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Gold Coast life 1999

July 31, 2016 by David Herd

Enjoying the last year of the 90s, please note, this is not part of my Travel Blog. It’s part of my personal online photo albums.

Gold Coast life 1999

Gold Coast life 1999

Gold Coast life 1999 was not too different from previous years except for the fact I was no longer working. In 1998 I decided to take a year off work and travel, little did I realise I would never go back to full time work again.

I have often wondered if I made the right decision to retire and travel the world. On one hand had I continued to work for another 6 or 7 years I obviously would have been far better off financially, however on the flip side I can never replace the wonderful years of travel I enjoyed during those years.  Consequently looking back in 2016 I’m very happy with the decision I made. Take a look at my travel record for 1999 below. πŸ™‚

An incredible year for travel

Gold Coast life 1999

 The photo above was taken in Koh Samui with Francesca & Barbara from Florence. In 1999 I had three trips to Thailand, February, August & December, my first trip to Rio for Carnival in February was part of an around the world adventure with my friend Larry Krausz. Another fabulous 2 month around the world trip in November included Los Angeles, Las Vegas Miami, Mexico City, Bolivia, Brazil, (Rio, Iguazu falls & Salvador) Paris & Thailand.

Kathy was a regular visitor

Gold Coast life 1999

A simple phone call would result in an hour or so of passion, priceless. πŸ™‚

A little more of Kathy

Gold Coast life 1999

Without a doubt Kathy had one of the hottest bodies I have ever seen. πŸ™‚

 Lots of parties lots of girls, Narrelle, Simone & Kushler.

Gold Coast life 1999

All through the 90s and beyond the parties never stopped.

Myoung-sook a nice Korean lady

Gold Coast life 1999

Myoung and I spent some time together in 1999.

Sometimes she would stay for breakfast. πŸ™‚

Gold Coast life 1999She was a very keen golfer.

she was quite a keen golfer.

Lorrie & Leonie

Gold Coast life 1999

I took Lorrie & Leonie boating, they were two Canadians visiting the Gold Coast.

Dinner at Ashmore Steak & Seafood

Gold Coast life 1999

This popular restaurant always ensured you never left hungry.

 Narrelle, Jack Delanty and Larry Krausz NYE 1998

Gold Coast life 1999

The celebrations were at Sylvester’s on Chevron Island.

Sadly out mate Larry suffered a major stroke in October 2016 & passed away January 2017, RIP.

Lollipops at Sylvester’s

Gold Coast life 1999

Evelyn & Tina love sucking Chuppa Chups. πŸ™‚

For a great room rate on the Gold Coast just book through THIS LINK.

Natasha & Alex

Gold Coast life 1999

New Years Eve 1998 and the girls are feeling no pain. πŸ™‚

My favourite songs from 1999.

Nindie at Marina Mirage

Gold Coast life 1999

Nindie had a restaurant called Isobar at the Marina Mirage.

 My best friend Ziggy

Gold Coast life 1999

My beautiful Doberman waiting for me to dock at the jetty.

Rick Felsing from Sydney

Gold Coast life 1999

Tucking into freshly caught mud crabs washed down with a Margaret white.

Dinner & red wine with beautiful Akiko

Gold Coast life 1999

Beautiful Akiko is one of the most gorgeous Japanese girls I have ever met.

Great company

Gold Coast life 1999

Perhaps THE MOST GORGEOUS. πŸ™‚

Talking about gorgeous meet Aurora

Gold Coast life 1999

In my opinion the most gorgeous Melbas girl ever.

Melbas on the Park

Gold Coast life 1999

Surfers Paradise most iconic bar ever.

Mother’s day 1999

Gold Coast life 1999

My beautiful mother Iris Joyce Herd, my brother Ian & his wife Sandra, Adam one of their sons & Myoung my Korean girlfriend.

 Rossco, one of the happiest guys I know.

Gold Coast life 1999

I count Ross Kennedy as one of my best friends, we had so many great times together. Certainly one of our most memorable adventures was our road trip trip to Melbourne in 1996, to check it out just follow THIS LINK.

Thinking back to my 25 years on the Gold Coast there were just so many highlights, I’m really very happy to be able to re-live them through my FiveStarVagabond photo blog.

Through all those years I remember having a hand full of good friends and many many acquaintances. Due to my reasonably abrasive personality there were also many people that couldn’t stand me. My message to them is quite simple, see below.

A message for the knockers

Gold Coast life 1999

Having said all that let’s get back to 1999. πŸ™‚

Jimmy Bell & the smokers

Gold Coast life 1999

Another Sunday session at my Upton St home, Jim “HO HO” Bell rented a room at my home for 17 years.

For a great room rate on the Gold Coast just book through THIS LINK.

Emily used to be a meter maid

Gold Coast life 1999

And yes the silly tattoo is a temporary one from Thailand. πŸ™‚

Ray Shultz & Phil “Swifty” Gregory

Gold Coast life 1999

Swifty actually wound up marrying Emily and produced a couple of fine sons. I owe thanks to Ray for introducing me to Kathy who you saw at the start of this post.

