world trip in November included Los Angeles, Las Vegas Miami, Mexico City, Bolivia, Brazil, (Rio, Iguazu falls & Salvador) Paris & Thailand.

Kathy was a regular visitor

Gold Coast life 1999

A simple phone call would result in an hour or so of passion, priceless. 🙂

A little more of Kathy

Gold Coast life 1999

Without a doubt Kathy had one of the hottest bodies I have ever seen. 🙂

 Lots of parties lots of girls, Narrelle, Simone & Kushler.

Gold Coast life 1999

All through the 90s and beyond the parties never stopped.

Myoung-sook a nice Korean lady

Gold Coast life 1999

Myoung and I spent some time together in 1999.

Sometimes she would stay for breakfast. 🙂

Gold Coast life 1999She was a very keen golfer.

she was quite a keen golfer.

Lorrie & Leonie

Gold Coast life 1999

I took Lorrie & Leonie boating, they were two Canadians visiting the Gold Coast.

Dinner at Ashmore Steak & Seafood

Gold Coast life 1999

This popular restaurant always ensured you never left hungry.

 Narrelle, Jack Delanty and Larry Krausz NYE 1998

Gold Coast life 1999

The celebrations were at Sylvester’s on Chevron Island.

Sadly out mate Larry suffered a major stroke in October 2016 & passed away January 2017, RIP.

Lollipops at Sylvester’s

Gold Coast life 1999

Evelyn & Tina love sucking Chuppa Chups. 🙂

For a great room rate on the Gold Coast just book through THIS LINK.

Natasha & Alex

Gold Coast life 1999

New Years Eve 1998 and the girls are feeling no pain. 🙂

My favourite songs from 1999.

Nindie at Marina Mirage

Gold Coast life 1999

Nindie had a restaurant called Isobar at the Marina Mirage.

 My best friend Ziggy

Gold Coast life 1999

My beautiful Doberman waiting for me to dock at the jetty.

Rick Felsing from Sydney

Gold Coast life 1999

Tucking into freshly caught mud crabs washed down with a Margaret white.

Dinner & red wine with beautiful Akiko

Gold Coast life 1999

Beautiful Akiko is one of the most gorgeous Japanese girls I have ever met.

Great company

Gold Coast life 1999

Perhaps THE MOST GORGEOUS. 🙂

Talking about gorgeous meet Aurora

Gold Coast life 1999

In my opinion the most gorgeous Melbas girl ever.

Melbas on the Park

Gold Coast life 1999

Surfers Paradise most iconic bar ever.

Mother’s day 1999

Gold Coast life 1999

My beautiful mother Iris Joyce Herd, my brother Ian & his wife Sandra, Adam one of their sons & Myoung my Korean girlfriend.

 Rossco, one of the happiest guys I know.

Gold Coast life 1999

I count Ross Kennedy as one of my best friends, we had so many great times together. Certainly one of our most memorable adventures was our road trip trip to Melbourne in 1996, to check it out just follow THIS LINK.

Thinking back to my 25 years on the Gold Coast there were just so many highlights, I’m really very happy to be able to re-live them through my FiveStarVagabond photo blog.

Through all those years I remember having a hand full of good friends and many many acquaintances. Due to my reasonably abrasive personality there were also many people that couldn’t stand me. My message to them is quite simple, see below.

A message for the knockers

Gold Coast life 1999

Having said all that let’s get back to 1999. 🙂

Jimmy Bell & the smokers

Gold Coast life 1999

Another Sunday session at my Upton St home, Jim “HO HO” Bell rented a room at my home for 17 years.

For a great room rate on the Gold Coast just book through THIS LINK.

Emily used to be a meter maid

Gold Coast life 1999

And yes the silly tattoo is a temporary one from Thailand. 🙂

Ray Shultz & Phil “Swifty” Gregory

Gold Coast life 1999

Swifty actually wound up marrying Emily and produced a couple of fine sons. I owe thanks to Ray for introducing me to Kathy who you saw at the start of this post.

Farewell Colleen

Gold Coast life 1999

Colleen was leaving Saks bar & restaurant, owners Duncan McGuiness & Steve are wishing her well.

Phil Thomson, another great friend.

Gold Coast life 1999

Phil has always been a Porsche lover, these days in 2016 he has a Boxter sitting in the garage.

 Talking about cars, here are my beauties

Playboy photo shoot 1998

It was a very difficult decision to decide which one to drive. 🙂

Ziggy & my boat

Gold Coast life 1999

You had to have all the toys & props to stand out on the Gold Coast, to be honest 50% of the people I met were fairly shallow individuals & easily impressed. Then again the same probably applies to other Australian cities as well. 🙂

Main Beach blondes

Gold Coast life 1999

Catie, Marina & Kylie were waitresses at a popular Main Beach cafe.

Mike Wood, Greg Craig and Dave Allen.

Gold Coast life 1999

A few drinks at Melbas in as we did so many times over the years, it was simply Gold Coast life 1999.

Sweet Myumi

Gold Coast life 1999

Well that’s all folks from Myumi & I, thanks for visiting my Gold Coast life 1999 photo blog. It’s now February 2018 & I”m living in Thailand, and I get a huge kick from re-living some of these incredible years through my photo blogs. I just can’t believe what a fortunate life I have had. 🙂


Here are some more posts on my wild wicked ways. :) 

 

         Life 2015                     Family history                   Life 1982

2835141a-02cf-4cda-a909-2a8408a99f47        6a173a01-9744-404a-a45f-87a975ec90fa          d5436828-abbc-4da1-a638-7f90436c6417

  Adelaide 1972                 Iron Bar Freddy               Sydney 2006

417091_10150704751043594_62315468_n          Susies home Newport 1 (1)        April24FreewayHotel-33 (1)

Thailand 2008                Gold Coast Babes               World trip 2003

Fun in Pattaya-116         92bfa275-a122-4078-9970-1e24188a5917        CopacabanabeachNov2003-124

             Great hotel room rates anywhere in the world if you book
                  through these links below.  Book now & pay later.
Free Cancellation. 
                              Bangkok Hotels                    Pattaya Hotels
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 That’s all folks
Surfers Paradise Party Animals
 
Pattaya live webcam 
 
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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

 


Counter only started June 16 2020.

