Richard Ravensdale
Born Plymouth, Devon, England 1951. Studied film, photography & TV Production at art college & Exeter University, making documentary films and tv productions for education, specialising in Himalayan region. At Imperial College of Science, Kensington assisted professors with photography for book publications & awarded Fellowship, Royal Geographical Society. Major solo photography exhibition ‘In The Buddhist Himalayas’ sponsored by camera company Nikon in San Francisco, Denver, New York and at The British Museum (Museum of Mankind.) For 25 years provided guided mountain expedition services to specialised travel groups in India, Nepal & Tibet and live-abroad scuba tours out of Krabi & Phuket. Later Hotel & apartments manager at Pattaya’s Wong Amat Bay, then retired here. Voluntary service includes Chairing a Charity Board for aid projects to His Holiness The Dalai Lama’s refugee settlements in India & Nepal and developing Pattaya Expats Club since March 2002 to assist expats with knowledge from hundreds of expert speakers.

1. When did you arrive in Pattaya and what brought you here?
First look in 1973 on route to Singapore and Western Australia for an oil exploration desert survey.

2. Have you ever been an expatriate elsewhere?
47 years to date in Asia.

3. What surprised you most about Pattaya
That after the Himalaya’s it was nice and flat to walk everywhere.

4. Friends are in Pattaya for a holiday – what must they absolutely see or do?
Wow, ok. Wong Amat beach, Sanctuary of Truth, a casual beer bar to watch the world go by and snorkelling the corals off Koh Sak.

5. What is your favorite Thai food?
All

6. What is never missing in your refrigerator?
Bread, milk, peanut butter & honey.

7. What is your favorite Thai word?
An extended.. ‘suay’.

8. What do you miss the most from home?
Real Cornish Pasties.

9. What career other than yours would you love to pursue?
None, I am very contented with having changed cramped TV studios to the open air in the Himalayas.

10. What’s a job you would definitely never want?
Office or factory.

11. Where did you spend your last vacation?
Pokhara Lake & Annapurna foothills, Nepal.

12. Where do you hope to spend your next one?
Ideally, if I had a lot of dosh, Tahiti to see where artist Paul Gauguin painted, and close 2nd Seychelles islands.
13. What was your favorite band, film, or hobby as a teen?
Stones, Dr Zhivago, sailing.

14. Apart from temptation what can’t you resist?
Peter Vella red (California) but best taste in red Australian –
Romello Shiraz, Barossa Valley. Vintage 2012.

15. Red wine or white?
Equally vary it – a good novel and quality TV dramas.

16. Book or movie?
Sweet natured women.

17. Morning person or night person?
Morning when more alert for paperwork, then play in afternoon,
lazy at night.

18. Which social issue do you feel most strongly about?
Refugees, Women’s equality & preserving nature. I’d have women
in charge to ‘Save the Planet’ as they are more nurturing and
responsible.

19. What area do you like most, Pattaya city or Nongprue (the Dark Side)?
My carbon footprint is via baht-bus or walking so every corner
of Pattaya city is fascinating after 22 years here.

20. What would you say is your personal motto?
Have a full fun life, but be contemplative and philosophical
about the good luck so give a helping hand to disadvantaged families
and communities along the journey.