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Australian Gold Coast is spectacular

November 9, 2014 by David Herd

Chevron Renaissance Surfers Paradise

Australian Gold Coast is spectacular

Australian Gold Coast is spectacular

Australian Gold Coast is spectacular, semi tropical climate, 25 kilometers of beautiful beaches, an amazing skyline and lots of good restaurants & bars.

Tall building is Soul & the Hilton

Australian Gold Coast is spectacular

Soul is a 243 m (797 ft) tall residential tower local on the corner of Cavill Avenue and The Esplanade in Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. It has overtaken Circle on Cavill as the second tallest building on the Gold Coast, behind Q1. The building was approved by the Gold Coast City Council in October 2004 and finished construction in 2012 along with the next stage of the Gold Coast renovation project. Use THIS LINK to book a great rate at the Hilton.

Soul on Australian Gold Coast

Australian Gold Coast is spectacular

Use this link for great deals on Gold Coast hotels

Surfers Paradise beach

Australian Gold Coast is spectacular

The tall blue building is Q1 a skyscraper in Surfers Paradise, on the Gold Coast, Queensland. It lost its title as the world’s tallest residential tower to the 348 metre building The Marina Torch in Dubai on 29 April 2011.Wikipedia

Surfboat Australian Gold Coast

Australian Gold Coast is spectacular

A surfboat is an oar-driven boat designed to enter the ocean from the beach in heavy surf or severe waves. It is often used in lifesaving or rescue missions where the most expedient access to victims is directly from the beach.

 Circle on Cavill

Australian Gold Coast is spectacular

Circle on Cavill offers great ocean views and is a good location to spend your holidays, use this link for an excellent room rate.

 Light rail on the Gold Coast

Australian Gold Coast is spectacular

 Fast, efficient & hard to buy a ticket. 🙂

Cavill Avenue Surfers Paradise

Australian Gold Coast is spectacular

Lots of action here at night.

The Oracle at Broadbeach

Australian Gold Coast is spectacular

The twin towers of Oracle are a new addition to the Broadbeach skyline.

Melbourne Cup day at Moo Moo in Broadbeach.

Australian Gold Coast is spectacular

Moo Moo restaurant is a great place to “people watch”, not bad for a steak as well.

Melbourne Cup day at Melbas on the Park.

Australian Gold Coast is spectacular

Melbas has been my favourite Gold Coast bar since 1981. It was owned by the late Paul Allen one of the coasts most colourful characters.

Circle on Cavil on the Nerang River.

Australian Gold Coast is spectacular

Thank you for visiting my Australian Gold Coast post, it was great to catch up with old friends & family.

My home

Australian Gold Coast is spectacular

I can’t visit the Gold Coast without thinking of my beautiful home I built in 1990 and lived there for 21 years before moving to Thailand.

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

 Life 2015                     Family history                   Life 1982

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  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
1g Duck
 
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Home extension budget blowout

October 15, 2014 by David Herd

Doubling the size of my home

Home extension budget blowout

Home extension budget blowout

Home extension budget blowout  was due to the many changes I made to my original plan. I wasn’t satisfied with just adding a 2nd floor. The photo above was taken just after my home was built in 1990.

Day one the job begins

Home extension budget blowout

From here on nothing will ever be the same.

Laying the slab

Home extension budget blowout

My builder Ari is the guy with the shovel, one of the hardest working guys I have ever seen.

Dad’s army take a coffee break

Home extension budget blowout

Ari and his guys were the hardest working tradesmen I have ever seen.

Seeing some progress with home extension

Home extension budget blowout

Starting to see some progress with my home extension, these guys really work fast.

Now we are getting somewhere.

Home extension budget blowout

I really wanted to give the home “street appeal” something it didn’t have in its original form.

Brickwork & a fancy door.

Home extension budget blowout

Painting the door was one of my jobs. 🙂

The tree has gotta go

Home extension budget blowout

It was like losing a friend, I had planted it 14 years ago.

Timberrrrrr!!!!!

Home extension budget blowout

There goes my beautiful tree.

Starting to look terrific

Home extension budget blowout

This is the point it’s all starting to look fantastic.

 Laying the floor

Home extension budget blowout

There is no job these guys can’t handle.

The kitchen takes shape

Home extension budget blowout

It’s easy to be wise after the event, on the original plans a stairway was supposed to lead from that wall to the main house downstairs, for some reason we left it out which later proved to be a mistake.

Laying Terracotta tiles

Home extension budget blowout

The finishing touches.

The downstairs studio $250 pw.

Home extension budget blowout

The jewel in this home extension is this fabulous little studio completely self contained with a private entrance.

Beautiful private courtyard for the studio apartment

Home extension budget blowout

Quite a beautiful peaceful area for the granny flat.

Upstairs lounge & kitchen

Home extension budget blowout

When I look at this home extension which cost me double the original quote of $120,000  I feel it was all worth it. Uptairs consists of 3 bedrooms & two bathrooms and downstairs a separate private studio apartment.

Bedroom & en-suite

Home extension budget blowout

OK, so the chair should really have been dumped.

Beautiful courtyard

Home extension budget blowout

Quite spectacular at night.

Courtyard & front entrance

Home extension budget blowout

I was very happy with the entrance to my new home.

I really love the front gate & entrance

Home extension budget blowout

Now how good does that look?

The fabulous finished product

Home extension budget blowout

One of main main goals with this home extension other than creating rooms I could rent to students was to give my home more “street appeal” to help when the time came to sell. I think I certainly achieved that.

My dream home

Home extension budget blowout

The finished product was wonderful however I made some big mistakes in my overall scheme of things. I did not do enough research on council regulations regarding student rental, secondly I never anticipated the reaction from my feral neighbours who were always complaining to council about anything & everything. These people the Ryan family at 108 Upton proved to be cowardly & malicious. I often wondered why until a policeman friend of mine pointed out the increase in complaints from neighbours always increased after major renovations due to their uncontrollable jealousy.

