Hi All,
Well, suffice to say, although I’ve been away twice in as many weeks, this thing I do for about 11 hours a day has sure been taking its toll. It’s Q4, markets are crashing and we have to budget for next year. Lots of “intellectual masturbation” as one of my colleagues put it!! But when the big boss says jump, you don’t exactly leave early to play football (well, maybe once or twice!!!)
Nicole and Paul were passing through Bangkok after a couple of weeks on the beach in Krabi, so I went up to say hi. Bangkok is a cracking place – lovely food, welcoming people and some very cool places to go out. One thing is a serious problem though – traffic. Whatever you do, don’t plan on getting anywhere in a hurry!! Hours we spent in tuk-tuks (aka death-traps) and taxis. We went to go to the grand palace and turned up to be told it was closed for tourists until 1:30, but would we like to go on a tuk-tuk tour while we waited. Thought they were being nice and helpful until a couple walked past and told us we were being conned – sure enough, the palace was open so we hop skipped it round with Nicole doing her bit for cultural relations (see photos of her pose!)
Last weekend a group of 20 of us headed over to an Indonesian island called Bintan. It’s only a 1hr ferry ride away so very easy to get to. On the Saturday we played a round of golf – definitely one of the most frustrating games I’ve ever played. I typically manage to hit one nice shot per hole and finally it all came together on the par 3 on the 14th where I teed off to within 6 feet of the hole and putted in 1 – my first ever birdie – woohoo!!
We rented a couple of villas on the beach and that evening we had a pool and BBQ party with the theme Anchorman!! Some of the costumes were hilarious and some of them were disgusting (aka mine!!). Great fun and some cracking photos.
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=49694&l=a2e60&id=512991087
Footy is still going well. I’ve been transferred into a new team…stepping up from the 5th to 2nd division. And my 5 a side team won its league
Tonight I’m heading off to the Races and next week I go meet Jamie Black for a few days relaxing in Hua Hin.
And I’m officially coming home at Christmas/Chanukah time – I land in London on Sunday 21st, stay there a few days and then head to Cardiff on Xmas Eve for a few days. Lemme know if you’re about
Keep in touch, J
Friday, November 21, 2008
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Bangkok Tips
Hi Guys,
Had a short sharp trip to Bangkok. An excellent place worth visiting. Some tips.
Taxi to/from airport should cost no more than THB 500. Always make sure they’re on the meter. Took me 30 mins no traffic. Took 1hr back with traffic.
Traffic is an absolute nightmare. Skytrain supposedly efficient but I never took it. Tuk-tuks are pretty dangerous but great fun.
I went to the Grand Palace, reclining Buddha and spent an hour on a long boat – all in the same area and I recommend – just make sure you don’t get conned by the guys outside telling you the place doesn’t open for foreigners until 1:30 and how about you come on my tuk tuk for a tour for a few hours first – ignore them, they’re lying. You do need to cover up legs and shoulders in the grand palace, but you can borrow trousers/sarong there.
Ate dinner at Baan Khanita which was very good. Also recommend Face, Cabbages and Condoms, Curries and More. Food is very cheap
Drank at the open air bar Sirocco (at State Tower). Also recommend Vertigo (at Banyan Tree) and Bed Supper Club. (All London prices)
Stayed at Centrepoint Silom. Cost THB 2500 (about USD100). Hotels in general are pretty cheap and there are some cool boutique hotels – this is one of the cheapest of the lot, but a very 4 star good standard. Also recommend Peninsular, Oriental (expensive), Dusit Thani, Banyan Tree, Metropolitan (cheaper and very nice) Seven, Davis, Dream (Boutique)
Didn’t go to Khao San Rd this time, but very good fun and full of backpackers. Similarly, didn’t go, but I thought the area for “shows” is less seedy around Nana than Patpong. MBK and Siam Paragon are the enormous malls. And catch Muy Thai if you can – great fun.
Hope this helps.
Oh yeah, forgot to say….traffic is a nightmare!!! Jamie
Had a short sharp trip to Bangkok. An excellent place worth visiting. Some tips.
Taxi to/from airport should cost no more than THB 500. Always make sure they’re on the meter. Took me 30 mins no traffic. Took 1hr back with traffic.
Traffic is an absolute nightmare. Skytrain supposedly efficient but I never took it. Tuk-tuks are pretty dangerous but great fun.
I went to the Grand Palace, reclining Buddha and spent an hour on a long boat – all in the same area and I recommend – just make sure you don’t get conned by the guys outside telling you the place doesn’t open for foreigners until 1:30 and how about you come on my tuk tuk for a tour for a few hours first – ignore them, they’re lying. You do need to cover up legs and shoulders in the grand palace, but you can borrow trousers/sarong there.
Ate dinner at Baan Khanita which was very good. Also recommend Face, Cabbages and Condoms, Curries and More. Food is very cheap
Drank at the open air bar Sirocco (at State Tower). Also recommend Vertigo (at Banyan Tree) and Bed Supper Club. (All London prices)
Stayed at Centrepoint Silom. Cost THB 2500 (about USD100). Hotels in general are pretty cheap and there are some cool boutique hotels – this is one of the cheapest of the lot, but a very 4 star good standard. Also recommend Peninsular, Oriental (expensive), Dusit Thani, Banyan Tree, Metropolitan (cheaper and very nice) Seven, Davis, Dream (Boutique)
Didn’t go to Khao San Rd this time, but very good fun and full of backpackers. Similarly, didn’t go, but I thought the area for “shows” is less seedy around Nana than Patpong. MBK and Siam Paragon are the enormous malls. And catch Muy Thai if you can – great fun.