Farewell Colleen

Gold Coast life 1999

Colleen was leaving Saks bar & restaurant, owners Duncan McGuiness & Steve are wishing her well.

Phil Thomson, another great friend.

Gold Coast life 1999

Phil has always been a Porsche lover, these days in 2016 he has a Boxter sitting in the garage.

 Talking about cars, here are my beauties

Playboy photo shoot 1998

It was a very difficult decision to decide which one to drive. πŸ™‚

Ziggy & my boat

Gold Coast life 1999

You had to have all the toys & props to stand out on the Gold Coast, to be honest 50% of the people I met were fairly shallow individuals & easily impressed. Then again the same probably applies to other Australian cities as well. πŸ™‚

Main Beach blondes

Gold Coast life 1999

Catie, Marina & Kylie were waitresses at a popular Main Beach cafe.

Mike Wood, Greg Craig and Dave Allen.

Gold Coast life 1999

A few drinks at Melbas in as we did so many times over the years, it was simply Gold Coast life 1999.

Sweet Myumi

Gold Coast life 1999

Well that’s all folks from Myumi & I, thanks for visiting my Gold Coast life 1999 photo blog. It’s now February 2018 & I”m living in Thailand, and I get a huge kick from re-living some of these incredible years through my photo blogs. I just can’t believe what a fortunate life I have had. πŸ™‚


Here are some more posts on my wild wicked ways. :) 

 

         Life 2015                     Family history                   Life 1982

2835141a-02cf-4cda-a909-2a8408a99f47        6a173a01-9744-404a-a45f-87a975ec90fa          d5436828-abbc-4da1-a638-7f90436c6417

  Adelaide 1972                 Iron Bar Freddy               Sydney 2006

417091_10150704751043594_62315468_n          Susies home Newport 1 (1)        April24FreewayHotel-33 (1)

Thailand 2008                Gold Coast Babes               World trip 2003

Fun in Pattaya-116         92bfa275-a122-4078-9970-1e24188a5917        CopacabanabeachNov2003-124

             Great hotel room rates anywhere in the world if you book
                  through these links below.  Book now & pay later.
Free Cancellation. 
                              Bangkok Hotels                    Pattaya Hotels
                         d0c59ff5-7f2b-41b5-9312-4556d4a62037              01a75360-9573-473f-acba-3a187f779b7f
 
 That’s all folks
Surfers Paradise Party Animals
 
Pattaya live webcam 
 
9a1fec74-4461-46cd-8663-97f5893c8f6e (1) 
A-One hotel on Beach Road

Seven deadly Songkran days

For a great room rate at the A-One hotel opposite the beach just book through THIS LINK.               

 

 Soi Cowboy                  Nana Plaza                    Patpong

 Soi Cowboy (5)           e1274c0c-cf4d-4406-b5dc-d9e8071e382e            8993ef02-ccf3-46a7-8b6d-fc11af9d93ad

 


Counter only started June 16 2020.

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Sydney Melbourne Falls Creek 1996

July 16, 2016 by David Herd

Road trip in my 928 Porsche

Sydney Melbourne Falls Creek

 Sydney Melbourne Falls Creek & Hunter valley in 1996 was one of my all time great road trips. What made the trip so great was the companionship and humour provided by my great friend Ross Kennedy. As much as I would love to give you some examples of many bizarre events, I will evoke the rule “what happens on tour stays on tour”. πŸ™‚

Please note, this is not part of my Travel Blog. It’s part of my personal history

The beast is polished and ready to go

Sydney Melbourne Falls Creek

The 928 was the perfect car for a long distance road trip, comfort and power to burn.

Overnight in Tenterfield

Sydney Melbourne Falls Creek

I have an afternoon appointment in Lismore so we were late getting on the road, it was freezing cold on the New England Highway so we stopped for the night in Tenterfield.

Fabulous Tenterfield homestead

Sydney Melbourne Falls Creek

After Tenterfield it was an easy run down the New England Highway to the Hunter Valley.

We had non stop music blasting on the CD this is the one I mainly remember.

OMC - How Bizarre (Official Music Video)

The Hunter Valley in NSW

Sydney Melbourne Falls Creek

We stayed at Peppers in the Hunter Valley and toured some of the vineyards including Tyrrell’s.

Peppers guest house

Sydney Melbourne Falls Creek

For an excellent room rate just book through THIS LINK.

 Big Tim Bristow

Sydney Melbourne Falls Creek

 Next stop was Sydney where I introduced Ross to Big Tim Bristow who used to be a well known stand-over man. Rossco has always been fascinated with the world of gangsters. πŸ™‚ For more about Tim’s amazing lie just follow THIS LINK.

We had a couple of great nights in Sydney which included many drinks at the Hilton Hotel and coffee with friends in Double Bay.

Gundagai

Sydney Melbourne Falls Creek

A fuel stop at Gundagai on the way to Falls Creek.

Ready to hit the slopes

Sydney Melbourne Falls Creek

We hit the slopes with a vengeance and had some monumental pile ups. Conditions were good so we would ski for a couple of hours in the morning then spend the afternoon and evening drinking the bar dry.

