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Sydney landmarks harbour bridge

July 3, 2016 by David Herd

Sydney Harbour Bridge

Sydney landmarks harbour bridge

Sydney landmarks harbour bridge were on my agenda when I spent a couple of days in Sydney in 2005. This was my first stop on an exciting around the world trip to San Francisco, Miami, Rio de Janeiro for Carnival, north East coast of Brazil, Paris, Bangkok and Pattaya.

Sydney landmarks harbour bridge

The magnificent Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge are two of the most recognisable structures in the world.

“Check out these top 28 Sydney Hotels With Perfect Harbour Views by HotelsCombined for great views of these iconic sights.”

ANZAC War Memorial in Hyde Park

Looking down from Centrepoint Tower at the Anzac memorial, lest we forget.

Anzac memorial

Located in Hyde Park it was opened on 24 November 1934 to commemorate world war one Australian military personnel who lost their lives.

Centrpoint Tower a great Sydney Landmark

The photo looking down on the Anzac Memorial building was taken from the restaurant in Centrepoint Tower.

Manly Ferry

The Manly ferry can certainly also be regarded as a Sydney landmark, South Steyne is now a Floating Restaurant and Function Centre.

Novotel Darling Harbour

Great views of the Sydney skyline from the Novotel, for an excellent room rate just book through THIS LINK.

Novotel and Grand Mercure Apartments

Once again great views of the city, use THIS LINK for good Sydney hotel rates.

MLC Building at 19 Martin Pl, Sydney

Another building considered to be in Sydney Landmarks.

After work drinks at the MLC building

As you can see a popular meeting place especially on Fridays.

Circular Quay

Circular Quay is a focal point for many Sydney celebrations throughout the year.

Sydney Opera House

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.

Sydney landmarks harbour bridge

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.

The Rocks overlooking Circular Quay

The oldest part of Sydney was founded in 1788 as a penal colony.

Bill Austin from Wiltshire

My friend Bill jumped out of planes 100s of times when he was in the Paras so climbing the bridge was a piece of cake for him. 🙂

For a very good discount on Sydney hotel rooms just book through THIS LINK.

Doyles at Watsons Bay

Certainly one of Sydney’s well known landmarks, world famous for the fish & chips.

Doyles in 1981.

This was Doyles 32 years ago in 1981. On this original site, Doyles opened Australia’s first seafood restaurant in 1885. The restaurant has been family owned and operated for over five generations. With both indoor and outdoor dining, Doyles is located right on the foreshore of Watsons Bay overlooking the magnificent panorama of Sydney Harbour.

Flashback, Doyles 1982.

Here I am at Doyles with Helen Burke, my girlfriend at the time, enjoying one of our countless lunches on beautiful Sydney Harbour. Who said nostalgia was a thing of the past?

The old Darlington school.

Here is a lovely building most Sydney people would not know existed. It’s a fine example of a single story Gothic Revival style suburban schools designed by the Architect to the Council of Education: George Allen Mansfield. An important public building of the former suburb of Darlington, the smallest municipality in Sydney.

Sydney landmarks harbour bridge & Anzac Bridge

Opened in December 1995, costing $170 million to build, it’s a link between Sydney City and the western suburbs.

View from Crows nest

Nice to see lots of trees.

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Champagne weekend Sydney 2008

July 2, 2016 by David Herd

Weekend with Stingy

Champagne weekend Sydney

Champagne weekend Sydney in 2008 was on the menu when I spent a weekend at a friends home in Point Piper. He worries about being seen on the internet, so to protect his privacy we will just call him Stingy. I imagine a whistle-blower will tip him off about this post and he will complain as usual. I would like to stress nothing in this personal photo blog of mine is intended to cause him any discomfort. It is in fact a salute to a very successful businessman.

I would like to emphasise my policy regarding my photo & travel blogs, should any person be offended or concerned by material I have posted, please contact me direct and I will immediately remove it.

Champagne football Sydney is my personal photo history not part of my travel blog.

I was very lucky when Stingy lent me one of his cars to use, extremely lucky when it turned out to be a Lexus. 🙂

City skyline from Vaucluse

I took advantage of my flash transport and did a little tour around the eastern suburbs.

Coogee Beach

A deserted Coogee beach, I have many memories of the local pubs where I often visited in my 20s.

Stingy is the big guy in the middle

Peter Hobbs and Peter H on the right. Peter H is another guy who is paranoid about his name on the internet. We are at the SCG to see the Sydney Swans play the Richmond Tigers.

Sydney Cricket Ground

This wonderful sports arena with this beautiful members stand, which was built in 1886, holds countless memories for myself and millions of sports fans all over Australia.

Stingy & friends

John Martin aka Pothole with his Chinese girlfriend and Lee O’mara are here with Stingy at the Woolahra hotel. Pothole lives in the same condo as I do in Pattaya 2 hours south of Bangkok, in fact he accompanied me on a quick trip to Koh Samui only last week on June 20 2016.

Woolahra Hotel

Sadly Pothole lost his best friend John Griffin just a few months after this photo was taken after he lost a long battle with cancer.

