Hello from the Five Star Vagabond
June 10, 2020
by David Herd
Comments Off on Bangkok restaurants shopping 2020
Bangkok between Nana & Asoke Bangkok restaurants shopping during the Covid-19 lock-down was still an enjoyable weekend, I really needed to get away from my home in Pattaya for a welcome change of scenery. This photo was taken from … Continue reading
December 3, 2019 by David Herd
Bangkok river buildings photographed from the Iconsiam free ferry shuttle on the Chao Phraya River. Everything from tall modern skyscrapers to ancient waterfront homes. The photo above is the State Tower which was built in 2001, it is the largest building in Southeast Asia, with 300,000 m² floor area. The building on the right is the Shangri-La hotel.
One of the best locations in Bangkok, 5 minutes walk to the sky train. On the right is Centre Point hotel. For a discount at the Shangri-la just use THIS LINK. The rooms in Center Point are excellent, for a discounted room rate just use THIS LINK.
These boats are very good for exploring the Bangkok canals. See more on THIS LINK.
What a contrast we see along the Chao Phraya river, modern skyscrapers & wonderful old buildings.
Often referred to as the Ghost Tower, the Sathorn Unique is an abandoned Bangkok skyscraper. Not only is it illegal to enter but it’s also in a state of dangerous disrepair. Where there’s a will there’s often a way, however, and many daring souls have slipped a “tip” to the security guards and made their way through the debris to experience an exhilarating adventure with glorious views over Sathorn’s towering buildings.
This impressive office building is owned and operated by the Communications Authority of Thailand (CAT). Consisting of 30 floors.
Great view of the CAT building with the State Tower featuring Sirocco restaurant on the far right with the gold dome.
Bangkok River Park is located at Trok Saphan Yao, Chakkrawat, Samphanthawong, Bangkok 10100. Construction was completed in 1994. The condominium comprises of a single building, having 36 floors and includes 97 units.
Such a contrast compared to the the modern high-rise buildings along this great river.
River City opened in l984 and was the first riverside shopping complex of its kind in Bangkok. With over 47,000 sqm of space and a couple hundred retail spaces, the mall offers a wide selection of shopping choices. Its main focus is on Thai cultural articles and antiques. It does offer standard retail shopping as well. The mall also hosts a number of exhibitions, events, festivals and auctions throughout the year.
To the right is the Royal Orchard Sheraton, for an excellent room discount just book through THIS LINK.
Icon Siam Mall is called the “Mother of All Malls”, with 500 shops and 100 restaurants from more than 30 different countries. Developed by the same tycoons behind Siam Paragon and EmQuartier, Icon Siam offers high-end brands, an indoor floating market, an art gallery, exhibition space, and a beautiful riverside location with views of downtown Bangkok.
Thanks for visiting my Bangkok river buildings photo blog, this great city is forever changing, put it on your bucket list.
Everything you wanted to know about Bangkok but were afraid to ask. 🙂
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December 1, 2019 by David Herd
Iconsiam Bangkok great food, however there is a problem, there are so many great places to eat it is difficult to make a decision. There is a selection of over a hundred famous restaurants from all over the world in seven different zones, each of them catering to diverse culinary tastes. The incredible choice of dishes available come from venues ranging from Michelin starred restaurants to famous Thai street food stalls.
Very authentic, it’s as good as you get in Tokyo. 🙂
Only B420 or $14 USD. Siam Takashimaya offers three zones of Japanese food venues, the ground floor features a food court and more Japanese restaurants, while cafés and bakeries from across Japan on UG floor are divided into three smaller zones named after the Japanese prefectures of Kyoto, Hokkaido and Nara.
In fact I travelled to Sapporo in July 2018.
Lots of varieties here to choose from.
Yes, I certainly am, everything looks so good. 🙂
Another interesting casual venue.
Check out the seven dining zones.
So many restaurants & such little time.
Lots of heat under that big bowel.
As you can clearly see there are so many choices at Iconsiam, please put it one your bucket list, you will not be disappointed.
Just catch the free shuttle ferry from Sathon pier, they run every 10 minutes or so.
Thanks for visiting my Iconsiam Bangkok great food photo blog.
Everything you wanted to know about Bangkok but were afraid to ask. 🙂
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January 20, 2019 by David Herd
LadyBoys Nana Plaza Bangkok
LadyBoys Nana Plaza Bangkok seem to be increasing in numbers each year. In Thailand a Kathoey or katoey is a transgender woman or an effeminate gay male. Many Thai people perceive that a kathoey actually belongs to a third gender.
They usually start to arrive from 6 pm on, it’s rather entertaining seeing them arrive with an exaggerated walk & almost always stroking their hair.