Set em up Joe

Sydney Melbourne Falls Creek

We made the mistake of having one drink from every bottle behind the bar, a recipe for disaster if ever there was one. πŸ™‚

And the final result was…..

Sydney Melbourne Falls Creek

 Here we are totally flyblown in the snow at Falls Creek. We had a terrific few days, drinking too much and  having some of the most spectacular falls ever seen at Fall’s Creek. Little did I realise after this 1996 adventure I would never ski again.

 

After falls Creek we headed down the highway to Melbourne.

 The Sharks Fin Inn

Sydney Melbourne Falls Creek

This gorgeous girl Jacqui O’Brien actually lived in my house for a few months in 1987,  she then worked with me for a short time in 1998. A lovely lady until she had one drink too many, she then turned into a nightmare. Rossco came up with a classic name for her, β€œJacqui Petrol”

Stokehouse in St Kilda.

Sydney Melbourne Falls Creek

 Lunch with Jacqui at the Stokehouse in St Kilda.

Chappel St Melbourne

Sydney Melbourne Falls Creek

 Drinks with Rossco’s friends in South Yarra, from the left Ross Kennedy aka β€œShoeless Joe Jackson, David Herd aka β€œThe Cincinnati Kid”, Craig Belcher and Johnny Mac.

Thanks for visiting my Sydney Melbourne Falls Creek photo blog.

             Great hotel room rates anywhere in the world if you book
                                       through these links below.
                              Bangkok Hotels                    Pattaya Hotels
                                        
 
Sydney Melbourne Falls Creek
 

That’s all folks

Beckington Trowbridge

 

Check out these great photo blogs.

Counter only started June 16 2020.

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Sydney Melbourne Hunter Valley

June 10, 2015 by David Herd

 Please note, this is not part of my Travel Blog. It’s part of my personal history.

Tyrrel’s Hunter Valley

Sydney Melbourne Hunter Valley

Sydney Melbourne Hunter Valley

Sydney Melbourne Hunter Valley in 1996 started on the Gold Coast where I was living life to the max. The highlight was a great road trip in my Porsche 928 with good friend Ross Kennedy to the Hunter Valley, Sydney, Falls Creek & Melbourne. Also caught up with an old friend from the Gold Coast Jill McCrossan, one very sexy lady.

Talking about sexy ladies

Sydney Melbourne Hunter Valley

Well Emily certainly was in that category.

Please note, this is not part of my Travel Blog. It’s part of my personal history, check it out if you wish, also note this post contains nudity, so if you are bothered by naked humans please leave now.

Drinks at Saks

Sydney Melbourne Hunter Valley

Drinks at Saks before going to the Ray White ball at the Sheraton Mirage. From the left we have a girl whose name I forget, then Phil (Swifty) Gregory, Claudia Scrupin, Duncan McGuiness, Emily and yours truly David Herd.

Little did they realise at the time but Swifty and Emily would marry and have a couple of kids.

 Great photo, if I say so myself. πŸ™‚

Sydney Melbourne Hunter Valley

Such a beautiful big smile.

Saks was our main haunt

Sydney Melbourne Hunter Valley

Saks was a great bar at Main Beach owned by Duncan McGuiness and Steve Solomon. Their main business was building upmarket housing estates. A couple of very nice guys who sadly  went broke around 2011 and their company Solmac went into liquidation.

Saks with Eugene and Debbie.

Sydney Melbourne Hunter Valley

Saks with Eugene and Debbie. This was a memorable night at Saks, I watched as Plugger Lockhart kicked a famous point to put the Swans into the Grand Final.

One of the hottest babes in 1996

Sydney Melbourne Hunter Valley

I met Donna Turner in Sydney when she was 18 yo, even after various husbands and 3 or 4 children she still looks as hot as ever, especially in my kitchen. πŸ™‚

Hot Hot Hot in Sydney Melbourne Hunter Valley

Sydney Melbourne Hunter Valley

It is now 20 years later in 2016 and Donna is still a hot chick.

My favourite song from 1996

The technicolour team

Sydney Melbourne Hunter Valley

Duncan McGuiness, Jim Bell, Ross Kennedy and David Herd.

At the polo

Sydney Melbourne Hunter Valley

These two gorgeous babes were known as Lushy and Mushy, can’t remember their real names. πŸ™‚

Ami and Alan Pearson.

Sydney Melbourne Hunter Valley

Alan was a friend of mine when I lived in Adelaide in the 70s, he now earns his living as a musician in Airlie Beach.

Mami & Mariko

Sydney Melbourne Hunter Valley

Two gorgeous Japanese girls who often called into my home in Upton St for drinks and fun.

I did mention fun didn’t I? πŸ™‚ πŸ™‚ πŸ™‚

Sydney Melbourne Hunter Valley

Everybody loves Tim Tams.

Billy James & Allison Schroeder

Sydney Melbourne Hunter Valley

Billy was a well known Gold Coast real estate identity and Allison one of the sexiest chicks in town.