Finally my biggest mistake was building such a large home which made it very difficult to finally sell. It was just far too big for the average family, without realizing it I had placed myself in a small range of under 10% of buyers. Apart from all that I was very proud &  thrilled with the final product, it also gave me a great sense of achievement to design & create my dream home.

 
 
 

Click here for a flashback to my home in 1991.

 

Jump forward to 2007 just click here.

 

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

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

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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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Party travel terrific year 2005

October 11, 2014 by David Herd

This is not a travel blog just a personal photo collection from 2005. Sunday Barbecue with super chef John Hunjadi

Party travel terrific year

Party travel terrific year

Party travel terrific year 2005, another fantastic 12 months in the life & times of David Herd. Four trips to Thailand, one to Sydney, plus a great round the world adventure to Paris & Brazil with Carnival in Rio being the ultimate highlight. Party travel, eat drink & enjoy life to the max, that’s the way to live.

This is not a travel blog just a personal photo collection.

Nudity-300x197

Flags are flying guests arriving

Party travel terrific year

Booze barbecues & boats a formula for fun & games at my home on the Gold Coast.

Party travel terrific year & BBQ lunches at my home..

Party travel terrific year

Everyone seems to be relaxing after a nice lunch.

More of the happy crowd

Party travel terrific year

OK, lets put some names going left to right. John Hunjadi, John Hanrahan, can’t remember the girl, Greg Bell, Jim Bell & Rob Gerrard.

Another Sunday another lunch

Party travel terrific year

Three Japanese girls, one Colombian, one Chinese guy & me. 🙂

Beautiful Japanese student

Party travel terrific year

Ikumi was a student staying in my home, out of all the lovely Japanese students who rented rooms in my home I think Ikumi was the most glamorous.

Ikumi feeding the seagulls

Party travel terrific year

The scavengers are looking for a handout.

Kayoko comes to dinner

Party travel terrific year

I met Kayo in 2005 & I am writing this post in October 2014. We are still good friends, in fact she came to visit me in Thailand in 2015, I also caught up with her in Yokohama in February 2016. Are you starting to realize my life in 2005 was dominated by party travel food & friends?

 Megumi & Yoshiko

Party travel terrific year

Megumi & Yoshiko November 19, two more gorgeous Japanese students.

Ikumi, Ryoko, Yuka & Nana

Party travel terrific year

Four lovely Japanese ladies.


Gold Coast Indy

Party travel terrific year

The party for the petrol heads.

Allison Schroeder

Party travel terrific year

I first met Allison in 1988 when she was only 18, she extremely cute & I vividly remember using an old tried & true technique, I promised her the world & bought her an Atlas. 🙂

Flashback to 1988 with Allison & Winnie.

Party travel terrific year

Dinner at La Rustica.

The Sheraton Hotel at Marina Mirage

Party travel terrific year

A wonderful Gold Coast hotel.

For a great room rate just book through THIS LINK.

Phil Thompson & Bridgette at the Boardroom

Party travel terrific year

We had a couple of trips to the Boardroom in Southport for lunch, it’s fairly obvious why. If you take the time to watch the slideshow at the end of the post you will see a whole lot more of Bridgette.

More from the Boardroom

Party travel terrific year

Tall and gorgeous.

Say no more, wink wink, nudge nudge.

Party travel terrific year

Do you understand why this place is so popular? 🙂

Q1 Surfers Paradise.

Party travel terrific year

Now one of Australia’s iconic buildings.

Chevron Renaissance Hotel.

Party travel terrific year

Great facilities at the Chevron, use THIS LINK for a good discount.

Chevron Renaissance food court

Party travel terrific year

I like to have coffee here and watch the passing parade.

A day at the beach

Party travel terrific year

Looking north from Burleigh Heads.

Footy tipping competition drinks.

Party travel terrific year

Drinks at Melbas for our tipping competition.

Another Barbecue at home.

Party travel terrific year

The fun never stops at Upton Street.

It was another great year on the Gold Coast

Party travel terrific yearLots of friends & beautiful girls.

My jetty & beach

Party travel terrific year

I enjoyed this view for 21 fabulous years.

Celebrating the life of Nan Tippett

Party travel terrific year

Not just a funeral but a celebration of her wonderful long life. Our beloved grandmother lived to the ripe old age of 104.

Here is a photo of Nan from around 1953

Party travel terrific year

Nan Tippett with Warren & David at Booker Bay, check out the Herd family history.

Thanks for visiting my Party travel terrific year photo blog.

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

               

   Here are some more posts to check out

         Life 2015                     Family history                   Life 1982

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  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

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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. 
                              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 
 
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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.               

 

 Soi Cowboy                  Nana Plaza                    Patpong

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

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Pattaya live webcam

Beautiful Brazilian beach babes

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Tim Bristow Iron-Bar Freddy Tropical Joe

Florianopolis Brazil 

Bangkok river ferry

Sexy Soi Cowboy Bangkok 

Beautiful Budapest

Australian seafood

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Home Gold Coast 1990

October 10, 2014 by David Herd

Part of my personal online photo albums, as opposed to my FiveStarVagabond travel blog.

Home Gold Coast 1990

Building dream home Gold Coast 1990

Home Gold Coast 1990 was a great thrill for me, I also completely designed the layout & drove the builder crazy by checking the progress every day. The address is 106 Upton St Bundall, QLD Australia 4217.

This post also features many of the terrific people I crossed paths with in 1990. Apologies for the poor quality photos, it was very early day for digital cameras.

Dream home 1990 & a new boat

home Gold Coast 1990

I was working for Metway Bank & took out a loan to build the house, the interest rate was 12.5%, can you believe it? I also still owned my previous home in Claymore Crescent Sorrento.

Followed by  new girl. 🙂

home Gold Coast 1990

 Karen Greenwood was a Kiwi & we spent the next 12 months or so together.

