Steve's Adventure Aug-Sep-Oct 09

17 Aug - In UK

Hi,

I am in the Uk at the moment staying at my daughters.Unfortunately it is a cool 17 degrees,but my grandsons smiles are keeping me warm ! The next few days i am going to York Races,so i hope the weather improves and i back a couple of winners,there is nothing worse than being cold,wet and skint !

I amhere for one more week before i fly to New York.One thing i have enjoyed is a good few pints of beer with old friends.The craic has been brilliant.

Take care,

Steve

20 Aug - Still in England
Hi,
Well the sun shone yesterday and it must have changed my luck because i picked 3 winners at York Races.Unfortunately its raining today,so my son and daughter are going to lead me astray by taking me to the local club,so that i can watch england beat australia at cricket and also watch my horses win.Dont worry baby Jack is too young to go.Maybe next year !!!!
Steve

26 Aug - New York

Hi,

Greetings from the Big Apple.New York is everything i imagined it to be,very hot and vibrant.Last night i went for a drink and met some nice people .The lady who owned the bar was from Blackburn.Today ive been doing the tourist things,visiting the Empire State building,having a hot dog and soda from a stand,and i had breakfast in an american diner,it was huge.
I've even watched a movie being made in Union Square

Last night when i got to my hotel i tried to phone a friend i know who lives in New York.The instructions said dial 9 for an outside line then 1 for a local call and then the number.I did this but unfortunately for me their number begins with 1.I didnt listen after i dialled 9 for the dialling tone so the first 3 numbers i dialled were 911 which is the number for the emergency services here! They wanted to know if i wanted the police fire or ambulance ! I gave my apologies and put the phone down quickly.How embarassing i get dafter as i get older !

Im off to see The Jersey Boys Musical tonight on Broadway,thats if the men in white coats dont take me away before then,

Take care,

Steve

29 Aug - Las Vegas

This place is mad ! I thought New York was Mad but this place beats it. The weather is ridiculous.Its 108 degrees,so you have to be indoors in the air con.The only place you can go is the casinos and the tables are expensive to play $10 minimum.I entered my first poker tournament this morning.It cost $60 to enter and the top 10 got paid.Yes you guessed it i came bloody 11th and received bugger all!.

Ive booked to see shows evey night.Im seeing the Beatles tonight and tomorrow im off to see Michael Jackson,Frank Sinatra and Elvis.No they are not dead,thet are alive and well and living in Vegas ! The highlight will be going to see David Copperfield,the magician,on my last night,wednesday.He makes everything dissappear.I dont need him to make my money diaappear,i think the casinos will do a good job of that !Take care,

Steve

31 Aug - Day 4 Las Vegas
Hi

Its my fourth day in Vegas and i think i may have learned my lesson from the first 2 days.Ive not had a bet for the previous 2 days,which takes some doing in this place,ive just been watching the tables and taking in the sights.In the 4 days ive been here i must have seen $4 million in breast enhancement surgery !

Yesterday i went on a helicopter tour of the Grand Canyon ,the Hoover Dam and the Colorado River.We left at 4 30 am so we saw sunrise over the Grand Canyon,it was awesome !there im speaking american already ! The shows are expensive but very good.Im going to one every day,but the street entertainers are also good and free.The weather is still around 108 degrees and there has been an official heat warning.I have 4 days left here and then leave on thursday for New Zealand where i believe its winter,so i will definitely notice a big difference.

I will email later,so have a nice day now,there more american

Steve

3 Sept 09

Hi,

Last night i went to see the magician David Copperfield at MGM.The show was great ,he had made a car appear out of nowhere and he did some other absolutely amazing tricks.For his encore he was going to make 13 members of the audience disappear on the stage.To choose the audience members he threw 13 balls into the thatre.if you caught one you went up on the stage.One of the balls hit my bottle of budwesser beer which fell and broke my glass and went all over my light coloured trousers.I was soaked and had to walk around all night looking as though i had pissed myself.I got quite a few funny stares !That David Copperfield has a lot to answer to.Im off to New Zealand tomorrow for 3 weeks.After New york and Vegas it should be nice to relax and take in the scenic beauty of that country.Thats the plan anyway.I leave tomorrow the 3rd but dont arrive there till the 5th because i lose 24 hours because i cross the international date line,still it saves me paying for a night in a hotel !

Take care

Steve

7 Sep 09 - New Zealand

HI,Well i finally arrived in New Zealand..I was met by a rotweiller of a customs man who questioned me for one and a half hours and searched every piece of luggage i had.I must have a face that spells out im smuggling drugs,tobacco,money laundering,because i seem to get stopped at every country i visit.I suppose its because i am on my own,live in Thailand and have a passport that is full of stamps.