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

Bar Reggio

Friday lunch at Bar Reggio is a long term tradition for Stingy and his friends, located in Crown St Darlinghurst, it is a lively Italian restaurant that serves good food and allows you to bring your own wine.

Back to Stingy’s palace

Every wall upstairs and down is cluttered with paintings.

Running out of wall space

A great example of how to make a terrific home look less attractive. 🙂

A Stingy lookalike

They could be twins. 🙂

Champagne weekend Sydney, I’ll drink to that.

I’m not generally a champagne drinker however I will make an exception for Dom Perignon. 🙂

Great kitchen

This is certainly one of the nicest homes I have ever stayed in.

Stingy’s liquor cabinet

There is no shortage of booze in Stingy’s house, as you can clearly see Jim Beam is his preferred poison.

Ten years have flown by & now in 2018 aged 70 Stingy has given up the booze. So many years of heavy drinking have finally caught up with him. The doctors advice was crystal clear, stop drinking or die.

Geriatrics R Us.

That’s Stingy (2nd from the left) in December 2017, he has lost an incredible amount of weight being off the booze.

Naturally living on the waterfront you need a boat

Captain Stingy conducting business on the high seas. 🙂

Stingy = chick magnet

Of course the ladies are attracted by his good looks and animal magnetism, boats, booze & a $6 million dollar house have nothing to do with it.

Champagne weekend Sydney at Stingy’s palace

Three stories and looking over Sydney harbour.

Just a short distance to his great catamaran.

Stingy’s great looking boat.

Sea Treasure at Crows Nest.

On the right is my cousin Debbie with her South African friend Phyllis, great food at the Sea Treasure.

Crab at the Sea Treasure

Fantastic crab at the Sea Treasure, this reminds me of Boat Quay in Singapore. 🙂

That’s all folks

Thanks for visiting my Champagne weekend Sydney photo blog.

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Newport peninsular Sydney 1984

June 30, 2016 by David Herd

Newport peninsular Sydney is my personal photo history not part of my travel blog.

Newport peninsular Sydney

Newport peninsular Sydney was my home for three years from 1984 to 1987. After becoming engaged to a beautiful Melbourne lady Karen Smith, I purchased a timber home perched on a hill above the Royal Motor Yacht Club. The cost was $128k, and I sold it after our engagement fizzled out 4 years later for $360K. I guess it would be worth nearly 2 million dollars today.

Absolutely gorgeous.

As you can see Karen was a beautiful lady, it took me anther 10 years before I realised I was just not cut out for marriage or long term relationships. There is probably a multitude of reasons why, fear of commitment, too independent etc etc.

Dinner party at Herbert Avenue

We were very happy at Newport 80% of the time, I tried hard to settle down and enjoy life as a couple, every now and then however the “call of the wild” would interrupt our utopia.

Wolf Wottke (with the beard) had been my best friend for a number of years, I left him renting my Drummoyne apartment for a year or so until I got fed up chasing the rent. Consequently I sold it which in hindsight was probably a mistake.

Lots of birds & wildlife

These beautiful Rainbow Lorikeets would visit every day for their snack on the balcony.

Life was very good

I had all the toys, a beautiful Mercedes Sports, a cabin cruiser moored at the yacht club, a liquor store in Sydenham which I was in the process of selling and a good sales job with Canon Australia.

Lion Island

This great photo (excuse the quality) was taken on Lion Island in the Hawksbury River, from left to right we have Graham La Roche aka “Biff”, his girlfriend at the time Mona, Ross Ansell from Melbourne and Karen Smith & I.

Me Tarzan

Ross doing his Tarzan impersonation on Lion Island.

31 Herbert Avenue Newport

About 25 years later around 2012 I paid a visit to Herbert Avenue to see if things had changed. Apart from the colour scheme and far less vegetation nothing much had changed.

Another day on Pittwater

My good friend Tony Murphy and his beautiful wife Inge join Karen & I on my 26 foot cabin cruiser. After 29 years I caught up with Inge in Melbourne in 2014.

My back veranda overlooked Bayview

Here is my good friend Paul Slaughter with two gorgeous girls, on the left is Trish and on the right an old girlfriend of mine Shirley.

Big Tim Bristow, dinner at Herbert Avenue.

Tim Bristow was a friend of mine dating back from the time we met in 1971 when he was on my tail to give me a hiding, but that’s another story just follow THIS LINK. In the 70s just the name Tim Bristow struck fear into the heart of all those who knew him, an enforcer with a reputation of being one of the most brutal street fighters in Australia. Put simply he was legend, a bouncer at the Newport Arms hotel, would be contenders for his crown would travel from all over Sydney to try their luck, many came and all of them were sent packing battered and bruised.

Sydenham Cellars

I sold my liquor store in late 1984 which took the pressure off me. I had been working with Canon for a few months and travelling to Sydenham (a one hour drive each way) at weekends to work in the liquor store. Meanwhile I dug a wine cellar underneath my Newport home and stored a huge amount of wine that I took home from the shop.

Unwins Bridge Road

That’s Madison my beautiful 4 year old German Shepherd who used to diligently guard the store overnight.