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Mae Pim nice Hotel

July 30, 2016 by David Herd

Great location & a beautiful pool

Mae Pim nice Hotel Thailand

Mae Pim nice Hotel

 Mae Pim Excellent Hotel is across the road from the beach on the gulf of Thailand, two hours from Bangkok airport. Only 90 minutes east of Pattaya, B1200 by taxi and B1800 in a mini bus. For an excellent room rate just book through THIS LINK.

Mae Pim nice Hotel

Mae Pim nice Hotel Thailand

Adjacent to the pool you will find a fully equipped gym and a Thai massage service. The gym is free and it’s B300 for an hour for a Thai massage or foot massage.

 My Australian friends

Mae Pim Excellent Hotel

Nikki & Tony Murphy with my brother Warren in the middle.

Even nice in the rain

Mae Pim nice Hotel

If it rains just head for the gym. 🙂

Another Aussie friend, Chris Lockwood aka Dr Evil.

Mae Pim nice Hotel

Chris and my brother Warren travel often together, follow THIS LINK for his south American adventure.

Room 201 in the main building

Mae Pim nice Hotel

This room was a little bigger than many of the others.

Good aircon & internet

Mae Pim nice Hotel

On the same level as the swimming pool.

The view from my balcony

Mae Pim nice Hotel

Naturally 301 on the next floor would have an even better view. 🙂

The hotel from the beach

Mae Pim nice Hotel Thailand

You can clearly see the great location of Mae Pim Excellent Hotel Thailand.

Main St Mae Pim near Rayong

There are many good restaurants close by overlooking the beach

Mae Pim nice Hotel

 This vermicelli & prawn dish was at Xing Xing restaurant. For more information on food in Mae Pim just follow THIS LINK.

Tequila Sunrise

 

Only 150 meters down the road is our favourite bar restaurant Tequila Sunrise. There is an international team there, a Swiss owner, Peter the German chef, Gary an Australian manager & some very nice Thai staff who run this popular establishment. On our recent trip we had lunch there 3 times, dinner once and cocktails every evening.

Location

Mae Pim nice Hotel

As I said earlier Mae Pim is two hours from Bangkok airport & only 90 minutes east of Pattaya. Thanks for visiting my Mae Pim nice Hotel photo blog. Use this link for a discounted rate at THE MAE PIM RESORT.

                      Please check out these fabulous posts 
   

 

 

 

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Rio de Janeiro                  Singapore                    Eastern Europe
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    Bangkok Bars                         Tokyo                      Cape Town Safari
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               Great hotel room rates anywhere in the world if you book
                  through these links below.  Book now & pay later.
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               d0c59ff5-7f2b-41b5-9312-4556d4a62037          b1c99886-3940-4dda-b350-44c5e5c77e41
 That’s all folks

1g Duck

 

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

 

  • The fabulous Commons
  • Patpong red light district

Counter only started June 16 2020.

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Mae Pim beach boats

July 29, 2016 by David Herd

Mae Pim fishing boat

Mae Pim beach boats sunsets

Mae Pim beach boats

 Mae Pim beach boats sunsets a beautiful onshore wind & peace and quiet. Only 90 minutes from Pattaya and 2 hours from Bangkok airport. The peace & quiet only applies between February and October, the 3 months over Xmas is a different story when the crowds converge on this delightful beach side resort.

Fishing traps

Mae Pim beach boats sunsets

Here are the traps being loaded onto the boat.

Setting off for a nights fishing

Mae Pim beach boats

The traps are on board and there is a long night ahead, Mae Pim beach boats sunsets it’s all here.:)

 Roadside stalls

Mae Pim beach boats sunsets

The fresh produce is sold at roadside stalls beside the beach.

Beautiful Mae Pim beach boats sunsets

Mae Pim beach boats sunsets

Plenty of deck chairs through the high season however they don’t seem to waste their time offering them in the low season.

Looking west the beach goes on forever

Mae Pim beach boats

This is the perfect place for long beach walks with the onshore wind blowing in your face.

Mae Pim beach resort Thailand

Sunset at Mae Pim

Mae Pim beach boats

A beautiful time of the day to enjoy a stroll along the beach.

The sun setting in the west

Mae Pim beach boats

  Mae Pim is on the gulf of Thailand only ninety minutes by car east of Pattaya, and 2 hours south of Bangkok. Beautiful white sand and clean water, it’s so quiet and peaceful after the noise & Madness of Pattaya.

However it’s not all a wilderness

Mae Pim beach boats

There are many restaurants offering live seafood, the photo above is my brother Warren & I at Tequila Sunrise.

Tequila Sunrise at dusk

Mae Pim beach boats

 Tequila Sunrise is our favourite Mae Pim bar restaurant. Lots of good food in Mae Pim, just follow THIS LINK.

Just after sunset at Mae Pim

Mae Pim beach boats

All the seafood stalls are closed due to the low season and lack of customers.

 Main road Mae Pim

Mae Pim beach boats

So quiet in the low season between February and October.

Mae Pim Resort Hotel

Mae Pim beach boats

Here is where we like to stay in Mae Pim, for an excellent room rate just book through THIS LINK.

Location

Mae Pim beach boats

Thanks for visiting my Mae Pim beach boats sunsets photo blog.

                   

 

 

 Soi Cowboy                  Nana Plaza                    Patpong

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

 
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Rio de Janeiro                  Singapore                    Eastern Europe
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    Bangkok Bars                         Tokyo                      Cape Town Safari
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               Great hotel room rates anywhere in the world if you book
                  through these links below.  Book now & pay later.
Free Cancellation. 
Bangkok Hotels                    Pattaya Hotels
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 That’s all folks

1g Duck

 

Pattaya live webcam
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Breil Sur Roya devastated

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New Zealand Holiday 1991

Check out these great photo blogs.

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Amazing Bangkok buses

July 14, 2016 by David Herd

Amazing Bangkok buses

Amazing Bangkok busses

 Amazing Bangkok buses transporting tourists all over Thailand, many are decorated in bizarre colours often featuring Japanese cartoon & Disney characters. Eagles, serpents you name it they have got it. I have never seen anything like it anywhere in the world, take a bow Thailand for giving us so many great photo opportunities.

