JB's 50th - LoS
WEDNESDAY 31 MAY
Three weeks ago, JB had sent me an e-mail inviting me to his 50th birthday, which was in Thailand. I had been ‘umming’ and ‘ahhing’, thinking about money and that I should be doing my travels, but to be honest, I’d been finding the last few weeks quite hard and had been close on a couple of occasions to binning the trip – although I didn’t really want to just stuff it and leave. It was Port MacQuarie that decided it for me – I’d been there a couple of days and had been flirting with the idea of going to Thailand – checking flights and what not. I thought I’d mull it over with a bottle of Vino and a nice meal so off I went to a Thai restaurant. It started raining and I ended up having some of the worst service out!! I cunningly asked the waitress to take the photo and I decided that was it – the ticket was booked the next day!! I just had to drive up to Bris-Vegas in 3 days and fly out. So, that was it – up early the next morning, I caned over 500 klicks and stayed the night in Lennox Heads, before driving the remaining 2 hours on Tuesday and staying near the airport for a 3pm flight on Wednesday. There’s a lot to be said for feeling better once a decision is made and I thoroughly enjoyed my drive up. There were a number of stops I was missing – Trial Bay / Byron etc, but I decided I’d drive back down after the Thailand holiday and ‘redo’ them. Of course, I needed to catch Sam as well, he wasn’t getting away with that!!
Check-thru and the wait were pretty easy and an added bonus was that I’d be catching the opening games of the World Cup with only a 5 hour difference in time and in a place where there truly is 24 hour drinking!! Get in there!
I’d arranged a taxi pick-up from Domuang to Pattaya – it’s crazy – the guy would drive from Pattaya to the airport – pick me up and take me to Pattaya via the Express route for half the price of the taxi’s that you collect at the airport. The downer was
that it was monsoon season and the driver seemed a bit nervous! I’ve driven in heavy rain before but that was scary – especially when the guy nearly ploughed into the back of a truck which had no tail-lights! Oh yeah, there was a guy driving the wrong way down the Expressway towards us! After that, I decided to just shut my eyes and pray!! The bonus on arriving was finding that Johnny and Phat were still up in the bar having a few ‘pre-opening’ beers – so it’d be rude to not join them! A good night, I even got up and sang a couple of songs!
One of the things I love about Thailand is the golf – it’s a completely under-discovered place for golf – off the beer, out getting a sun tan and playing sport as well – how much more healthy do you need a holiday to be?!! Of course, Thursday, I had the small matter of a hangover to deal with, but with 2 hour Thai massages for an ‘Ayrton’, there’s no better way – other than a swim in the pool….
Jimmy, Dominique and Janie, Jimmy's wife.
Working in Russia, John’s brother, Jimmy, was there too – another good lad, Geordie – who is the only Geordie I know that can sing all of the ditty ‘Off to Blaydon Races’! Hadn’t seen Jimmy since I was over about 4 years ago (where does time go to?) so the catch-up was good there at John’s birthday bash. Also, John’s daughters – Danielle and Dominique were just a couple of teenage kids when I last met them and now they’re women grown. I won’t upset ya JB by commenting on how attractive they are ;-0)
Part of the gang!
John’s birthday night was a party of note – I’d been out with an Irish and Scouse lad, Keith and Lee, for some beers and pool in the afternoon and the food JB had laid on at the party was just what I needed! Like most parties in Thailand, it was an excessive affair!
Dave, JB and 'Burger'! On account of his fondness for 'Le Big Mac'!
Good to meet a few on John’s mates as well – some fellow divers and golfers – sorted!