My favourite song from 1990

Madison & my car fleet completed the set. 🙂

home Gold Coast 1990

My best friend Madison & my Mini Moke came with me in January 1987 when we moved from Newport Beach in Sydney to Surfers Paradise.

At Coolum with Ross Radford & John Sprouster.

home Gold Coast 1990

These two great guys were my bosses, John was GM at Macdougals Ltd at 58 Clarence St Sydney which was my first selling job in office equipment. Ross owned Sanyo Office Machines & sent me to Adelaide in 1972 then Melbourne in 1974.

Helen Burke at Coolum golf resort

home Gold Coast 1990

This lovely lady really knew how to have fun., + she had a fabulous pair of Bazookas.

Bryan Dart, Greg Hughes & Wayne Jones

Building dream home Gold Coast 1990

We often played golf as I was a member at Sanctuary Cove, Greg forever the village joker took my putter and had it shortened by 4 inches. Next time we played I couldn’t understand why they seemed to be laughing & giggling each time it was my turn to putt. Being a fairly average golfer I never noticed the difference. 🙂

Amanda Kathy & Christy

Building dream home Gold Coast 1990

Three beautiful Surfers Paradise princesses.

Boating to Sanctuary Cove

home Gold Coast 1990

Taking Kathy Amanda & Christy to a party in Sanctuary Cove at Peter Hesky’s waterfront villa.

 Dave Alen at Melbas

Building dream home Gold Coast 1990

Dave is the son of Paul Alan the owner of Melbas nightclub & restaurant.

NYE at Melbas with gorgeous Simone.

home Gold Coast 1990

Another great year is almost over.

New Years Eve 1990

home Gold Coast 1990

Narrelle one of the gorgeous girls working at Melbas and my old friend Harley Bradstreet.

Tony Fasio & Steve Jones, RIP.

Building dream home Gold Coast 1990

Tony was the manager at Melbas & big Steve one of the bouncers, Steve sadly passed away far too young in the late 90s.

Surrounded my lovely ladies on New Years Eve.

home Gold Coast 1990

Life is hard in Surfers Paradise but someone has to do it. 🙂

Happy group at my home for dinner

home Gold Coast 1990

Tony & Narrelle & the other names I can’t recall.

Derek Pugh & I in Sydney

home Gold Coast 1990

Derek & I worked for MacDougalls in the late 60s.

Paul Slaughter with Clode & Ian Rich.

home Gold Coast 1990

Xmas day in Sydney with my brothers.

home Gold Coast 1990

Ian, Bryan & Warren, the only one missing as usual was Neale.

The Herd clan at Kihilla Rd Auburn for Xmas.

home Gold Coast 1990

Most of them now in 2014 have children of their own.

A rose between two thorns.

Building dream home Gold Coast 1990

More like a thorn between two roses. 🙂

Tony Murphy & Graham Hughes

home Gold Coast 1990

Cold beers at my home in 36 Ckaymore Crescent Sorrento  just before moving into my new home.

The end of another exciting year.

home Gold Coast 1990

Thanks for visiting my Building dream home Gold Coast 1990 photo blog.

After building my dream home 1990 I lived happily there until October 2011 & then moved to Thailand.

   Here are some more posts to check out

         Life 2015                     Family history                   Life 1982

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  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

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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. 
                              Bangkok Hotels                    Pattaya Hotels
                         d0c59ff5-7f2b-41b5-9312-4556d4a62037              01a75360-9573-473f-acba-3a187f779b7f
 
 That’s all folks
1g Duck
Pattaya live webcam 
 
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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.               

 

 Soi Cowboy                  Nana Plaza                    Patpong

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

 

This gallery contains 2 photos

Herd family Sydney 2006

October 3, 2014 by David Herd

Rebecca & Victor tie the knot

Herd family Sydney

Herd family Sydney

David Herd family Sydney  in 2006, my niece Rebecca married Victor Mendonca a very nice fellow from the Archipelago of the Azores, nine volcanic islands situated in the North Atlantic Ocean, and is located about 1,360 km (850 mi) west of continental Portugal.

The in-laws & the happy couple.

Herd family Sydney

Terrific family photo.

Great photo of brother Bryan & Lynne.

Herd family Sydney

A very happy day for the parents.

Mr & Mrs Mendonca

Herd family Sydney

Vic & Bec have a fabulous fitness center & gym in North Richmond, it is open 24/7 and you can join for only $13 a week. There are millions of idiots in Australia who spend $13 on one packet of cigarettes that are slowly killing them. I must say Victor is a great addition to the Herd family.

Herd family Sydney

Herd family Sydney

And there certainly was a big Herd, the annual Xmas gathering was at cousin Deb’s lovely home in Balgowlah, I have only ever attended 4 or 5 Xmas gatherings since the days when my parents were alive & entertaining the Herd family at 58 Kihilla Rd Auburn.

Great photo of cousin Deb with her parents Colin & Margaret, Colin is the youngest of Dad’d clan of 4 girls & 3 boys.

All my gorgeous Aunties.

Herd family Sydney

My father’s four sisters from left to right Elsie, Thelma, Dorothy & Norma. This one in 2006 is one of my favourites especially seeing all Dad’s 4 sisters there & in good health.

A flashback to 1929

Herd family Sydney

Elsie, Arthur, Allan & baby Thelma on 27-1-1929, what a beautiful looking young girl Elsie was.

Two uncles & one cousin.

Herd family Sydney

Ray Pilgrim on the left Colin Herd & cousin Greg McMillan.

Lovely photo, Dot is the happiest of all the Herd family.

Herd family Sydney

Jeff Bousefield with ????? The rest of the names are coming soon. 🙂

The Lowe family.

Herd family Sydney

Here is Robyn & her lovely family, my apologies for not knowing everyone’s name, I’ll track them down soon.

 The cat is ignoring me.

Herd family Sydney

Little miss Bousfield seems to be having a spat with the cat. 🙂

 Another flashback to 1954

Herd family Sydney

One of our best Herd family photos is Thelma’s wedding in 1954 with all of the clan.

