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Surf and Turf Pattaya

February 24, 2021 by David Herd

Surf and Turf Pattaya

Surf and Turf Pattaya

Surf and Turf Pattaya is located at the front of the 4-star Long Beach Garden Hotel. For a more accurate description replace Pattaya with Naklua. The photo above is the original restaurant, the following shots taken in February 2021 will show the new section which is currently not in use due to having few customers because of the Coronavirus. 

The new section

Surf and Turf Pattaya 

It more than doubles the size of the original section.

Lots of surfboards feature

Surf and Turf Pattaya

However I have never seen a surf in Pattaya. 🙂

Outdoor section

Surf and Turf Pattaya

 My preference is inside in front of a fan, however today was February 24 2021 & the breeze coming off the bay was magnificent.

Surf and Turf Pattaya

Surf and Turf Pattaya

 A very popular restaurant, there always seems to be more Thai people than foreigners. 

Avocado smoothie

Surf and Turf Pattaya

At B140 it was fairly average, I did have high hopes as I do love avocado. 🙂

Hamburger

Surf and Turf Pattaya

With prawns, the beef patty was very good, as were the fries. One of the features of this nice restaurant is the huge choice of dishes, both western & Thai, the staff are very nice as well.

If you prefer a quieter location to stay rather than Pattaya, the Longbeach Hotel is a good choice, especially with their beachside restaurant the Surf & Turf. For a very good room discount just follow THIS LINK.

Before you leave please check out my original Surf & Turf photo blog HERE.

Thanks for visiting my Surf & Turf photo blog. Lots more links to some world wide food blogs below, including a link to my fabulous webcam.

Check out these great food photo blogs.

Counter only started February 24 2021.

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Sydney Chinese Food

January 5, 2020 by David Herd

Sydney Chinese Food

Sydney Chinese FoodSydney Chinese Food can be found at the very trendy Mr Wong in Bridge Lane not far from Circular Quay. Focusing on Cantonese food in a French Colonial setting, with a large selection of dishes including a huge dim sum selection.

Wonderful decor & atmosphere

Sydney Chinese FoodA very impressive venue as you can clearly see, with a seating capacity of 240 people.

Rather expensive as you can imagine

Sydney Chinese Food Around $100 per head which is probably not over the top for Sydney.

Too much duck is never enough. 🙂

Sydney Chinese FoodJust looking at this photo makes my mouth water.

An ideal setup for lone diners like myself

Sydney Chinese FoodThey cater for all requirements from large parties to lone diners like myself.

Large selection of Dim Sum

Sydney Chinese FoodOther than Japanese Dim Sum is my favourite way of eating.

Waiting to be cooked

Sydney Upmarket Chinese FoodFor all you amateur chefs out there who want to cook Cantones roast, just follow THIS LINK.

Sydney Chinese Food

Sydney Chinese FoodAlways nice to see the busy chefs working.

Mr Wong is owned and run by the Hemmes family, who for over 60 years,  began as an iconic fashion house started by John and Merivale Hemmes. Merivale’s fashion beginnings were soon followed by the  hospitality business, opening a Thai tea café within their Sydney CBD fashion building in 1970. From here, Merivale’s hospitality roots were firmly planted.

Merivale is now led by CEO Justin Hemmes, whose creativity and knack for pushing the boundaries has made Merivale what it is today. Hemmes has become a pioneer within the Australian hospitality industry, growing the ever-expanding Merivale portfolio to over 70 brands and venues.

Sydney Chinese Food That’s all folks

Sydney Chinese Food

Thanks for visiting my Sydney Chinese Food photo blog.

Here are some more posts to check out 

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 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

 

Check out these great food photo blogs.

 


Counter only started June 16 2020.

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Shuck more oysters please

August 28, 2019 by David Herd

Shuck more oysters please

Beachfront restaurant Pattaya Shuck more oysters please they taste wonderful, and did you know that American and Italian researchers found they are rich in amino acids, which  trigger increased levels of sex hormones. Consequently their high zinc content aids the production of testosterone.  This photo blog will feature many of the places in this wonderful world where I have indulged my love of this incredible delicacy. The photo above is from the Surf & Turf restaurant in Pattaya Thailand where I enjoyed lunch on Friday August 24 2019.

Look at these beauties

Shuck more oystersI was in Sendai in Japan in June 2018 at Ostra de Ole restaurant & found that the Monday special offered half price oysters, I thought I was in heaven, sitting in a great little oyster bar drinking ice cold beer, listening to Abba singing Dancing Queen, & waiting on my 10 oysters to arrive. And as I said, tonight they were half price, 300 Baht or $12 AUD, priceless. 

I’m a very happy guy.

Shuck more oystersMy waiter Ryuichiro Yamamoto a nice young university student who was studying Space Engineering, rolled up with a bonus 3 oysters on the house.  Shuck more oysters please Shuck more oysters please Keep them coming buddy, I’ll tell you when to stop. 🙂

The Oyster Bar at Marina Pier Glenelg South Australia.