Bright & exciting colours

Amazing Bangkok busses

I have no idea how they produce these amazing creations, I’m guessing it’s all created on computer then automatically painted on the production line, then again how would I know? 🙂

There was a comment on Facebook that explained to process, it is a vinyl wrap, using the same machines that produce outdoor posters, then they just wrap them round the bus.

For a discounted hotel rate in Bangkok just book through THIS LINK

I see Johnny Walker at the front

Amazing Bangkok busses

I’m also guessing they didn’t get permission to use the Johnny Walker logo. 🙂

Back view

Amazing Bangkok buses

Six exhausts and speakers for sound.

This beast is one of my favourites

Amazing Bangkok buses

It was parked a few meters from where I live in Soi 1 Pattaya so I was able to have a close look.

Eight lethal exhaust pipes

Amazing Bangkok buses    Amazing Bangkok busses

Imagine if a motorbike crashed into the back of this bus, the exhaust pipes were on a 45 degree angle with sharp edges pointing upwards. Perfectly positioned to impale a human being. You gotta love Thailand.

 Beach Road Pattaya

Amazing Bangkok buses

Every morning hundreds of buses converge on Beach Road Pattaya bringing thousands Chinese tourists who board the boats to go para-sailing and visit Koh Larn island.

For a discounted hotel rate in Bangkok just book through THIS LINK.

This yellow one will get noticed.

Amazing Bangkok buses

There are so many amazing styles, this one looks like a huge yellow monster. 🙂

The Eagle has landed.

Amazing Bangkok buses

And the beat goes on, it must be a prestige thing the way some of these guys push it to the limit.

 You light up my life

Amazing Bangkok buses

Or so the song goes, I really want to ask a question, do you think this guy is trying just a little too hard?

Amazing Bangkok busses

36000 buses idle

Amazing Bangkok buses

Tour bus operators are in dire need of measures to cushion the impact of the coronavirus crisis, as an idle fleet of 36,000 buses countrywide has already missed out on 7 billion baht in income during the sluggish tourism period.

President of the Thai Transportation Operators Association, said that while tourism was at its peak, each bus could generate 50,000 baht a day from tour services.

The current lack of income has led operators to carry a cost burden of roughly 2 million baht from each bus leased, and they don’t have enough cash for installment payments.

Many thanks for visiting my Amazing Bangkok buses photo blog.

    Great hotel rates here, just book on THIS LINK.

                Please check out these fabulous posts
 

Pattaya Hilton

Pattaya hotels, Hilton & Holiday Inn

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

 Soi Cowboy                  Nana Plaza                    Patpong

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Rio de Janeiro                  Singapore                    Eastern Europe
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    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
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 That’s all folks

1g Duck

 

Counter only started June 16 2020.

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Gorgeous girls Sydney 1980

July 11, 2016 by David Herd

Doyles and Watsons Bay hotel

Gorgeous girls Sydney 1980

Gorgeous girls Sydney 1980

Gorgeous girls Sydney 1980 and 81 living on the waterfront in Drummoyne with the view you see in the header on this post. I drove a white Mercedes Sports, had my Bertram 25 moored in front of my apartment, and a liquor store in Sydenham, quite a few good friends and a long line of beautiful girlfriends, life was very close to perfect. The Watsons Bay hotel shown above was one of my regular haunts as was Doyles restaurant. It’s a great place to stay when in Sydney, for an excellent room rate just book through THIS LINK.

This is not part of my Travel Blog. It’s part of my personal history, check it out if you wish.

My boat

Gorgeous girls Sydney 1980

I had an absolute perfect mooring right outside my apartment, it was so much fun on Sydney harbour visiting all the great beaches & restaurants. They really were Great years Sydney 1980 to January 1987 when I pulled up stakes and moved to the Gold Coast.

Smooth operator

Gorgeous girls Sydney 1980

It seemed the parties and drinks never stopped at my Drummoyne apartment, life was very good indeed.

Jeff and Debbie Don

Gorgeous girls Sydney 1980

Gorgeous Debbie & party animal Jeff, another smooth operator.

Sade - Smooth Operator - Official - 1984

The party never stopped

Gorgeous girls Sydney 1980

Looking back to my 6 years at Drummoyne I feel I made a serious mistake getting engaged and moving to Newport. My decision was based on a particular mindset we grew up with, eventually we all should settle down, marry & have children. In hindsight I now know that’s OK for the majority of people, but not everybody, & I’m certainly in the category of “not everybody”. 🙂 🙂 🙂

Talking about being engaged, here is my future fiancee in 1981

Gorgeous girls Sydney 1980

Karen Smith and Dirk Kammerling were an item for several years until her and I started going out in 1984 which led to our engagement.

Karen & I in 1981

Gorgeous girls Sydney 1980

Who would have thought in 3 years we would be engaged and living together at Newport?

Castle Cove 1980

Gorgeous girls Sydney 1980

Two of the girls here were sisters, Carmen & Antionette Sherry, plus my good friend Rob Symonds and Peter H.

Gorgeous girls Sydney 1980 included Carmen & Antoinette 

Gorgeous girls Sydney 1980

Decorating my XJ 6 in 1980.

Antoinette Sherry

Gorgeous girls Sydney 1980

What a beautiful redhead. 🙂

Here are some of the usual suspects

Gorgeous girls Sydney 1980

John Malouf, Peter Singleton and Dennis Moran at another one of my Drummoyne gatherings.

Joanne Barrett came 3rd in Miss Universe 1969

Gorgeous girls Sydney 1980

What a beautiful face, is it any wonder she was 3rd in the Miss Universe?

Singapore 1980

Gorgeous girls Sydney 1980

Some people who have seen this photo have been cruel enough to suggest that I looked like a Miami drug dealer, and here was I thinking I was just a very cool dude. 🙂

Rob Symonds & I in Singapore 1980

Gorgeous girls Sydney 1980

Rob & I had a great trip to Manilla, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Pattaya and Singapore.  This was when I first got hooked on Thailand, little did I realise 31 years later I would move there permanently. Take a look at my photo blog, just follow THIS LINK.