Anyway after venturing outside of Auckland airport my first impression was that it was bloody cold ! After the 108 degree heat of Vegas it came as quite a shock.The afternoon got colder and to my dismay i found that i had booked a harbour cruise aboard a sailing ship.So there i was dressed for summer putting up sails on this ship,my teeth chattering,my knees knocking,talk about brass monkeys.I told you earlier i get dafter as i get older !

The night was good i met up with 2 people i know who live in Auckland.One i met in Goa and another i met in Koh Phangan.We had a good night.

Yesterday i travelled to the Bay of Islands which is stunning.It consists of 140 islands.Tomorrow im going seaching for whales and dolphins,but before then im off to buy some thermal underwear !Did i tell you it is cold ?

Next week i visit the south island where apparently there is lots of snow and it is even colder,that word cold has cropped up again.It is supposed to be even more beautiful than the north island

Im off now on the ferry to a town called Russell for lunch.For those of you living in Thailand i have to tell you that the past 2 mornings there has been a frost,that is little particles of ice on the grass and windows,just in case you have forgotten what it was !

I will e mail again later,

Take care,
Steve

13 Sep 09 - NZ South Island

Hi,
Ive finally arrived in Christchurch in the south island.I thought the north island was scenic but the south island is stunning.How can i describe it?Its like a a mixture of the highlands of Scotland,the hills of Snowdonia in Wales,the fjords of Norway,the coast of the costa brava in Spain and the snow covered mountains of Switzerland.So you can see it is stunning.Im getting used to the cold now,in fact it is quite warm today.Christchurch is like England used to be,they have punting on the river Avon,tram cars in the streets and red telephone boxes.
Tomorrow im taking the trans atlantic railway to Franz Josef,the views are supposed to be spectacular.Im then going on a helicopter flight over the glaciers which should be brilliant.
When i was in Auckland i stayed at the Sky City Hotel,which had a large casino.I decided to try my luck at poker.The second hand i got a pair of kings and cleaned up.The fourth hand there was a large pot,i just happened to mention that the previous week i had been playing in poker tournaments in Las Vegas,not mentioning i had lost,i decided to bluff them ,i made a large bet and everyone folded which left me with the large pot.At this point,in the words of a News of the World reporter,i made my excuses and left,with a large smile on my face and all my losses recouped from Vegas !
More later,
Steve

18 Sep 09 - IVE FALLEN IN LOVE !

HI

Yeah i thought the headline would grab your attention.Ive not fallen in love with a person but a town..Ive found the perfect place to live.Its called Queenstown.Let me try and describe it,which will not do it justice.Queenstown is a small town,which is reminiscrnt of a Cornish fishing village.It has a turquoise lake and a quayside and is surrounded by snow covered mountains.The town centre terrain is flat and every third building is either a pub or a restaurant selling excellent seafood or lamb,beef or venison.

Within a small drive are skiing and snowboarding slopes and alsocanyons which are spectaculour like the Grand Canyon,only a different colour.

Only 2 hours away is Milford Sound,which has been voted one of the new seven wonders of the world.The scenery here took my breath away.When i learn how to download my photos i will send them to you and you can judge for yourself or you can check it out for yourselves on the internet.

I would love to live here,but unfortunately it is too far away from my family and friends.It is also an expensive place to live.Idont think i could afford it.I would have to start work again and i think my days as a male stripper or a male escort are over ! But what a place !

Today i move on to Dunedi and then back to Christchurch,but after Queenstown it is going to be an anti climax.

On tuesday i fly out to Australia,another country i love.I start with 4 nights in Sydney,a city i adore,it will be nice to experience warm weather again.I believe its 30 degrees there at the moment.

New Zealand has been a great experience and i believe it has to be the most beautiful country in the world.I am so pleased i came here.

Take care,Steve

Remark: Steve, I like to have an travel experiences once again or live in New Zealand as I have told you!!!

23 Sep 09 - Sydney

Hi,

Well i arrived in Sydney yesterday and the weather was wonderful,but i awoke this morning and it was weird.I looked out of the window and it was dark all i could see was red dust flying around.I put on the news and Sydney is having freak weather conditions.There are gales which are blowing red dust from the centre of Oz to Sydney,it is weird all the cars are covered in dust and everyone is walking around with either a mask on or holding a handkerchief to their mouth.TThere are no planes landing or flying out,they are being diverted to Brisbane,nobody has any idea when these conditions will ease.I hope its soon.This has totally messed my plans up.I was going to go on a cruise today,but that is pointless now.I think i will just buy a ticket for the bus the Bondi Flyer and then i can get on and off at places of interest,if i can see them !Hopefully conditions will clear soon and then i can take some photos of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge.