Shuck more oysters My old friend Dennis Young from the 70s & I are enjoying Coffin Bay oysters. Coffin Bay is a 700 km drive from Adelaide via Port Augusta or a 50 minute flight from Adelaide to Port Lincoln Airport.

Two dozen oysters = two days food poisoning on Copacabana Beach

Copacabana Rio de Janeiro I was totally out of it for 48 hours after eating these oysters on the beach, this was way back in 2006.

The Evil eye

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

Back in Brazil in 2009

Shuck more oystersAnd back on a beach in Florianopolis pigging out on oysters au naturel. Oysters are good for your heart. They are high in omega – 3 fatty acids, potassium and magnesium which can help reduce your risk of heart attack, stroke and lower blood pressure. 

Pataya Thailand in 2003

Shuck more oystersI’m at one of the waterfront restaurants in the famous Walking Street.

Gold Coast Australia at Chevron Island seafood.

Shuck more oystersThis is the best seafood shop on the Gold Coast, that’s my old friend Frank who always looks after me.

Shuck more oysters please

Chevron Island Surfers Paradise I have been eating oysters here for 30 years.

El Mercado in Bangkok

Shuck more oystersCurrently the best value oysters in the northern hemisphere. 🙂

Oysters from Cancle in France

Shuck more oysters A huge selection from the Brittany coast. For prices & information please check out THIS LINK. Renowned for its oyster production, the commune of Cancale is located in Brittany, in the department of Ille-et-Vilaine. Fishing port, it takes place at the western end of the Bay of Mont-Saint-Michel, on the Emerald Coast, about fifteen kilometers from Saint-Malo.  Prices at El Mercado Shuck more oysters please  From as low as B35 or $170 AUD each.

June 2022

https://fivestarvagabond.com/shuck-more-oysters-please/ A huge jump in prices.

Do I enjoy the oysters at El Mercado?

Shuck more oystersYou bet your bloody life I do. 🙂

Finally we are at Port Macquarie on the west coat of Australia.

Shuck more oysters People either love them or hate them. If you love them, head to the NSW mid-north coast, where a string of oyster farmers have opened up their doors to oyster lovers who know that fresh from the farm is best.

First trip to Tokyo in 2007

Shuck more oysters pleaseThe quality of food in Japan is wonderful.

Dining with Phil & Junko

Shuck more oysters pleaseThis was my first trip to Japan & I was very lucky to have my friends show me the ropes.

Life does not get much better than this.

Great food Waterfront Cape Town Add a stunning view, excellent decor and very efficient staff to the great food and you have all the ingredients for a perfect lunch in Cape Town.

The Kitchen Pattaya

Shuck more oysters please Oysters from France delivered fresh every Thursday & usually sold out by Friday.

$42 AUD per dozen

Shuck more oysters pleaseThey add ++ in Thailand for tax & a service charge, very annoying being forced to tip 10%. Thanks for visiting my Shuck more oysters photo blog. I’m planning to visit Canale in France in 2020 to totally pig out on their wonderful oysters fresh from the sea.

Pattaya seafood market

Shuck more oysters please Thai oysters at B40, or $1.30 USD.

Large Thai oyster

Shuck more oysters please I only tried one & it was better than I expected, even without lemon etc. We will include in our next oyster night.

Oysters at Central Festival Pattaya

Food review Pattaya 2020These oysters were on special, B360 or $11 USD for 9 & they tossed in one for free. 🙂 Certainly the best value I have found in Thailand.

Tuesday oysters special in Pattaya

Oysters Beach Club PattayaThe Beach Club at the Pullman hotel from 3 pm every Tuesday they serve fabulous oysters from France for B30 a piece. Of course being an upmarket hotel the Pullman adds ++ to the price, 7% VAT & 10% service which brings the price to B35 or $1’60 AUD. About $19 per dozen making it the best value I have found in Thailand.

Great value here…

L'Auberge French Restaurant Pattaya

At L’Auberge in Pattaya  fine de claire from France are on special, B570 per dozen, or $23 AUD.

Belon oysters

Shuck more oysters please   Shuck more oysters please

February 11 2022 & L’Auberge were sold out of fine de claire so I ordered the Belon oysters. Belons are the native oyster of Europe. They are an entirely different genus from the rest of our oysters. They act different, and they taste different. Way different. Love ’em or leave ’em. 

Menton on the French riviera

Shuck more oysters please Many of the oysters I eat here in Thailand come from France. Here are some I actualy ate in France. 🙂

Hamish Elton

Hamish Elton Oyster ManHamish eats more oysters than I do simply because he has more money than I do. 🙂 Consequently I have christened “The Oyster Man”. Check out Hamish Elton “The Oyster Man”.