Gorgeous girls Sydney 1980, the blondes are here

Gorgeous girls Sydney 1980

That’s Teresa on the left sitting at my bar, and I can’t believe that I have forgotten the name of the other beautiful creature. 🙂

Here is the beautiful anonymous blonde as a redhead

Gorgeous girls Sydney 1980

Now is that a fantastic face or what?

When can I start having fun?

Gorgeous girls Sydney 1980

Right about now I would say, in fact I clearly remember a ménage à trois with two of these gorgeous babes. 🙂

Tall gorgeous redhead

Gorgeous girls Sydney 1980

Her name was Louise and we had a brief fling, Antoinette & I are checking her prowess on the BBQ. She knew how to handle a sausage. 🙂

I told you she was gorgeous

Gorgeous girls Sydney 1980

An absolute knockout.

Two more knockouts, Kerry & Terry

Gorgeous girls Sydney 1980

Two of my favourite Gorgeous girls Sydney 1980.

Shirley Jones  1980

Gorgeous girls Sydney 1980

Shirley was an air hostess for TAA which does not exist anymore. She & Debbie Don were flatmates who lived around the corner in Drummoyne ave and came to most of my parties. Compare us in the following photo. 🙂

After many hours of booze

Gorgeous girls Sydney 1980

At the end of the day decorum would go out the window. 🙂

Another Shirley

Gorgeous girls Sydney 1980

This Shirley worked for Stripper-gram, we used to go out together occasionally. A very funny thing happened at my Dad’s retirement party, he had worked for Berger paints for 46 years. We were celebrating at what was then the Silverwater Businessman’s Club, in came a gorgeous girl in a bikini, draped in feathers, and proceeded with her well-practised routine.

Gorgeous girls Sydney 1980

The shocked look on my mother’s face had nothing to do with the girl sitting on Dad’s knee, it was when she walked over to our table and said to me, “hi David, nice to see you, when are we going out on your boat again”? Yes, it was Shirley, somebody had hired a stripper-gram for him. 🙂

This was Vickie in 1980

Gorgeous girls Sydney 1980

The long line of Gorgeous girls Sydney 1980 continues, it seemed there were so many babes and such little time. 🙂

Carol Aboud the ultimate party girl

Gorgeous girls Sydney 1980

Even though Carol was the mother of four young children she was the ultimate party girl. Part of a wealthy eastern suburbs family, her father was the managing director of Century batteries & in his eyes she could do no wrong.

We really had some great times together over a four year period, although it was one of those on & off relationships that ran into quite a few road blocks along the way.

Talking about party animals

Gorgeous girls Sydney 1980

This is Roger “Ramjet” Williams who could always be relied upon to put on a show. Two of his party tricks were drinking a Bloody Mary containing 1/2 a bottle of Tabasco sauce. If a normal person had one sip it would set your mouth on fire. His 2nd trick was to take a raw onion and eat it like an apple, this man obviously had no taste buds. 🙂

A Mexican bandit? No it’s Chris Adams

Gorgeous girls Sydney 1980

One of the Adelaide guys I knocked around with when I lived there in 72 to 74, Chris wound up in Sydney then I lost track of him. I have always had a knack of giving people nicknames that seemed to stick with them, in Chris’s case his name was “The Mouth”. 🙂

Another Shirley, Xmas 1981

Gorgeous girls Sydney 1980

A gorgeous little girl from the eastern suburbs who had a wealthy father and lived at Darling Point.

Ron Walsh from Broken Hill with Donna.

Gorgeous girls Sydney 1980

Ron was a close friend for many years, he owned the Retravision store in Broken Hill and would find any excuse to visit me when I lived in Adelaide, we had some wonderful fun times together.

Debbie Secombe another of the Gorgeous girls Sydney 1980

Gorgeous girls Sydney 1980

Debbie a cool Aussie chick who worked at the Manilla Playboy Club for a few years before turning up at one of my famous parties.

Gorgeous girls Sydney 1980, Di Parkinson Xmas 1981

Gorgeous girls Sydney 1980

Di was one of the most beautiful ladies I ever knew, also one of the craziest. No woman has caused me more problems in my life than this one. Apart from all that we had many great times together during the last 10 years.

New Years Eve 1981

Gorgeous girls Sydney 1980

One of the great nights of my life, and one of the best NYEs of my life, we overloaded my boat with 16 people and headed off to a seafood restaurant at “the Spit” for dinner before heading to the Opera House for the incredible fireworks. My girlfriend for the night was the gorgeous one in the middle, very unusual that I can’t remember her name.

Follow this link for the full story on New Year’s Eve 1981, the Great Escape.

NYE on board

Gorgeous girls Sydney 1980

I considered Wolf Wottke my best friend since we met in Adelaide in 1973, that friendship continued until I moved to Newport in 1984, sadly after that it was never the same.

Sydenham Cellars grand opening 1980 featuring Debbie Don.

Gorgeous girls Sydney 1980

In the 4 years I owned my liquor store I never really made too much money, 3 of those years the road was was closed for 3 or 4 months which effected my turnover rather badly. Luckily I had purchased the property and made a killing when I sold.

OK, one last look at Debbie.

Debbie 1980 SS

She is certainly worth a look don’t you think?

Thanks for visiting my Gorgeous girls Sydney 1980 photo blog, what an era that was. No doubt at all 80, 81 & 82 were amazing years for living large & gorgeous ladies.

It’s now 2017 and here is Glenn Frey to tell you exactly how I feel today.

Great hotel rates here, just book through THIS LINK.


   Here are some more posts on my wild wicked ways. :)

         Life 2015                     Family history                   Life 1982

2835141a-02cf-4cda-a909-2a8408a99f47        6a173a01-9744-404a-a45f-87a975ec90fa          d5436828-abbc-4da1-a638-7f90436c6417

  Adelaide 1972                 Iron Bar Freddy               Sydney 2006

417091_10150704751043594_62315468_n          Susies home Newport 1 (1)        April24FreewayHotel-33 (1)

Thailand 2008                Gold Coast Babes               World trip 2003

Fun in Pattaya-116         92bfa275-a122-4078-9970-1e24188a5917        CopacabanabeachNov2003-124

             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              01a75360-9573-473f-acba-3a187f779b7f
 
 That’s all folks
1g Duck
Pattaya live webcam 
 
9a1fec74-4461-46cd-8663-97f5893c8f6e (1) 
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

 

Check out these great posts


Counter only started June 16 2020.