Herds & Bousefields

Herd family Sydney

It’s now 2016 and I’m hoping I can catch up with the family at Xmas this year.

Robyn Greg & Thelma.

Herd family Sydney

It was a really nice Xmas with the family, thanks for visiting my Herd family Sydney photo blog.

Sydney hotels are so expensive now, here is a reasonably priced one in Chinatown, just book through THIS LINK.

 

 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

 

Australian adventures

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Friends family Surfers Paradise

September 29, 2014 by David Herd

Breakfast at Main Beach

Friends family Surfers Paradise

Friends family Surfers Paradise

Friends family Surfers Paradise starting with my brother Warren his lovely daughter Laura & his friend we call Mumbles. Another incredibly busy year for travel including Belem at the mouth of the mighty Amazon , Fortaleza on the north coast of Brazil, Rio de Janeiro, Buzios, Cabo Frio & another great trip to Tuscany & Portofino.

Two trips to Sydney including a terrific family Xmas & one trip to Melbourne for an AFL weekend. Yes, 2006 was another great year.

This is not a travel blog just a personal photo collection from 2006.

Lovely Laura

Friends family Surfers Paradise

My niece Laura is a terrific singer & dancer trying to break into the big time. She won a scholarship to preform in New York which like myself she has fallen in love with the city.

My beautiful home at 106 Upton St Bundall, 4217

Friends family Surfers Paradise

I designed & had my beautiful waterfront home built in 1990, I made a huge mistake in 2004 when I added a 2nd floor, it made it difficult to sell because it was too big for the average family, 500 M2 with seven bedrooms & five bathrooms. Oh well, it’s not the first major mistake in my life and it won’t be the last.

Lunch with Rossco at Omeros Brothers.

Friends family Surfers Paradise

Good friend Ross Kennedy & I at Omeros Brothers, one of the best restaurants on the Gold Coast.

Lobster Morney with Rossco at Omeros Bros.

Friends family Surfers Paradise

The food here is always excellent.

Dave & Janice Hoskot

Friends family Surfers Paradise

Drinks on my jetty with the Hoskots, Janice is an Australian girl & Dave is American, for a number of years he was a back up drummer for Bob Dylan.

A rose between two thorns.

Friends family Surfers Paradise

Asuka on the left was a lovely Japanese girl from Osaka who was studying on the Gold Coast and renting a room in my home.

Robin & Les Scheffer, Janice Hoskot & Randy Fuse.

Friends family Surfers Paradise

The Scheffer’s & I were good friends for many years, but in 2013 they placed my firmly on their blacklist for various infractions, you will see some others they have also placed on the list in following photos, it’s nice to have company. 🙂

Here is a classic “black list” photo.

Friends family Surfers Paradise

That’s Robin at the front & four of the other six people including myself have been banished to her & Les Scheffer’s blacklist for quite a long time, as I said before it is nice to have company. 🙂 This particular day was a happy one, I have a small tradition where for many years on Good Friday I invite friends over for lunch.

Even though I was high on Les’s black list I’m sorry to say he passed away in March 2019, RIP.

Here is our Good Friday feast.

Friends family Surfers Paradise

  Beautiful Gold Coast fresh seafood & leg ham, salad & freshly baked bread.  

Birthday lunch for Noel Smith.

Friends family Surfers Paradise

  At Carmody’s restaurant at the Southport Sharks club to celebrate Noel Smith’s birthday.

Sadly we have lost Noel Smith. Les Scheffer, Ian Fraser-Smith, John Woods and Ron Collier, RIP. 

Xmas lunch at Melbas with the usual suspects

Friends family Surfers Paradise

  Greg Craig, Mike Nidrie & Noel Smith (RIP) are all regular drinking buddies of mine at Melbas.  

Beautiful smile at Melbas

Friends family Surfers Paradise

    Melbas always hires gorgeous girls.

Xmas lunch, the tradition continues

Friends family Surfers Paradise

Xmas lunch at Melbas with Lars Shitterer & Dave Hoskot, I first started drinking at Melbas on January 1st 1982 when some friends & I flew from Sydney after a huge NYE on Sydney Harbour when my boat was peppered with falling sky rockets because I stupidly  anchored in the drop zone.

Red wine at Melbas

Friends family Surfers Paradise

  Sudzi was one of the Melbas managers, in January 2008 we met up in Brazil for Carnival.  

Dave Allen at Melbas.

Friends family Surfers Paradise

  Dave is a terrific fellow & is the son of the owner & founder of Melbas Paul Alan.  

Melbas in Cavil Avenue

Friends family Surfers Paradise

Follow THIS LINK for lots of memories on Melbas.

Jim Bell & Dave Allen

Friends family Surfers Paradise

Jim Bell rented a room in my home for 13 years, that’s what I call a long term tenant.

Breakfast on Chevron Island with Brian Rawnsley.

Friends family Surfers Paradise

Brian is a Brisbane guy I met in Thailand, here we are at Tigerlilly on Chevron Island one of my breakfast haunts.


 

The girls in our footy tipping club.

4661ef0b-58a3-4960-9dd1-15e5af5b127e (1)

I ran a AFL tipping competition for 10 years, here we are at the end of year dinner.

And the winner is……..

Friends family Surfers Paradise

My great friend Ross Kennedy aka “Shoeless Joe Jackson”.

My brother Ian’s 50th birthday.

Friends family Surfers Paradise

Friends family gathered for Ian’s 50th birthday, here is Bryan another brother given one of his famous speeches.

 Family breakfast on Chevron Island.

Friends family Surfers Paradise

Two of my Brothers Bryan & Warren, Bryan’s wife Lynn & daughter-in-law Maisie.

This is Elliot, another little Herd.

Friends family Surfers Paradise

Maisie’s cute little kid.

Les & Robin Scheffer marry at Saks restaurant.