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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

 

9a1fec74-4461-46cd-8663-97f5893c8f6e (1)
 
                          Click bottom right hand corner for full screen.   Check out these great photo blogs. Tokyo fabulous food Upmarket Chinese Food Sydney Food review Pattaya Thailand Good English restaurants Amazing World Food  Fresh seafood Bangkok Steakhouse New York Pattaya live webcam

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Beachfront restaurant Pattaya

August 24, 2019 by David Herd

Beachfront restaurant Pattaya

Beachside pattaya restaurant

Beachfront restaurant Pattaya is aptly named Surf & Turf & is rated number 100 out of 1187 restaurants in Pattaya. For far better food photographs than in this post just check out THIS LINK for my previous Surf & Turf photo blog.

Location

Beachfront restaurant Pattaya On the beach next door to the Long Beach Garden Hotel.

Beachfront restaurant Pattaya

Beachfront restaurant Pattaya A fairly ordinary front entrance.

Air conditioned inside section

Beachfront restaurant Pattaya It’s much nicer inside which you can clearly see.

Catering for the smokers

Beachfront restaurant Pattaya The further away from me the better. 🙂

Inside in the aircon.

Beachfront restaurant Pattaya Especially during the day the front area beside the beach is the most popular part of the restaurant.

Another outdoor area

Beachfront restaurant Pattaya There is quite a number of different sections in this popular Beachfront restaurant Pattaya.

This is the beachside section

Beachfront restaurant Pattaya No aircon but they have plenty of fans & there is usually a beautiful breeze coming off the ocean.

An unusual dish

Beachfront restaurant Pattaya My friend ordered snapper, as you can see the portion was rather small & there was a skewer of beef with it.

Here is the seared tuna

Beachfront restaurant Pattaya Rather delicious.

Chicken Satay

Beachfront restaurant Pattaya The peanut sauce was excellent.

Oysters from France

Delicious, rather expensive here, around B500 or $24 AUD for 6, double what I pay at El Mercado in Bangkok.

My 2 Australian friends

Beachfront restaurant Pattaya Ian Fraser-Smith & David Robertson from the Gold Coast in Australia are regular visitors to Pattaya. They were both impressed with the food at the Surf & Turf.

For far better food photographs than in this post please check out THIS LINK for my previous Surf & Turf photo blog.

Thanks for visiting my Beachfront restaurant Pattaya photo blog, Surf & Turf has good food in a great seaside location.

Click bottom right hand corner for full screen. There is also a zoom facility.

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That’s all folks

1g Duck

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Pretty woman stop awhile

August 12, 2019 by David Herd

Pretty woman stop awhile

This is not a travel blog, it is part of my personal photo history, you may describe it as the melancholy musings of an old man. My answer to that is simple, it’s far better to be a “has been” than a “never was”. 🙂

Pretty woman stop a while

Pretty woman stop awhile, Pretty woman talk awhile, Pretty woman give your smile to me, Pretty woman yeah, yeah, yeah, Pretty woman look my way, Pretty woman say you’ll stay with me, ‘Cause I need you, I’ll treat you right, Come with me baby, be mine tonight. It seems fitting looking back on a random selection of some of the Pretty women I have been lucky enough to know, that Roy Orbison should help me recall some of those wonderful memories.

That’s Karen Smith in 1985, my 3rd & last fiancee, I have never known a nicer girl. 

Carol Aboud in 1978

Pretty woman stop awhile This was taken on my birthday which fell on 7-7-77, Carol & I were an item (on & off) for around 4 years. 

Sing it for me Neil. 🙂

Carolyn Clark 1994

Pretty woman stop a while

I still see Carolyn when I’m on the Gold Coast, in fact in July 2019 we made a little promotional video for her boyfriend Andy Sims.

Next we have Glenn Frey sing a beautiful song, ok I know the song is Caroline as opposed to Carolyn, but you get the picture.

Now this definitely is a pretty woman.

Pretty woman stop awhile

Kelly Davis hailed from Tasmania, we knocked around together for a few months in 1991.

Kelly was a huge fan of Van Morrison so here is another one of my favourites.

One of the sexiest of all the girls I knew.

Pretty woman stop awhile There is something about those Kiwi girls, hot, hot, hot. Karen Greenwood & I had an on & off relationship for over a year in 1991. She stuck around mainly because I lent her a car. 🙂 🙂 🙂

Now here we have a real wild child.

Pretty woman stop awhileAllison Schroeder, 18 years of age & gorgeous. Of course I was only 45 at the time. 🙂 If I remember correctly I promised her the world & bought her an atlas. 🙂

As they say in the classics, I was having the time of my life. 🙂

Allison was wild but Tanya was crazy. 🙂

Pretty woman stop awhileGreat company sober, but give her a couple of drinks too many & she would turn into a nightmare. This was 1989 on the Gold Coast.

Time to feature a triple treat.

