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Penzance Par one bridge too far.

December 24, 2013 by David Herd

The Par Inn Cornwall

Penzance Par one bridge too far.

Penzance Par one bridge too far

Penzance Par one bridge too far, well rather than speak in riddles allow me to explain. Where Penzance is a bright & buzzy seaside town Par is quite the opposite, cold & bleak without too many redeeming features. My sincere apologies to the residents of this tiny Cornish fishing port.

I had a very good reason to visit Par, my grandfather Sam Tippett was born there around 1900. We stopped in the pub and asked if anyone had heard of the Tippetts but sadly no luck. Seeing we were in Cornwall I ordered a pastie, it was the worst I have ever tasted & I mentioned this to the barman. He said “talk to the fellow beside you, his wife makes them”.  😳

My friend Bill Austin & I had a good laugh about this and I surreptitiously hid the rest of the awful pastie in a paper bag ready to throw it in the garbage.

David Herd & Bill Austin in Par

Penzance Par one bridge too far

Notice the small oven on the right? That’s where the terrible tasting pasties are lying in wait for an unsuspecting customer.  😥

A typical street in Par.

Penzance Par one bridge too far

I did visit Par way back in the 60s to meet Minnie, one of my grandfathers (Sam Tippett) sisters. Penzance to Par is 61 miles or about 1.25 hours by car. Obviously I had a good reason to visit Par, otherwise I can’t see any features worth going there for.

Pop Tippett’s sister Minnie.

Penzance Par one bridge too far

This is  Minnie, one of my grandfathers (Sam Tippett) sisters.

This was Minnie’s home in Par

Penzance Par one bridge too far

I should have taken this photo with me because I’m sure somebody in the pub would have known its location.

Penzance Par one bridge too far

Penzance Par one bridge too far

Par is quite a lonely part of the English coast.

Penzance main street.

Penzance Par one bridge too far

Penzance is a town, civil parish and port in Cornwall, in England, United Kingdom. It is well known for being the most westerly major town in Cornwall and is approximately 75 miles west of Plymouth and 300 miles west-southwest of London.

Beachside

Penzance Par one bridge too far

 Penzance  is the most westerly major town in Cornwall and is approximately 75 miles (121 km) west of Plymouth and 300 miles (480 km) west-southwest of London. Situated in the shelter of Mount’s Bay, the town faces south-east onto the English Channel, is bordered to the west by the fishing port of Newlyn, to the north by the civil parish of Madron and to the east by the civil parish of Ludgvan.

Granted various royal charters from 1512 onwards and incorporated in 1614, it has a population of 21,168 (2001 census).

Main St Penzance

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Luck was with us providing a beautiful blue sky.

Penzance Par one bridge too far

Penzance Par one bridge too far

I can imagine it would be freezing cold in winter.

St Michael’s Mount

Penzance Par one bridge too far

St Michael’s Mount  meaning “grey rock in the woods”, also known colloquially by locals as simply the Mount) is a tidal island 366 metres (400 yards) off the Mount’s Baycoast of Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is a civil parish and is united with the town of Marazion by a man-made causeway of granite setts, passable between mid-tide and low water.

In prehistoric times, St Michael’s Mount may have been a port for the tin trade, and Gavin de Beer made a case for it to be identified with the “tin port” Ictis/Ictin mentioned by Posidonius.

Historically, St Michael’s Mount was a Cornish counterpart of Mont Saint-Michel in Normandy, France (which shares the same tidal island characteristics and the same conical shape), when it was given to the Benedictines, religious order of Mont Saint-Michel, by Edward the Confessor in the 11th century.

St Michael’s Mount is one of 43 (unbridged) tidal islands which can be walked to from mainland Britain

In conclusion I guess I may be a little harsh on my description of Par, however travelling between Penzance Par you will find many interesting towns & villages worth a visit, St Ives for instance is a wonderful seaside village.


 Without a doubt AGODA is the best online Hotel booking site.

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Holiday Inn

bbc35e6d-80db-4e1c-8f51-83dd84f16520

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.

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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.

 

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Barcelona exciting Mediterranean city

December 23, 2013 by David Herd

La Rambla

Barcelona exciting Mediterranean city

Barcelona exciting Mediterranean city

Barcelona exciting Mediterranean city is one of my favourite places in Europe, architecture, food people pigeons, Ok forget the pigeons.  😆

La Rambla is a street  popular with tourists and locals alike. A tree-lined pedestrian mall, it stretches for 1.2 kilometres connecting Plaça de Catalunya in the centre with the Christopher Columbus Monument at Port Vell.

