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Bangkok Weekend Fun Food Family

March 20, 2018 by David Herd

You gotta love the BIG Mango

Bangkok Weekend Fun Food Family

Bangkok Weekend Fun Food Family Bangkok Weekend Fun Food Family was on our menu in March 2018. There is so much to do in this great city it’s hard to know where to start. Then again why not start with breakfast at the JW Marriot on Sukhumvit in Nana?

25% discount card.

Bangkok Weekend Fun Food Family

25% off all food, drinks & accommodation, priceless. 🙂

Earwan shrine

Bangkok Weekend Fun Food FamilyDay & night the people gather at this famous shrine. 

Part of Bangkok’s ever changing skyline.

Bangkok Weekend Fun Food FamilyBangkok’s building frenzy continues.

Hugh skyscraper next to Terminal 21 at Asoke.

Bangkok Weekend Fun Food Family

The road and intersection here is always so busy 24/7.

Elyssa tackles a Pina Colada

Bangkok Weekend Fun Food Family

My lovely niece from Sydney enjoying a pre dinner drink.

Then dinner at The Grill

Wine Connection Central World BangkokPart of the Wine Connection chain of restaurants.

 Bangkok Weekend Fun Food Family

Wine Connection Central World Bangkok

     Wine Connection Central World Bangkok

Mexican garlic prawns & eggplant, both delicious.

Of course a visit to Nana Plaza is a must. 🙂

Bangkok Weekend Fun Food FamilyLucky Lukes is always popular.

The new roof cometh

Bangkok Weekend Fun Food Family

It may stop the rain & will probably stop the breeze as well. 🙂 

Via Vai in Soi 8 Sukhumvit

Bangkok Weekend Fun Food Family Very good Italian food, the lunch special is exceptional value.

Directly opposite is Monsoon

Bangkok Weekend Fun Food FamilyOne of my favourite Bangkok restaurants. 

A bunch of Herds

Bangkok Weekend Fun Food FamilyMy brother Warren & niece Elyssa. Warren lives in Port Macquarie & Elyssa lives in Sydney.

Whale’s Belly restaurant

Bangkok Weekend Fun Food FamilyTerrific food & decor, put it on your bucket list.

 Bangkok Weekend Fun Food Family

Bangkok Weekend Fun Food Family

      Bangkok Weekend Fun Food Family

Foie Gras & a fabulous pancake.

Bangkok shapes & colours

Bangkok Weekend Fun Food FamilyThanks for visiting my Bangkok Weekend Fun Food Family photo blog.

  Here are some more posts to check out 

         Sydney                               Paris                                   Bangkok           
 497d0b6e-c0bd-4ba2-86be-c02100f050a8        65470622-d17a-4b90-bf97-2574df4c412d        1a2160c1-41f7-465a-954c-631e083eb229
          Tokyo                        Rio De Janeiro                        Budapest
f59e958e-8eaf-48b4-8e96-c291a0c13d1a        f044491e-69aa-4082-b49b-1ff33557d7d4        a6a948cd-f30a-49ea-a905-82be4d202cc9
           London                            Beijing                            Capetown
2246c6cf-5fa6-4fbe-ac30-b569253ad2a6        f65d714b-f44c-4b2e-9505-3511ebecbb80        4e82052a-24d0-41e1-ab84-10e8f27634d1
 
            Great hotel room rates anywhere in the world if you            
 book through these links below.  Book now & pay later.
                                                                 Plus free cancellation .
                                               Bangkok Hotels                    Pattaya Hotels
                                            d0c59ff5-7f2b-41b5-9312-4556d4a62037            01a75360-9573-473f-acba-3a187f779b7f
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.               

 
Pattaya live webcam
 
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That’s all folks

1g Duck

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Food Friends Family Sydney

August 30, 2015 by David Herd

Bill Austin & Joan Baptiste

Food Friends Family Sydney

Food Friends Family Sydney

Food Friends Family Sydney, in 2010 the reason for my visit was to show Joan & Bill, my friends from Wiltshire in the UK, my wonderful home town with the best harbour in the world.

This is not a travel blog just a personal photo collection from 2010.

Overnight at Port Macquarie

Food Friends Family Sydney

We stay at Port Macquarie at my brother’s home on the way to Sydney, there was a vintage car rally with some terrific examples.

On top of the world.

Food Friends Family Sydney

You may be wondering why I didn’t make the climb, well that can be easily narrowed down to one word, FEAR!