Pretty woman stop awhile Meet Kitty, Di Parko & Helen Burke,  before you ask the answer is yes. 🙂

They don’t come any hotter than Donna Turner.

 Pretty woman stop awhile

This was 1996 & she still looks fabulous today in 2019.

Marlene Cuthbert

Pretty woman stop awhile Around 1983 Marlene worked for Ansett Airlines, she had a very sexy voice on a microphone, that’s why Ansett used her to make all the announcements at mascot airport. 🙂

Looking back I sometimes regret I chose Karen Smith to be my 3rd fiancee instead of Marlene. Don’t get me wrong, Karen was one of the nicest person I ever knew, our personalities were at opposite ends of the spectrum.

Lee Gregory was my 2nd fiancee.

Pretty woman stop awhile

Lee was from Adelaide where met, then we reconnected again in Melbourne in 1974. We had a fairly hectic dramatic short time together, travelled to Singapore & Bali & saw Frank Sinatra in concert in Melbourne on my birthday 7-7-74. 

This is one of my all time Sinatra favourites, I can think of no better song to play when I think of Lee.

And they did…..

Pretty woman stop a while Teresa Hamilton-Smith & Helen Burke, we had a lot of fun together in 1982 & 1983.

Barbara Manneli aka the Gypsy. 

Pretty woman stop awhile

The classic island romance, we celebrated the millennium on Koh Samui, 3 months later I flew to Italy to re-kindle the affair. Guess what? I didn’t make 1st base. 🙂 

This one’s for you Gypsy.

Tall & tanned & young & lovely

Pretty woman stop a while

This is Mel, we me on Copacabana beach, she had green eyes & was 6′ tall, say no more. 🙂

Bebel Gilberto will sing the song for us.

Someones knocking at the door.

Pretty woman stop awhile

Do me a favour open the door & let em in.

This is Emily at the Sheraton Mirage.

Pretty woman stop awhile Was a Gold Coast meter maid.

Then there was Jill….

Pretty woman stop awhileCool, sexy & a lot of fun. Last time I saw her was in Sydney in 2102.

Back to the 60s

Pretty woman stop awhile Veronica Crocker was my 2nd serious girlfriend, we dated for a couple of years when I was a teenager until the wanderlust took hold of me & at the ripe old age of 20 I sailed to England. 

Dion DiMucci was a huge artist in the 60s, here are two of his songs. Both bring back great memories of my time with Veronica.

Teenager in Love

Take good care of my Baby

My first serious girlfriend

Pretty woman stop awhile What incredible memories I have of this gorgeous girl Elizabeth Wiggington, better known as Beth. She lived on the corner of Wellington Rd & Antwerp St & I would ride my bike 3.3 Km from my home at 58 Kihilla Rd. It was much easier when I got my drivers licence & bought my little Morris Minor, except for the night I was driving home from her house & collided with a horse on Cumberland Rd. 🙂

Now here is one of the reasons I love Facebook, it was 1960 when we were together for 1 to 1.5 years, then I never really saw her again. It’s now September 2019, 59 years later & we have re-connected on Facebook, in fact Beth sent me quite a few photos, because way back then for some stupid teenage reason I had torn up all the ones I owned. 🙂

Johnny Burnette can remind us how it was back then.

The old shipboard romance.

Pretty woman stop awhileI needed to get over my long romance with Veronica & Leanne Scott on the ship to England seemed like the perfect solution. 🙂

Sing it for me Bobby……

Wendy Winspear, tall & gorgeous.

Pretty woman stop awhile A lovely Dutch girl on the Gold Coast, sadly she passed away far too young around 2017, RIP.

My first fiancee, Melbourne 1970.

Pretty woman stop awhilePaula Wills was an Adelaide girl living in Melbourne & working as a an hostess for Ansett. After 3 months living together I think we just ran out of things to say.

Dianne Parkinson in 1975

Pretty woman stop awhileTo say Parko bought some dramas into my life is a gross understatement. Read about some of it on THIS LINK.

The sweetest Diane of them all.

Pretty woman stop awhile

Adelaide 1973 Diane Butson was one of my neighbours in a condo block on Anzac Highway. She was a dance instructor at Arthur Murray dance studio. A great girl & absolutely gorgeous.  Follow THIS LINK for more old photos.

Great song from the Bachelors in 1964.

The Bachelors ~ Diane ~ 1964

Another beautiful Adelaide girl.

Pretty woman stop awhileJan Seagers was another neighbour, we had some terrific times together. We caught up again in 2015, I had not seen her for 40 years. Check out THIS LINK.

Pretty woman stop awhile

Pretty woman stop a while Helen Burke from Melbourne, we really had some fun, played backgammon all through Hawaii & the California coast in 1982.

Linda Ronstadt will tell you about the coast.

Well by now you are bored silly by the memories & musings of an old man. But make no mistake, Glenn Frey will describe exactly how I feel today.