Plaça de Catalunya

Barcelona exciting Mediterranean city

Plaça de Catalunya is a large square in central Barcelona that is generally considered to be both its city centre and the place where the old city and the 19th century-built Eixample meet. The Eixample is a district of Barcelona between the old city and what were once surrounding small towns, constructed in the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Plaza de Cataluña

Barcelona exciting Mediterranean city

The open top bus in the background is by far the best way to see the city, buy a 24 hour pass and jump on and off as you wish.

Without a doubt AGODA is the best online Hotel booking site.

Casa Milà

Barcelona exciting Mediterranean city

Casa Milà, better known as La Pedrera, is one of Gaudí’s main residential buildings and one of the most imaginative houses in the history of architecture.  This building is more a sculpture than a building.  The façade is a varied and harmonious mass of undulating stone that, along with its forged iron balconies, explores the irregularities of the natural world.  UNESCO recognised this building as World Heritage in 1984.

 Old Customs building.

Barcelona exciting Mediterranean city

Port Vell  literally in English ‘Old Harbour’ is a waterfront harbour in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, It was built as part of an urban renewal program prior to the 1992  Olympics. Before this, it was a run-down area of empty warehouses, railroad yards, and factories. 16 million people visit the complex each year.


 

Columbus monument

Barcelona exciting Mediterranean city

The Monument a Columbus was established in honour of the discoverer of America, Christopher Columbus. In 1493 Columbus was received in Barcelona after his return from America by King Ferdinand II. The monument is opened since June 1st, 1888.

In the background is Arenas de Barcelona

Barcelona exciting Mediterranean city

 Arenas de Barcelona, with its beautiful neo-mujedar architecture, used to be a bullfighting arena but has now been converted into a shopping plaza which houses an excellent Desigual store.

Gothic Quarter in Barcelona exciting Mediterranean city

Barcelona exciting Mediterranean city

The Gothic Quarter is the centre of the old city of Barcelona. It stretches from La Rambla to Via Laietana, and from the Mediterranean seafront to Ronda de Sant Pere. This is where my hotel was, in fact I took the photo from the hotel window.

Barcelona exciting Mediterranean city

Barcelona exciting Mediterranean city

The Gothic Quarter  is the centre of the old city. It stretches from La Rambla to Via Laietana, and from the Mediterranean seafront to Ronda de Sant Pere.

Despite several changes undergone in the 19th and early 20th century, many of the buildings date from Medieval times, some from as far back as the Roman settlement of Barcelona. Remains of the squared Roman Wall can be seen around Tapineria and Sots-Tinent Navarro to the north, Avinguda de la Catedral and Plaça Nova to the west and Carrer de la Palla to the south. El Call, the medieval Jewish quarter, is located within this area also.

The Barri Gòtic retains a labyrinthine street plan, with many small streets opening out into squares. Most of the quarter is closed to regular traffic although open to service vehicles and taxis.

Here is a link to book a popular two star hotel for around $90 per night.

Another link for a 2 star in a very good location.

Best food market I have ever seen.

Barcelona exciting Mediterranean city

The Mercat de Sant Josep de la Boqueria, often simply referred to as La Boqueria , is a large public market in the Ciutat Vella district, and one of the city’s foremost tourist landmarks, with an entrance from La Rambla, not far from the Liceu, the cities opera house. The market has a very diverse selection of goods.

Do you like lollies?

Barcelona exciting Mediterranean city

Make sure Barcelona’s market is on your bucket list.

Sagrada Família

Barcelona exciting Mediterranean city

The Basílica i Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família  Basilica and Expiatory Church of the Holy Family), is a large Roman Catholic church in Barcelona, Spain, designed by Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí (1852–1926). Although incomplete, the church is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and in November 2010 Pope Benedict XVI consecrated and proclaimed it a minor basilica, as distinct from a cathedral which must be the seat of a bishop. Construction of Sagrada Família had commenced in 1882, Gaudí became involved in 1883, taking over the project and transforming it with his architectural and engineering style, combining Gothic and curvilinear Art Nouveau forms. Gaudí devoted his last years to the project, and at the time of his death at age 73 in 1926 less than a quarter of the project was complete. Sagrada Família’s construction progressed slowly, as it relied on private donations and was interrupted by the Spanish Civil War, only to resume intermittent progress in the 1950s. Construction passed the midpoint in 2010 with some of the project’s greatest challenges remaining and an anticipated completion date of 2026, the centenary of Gaudí’s death.