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Sydney landmarks harbour bridge

July 3, 2016 by David Herd

Sydney Harbour Bridge

Sydney landmarks harbour bridge

Sydney landmarks harbour bridge

Sydney landmarks harbour bridge were on my agenda when I spent a couple of days in Sydney in 2005. This was my first stop on an exciting around the world trip to San Francisco, Miami, Rio de Janeiro for Carnival, north East coast of Brazil, Paris, Bangkok and Pattaya.

Sydney landmarks harbour bridge

Sydney landmarks harbour bridge

The magnificent Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge are two of the most recognisable structures in the world.

“Check out these top 28 Sydney Hotels With Perfect Harbour Views by HotelsCombined for great views of these iconic sights.” 

ANZAC War Memorial in Hyde Park

Sydney landmarks harbour bridge

Looking down from Centrepoint Tower at the Anzac memorial, lest we forget.

Anzac memorial

Sydney landmarks harbour bridge

Located in Hyde Park it was opened on 24 November 1934 to commemorate world war one Australian military personnel who lost their lives.

Centrpoint Tower a great Sydney Landmark

Sydney landmarks harbour bridge

The photo looking down on the Anzac Memorial building was taken from the restaurant in Centrepoint Tower.

Manly Ferry

Sydney landmarks harbour bridge

The Manly ferry can certainly also be regarded as a Sydney landmark, South Steyne is now a Floating Restaurant and Function Centre.

Novotel Darling Harbour

Sydney landmarks harbour bridge

Great views of the Sydney skyline from the Novotel, for an excellent room rate just book through THIS LINK.

Novotel and Grand Mercure Apartments

Sydney landmarks harbour bridge

Once again great views of the city, use THIS LINK for good Sydney hotel rates.

MLC Building at 19 Martin Pl, Sydney

Sydney landmarks harbour bridge

Another building considered to be in Sydney Landmarks.

After work drinks at the MLC building

Sydney landmarks harbour bridge

As you can see a popular meeting place especially on Fridays.

 Circular Quay

Sydney landmarks harbour bridge

 Circular Quay is a focal point for many Sydney celebrations throughout the year.

Sydney Opera House

Sydney landmarks harbour bridge

 Designed by Danish architect Jørn Utzon, the facility formally opened on 20 October 1973  after a gestation beginning with Utzon’s 1957 selection as winner of an international design competition. The NSW Government, led by Premier Joseph Cahill, authorised work to begin in 1958, with Utzon directing construction. The government’s decision to build Utzon’s design is often overshadowed by circumstances that followed, including cost and scheduling overruns as well as the architect’s ultimate resignation.

Sydney landmarks harbour bridge

Sydney landmarks harbour bridge

Though its name suggests a single venue, the project comprises multiple performance venues which together are among the busiest performing arts centres in the world — hosting over 1,500 performances each year attended by some 1.2 million people.

The Rocks overlooking Circular Quay

Sydney landmarks harbour bridge

The oldest part of Sydney was founded in 1788 as a penal colony. 

Bill Austin from Wiltshire

Sydney landmarks harbour bridge

My friend Bill jumped out of planes 100s of times when he was in the Paras so climbing the bridge was a piece of cake for him. 🙂

For a very good discount on Sydney hotel rooms just book through THIS LINK.

Doyles at Watsons Bay

37083281232_0318804394_b

Certainly one of Sydney’s well known landmarks, world famous for the fish & chips.

Doyles in 1981.

Sydney World's Best Harbour

This was Doyles 32 years ago in 1981. On this original site, Doyles opened Australia’s first seafood restaurant in 1885. The restaurant has been family owned and operated for over five generations. With both indoor and outdoor dining, Doyles is located right on the foreshore of Watsons Bay overlooking the magnificent panorama of Sydney Harbour.

Flashback, Doyles 1982.

Sydney World's Best Harbour

Here I am at Doyles with Helen Burke, my girlfriend at the time, enjoying one of our countless lunches on beautiful Sydney Harbour. Who said nostalgia was a thing of the past?

The old Darlington school.

Sydney Inner City Adventure

 Here is a lovely building most Sydney people would not know existed. It’s a fine example of a single story Gothic Revival style suburban schools designed by the Architect to the Council of Education: George Allen Mansfield. An important public building of the former suburb of Darlington, the smallest municipality in Sydney.

Sydney landmarks harbour bridge & Anzac Bridge

Sydney landmarks harbour bridge

 Opened in December 1995, costing $170 million to build, it’s a link between Sydney City and the western suburbs.

View from Crows nest

Sydney landmarks harbour bridge

Nice to see lots of trees.

Thanks for visiting my Sydney landmarks harbour bridge photo blog.

Please check out some of the most popular below, and thank you for visiting.     

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               Great hotel room rates anywhere in the world if you book
                  through these links below.  Book now & pay later.
Free Cancellation. 
Bangkok Hotels                    Pattaya Hotels
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1g Duck

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Counter only started June 16 2020.

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Champagne weekend Sydney 2008

July 2, 2016 by David Herd

Weekend with Stingy

Champagne weekend Sydney

Champagne weekend Sydney

Champagne weekend Sydney in 2008 was on the menu when I spent a weekend at a friends home in Point Piper. He worries about being seen on the internet, so to protect his privacy we will just call him Stingy. I imagine a whistle-blower will tip him off about this post and he will complain as usual. I would like to stress nothing in this personal photo blog of mine is intended to cause him any discomfort. It is in fact a salute to a very successful businessman.

I would like to emphasise my policy regarding my photo & travel blogs, should any person be offended or concerned by material I have posted, please contact me direct and I will immediately remove it.  

Champagne football Sydney is my personal photo history not part of my travel blog.

Champagne weekend Sydney

I was very lucky when Stingy lent me one of his cars to use, extremely lucky when it turned out to be a Lexus. 🙂

City skyline from Vaucluse

Champagne weekend Sydney

I took advantage of my flash transport and did a little tour around the eastern suburbs.

Coogee Beach

Champagne weekend Sydney

A deserted Coogee beach, I have many memories of the local pubs where I often visited in my 20s.