The rest of the holiday was spent either by the pool or on the beach as I struggled with the reasons for my trip out here and tried to recapture my aim of what I was looking to achieve here on my travels – my time leading up to Port MacQuarie had kind of knocked the enthusiasm out of me – I mean – there must be more to Oz than a load of (admittedly nice) beaches! I need a Project – something to work on – a goal to aim for…..;-0)
Three weeks ago, JB had sent me an e-mail inviting me to his 50th birthday, which was in Thailand. I had been ‘umming’ and ‘ahhing’, thinking about money and that I should be doing my travels, but to be honest, I’d been finding the last few weeks quite hard and had been close on a couple of occasions to binning the trip – although I didn’t really want to just stuff it and leave. It was Port MacQuarie that decided it for me – I’d been there a couple of days and had been flirting with the idea of going to Thailand – checking flights and what not. I thought I’d mull it over with a bottle of Vino and a nice meal so off I went to a Thai restaurant. It started raining and I ended up having some of the worst service out!! I cunningly asked the waitress to take the photo and I decided that was it – the ticket was booked the next day!! I just had to drive up to Bris-Vegas in 3 days and fly out. So, that was it – up early the next morning, I caned over 500 klicks and stayed the night in Lennox Heads, before driving the remaining 2 hours on Tuesday and staying near the airport for a 3pm flight on Wednesday. There’s a lot to be said for feeling better once a decision is made and I thoroughly enjoyed my drive up. There were a number of stops I was missing – Trial Bay / Byron etc, but I decided I’d drive back down after the Thailand holiday and ‘redo’ them. Of course, I needed to catch Sam as well, he wasn’t getting away with that!!
Check-thru and the wait were pretty easy and an added bonus was that I’d be catching the opening games of the World Cup with only a 5 hour difference in time and in a place where there truly is 24 hour drinking!! Get in there!
I’d arranged a taxi pick-up from Domuang to Pattaya – it’s crazy – the guy would drive from Pattaya to the airport – pick me up and take me to Pattaya via the Express route for half the price of the taxi’s that you collect at the airport. The downer was
that it was monsoon season and the driver seemed a bit nervous! I’ve driven in heavy rain before but that was scary – especially when the guy nearly ploughed into the back of a truck which had no tail-lights! Oh yeah, there was a guy driving the wrong way down the Expressway towards us! After that, I decided to just shut my eyes and pray!! The bonus on arriving was finding that Johnny and Phat were still up in the bar having a few ‘pre-opening’ beers – so it’d be rude to not join them! A good night, I even got up and sang a couple of songs!One of the things I love about Thailand is the golf – it’s a completely under-discovered place for golf – off the beer, out getting a sun tan and playing sport as well – how much more healthy do you need a holiday to be?!! Of course, Thursday, I had the small matter of a hangover to deal with, but with 2 hour Thai massages for an ‘Ayrton’, there’s no better way – other than a swim in the pool….
Jimmy, Dominique and Janie, Jimmy's wife.Working in Russia, John’s brother, Jimmy, was there too – another good lad, Geordie – who is the only Geordie I know that can sing all of the ditty ‘Off to Blaydon Races’! Hadn’t seen Jimmy since I was over about 4 years ago (where does time go to?) so the catch-up was good there at John’s birthday bash. Also, John’s daughters – Danielle and Dominique were just a couple of teenage kids when I last met them and now they’re women grown. I won’t upset ya JB by commenting on how attractive they are ;-0)
Part of the gang!John’s birthday night was a party of note – I’d been out with an Irish and Scouse lad, Keith and Lee, for some beers and pool in the afternoon and the food JB had laid on at the party was just what I needed! Like most parties in Thailand, it was an excessive affair!
Dave, JB and 'Burger'! On account of his fondness for 'Le Big Mac'!Good to meet a few on John’s mates as well – some fellow divers and golfers – sorted!
The rest of the holiday was spent either by the pool or on the beach as I struggled with the reasons for my trip out here and tried to recapture my aim of what I was looking to achieve here on my travels – my time leading up to Port MacQuarie had kind of knocked the enthusiasm out of me – I mean – there must be more to Oz than a load of (admittedly nice) beaches! I need a Project – something to work on – a goal to aim for…..;-0)
posted by Captain | 5:54 pm
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