Sagrada Família

Barcelona exciting Mediterranean city

Is there any other architect in the world who has a more recognisable style than Gaudí?

Super yacht really doesn’t do it justice.

Barcelona exciting Mediterranean city

What an unbelievable amazing example of wealth.

Barcelona exciting Mediterranean city

Barcelona exciting Mediterranean cityBarcelona is certainly one of my favourite European cities. Thanks for visiting my Barcelona exciting Mediterranean city photo blog.

 
 
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Plymouth South Coast Devon

December 19, 2013 by David Herd

Driving into the city

Plymouth South Coast Devon

Plymouth South Coast Devon

Plymouth South Coast Devon is a nice city and a unitary authority area on the south coast of Devon, England, about 190 miles south-west of London. It is situated between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound.

Plymouth South Coast Devon

Plymouth South Coast Devon

The cities history goes back to the Bronze Age, when its first settlement grew at Mount Batten. This settlement continued to grow as a trading post for the Roman Empire, until the more prosperous village of Sutton, the current Plymouth, surpassed it.

Plymouth Hoe

Plymouth South Coast Devon

Plymouth is Devon’s largest city and a famous old port that played a key part in the defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588 thanks to ex-slaver Francis Drake and the bad weather, waved goodbye to the Mayflower’s ‘Pilgrim’ passengers on their way to America in 1620, shipped out both Captain Cook and Charles Darwin and was bombed flat by the Luftwaffe in the 1940’s. Some of the old city survived but much of the rebuild was lacking in both style and sensitivity so the city is hardly packed with attractions and traffic can be terrible. However, the Hoe is calm, pretty and encompasses varied memorials and an outdoor pool (Tinside Lido), naval-gazing is popular with the National Maritime Museum and the Royal Citadel at the fore and Crownhill Fort at the rear, while a handful of stately homes offer sumptuous treats such as Saltram, Mount Edgcumbe, Elizabethan House and the Merchant’s House Museum.

Old building

Plymouth South Coast Devon

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Plymouth South Coast Devon

Plymouth South Coast Devon

Two days in Plymouth was quite enough for me, I think there are many more nicer places along the South coast.

SMEATON’S TOWER.

Plymouth South Coast Devon

 

Rated as one of the top attractions in the whole of Devon, a visit to Smeaton’s Tower is not to be missed. This eye-catching red and white lighthouse is easy to spot and is located in the Plymouth Hoe area. Dating back to the 18th century, Smeaton’s Tower was actually originally located some 14 miles / 23 km away, in nearby Eddystone Rocks and was painstakingly moved piece by piece to its current location in 1882. It is possible to climb the steep stone stairs to the very top and enjoy the spectacular panoramic views on offer.

Diving into the freezing  water.

 Plymouth South Coast Devon

You would have to be crazy, that water would be freezing.

Near the waterfront

Plymouth South Coast Devon

 That’s my friend Bill Austin from Trowbridge.

The Mission restaurant

Plymouth South Coast Devon

The Mission was an excellent restaurant with good food and a great atmosphere.

Cougers at the Mission bar

Plymouth South Coast Devon

Girls night out.

Sir Francis Drake at Plymouth South Coast Devon

Plymouth South Coast Devon

We stayed at the Travelodge in Plymouth, good price & location, book through AGODA for a great deal.

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Seaside Towns NSW Coast Australia

November 5, 2013 by David Herd

Ettalong

Seaside Towns NSW Coast Australia

Seaside Towns NSW Coast Australia

Towns on the NSW coast are really worth visiting, starting 80 kilometres north of Sydney we have Ettalong on the Central coast. This small town has so many wonderful memories for me as it was the place my family spent the Xmas holidays from when I was a small baby until I was a teenager. In those days the road was quite dangerous and wound around the mountains like a snake around a pole. The journey in those days took about 2.5 hours, now it’s just over an hour on the motorway.

Ettalong in 1953

Seaside Towns NSW Coast Australia

Here I am at 10 years of age with young brother Warren and my grandmother Nan Tippett. Here is somewhere to stay in Ettalong with magnificent views over the water, the Tantra apartments.

Terrigal

Seaside Towns NSW Coast Australia

Thirty minutes further north and a little more upmarket is Terrigal, another very popular holiday destination. Terrigal was first settled in 1826 by European Settler John Gray, who called his property Tarrygal, after the indigenous Aboriginal place name, signifying ‘place of little birds’. The town’s long beach is highly popular with tourists.