LadyBoys often look and act more ladylike than the ladies! Everything is exaggerated, particularly walking, where they look like they are on a constant catwalk. There is a more pronounced swaying of the hips, more elegant posture (particularly when seated), excessively flicking and fidgeting with their hair and over-applied make-up.
However he is a well known face around Nana Plaza, let’s just call him “Secrets”. 🙂
Most LadyBoys are much taller than the girls & after living in Thailand for many years they are easy to spot. Ladyboys do not just exaggerate their femininity; they exaggerate everything! Every word and action is excessively flamboyant. This makes them stand out from the crowd because Thai culture is such that women (even those working in beer bars and go-gos) are usually quite reserved.
Gary & Brad are from Townsville & I’m in the middle & have lived in Pattaya for 10 years. However my first visit to Nana Plaza was 24 years ago in 1996.
By far the best looking LadyBoy I have ever seen was in Pattaya. My two Aussie friends Dennis & Nick were absolutely stunned. 🙂
Without a doubt this is the best adult entertainment precinct in Bangkok.
Wow! what nice group of lads. 🙂
A couple of fine feathered friends. 🙂
However I prefer the real thing, someone like this gorgeous lady who is looking for a late night snack.
Thanks for visiting my LadyBoys Nana Plaza Bangkok photo blog.
Lots more photo blogs here;
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January 14, 2019 by David Herd
Mahanakhon Sky Walk Bangkok
Mahanakhon Sky Walk Bangkok is Thailand’s tallest building featuring a glass floor 314 metres above the busy streets of Bangkok. A two-tiered observation tower is part of the complex that also hosts Bangkok’s highest rooftop bar and a 63-square metre glass tray floor. I visited with Brad Robbins, my friend from Townsville Australia, his girlfriend Por & her daughter Pang.
Quite breathtaking as you can clearly see.
The price is rather high, B850 or $26 USD for adults & B250 or $7.80 USD for children & seniors, & guess what? I’m a senior, YIPPEE!
The golden dome is the State tower with the famous Sirocco sky bar.
Which is a large shopping mall, which opened to the public on 10 November 2018, as well as hotels and residences.
The terrible haze covering Bangkok really effects the photo quality. I’ll visit again when the sky is blue.
Imagine what it will be like on a beautiful fine day.
Going up was very fast, 74 floors in 50 seconds. Going down King Power set a trap for you, they force you to walk through 4 or 5 floors of shops, to make matters worse the exit on each floor is not clearly marked, so it is very difficult to get out of the building.
You must take off your shoes & wear soft covers.
If you suffer from vertigo the glass floor is not for you. 🙂
Refreshments are available from the shop.
You feel like quoting Martin Luther King “Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!”
Thanks for visiting my Mahanakhon Sky Walk Bangkok photo blog.
Check out these great photo blogs.
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March 18, 2018 by David Herd
Big Changes Nana Plaza
Big Changes Nana Plaza Plus Soi 4 are taking place right now in March 2018. A huge roof is being built over the Plaza & the bars in the centre are being built again.
First bar on the right as you enter.
Quite a nice addition to the plaza, apparently it has been here 3 years yet I rarely venture to the back of Nana.
You gotta love the pink. 🙂
Lollipop makes a comeback. It was Suckers & before that Lollipop again.
This to me is the quintessential Nana Plaza photo, sums up many of the customers. 🙂
This is at least the 3rd time the bars in the centre courtyard have been re-built, I have a feeling the current owners will do it right this time.
Last re-build was 2013, check this link.
My first visit was 1997 which was the start of a long and happy connection, not necessarily because of the Thai girls who are there basically to relieve you of your hard earned cash, more because of the great times I have enjoyed with friends from all over the world. Check out this photo blog which showcases them and many of the gorgeous babes we got tangled up with over these decades of decadence. 🙂
Rainbow 1 has been at Nana Plaza for as long as I can remember.
This is one of about 4 Hillary bars.
Just a short stroll down Soi 4 on the opposite side of the road.
The bars offer a nice alternative to the rowdy Nana Plaza.
At the front of Broadway in Soi 4.
Apart from the new bars there are a couple of high rise buildings under construction, hotels or condos, not sure which.
The more things change the more they stay the same. I first came to Nana Plaza in 1996, & here I am again in October 2018 drinking ice cold Tiger beer & listening to the Eagles sing Hotel California, the perfect song for this incredible venue. “You can check out anytime you want but you can never leave.”
Still a great spot to watch the arrivals.
Girls will often be boys.
The best I have ever seen it look.
The action never stops.
Thanks for visiting my Big Changes Nana Plaza Plus Soi 4 photo blog.
Click on bottom right hand corner for full screen.
For a great room rate at the A-One hotel opposite the beach just book through THIS LINK.
Lyme Regis Jurassic coast
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March 18, 2018 by David Herd
Wine Connection Central World
Wine Connection Central World Bangkok is called the Grill at the Groove, & is ideally located in the best location in Ratchaprasong district, this central business district is easily accessible via three different Skywalk links between BTS Siam station and BTS Chitlom Station.
