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Gold Coast Broadwater

August 22, 2017 by David Herd

Spectacular Gold Coast View

 Gold Coast Broadwater

Gold Coast Broadwater Gold Coast Broadwater all add up to a breathtaking view of Surfers Paradise which is located 800 kilometers north of Sydney & 80 kilometers south of Brisbane.

We are looking east to Marina Mirage on the right & the Vercace Hotel o the left.

Broadwater entrance

Gold Coast Broadwater Beside those rocks is the entrance channel to the Broadwater, or the exit depending on which way you are going. 🙂

Blue Sky Boats Gold Coast Broadwater

Gold Coast Broadwater Here is a closer look at the rock wall on the southern side of the seaway entrance.

Hundreds of boats use the seaway every day.

 Gold Coast Broadwater Everything from jet skis to huge luxury cruisers, all hoping to enjoy Blue Sky Boats Gold Coast Broadwater & maybe a bag full of fish.

For a great hotel room rate (with free cancellation) just book through THIS LINK.

Some get into trouble when the sea is rough.

Blue Sky Boats Gold Coast Broadwater The rescue boat is always there to lend a hand.

My friend’s catamaran. 

Gold Coast Broadwater

 A nice way to escape the rat race of Surfers Paradise. 🙂

Gold Coast Broadwater

Gold Coast Broadwater

 A great day out on the Broadwater.

Some guys prefer to fish.

Gold Coast Broadwater Boats, who needs boats? We are here to catch a big one.

And I’m here for a sun tan.

Gold Coast Broadwater

 So no matter what you are interested in you will find it n the Broadwater.

Did I mention the seafood?

Gold Coast Broadwater You have two great choices, pull into Charis seafood at Labrador & pick up your lunch. Those of you with a sharp eye will notice the mud crabs are $36.90 a kilo, well tat was 2010, sadly in 2017 they have doubled in price.

Direct from the trawler.

Gold Coast Broadwater This is my preference, they are located just north of Marina Mirage, just call Curly on 0417 668 591, he’s one of the boat owners, he will let you know what they have in stock.

Best prawns in the world.

Gold Coast Broadwater These medium size king prawns are around $25 aud a kilo. Check out more seafood on THIS LINK.

Decisions, decisions.

Gold Coast Broadwater Take the at out or……..

Order lunch at one of the many restaurants?

Gold Coast Broadwater

 So many decisions & such little time. 🙂

Gold Coast Broadwater

Gold Coast Broadwater What a fabulous part of the world.

Houston, we have lift off.

 

The kite surfer is having a ball.

An amazing view.

Gold Coast Broadwater From my friends apartment, it does not get better than this. By the way it’s for sale3 for a lazy $1.5 million AUD.

I’m guessing now in 2021 it will be closer to $2.5 million.

Here is the view from the opposite side of the Broadwater towards Southport.

Gold Coast Broadwater

Over the years I spent countless hours on my boat in this very area.

Finally a birds eye view of Surfers Paradise

Gold Coast Broadwater

Absolutely spectacular, featuring the Southport yacht in the foreground.

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

Thanks for visiting my Gold Coast Broadwater photo blog.

                   

                           Here are some more posts to check out 

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                        Great hotel room rates anywhere in the world if you                                
                         book through these links below.  Book now & pay later.
                                                                 Plus free cancellation .
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That’s all folks

1g Duck

Check out these great food photo blogs.

 

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Coober Pedy Opal Mine

April 14, 2017 by David Herd

Incredible landscape

Coober Pedy Opal Mine

Coober Pedy Opal Mine Coober Pedy Opal Mine, nowhere else in the world have I seen colours similar to outback Australia. Red earth, blackened trees and a beautiful blue sky.

I took three Japanese students, Yukako, Megumi & Noriko & travelled from the Gold Coast in Queensland, through Broken Hill  NSW to Cooper Pedy on the first leg of our journey on the way to Uluru aka Ayers Rock.

Excitement

Coober Pedy Opal Mine

 The girls started clapping wildly when they saw the kangaroo sign so you can imagine how excited they were when they saw a live one.

Here we are in Coober Pedy

Coober Pedy Opal Mine

You know when you are near the town when you see all the mounds of dirt & gravel.

OK, what are we waiting for?

Coober Pedy Opal Mine

Let’s go & check out this underground village. 

My trusty Holden Commodore was our transport on our marathon journey all through the Australian Outback we traveled 7,300 kilometers  which was around 82 hours behind the wheel. 

Mini mountains everywhere

Blue Sky Red Earth Coober Pedy Opal Mine

Coober Pedy is a town in northern South Australia, 846 km north of Adelaide. The 2011 census showed its population was 1,695 (953 males, 742 females, including 275 indigenous Australians). The town is sometimes referred to as the “opal capital of the world” due to the quantity of precious opals that are mined there.