Gosford

Seaside Towns NSW Coast Australia  Gosford is located just 80 km north of Sydney. Growing up in Sydney this area was where our family would spend our annual holidays.

Peppers is a very nice hotel opposite the beach in Terrigal.
Forster Tuncurry

Seaside Towns NSW Coast Australia A population of over 18,000 people it is a holiday destination for many Sydney people who are only a 4 hour drive away.

Port Macquarie

Seaside Towns NSW Coast Australia

My favourite NSW coastal town, 400 kilometres north of Sydney, in fact my Australian residential address is here at my brother’s home. Warren has lived here for over 20 years and I always visit when I am in Australia.

Port Macquarie was first visited by Europeans in 1818 when John Oxley reached the Pacific Ocean from the interior, after his journey to explore inland New South Wales. He named the location after the Governor of New South Wales, Lachlan Macquarie.

Seaside Towns NSW Coast Australia

Seaside Towns NSW Coast Australia

Port Macquarie is a retirement destination, known for its extensive beaches and waterways. The town is also known for its koala population, being the home to the Billabong Koala Park, and the Koala Preservation Society’s Koala Hospital, caring for koalas injured through bushfire, dog attacks and collisions with vehicles.

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Coffs Harbour

Seaside Towns NSW Coast Australia

Coffs Harbour  is  located on the north coast of New South Wales about 540 km north of Sydney, and 390 km south of Brisbane.  Coffs Harbour is one of many regional cities along the Pacific Highway between Newcastle and The Gold Coast.

Seaside Towns NSW Coast Australia

Seaside Towns NSW Coast Australia

The Observatory hotel is just a short walk to several restaurants and cafes, the only downside is being woken early in the morning when the first train stops at the station 50 meters in front of the hotel.

Typical old Australian homestead

Seaside Towns NSW Coast Australia

A beautiful example of an early Australian homestead. An other one of the great Seaside Towns NSW Coast Australia.

Yamba

Seaside Towns NSW Coast Australia  Yamba Clarence River NSW Coast has a population of just over 6,000, which tends to triple in the holiday season. The economy is based on tourism & fishing. 

Iluka at the mouth of the Clarence River.

Seaside Towns NSW Coast Australia

Iluka is a small village at the mouth of the Clarence River on the NSW coast. It is situated directly across the river from the resort town of Yamba. At the 2006 census, Iluka had a population of 1,739 people.  The town’s name is derived from an aboriginal word meaning “near the sea”.  It has long beaches on the ocean side of the river. It is reached by turning off the Pacific Highway approximately 20 kilometres north of Maclean.  As Iluka is a popular tourist destination its population increases slightly in the holiday season with many Gold Coasters in the summer and Victorians in the winter.

Byron Bay

Seaside Towns NSW Coast Australia

Byron Bay is a beach-side town located in the far-north-eastern corner of the state of New South Wales. It is located 772 kilometres north of Sydney and 165 kilometres south of Brisbane.  The history of Europeans in Byron Bay began in 1770, when Captain James Cook found a safe anchorage and named Cape Byron after John Byron.

 It is a resort popular with both domestic and international tourists, including backpackers, who travel along the Australian coast; the scenery also attracts skydivers. The area is also noted for its wildlife, with the whale watching industry a significant contributor to the local economy.

Byron Bay

Seaside Towns NSW Coast Australia

Only a 60 drive from where I lived in Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast, I would occasionally drive down for lunch at the famous pub near the beach. One of the great Seaside Towns NSW Coast Australia.

Byron Bay lighthouse NSW coast

Seaside Towns NSW Coast Australia

Australia’s most easterly point.

Magnificent deserted beach near Byron Bay

Seaside Towns NSW Coast Australia

Miles of deserted beaches are all along this part of the coast. I intend to live somewhere along this coast around 2022. Hopefully I will find a little bolt hole where I can live in peace until I die. 🙂

Kingscliff Northern Rivers Coast NSW

Seaside Towns NSW Coast Australia 

A fairly typical coastal town with lots of coffee shops, tourists & terrific beaches.

Point Danger NSW coast

Seaside Towns NSW Coast Australia

Port Danger is on the border of New South Wales and Queensland. It’s a very popular location for surfers.

Port Danger

Seaside Towns NSW Coast AustraliaThanks for visiting my Seaside Towns NSW Coast Australia photo blog, it certainly is one of the world’s great coastlines.

