Matt Varley

Best Breakfast in Bangkok Thailand

Ok, so I have been in Bangkok for over 3 months now, and I have sussed out some great places to indulge in a Western Style breakfast (keep in mind my tastes are quite Australian and not UK/USA). I enjoy a fresh tasting breakfast, with a good coffee (or 2). So here is what I have found:

Kuppa

(Bangkok Thailand)

Where: Sukhumvit Soi 16
Cost: 100 - 300 baht per dish, around 100 baht for a coffee
Highlights:

• Coffee is amazing, however sometimes hit and miss depending on who makes it
• Eggs Benedict
• Pancakes, Muesli, Big Breakfast

JW Marriott

(Bangkok Thailand)

Where: Sukhumvit Soi 2
Cost: 100 - 300 baht per dish, around 100 baht for a coffee
Highlights:

• Best Coffee in Bangkok, haven’t had a bad one yet! (touch wood)
• Interesting Corn Hash (made with Corn Beef)
• Italian Croissants (Olive, Cheese, Tomato) Muffins (from the Bakery)
• Wide array of danish & bakery treats

Crepes & Co

(Bangkok Thailand)

Where: Sukhumvit Soi 12
Cost: 80 - 300 baht per dish

Highlights:

• French crepes (savoury & sweet)
• Breakfast DIY (choose items off a list and create your own breakfast)
• Coffee is not that great
• Good, peaceful atmosphere with indoor/outdoor seating (Old Thai style house)

This is just the start - as I make my way around Bangkok eating breakfast, I will continue to add to this list.

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State of Origin 2009 - Game 1 Team Comparison

The following below is NOT written by Matt Varley - this is a reader of MattVarley.com that wanted to put his 2 cents forward.

G’s Rant

Well, it’s come around again and I must say very quickly. It seems like only yesterday that we saw the mighty maroons take a third straight State of Origin Series. The question before us now is, can they take a fourth straight Series?

YES, YES and YES!

The above comparison of this year’s origins teams is proof that sometimes you can judge a book by it’s cover. This NSW side has a combined total of 57 State of Origin caps…..a number surpassed by Darren Lockyer, Steve Price and Petro alone!

You know I though that last year was going to be a complete whitewash, and I actually made a sizable bet on too (which I lost). Queensland still won the series obviously, but NSW managed to steal 1 leg more than I thought they would. I can say I would be comfortable to make the same bet again this year. We are talking about a game of Rugby League here basically between the Kangaroo’s and City & Country Juniors. Okay yes, good to see the NSW selectors have gone for form and the notion of “re-building”, but what happens when this Queensland backline puts 30 points a game on them….do they pick them all again next year?

Look, I think there are some talented players in this blues outfit….but come on….just take another look at that QLD lineup….the fact that we have to leave out players like Scott Prince and players like Karmichael Hunt can’t even make the run on side speaks for itself.

I cannot believe that NSW didn’t pick Moghahan….the only player they had physically up to the challenge of Stopping Falou in the air. Other mistake….leaving out Ennis. Farah may be a better ball player, but Ennis is in great form and let’s face it knows how to get under the skin..he could have caused a few frustrations for guys in the ruck.

It’s so easy to see how this will play out….we have Price and Petro who will guarantee you meters up the middle…..you then have the best hooker in the world making more meters out of dummy half and playing quick ball into a stellar backline. Throw in there thaiday and Johnston who will tackle themselves silly….and you have the formula that will result in a comfortable Fourth Straight Series for the Maroons!

Enjoy what will be a festival of points from Maroon jerseys next Wednesday!!

G-rant.

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QLD State of Origin 2009 Team Named

Official QLD State of Origin Team 2009 - Game 1

1. BILLY SLATER (STORM)
2. DARIUS BOYD (DRAGONS)
3. GREG INGLIS (STORM)
4. JUSTIN HODGES (BRONCOS)
5. ISRAEL FOLAU (BRONCOS)
6. DARREN  LOCKYER (c) (BRONCOS)
7. JOHNATHAN THURSTON (COWBOYS)
8. STEVEN PRICE (WARRIORS)
9. CAMERON SMITH (STORM)
10. PETERO CIVONICEVA (PANTHERS)
11. ASHLEY HARRISON (TITANS)
12. SAM THAIDAY (BRONCOS)
13. DALLAS JOHNSON (STORM)
14. KARMICHAEL HUNT (BRONCOS)
15. BEN HANNANT (BULLDOGS)
16. NATE MYLES (ROOSTERS)
17. MICHAEL CROCKER (RABBITOHS)

Check out the 2 teams side by side in the State of Origin 2009 Game 1 Comparison Table in Melbourne.

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NSW State of Origin 2009 Team Named

THE OFFICIAL TEAM (Game 3)

1. Kurt Gidley (capt)
2. Jarryd Hayne
3. Michael Jennings
4. Jamie Lyon
5. David Williams
6. Trent Barrett
7. Brett Kimmorley
8. Justin Poore
9. Michael Ennis
10. Josh Perry
11. Ben Creagh
12. Trent Waterhouse
13. Anthony Watmough.