Stingy is the big guy in the middle

Champagne weekend Sydney

Peter Hobbs and Peter H on the right. Peter H is another guy who is paranoid about his name on the internet. We are at the SCG to see the Sydney Swans play the Richmond Tigers.

 Sydney Cricket Ground

Champagne weekend Sydney

This wonderful sports arena with this beautiful members stand, which was built in 1886, holds countless memories for myself and millions of sports fans all over Australia.

Stingy & friends

Champagne weekend Sydney

John Martin aka Pothole with his Chinese girlfriend and Lee O’mara are here with Stingy at the Woolahra hotel. Pothole lives in the same condo as I do in Pattaya 2 hours south of Bangkok, in fact he accompanied me on a quick trip to Koh Samui only last week on June 20 2016.

Woolahra Hotel

Champagne weekend Sydney

Sadly Pothole lost his best friend John Griffin just a few months after this photo was taken after he lost a long battle with cancer.

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

Bar Reggio

Champagne weekend Sydney

Friday lunch at Bar Reggio is a long term tradition for Stingy and his friends, located in Crown St Darlinghurst, it is a lively Italian restaurant that serves good food and allows you to bring your own wine.

Back to Stingy’s palace

Champagne weekend Sydney

Every wall upstairs and down is cluttered with paintings.

Running out of wall space

Champagne weekend Sydney

A great example of how to make a terrific home look less attractive. 🙂

A Stingy lookalike

Champagne weekend Sydney

They could be twins. 🙂

Champagne weekend Sydney, I’ll drink to that. 

Champagne weekend Sydney

I’m not generally a champagne drinker however I will make an exception for Dom Perignon. 🙂

Great kitchen

Champagne weekend Sydney

This is certainly one of the nicest homes I have ever stayed in.

 Stingy’s liquor cabinet

Champagne weekend Sydney

There is no shortage of booze in Stingy’s house, as you can clearly see Jim Beam is his preferred poison.

Ten years have flown by & now in 2018 aged 70 Stingy has given up the booze. So many years of heavy drinking have finally caught up with him. The doctors advice was crystal clear, stop drinking or die.

Geriatrics R Us.

Champagne weekend SydneyThat’s Stingy (2nd from the left) in December 2017, he has lost an incredible amount of weight being off the booze.

Naturally living on the waterfront you need a boat

Champagne weekend Sydney

Captain Stingy conducting business on the high seas. 🙂

Stingy = chick magnet

Champagne weekend Sydney

Of course the ladies are attracted by his good looks and animal magnetism, boats, booze & a $6 million dollar house have nothing to do with it.

Champagne weekend Sydney at Stingy’s palace

Champagne weekend Sydney

Three stories and looking over Sydney harbour.

Just a short distance to his great catamaran.

Champagne weekend Sydney

Stingy’s great looking boat.

 Sea Treasure at Crows Nest.

Champagne weekend Sydney

On the right is my cousin Debbie with her South African friend Phyllis, great food at the Sea Treasure.

Crab at the Sea Treasure

Champagne weekend Sydney

Fantastic crab at the Sea Treasure, this reminds me of Boat Quay in Singapore. 🙂

That’s all folks

Thanks for visiting my Champagne weekend Sydney photo blog.


         

 Here are some more posts to check out

         Life 2015                     Family history                   Life 1982

2835141a-02cf-4cda-a909-2a8408a99f47        6a173a01-9744-404a-a45f-87a975ec90fa          d5436828-abbc-4da1-a638-7f90436c6417

  Adelaide 1972                 Iron Bar Freddy               Sydney 2006

417091_10150704751043594_62315468_n          Susies home Newport 1 (1)        April24FreewayHotel-33 (1)

Thailand 2008                Gold Coast Babes               World trip 2003

Fun in Pattaya-116         92bfa275-a122-4078-9970-1e24188a5917        CopacabanabeachNov2003-124

             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              01a75360-9573-473f-acba-3a187f779b7f
 
 That’s all folks
Surfers Paradise Party Animals
 
Pattaya live webcam 
 
9a1fec74-4461-46cd-8663-97f5893c8f6e (1) 
A-One hotel on Beach Road

Seven deadly Songkran days

For a great room rate at the A-One hotel opposite the beach just book through THIS LINK.               

 

 Soi Cowboy                  Nana Plaza                    Patpong

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  • Lyme Regis Jurassic coast

Counter only started January 11 2021

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Newport peninsular Sydney 1984

June 30, 2016 by David Herd

Newport peninsular Sydney is my personal photo history not part of my travel blog.

Newport peninsular Sydney

Newport peninsular Sydney

 Newport peninsular Sydney was my home for three years from 1984 to 1987. After becoming engaged to a beautiful Melbourne lady Karen Smith, I purchased a timber home perched on a hill above the Royal Motor Yacht Club. The cost was $128k, and I sold it after our engagement fizzled out 4 years later for $360K. I guess it would be worth nearly 2 million dollars today.

Absolutely gorgeous.

Newport peninsular Sydney

 As you can see Karen was a beautiful lady, it took me anther 10 years before I realised I was just not cut out for marriage or long term relationships. There is probably a multitude of reasons why, fear of commitment, too independent etc etc.

Dinner party at Herbert Avenue

Newport peninsular Sydney

We were very happy at Newport 80% of the time, I tried hard to settle down and enjoy life as a couple, every now and then however the “call of the wild” would interrupt our utopia.

Wolf Wottke (with the beard) had been my best friend for a number of years, I left him renting my Drummoyne apartment for a year or so until I got fed up chasing the rent. Consequently I sold it which in hindsight was probably a mistake.

Lots of birds & wildlife

Newport peninsular Sydney

These beautiful Rainbow Lorikeets would visit every day for their snack on the balcony.

Life was very good

Newport peninsular Sydney

I had all the toys, a beautiful Mercedes Sports, a cabin cruiser moored at the yacht club, a liquor store in Sydenham which I was in the process of selling and a good sales job with Canon Australia.

Lion Island

Newport peninsular Sydney

This great photo (excuse the quality) was taken on Lion Island in the Hawksbury River, from left to right we have Graham La Roche aka “Biff”, his girlfriend at the time Mona, Ross Ansell from Melbourne and Karen Smith & I.