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Holiday Inn

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

 

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Fortaleza Canoa Quebrada Brazil

September 17, 2013 by David Herd

Canoa Quebrada

Fortaleza Canoa Quebrada Brazil

Fortaleza Canoa Quebrada Brazil

Fortaleza  Canoa Quebrada Brazil, we were in a beach buggy to ride along the beautiful long beaches and wander through the amazing coloured sands.  Canoa Quebrada is 164 kilometers from Fortaleza.

Canoa Quebrada

Fortaleza Canoa Quebrada Brazil

The terrain really looks like red rock however it is in fact sand.  

Beach buggy and a long deserted stretch of sand.

Fortaleza Canoa Quebrada Brazil

Getting ready for a trip along the beautiful beach.

Speeding along the sand

Fortaleza Canoa Quebrada Brazil

This was a terrific experience.

Fortaleza Canoa Quebrada Brazil

Fortaleza Canoa Quebrada Brazil

Canoa Quebrada (meaning broken canoe in Portuguese), known as the pearl of the east coast of Ceará, Brazil, is an international tourist beach resort 164 km from Fortaleza, in the municipality of Aracati. This small fishing village, among dunes and cliffs, has good views and is becoming popular with tourists.

Magnificent sand dunes

Fortaleza Canoa Quebrada north Brazil

One of my favourite photos from this mini tour of the coast.

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

Fascinating foamy water.

Fortaleza Canoa Quebrada Brazil

Coming from Australia I grew up around some of the best beaches in the world, I have always been interested in the sand & the surf. So you can probably understand why I was keen to photograph the foamy Canoa Quebrada surf.  😎

If you are more interested in bikinis than foam this link is for you.

Canoa Quebrada Church.

Fortaleza Canoa Quebrada Brazil

This city is certainly worth having on your bucket list.

Fortaleza high rise.

Fortaleza Canoa Quebrada Brazil

Fortaleza (Portuguese pronunciation: [foʁtaˈlezɐ], Fortress) is the state capital of Ceará, located in Northeastern Brazil. With a population close to 2.3 million (metropolitan region over 3.4 million), Fortaleza is the 5th largest city in Brazil.  Fortaleza is one of the three leading cities in the Northeast region together with Recife and Salvador. The city will be one of the host cities of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, for which Brazil is the host nation.

Fortaleza Canoa Quebrada Brazil

Fortaleza Canoa Quebrada Brazil

Fortaleza is a good place for single guys, in 2010, the city had 433,942 opposite-sex couples and 1,559 same-sex couples. The population of Fortaleza was 53.2% female and 46.8% male.


Fortaleza main street.

Fortaleza Canoa Quebrada Brazil

I enjoyed visiting Fortaleza however it is not a city I will rush back to.

Lovely Brazilian family in Teresina.

Fortaleza Canoa Quebrada Brazil

One the way to Fortaleza I stopped for a few days in Teresina, the hottest city in Brazil, to visit a friend I met online,  Sueli Oliveira Mesquita and her lovely family.

Sueli Oliveira Mesquita

Fortaleza Canoa Quebrada Brazil

Enen now in 2016 we still stay in touch on Facebook. 

Sueli’s lovely sister Silmarinha

Fortaleza Canoa Quebrada Brazil

Both sisters were very sweet ladies.

David Herd in Teresina Brazil.

Fortaleza Canoa Quebrada Brazil

  Teresina is the capital and most populous municipality in the Brazilian state of Piauí. Being located in North-central Piauí 366 km from the coast, it is the only capital in the Brazilian Northeast that is not located on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean. With 814,439 inhabitants, Teresina is the 19th largest city in Brazil, and the 15th largest state capital in the country. Teresina is the hottest city in the country and the third city with the major incidence of lightning in the world.  

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

 That’s all for Fortaleza Canoa Quebrada Brazil
 
 
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         Bangkok                                   Osaka                                     Pattaya

Soi Cowboy (25)          Osaka 1st night (17)       Walking St Pattaya is wild & sexy 

                                     

             Chiang Mai                      Pattaya                      Chao Phraya river

Chiang Mai with Tone        9a1fec74-4461-46cd-8663-97f5893c8f6e (1)   191de3bb-38fc-45cd-bce7-ef24081c554b

 
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That’s all folks

1g Duck

 

 

 

  Click here for my road trip around northeast Brazil.  