Newport peninsular Sydney Brian Millard

Brian was a boat broker at Newport and a regular drinker at the Newport Arms hotel. He lived just up the road at Bungan Beach before moving to Noosa where I believe he still resides.

Richard on the left and Rob Carnahan

Two very nice guys who were customers of mine when I was with Canon. Their office was opposites the Oaks Hotel in Neutral Bay so more often than not we would meet in the pub. 🙂

A bunch of my nephews & nieces come to visit.

Amazing seeing these old photos, all of these cute kids now have children of their own.

Sue and John Heatherington

A lovely couple who lived in the next street from us, John also worked at Canon in the computer division.

Malaysia 1985

John & Sue, Karen & I went on a Canon conference to Penang, here we are driving from Penang to Singapore via Kuala Lumpur.

Singapore Xmas 1985

Here we are in Singapore, notice the cigarette. I smoke on and off for most of my life until 2003. Usually 2 or 3 years then I would quit for a similar time before returning to the grip of the nicotine.

Newport peninsular Sydney with Phil Parkinson

Phil has lived most of his life on the Newport peninsular Sydney and I believe still does in 2016. He is the brother of my ex girlfriend Di Parkinson.

Melbourne Cup 1985

Karen & I at the cup with friends including another ex girlfriend Helen Burke who is on the left of the photo. Helen has a vineyard at Dromana on the Mornington Peninsular, I spent a few day there in October 2014 drinking wine with her and her partner Jack.

Oscars Coolangatta 1985

I can’t remember the name of the beautiful dark haired princess, she was the girlfriend of my crazy chiropractor from North Sydney.

Newport peninsular Sydney

Prior to buying my cabin cruiser I had this little run-about, it was a lot of fun, do you like the name? 🙂

Another guy from my rogues gallery.

Danny Rose one of Adelaide’s true characters, we had a day of the water, you can see “Stamped Urgent” in the background.

Beautiful Karen Smith

Certainly my life on the Newport peninsular Sydney revolved around lots of good friends and my beautiful fiancée Karen. My thanks to her for being the most important part of my life for those great years.

Thanks also to you for visiting my Newport peninsular Sydney photo blog.

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New Years Eve Sydney 2012

June 4, 2016 by David Herd

January 1st 2013, please note, this is not part of my Travel Blog. It’s my personal history, check it out if you wish.

New Years Eve Sydney 2012 at Drummoyne

New Years Eve Sydney 2012 from 72 Wrights Road Drummoyne where I lived for six years from 1979 to 1984. This is late afternoon and everybody is getting ready for the fireworks, there are two spectacular shows, one at 9 pm for the children (and me) and one of course at midnight.

New Years Eve Sydney 2012

The apartments you see are in St Georges Crescent where I also owned another 3 bedroom waterfront apartment at Brackley Gardens, this was for investment & rental purposes I never lived there. It is interesting to look at prices way back in the 70s, I purchased Brackley Gardens for $48,000 in 1977 then sold 5 years later for $98,000.

I sold Wrights road for a profit of $100,000 in 1986, I rate this in the top 3 mistakes I have ever made in my life.

Warwick Robinson

I have known Warwick for about 35 years, a nice fellow with a great sense of humour. He and his lovely wife Ady have lived in Cherrybrook for many years. I like standing beside him, he makes me look thin. 🙂

Peter Hesky

I have known Peter for a similar amount of time as Warwick, we enjoyed many great time together in the 70s & 80s. He is a great host and organized some terrific dinners at his Freeway Hotel in Artarmon.

Peter & I both love Mud Crabs and have polished off many back in the days I lived at Drummoyne, I must say however the best I have ever had have been in Singapore, follow THIS LINK to see what I mean.

In fact here is an example

These monsters are certainly not cheap, from memory this one set me back about $120. It’s from Sri Lanka and at 3.3 kilo the biggest I have ever eaten.

New Years Eve Sydney 2012

The 9 pm fireworks show at New Years Eve Sydney 2012 gets under way. I must confess I have seen so many fireworks displays over the years they have lost a little of their appeal for me. Certainly the best I have ever seen was in the 80s when I would anchor my boat in the Harbour beside the opera House and be in the middle of the action. Equally as exciting and maybe more so was Rio de Janeiro on NYE 2007 when 2 million people converged on Copacabana beach, just follow THIS LINK to see what I mean.

And the beat goes on

I have another confession I was in bed trying to get to sleep at 11 pm. 🙂

I was more impressed by the food

Our hosts Peter Hobbs and his lovely Thai girlfriend Pring put on a great spread.

And here she is 🙂

All I can say is Peter is punching way above his weight. 🙂

Peter & I the next morning on New Years Day.

Wrights Road in these apartments was my home for 6 years from 1979, some of the best years of my life. In fact check out my 1982 photo blog and see for yourself.

72 Wrights Rd

The smaller block in the middle was my home, I was in unit 12 on the top floor, Peter is on the ground floor on the left. Talking about property values again, I purchased in 1979 for $65,000 then sold in 1985 for $165,000. I believe now in 2016 they sell for over a million.

