Sydney - February 2024

A mate from Hong Kong was in Sydney on holiday so I met him for a coffee in Manly and went for a walk. Manly Beach has just been voted best beach in Australia...

I then drove to the lake as we have had the roof replaced and I wanted to see it. I was not happy that the skip had been put on the grass !

New roof is colourbond. Hard to see from here...

On Jacqui's birthday we went to Lilong in Chatswood. Shanghainese food and very good. I love tofu...

And Peking Duck...

Took my sister to Jerry Sent Me in Wyong one Friday night. 

We shared a charcuterie platter...

The house being built on the site of the house I grew up in is coming along. It's weird to watch...

 

Brisbane - February 2024

 Came up to Brisbane for work. Easy flight on Monday morning. The new office is great. There is a lot of construction going on here in advance of the 2032 Olympics...

Stayed one night at Capri by Fraser which was fine. Had a walk and found a thai restaurant for dinner. Then headed to my favourite pub which has live music every night.

Flew back Tuesday afternoon.

Perth - February 2024

Flew from Singapore to Perth on Qantas business class. Only a five hour flight and arrived after midnight. I've never arrived into the international terminal in Perth.

No Uber so I caught a taxi to the Intercontinental which I am trying for the first time. It's right next door to the office.

Worked Monday to Thursday. As I was hosting the UK colleagues, we had very nice dinners each night.

The view from the office is stunning...

On Friday I headed to the airport for my flight at 1020. It ended up being cancelled but I was able to get on the 1520. A long day in the Qantas Club!

Landed about 2245 and home by about 2330.

Singapore - February 2024

Monday, I flew business class on Thai Airways from Bangkok to Singapore. Nice easy transit at the airport as Thai Airways have a dedicated lane for business class travellers. Easy two hour flight. Had the usual...

Changi was as efficient as usual and I was straight into a Grab to the Westin. I have stayed at the Westin before and it is a lovely hotel. This is the view from my room...

I went to the gym and had a spa...

This is the view from the spa...

I met a mate for a drink in Chinatown at a low-rise rooftop bar...

The next morning (Tuesday) I headed to work. This is the view from my office...

Back to the hotel after work and a swim. My office is at Marina Bay Financial Centre (Tower 3) which is one of the buildings directly ahead...

Then I went to a bar at Asia Square to meet my colleagues who had just flown in from London.

On Thursday, one of the partners invited me to Chinese New Year team lunch at the Tanglin Club. My first time having Lo Hei, a tradition that involes using the long chopsticks to throw this dish (Yusheng) into the air and saying good luck. We then ate the dish as a starter...

Thursday night I was invited to an event at Kinki Rooftop Bar...

I then walked to Chinatown to meet my Hong Kong mate who now lives here. We had some Chinese food and a drink.

Friday night one of my mates was in town from Hong Kong so we met for a few drinks in Club Street...

Then had dinner at Lau Pa Sat...

Saturday went for a walk to Telok Ayer and then caught the MRT to Bugis. Walked through Haji Lane...

Then onto Arab Street...

Then back to the hotel for a swim...

Saturday night headed to CE LA VI at Marina Bay Sands.

Had some friends in town which was fun...

We left and walked through Marina Bay Sands. It's the year of the dragon, the most auspicious sign of the Chinese zodiac...

And around the harbour to Lantern at the Fullerton Bay Hotel...

Unfortunately it was booked out so we caught a Grab to Ann Siang Hill which is my favourite drinking street. It's very quiet but we found an open bar called Brooklyn and had pizza and beers.

Sunday morning went for a walk to Gardens by the Bay. It's a lot more impressive at night.

And then walked through Marina Bay Sands to get into the airconditioning.

Spent the afternoon by the pool and left for the airport about 5pm. Perth next!

Bangkok - February 2024

Had to go to Singapore for work and decided to fly via Bangkok and have the weekend there. I flew Qantas Business Class on the Friday and arrived at Suvarnabhumi Airport in the afternoon. 

Flying over Botany Bay...

Let's go!

There are two international airports in Bangkok and I have been through both many times. However, when I have been to Suvarnabhumi before, it has been for work and I have been picked up. This time I caught a Grab which was easy and THB480.

About an hour to the hotel which this time is Grande Centre Point Surawong. Easy check in. The room was spacious and modern.

Checked out the rooftop pool...

Got changed and headed to a bar I had researched on the river called Jack's Bar. They were full so I then walked to Silom (about 25 minutes) which is an area I know well. 

Had some food and walked back to the hotel.

The next morning I got up and caught a Grab to Khlong Lad Mayom Floating Market. I've never been to one deeming them too touristy and far away, but this one was very local and not far by car. I tried some nice food for breakfast...

I couldn't work out what these were...

Then I took a ride on the khlong for THB100 (about A$4).

Afterwards I walked over a little bridge and found this cafe...

Then walked around the market some more...

I had an Avocado and Passionfruit drink...

I then walked up the road a bit to call a Grab, and had a Thai milk tea...

Kale coffee anyone?

I went back to the hotel for a rest and a swim. And then I made my way back to Jack's Bar. A bit earlier today and I was able to get a seat literally over the water. A very enjoyable beer was had!

Watched the sun go down over the river...

I then went to a restaurant I had been to a few times called Mango Tree...

Sunday morning I joined a cycle tour...

After riding through a local area and a market, we rode down the main road through Chinatown...

There were plenty of stops...

We crossed the river and stopped at a temple (Wat Kanlayanamit Woramahawihan)...

After the ride, I walked to Silom for breakfast. Had street food at a place I had been to before...

Back to the hotel for a rest and a massage. I had a free one hour body massage at the hotel. Let's Relax is a fancy massage chain.

Then went to the pool as the sun went down...

That night I headed to the Lebua Hotel as I wanted to try the Sky bar. This is the bar that was made famous by the Hangover movie. I knew it was going to be expensive but it was close to my hotel and I wanted to tick it off my list. 

Long pants are needed for the fancy bar...

The lobby of the hotel is not that nice but once I got to the rooftop, I was escorted to the bar. The views are good but I should have come for sunset. That's the river...

The bar is stand up only. I ordered a margerita which was the cheapest drink on the menu.

It came to A$60! I had my drink and left. I actually regretted the experience.

After that, I caught a Grab to Khao San Road, just because I've never been there at night. I walked from one end to another. It was so busy and loud and too much for me so I left.

I headed back to the hotel, changed into shorts and went for a massage then back to the hotel.

The next morning I got up and packed. This is the view from my room and you can see the Lebua Hotel straight ahead...

I went to the Thai Airways lounge and as I'm travelling business class, there was an express lane so I leared immigration very quickly. I had breakfast and did some work as I was there very early. 

Then headed to the gate. There's a new terminal at Suvarnabhumi Airport...

Boarded my flight for Singapore. Nice weekend!