Pretty woman stop a whileSo it’s time for me to go, thank you for visiting my Pretty woman stop awhile photo blog. Here is the collection on Flickr.

Jose Feliciano has the last word.

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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
Surfers Paradise Party Animals
 
 
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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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Counter only started June 16 2020.

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Boys must have toys

August 7, 2019 by David Herd

Boys must have toys

Boys must have toys

Boys must have toys, it’s ingrained in our DNA. I have searched through my photos to find nearly all of the cars & boats I have had the pleasure of owning throughout my life.

They don’t come much prettier than my yellow canary shown above, I owned this beautiful Mercedes 350SL for 17 years from 1990 till 2007.

Here’s what you do with a beautiful carYou fill it up with pretty girls of course. 🙂

When you own a beautiful Mercedes….

Boys must have toys

Naturally you need a Porsche to keep it company. 🙂

When you drove a Porsche on the Gold Coast……..

Boys must have toys

Good things seemed to happen.

My first Mercedes 350 SL

Boys must have toys

I purchased this classic in 1980, it was the ultimate chick magnet. 🙂

When you have a Mercedes & a Porsche…..

Boys must have toys
Naturally you need a boat. 🙂 This is a 22′ Fraser with a 200 HP Yamaha.

Next you need a crash test dummy

Boys must have toys

This keeps the birds away when the covers are off. 🙂

My previous boat.

Boys must have toys 

19 foot long with a 150 HP Suzuki. 

Life is hard, then you die.

Boys must have toys

Joking of course, life is wonderful, when you die you can take a rest. 🙂

26 foot Williams bay cruiser

Boys must have toys

This was my boat when I lived in Newport in Sydney in the 80s.

Also at Newport

Boys must have toys 

A little runabout to get me around Pittwater & Scotland Island. Do you like the name?

Here is my Bertram 25

Boys must have toys

A terrific flybridge cruiser with twin 165 HP Mercury inboards. It was moored outside my Drummoyne apartment in the early 80s & spent most of the time visiting Doyles at Watsons Bay.

When you own a boat…..

Boys must have toys 

Good things seem to happen. 🙂 🙂 🙂 

Loading the team on board

Boys must have toys 

Off to Doyles again.

Gluttony at it’s very best. 🙂

Boys must have toys 

So many memories of long lazy lunches at Doyles.

A typical Sunday at Doyles

Boys must have toys

Huge crowd at Doyles & the Watson’s Bay hotel next door.

Back to the cars

Boys must have toys

Early 80s I drove a Ford Marquis for a while.

You gotta love a Benz. 🙂

Boys must have toys

This was my Mercedes 280 E in 1989.

My beautiful Jaguar XJ 6.

Boys must have toys 

It came with 2 petrol tanks & 2 gorgeous girls.

My first car

Boys must have toys

Sorry about the photo quality most of my photos were damaged when my home in Melbourne was firebombed in September 1977. But that’s another story, it & others are on THIS LINK.

Next car was an iconic FJ Holden.

Boys must have toys

My girlfriend Beth washing my FJ Holden outside my home at 58 Kihilla Rd Auburn. 

I was lucky to survive some of the things I did in this car. Looking back, I was a typical teenager in the 60s who knew no fear.

Then came the Volkswagen

Boys must have toys 

I can remember floating it on the flooded highway at Ballina in the floods. I just pushed it 50 metres to the dry road.

When you owned a VW in the 60s……

Boys must have toys

Good things happened, for example “Veronica Crocker”.

EH Holden station wagon.

Boys must have toys

This was my next car after arriving home in 1965 after 18 months in England & Europe, including a 4 month stint as an officer on the La Maria.

A 1970 MGB, my first new car.

Boys must have toys

It set me back just under $3000, worth every cent. Purchased in Melbourne, relocated to Sydney for 2 years then moved to Adelaide in 1972.

A 1971 E Type Jaguar

Boys must have toys 

Forget the photo quality the car was magnificent. I remember driving from Adelaide to Melbourne in the middle of the night in 5 hours 45 minutes.

When you drove an E type good things happened.

Boys must have toys

Meet Jan Seagars & my Doberman Ziggy, this was Lexton Grove Windsor in 1974. Three thoroughbreds together.

My two sports cars

Boys must have toys

One was a little faster than the other, but I loved them both. Madison was guarding the fleet.

The work horse

Boys must have toys

My Commodore station wagon initially was my 2nd car, in 2003 I took 3 Japanese students on a road trip which started in Surfers Paradise & went through Broken Hill  NSW to Coober Pedy in South Australia. The next leg took us to Uluru aka Ayers Rock. 

Boys must have toys

Boys must have toys 

You may think this Lexus is a little out of character, I owned it for 3 years prior to moving to Thailand in 2011. Without a doubt it was the best value out of all the vehicles I ever owned. Paid $7,500 in 2008 & sold it for $7,000, it was as smooth as silk.

Well, that’s all folks.