Each Wine Connection restaurant has a liquor store where you can purchase wines from all over the world at very reasonable prices.
Great atmosphere, good service & excellent food.
These guys really earn their money.
They both love the food at Wine Connection.
The eggplant & the cold cuts with cheese are Elyssa’s favourites.
My favourite dish at Wine Connection Central World.
Priced at only B450 if you take it home or B500 if you drink it there.
The bar area is rather spectacular as you can clearly see.
The extensive menu has a great variety of pasta & pizzas.
The terrific slow cooked lamb shank.
You can probably now understand why Wine Connection is my favourite Bangkok restaurant chain.
Thanks for visiting my Wine Connection Central World Bangkok photo blog. Follow THIS LINK for more Wine Connection outlets.
Check out the new Pattaya branch on THIS LINK.
For a great room rate at the A-One hotel opposite the beach just book through THIS LINK.
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January 12, 2018 by David Herd
Pattaya Life Absolutely Perfect
Pattaya Life Absolutely Perfect place to live for a guy like me. Good friends & great restaurants, what more could I want? Plus a reasonably short plane ride to many outstanding locations. Above is the incredible view from my Markland apartment on the 20th floor.
Where else but the magic Mantra?
David Rose & Ray Ebzery on the right.
George Hoult with Sharyn & Frank, all Aussies.
Many middle eastern types who don’t spend money & aggravate the girls & customers are turned away, try that in Australia. 🙂
Fred & Bill think its a great idea & so do I.
Best sunsets in the world.
There something special about a silhouette.
Mark of course is the guy who knocked off $50,000,000 on Wall St a few years ago, apart from that he is a very nice fellow. 🙂
The fine print said “needs a little work”. 🙂
I’m sure Mark Yagala could sell it. 🙂
This is the branch at Central Marina shopping mall, I’m also a regular at The Bay on Beach Rd,
The girls stuck a candle in my croissant. 🙂
This work will go on for a couple of years, it’s only 2 blocks from my condo.
Dim Sum is usually at the Peak restaurant but was relocated to the Bay restaurant for a few weeks.
Follow THIS LINK for some other good restaurants.
An excellent authentic Japanese restaurant in 2nd Rd opposite Mike Hotel.
A rare sight in Pattaya, traffic was stopped for a parade.
John Hunjadi with cousin Greg & his wife.
Lately when I have dinner here I take away six servings of their pea soup.
These highly trained 3BB technicians are quite fastidious as you can see.
Located beside the Glasshouse at Na Jomtien, very good food & right on the beach.
The pizza was excellent but I think the Holiday Inn on Beach Rd is better.
We went to Chiang Mai for 4 days which was excellent then 8 days in Cambodia which was not so good. Reason being we all caught a dose of the flu which really took the shine off our holiday.
A terrific beach side restaurant with very good food.
Guaranteed to fix your appetite.
I think the combined ages were 272 years, from the right we have David Herd, Richard (Stingy) Blair, John Hunjadi & David Robertson who is even more Stingy than Stingy. 🙂
This was supposed to be completed by October 2017, however given the fact that this is Thailand it will more likely be Xmas 2018.
Light show at the A-One hotel.
Hamish & I had a 20% discount voucher. 🙂
Fabulous food as usual.
Fresh prawns & Aussie lamb chops & cutlets from Big C.
Now you can understand why I make the following claim “Pattaya Life Absolutely Perfect.”
Here are some more posts to check out
Life 2015 Family history Life 1982
Adelaide 1972 Iron Bar Freddy Sydney 2006
Thailand 2008 Gold Coast Babes World trip 2003
For a great room rate at the A-One hotel opposite the beach just book through THIS LINK.
June 30, 2016 by David Herd
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.
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.
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.
These beautiful Rainbow Lorikeets would visit every day for their snack on the balcony.
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.
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.
Ross doing his Tarzan impersonation on Lion Island.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
That’s Madison my beautiful 4 year old German Shepherd who used to diligently guard the store overnight.
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.
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. 
Amazing seeing these old photos, all of these cute kids now have children of their own.
A lovely couple who lived in the next street from us, John also worked at Canon in the computer division.
John & Sue, Karen & I went on a Canon conference to Penang, here we are driving from Penang to Singapore via Kuala Lumpur.
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.
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.
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.
I can’t remember the name of the beautiful dark haired princess, she was the girlfriend of my crazy chiropractor from North Sydney.
Prior to buying my cabin cruiser I had this little run-about, it was a lot of fun, do you like the name?
Danny Rose one of Adelaide’s true characters, we had a day of the water, you can see “Stamped Urgent” in the background.