 

Samba dancers in Paraty

 

Florianopolis is fantastic

 

 
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Gold Coast Australia beaches

September 4, 2013 by David Herd

Surfers Paradise

Gold Coast Australia beaches

Gold Coast Australia beaches, my home for 25 years from 1987 and have many wonderful memories. It is like a smaller version of Fort Lauderdale in Florida, miles & miles of canals with luxury homes enjoying waterfront living.

Surfers Paradise sunset.

Gold Coast Australia beaches

Buildings overlooking the Nerang river in Surfers Paradise.

Gold Coast Australia beautiful beaches

Australian Gold Coast is spectacular

The Gold Coast in Australia is one of Australia’s most popular tourist destinations, 80 kilometers south of Brisbane and 800 kilometres north of Sydney.

Gold Coast Australia beaches

David Herd relaxing on the Broadwater.

Gold Coast Australia beaches

Leisure activities for the locals revolve around spending a day on a boat on the Broadwater, or enjoying the world class beaches. Surfing is a huge sport on the Coast, visitors from all over the world flock here to enjoy the pristine white sandy beaches.


Southport skyline.

Gold Coast Australia beaches

Boating is one of the main pastimes on the Gold Coast.

Point Danger in NSW.

Surfing Duranbah Beach Australia

I am virtually standing on the border of NSW & QLD taking the above photo.

Rainbow Bay Gold Coast beach

Surfers Paradise beach.

Gold Coast Australia beaches

The are miles of beautiful white sandy beaches, sadly council planning over the years has been 2nd rate by allowing high rise structures to be built along the beach, resulting in encroaching shadows on the beach from mid afternoon.

Amazing seafood on Gold Coast.

Gold Coast Australia beaches

My good friend Phil Thomson & I decided to enjoy some amazing seafood for lunch. The Gold Coast definitely has some of the finest in the world, it is one of the few things I really miss about Australia.

Charis seafood market at Labrador.

Gold Coast Australia beaches

Check out the magnificent selection of fresh seafood.

This was my home on Australia’s Gold Coast for 21 years.

Bundall Homes Shops Brothels Racecourse

I mentioned earlier the miles of canals with luxury homes enjoying waterfront living. This was my home in Surfers Paradise for 21 years from 1990 until I sold up and moved to Thailand in October 2011. It was 503 square meters with 7 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms a jetty and a sandy beach. I designed the home, and added a 2nd story in 2004, and did we have some great parties there? You bet we did. 😎

The Gold Coast Turf Club.

Gold Coast Australia beaches

Horse racing is a huge industry in Australia, I could actually see this course from my home, it is the only track in the country which has a race meeting every week of the year.

Beer from a semi trailer

Gold Coast Australia beaches

Every knows Australians love their beer, they even bring a semi trailer to the race track to make sure everyone has enough to drink.

Hang gliding on Mount Tambourine.

Gold Coast Australia beaches

A 45 minute drive west from the coast is Mt Tambourine which is part of Australia’s Great Dividing Range. A popular place for hang gliding as well as many quaint little restaurants and hotels if you fell like getting away from the coast.

Byron Bay lighthouse is Australia’s most easterly point.

Seaside Towns NSW Coast Australia

This is the place in Australia hit by the first rays of the morning sun. Byron Bay is one of the most popular beach side backpacker destinations in the country.

Secluded beach south of Byron Bay

Gold Coast Australia beaches     

Gold Coast Australia beaches.

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Diving Dolphins at Sea World.

Gold Coast Australia beaches

Personally I would prefer these beautiful animals were set free in the ocean.

I guess Dolphins like a tummy rub.

Gold Coast Australia beaches

There are many theme parks on the Gold Coast, Sea world, Dreamworld, Movie World, Wet & Wild and many more. So it really is a wonderful family destination.

Sea World Polar Bear.

Gold Coast Australia beaches

Beautiful creatures but sad to see them in captivity.

Water Ski stunts.

Gold Coast Australia beaches

These guys put on quite a show.

Prepare for take off.

Gold Coast Australia beaches

You can stay right beside Seaworld at their nice hotel.

Chevron Renaissance.

Gold Coast Australia beaches

In the heart of Surfers Paradise the Chevron Renaissance holiday apartments have many interesting cafes & restaurants to dine at.


Colonial golf club at Robina

Gold Coast Australia beaches

The Gold Coast has many world class golf courses and the Colonial at Robina is no exception, there is water on almost every hole so take plenty of balls.

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

Cararra stadium aka Metricon

Gold Coast Australia beaches

Home ground for the Gold Coast Suns AFL team.