Interchange: Brett White, Craig Wing, Glenn Stewart, Tom Learoyd-Lahrs.

THE OFFICIAL TEAM (Game 2)
1. Kurt Gidley (capt)
2. Jarryd Hayne
3. Michael Jennings
4. Jamie Lyon
5.David Williams
6. Trent Barrett
7. Peter Wallace
8. Brent Kite
9. Robbie Farah
10. Michael Weyman
11. Luke O’Donnell
12. Ben Creagh
13. Paul Gallen

Interchange:
14. Craig Wing
15. Justin Poore
16. Glenn Stewart
17. Anthony Watmough.8 new players in the team - full comments and coverage here 

THE OFFICIAL TEAM (Game 1)

1. Kurt Gidley
2. Jarryd Hayne
3. Jamie Lyon
4. Michael Jennings
5. James McManus
6. Terry Campese
7. Peter Wallace

8. Luke Bailey
9. Robbie Farrah
10. Brent Kite
11. Ben Creagh
12. Luke O’Donnell
13. Paul Gallen

Interchange
14. Craig Wing
15. Justin Poore
16. Glen Stewart
17. Micahel Weyman

Check out the 2 teams side by side in the State of Origin 2009 Game 1 Comparison Table in Melbourne.

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Queensland State of Origin 2009 - 25 Man Squad

Check out the QLD Team for Game 1 - Just Announced!

Check out the NSW Team for Game 1 - Just Announced!

So who is the QLD State of Origin Squad for 2009? Queensland have named their QLD State of Origin 25 Man Squad - no surprises - very strong lineup. Cooper Cronk, Steve Michaels are new faces. Here it is below for your viewing:

Get over to my other post - where it is going wild with team suggestions for the Queensland State of Origin Team for Game 1.

• Matt Ballin (Sea Eagles)
• Darius Boyd (Dragons)
• Petero Civoniceva (Panthers)
• Neville Costigan (Dragons)
• Cooper Cronk (Storm)
• Israel Folau (Broncos)
• Ben Hannant (Bulldogs)
• Ashley Harrison (Titans)
• Justin Hodges (Broncos)
• Karmichael Hunt (Broncos)
• Greg Inglis (Storm)
• Dallas Johnson (Storm)
• Darren Lockyer (Broncos)
• Steve Michaels (Broncos)
• Nate Myles (Roosters)
• Corey Parker (Broncos)
• Steven Price (Warriors)
• Scott Prince (Titans)
• Billy Slater (Storm)
• Cameron Smith (Storm)
• David Shillington (Raiders)
• David Stagg (Bulldogs)
• Sam Thaiday (Broncos)
• Johnathan Thurston (Cowboys)
• Willie Tonga (Cowboys)

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Country vs City Origin 2009 Teams - May 8th in Orange NSW

The 20th Annual AAMI Country vs City Origin clash will take place on Friday May 8 at Wade Park on Moulder Street in Orange NSW.

NSW City:

• Wade McKinnon
• Jarryd Hayne
• Michael Jennings
• Chris Lawrence
• David Williams
• John Sutton
• Peter Wallace
• Keith Galloway
• Robbie Farah
• Luke Stuart
• Trent Waterhouse
• Mark Minichiello
• Luke O’Donnell
• Bench: Craig Wing, Shane Shackleton, Adam Cuthbertson, Ryan Hoffman.

NSW Country:

• Luke Patten
• James McManus
• Matt Cooper
• Jamie Lyon
• Joel Monaghan
• Terry Campese
• Jarrod Mullen
• Josh Perry
• Michael Ennis
• Michael Weyman
• Andrew Ryan (c)
• Ben Creagh
• Alan Tongue
• Bench: Justin Poore, Steve Simpson, Anthony Tupou, Ben Hornby, Beau Scott, Jamie Soward.

Don’t forget about the NSW State of Origin Squad page, and the NSW State of Origin 2009 Team

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The Barracks - Petrie Terrace - Whats there?

Living very close to The Barracks at Petrie Terrace, and wanting to check out a menu of a place I didn’t know, I couldn’t for the life of me find any information. So here is a start to a post, that will have a business listing for the Barracks Petrie Terrace.

Libertine (French Vietnamese Restaurant)
Ph: 3367 3353
Website

I haven’t been there - but it does look good! Will update once I make it there!

Other Businesses

• Coles Barracks
• Cinemas Barracks
• Movenpick Icecream Barracks
• Pharmacy, Sushi Joint, Butcher
• Many others (will update)

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40 Man 2009 NSW State of Origin Squad Announced

 Game 1 NSW Team Announced

\Today the 40 Man 2009 NSW State of Origin Squad was announced. Personally I think the Blues are going to get creamed again this year, with a less than impressive squad announced.

Check out this page for the punters view on who should be in the squad, some great selections.