Certainly my life on the Newport peninsular Sydney revolved around lots of good friends and my beautiful fiancee 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
Adelaide 1972 Iron Bar Freddy Sydney 2006
Thailand 2008 Gold Coast Babes World trip 2003
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
Brazil Hotels That’s all folks
Pattaya live webcam
For a great room rate at the A-One hotel opposite the beach just book through THIS LINK.Brazil Hotels
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July 17, 2017 by David Herd
Buildings Chao Phraya River
Buildings Chao Phraya River Bangkok are one of the many interesting sights in this great city. Take the Sky Train to Saphan Taksin station or grab a taxi. The river ferries leave from just below the station.
Above is the free shuttle to Asiatique an excellent night market 10 minutes away. Lots of terrific restaurants, be careful if you want to take a taxi home from there, they will quote B400 for an B80 ride, the Bangkok taxi Mafia is in full operation here.
Planned as a high-rise condominium complex, construction of the building was halted during the 1997 Asian financial crisis, when it was about 80 percent complete. It’s now the most prominent of Bangkok’s many derelict buildings, and has become a destination for urban explorers.
Bangkok is really going through a building boom, particularly along the mighty Chao Praya river.
Check out my Bangkok building photo blog on THIS LINK.
There are many ferries large & small taking people on a cruise along the mighty Chao Phraya river, follow THIS LINK for another of my photo blogs.
Sirocco Sky Bar is the world’s highest open-air bar on the 64th floor of the State Tower located on Silom Road, Bang Rak business district, Bangkok, Thailand, the second tallest building in Thailand.
Centre Point Hotel Silom is the white building close to the State Tower, excellent 45 M2 rooms, for a discounted room rate just book through THIS LINK.
So many interesting boats on the river.
How would you ever find a life-jacket if there was a problem with the ferry?
Thanks for visiting my Buildings Chao Phraya River Bangkok photo blog, follow THIS LINK for the Asiatique market.
Here are some more posts to check out
Slide show here.
Check out these great photo blogs.
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June 25, 2017 by David Herd
Amazing World Food Volume Two starting with Japan
Amazing World Food Volume Two closely following “Amazing Food Planet Earth Volume one” featuring my favorite food from all over this wonderful world. I’m not pretending to be a food critic I’m just highlighting some memorable food I have enjoyed over the years.
Salmon sashimi with salmon caviar sprinkled with edible gold leaf. The gold leaf is used in jewelry, cosmetics etc as well as the edible product you see here.
Wagyu beef at Shabusen at the Ginza, a terrific restaurant for Shabu Shabu, go at lunch time for special prices. I could dedicate this whole post to Japanese cuisine which is my favorite food, however I do that in another photo blog.
This particular street in Seoul where all the restaurants are looks very ordinary through the day but it comes alive when night falls. It is the best bar restaurant area I have ever seen anywhere in the world.
These street snacks look rather interesting.
To be honest I’m not a huge fan of Korean food which is mainly due to ignorance, in future I must try ta few more dishes. Consequently here I am in Seoul eating french food, an entree of prawns, avocado & egg followed by steak tartare.
As I have found over the years this is a very tasty dish but too much for one person, better to share next time.
A wonderful city for food & wine, in fact it quickly became one of my favorite European cities.
I’m sure this restaurant has not changed for hundreds of years. 🙂
TripAdvisor show around 6,000 restaurants is Lisbon so I’m guessing nobody eats at home. 🙂
My downfall, how can I possibly resist?
Let’s start with breakfast in a private home with two suites for rent.
Rated by TripAdvisor #322 of 3,241 Restaurants in Amsterdam. A fabulous baguette washed down with a Heineken.
TripAdvisor rate #93 of 3,241 Restaurants in Amsterdam. Here is the Michelin guide description; This art nouveau style restaurant is located at the confluence of two canals and has a delightful terrace overlooking the water. Influences from France and Italy combine to deliver tasty dishes with clearly defined flavours.
Food in the big apple is amazing, Gallagher’s lived up to it’s reputation as being on of New York’s best steakhouses, in fact my Surf & Turf could have fed two people easily.
All fresh beef is aged for at least few days and up to several weeks to allow enzymes naturally present in the meat to break down the muscle tissue, resulting in improved texture and flavor. These days, most beef is aged in plastic shrink-wrap—a process known as wet-aging. All fresh beef is aged for at least few days and up to several weeks to allow enzymes naturally present in the meat to break down the muscle tissue, resulting in improved texture and flavor. These days, most beef is aged in plastic shrink-wrap—a process known as wet-aging.
Last but not least is a typical Australian lunch at my home when I was living on the Gold Coast in QLD Australia, I entertained often & this food took very little preparation.
I have eaten oysters all over the world, please check out THIS LINK.
Thanks for visiting my Amazing World Food Volume Two photo blog. Check out volume one here.
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.
Check out these great photo blogs.
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