Flashback to 1982

One of the greatest eras in my life was living in Drummoyne in the 80s, looking back it was a mistake to move to Newport with my new fiancée thinking I was ready to settle down. How wrong can a man be?

Not too attractive from the street

However it was a great location to live with my white Mercedes Sports in the garage and my Bertram 25 moored right outside.

Robbie Bonnet

Robbie live here when I did in the 80s and he is still here now 35 years later. He owns a Bob Jane T-Marts in Drummoyne however I believe it recently closed and he is moving to a new location.

Farewell to Wrights Road

The memories certainly came flooding back after spending New Years Eve Sydney 2012 at my old home in Drummoyne. It was great to catch up with lots of old friends, who say nostalgia is a thing of the past?

Talking about old friends

When I left Drummoyne on the morning of January 1st to drive to Port Macquarie I stopped in Dee Why for a coffee with another old friend Paul Slaughter.

Thanks for visiting my New Years Eve Sydney 2012 photo blog.

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through these links below. Book now & pay later.

Free Cancellation.

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Sydney Gold Coast 2013

May 12, 2016 by David Herd

January 1st 2013, please note, Sydney Gold Coast 2013 is not part of my Travel Blog. It’s my personal history, check it out if you wish.

Sydney Gold Coast 2013

Sydney Gold Coast 2013 was a trip I did starting from 72 Wrights Road Drummoyne on January 1st after spending a couple of weeks at my cousin’s home in Balgowlah. I spent News Years Eve with Peter Hobbs & friends, left early the next day to meet friends for coffee at Dee Why before calling in to see Sue at Newport. From there I drove to my brothers home in Port Macquarie and finally onto the Gold Coast before flying back home to Thailand.

Over a period of 3 or 4 years I was lucky enough to stay at Deb’s lovely home for which I’m forever grateful. Sadly in the end she kicked me out because I left the house unlocked for an hour when I went for coffee. Us aging geriatrics do become forgetful. 🙂

Xmas Eve at Deb’s house

a few days before I was banished, sadly it seems all good things come to an end.

With Peter Hobbs

Wrights Road in these apartments was my home for 6 years from 1979, some of the best years of my life. In fact check out my 1982 photo blog and see for yourself.

Middle building, top floor, right side.

Unit 12 was my home for six very happy years.

Home sweet home 1979 to 1985.

Watch this video on YouTube

New Years Eve with Warwick Robinson

A friend for over 30 years.

Robbie Bonett

A long time resident of 72 Wrights Rd, way back to when I lived there in the late 70s. He has since married a Russian babe & moved to the Eastern suburbs.

Peter Hesky

Another longtime friend from the 70s. We used to be in regular contact but I have not heard from him for 5 or 6 years. Maybe he put me on the “black list” in support of cousin Deb. 🙂

Aussie seafood on NYE.

I really miss the Aussie seafood living in Thailand.

Drinks with John Loch

At the famous Oaks Hotel in Neutral Bay, John live 5 minutes walk away.

Iconic Oaks hotel

It could be Australia’s best pub.

Jill McCrossan

I bumped into Jill at Manly, we had lots of great times when we both lived on the Gold Coast. If you want to see Jilly taking a bath in 1992 just follow THIS LINK.

Lunch at Mr Wongs

Upmarket Chinese restaurant off Bridge St Sydney. More photos on THIS LINK.

Chinatown

Yum Cha with Hesco & Al Chiswick.

Coffee at Dee Why, Sydney Gold Coast 2013

Old friend Paul Slaughter and I enjoying coffee before heading to Newport to see Sue Ellis.

Sue’s home in Crescent Ave Newport

Tim Bristow’s lovely home in Newport, Tim passed away aged 72 about 10 years ago. His long time (& long suffering) partner Sue still lives here.

I played tennis here many times in the 80s.

Sue Ellis was and still is a terrific tennis player, we played many times and to my dismay I never won a single set. Sue just turned 60 this year and is ranked number 7 in the over 60 Tennis Seniors Australia Rankings in Womens Singles.

January 1st 2013

After many years I was happy to visit Sue, the home is still as picture perfect as when Big Tim used fuss around keeping everything neat & tidy.

Portrait of the big fellow

I wonder if it was ever hung or stored in the basement. 🙂

Next stop Port Macquarie

Breakfast with Chris Lockwood & my brother Warren.

Kerry, Lynn and Bryan

Kerry, Lynn & Bryan, another one of the Herd brothers having dinner at the Great Wall of China restaurant in Port Macquarie.

Chris Lockwood aka Dr Evil.

Chris is a close friend of my brother Warren, they regularly travel the world together.

The Gold Coast

Here I am with three good friends in Surfers Paradise. Craig Sulzberger aka Sudzi, Ross Kennedy & Greg “Noodles” Craig.

Sydney Gold Coast 2013

Bob Martin & I have been friends for over 40 years. We had some great times together in Sydney in the 70s with our other great mate Peter Lewis. Here we are having coffee on Chevron Island.

Last but not least in Sydney Gold Coast 2013

My great mate Phil Thomson from Runaway Bay. Phil was to blame for getting me hooked on Japan, he and his wife Junko showed me the ropes in Tokyo in 2007.

