Sydney - January 2025

I bought myself a new bike. My old one was getting very old and had a slow puncture and the brakes didn't work too well. It's lovely...

The next day, I did the ride I'd been warming up to from my place to Toukley and back. 46 km!

Stopped in Toukley for breakfast...

And again on the way back. I'd already had two coffees so I tried a soft drink...

I had my handyman come and put in a new garden bed...

First day back at work I got on a plane for Singapore and then Bangkok for work. I came back from Bangkok on Friday and on Monday I headed to Melbourne as I had been invited to a corporate box at the Australian Open. It was a great day and we watched the world number one, Jannik Sinner.

On the Australia Day weekend, I went for a bike ride around the Bay Run. I did it twice...

I stopped for a coffee at Drummoyne Rowers...

The next day I went for a walk from the Glebe Tramsheds. Here's a different perspective of the Anzac Bridge...

I went and got my number plates off hold. I've had them since 1985!

Walking from gym to the office down George Street...

Bangkok - January 2025

I arrived back in Bangkok from Pattaya on Sunday evening, ready to work in the office on Monday. I'm staying at Novotel Bangkok Platinum Pratunam this week, a new area for me. 

The hotel has a rooftop bar called View Rooftop Bar so after I unpacked I went there for a drink. It's on level 9 next to the pool so not really the rooftop but it's nice...

I then had a walk around the local area and got some food at an outdoor food court.

The next morning I got up and walked to the office which is very close...

This is the lobby. The building is largely vacant.

The keyboard is a bit busy...

The Novotel is on the right of this below pic. I am right near Central World where I stayed once before. And the Grand Hyatt is not far and where I stayed the very first time I came to Bangkok in 2016.

I walk to the office via that elevated walkway you can see. This is the view from the boardroom...

Walking back to the hotel over the khlong...

One day I went to the food court at Big C, a mall nearby. A bit of a convoluted process when you had to go to one place and put cash on a plastic card and then present it to the guy cooking your lunch. This is what I had which was very tasty and so cheap (A$3.30)...

In the lobby of the hotel...

Another night I went with a colleague to Firefly, a very nice bar at the Kempinski Hotel...

Walking over the khlong another day, looking the other way...

Another night I went back to View with a colleague and had some very nice cocktails...

The drinks had great names...

On Thursday morning, I worked from the hotel and then headed to the airport. I wanted to try the Airport Rail Link (ARL) as Bangkok traffic can be awful. I was able to walk about 15 minutes to the station (Ratchapraop) which meant I didn't have to connect via a Skytrain station.

This is a Bangkok view from the station...

The train came on time and took 24 minutes to the airport. The airport station is in the basement of the airport so I just had to take several escalators up to get to the Departure gate. 

It was very quick through immigration with the automated gates. I wanted to try the Qatar Lounge but it wasn't open (I was very early) so I went to the Cathay one which I had been top before and the food is always good at a Cathay lounge. I had dim sum and chicken rice for lunch.

I did some calls in the lounge and then got on the plane.

I always have the beef fillet so had a change and tried the chicken...

I pre-ordered breakfast and tried the pancakes. They look better than they tasted but the smoothie was nice...

Slept on the flight after watching several episodes of Tulsa King which I am enjoying. Landed in Sydney at 8am about half an hour late due to traffic. Things have improved at Sydney and I was through very quickly and into an Uber.

Great trip.

Pattaya, Thailand - January 2025

I flew from Singapore on Friday Cathay Business Class :-)

Landed at Suvarnabhumi mid-afternoon and used my APEC Card to use the fast track line through immigration. Fantastic, as there was nobody in that queue!

I'd arranged a car to take me to Pattaya it is about a 90 minute drive. The cost was THB1,200 which I thought was reasonable.

I have spent a lot of time in Bangkok so thought I'd try Pattaya for the weekend. I'd never wanted to go as it has a sleazy reputation. However a few people have recently told me that it's nice once you are away from the main walking street. So I booked the Avalon Beach Resort on Dongtan Beach.

I got a room on the top floor overlooking the pool and out to the beach. The room is dated but large and clean and in the Thai style with lots of timber. I liked it.

I walked around the area, withdrew some cash (love my Wise card) and had a massage then dinner.

Saturday morning I got up and had breakfast in the hotel.

Then I headed out for a walk. I wanted to see the Big Buddha mainly because it is on a hill and I wanted some nice views. It's a nice morning and not hot.

My beach!

I walked along the beach for a while then went inland via a typical Thai street ie lots of hotels, restaurants and massage places. Easy walk, although no footpaths so have to be a bit careful.

Got to the Buddha...

View back to Jomtien Beach...

Walked back a slightly different way, and stopped for a Thai Milk Tea...

Had a swim at the beach and then headed back to the hotel for some pool time. After that, I headed back to the main street for lunch. Found some street food for THB100 and it was excellent...

Saturday night I walked down Jomtien Beach to a rooftop bar I had researched. 

There are a range of water sports you can do here...

The bar was a fair walk. I stopped at Jomtien night market and bought two polo shirts for THB500. 

The bar was nice but a bit windy...

Lovely views...

Two for one happy hour...

Breakfast was included in the hotel room rate and not a bad spread. Started the Sunday with a soup...

Went and got some cash from the ATM as they don't like credit cards! Had a haircut for THB160, picked up my laundry (THB120 for 1.5kg) and stopped for a coffee for THB60. It feels cheaper here than in Bangkok.

The beach is quiet in the morning...

This is very Thailand!

So is this :-)

Jomtien Beach is the next one down from Dongtan...

I then went and packed and had lunch by the pool until my car arrived to take me back to Bangkok.