Boys must have toys

Many thanks for visiting my Boys must have toys photo blog & indulging me in truck loads of nostalgia. 

 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

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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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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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Surfing Duranbah Beach Australia

August 4, 2019 by David Herd

Surfing Duranbah Beach Australia

Surfing Duranbah Beach Australia

Surfing Duranbah Beach Australia which is officially known as Flagstaff Beach, is the northernmost beach in New South Wales. It’s at the mouth of the Tweed River and the rocky headland Point Danger, which also marks the Queensland-New South Wales border.

Sand transport system

Surfing Duranbah Beach Australia The Project is a sand transport system that collects sand from the southern side of the Tweed River entrance at Letitia Spit, and pumps it under the river to outlets on the northern side. From there the sand is transported by waves and  currents to nourish the southern Gold Coast beaches. 

Great view of the beach

Surfing Duranbah Beach Australia

We are standing on a cliff in QLD looking across Flagstaff Beach to NSW.

Surfers waiting for a wave.

Surfing Duranbah Beach Australia There seems to be many personal and indescribable experiences in their lives that keeps them paddling out again & again. Plus the willingness to wait for them often defines a surfer more than his or her individual ability.

Bring it on.

Surfing Duranbah Beach AustraliaThe waiting is really worth it.

Everyone loves the beach

Surfing Duranbah Beach Australia Not just surfers, kids with their mums & dogs as well. 🙂

My friends from England

Surfing Duranbah Beach AustraliaJoan Baptist & Bill Austin from Wiltshire visited Australia in 2010 & naturally I took them sightseeing along the coast. The following week we drove down to Sydney.

They actually got married in England yesterday August 3 2019 after being together for over 20 years.

Surfing Duranbah Beach Australia

Surfing Duranbah Beach AustraliaIt’s not just the board-riders who love to surf. Kite-boarding is an action sport combining aspects of wake-boarding, snowboarding, windsurfing, surfing, paragliding, skateboarding and sailing into one extreme sport. A kite-boarder harnesses the power of the wind with a large controllable power kite to be propelled across the water, land, or snow. Wikipedia

Surfing Duranbah Beach Australia

Surfing Duranbah Beach AustraliaI’m guessing he is heading for a cold beer.

OK, I’ll meet you at the pub. 🙂

Surfing Duranbah Beach Australia This is what the Beach Boys call a “surfer girl”.

Thanks for visiting my Surfing Duranbah Beach Australia photo blog.

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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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1g Duck

 

Counter only started June 16 2020.

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Two weeks Gold Coast 2019

July 15, 2019 by David Herd

Two weeks Gold Coast

Two weeks Gold Coast

Two weeks Gold Coast 2019 provided a welcome relief from months of hot weather in Thailand. Caught up with some old friends & celebrated another birthday at Melbas on the park. Most days were overcast with scattered showers which suited me just fine. Above is Marine Parade Labrador.

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Talking about Labrador…

Two weeks Gold CoastThere is a nice restaurant next door to the Aqua building called The Lazy Lobster.

Lunch with an old friend.

Two weeks Gold CoastI have known Shane for around 30 years, he took me to lunch for my birthday.

I chose the baby Barramundi

Two weeks Gold CoastThe dish was very nice however I must admit my favourite place for seafood is on Chevron Island.

Chevron Island Seafood

Two weeks Gold CoastAlways fresh & the price is right. If you go make sure you say hi to Frank & Wozza.

Malcolm Kennedy

Two weeks Gold CoastCoffee on Chevron Island with Mal, another guy I have known for 30 years. Mal originally owned the Typsy Prawn restaurant on the corner of Upton St & Ashmore Road. He moved to Phuket around 2001 & opened a restaurant on the beach with the same name. Then after a few years he moved to Jomtiem & bought a venue called Simon’s Fish & Chips, he now resides on Chevron.

Melbas 38th birthday

Two weeks Gold Coast Beside me is Dave Allen, Adrian, Greg Craig & Graham La Roche. More birthday photos on  THIS LINK.

Check out this new illuminated LED menu idea.

 Now you can throw away your glasses. 🙂

Breakfast at the Island Cafe.

Two weeks Gold CoastExcellent food & coffee here.

Australian lamb price is at all time record levels.

Two weeks Gold CoastTo be fair this is at the Brickworks in Ferry Rd Southport, both the seafood & butcher shop are known for their over the top prices.

Meet Sam Murphy

Two weeks Gold CoastI stayed with Tony & Nikki Murphy at their lovely home in Sorrento, Sam however is totally in charge of the house. 🙂

Burleigh Heads Surf Club

Burleigh Heads breakfast A very good breakfast here, more photos of Burleigh on THIS LINK.

Avanti St Mermaid Waters

Two weeks Gold CoastMy brother Ian & his wife Sandra just demolished their home & built duplexes. They sold one & live in the other. 50% of the homes in this street are now duplexes. Incredibly there is one a few doors down from Ian that just sold for $1.8 million.