I really am unlucky because people ive talked to say they cannot remember weather like this before.I think it stems back from yesterday when i went outside the hotel for a cigarette after breakfast.I was stood there and felt something damp on my neck.A seagull had crapped all down my back ! Everyone was laughing.I suppose it serves me right !
Steve

Hi Steve, Burn the country by your cigarette, right...just kidding!!!

24 Sep 09 - Sydney Part 2

Hi,

Normal service has been resumed in Sydney.The sky is blue and it is 24 degrees,although with the strong wind it feels cooler.

Let me elaborate on what happened yesterday,you will have probably seen it on the news or read about it in the newspapers by now.All Sydney woke up yesterdayto a red darkness,it did not get light until 1 pm.This was due to the worst dust storm for 70 years.Red dust was everywhere,and it was very eerie.Everyone was wearing masks or handkerchiefs over their mouths.The danger pollution level is 200 and mid morning yesterday it was a staggering 1700.Visability was 50 to 100 metres.At 1 pm it started to clear and the big clean up began.Car washes and window cleaners are making fortunes.!

When the dust cleared i caught the bus to Watson Bay,no ferries were running.I had the obligatory Doyles fish and chips,which was a mistake because they were not very good and it was blowing a gale.I then went to Bondi Beach,the wind blowing saved the locals from a sight they would not have enjoyed ie me strutting my stuff in my leopardskin posing pouch up and down Bondi Beach ! See every cloud has a silver lining !

With the strong wind still persisting ive decided to cancel my helicopter flight over the harbour ad also my harbour bridge climb.

I am staying at an hotel in Darling Harbour,and not wanting to sound like an ageing rock star,every hotel is becoming to look the same.Every buffet breakfast and eat as much as you want dinner is beginning to bore me.I am sure my belt has shrunk just lately !

I am off to Noosa in Queensland on saturday to stay with friends for a week.It will be a lovely change to live in a house and eat somegood home cooking,and probably the odd BBQ for a while.

Take care,
Steve

6 Oct 09 - Great Barrier Reef

Hi,

After a fantastic week in Noosa i travelled up to Port Douglas at the Great Barrier Reef,It is a beautiful small town with nice restaurants and beaches.Yesterday i took a helicopter to Agincourt Reef.I was so pleased i did this because to see the different shades of blue of the sea and the rainforests from the air was amazing.I spent the day at the reef and first i went in a mini submarine to see the coral and fish.I then did some snorkelling,but i have to be honest and say that it is better snorkelling in Thailand,especially off Phi Phi island.Thecoral and marine life are much better there.

I am now coming to the end of my trip.I arrive back in Chiang Mai on sunday evening,but first i fly to Perth WA tomorrow.I am staying at Freemantle for 3 nights,which iam looking forward to,then its Singapore for a couple of days and back to Thailand.

The trip has been memorable and ive loved it .In fact i am already planning my next big trip.It will be to Canada and Alaska in about 18 months time.

Take care,
Steve

2 Oct 09
Hi Patrick,

I have just arrived at Port Douglas at the Great Barrier Reef,but i will tell you more about that later.I have just heard that i am going to be a grandad again,this time it is my son Martin and his girlfriend Jo who is expecting.I am so pleased,i feel as though i am walking on air ! I will write later,

Steve

6 Oct 09 - Barrier Reef Part 2

Hi,

Just a postscript to the e mail i sent earlier.Ive just returned from Four Mile Beach here in Port Douglas.It has to be in the top 5 beaches i have visited.The ocean is warm and it has palm trees all along.The beach is magnificent and deserted,only a handful of people for miles.

So why did 2 guys,who looked as though they were out of the Village Peoplesit 10 metres away from me and start kissing and cuddling each other?They could have sat anywhere!

Or you could have sat anywhere!!!
Interesting Travel Articles - It's real and fantastic, right...let's wait for his big trip the next 18 months to come...

10 Oct 09

Hi,

Im in Singapore at the moment,about to sample what a saturday night is like in a different asian country.Tomorrownight i arrive back in Chiang Mai.It has been an incredible 2 months,one i would not have missed for the world.

The last few days i have spent i Fremantle,near Perth,in Oz.It is another place i really liked.The seafood was tremendous.Yesterday i took the ferry to Rottnest island where i went whale watching.What an experience.They are huge beautiful creatures.It was a day i will never forget !

Now its back to reality,my holiday nearly over,although most people say i am on permanent holiday ! I have visited some wonderful places and i have gained a wealth of experience.I hope you have enjoyed these blogs from my trip,and that i have not bored you too much.I hope to see you all again soon.

Take care,

Steve