Me Tarzan

Newport peninsular Sydney

Ross doing his Tarzan impersonation on Lion Island.

31 Herbert Avenue Newport

Newport peninsular Sydney

About 25 years later around 2012 I paid a visit to Herbert Avenue to see if things had changed. Apart from the colour scheme and far less vegetation nothing much had changed.

 Another day on Pittwater

Newport peninsular Sydney

My good friend Tony Murphy and his beautiful wife Inge join Karen & I on my 26 foot cabin cruiser. After 29 years I caught up with Inge in Melbourne in 2014.

My back veranda overlooked Bayview

Newport peninsular Sydney

Here is my good friend Paul Slaughter with two gorgeous girls, on the left is Trish and on the right an old girlfriend of mine Shirley.

Big Tim Bristow, dinner at Herbert Avenue.

Relocate Sydney Gold Coast

 Tim Bristow was a friend of mine dating back from the time we met in 1971 when he was on my tail to give me a hiding, but that’s another story just follow THIS LINK. In the 70s just the name Tim Bristow struck fear into the heart of all those who knew him, an enforcer with a reputation of being one of the most brutal street fighters in Australia. Put simply he was legend, a bouncer at the Newport Arms hotel, would be contenders for his crown would travel from all over Sydney to try their luck, many came and all of them were sent packing battered and bruised.

 Sydenham Cellars

Newport peninsular Sydney

I sold my liquor store in late 1984 which took the pressure off me. I had been working with Canon for a few months and travelling to Sydenham (a one hour drive each way) at weekends to work in the liquor store. Meanwhile I dug a wine cellar underneath my Newport home and stored a huge amount of wine that I took home from the shop.

Unwins Bridge Road

Newport peninsular Sydney

 That’s Madison my beautiful 4 year old German Shepherd who used to diligently guard the store overnight.

 Newport peninsular Sydney Brian Millard

Relocate Sydney Gold Coast

Brian was a boat broker at Newport and a regular drinker at the Newport Arms hotel. He lived just up the road at Bungan Beach before moving to Noosa where I believe he still resides.

 Richard on the left and Rob Carnahan

Newport peninsular Sydney

Two very nice guys who were customers of mine when I was with Canon. Their office was opposites the Oaks Hotel in Neutral Bay so more often than not we would meet in the pub. 🙂

A bunch of my nephews & nieces come to visit.

Newport peninsular Sydney

Amazing seeing these old photos, all of these cute kids now have children of their own.

Sue and John Heatherington

Newport peninsular Sydney

A lovely couple who lived in the next street from us, John also worked at Canon in the computer division.

Malaysia 1985

Newport peninsular Sydney

John & Sue, Karen & I went on a Canon conference to Penang, here we are driving from Penang to Singapore via Kuala Lumpur.

Singapore Xmas 1985

Newport peninsular Sydney

Here we are in Singapore, notice the cigarette. I smoke on and off for most of my life until 2003. Usually 2 or 3 years then I would quit for a similar time before returning to the grip of the nicotine.

 Newport peninsular Sydney with Phil Parkinson 

Newport peninsular Sydney

Phil has lived most of his life on the Newport peninsular Sydney and I believe still does in 2016. He is the brother of my ex girlfriend Di Parkinson.

Melbourne Cup 1985

Newport peninsular Sydney

Karen & I at the cup with friends including another ex girlfriend Helen Burke who is on the left of the photo. Helen has a vineyard at Dromana on the Mornington Peninsular, I spent a few day there in October 2014 drinking wine with her and her partner Jack.

Oscars Coolangatta 1985

Newport peninsular Sydney

I can’t remember the name of the beautiful dark haired princess, she was the girlfriend of my crazy chiropractor from North Sydney.

Newport peninsular Sydney

Newport peninsular Sydney

Prior to buying my cabin cruiser I had this little run-about, it was a lot of fun, do you like the name? 🙂

Another guy from my rogues gallery.

Newport peninsular Sydney

Danny Rose one of Adelaide’s true characters, we had a day of the water, you can see “Stamped Urgent” in the background.

Beautiful Karen Smith

Relocate Sydney Gold Coast

Certainly my life on the Newport peninsular Sydney revolved around lots of good friends and my beautiful fiancée Karen. My thanks to her for being the most important part of my life for those great years.

Thanks also to you for visiting my Newport peninsular Sydney photo blog.           

Here are some more posts to check out

         Life 2015                     Family history                   Life 1982

2835141a-02cf-4cda-a909-2a8408a99f47        6a173a01-9744-404a-a45f-87a975ec90fa          d5436828-abbc-4da1-a638-7f90436c6417

  Adelaide 1972                 Iron Bar Freddy               Sydney 2006

417091_10150704751043594_62315468_n          Susies home Newport 1 (1)        April24FreewayHotel-33 (1)

Thailand 2008                Gold Coast Babes               World trip 2003

Fun in Pattaya-116         92bfa275-a122-4078-9970-1e24188a5917        CopacabanabeachNov2003-124

             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              01a75360-9573-473f-acba-3a187f779b7f
 
 That’s all folks
1g Duck
Pattaya live webcam 
 
9a1fec74-4461-46cd-8663-97f5893c8f6e (1) 
A-One hotel on Beach Road

Seven deadly Songkran days

For a great room rate at the A-One hotel opposite the beach just book through THIS LINK.               

 

 Soi Cowboy                  Nana Plaza                    Patpong

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More great photo blogs here;

Rio beach babes

Florianopolis Brazil 

Bangkok river ferry

Fabulous HCMC

Lyme Regis Jurassic coast

Hiroshima Japan

Sydney Harbour

Counter only started June 16 2020.

This gallery contains 2 photos

Koh Samui sports bars

June 26, 2016 by David Herd

Henry’s Africa

Koh Samui sports bars

Koh Samui sports bars

Koh Samui sports bars have increased quite a bit since I was there in 2007. Most of the beer bars etc have numerous screens showing sport from all over the world. The header for this post show my friend John Martin aka Pothole & I on our first night in Chaweng at Henry’s Africa which seems to be the best bar in town.

