Red | Hello from the Five Star Vagabond

Coober Pedy Opal Mine

April 14, 2017 by David Herd

Incredible landscape

Coober Pedy Opal Mine

Coober Pedy Opal Mine, nowhere else in the world have I seen colours similar to outback Australia. Red earth, blackened trees and a beautiful blue sky.

I took three Japanese students, Yukako, Megumi & Noriko & travelled from the Gold Coast in Queensland, through Broken Hill NSW to Cooper Pedy on the first leg of our journey on the way to Uluru aka Ayers Rock.

Excitement

The girls started clapping wildly when they saw the kangaroo sign so you can imagine how excited they were when they saw a live one.

Here we are in Coober Pedy

You know when you are near the town when you see all the mounds of dirt & gravel.

OK, what are we waiting for?

Let’s go & check out this underground village.

My trusty Holden Commodore was our transport on our marathon journey all through the Australian Outback we traveled 7,300 kilometers which was around 82 hours behind the wheel.

Mini mountains everywhere

Coober Pedy is a town in northern South Australia, 846 km north of Adelaide. The 2011 census showed its population was 1,695 (953 males, 742 females, including 275 indigenous Australians). The town is sometimes referred to as the “opal capital of the world” due to the quantity of precious opals that are mined there.

Men at work

This was our first indication of work happening around the mines.

Coober Pedy Opal Mine

As you can clearly see not all the people live underground.

Opal capital of the World

There are quite a few opal shops, restaurants and a variety of accommodation ranging from four star to backpackers and caravan/camping areas.

Desert Cave Hotel

The hotel has rooms above ground and in underground caves, this relaxed hotel is a 14-minute walk from the Big Winch Lookout. For an excellent discount just book through THIS LINK.

Big Winch Lookout

The famous historic Big Winch Scenic Lookout with 360 degrees view of the town.

Is this Coober Pedy art?

To be honest with you I have no idea what it is. 🙂

On the other hand….

This may well be the brother of “Tin Man” from The Wizard of Oz. 🙂

On the subject of movies

This monster was apparently part of a movie set that has been abandoned and left here as a talking point.

We have finished the first stage of our Journey.

Next stop is Uluru aka Ayers Rock.

Thanks for visiting my Coober Pedy Opal Mine photo blog.

Life 2015 Family history Life 1982

Adelaide 1972 Iron Bar Freddy Sydney 2006

Thailand 2008 Gold Coast Babes World trip 2003

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Soi Cowboy Nana Plaza Patpong

Australian adventures

Great Ocean Road

Melbourne

Port Macquarie

Sydney landmarks

Australian seafood

Mr Wong

Remembering Melbas

Coober Pedy Opal Mine

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My life in 2003

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Red Sky Bar Bangkok

December 24, 2015 by David Herd

Absolutely amazing

Red Sky Bar Bangkok

Red Sky Bar Central World Bangkok offers a breathtaking view of this wonderful city. Perched on the 56th floor at Centara Grand Hotel on top of Central World shopping Mall.

Bistro and bar

A huge wines selection at the bistro which occupies the entire 55th floor, both indoor and outdoor dining sections to choose from, and the solely outdoor bar deck of the 56th floor wraps around the circular core of the building providing an uninterrupted 360 degree panorama of the amazing Bangkok metropolis.

Happy hour is 5 to 7 pm

Buy one get one free is a good deal as the price as you would expect at such a venue is rather high. A Jack Daniels or a beer is B360 so getting 2 for 1 is a good deal.

After happy hour finishes

Well that’s another story, some friends turned up and Lisa from Townsville was drinking champagne which turned out to be B1,100 per glass, which equals $42 AUD or $30 USD. Now that’s not really a problem but her and her friend John left without paying, subsequently Greg, the little guy in the middle got stuck with a huge drink bill. 🙂

Enough of that, back to the amazing view.

The Baiyoke tower is 85 stories and is the tallest building in Bangkok, it includes the Baiyoke Sky Hotel, the tallest hotel in Southeast Asia and the seventh-tallest all-hotel structure in the world.

Game changer

MahaNakhon is a luxury mixed-use skyscraper currently under construction in the Silom/Sathon central business area of Bangkok. Designed to fit into the Thai landscape with a unique pixelated facade, it will have the unconventional appearance of a glass curtain walled square tower with a cuboid-surfaced spiral cut into the side of the building. Upon its estimated completion in 2015, it will become the tallest building in Bangkok at 314 metres (1,030 ft), with 77 floors. Featuring hotel, retail and residences, 200 units of The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Bangkok inside the building are priced between around US$1,100,000 to US$17,000,000, making it one of the most expensive condominiums in Bangkok. From Wikipedia.

Another angle

The entire 360 degree vista is incredible from the Rd Sky Bar.

Hamish loves a selfie

We recently travelled to Tokyo and Osaka where Hamish proved that he was king of the selfies.

Great shot from Red Sky Bar Central World Bangkok

The golden domes look fantastic. For a great room rate at the Novotel just book through THIS LINK.

Jack Daniel’s & Soda Red Sky Bar Bangkok

My drink of choice.

That’s MBK

One of the best places to shop in Bangkok, eight stories high, the centre contains around 2,000 shops, restaurants and service outlets, including the 4-story Tokyu department store.

The P hotel is connected bto MBK, for an excellent room rate just book through THIS LINK.

Sunset at the Red Sky Bar

Try to arrive at least 30 minutes before sunset to enjoy the day and the night view.

Sunset cocktails

Such a beautiful evening to enjoy a cocktail or three with friends.

The day draws to a close

Red Sky Bar Bangkok is now one of my favourite places to visit in this great city, put it on your bucket list.

A seat with a view

Lots of places to sit & enjoy one of Bangkok’s most spectacular Sky Bars.

David Herd, on top of the world at Red Sky Bar Bangkok.

What an incredible year 2015 has been for me, I figure I’m one of the luckiest guys alive. I visited nine countries and fourteen great cities. Plus I’m ready for anything 2016 has in store for my. Check out my Eastern European Odyssey.

When I’m in Bangkok I like to stay in Sukhumvit Soi 11, here is an excellent budget hotel, if you USE THIS LINK you will get a great rate of around B1100 per night, or $30 USD.