My beautiful Mercedes Sports.

Gold Coast Australia beaches

I just could not do a post on the Gold Coast without slipping in a photos of my beautiful yellow canary. This magic little car carried me around the Gold Coast for 17 years.

My two beautiful chariots.

Gold Coast Australia beaches

These were my two babies when I lived on the Gold Coast, it was compulsory to have the proper toys. Many Australians consider the coast to be a flashy superficial place, and frankly I agree with them. However flashy & superficial can be fun when you are young enough to enjoy it. Sadly it seems when you get a little older you seem to tire a little with this life. I did, so I moved to Thailand in October 2011 and have replaced flashy & superficial with down & dirty, only joking folks.  😆

Listen to Harry Chapin describe my life in about 7 minutes.

               Farewell Australia
Gold Coast Australia beaches
 
 
Farewell drinks at Melbas on the Park with the usual suspects.
 
        Please check out these fabulous posts
 

 Istanbul                                 Budapest                        London

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

Bangkok Hotels                    Pattaya Hotels
 
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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.

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.

 

 

Here is another beach resort on the other side of the world

 

Well folks, many thanks for visiting my blog on Gold Coast Australia, I hope you enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed living there. Please send the link to your friends https://fivestarvagabond.com/

Here I am with friends on the Gold Coast before moving to Thailand

 

Visiting friends November 2014

 

HCM City in January 2015

 

 

Counter only started June 16 2020.

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Sihanoukville Cambodia Coast

August 7, 2013 by David Herd

Cambodia, interesting friendly & mysterious.

Sihanoukville Cambodia coast

Sihanoukville Cambodia coast

Sihanoukville Cambodia Coast is about 3 hours by bus from Phnom Penh. We were sad to leave the city however with the high May temperature we were looking forward to relaxing on the beach while sipping on a few cold beers.

Nice sand & lots of activity

Sihanoukville Cambodia coast

The beaches were more crowded than usual due to a public holiday. Never the less it was great to enjoy the casual atmosphere and sea breeze.

Busy beach

Sihanoukville Cambodia coast

Public holiday to celebrate the Kings birthday.

One of the many beach bars.

Sihanoukville Cambodia coast

Lots of casual bars along the beach where you can get a nice cold beer.

Old boat in Sihanoukville

Sihanoukville Cambodia coast

Sihanoukville was the place of the last official battle of the United States Army in the Vietnam War, although the incident took place outside Vietnam. The Mayaguez incident of 12–15 May 1975 involved US forces and the Khmer Rouge. Currently, divers at Koh Tang, one of the Sihanoukville islands where the major battle to free the USS Mayaguez took place, can see two shipwrecks on the sea floor 40 metres (130 ft) down.

Sihanoukville Cambodia Coast

Sihanoukville Cambodia coast

Reminds me of Pattaya 30 years ago.

Nice beach with fine white sand.

Sihanoukville Cambodia coast

I will visit again in October 2017.

Sokha Beach Resort

Sihanoukville Cambodia coast

Luxury five star hotel on the beach, for a great room rate book here.

Sokha Beach Resort

Sihanoukville Cambodia coast

Lovely grounds and right on the beach.

The bride at the Sokha Hotel

Sihanoukville Cambodia coast

Ah! The blushing bride. 🙂

Sihanoukville Cambodia Coast

Sihanoukville Cambodia coast

These little guys are always hungry.

The navy arrives

Sihanoukville Cambodia coast

I’m fairly sure is was the U.S. Navy.

David Herd & Tony Murphy with Ziggy.

Sihanoukville Cambodia coast

Ziggy was running a small hotel in Sihanoukville in the town center, next time I return I will stay on the beach.

My main impression of Sihanoukville is don’t expect too much in the way of luxury unless you check into an upmarket hotel, just enjoy the casual atmosphere and super low prices compared with other Asian countries.

Thanks for visiting my Sihanoukville Cambodia Coast photo blog.

 
 
 
 

Tip. Here is a very good site with lots of travel tips & advice, please click here.

Super tip. Book your hotel here, get a great deal & pay later or cancel.




               

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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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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That’s all folks

1g Duck

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Angkor Wat Cambodia spectacular

August 6, 2013 by David Herd

Angkor Wat Cambodia 7th wonder of the world.