Hope this helps.
Oh yeah, forgot to say….traffic is a nightmare!!! Jamie
Monday, November 3, 2008
Perth....Hallowe'en....and a whole lot in between
Hi All,
While it’s been snowing back home, it’s been a pretty eventful couple of weeks in Asia.
The Northern Irishmen himself, Jamie Black came to stay for a few days before shooting off for a month traveling Asia – I’m meeting back up with him at the end of Nov for a few days partying and chilling on the beach. Had a couple of good nights out and showed Jamie some of the more “interesting” parts of Singapore!
Then a group of 8 of us headed off to Perth and Margaret River for 5 days of gluttony! Was basically a food and wine frenzy – couple of those “loosen your belts” moments! Stayed the first and last night in Perth – felt a bit like Cardiff – small City on the coast, easy to get around. Rest of the time we picked up a car (see my advert for Audi!) and drove down the coast to the southwest point of Oz – Margaret River. Gorgeous valleys and vineyards set against the beach and coast – really nice place to get away from it all and relax. Got some good pics on FB
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=46487&l=30082&id=512991087
Friday night was of course Hallowe’en. Singaporeans sure make a big effort. A group of 12 of us headed to a comedy night under the theme “Golf Pros and Tennis Hos”! Some cracking costumes and a good boozy night all round. Not sure if it was because the first person was a guy and was British….or the fact that the “headline” was female and Australian, but it was one extreme to the other with the British fella having us in hysterics and the Aussie woman had us throwing plastic golf balls. Defining moment of the evening was our friend Jared getting up on stage in front of the 200 people for his dance interpretation of YMCA. Again, pics (and more importantly video!!) on FB
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=46485&l=1be13&id=512991087
On Saturday, Anna “Preston” Preston arrived for 24 hours on her way to Sydney. Had a good night out at Supper Club and did some shopping and eating etc. Went to the famous Long Bar at the Raffles Hotel for lunch and can only describe my “Spring country chicken with frites” as KFC chicken and chips in a bucket – really frustrates me how these institutions trade on their name. That’s a problem with Singaporeans in general – they have no idea about good service.
Back to my old ways this week – seeing a Canadian comedian called Russell Peters. I’ve never heard of him, but he sold out his 3 shows in hours so I thought why not. And Friday we’re watching Avenue Q which I’m very excited about!! Next week, Nicole and Paul are in Bangkok so going to shoot up and see them for a couple of days.
Hope all is well wherever you are. Please write back and lemme know what’s going on, J x
While it’s been snowing back home, it’s been a pretty eventful couple of weeks in Asia.
The Northern Irishmen himself, Jamie Black came to stay for a few days before shooting off for a month traveling Asia – I’m meeting back up with him at the end of Nov for a few days partying and chilling on the beach. Had a couple of good nights out and showed Jamie some of the more “interesting” parts of Singapore!
Then a group of 8 of us headed off to Perth and Margaret River for 5 days of gluttony! Was basically a food and wine frenzy – couple of those “loosen your belts” moments! Stayed the first and last night in Perth – felt a bit like Cardiff – small City on the coast, easy to get around. Rest of the time we picked up a car (see my advert for Audi!) and drove down the coast to the southwest point of Oz – Margaret River. Gorgeous valleys and vineyards set against the beach and coast – really nice place to get away from it all and relax. Got some good pics on FB
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=46487&l=30082&id=512991087
Friday night was of course Hallowe’en. Singaporeans sure make a big effort. A group of 12 of us headed to a comedy night under the theme “Golf Pros and Tennis Hos”! Some cracking costumes and a good boozy night all round. Not sure if it was because the first person was a guy and was British….or the fact that the “headline” was female and Australian, but it was one extreme to the other with the British fella having us in hysterics and the Aussie woman had us throwing plastic golf balls. Defining moment of the evening was our friend Jared getting up on stage in front of the 200 people for his dance interpretation of YMCA. Again, pics (and more importantly video!!) on FB
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=46485&l=1be13&id=512991087
On Saturday, Anna “Preston” Preston arrived for 24 hours on her way to Sydney. Had a good night out at Supper Club and did some shopping and eating etc. Went to the famous Long Bar at the Raffles Hotel for lunch and can only describe my “Spring country chicken with frites” as KFC chicken and chips in a bucket – really frustrates me how these institutions trade on their name. That’s a problem with Singaporeans in general – they have no idea about good service.
Back to my old ways this week – seeing a Canadian comedian called Russell Peters. I’ve never heard of him, but he sold out his 3 shows in hours so I thought why not. And Friday we’re watching Avenue Q which I’m very excited about!! Next week, Nicole and Paul are in Bangkok so going to shoot up and see them for a couple of days.
Hope all is well wherever you are. Please write back and lemme know what’s going on, J x
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