Friends family Surfers Paradise

A great venue for a wedding on the Broadwater at Marina Mirage.

Wedding guests at Saks.

Friends family Surfers Paradise

Niggle Stopsgiving standing next to me is now firmly on the Les Scheffer‘s black list, his lady of 10 years beautiful Randy Fuse on the far right and he sadly are still doing battle. The name  Geoff Pilkington’s wife eludes me & ?????

Sadly Les Passed away in May 2020, RIP.

I met these two lovely Japanese girls at Broadbeach.

Friends family Surfers Paradise

Their names were Nemo & Nami, naturally I took them home to my house for lunch. 🙂

Vannessa & I at Tamborine Mountain.

Friends family Surfers Paradise

It was not the fact she was excited to see me, it was very cold in the mountains. 🙂

 Melbourne Cup day drinks at Melbas

Friends family Surfers Paradise

David Robertson & Phil Thomson at Melbas on Melbourne Cup day watching all the gorgeous fillies getting flyblown. 🙂

Harley Bradstreet, one of my oldest friends.

Friends family Surfers Paradise

Harley was preparing to leave Brisbane after a another disastrous business experience. When describing Harley, Larry Wilson a mutual friend once said “anyone can have a bad decade”. Which fitted Harley to a tee, over the many years I have known him this nice harmless fellow seemed to stumble from one disaster to another. On my boat on our eventful NYE in 1981 when rockets were falling from the sky, who was the first guy to get hit by one? Harley Bradstreet of course. 🙂 Thanks for visiting  my friends family & others from 2006, check out the slideshow.

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

Thanks for visiting my Friends family Surfers Paradise photo blog.

 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
 
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.

This gallery contains 2 photos

Gold Coast Australia

September 27, 2014 by David Herd

Gold Coast Australia

Gold Coast Australia

Gold Coast Australia was my home for 25 years from 1986 to 2011. Here are photos & comments on some of my wonderful memories.

This post focuses on 2008 which was another frenetic year of travel. Starting with 6 weeks in Brazil over Xmas & Carnival, with a fabulous week in New York on my way home. My Brazil trip included Rio de janeiro, Curitiba, Paraty, Belneario Camboriu & Florianopolis.

Three trips to Thailand in April, September & November, then throw in Bali, Singapore & Kuala Lumpur,  so as you can see I hardly had time to unpack my suitcase. I nearly forgot a hectic couple of weeks in Sydney as well.

This is not a travel blog just a personal photo collection from 2008.

Qantas 1st class NYC to L.A.

Gold Coast Australia

I just had to include this photo flying 1st class thanks to my cousin Deb who is a Qantas flight attendant.

The old & the new opposite each other.

Gold Coast Australia

During my 25 years living here the changes were extraordinary, not all for the best I might add. The first 15 years were wonderful, however after that in my eyes, the overall atmosphere of the Gold Coast started to lose its shine, it no longer had the friendly village feel to it. I guess in my final 10 years there it just got too big and modern.

My home at 106 Upton St Bundall, 4217

Gold Coast Australia

In 1990 I designed & built a beautiful home on the waterfront with my own sandy beach & jetty for my boat, life was good. I sold the house in 2011 for over a million dollars, but this was $250k less than I was offered twice in 2007, the big drop in price was due to the Global Financial crisis, c’est la vie.

Gold Coast Australia, drinks at Melbas

Gold Coast Australia

Melbas bar & nightclub in Surfers Paradise Australia was my main drinking spot for most of my 25 years on the coast. Here are some of the fellows I would sometimes drink with.


Melbas always had sexy waitresses

Gold Coast Australia

  One of the main reasons I made this my local watering hole.  

Ian Rich was a friend for 45 years.

Surfers Paradise Australia

In 2008 Ian was living in a fabulous sub penthouse in Surfers Paradise Australia, the next few photos taken from his apartment are wonderful examples of Australia’s Gold Coast.

Ian’s beautiful apartment

Gold Coast Australia

A great view but very windy on the balcony.

Looking south at Surfers Paradise Australia

Gold Coast Australia

Absolutely breathtaking. 

Looking north towards the seaway

Gold Coast Australia

Magnificent coastline in Surfers Paradise Australia Gold Coast.

Good Friday lunch at Chevron Island fish & chip shop.

Gold Coast Australia

One of my favourite eating spots in Surfers Paradise, great food at cheap prices & Frank the owner is an Australian football fanatic similar to myself. The couple on the left Les Scheffer & his wife Robyn & I used to be good friends, however in July 2013 they placed me firmly on their black list where I still reside today. 🙂

I’m sad to say Les passed away in March 2020 after a long battle with Cancer, RIP.

The boys in the fish & chip shop

Gold Coast Australia

A good bunch of guys.

Bjorn, Alisha, Brad, my nephew Michael & Matty.

Gold Coast Australia

Michael was in charge of cocktails as he was a barman at the Sheraton in Sydney as well as some other top venues.

Brad, Elisha & Matty.

Gold Coast Australia

I have a couple of internet hotspots in Surfers Paradise which earn me a few bucks, Brad owns the IT business which looks after them. Elisha is his lovely wife & Matty one of his technicians.

Here is Kayoko my friend from Tokyo.

Gold Coast Australia

Lots of cocktails were consumed at my home this night, there were a few sore heads in the morning.

 Margarita time.

Gold Coast Australia

I’ll let Jimmy describe this fabulous cocktail.

Gold Coast Australia Michael & Bjorn

Gold Coast Australia

  The happy couple are living in Berlin which is Bjorn’s home town.   2016 Update; sadly earlier this year Bjorn lost his long battle with cancer, he will always be remembered as a wonderful friend, RIP.

Surfers Paradise meter maids

Gold Coast Australia

These lovely girls in the gold bikinis put coins in the expired parking meters, plus they look terrific.

Surfers Paradise Meter Maids

Gold Coast Australia

Are these babes cute or what?

Other side please

Gold Coast Australia

They look great from any angle.