Allison 18 yo in in 1987

Sydney Melbourne Hunter Valley

I was lucky enough to take Allison out a few times in 1987 my first year living on the Gold Coast. Although I was about 25 years older than her I used the “tried & true” technique, I promised her the world and bought her an atlas. πŸ™‚

Visiting Tim in Sydney

Sydney Melbourne Hunter Valley

Ross Kennedy and I took a road trip in my Porsche to Falls Creek for some skiing, stopping on the way at the Hunter Valley & Sydney. I knew about Rossco’s fascination with gangsters and the underworld so naturally I took him to meet Big Tim Bristow at his home in Newport.

Tim’s beast

Sydney Melbourne Hunter Valley

 We were there an hour or two listening to some of Tim’s stories most of which I had heard before many times. As usual Tim’s phone never stopped ringing, but there was one call Ross & I will never forget. Roger Rogerson was in many ways more notorious than Tim, he was known for being a ruthless crooked cop who shot first and asked questions later, the most famous case being where he shot and killed Warren Lanfranchi in a back alley in Chippendale.

Oaks Hotel with old friends

Sydney Melbourne Hunter Valley

Derek Pugh, Ian Rich & Paul Slaughter, Pauls sister on the left and his girlfriend Clode on the right.

Falls creek, let the games begin.

Sydney Melbourne Hunter Valley

 We had a terrific few days, drinking too much and  having some of the most spectacular falls ever seen at Fall’s Creek. Little did I realise after this 1996 adventure I would never ski again.

Melbourne

Sydney Melbourne Hunter Valley

Drinks with Rossco’s friends in South Yarra, from the left Ross Kennedy aka “Shoeless Joe Jackson, David Herd aka “The Cincinnati Kid”, Craig Belcher and Johnny Mac.

Yum Cha in Chinatown

Sydney Melbourne Hunter Valley

This gorgeous girl Jaqui O’Brien actually lived in my house for a few months in 1987,  she then worked with me for a short time in 1998. A lovely lady until she had one drink too many, she then turned into a nightmare. Rossco came up with a classic name for her, “Jacqui Petrol”. πŸ™‚

Rossco & DH

Sydney Melbourne Hunter Valley

The high rollers have hit town. πŸ™‚

On the subject of gorgeous girls

Sydney Melbourne Hunter Valley

Meet Jill McCrossan, another super hot chick I was lucky enough to be involved with.

Felling no pain

Sydney Melbourne Hunter Valley

I’m too sexy for my shirt. πŸ™‚

A day at the beach in Coffs Harbour

Sydney Melbourne Hunter Valley

We had a great couple of days at Tony Murphy’s apartment, the spa was excellent. πŸ™‚

Both sides look great

Sydney Melbourne Hunter Valley

A great view from every direction.

 Meanwhile back on the Gold Coast

Sydney Melbourne Hunter Valley

Natalina from the coast and Rodney Rosenfeld from Melbourne.

John Sinclair & John Cece

Sydney Melbourne Hunter Valley

Both these guys moved from Adelaide to the Gold Coast, they were good friends and now mortal enemies. πŸ™‚

Great fun in Manila

Sydney Melbourne Hunter Valley

Here I am with Simone and Doug Ritchie in some club in Makati. πŸ™‚

Pascal, Junko and Rene

Sydney Melbourne Hunter Valley

Pascal was gorgeous girl, 1/2 French & 1/2 Vietnamese, Junko is the Japanese wife of my good friend Phil Thomson and Rene was a rather sexy Australian girl. πŸ™‚

And the beat goes on

Sydney Melbourne Hunter Valley

This is a rather significant photo, on the left is Larry Krausz, a good friend to all of us. It’s now 2017 and he is fighting a huge battle in Robina hospital on the Gold Coast. Larry suffered a major stroke on October 28th in Pattaya where he had been living large for almost a year. Our best wishes are with Larry, hopefully he will recover enough to lead a comfortable life.

Maybe one more look at Donna

Sydney Melbourne Hunter Valley

Certainly one of the sexiest ladies ever to decorate my kitchen. πŸ™‚

One more shot of lovely Emily

Sydney Melbourne Hunter Valley

As you can see Emily was a total knockout.

New Years Eve at Mustang Sally’s.

Sydney Melbourne Hunter Valley

One of my regular Main Beach haunts.

Farewell folks

Sydney Melbourne Hunter Valley

 Thanks for visiting my Sydney Melbourne Hunter Valley photo blog.


That’s all folks

 

Sydney Melbourne Hunter Valley    

   Here are some more posts to check out

         Life 2015                     Family history                   Life 1982

2835141a-02cf-4cda-a909-2a8408a99f47        6a173a01-9744-404a-a45f-87a975ec90fa          d5436828-abbc-4da1-a638-7f90436c6417

  Adelaide 1972                 Iron Bar Freddy               Sydney 2006

417091_10150704751043594_62315468_n          Susies home Newport 1 (1)        April24FreewayHotel-33 (1)

Thailand 2008                Gold Coast Babes               World trip 2003

Fun in Pattaya-116         92bfa275-a122-4078-9970-1e24188a5917        CopacabanabeachNov2003-124

             Great hotel room rates anywhere in the world if you book
                  through these links below.  Book now & pay later.
Free Cancellation. 
                              Bangkok Hotels                    Pattaya Hotels
                         d0c59ff5-7f2b-41b5-9312-4556d4a62037              01a75360-9573-473f-acba-3a187f779b7f
 
 That’s all folks
Surfers Paradise Party Animals
 
A-One hotel on Beach Road

Seven deadly Songkran days

For a great room rate at the A-One hotel opposite the beach just book through THIS LINK.               

