Browsing author : Ben Reeves
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Phayun Beach Condo
Posted onMy Paradise Abandoned project returns, but in an unusual format. A couple of weekends ago, I flew up to the quiet Phayun Beach area of Rayong province, just south of Pattaya, Thailand. It was something of an odd variant of urbex, in so far as it bore a closer resemblance to urban warfare than urban exploring. I was there for an airsoft event.
By Ben Reeves
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The Expat Bug
Posted onLiving the expat life brings a lot of advantages and I would never choose any other. However, as much as I would like to continue with upbeat articles and share some more of the wonderful benefits to a life overseas, a friend was recently hit with some of the more endemic downers. I diagnosed The Expat Bug.
By Ben Reeves
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Overlander: Day 5 – On the Road
Posted onAlas, it’s not really an overlanding trip without travelling long distances by road. Several days of my adventure through Southern Africa in 2011 were just getting from point A to point B, and Day 5 was the first of these.
By Ben Reeves
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Why Being an Expat is Awesome
Posted onA lot of my recent posts have been rather negative about the expat life. Actually, a lot of my posts generally have quite a negative slant, but that’s an inevitable result of having been a journalist for a fair few years – you develop an innate cynicism which is hard to shift. Anyway, it occurred to me that one or two of my readers might be wondering why I would choose to live overseas if I apparently dislike it so much. The reason is simple: Expat life is awesome!
By Ben Reeves
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Why I Own a Tuxedo
Posted onI seem to recall reading or hearing some general life advice, at some point, which advised owning your own tuxedo. The suggestion was that it would save you money in the long run since renting them is expensive. I think that assumes that you would go to a great many high-society events in your life because I have owned a tuxedo since I was 21 and I think I’ve used it maybe twice in the decade since.
By Ben Reeves
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Farewell, Lady Macbeth
Posted onAlas, the Adventures of Lady Macbeth must finally come to an end, just as my time with my 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo did. If you recall the ending of the last episode, the old girl had just had another major meltdown. The electrical system was out, from a suspected alternator failure.
By Ben Reeves
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Overlander: Day 4 – Fish River Canyon
Posted onWhen I awoke on the fourth day of my adventure through Southern Africa with Dragoman, I still had the same energy boost travel always tends to give me. I don’t really like sitting and watching people labouring for my benefit, so I volunteered to help Dougie out with making the bacon-and-eggs breakfast for everyone.
By Ben Reeves
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#BeachDay: Ya Nui Beach
Posted onYa Nui Beach is one of the most popular bits of sand in Phuket, which is actually kind of incredible. Among nearly 40 beaches around the island, it is certainly not the most convenient. It’s not at all bad, which is why I chose it for my beach day last weekend, but it’s kind of an oddball for Phuket.
By Ben Reeves
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The Last Ride of Lady Macbeth
Posted onI owned my 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo for a grand total of 306 days, of which I estimate that she was on the road for maybe half. In spite of that relatively short ownership and my limited time driving, I still miss the old girl to this day. We had some…interesting adventures together, among the best of them being her final voyage.
By Ben Reeves
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The Slate Sunday Brunch
Posted onI’m not normally one for big Sunday Brunch events. I tend to be either too busy or too lazy, particularly as Sunday is usually my day for playing airsoft. I’ve tried several of the best brunches around Phuket in the course of my full-time work, but it’s not generally something I seek out in my leisure time. The Slate’s offering, I’m happy to admit, was well worth the sacrifice of my valuable free time.
By Ben Reeves