Drinks at Melbas

Two weeks Gold Coast Caught up with the usual suspects.

Two weeks Gold Coast July 2019

Two weeks Gold CoastThanks for visiting my Two weeks Gold Coast  2019 photo blog, I hope you enjoyed it.

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Chiang Mai with Tone9a1fec74-4461-46cd-8663-97f5893c8f6e (1)191de3bb-38fc-45cd-bce7-ef24081c554b

Bangkok Hotels                    Pattaya Hotels
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That’s all folks

1g Duck

Check out these great food photo blogs.

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Surfers Paradise Party Animals 1992

January 15, 2018 by David Herd

This is not a travel blog, it is part of my personal photo history. It seemed like Groundhog day. 🙂

Surfers Paradise Party Animals

Surfers Paradise Party Animals

Surfers Paradise Party Animals, 1992 was just another year of fun & games on the beautiful Gold Coast. I was certainly among the main party hosts, I had a great home for entertaining & I loved have lots of beautiful girls around. 

Some of the usual suspects.

Surfers Paradise Party AnimalsNaturally when there were pretty girls around the competition between the guys was fierce. 🙂

A rose between two thorns, I don’t think so. 🙂

Surfers Paradise Party AnimalsI guess there is no need to say I was enjoying life to the max.

Occasionally some of the girls would relax in the spa.

Surfers Paradise Party AnimalsNaturally I always had my camera ready.

These girls loved nature

Surfers Paradise Party AnimalsAnd Dr Evil was always there with the camera. 🙂

Roslyn & Jill looking good

Surfers Paradise Party AnimalsI remember spending some “quality time” with both these lovely ladies.

 Jill & Sharon

Surfers Paradise Party AnimalsAnother “daily double” I’m happy to say, (that just means I bonked them both. 🙂 )we saw a show that night at Jupiters casino, I think it was Barry Humphries.

Andre Buzek dentist extraordinaire, (I don’t think so)

Surfers Paradise Party AnimalsSadly my great mate lost his life soon after in a car crash in Cuba.

Girl of the year Kelly Davis

Surfers Paradise Party Animals I was lucky enough to spend a few months on & off with this lovely lady.

Here we are on New Years Eve

Surfers Paradise Party AnimalsNaturally Harley is locked & loaded once again. 🙂

My favoute song from 1992

Big Steve Bristow (son of Tim) & Greg Johnston.

Surfers Paradise Party AnimalsNow in 2018 Greg lives in Pattaya & runs a bar on the dark side, & Steve still lives on the Gold Coast.

 Birthday drinks at Melbas 7-7-92

Surfers Paradise Party AnimalsOur local drinking hole was Melbas on the Park.

Mister Melbas himself.

PaulAllen1992 (1)

The late great Paul Allen, a Surfers Paradise icon.

Talking about icons…………

Surfers Paradise Party AnimalsDaryl Beattie is a former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer, those bikes however all belonged to  Mick Doohan the living legend who won five consecutive 500 cc World Championships. The guy in the middle is a legend in his own lunch time, my good mate Ross Kennedy aka “Shoeless Joe”.

 Talking about legends…

Surfers Paradise Party AnimalsHere I am giving my boat a good wash. 🙂

A good looking bunch of babes

Surfers Paradise Party AnimalsIt was Xmas day 1992 and we all had a great lunch at my home in 106 Upton St Bundall.  My main squeeze at the time was Kelly 2nd from the right, & my occasional squeeze was Jill standing beside her. 🙂

Another night another dinner at Upton St

Surfers Paradise Party AnimalsHarley & his gay flatmate naturally came dressed in their army outfits. 🙂 Tat’s Kandice on the left & Nicola on the right.

That night produced one of my favourite photos

Surfers Paradise lifeThis is a true classic.

Another classic from 1992

Surfers Paradise Party AnimalsLyn Goss & Roslyn provided the glamour & Tony Murphy & I contributed with a truck load of style. 🙂

Can’t remember the other guys name.

 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

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Thailand 2008                Gold Coast Babes               World trip 2003

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

Seven deadly Songkran days

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

 

 Soi Cowboy                  Nana Plaza                    Patpong

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

Check out these great posts

Counter only started June 16 2020.

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Sydney Boats Beaches Harbour

April 18, 2017 by David Herd

Driving south from Gosford to Sydney.

Sydney Boats Beaches Harbour

Sydney Boats Beaches Harbour

Sydney Boats Beaches Harbour were all waiting for me after my leisurely drive down the east coast from Surfers Paradise in QLD. 

It was a great drive down from from Surfers Paradise  to Sydney stopping at Kingscliff, Yamba, Port Macquarie, Forster-Tuncurry, Gosford & Coogee. Also dropped into Maroubra which is a place I have not seen for over 50 years. Just click on the links to see my photo blogs.