 

 Soi Cowboy                  Nana Plaza                    Patpong

 Soi Cowboy (5)           e1274c0c-cf4d-4406-b5dc-d9e8071e382e            8993ef02-ccf3-46a7-8b6d-fc11af9d93ad

 

Counter only started June 16 2020.

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Hyde Park Kensington London

May 19, 2015 by David Herd

Coffee by the lake

Hyde Park Kensington London

Hyde Park Kensington London

Hyde Park Kensington London has something for everyone. You can enjoy swimming, boating, cycling and skating. There are pitches for team games, tennis courts, tracks for horse riding and a spectacular children’s playground. The Park has two lakeside restaurants which are licensed and serve everything from a three-course meal to a quick cup of coffee.

The Serpentine

Hyde Park Kensington London

 Although it is common to refer to the entire body of water as the Serpentine, strictly the name refers only to the eastern half of the lake.


Beautiful gardens

Hyde Park Kensington London

Hyde Park London covering 142 hectares (350 acres) and with over 4,000 trees, a large lake, a meadow and ornamental flower gardens.

Peaceful paradise in the heart of the city

Hyde Park Kensington London

A beautiful oasis in the middle of London.

Hyde Park Kensington London interesting tree

Hyde Park Kensington London

An amazing tree.

Peaceful setting

Hyde Park Kensington London

Hyde park is a must to see if you are in this great city.

I wonder who lives here?

Hyde Park Kensington London

There are so many photo opportunities here in Hyde Park.

Look closely you may see a puppy.

Hyde Park Kensington London

Puppy, what puppy? I don’t see a puppy.

Hyde Park Kensington London Wellington Arch

Hyde Park Kensington London

 Wellington Arch, also known as Constitution Arch or the Green Park Arch, is a triumphal arch located to the south of Hyde Park in central London.

Hyde Park Kensington London Cafe

Hyde Park Kensington London


A perfect peaceful and serene location to relax and enjoy a coffee.

Another cafe restaurant

Hyde Park Kensington London

Thanks for visiting my Hyde Park Kensington London photo blog.

One of my favourite songs about London.

Piccadilly             London skyscrapers          London 2015

 

 More posts for you to see

English restaurants     City of Bath      Lands End

 Soi Cowboy                  Nana Plaza                    Patpong

 Soi Cowboy (5)           e1274c0c-cf4d-4406-b5dc-d9e8071e382e            8993ef02-ccf3-46a7-8b6d-fc11af9d93ad

 
  Please check out these fabulous posts
       Gold Coast                              Pattaya                          Cinque Terre
bd96516a-84df-4ca0-86e6-c757cc9053d1          01a75360-9573-473f-acba-3a187f779b7f          e18b6c87-5adc-4a80-92cf-6c643ad130c1
 
Rio de Janeiro                  Singapore                    Eastern Europe
f044491e-69aa-4082-b49b-1ff33557d7d4          60e7d26d-1039-4dde-863d-62b66656ccbf          1bea4a99-cb07-4161-83ba-75c0ef2b63cc
    Bangkok Bars                         Tokyo                      Cape Town Safari
d0c59ff5-7f2b-41b5-9312-4556d4a62037          f5e9441a-4154-44e0-a362-18b662d40b48          2a2b79ea-bc5f-46e3-8448-2e71658eff14 
               Great hotel room rates anywhere in the world if you book
                  through these links below.  Book now & pay later.
Free Cancellation. 
Bangkok Hotels                    Pattaya Hotels
d0c59ff5-7f2b-41b5-9312-4556d4a62037          b1c99886-3940-4dda-b350-44c5e5c77e41
 
 That’s all folks

1g Duck

 

Pattaya live webcam
9a1fec74-4461-46cd-8663-97f5893c8f6e (1)
 


Counter only started June 16 2020.

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Gold Coast life 1997

May 13, 2015 by David Herd

Dinner on my Jetty

Wonderful Gold Coast life 1997

Gold Coast life 1997

Wonderful Gold Coast life 1997, never a dull moment, the year was rather significant heralding the last year I actually had a job. I decided to take a year off work and travel, little did I realise I would never really work again.

In the photo I’m having dinner with friends on my jetty at my beautiful Gold Coast home at 106 Upton St Bundall. On the left is “the Doc” with his 16 yo concubine Rachel, Ross & Mariana Kennedy and Mary Simpson who I recently  found again online living in Amsterdam.

This it not part of my travel blog, just part of my personal photo & travel history from 2000.

Posing in my Porsche

Gold Coast life 1997

 

A few months after this shot Rachel gave the Doc aka Michel Grey the flick & hooked up with Wendell Sailor from the Brisbane Broncos.. πŸ™‚ πŸ™‚ πŸ™‚

One more did you say?