Thanks for visiting my Sydney Gold Coast 2013 photo blog.

Here are some more posts to check out

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Great hotel room rates anywhere in the world if you book

through these links below. Book now & pay later.

Free Cancellation.

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Copacabana Rio de Janeiro

April 17, 2016 by David Herd

Copacabana-Brazil-babes-bikinis-Rio de Janeiro

View from my apartment

Copacabana Rio de Janeiro

Copacabana Rio de Janeiro is one of the world’s great beaches. This is my sixth visit to this fabulous city, my rented apartment is right across the road from the beach.

Copacabana Beach Rio de Janeiro, say no more.

These two look like they mean business.

Alan Austin and his wife Renata

Alan & I met in Rio and became very good friends, unfortunately the following year he ran into some problems with the English authorities and I now he lives in England.

It’s now 2018 & after 11.5 years as a guest of Her Majesty Alan will be a free man in August.

Shenanigans Ipanema

Monday nights here there are lots of specials and the place gets really crowded. The guy in the red shirt is Alan’s Las Vegas friend Jay.

Two dozen oysters = two days food poisoning

I was totally out of it for 48 hours after eating these oysters on the beach.

The Evil eye

The look on his face should have warned me about eating his oysters. He even had madman printed on his cap. 🙂

The girl from Copacabana

I was relaxing on the beach when this vision appeared in front of me. I have never been one to let a golden opportunity pass so I brushed up on my social skills and introduced myself. Her name was Mel and she came from neighbouring Niteroi. Lo & behold within an hour we were in my apartment making mad passionate love. This certainly was one on the best days of my trip. ?

Mel from Niteroi

Mel is around 6′ tall with amazing green eyes, a total knock out. It is 2015 and I still have her photo on a shelf in my condo. ?

How about those fabulous eyes?

I have to admit the fact that Mel spoke no English did not bother me at all. 🙂

John, an Aussie guy who owned “The Office” restaurant.

John was an Aussie guy from Sydney and we swapped many stories about people we knew and knew of, mainly well known Sydney gangsters. ? The following year John in fact was abducted by Brazilian gangsters who forced him to go to his home in Angra Dos Rios and pen his safe which they cleaned out.

Copacabana eye candy

One of the best locations on Earth for gorgeous females.

Late afternoon at Copacabana

Looking down from my apartment you can see the shadows staring to creep across the beach.

Kiosks on Copacabana

Every 50 meters along the beach there is a kiosk where you can buy a beer or a hamburger and watch the passing parade.

Copacabana Rio de Janeiro

Copacabana beach babes are among the sexiest girls in the world. My photo blogs with the most visits involve Brazilian babes so I thought I would add to the collection with samples from my 2 months in Rio from December 2007 to February 2008.

Making a splash

There is no better place in the world to see beautiful beach babes than Copacabana in Rio de Janeiro.

Nice hat

Hat, what hat, I don’t see a hat?

Now can you see a hat?

Is this a trick question? Who looks at hats on Copacabana beach?

The sea was angry that day my friends.

You don’t often see big waves at Copacabana but this particular day the surf was quite rough. In fact it was new years eve 2007 and Copacabana was preparing for a crowd of 2 million people.

Smile for the camera

Brazilians absolutely love the beach, check out my most popular blog here.

Ah! The colours of Brazil.

Are you aware Brazil’s Primary colours are green and yellow? Just saying…………

Time for a lunch break

The prawns are very good however I was laid low for 48 hours after eating 2 dozen oysters on the beach. ?

Two pretty girls

All you need is a camera on Copacabana because the talent is unlimited. ?

Look closely you may see a tattoo

Tattoo? I don’t see a tattoo.

No tattoos here

A fabulous body like this does not need any tattoos.

Copacabana Rio de Janeiro

All my friends who know and love Rio will remember the wonderful times we had at “HELP” nightclub on Avenue Atlantica. Many thanks for visiting my Copacabana Rio de Janeiro photo blog, without any doubt in the world “you gotta love Rio”.

Rio was part of a fabulous world trip starting in Sydney and finishing in Bangkok.

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That’s all folks

Check out these great posts

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French village Breil Sur Roya

Breil Sur Roya devastated

Hong Kong 2014

Bradford on Avon

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Pattaya Thailand 2013

Amazing Iguazu Falls

New York City

Buddhist Temple Asakusa Tokyo

Pattaya live webcam

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Sydney 2011 farewell Australia

March 4, 2016 by David Herd

This is not a travel blog just my personal photo collection

Sydney 2011 farewell Australia

Sydney 2011 farewell Australia is about my life changing event when on October 18 I left my home, friends, relatives and country to live in Thailand. I had two trips to Sydney in September & October and stayed with my cousin Debbie at her home in Balgowlah before jumping on a plane to Bangkok on October 18.

Dinner at Manly

I had many friends to farewell including Paul Slaughter and his lady Clode who was a flight attendant for Air Canada.

Richard aka 003 1/4

Richard & I have been friends since 1976 and had many great times together over the years. Obsessed with luxury cars and women on a scale far higher than I.