The historic Roseville Cinema

Sydney Boats Beaches Harbour

 On the road between Hornsby & Sydney is The historic Roseville Cinema on the Pacific Highway, noted for its art deco facade. It became Traynor’s Picture Palace in 1919, but did not become a full-scale cinema until 1936. Roseville Cinema was renovated & updated to two screens in 1995.

Approaching the Harbour Bridge

Sydney Boats Beaches Harbour

Not too much traffic on a Sunday morning.

World famous Sydney Opera House.

Sydney Boats Beaches Harbour

A fabulous iconic Sydney landmark.

Sydney Boats Beaches Harbour

Sydney Boats Beaches Harbour

Huge ships dock at Circular Quay because they are too tall to go under the Harbour Bridge.

Naturally Bill had to climb it. ?

Sydney Boats Beaches Harbour

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

Sydney Harbour Ferry

Sydney Boats Beaches Harbour

Circular Quay ferry terminal.

The famous Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Sydney Boats Beaches Harbour

Opened in 1933 it is certainly Australia’s best known landmark.

 Holiday Inn Old Sydney

Sydney Boats Beaches Harbour

For a very good room rate at the Holiday Inn walking distance to Circular Quay just book through THIS LINK.

From the Manly ferry

Sydney World's Best Harbour

After leaving Circular Quay we pass the Opera House on the way to Manly.

Rose Bay 

Sydney City Boats Beaches Harbour

These boats are moored at the Royal Motor Yacht Club of NSW.

The Sydney Harbour foreshore.

Sydney City Boats Beaches Harbour

Sydney harbour is quite amazing, certainly the best in the world.

Arriving at Manly

Sydney Boats Beaches Harbour

About a 45 minute journey across the wonderful harbour.

My lovely friend Sue from Shanghai

Sydney Boats Beaches Harbour

A beautiful summers day at Manly.

A little further north.

Sydney Boats Beaches Harbour

Dee Why beach is about 7 kms north of Manly.

For a good place to stay 1/2 way between Manly & Dee Why just book through THIS LINK.

Lets jump to the South side of the harbour

Sydney City Boats Beaches Harbour

Here is the city skyline from Watsons Bay.

Doyles on the Beach

Sydney Boats Beaches Harbour

 On this the original site, Doyles opened Australia’s first seafood restaurant in 1885.

Catalina Restaurant Rose Bay

Sydney Boats Beaches Harbour

 Family-owned waterfront restaurant known for its upmarket seafood dishes and open veranda bar.

Sydney Boats Beaches Harbour Bondi Junction

Sydney Boats Beaches Harbour

The junction is very quite indeed of a Sunday. 

 Maroubra Beach

Sydney City Boats Beaches Harbour

This trip I skipped Bondi Beach & went further south straight to Maroubra. For lots more photos just follow THIS LINK.

Back a little north to Coogee

Sydney Boats Beaches Harbour

More photos HERE.

 Ronin Hood Hotel Waveley

Sydney Boats Beaches Harbour

ORIGINALLY BUILT BY TOOTH & CO. IN 1938 & RECENTLY RESTORED TO ITS ART-DECO GLORY, THE ROBIN HOOD HOTEL IS LOCATED ON THE CORNER OF BRONTE AND CARRINGTON ROADS IN WAVERLEY (CHARING CROSS).

Wonderful antique pub signs

Sydney Boats Beaches Harbour

When I was growing up I remember these great signs were on most Australian pubs. 

Typical old Australian home in Waverley.

Sydney Boats Beaches Harbour

I would hate to think what it’s worth today, Sydney prices are outragious. 

House prices in Waverley

Sydney Boats Beaches Harbour

As you can see you need plenty of money to live in Sydney. 🙂 

My road trip from QLD has ended

Sydney Boats Beaches Harbour

My Honda rental car never missed a beat, time to head to the airport.

Apex Car rental

Sydney Boats Beaches Harbour

It’s worth checking their promotional prices, ofter you can get a terrific rate to relocate one of their vehicles. In my case I rented for 6 days at $19 aud per day. Picked it up at Surfers Paradise & dropped it off at Sydney airport.

A great trip down the coast.

Sydney Boats Beaches Harbour

Certainly one of the world’s great coastlines.

A Qantas kerosene canary

Sydney Boats Beaches Harbour

However I’m flying Singapore Air which leaves Qantas for dead.

Novatel Brighton Beach

Sydney Boats Beaches Harbour

As we taxi out you can see the Novatel at Brighton, so if you want to stay near the airport just book through THIS LINK for an excellent rate.

Siam Sunset

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An hour away from Bangkok we have a beautiful sunset. Thanks for visiting my Sydney Boats Beaches Harbour photo blog.

                     Here are some more posts to check out
 

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Pattaya live webcam
 
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That’s all folks

1g Duck

Click here to check out Beach Rd Pattaya.

Australian adventures


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