Gold Coast life 1997

 

How sweet she is.

A great look in front of the fire

Gold Coast life 1997

Another name that alludes me, but once again it’s the photo that matters.


Adelaide with old friends

Gold Coast life 1997

Grahame Farquhar and Flo and the Brookers in Adelaide, good friends from when I lived in Adelaide in the early 70s. We caught up again when I visited Adelaide in October 2014.

Fatty Francis

Gold Coast life 1997

Big Bob Francis was a well known DJ, much later he became a “shock Jock” and finally retired in 2013. Robert Neville “Bob” Francis OAM is a former talk back radio presenter on South Australian radio station 5AA. His program aired between 8 pm and 12 midnight weekdays and was rated as Adelaide’s most popular talk back program.

An emotional farewell from Bob Francis

Sadly Bob passed away in 2016, RIP buddy.

Lunch at Lynch’s in South Yarra.

Gold Coast life 1997

We have just returned from a trip to Bali where we stayed in Albert Mantello’s beautiful waterfront home. Albert is in the middle beside Paul Lynch who owned the famous restaurant and Ross Ansell a well known Melbourne character.

Albert Mantello and Paul Lynch.

Gold Coast life 1997

The guys spent a weekend at my home on the Gold Coast, they both loved their wine. It looks to me like a bottle of Tyrrell’s Long Flat Red. πŸ™‚

Sadly Albert passed away September 26 2021 at the age of 87. It was a pleasure to know him. If you have the time please check out THIS LINK.

 Adele is one very gorgeous babe.

Gold Coast life 1997

 

My last job was a short stint as an editor for a tourist magazine call Today Tonight and Tomorrow. Not much of a job but great side benefits like hiring and photographing sexy babes like Adele. πŸ™‚ 

AFL Grand Final

Gold Coast life 1997

St Kilda played Adelaide at the MCG in front of 99,645 people and lost by 31 points.

Master Chef

Gold Coast life 1997

 

The semi naked Master chef, chilli mud-crab I caught and cooked myself.

Karen Underwood

Gold Coast life 1997

 

My lovely ex girlfriend from 1991, after all these years we remained friends.

Sunday session at Upton St

Gold Coast life 1997

 

Another Sunday lunch at Upton St.

Jaunita and Butch

Gold Coast life 1997

What a beautiful face, and I don,t mean Butch aka Ian Campbell. πŸ™‚

 Jaunita featured in my Wonderful Gold Coast life 1997

Wonderful Gold Coast life 1997

Absolutely beautiful.

My favourite song from 1997

 Donna Turner

Gold Coast life 1997

 

Another smoking hot babe, she certainly made my kitchen look glamorous. πŸ™‚

Lets finish as we started

Wonderful Gold Coast life 1997

Relaxing in the spar with Simone, a gorgeous girl and a bottle of Stollies, Gold Coast life in 1997 was pretty bloody good. πŸ™‚ πŸ™‚ πŸ™‚

Thanks for visiting my Wonderful Gold Coast life 1997 photo blog.

For a great hotel room rate just book through THIS LINK.

                           

Holiday Inn

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Fabulous views, excellent restaurants & a very good room rate if you book through THIS LINK.

The building in the middle is the Holiday Inn, on the left is the Amari Hotel which is another very good five star hotel. Use THIS LINK to book for a very good room rate.

Sabai Wing North Pattaya

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The best Pattaya budget hotel, 3 pools & opposite Central Marina shopping mall. For a great room rate just book through THIS LINK.

Sutus Court is a great budget hotel right i the heart of one of Pattaya’s main bar areas, just use THIS LINK for a terrific room rate. 420/100 Moo 9 Soi Buakhao.

Pattaya Hilton

Pattaya hotels, Hilton & Holiday Inn

This is the view from Horizons the amazing rooftop bar. A great five star hotel located opposte the beach & above the Central Festival shopping mall. Just book through THIS LINK for an excellent room rate. 

 Soi Cowboy                  Nana Plaza                    Patpong

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    Bangkok Bars                         Tokyo                      Cape Town Safari
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 That’s all folks

1g Duck

 

 

Thats’s all folks

Gold Coast life

 

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Bali Indonesia luxury home

June 17, 2014 by David Herd

Albert Mantello’s beautiful home

Bali Indonesia luxury home

Bali Indonesia luxury home staying at the beautiful waterfront home owned by Albert Mantello who was an ex North Melbourne Aussie Rules footballer & North Melbourne football club president Allen Aylett, who was another famous footballer was there as well, plus Ron Joseph, a well know North Melbourne supporter and a players agent.

The Mantellos bought a long-term lease on a beach front property in the now fashionable Semanyak region and built a grand villa called Atas Ombak. It sleeps 10, boasts a pool, private beach, 5000 square metres of land and 25 staff including five cooks and its yours for $US1250-$US2000 a night depending on the season.