Richard’s latest jigger

From memory he also had a beautiful restored red E-Type jag at his Gold Coast home and a 911 turbo Porsche at his Sydney apartment. The Porsche he has owned since new in about 1977, it was fitted with some unusual modifications similar to some sort of secret agent. 🙂

1999

My home in 1999 and our two toys, Rick’s E-Type and my Mercedes Sports.

My brother Bryan

Lunch at Mosman with Bryan & Rick a couple of days before flying to Bangkok.

Old friend Peter Hesky

Another friend from 1976, (WOW! 40 bloody years) Sadly I don’t hear from Peter anymore, from what I’m told he has turned into quite a recluse and rarely ventures out of his home in Castle Cove.

Some well built lads here

Holly, Bolt & Al and not sure of the ladies name. We are at a very good Japanese restaurant opposite the Oaks Hotel.

Talking about the Oaks, here it is.

One of Australia’s great pubs, was my local for many years from 1977 to 1987.

My gorgeous niece’s

Drinks at my favourite pub with my favourite two girls, Elyssa & Laura.

Sydney Swans V Brisbane Lions.

Australian football aka AFL at the Sydney Cricket Ground, watching the game from Peter Hesky’s private box.

Dinner with friends

Fortuna Court Chinese restaurant in Crows Nest has been a favourite restaurant for over 30 years, & I must say it has not changed one bit in that time. The guy I’m about to put to the sword is Warwick Robinson who I have known for over 30 years. He never did pay the ransom to me for not taking his life. 🙂

Sydney 2011 farewell Australia

Leaving Australia was a huge decision, two major factors came into play when making the decision. First was purely financial, I had not worked since 1997 instead I travelled the world like a man possessed. Consequently I spent a huge amount of money in the process and I always knew it had to come to an end. My only regret was the timing of the Global Financial Crisis in 2007/8 which coincided with me needing to sell my home to pay off the huge mortgage created by my travels. My home took me 3 years to sell, had I have sold in 2006 I would have realized around $250K more than I finally got in 2011. Oh well them’s the breaks and I have no regrets because those years of travel were wonderful and irreplaceable.

The second reason for my decision to move to Thailand was triggered by the first. I found myself in a position where I could no longer live at the same level in Australia that I was accustomed to. However I could live to that level in Thailand which was only around 1/3 the cost of living in Australia.

It is now 2017 my 6th year living in Thailand and the move has turned out to be one of the best decisions of my life. I plan to stay another 5 years before moving back to Australia to live out my final days. At the moment that’s the plan but plans can change. 🙂

Here is my view in Pattaya

There are many people around the world who regularly criticize Pattaya, my message to them is simple, stay where you are because we don’t want you here. Our stress free Pattaya life has no time to waste on the knockers and whiners, having said that thanks for visiting my Sydney 2011 farewell Australia photo blog.

I’ll leave it to the late great Glenn Frey to explain how I feel right now.

Here are some more posts to check out

Life 2015 Family history Life 1982

Adelaide 1972 Iron Bar Freddy Sydney 2006

Thailand 2008 Gold Coast Babes World trip 2003

Great hotel room rates anywhere in the world if you book

through these links below. Book now & pay later.

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Bangkok Hotels Pattaya Hotels

Brazil Hotels

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Soi Cowboy Nana Plaza Patpong

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Australian adventures

Great Ocean Road

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Port Macquarie

Sydney landmarks

Australian seafood

Mr Wong

Remembering Melbas

Coober Pedy Opal Mine

Brisbane

My life in 2003

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Thailand Beach Mae Pim

February 25, 2016 by David Herd

Thailand Beach Mae Pim

Thailand Beach Mae Pim on the gulf of Thailand is only ninety minutes by car east of Pattaya, and 2 hours south of Bangkok. Beautiful white sand and clean water, and so quiet and peaceful after the noise & Madness of Pattaya.

The main road in Thailand Beach Mae Pim

Reminds me of the Eagles song “Long Road out of Eden”, so little traffic midweek compared to Pattaya.

Fresh seafood caught by these boats.

There are about 15 seafood restaurants offering all varieties of fish and shell fish.

One of the many seafood restaurants

There are about 16 live seafood restaurants.

Xing Xing at Thailand Beach Mae Pim

After much discussion this id the one we chose and it proved to be an excellent choice.

Curry crab & spring rolls

The crab was very good (B600) however the spring rolls were absolutely fantastic.

Thailand Beach Mae Pim

Our hotel was rather old fashioned but the rooms were very good and the pool was enormous.

Olympic size pool

The water was a perfect temperature for guys like us who are allergic to the cold. 🙂

Larry Krausz, Warren and David Herd

Here we are the three amigos having lunch at Tequila Sunrise.

This was double schnitzel day

The meal was huge, however the Swedish meat balls were the pick.

Step down to the beach

Grab a little sun and sand before lunch at Tequila Sunrise.

Tequila Sunrise

A busy bar with a great selection of food, however B175 for Jack Daniels is way over the top.

Mae Pim beach resort Thailand

Watch this video on YouTube

Thailand Beach Mae Pim

Tequila Sunset restaurant overlooked the sandy beach where the gentle waves brushed against the shore, we marveled at the beautiful onshore breeze blowing from the west, and thoroughly enjoyed the solitude of Mae Pim compared to the madness of Pattaya.