Koh Samui sports bars

Koh Samui sports bars

 Henry’s Africa is a huge bar with lot’s of girls, some pool tables and TV screens. As you can see Pothole is enjoying himself. 🙂

Henry’s Africa

Koh Samui sports bars

Early in the evening they offer Chang beer at B79.

Best racks in town

Koh Samui sports bars

Or so they claim.

Opposite Henry’s

Koh Samui sports bars

There are a couple of small bars struggling to attract customers because of the low number of tourists in June 2016.

Green Mango

Koh Samui sports bars

This iconic bar nightclub is a little further along the street, it is arguably Chaweng’s most popular nightspot. It boasts of one of the largest dance floors on the  island, Green Mango is large, loud, & very busy from around 11 pm.

Green Mango

Koh Samui sports bars

A great effect with the green and orange decorations.

Happy Bar

Koh Samui sports bars

A little further around the corner from the Green Mango there are quite a few smaller bars.

Pothole finds another friend.

Koh Samui sports bars

Of course I’ll buy you a drink my dear. 🙂

Interesting bar

Koh Samui sports bars

It was a little early and there were no customers, most of the young tourists in Samui don’t go out until around 11 pm. Geriatrics like us are living in a different time zone. 🙂

Hard Rock Cafe

Koh Samui sports bars

Keep walking back to the main street and you will find the Hard Rock.

 Bondi Aussie Bar & Grill

Koh Samui sports bars

Another sports bar where the Aussies gather for obvious reasons. I was rather put off by the B210 price for a Jack Daniels. So I went to the bar next door to watch the State of Origin played on June 22nd, which QLD won.

The bar next door.

Koh Samui sports bars

A glass or red here was only B80.

The Islander

Koh Samui sports bars

200 meters down the road from the Aussie bar is the Islander where I watched the AFL, next door is Legends, another well known sports bar.

Tropical Murphy’s Irish Pub

Koh Samui sports bars

Quite a way up the road past Central Festival is Tropical Murphy’s another popular sports bar.

Tropical Murphy’s

Koh Samui sports bars

A fairly normal layout, however a funny thing happened as I took this photo, initially the Thai barman was standing towards the front of the bar, but as soon as I raised my camera he ran like a rabbit to get out of the shot. I’m guessing he is hiding from somebody. 🙂

 VW sidewalk bar

Koh Samui sports bars

There are lots of these great mobile bars where I live in Pattaya.

Bye from the Koh Samui sports bars

Koh Samui sports bars

Thanks for visiting my Koh Samui sports bars photo blog, check out the local restaurants and my road trip around the island.

Check out the webcam.

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Counter only started June 16 2020.

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Lots of good restaurants in Koh Samui

June 25, 2016 by David Herd

 

Koh Samui Island restaurants Thailand.

Koh Samui Island restaurants Thailand

Koh Samui Island restaurants Thailand have improved out of sight since I was last there in 2007. There are so many great choices now, here are a few I have no hesitation in recommending. We hit the jackpot on our first evening when we dined at Il Duomo which is rated 3 out of 154 by TripAdvisor.

Pothole & I at Duomo

Koh Samui Island restaurants Thailand

The food prices were very reasonable, a bottle of red from Sanama Cabernet Sauvignon from Chile B1100. My Aussie friends can buy it at Petersham Liquor Mart for $10.

Sanama

Koh Samui Island restaurants Thailand

Very smooth, a bit like myself. 🙂

Tell them my dear.

The owner comes from Milano.

Koh Samui Island restaurants Thailand

A very interesting guy who enjoyed having a chat. There was one very nice touch, we ordered a main course each and asked for extra plates as we wanted to share the meals. We were pleasantly surprised when they actually served us both half portions separately, we didn’t need to do it ourselves, very classy indeed. Apart from that the food was exceptional.

Prego Italian Restaurant

Koh Samui Island restaurants Thailand

Located at the Amari hotel TripAdvisor only rate it 13 out of 154 restaurants in Chaweng. Al I can say if there are 12 better restaurants then Samui dining is in great shape. Lovely decor, great food and excellent service. Once again the price was reasonable and they also had a red wine from Chile on special.

Pothole pulverizes pizza

Koh Samui Island restaurants Thailand

My ravioli was superb as was Pothole’s pizza.

Ravioli was superb

Koh Samui Island restaurants Thailand

 Put Prego on you list of must do restaurants in Samui. The Amari has been totally renovated and rates very highly among Samui hotels, for a very good room rate just book through THIS LINK.

 Wine Connection

Koh Samui Island restaurants Thailand

My favourite, they also have several in Bangkok although the Silom branch is the only one I have been to. The best garlic prawns I have had in 20 years, I have had them both at Samui & Bangkok & they are perfect.

Wine Connection at Central Festival Samui

Koh Samui Island restaurants Thailand

 We only spent 4 nights in Samui and chose to eat here twice.

Low cost wine

Koh Samui Island restaurants Thailand

They offer a wonderful selection of wine from all over the world at liquor store prices. Our red wine from Chile was a bargain B650.

The chain I’m told is owned by a French group, I only wish they would open a branch in Pattaya.

Lamb shank at the Wine Connection.

Koh Samui Island restaurants Thailand

The food choices are extensive, lots of terrines a a big range of pasta.

Coffee club

Koh Samui Island restaurants Thailand

I saw two Coffee club restaurants, one in Central Festival and one in the main street opposite the Ark Bar.  Very good eggs Benedict and coffee.

Eggs Benedict

Koh Samui Island restaurants Thailand

Absolutely delicious.

Bar Baguette

Koh Samui Island restaurants Thailand

Located at Bophut beach this was really a good little cafe for lunch, the avocado & bacon baguette was perfect and the staff were really friendly.

For more good restaurants in Bophut just follow THIS LINK.

Lots of choices on the main street.

Koh Samui Island restaurants Thailand

There are many restaurants offering fresh seafood and lots of sports bars offering good pub food. Sadly we only had four days to sample the Koh Samui Island restaurants Thailand, however I guarantee I shall return.

Lots of fresh seafood

Koh Samui busy main street

In the nine years since I was in Samui I can’t believe the incredible improvement in the restaurant scene, the choices are endless.

Thanks for visiting my Koh Samui Island restaurants Thailand photo blog. Book through THIS LINK for a discount on your hotel room.

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1g Duck

 

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