Villa Atas Ombak, Indonesian for β€œVilla On Top of The Waves”, is directly located on the beach only a few kilometres north of Legian. Featuring breathtaking views of Bali’s famous sunsets, the Villa encompasses an acre and a half of garden area, with over 100 meters of beach frontage. It also includes a large swimming pool, a main building with three bedrooms, a large entertainment pavilion that functions as an open-air living room, and two separate Ocean rooms. Located far enough away from the tourist crowds to ensure total privacy, this villa is still close enough to offer easy access to Bali’s favourite shops, restaurants, and entertainment venues.

Bali Indonesia luxury home

Bali Indonesia luxury home

What a fantastic setting for a Balinese massage, this is the way to live in Bali.

Bali Indonesia friends, lunch is served

Bali Indonesia luxury home

I was invited by my friend Ross Ansell who was a good friend of Alberts. Ross is at the head of the table, Albert is on the left. A huge bonus was Ettore who was the editor for a Melbourne Soccer magazine. He flew two models to Bali for a photo shoot. I really had a great time in Bali with friends both old & new.

Naturally I had to get among the action

Bali Indonesia luxury home

Of course I had to hover around the photo shoots to see if I could pick up any tips. πŸ™‚

Some of Albert’s many staff

Bali Indonesia luxury home

There were cooks, gardeners, carpenters, security, you name it, in Bali Albert had them all.

The Melbourne crew

Bali Indonesia luxury home

Ron Joseph and Alan Aylett, North Melbourne fanatics.

Ettore & Ross Ansell on the plane to Bali

Bali Indonesia luxury home

Two very nice Melbourne guys.

Cocktail time at Albert’s home

Bali Indonesia luxury home

Two gorgeous Melbourne girls, what about that magnificent black dress?

Sadly Albert passed away September 29 2021

Bali Indonesia luxury home

Albert Mantello passed away at the ripe old age of 87. I’ll never forget a fabulous holiday we had in 1997 at Alberts beautiful home you see above, RIP Albert. 

The photo was taken at my home on the Gold Coast featuring Albert & Paul Lynch.

 One of the many horse statues

Bali Indonesia luxury home

There are many of these similar statues on or near roundabouts in Bali, this on is close to Kuta beach

Kupu Kupu Barong Villas And Tree Spa

Bali Indonesia luxury home

This is a wonderful hotel in the mountains at Ubud

Kapu Kapu Barong

Bali Indonesia friends luxury home

A beautiful setting with views to die for.

Street market in Ubud

Bali Indonesia luxury home

As you can imagine everything here is rather inexpensive.

Great Bali golf hole

Bali Indonesia luxury home

I can’t remember if I hit the green or not, probably not. πŸ™‚

Hotel Serai on the coast

Bali Indonesia luxury home

I think this Serai hotel may have changed its name. It was on the eastern shore of Bali at Candidasa, however while I was looking for it on Agoda I found this beautiful hotel The Rama Candidasa Resort.

My room was beside the pool

Bali Indonesia luxury home

There is so much more to Bali than Kuta beach or Legian, there are some wonderful luxury resorts scattered along the coastline. So if you want to escape from the maddening crowds check out The Rama Candidasa Resort.

Reunion lunch at Lynch’s in Domain Rd South Yarra.

Bali Indonesia luxury home

A short time after my Bali Indonesia friends adventure we gathered at the famous Lynch’s restaurant in Melbourne. I’m on the left beside Ross Ansell, then Albert Mantello & Paul Lynch the restaurant owner, not sure who the lady was, and finally Ettore on the right. Sadly this famous restaurant now does not exist after the retirement of founder Paul Lynch in December 2007.

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It would be 11 long years before I returned to Bali in 2008, and there is no way I had the same fun as I had at Albert’s beautiful home in 1997 with a fascinating group of people.

Samaya Hotel at Seminyak.

Bali Indonesia Surfers Paradise

There are many 5 star hotels in Bali Indonesia, the Samaya hotel is in a great location right on the beach.    

Thanks for visiting my Bali Indonesia luxury home photo blog. 

Luxury getaway Bali.

     Istanbul                                 Budapest                        London

Fascinating Istanbul Asia Meets Europe     Hungarian Parliament Building (2)       The Walkie Talkie (5)    

          Mostar                           Dubrobnik                            Split

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                 Saigon                            Zagreb                          Vung tau

Ho Chi Minh City South Vietnam       Main Square (3)     Vung Tau statue (6)

Pattaya live webcam
 
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That’s all folks

1g Duck

Click on the photo below for a another flashback.

 

Here is my post on Angkor Wat in Cambodia

 

Have a look at this wonderful Italian seaside village

 


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Gold Coast 1995

June 11, 2014 by David Herd

Please note, this is not part of my Travel Blog. It’s part of my personal history, check it out if you wish.

Gold Coast 1995 life was good, & in fact all through the 90s, my home at 106 Upton St Bundall was “party central”, 1995 was no different, I was working for the NRMA as a Financial Planner and enjoying life to the max, this post shows many of the people who made it another memorable year.

I love this photo

Life on the Gold Coast 1995

My old friend Harley Bradstreet on the Gold Coast 1995 telling one of his long winded stories that used to bore everyone to tears. He had a million stories but they were all about himself, the look on Kerry’s face is priceless. The other guy is Barry Madden who worked for the NRMA in Newcastle, it is now 2014 and we are still in touch often on Facebook. 