 Men at work

Coober Pedy Opal Mine

This was our first indication of work happening around the mines.

Coober Pedy Opal Mine

Coober Pedy Opal Mine

As you can clearly see not all the people live underground.

 Opal capital of the World

Coober Pedy Opal Mine

 There are quite a few opal shops, restaurants and a variety of accommodation ranging from four star to backpackers and caravan/camping areas.

Desert Cave Hotel

Coober Pedy Opal Mine

The hotel has rooms above ground and in underground caves, this relaxed hotel is a 14-minute walk from the Big Winch Lookout. For an excellent discount just book through THIS LINK.

Big Winch Lookout

Coober Pedy Opal Mine

 The famous historic Big Winch Scenic Lookout with 360 degrees view of the town.

Is this Coober Pedy art?

Coober Pedy Opal Mine

To be honest with you I have no idea what it is. 🙂

On the other hand….

Coober Pedy Opal Mine

This may well be the brother of “Tin Man” from The Wizard of Oz. 🙂

 On the subject of movies

Coober Pedy Opal Mine

This monster was apparently part of a movie set that has been abandoned and left here as a talking point.

 We have finished the first stage of our Journey.

Coober Pedy Opal Mine

Next stop is Uluru aka Ayers Rock.

Thanks for visiting my Coober Pedy Opal Mine photo blog.

       

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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
                  through these links below.  Book now & pay later.
Free Cancellation. 
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 That’s all folks
1g Duck
 
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Australian adventures

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Tall buildings Surfers Paradise

August 17, 2016 by David Herd

Nerang River

Tall buildings Surfers Paradise

Tall buildings Surfers Paradise

Tall buildings Surfers Paradise where I lived for 25 years before moving to Thailand in October 2011. Personally I preferred the city in the 70s & 80s before the explosion of modern high rise hotels and apartments. Having said all that, it is quite a spectacular part of Australia.

Old motel for sale

Tall buildings Surfers Paradise

I’m surprised this prime property adjacent to the Chevron Island bridge was not developed years ago.

Chevron Renaissance

Tall buildings Surfers Paradise

One of three towers offering apartments and hotel rooms.

The Chevron Renaissance

Blue Sky tall buildings Surfers Paradise

Quite a spectacular skyline in the heart of Surfers Paradise. Book HERE for a discount.

Q1 and 50 Cavil Avenue

Tall buildings Surfers Paradise

Two more well known Surfers Paradise buildings.

The beach

Tall buildings Surfers Paradise

The beach stretches for miles, this view is looking south.

Lifeguard

Tall buildings Surfers Paradise

These lifeguards do a great job protecting the public.

Surfers Paradise Australia

Blue Sky tall buildings Surfers Paradise

Tall buildings Surfers Paradise

Apartments occupy two of the 3 towers with the 3rd a hotel.

Surfers Paradise Hilton

Tall buildings Surfers Paradise

The Hilton offers great views overlooking the beach, book HERE for a good discount.

Orchard Avenue night clubs

Tall buildings Surfers Paradise

Here are three popular night clubs in the heart of Surfers Paradise.

Looking south at Q1

Blue Sky tall buildings Surfers Paradise

Q1 is an 80 story tower with an observation deck on the top floor. For a great discount book through THIS LINK.

Looking north

Tall buildings Surfers Paradise

Featuring Soul tower with Peppers Hotel. Book through THIS LINK for a terrific room rate.

Soul, Blue Sky tall buildings Surfers Paradise

Tall buildings Surfers Paradise

A magnificent 77 level tower with views of the beautiful Surfers paradise beach.

Looking south along Orchard Avenue

Blue Sky tall buildings Surfers Paradise

Orchard Avenue is Surfer Paradise’s main late night entertainment street. Be careful after midnight. 🙂

Gold Coast light rail

Tall buildings Surfers Paradise

Transport has greatly improved since the introduction of the light rail system.

Light rail map

Tall buildings Surfers Paradise

Current and future routes, stage 2 will link up with the heavy rail system at Helensvale to make travelling to Brisbane much easier.

Q1 80 story tower

Tall buildings Surfers Paradise

Probably the most iconic Gold Coast building.

Skyline view from the racecourse

Surfers Paradise skyline

Surfers Paradise

Blue Sky tall buildings Surfers Paradise

My home for 25 glorious years, this city provides me with so many wonderful memories.

Melbas on the Park

Blue Sky tall buildings Surfers Paradise

Finally drinks with good friends Phil Thomson and Greg Craig at Melbas. Thanks for visiting my Blue Sky tall buildings Surfers Paradise photo blog, before you go check out my Isle Of Capri and Bundall blogs.