Men At Work - Down Under (Official HD Video)

At Trevor’s apartment Broadbeach

Gold Coast Australia

Trevor Loresch is very much a self made man, lives in a beautiful Pattaya waterfront apartment along with this luxury holiday getaway in Broadbeach on the Gold Coast.

Birthday drinks with Ross Kennedy & Phil Thomson

Gold Coast Australia

Two of my best friends on the Gold Coast. Last year Phil & his lovely Japanese wife showed me how to get around the great city of Tokyo which has become one of my favorite cities. In 1996 Rossco & I jumped in my Porsche & did one of my all time great road trips to the Hunter Valley, Sydney, Falls Creek & Melbourne.

Birthday lunch at Melbas

Gold Coast Australia

You know you are getting older when you look at some group photos and a couple of guys you have known for decades are not with us anymore. Ron Collier on the left in the black & Noel with the glasses on the right, RIP.

Good friends Wayne Jones & Bryan Dart.

Gold Coast Australia

I have known these guys for over 20 years.

Happy birthday DH.

Gold Coast Australia

A great day with a lot of good friends.

This would be a perfect birthday present. 🙂

Gold Coast AustraliaPromise I’ll give her back in the morning. 🙂

St Kilda play North Melbourne at Carrara.

Surfers Paradise Australia

  Rossco & I jump into the wine & food at the St Kilda’s dinner at Carrara stadium.  

Drinks at Melbas for our AFL tipping Competition.

Surfers Paradise Australia

I ran a AFL tipping competition for nearly 10 years, here are some of the happy crew enjoying our mid year drinks at Melbas.

My great mate Phil Thomson.

Gold Coast Australia

  We are at Southport Sharks for our end of year AFL tipping competition.  

Dennis Perry, a rose between 2 thorns

Gold Coast Australia

Running the tipping competition was a lot of fun, when I moved to Thailand in 2011 Dennis & his crew took it over.  

Gold Coast Australia New Years Eve 2008

Gold Coast Australia

After a frantic year I spent a very quiet NYE with friends reflecting on another super year of travel & living in Gold Coast Australia. Thanks for visiting my Surfers Paradise Australia photo blog. 

         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

 
 

Perhaps you would like to see my terrific year in 2007?

 

Gold Coast in 2014

 

Australian Outback in 2003

 

Check out these great photo blogs.


Counter only started June 16 2020.

This gallery contains 2 photos

Sydney Harbour magnificent city

September 25, 2014 by David Herd

Beautiful day on Sydney Harbour.

Sydney Harbour magnificent city

Sydney Harbour magnificent city

Sydney Harbour magnificent city with the best harbour in the world. We spell it harbour & Americans spell it harbour, wonderful if you have a good boat.

City of Sydney

Sydney Harbour magnificent city

Such a breathtaking skyline from the harbour.

 Mr Stingy

Sydney Harbour magnificent city

I have know Richard for over 30 years & I’m pleased to say I gave him his nickname when we were in Thailand in 2004. He is quite a character & loves to brag about how much money he is worth, which is considerable. He lives in a beautiful home in one of Sydney’s premier harbour front suburbs, Point Piper.  Richard had the unfortunate habit of drinking & eating twice as much as his friends then splitting the bill equally.

When travelling with his buddy Ken Shelly in Thailand he would show off & buy countless drinks for the girls in the bar then expect poor Ken to share equally when the bill came. Sitting on the beach at Koh Samui one day a Thai lady was reading his palm, she looked him in the eye & said “Oh I see you have a lot of money, but sadly you are very stingy”. Well that was perfect I thought so from that day one I Christened  him “Mr Stingy”.

Ken & I on Stingy’s boat

Sydney Harbour magnificent city

Stingy’s long suffering friend Ken Shelly & I enjoying a few cold beers at Darling Harbour.

Stingy’s boat

Sydney Harbour magnificent city

A terrific boat for exploring Sydney Harbour, lots of room and very stable if seas are rough.

 Centrepoint tower from Darling Harbour

Sydney Harbour magnificent city

In my book Sydney certainly ranks in the top 10 cities in the world.

Western Sydney skyline

Sydney Harbour magnificent city

That’s Centre-point tower dominating the skyline.

Sydney Harbour magnificent city

Sydney Harbour magnificent city

A great view of Sydney Harbour magnificent city, if you don’t have the luxury of a boat just catch the ferry from Circular Quay to Manly for an amazing view of this great city.

Sydney Opera House

Sydney Harbour magnificent city

Designed by Danish architect Jørn Utzon, the facility formally opened on 20 October 1973  after a gestation beginning with Utzon’s 1957 selection as winner of an international design competition. The NSW Government, led by Premier Joseph Cahill, authorised work to begin in 1958, with Utzon directing construction. The government’s decision to build Utzon’s design is often overshadowed by circumstances that followed, including cost and scheduling overruns as well as the architect’s ultimate resignation.

View from the front

Sydney Harbour magnificent city

Though its name suggests a single venue, the project comprises multiple performance venues which together are among the busiest performing arts centres in the world — hosting over 1,500 performances each year attended by some 1.2 million people.

Point Piper apartments

Sydney Harbour magnificent city

What a perfect place foe an apartment.

Royal Motor Yacht Club Point Piper.

Sydney Harbour magnificent city

You can just see a corner of Stingy’s home on the left of the club.

Stingy’s $6 million home

Sydney Harbour magnificent city

Richard designed & built his lovely home, he is an experienced builder who made most of his fortune by building most of the Red Rooster outlets in Australia.

The incredible view from Stingy’s home

Sydney Harbour magnificent city

A sensational view of Rose Bay.