Mae Pin street vendor

All the usual souvenirs and floats for kids.

Thailand Beach Mae Pim bike for hire

These multi passenger bikes are for hire, the roads are very quiet so I’m sure they are reasonably safe.

Mae Pim Resort

This is certainly the hotel I will stay next time I visit, nice facilities with a good pool and across the road from the beach.

Mae Pim Resort pool

Nice setting on the 1st floor of the hotel. Book through this link for an excellent room rate.

Rabik Coffee

You realise you are in a Thai village when the local coffee shop does not show any English. 🙂

Bus to Ban Phe or Rayong

The cheap way to get to Pattaya is take a 30 minute songthaew ride to Ban Phe then hook up with a mini bus.

20 minutes past Rayong

Mae Pim is two hours from Bangkok airport & only 90 minutes east of Pattaya. Thanks for visiting my Thailand Beach Mae Pim photo blog. Use this link for a discounted rate at THE MAE PIM RESORT.

Farewell from the Herd brothers

Many thanks for visiting my Thailand Beach Mae Pim photo blog.

Check out my Tequila Sunrise photo blog here.

Soi Cowboy Nana Plaza Patpong

Please check out these fabulous posts

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Tequila Sunrise Mae Pim

February 25, 2016 by David Herd

Mae Pim restaurant

Tequila Sunrise Mae Pim

Tequila Sunrise Mae Pim Thailand is an example of multiculturalism on the gulf of Thailand. The restaurant Tequila Sunrise is named after my favourite cocktail, we happily sip our drinks while overlooking the sandy beach where gentle waves brush against the shore, we marvel at the beautiful onshore breeze blowing from the west, and we enjoy the solitude of Mae Pim compared to the madness of Pattaya.

A Swiss owner, a German chef, an Australian manager & Thai staff run this popular establishment, where the Wednesday lunch special is a huge schnitzel for the princely sum of B159 or $6 aud. My brother Warren chose the Swedish meatballs with mashed potato which actually outshone the huge schnitzel.

Larry chooses lunch

Born in Austria 66 years ago and moved to Australia around the age of two, moved to Thailand in November 2015, Larry Krausz would walk a mile for a Weiner Shnitzel.

Larry Krausz was a friend for around 30 years, sadly he suffered a major stroke on October 28 2016. After 2 months in the Bangkok Pattaya hospital on life support he was transported to Australia by a hospital Leer jet, thanks to his Medibank travel insurance. After a further month his life support was removed & he passed away peacefully. RIP little buddy.

Here’s the proof

I struggled to eat 75% of this monster schnitzel for lunch, in the evening the restaurant was full as it is most Wednesdays when the locals converge on the double schnitzel special.

Mai Pin fishing boat

Fishermen preparing their boat for another night on the gulf.

Tequila Sunrise Mae Pim Thailand

We returned to Tequila Sunrise for after dinner drinks, naturally I had two Margaritas.

Margarita night cap

A great way to end a delightful day in Mae Pim.

Manager at Tequila Sunrise

Gary is the Australian manager at tequila Sunrise, grew up Guildford in Sydney before moving to Maroochydore in Queensland.

Step down to the beach

Grab some sun or have a swim then come up for a cold beer.

Swedish Skagen at Tequila Sunrise

This is certainly one of my favourite dishes, absolutely fantastic.

Sea Bass at Tequila Sunrise.

My friend Nikki from Australia capturing the moment on camera.

Peter is the chef

Peter is the German chef who provides all the wonderful meals at Tequila Sunrise. Previously he was the chef at the Hard Rock Hotel in Pattaya. For a great room rate in Pattaya or elsewhere just book through THIS LINK.

Mae Pim resort

Across the road is a nice hotel where you can get a great room rate if you use this link.

Farewell from the Herd brothers

Many thanks for visiting my Tequila Sunrise Mae Pim Thailand photo blog.

Check out my Mae Pim photo blog here.

Here are some more posts to check out

Life 2015 Family history Life 1982

Adelaide 1972 Iron Bar Freddy Sydney 2006

Thailand 2008 Gold Coast Babes World trip 2003

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

That’s all folks

Pattaya live webcam

Soi Cowboy Nana Plaza Patpong

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Relocate Sydney Gold Coast

January 15, 2016 by David Herd

Part of my personal online photo albums, as opposed to my FiveStarVagabond travel blog. The story starts in 1986.

Relocate Sydney Gold Coast

Relocate Sydney Gold Coast took place in January 1987, but lets go back a couple of months to when I was living at Newport Beach in Sydney. I had just broken up with my fiancée, beautiful Karen Smith, we were engaged and living together in a wonderful old home in Newport overlooking the Royal Motor Yacht Club. To add to my woes I had also just been sacked from a high paying job as National Sales Manager for Ricoh facsimile machines.

For the past few years I was a regular visitor to the Gold Coast so at the time moving there permanently seemed to be the right thing to do. I had many friends living in Surfers Paradise including Graham Edwards aka “Crazy” who you see in the photo above. The gorgeous girls in the photo are Sandy Palmer & Joanne Bernhardt.