Grahame Kinsela & Harley Bradstreet.

Life on the Gold Coast 1995

Harley was & still is a terrific guy, he now lives in Perth and collects & restores old Jaguars. Grahame was also an old friend of mine from the northern beaches area of Sydney. 

In those days Harley seemed to stumble from one disaster to another, a mutual friend of ours Larry Wilson, a Gold Coast solicitor,  coined the phrase referring to Harley, “anyone can have a bad decade”. This seemed to describe Harley to a tee. πŸ™‚

November 2016 & I saw saw the sad news on Facebook that Grahame had passed away, RIP my old buddy.

My new jetty Gold Coast 1995

Life on the Gold Coast 1995

  I remember this photo so well. My Doberman Ziggy is taking his first look at my new jetty, he was a very confused dog for the next hour or two.


This is what the jetty was designed for.

Life on the Gold Coast 1995

Drinks, drinks & more drinks, my jetty turned into the main party area for my house. On the left is Jim Bell, he rented a room in my home for 15 years, that’s what I call a long time tenant. Michael Gray aka “the Doc” was a local Radiologist & a well know collector of beautiful women. Finally on the right is John Hunjadi, a partner in several Gold Coast nightclubs, including ” “Cocktails & Dreams”, The Party”, & “The Bourbon Bar”.

Good buddy Phil Thompson.

Life on the Gold Coast 1995

Still one of my best friends today Phil was a handy guy to have at my Sunday BBQs.

My gorgeous girlfriend of the year was…..

Life on the Gold Coast 1995

Carolyn Clark was & still is a gorgeous girl, we were an item for about a year and a half in 1994 & 1995. Twenty years later and I’m glad to say we still keep in touch.

What do you think of these little puppies?

Life on the Gold Coast 1995

I gotta say I think they are gorgeous. πŸ™‚

A weekend in Sydney

Life on the Gold Coast 1995

Carolyn & I flew to Sydney for a weekend, I caught up with my good friend Paul Slaughter, 2nd from left. The guy on the left was an actor from “The Bill” Tony O’Callaghan.

Great shot of the Gold Coast girls in Sydney.

Life on the Gold Coast 1995

On the left is Marie Stephens beside Carolyn Clark, far right is Kandice Aldington with Michaela standing at the back. It was a good weekend

My favourite song from 1995

The Oaks Hotel

Life on the Gold Coast 1995

Old friends meet for drinks at our favourite pub. Derek Pugh and Ian Rich, Paul Slaughter in the foreground with his sister on the left and girlfriend Clode on the right.

Drinks at my home before dinner.

Life on the Gold Coast 1995

 I was always entertaining people in my home in Upton St Gold Coast 1995, after the year 2000 I started to entertain less & less due to my frenetic overseas travel. Wendy is 2nd from the right, sadly she passed away in 2017, RIP.

Beautiful Argentinian girl

Life on the Gold Coast 1995

  Surely one of the most beautiful girls that ever visited my home, sadly I can’t even remember her name.

Photo bombed

Life on the Gold Coast 1995

Greg Johnston aka Greg Bin Laden looking like a middle east terrorist photo bombed me with the Argentinian Princess.

A gorgeous girl from Rio.

Life on the Gold Coast 1995

This is Andrea from Rio, my good friend Andre (RIP) bought her to Australia for a holiday.

Brazil on the left & Argentina on the right

Life on the Gold Coast 1995

Why does imported fruit always seem so much more exotic? πŸ™‚

Time for some local talent

Life on the Gold Coast 1995

This is Jade, only on the Gold Coast would you go out like this. Please click on Google + to help my page ranking.

 

Fun on the Broadwater

Life on the Gold Coast 1995

Much of the Gold Coast 1995 life revolved around the water, many people like myself lived on the waterfront with our boat tied up to our jetty. The guy in the yellow shirt was a good friend of mine from Melbourne Ross Ansell, & as you can clearly see they seem to be enjoying themselves.

I was having fun as well

Life on the Gold Coast 1995

Here I am with Pascale & Rene, both gorgeous ladies.

Another party on the jetty

Life on the Gold Coast 1995

And the beat goes on at Gold Coast 1995, yet another party on the jetty, the guy on the left with his arm around Kandice was John Merryman from Sydney. We knew each other from the old days at Eliza’s in Double Bay in the 70s. The guy in the middle is John Gombos beside my sexy hairdresser Dianne in the red top. On the far right is Ziggy, same name as my Doberman.

Sadly Ziggy passed away around 2018, RIP.

So many girls in 1995 & such little time. πŸ™‚

Life on the Gold Coast 1995Thanks for visiting my Gold Coast 1995 photo blog.

   Here are some more posts to check out

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  Adelaide 1972                 Iron Bar Freddy               Sydney 2006

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Thailand 2008                Gold Coast Babes               World trip 2003

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             Great hotel room rates anywhere in the world if you book
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Free Cancellation. 
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 That’s all folks
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A-One hotel on Beach Road

Seven deadly Songkran days

For a great room rate at the A-One hotel opposite the beach just book through THIS LINK.               

 

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