Luna Park at Milsons Point north of the harbour

Sydney Harbour magnificent city

The park was constructed at the foot of the Sydney Harbour Bridge during 1935, and ran for nine-month seasons until 1972, when it was opened year-round. Luna Park was closed in mid-1979, immediately following the Ghost Train fire, which killed six children and one adult. Most of the park was demolished, and a new amusement park was constructed; this originally operated under the name of Harbourside Amusement Park before resuming the Luna Park name. The park was closed again in 1988 as an independent engineering inspection determined that several rides needed urgent repair. The owners failed to repair and reopen the park before a New South Wales government deadline, and ownership was passed to a new body. Reopening in 1995, Luna Park closed again after thirteen months because of the Big Dipper roller coaster noise pollution complaints from residents on the clifftop above the park caused the ride’s operating hours to be heavily restricted, and the drop in attendance made the park unprofitable. After another redevelopment, Luna Park reopened in 2004 and has continued operating since.

Richard, Ken Shelly & Peter Hobbs.

Sydney Harbour magnificent city

Here we are at Bar Reggio in Crown St Darlinghurst, a very popular Italian restaurant.

My new second hand Lexus.

Sydney Harbour magnificent city

I have Stingy to thank for finding my beautiful Lexus, I have owned many luxury vehicles including Jaguars, Mercedes & Porsche’s but $ for $ this is the best car I have ever driven.  Japanese technology at its best.

Watching Australian Football

Sydney Harbour magnificent city

Watching my team the Sydney Swans at the SCG in Peter Hesky’s private box.

Old friend Rob Symonds & son visit from Hobart.

Sydney Harbour magnificent city

Rob and I first met in Adelaide in 1972.

Anne Lacey & Ruth Vincent with our host Peter Hesky

Sydney Harbour magnificent city

Sydney City has a special place in my heart, I was born & grew up in the western suburbs. There is no doubt the harbour is the best in the world & each time I fly in my excitement & anticipation is electric.

Thanks for visiting my Sydney Harbour magnificent city photo blog.


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.               

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

That’s all folks

1g Duck

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

More Sydney photos from 2009 in the slideshow as well as some from the Gold Coast.

Check out these great photo blogs.


Counter only started June 16 2020.

This gallery contains 2 photos

Babes boats Bangkok trips 2001

September 10, 2014 by David Herd

Babes boats Bangkok trips 2001, the frenetic travel continued. Two trips to Thailand & one world trip including  Spain, Venezuela, Cuba & Los Angeles. This is not part of my travel blog it’s just a photographic record of the people who crossed my path in 2001.

Rita & Vanessa on the Broadwater.

Babes boats Bangkok

Babes boats Bangkok & living on the Gold Coast which ensured you spent many days on the beautiful Broadwater. Rita was from Shanghai & Vanessa was a Gold Coast local.

Most other boats were bigger than mine.

Babes boats Bangkok

Like most places in the world, someone always has a bigger boat. 🙂 This particular one is owned by Billionaire Bob Ell.

Skye Edwards from Launceston

Babes boats Bangkok

Skye was a beautiful girl from Launceston who was visiting the Gold Coast, I was lucky enough to take her out a couple of times.

Ross Kennedy & Jim Bell.

Babes boats Bangkok

Jim Bell rented a room in my home for 17 years, that’s what I call a long time tenant. 🙂 Rossco is a good friend and a long suffering St Kilda fan.


Keiko visits from Japan.

Babes boats Bangkok

I met Keiko on the internet so when she came to the Gold Coast for a business conference naturally I took her boating on the Broadwater. There is something special about babes boats sunshine & living like a king on the Gold Coast.

Keiko & her workmates

Babes boats Bangkok

A chopper ride over the Gold Coast.

Dinner at Main Beach with Keiko & her workmates

Babes boats Bangkok

Main Beach was a Gold Coast hotspot, now in 2016 it has faded somewhat.

 A weekend in Sydney at Pothole’s place.

Babes boats Bangkok

It’s 2018 & Pothole & I live in the same building in Pattaya Thailand.

Swedish backpackers at the Oaks Hotel

Babes boats Bangkok

I met a couple of Swedish backpackers at the airport and bought them back to Pothole’s home, we ended up at the Oaks hotel in Neutral Bay.

Lars, Rick & Derry.

Babes boats Bangkok

Rick the guy in the middle has been a friend since the 70s, he was a Sydney solicitor who for as long as I have known him has pretended to be some sort of secret agent, I like to call him 003 & 1/4, not half the man James Bond was. 🙂 He played the role quite well including fitting out his Porsche with a police radio, umbrella guns in easy reach and a switch to release an oil slick to foil any bad guys who were pursuing him. The thing that amazes me is how such an intelligent guy can live out such a fantasy. His most recent episode was finding a obscure European title, he now calls himself “Count” and has hyphenated his name. Words fail me, then again whatever floats your boat. 🙂

Vanessa Teo

Babes boats Bangkok

Vanessa worked in the U.S. for many years before returning to Australia, I think her mother was English & her father was Chinese & was a high court judge in Port Moresby.

Ponzi scheme

Babes boats Bangkok

Loading cargo onto the only flight a failed company called Cargo Jet managed to get into the air. My involvement was a very expensive exercise as I’ll briefly explain. Graham Cash was a Gold Coast accountant I had known for 14 years & regarded as a friend. He put together a air cargo company which failed miserably, he also conducted a clever Ponzi scheme which cost me around $100,000 in capital over a period of 4 years. It’s not as bad as it seems as I did receive around $85,000 in interest during that time, many others lost far more than I did from this mongrel of a con artist.

My lovely mother Iris Herd.

Babes boats Bangkok

Sadly passes away in 2007, will never be forgotten.

Thanks for visiting my Babes boats Bangkok photo blog.

 

 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 
 
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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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Sydney Harbour Circular Quay

August 25, 2014 by David Herd

Bill Austin & Joan Baptiste

Sydney Harbour Circular Quay

Sydney Harbour Circular Quay

Sydney Harbour Circular Quay was the first place I took my English friends Joan & Bill after driving down the Pacific Highway from the Gold Coast QLD in 2010. In my eyes this represents the front door to the city.