 

   

 Istanbul                                 Budapest                        London

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                     43638e36-5da5-4162-98e3-635e2c149837IMG_7425Split Ancient Croatian Coastal city                    

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That’s all folks

1g Duck

Holiday Inn

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

Here are some of my most popular posts.

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Australian seafood


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London cold winter wind

March 5, 2015 by David Herd

The Shipwrights Arms

London cold winter wind

London cold winter wind

 London cold winter wind & lots of great pubs. I arrived March 1st 2015 the same date I arrived in 2014, at least unlike last year there was no rain, just icy cold wind. At least there are hundreds of great pubs to visit and escape from the wind.

The Hereford Arms

London cold winter wind

about 300 meters from Gloucester Road underground, a delightful little pub with a nice atmosphere and good food.

Hereford Arms

London cold winter wind

About a 8 minute walk from my hotel the Villa Kensington, I had dinner here on 3 occasions.

The Villa Kensington 10-11 Ashburn Gardens SW7

London cold winter wind

This excellent budget hotel is in a great location, only 2 blocks from Gloucester Road underground and surrounded by dozens of good restaurants. I booked through Agoda as usual and stayed in a newly renovated room for only 50 Quid or $98 usd including breakfast. Get a good discount through THIS LINK.

London cold winter wind

London cold winter wind

London cold winter wind and sunshine, but as I said before, the wind was icy. 🙂  

 Enoteca da Luca

London cold winter wind

I stumbled this delightful Italian restaurant at 21 Wattling St which is very close to St Pauls Cathredral.

Enoteca da Luca

London cold winter wind

  The Terrine was excellent as was the red wine. I found the wine a little expensive however sadly I think that is just the norm in London.  

Here is Julia at Enoteca da Luca

London cold winter wind

An excellent wine selection at Enoteca da luca, apparently there are a couple of other branches of this restaurant as well.

Jamie Oliver Barbecoa

London cold winter wind

  Also is Wattling Street is this fabulous Jamie Oliver butchery.  

London cold winter wind at St Pauls Cathredal

London cold winter wind

     It’s so cold even the statues are hugging.

The Walkie Talkie and The Gherkin

London cold winter wind

  There are some incredible glass skyscrapers being built in London.   Check out my post of these exciting new buildings.

The Tower Bridge

London cold winter wind

The Tower bridge is still one of London’s best places to visit and photograph.

Leadenhall Market

London cold winter wind

Quite a beautiful old building.

The Bloomsbury Tavern 236 Shaftsbury Avenue

London cold winter wind

Typical London architecture.

The Princess Louise

London cold winter wind

Princess Louise 208 High Holborn is a traditional English pub that is very popular at lunch time. I enjoyed a nice sandwich and a couple of bloody Mary’s.

For London & UK hotels there are great discounts through this link.

The Princess Louise

London cold winter wind

One of the great joys of visiting London are the unique pubs.

Little Venice near Paddington station

 

London cold winter wind

My first visit to this area triggered by a crime novel I recently read. 🙂

Nice cafe in Little Venice

London cold winter wind

Coffee and cake at this delightful cafe.

Newton Abbott in Devon

London cold winter wind

I an find only two reasons anybody would want to visit Newton Abbott in Devon. First I understand it is quite famous for horse racing, secondly, and this was my reason, there is a low security prison where I paid a very good friend a visit. This is the 4th English prison I have been to in the last 8 years. Last year it was Stafford, before that Dovegate and finally Dorchester.

London Underground

London cold winter wind

If you are spending a few days in London make sure you buy an Oyster Card for the underground as well as the London busses. Only 30 Quid for unlimited travel, a terrific saving.

Holiday Inn Kensington

London cold winter wind

  This is also a terrific location, in fact it is opposite my budget hotel the Villa Kensington. There is a huge price difference, 300 Quid for the Holiday inn  and 65 for Villa Kensington.  

One of my favourite songs about London.

Thanks for visiting my London cold winter wind photo blog.

                   Please check out these fabulous posts

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               Great hotel room rates anywhere in the world if you book
                  through these links below.  Book now & pay later.
Free Cancellation. 
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 That’s all folks

1g Duck

 

Pattaya live webcam
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Here are the fantastic new London buildings

 

Before I arrived in London I spent 4 days in Istanbul

 

Check out my blog on the rest of my fabulous trip.

 

A stand out feature of this trip was my selection of hotels and apartments, everyone of them was in a perfect location…

Posted by Travel blogger Fivestarvagabond.com” on Thursday, March 26, 2015

Europe before Covid-19 & mass immigration.

 


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