Check out the 2009 State of Origin QLD 25 Man Squad named on the 28th of April 2009.

BIG NEWS: Braith Anasta and Willy Mason left out of the squad. Lyon still picked in the 40 man squad.

The squad:

• Luke Bailey (Titans)
• Colin Best (Rabbitohs)
• Terry Campese (Raiders)
• Matt Cooper (Dragons)
• Ben Creagh (Dragons)
• Ben Cross (Knights)
• Michael Ennis (Bulldogs)
• Robbie Farah (Wests Tigers)
• Paul Gallen (Sharks)
• Keith Galloway (Wests Tigers)
• Kurt Gidley (Knights)
• Jarryd Hayne (Eels)
• Ryan Hoffman (Storm)
• Michael Jennings (Panthers)
• Brent Kite (Sea Eagles)
• Anthony Laffranchi (Titans)
• Chris Lawrence (Wests Tigers)
• Luke Lewis (Panthers)
• Jamie Lyon (Sea Eagles)
• James McManus (Knights)
• Mark Minichiello (Titans)
• Joel Monaghan (Raiders)
• Josh Morris (Bulldogs)
• Jarrod Mullen (Knights)
• Luke O’Donnell (Cowboys)
• Mitchell Pearce (Roosters)
• Josh Perry (Sea Eagles)
• Justin Poore (Dragons)
• Anthony Quinn (Storm)
• Michael Robertson (Sea Eagles)
• Brett Stewart (Sea Eagles)
• Glenn Stewart (Sea Eagles)
• John Sutton (Rabbitohs)
• Alan Tongue (Raiders)
• Anthony Tupou (Sharks)
• Peter Wallace (Broncos)
• Trent Waterhouse (Panthers)
• Anthony Watmough (Sea Eagles)
• Michael Weyman (Dragons)
• David Williams (Sea Eagles)

Interested in Horse Racing? Check out all the info you need on NSW Horse racing

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3 Internet Startups in Australia that I like

I love reading about new internet startups (esp Australian ones) - here are 4 that I have found over the last 6 months that interest me.

StreetAdvisor

http://www.streetadvisor.com/

Based in Melbourne, the TripAdvisor of the real estate game, street level reviews (not just suburb).

“StreetAdvisor is the easy way to find out what people REALLY think about the street they live in. It’s a place where people can finally voice their opinions about where they live, have lived or simply visited!”

Buyster

http://www.buyster.com.au/

Online retail based in Sydney, niche stores, great fundamental online marketing.

buyster is a joint venture between netus an Australian technology investment company and CSN Stores, one of the leading online retail companies in the USA.

Wotnews

 http://wotnews.com.au/

Based in Brisbane, sentiment analysis on articles, twitter integration, iphone app.

“Wotnews sources Australian business news across a vast set and variety of sources because what you read in the traditional media is only one perspective.”

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NSW State of Origin Team 2009 - Game 1 & Game 2

THE OFFICIAL TEAM (Game 2)

1. Kurt Gidley (capt)
2. Jarryd Hayne
3. Michael Jennings
4. Jamie Lyon
5.David Williams
6. Trent Barrett
7. Peter Wallace
8. Brent Kite
9. Robbie Farah
10. Michael Weyman
11. Luke O’Donnell
12. Ben Creagh
13. Paul Gallen

Interchange:
14. Craig Wing
15. Justin Poore
16. Glenn Stewart
17. Anthony Watmough.

THE OFFICIAL TEAM (Game 1)

1. Kurt Gidley
2. Jarryd Hayne
3. Jamie Lyon
4. Michael Jennings
5. James McManus
6. Terry Campese
7. Peter Wallace

8. Luke Bailey
9. Robbie Farrah
10. Brent Kite
11. Ben Creagh
12. Luke O’Donnell
13. Paul Gallen

Interchange
14. Craig Wing
15. Justin Poore
16. Glen Stewart
17. Micahel Weyman

Check out the State of Origin Game 1 Comparison Table with both teams

UPDATE: According to Andrew Voss on Friday night - the NSW State of Origin team for game 1 will be announced on Monday 25th of May - bookmark this page and come back to check! 

UPDATE: 40 Man NSW State of Origin Squad Announced. No Anasta, Mason BUT picked Jamie Lyon.

City vs Country NSW Teams (not announced yet) - played on the 8th of May 2009 hosted in Orange NSW.

The first State of Origin game in 2009 will be played at Telstra Dome on the 3rd of June 2009. State of Origin 2009 game 1 kickoff time will be 8pm (according to Ticketmaster)

I am currently looking for a date when the teams get announced, but Bookmark this page and keep checking back for udpates, as the teams will be published on this site as soon as they are announced.

Who do you think will be in the NSW State of Origin Team for Game 1? Comment below. The way Broncos Halfback Peter Wallace is playing at the moment, he is my tip for the number 7.

For some hints (or not) here is the NSW 2008 State of Origin Team

Interested in Horse Racing? Check out all the info you need on NSW Horse racing

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