Food Friends Family Sydney

Food Friends Family Sydney

Dinner with friends at French’s Forest in Sydney.

Peter Hobbs & Peter Hesky.

Food Friends Family Sydney

A couple of friends I have known since the 70s, Peter Hobbs occasionally visits Pattaya but Peter Hesky never makes contact anymore.

Warwick Robinson, David Herd & Michael Saleh.

Food Friends Family Sydney

It’s always good to catch up with old friends when I’m in Sydney.

Peter Hobbs drinking the good stuff.

Food Friends Family Sydney

Sparkling French Champagne to wash down the pasta. 🙂

Warwick loves his food

Food Friends Family Sydney

However it caught up with him in 2013, he underwent a triple heart bypass, so much for over indulgence. 🙂 Now here is quite a coincidence, his heart surgeon was Dr Alan Farnsworth, he was captain of our rugby team at Homebush High school in Sydney & I was vice captain. From memory he was dux of the school & I struggled to pass my intermediate, however we were both pretty good footballers.

While I’m on the nostalgia kick I fondly remember our football coach Peter Philpott, an Australian leg spinner & a terrific guy.

Manly Wharf Hotel with old friend Paul Slaughter

Food Friends Family Home Town Sydney

Paul & I spent a lot of time together over the years.

Manly Lodge Boutique Hotel

Food Friends Family Sydney

Nice small hotel in a good location, for a great room rate just book through THIS LINK.

Manly Wharf Hotel

Food Friends Family Sydney

Always lots of eye candy Sunday afternoon at Manly.

Drinks & Dinner at the Oaks

Food Friends Family Sydney

Dinner with Bill & Joan and my lovely niece Elyssa.


Herd family Xmas at cousin Deb’s house.

Food Friends Family Sydney

What a feast, cousin Deb really knows how to entertain.

My other nice Elyssa Xmas 2010

Food Friends Family Sydney

Fast forward to 2018 and Elyssa is the proud mother of a gorgeous little girl.

Main St Auburn NSW

Food Friends Family Sydney

The street really has not changed much in 50 years.

I grew up here at 58 Kihilla Rd Auburn

Food Friends Family Sydney

I took a sentimental journey to Auburn, the Sydney suburb I grew up in. The main st had not changed much except for the Vietnamese & Muslim establishments. My real shock came when I drove past our family home at 58 Kihilla Rd, it was now totally run down, a very heartbreaking sight for me.

Thanks for visiting my Food Friends Family Home Town Sydney photo blog.

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

     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) 
 

 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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Friends family Surfers Paradise

September 29, 2014 by David Herd

Breakfast at Main Beach

Friends family Surfers Paradise

Friends family Surfers Paradise

Friends family Surfers Paradise starting with my brother Warren his lovely daughter Laura & his friend we call Mumbles. Another incredibly busy year for travel including Belem at the mouth of the mighty Amazon , Fortaleza on the north coast of Brazil, Rio de Janeiro, Buzios, Cabo Frio & another great trip to Tuscany & Portofino.

Two trips to Sydney including a terrific family Xmas & one trip to Melbourne for an AFL weekend. Yes, 2006 was another great year.

This is not a travel blog just a personal photo collection from 2006.

Lovely Laura

Friends family Surfers Paradise

My niece Laura is a terrific singer & dancer trying to break into the big time. She won a scholarship to preform in New York which like myself she has fallen in love with the city.

My beautiful home at 106 Upton St Bundall, 4217

Friends family Surfers Paradise

I designed & had my beautiful waterfront home built in 1990, I made a huge mistake in 2004 when I added a 2nd floor, it made it difficult to sell because it was too big for the average family, 500 M2 with seven bedrooms & five bathrooms. Oh well, it’s not the first major mistake in my life and it won’t be the last.

Lunch with Rossco at Omeros Brothers.

Friends family Surfers Paradise

Good friend Ross Kennedy & I at Omeros Brothers, one of the best restaurants on the Gold Coast.

Lobster Morney with Rossco at Omeros Bros.

Friends family Surfers Paradise

The food here is always excellent.

Dave & Janice Hoskot

Friends family Surfers Paradise

Drinks on my jetty with the Hoskots, Janice is an Australian girl & Dave is American, for a number of years he was a back up drummer for Bob Dylan.

A rose between two thorns.

Friends family Surfers Paradise

Asuka on the left was a lovely Japanese girl from Osaka who was studying on the Gold Coast and renting a room in my home.