My ex fiancée Karen Smith

Karen was a beautiful lady and a lovely human being, but looking back I finally realised by the mid 90s I was not cut out for “long term relationships”, and the older I get the less I need the company of others.

Paul Slaughter and Tony Murphy

Two close friends in December 1986 were helping me celebrate the move north. Tony was living in Avalon at the time and now in 2021 resides on the Gold Coast.

Not part of my travel blog just a huge chapter in my life.

Bryan Millard

Bryan lived close to me at Newport and we were regular drinkers at the Newport Arms Hotel.

Now here is a strange coincidence, one week after I posted Brian’s photo here he was convicted in Noosa for various infringements. Here is the full story.

Big Tim Bristow & Sue Ellis

Another neighbour the notorious Big Tim Bristow, read more about him here.

Now when I visit Sydney I book my hotel through this link for great room rates.

Ok, bye bye Sydney, Gold Coast here I come.

I had to return my company car so my transport consisted of my little red Moke. Do you like my impersonation of the “White Knight” at the Watson’s Bay Hotel?

Di Parkinson & Madison

Di Parkinson was my beautiful ex girlfriend from the 70s, Madison was my beautiful German Shepherd. For the first 3 months I rented a house at Carrara from my good friend Peter Lewis before buying a house at Sorrento.

Jim Cox & Larry Wilson

Jim was a friend of mine in Adelaide when I lived there in the 70s, Larry was a solicitor in Southport and was responsible for me taking up golf, I have never totally forgiven him. 🙂

Relocate Sydney Gold Coast to my Sorrento home

I bought a house at 36 Claymore Crescent and it soon became party central.

Naturally I bought a boat

A very pretty little runabout with a 150 HP Suzuki on the back.

Allison and Winnie

The girls came with me to Byron Bay to pick up my new toy. I had been taking Winnie out occasionally until she introduced me to her 18 year old girlfriend Allison, well I’m guessing you know what happened next. 🙂

Then I had to build a jetty.

Here we are christening the jetty even before it is finished, apologies for the poor photo quality.

The finished product

What a beauty it was, big enough to have a party on, and we did very often indeed.

Afternoon drinks on the Jetty

My new girlfriend on the left was Tanya Rigley, oh my didn’t she cause me some stress. On the far right is George Hoult aka the “Angry Ant”, I bumped into him outside my condo in Pattaya in December 2015. Sitting next to him is Malcolm Pearce, Mick Cottrell is standing and the little guy in the middle is my old mate Harley Bradstreet.

Jetty! What jetty, I don’t see a jetty.

It does often rain a little on the Gold Coast, and the canal my house was on was a long way from the main river. Consequently it would take quite a while for the water to subside after a heavy storm.

Fancy dress party

My great mate Bob Martin threw a party at his home near Carrara, I forget the theme, something to do with camels or Lawrence of Arabia I think. On the right is Don Wenham who sadly passed away in 2016 after a long battle with cancer.

Harley is locked & loaded

This great mate of mine loved to dress up in his combat gear, it didn’t have to be a fancy dress party, he sometimes strolled into a Surfers Paradise bar dressed like this.

Here is Marco

A Croatian friend from Sydney who had more moves than a Swiss watch, Marco always had some sort of scheme on the go, designed of course to relieve somebody of their precious savings.

Such a beautiful girl

This was one of my many parties at Claymore Crescent, sadly a few months after this photo was taken this gorgeous lost her life in a traffic accident, RIP.

Cold beers on the Broadwater

Mike Hughes was an English guy who eventually moved to Sydney. Boating was a big part of my life in my early days on the Gold Coast.

A couple of hot European ladies

Another day on the Broadwater, on the right is Tova.

Adelaide 1988

Jim Stanbury & Suzie in Adelaide, I was there for the Formula one in 1988, Jim used to work for me in Melbourne in 1970.

Come fly with me

I was in Adelaide again in 1989, Jim took me for a spin to Victor Harbour and I actually took the controls for a while.

Talking about Melbourne

This is Dion Ormond who was a successful car dealer living at Box Hill.

This id Dion’s back yard.

How many people do you now with a DC3 in their backyard? 🙂

Allison Schroeder

I clearly remember flying to Brisbane from Adelaide after the Formula one and being met at the airport by this beautiful 18 year old princess. We checked in to a hotel for 2 nights, ordered room service the first night then saw Billy Joel perform at Brisbane entertainment centre the following night November 17.

In case you are wondering how a 44 year old guy could wind up with such a young babe, quite simple really, I promised her the world and bought her an atlas. 🙂

Relaxing on the broadwater

The decision to Relocate Sydney Gold Coast was indeed a major event in my life, I would spend the next 25 years there before selling all my possessions and moving to Thailand in October 2011.

Here are some more posts to check out

Life 2015 Family history Life 1982

Adelaide 1972 Iron Bar Freddy Sydney 2006

Thailand 2008 Gold Coast Babes World trip 2003

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

Brazil Hotels

That’s all folks

Pattaya live webcam