Angkor Wat Cambodia

Angkor Wat Cambodia

Angkor Wat Cambodia one of the 7 Wonders of the World was built in the first half of the 12th century, situated in Cambodia’s northern province of Siem Reap, it is one of the most important archaeological sites of Southeast Asia. It extends over approximately 400 square kilometres and consists of scores of temples, hydraulic structures (basins, dykes, reservoirs, canals) as well as communication routes. For several centuries Angkor, was the center of the Khmer Kingdom.

I was quite overwhelmed by this amazing ancient kingdom, to me it is far more impressive than Egypt’s Pyramids. I feel Cambodia is many things, friendly, spectacular and sad all at the one time. In Ankor Wat you are very close to the  Khmer Rouge “Killing Fields” which surely must rate as one of the most atrocious barbaric  periods in human history. I really don’t wish to write about the details of this crime against humanity, which disregarded human life and produced repression & massacres on a massive scale. If you want to find out more please let Google give you the answers.

Angkor Wat Cambodia

Angkor Wat Cambodia

Stretching over some 400 square kilometres, including forested area, Angkor Archaeological Park contains the magnificent remains of several capitals of the Khmer Empire of the 9th to the 15th centuries, including the largest pre-industrial city in the world. The most famous are the Temple of Angkor Wat and, at Angkor Thom, the Bayon Temple with its countless sculptural decorations.  

Angkor Wat Cambodia, amazing ancient ruins 

Angkor Wat Cambodia

My lasting impressions are of the breathtaking ruins, beautiful children & Cambodia’s unbelievable history.

Beautiful faces in the ruins.

Angkor Wat Cambodia

Sadly, poverty is everywhere in Angkor Wat Cambodia, and I can’t help wondering what % of the billions of dollars in aid ever gets to the people who really need it? Particularly when you see so many government officials driving around in luxury motor vehicles. Oh well, apart from that it is a fascinating country, hopefully at the end of this post I can provide you with a few travel tips for you to consider. One of the many lasting memories for me are the beautiful smiles on the faces of the children who have so little, when it comes to material possessions, yet so much true happiness in their hearts.

Another beautiful face among the ruins

Angkor Wat Cambodia

The children always have a smile for you.

Below a “not so” beautiful face among the ruins.

Angkor Wat Cambodia

Everywhere you turn there is a magical sight to see.

Looks like a giant claw

Angkor Wat Cambodia

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Fascinating carvings

Angkor Wat Cambodia

Angkor Wat Cambodia northern province of Siem Reap, is one of the most important archaeological sites of Southeast Asia. It extends over approximately 400 square kilometres and consists of scores of temples, hydraulic structures (basins, dykes, reservoirs, canals) as well as communication routes. For several centuries Angkor, was the centre of the Khmer Kingdom.

Magic scene at Angkor Wat

Angkor Wat Cambodia

Located six kilometre north of Siem Reap, Angkor Wat Cambodia is one of the largest of Khmer monuments. Built around the first half of 12th century by King Suryavarman II, the temple’s balance, composition and beauty make it one of the finest monuments in the world.

Though ‘Wat’ is the Khmer (Cambodian) word for temple, the westward orientation of the structure is atypical of temples. Scholars believe that the architecture and sculptures are that of a temple where Lord Vishnu was worshipped but it was also built as a mausoleum for the king after his death.

Lots of strange things to eat here.

Angkor Wat Cambodia

I would be a little wary of shopping here. 🙂

Eat it at your peril. 🙂

Angkor Wat Cambodia

Find me a Burger King quickly please. 🙂

Hungry Kids

Angkor Wat Cambodia

I prefer giving to kids food rather than money.

The Red Piano

Angkor Wat Cambodia

A good place for a cool drink.

 Angkor Wat Cambodia, a Long road out of Eden.

Angkor Wat Cambodia

That’s my friend Jock chatting to a girl.

David Herd & Jock Granger.

Angkor Wat Cambodia

Here is my Sydney friend Jock Granger, he is about to retire after many years as a Qantas steward.

Beautiful bride at Angkor Wat.

Angkor Wat Cambodia

We were lucky to be here when the wedding was in progress.

The wedding party arrives.

Angkor Wat Cambodia

They look wonderful all dressed up.

The temples are a popular wedding location

Angkor Wat Cambodia

Travel tip. Take a boat down the mighty Mekong river to Phnom Penh.

Regency Angkor Hotel

Angkor Wat Cambodia

Good location with excellent facilities, book through THIS LINK for a discount.

Book here for the best hotel rates, you can chooses to pay later or cancel if you wish.                 

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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                  through these links below.  Book now & pay later.
Free Cancellation. 
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 That’s all folks

1g Duck

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