Bill is the brother of my friend Alan Austin who is a guest of Her Majesty, Bill & I met when I first visited Alan in 2007. Joan was an Olympic runner who competed in the 200 meters at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. Bill was a Para Military man who served time in Ireland & many other countries.

Sunset at Circular Quay

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The Diamond Princess moored at Circular Quay.

The Diamond Princess 

Sydney Harbour Circular Quay

Diamond Princess is a cruise ship owned and operated by Princess Cruises. She began operation in March 2004 and primarily cruises in Alaska during the summer and Asia in the winter along with Australia cruises.

Sydney Opera House

Sydney Harbour Circular Quay

Though its name suggests a single venue, the project comprises multiple performance venues which together are among the busiest performing arts center’s in the world — hosting over 1,500 performances each year attended by some 1.2 million people.

Sydney Harbour Circular Quay

Sydney Harbour Circular Quay

From a restaurant opposite.


 

Sydney Harbour Bridge

Sydney Harbour Circular Quay

Even more famous than Circular Quay and Bondi is the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

    1. Construction startedJuly 28, 1923

 

    1. OpenedMarch 19, 1932

 

    1. Total length1,149 m

 

  1. Height134 m

Naturally Bill had to climb it. 🙂

Sydney Harbour Circular Quay

Being an ex Para Military man who has made over 500 parachute jumps Bill naturally had to climb to the top of the bridge, and what an amazing view he had from there. 

Circular Quay Sydney

Sydney Harbour Circular Quay

Known as the gateway to Sydney.

Sydney Harbour Circular Quay

Sydney Harbour Circular Quay

This is one of my favourite shots.

Hydrofoil and Ferry

Sydney Harbour Circular Quay

The old & the new. 🙂

The view from the Quay apartments

Sydney Harbour Circular Quay

 Can you imagine the price of a condo here?

Jet boat

Sydney Harbour Circular Quay

Are you ready for a spin?

OK, lets go….

Sydney Harbour Circular Quay

Fast & furious.

Cruise ship heading for Circular Quay

Sydney Harbour Circular Quay

This is more my style. 🙂

Circular Quay

Sydney Harbour Circular Quay

There are many good restaurants surrounding Circular Quay, to me it is one of the most interesting areas of this great city. If I had to choose between Circular Quay and Bondi I would choose Circular Quay every time.

Two restaurants, Doyles and the Quay.

Sydney Harbour Circular Quay

As you can imagine both these restaurants are very expensive.

Peter Hesky’s 60th January 3rd 2007.

Sydney Harbour Circular Quay

We celebrated my friends 60th at the Quay restaurant in 2007.

The Rocks

Sydney Harbour Circular Quay

The Rocks is an historic part of Sydney adjacent to Circular Quay, this is an old warehouse which is now a restaurant.

Historic buildings

Sydney Harbour Circular Quay

The small building is Cadmans cottage  the oldest surviving residential building in Sydney, having been built in 1816 for the use of the governmental coxswains and their crews.

The Sailors Home opened its doors in February 1865. Naval personnel lodged there until 1891 when the Royal Naval House, with accommodation for 300, opened in nearby Grosvenor Street.  The sailors used to consume opium and alcohol, because in the nineteenth century, opium is legally consumed. Passers-by could smell opium when near the Sailor’s home. In 2002, Sailors Home was changed to The Australian Mariners’ Welfare Society.

 

Maritime Services Building

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The Museum of Contemporary Art was established to fulfill the museum aspect of the visionary bequest of Australian expatriate artist John Power (1881-1943), who left his personal fortune to the University of Sydney to inform and educate Australians in the contemporary visual arts. The traditional owners of the land on which the MCA building is situated are the Eora people of the Gadigal nation. This site also marks the landing place of the First Fleet in Port Jackson in 1788. In 1802 Sydney’s first hospital and wharf were built nearby, with commissariat stores built by Colonel Foveaux in 1812. In the 1930s the commissariat stores and taxation building were demolished to make way for a new Maritime Services Board (MSB) building (the previous MSB offices were displaced by the Cahill Express Way and Circular Quay railway development). Government architect W.H. Withers began work on the building plans in 1939. Work resumed in 1944 under government architect W D H Baxter after a postponement of four years from 1940 due to Australia’s involvement in World War II. Builders were appointed in 1946 but difficulties in securing labour and material due to post war shortages delayed construction. The foundation stone was laid in 1949 and in 1952 the MSB building opened. With the relocation of the MSB to larger premises in 1989 the building was gifted by the NSW State Government to the Museum of Contemporary Art. Funded by the University of Sydney and the Power Bequest, restoration and refurbishment of the building commenced in 1990 under the direction of Andrew Andersons of Peddle Thorpe/John Holland Interiors and in November 1991 the Museum of Contemporary Art officially opened.

Sydney Skyline

Sydney Harbour Circular Quay

The best harbour in the world.

Manly Ferry

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  About a 40 minute trip from Circular Quay to manly, one of the world’s great boat rides.  

Ferry arriving at Manly

Sydney Harbour Circular Quay

 So much to see on Sydney harbour.

North Sydney with Luna Park in the foreground.

Sydney Harbour Circular Quay

A city within a city.

Kirribilli House

Sydney Harbour Circular Quay

Kirribilli House is the official residence of the Australian Prime Minister in Sydney, New South Wales. The house is located at the far eastern end of Kirribilli Avenue in the harbour-side suburb of Kirribilli straight opposite Circular Quay. 

The Oaks Hotel Neutral Bay.

Sydney 2011 farewell Australia

I know it’s a few kms from Sydney Circular Quay, however it’s my favourite Australian pub, I have been drinking here for over 30 years, I can’t begin to imagine how much money I have spent there. 🙂 

Well in this post we covered a few more subjects than Sydney Circular Quay and Bondi beach, I hope you enjoyed it as much as  did.


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                   Here are some more posts to check out
 

           

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 Soi Cowboy                  Nana Plaza                    Patpong

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