Robin & Les Scheffer, Janice Hoskot & Randy Fuse.

Friends family Surfers Paradise

The Scheffer’s & I were good friends for many years, but in 2013 they placed my firmly on their blacklist for various infractions, you will see some others they have also placed on the list in following photos, it’s nice to have company. 🙂

Here is a classic “black list” photo.

Friends family Surfers Paradise

That’s Robin at the front & four of the other six people including myself have been banished to her & Les Scheffer’s blacklist for quite a long time, as I said before it is nice to have company. 🙂 This particular day was a happy one, I have a small tradition where for many years on Good Friday I invite friends over for lunch.

Even though I was high on Les’s black list I’m sorry to say he passed away in March 2019, RIP.

Here is our Good Friday feast.

Friends family Surfers Paradise

  Beautiful Gold Coast fresh seafood & leg ham, salad & freshly baked bread.  

Birthday lunch for Noel Smith.

Friends family Surfers Paradise

  At Carmody’s restaurant at the Southport Sharks club to celebrate Noel Smith’s birthday.

Sadly we have lost Noel Smith. Les Scheffer, Ian Fraser-Smith, John Woods and Ron Collier, RIP. 

Xmas lunch at Melbas with the usual suspects

Friends family Surfers Paradise

  Greg Craig, Mike Nidrie & Noel Smith (RIP) are all regular drinking buddies of mine at Melbas.  

Beautiful smile at Melbas

Friends family Surfers Paradise

    Melbas always hires gorgeous girls.

Xmas lunch, the tradition continues

Friends family Surfers Paradise

Xmas lunch at Melbas with Lars Shitterer & Dave Hoskot, I first started drinking at Melbas on January 1st 1982 when some friends & I flew from Sydney after a huge NYE on Sydney Harbour when my boat was peppered with falling sky rockets because I stupidly  anchored in the drop zone.

Red wine at Melbas

Friends family Surfers Paradise

  Sudzi was one of the Melbas managers, in January 2008 we met up in Brazil for Carnival.  

Dave Allen at Melbas.

Friends family Surfers Paradise

  Dave is a terrific fellow & is the son of the owner & founder of Melbas Paul Alan.  

Melbas in Cavil Avenue

Friends family Surfers Paradise

Follow THIS LINK for lots of memories on Melbas.

Jim Bell & Dave Allen

Friends family Surfers Paradise

Jim Bell rented a room in my home for 13 years, that’s what I call a long term tenant.

Breakfast on Chevron Island with Brian Rawnsley.

Friends family Surfers Paradise

Brian is a Brisbane guy I met in Thailand, here we are at Tigerlilly on Chevron Island one of my breakfast haunts.


 

The girls in our footy tipping club.

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I ran a AFL tipping competition for 10 years, here we are at the end of year dinner.

And the winner is……..

Friends family Surfers Paradise

My great friend Ross Kennedy aka “Shoeless Joe Jackson”.

My brother Ian’s 50th birthday.

Friends family Surfers Paradise

Friends family gathered for Ian’s 50th birthday, here is Bryan another brother given one of his famous speeches.

 Family breakfast on Chevron Island.

Friends family Surfers Paradise

Two of my Brothers Bryan & Warren, Bryan’s wife Lynn & daughter-in-law Maisie.

This is Elliot, another little Herd.

Friends family Surfers Paradise

Maisie’s cute little kid.

Les & Robin Scheffer marry at Saks restaurant.

Friends family Surfers Paradise

A great venue for a wedding on the Broadwater at Marina Mirage.

Wedding guests at Saks.

Friends family Surfers Paradise

Niggle Stopsgiving standing next to me is now firmly on the Les Scheffer‘s black list, his lady of 10 years beautiful Randy Fuse on the far right and he sadly are still doing battle. The name  Geoff Pilkington’s wife eludes me & ?????

Sadly Les Passed away in May 2020, RIP.

I met these two lovely Japanese girls at Broadbeach.

Friends family Surfers Paradise

Their names were Nemo & Nami, naturally I took them home to my house for lunch. 🙂

Vannessa & I at Tamborine Mountain.

Friends family Surfers Paradise

It was not the fact she was excited to see me, it was very cold in the mountains. 🙂

 Melbourne Cup day drinks at Melbas

Friends family Surfers Paradise

David Robertson & Phil Thomson at Melbas on Melbourne Cup day watching all the gorgeous fillies getting flyblown. 🙂

Harley Bradstreet, one of my oldest friends.

Friends family Surfers Paradise

Harley was preparing to leave Brisbane after a another disastrous business experience. When describing Harley, Larry Wilson a mutual friend once said “anyone can have a bad decade”. Which fitted Harley to a tee, over the many years I have known him this nice harmless fellow seemed to stumble from one disaster to another. On my boat on our eventful NYE in 1981 when rockets were falling from the sky, who was the first guy to get hit by one? Harley Bradstreet of course. 🙂 Thanks for visiting  my friends family & others from 2006, check out the slideshow.

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

Thanks for visiting my Friends family Surfers Paradise photo blog.

 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
Surfers Paradise Party Animals
 
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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Bruges beautiful Belgium city

June 28, 2013 by David Herd

Bruges is really worth a visit.

Bruges beautiful Belgium city

Bruges beautiful Belgium city

Bruges beautiful Belgium city, in fact I knew very little of this great place until I saw the 2008 movie called “In Bruges” with Colin Farrell, then I knew I just had to visit, I had the same feeling about Versailles after seeing the Woody Allen movie “Midnight in Paris,” so actually this European trip was planned around both those fascinating destinations. I was not disappointed the city is quite special, expensive but really special.  😆

Bruges waterfront homes.

Bruges beautiful Belgium city

Definitely a city that should be on your bucket list.

Without a doubt AGODA is the best online Hotel booking site.

Belgium Chocolates, yum!

Bruges beautiful Belgium city

Now we all know how famous Belgium is for its chocolates however I am willing to bet you don’t always get a warm smile from a lady when you give her some of these.

Coffee in the sunshine

Bruges beautiful Belgium city

Here are my two English friends Bill Austin & Dave Catchpole not looking too happy, maybe it was something they ate.  🙄

In fact they were grumpy most of the trip which caused us to split up once we got back to Brighton on the south coast of England.

Outdoor Cafe in Bruges beautiful Belgium city

Bruges beautiful Belgium city

I have no hesitation in recommending this beautiful place for you to visit,  remember to book your hotel before arriving. Check the weather forecast as well, it is so much nicer walking around the village taking photos with a beautiful blue sky.

Thai Festival

Bruges beautiful Belgium city

What a coincidence, I’m living in Thailand & here when I visit Bruge there is a Thai festival happening. 🙂

Bruge Plaza

Bruges beautiful Belgium city

Interesting sculptures and fountains.

Waterside dining

Bruges beautiful Belgium city

A beautiful sky & French food by the water, what more could you want?

Nice restaurant

Bruges beautiful Belgium city

So many restaurants & such little time. 🙂

Wonderful terrine

Bruges beautiful Belgium city

Always on my list in Belgium or France.

Cruise the canals

Bruges beautiful Belgium city

One of the popular canal tours.

Or take a horse & buggy if you prefer

Bruges beautiful Belgium city

Personally I prefer to walk the city.

Wander along the cobblestone streets.

Bruges beautiful Belgium city

Lots of shops & restaurants to keep you busy.

The Park hotel is in a perfect location across the road from the above square.

Bruges beautiful Belgium city

There are many good restaurants and bars to choose from, however if I visit again it will be during the week as the weekends are so busy in summer most of the hotels are full. We paid 200 Euros for room at the Park Hotel with 4 single beds. For a good discount on rooms just book through THIS LINK.

Waterfront restaurant.

Bruges beautiful Belgium city

An interesting restaurant beside this wonderful tree.

Please click on Google + to help my page ranking.   

Catch fish from your window.

Bruges beautiful Belgium city

Picture postcard perfect in Bruges beautiful Belgium city.

Red wine & desert.

Bruges beautiful Belgium city

As you would expect there are many nice restaurants in Bruges.

Bruges beautiful Belgium city

Bruges beautiful Belgium city

Bruge was a wonderful experience.

Thanks for visiting my Bruges beautiful Belgium city photo blog.

                              Here are some more posts to check out 

                Istanbul                                 Budapest                        London

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

          Mostar                           Dubrobnik                            Split

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

                 Saigon                            Zagreb                          Vung tau

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

Pattaya live webcam
 
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That’s all folks

1g Duck

 

 

Thanks for visiting my blog on Bruges, and thanks to the movie “In Bruges” for inspiring me to visit this wonderful city. Please send the link to your friends https://fivestarvagabond.com/

 

Click here for my St Tropez post.

 

My fabulous world in 2014

 

Some Red light action in Bangkok

 

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