Australia Gold Coast 2006

It’s always good to get back home after a gruelling business trip and catch up with my friends.      While all my lectures are of a serious nature and helping companies structure their work place, to become smarter with the latest technology, I do treat some aspects of travel as a holiday...otherwise I’d go “bloody” MAD....

here is a brief travel log.... saves me repeating it when I get asked the question about my latest adventure.....I am sure my story is very similar to trips you all have made over the years.

Hope to see some of you soon , for a bit of dancing.....

April, 2006...Left Monday morning 5.00 am.... for a 7.00 am flight to Coolangatta, Queensland...... then a drive from the airport to my first port of call, heading North towards Brisbane....  I got lost a few times.   The weather was typically warm,  humidity 1000%..... like being in a sauna at 10.00 in the morning......

First day, a fantastic training session....  people were very nice.

Drove back to Surfer’s Paradise to locate my accommodation.

First night, ready for bed...but one problem...  I had an executive suit on the 35th floor.....  each time I ventured onto the balcony for a “fag”, I got vertigo....  I am terrified of heights...anything above sea level..........

.....room lights in other hotels opposite, were just specks....

Hotel management kindly moved me down to the 8th floor that same night. I could now, actually see real people opposite.  Amazing what goes on that time of night.

“Hard Rock” cafe was next door.  They had this large guitar at the front.  Too big to send to St Louis.

Woke up next morning to see these incredible building going up...   Top floor anyone ???....sorry , not for me

Views from my room

Third day and off to see another company..... not many people on the M1 highway......they must have known a Victorian was here on the road......

Typical setup....board room, pen, paper.... all set to strut my stuff.....EXCEPT, this time it was different.....

Next time I’II use the hotel tennis court.

.......I had a room of women, for two days... HELP !!!!!!!!

Actually, meeting new people is what makes my job enjoyable.

BTW... my background..??. Architectural Designer, Quantity Surveyor, Software Developer, Desktop Publisher, computer user since man invented the “paperless” office, back in the 70’s.

Driving back to the hotel, which is 45 minutes away, storms were brewing... not looking good...

It’s was a bad half hour on the road, at times, rain so heavy, I could not see a thing.  Managed to stop on the side of the road a few times.. I take no chances........Two young boys lost their lives that night, in a car accident....

Five minutes away from my room, ready for a  hot shower and sanctuary.

Next morning...clear skies...  that’s my hotel....

I was on the top floor, until moved to the 8th.

Behind me, while taking this pic is the beach

If I turn on the spot...I see the beach

that’s Surfer’s Paradise, Queensland....

Buildings to the right of me.  High rise everywhere.

$360,000 per unit.

Buildings to the left of me

Managed to get some nice sunset photos. Here’s one

Golden sands that stretch for miles..........

Coolangatta.

Day 5... decided to have a day off and head due South, to my once favorite spot

Coolangatta has vast wide beaches. I nearly drowned here back in the seventies. An army mate saved me... That’s Surfer’s Paradise in the distance.........

East View

More Highrise.

West View

I’m heading back here in a few weeks for business...next time I’ii bring my friend, Emilio ..I’ii pay for the plane ticket... he can pay for the food...he eats enough for 5 people in a single bound.....

South View towards the “Rocks”

North View

Looking back from the “Rocks”

Still had a few hours before my flight back to Melbourne, so ventured further South towards the New South Wales border..... and was now, only 2000 kms from home. ( 2 day drive ).

A drive I did many times in the 70’s..........

Found a “lookout spot”..seems a favourite swim spot for surf board riding....take note of the rocky outlet in the distance.

Drove down to the rocky outlet.  To the left , high on the cliff, is the “lookout spot” where my mug shot was taken. In the far distance is Surfer’s Paradise.

rocky outlet.

Heading further South, I crossed the border into New South Wales. Geeze, I was nearly home...but decided to catch a plane in a few hours.

This place has seen many special , national lawn bowls events.

Back in the early 1990’s, I took up lawn bowls for excercise...then I received some coaching...then I was invited to play with some people.... THEN i got serious about the game..... in a very short time, I once again became obsessive of another new found interest / adventure...went on to become a MASTER’s champion in several event’s, played in a number of premership’s.... two Champion of Champions title’s, became a National coach, which landed a job as deputy coaching chairman. After 7 years... I stopped it all and took up building , model structures........that’s another story.....

So much can happen in a week.  This was just a brief story..... 

 it is always good to be back home.........to family and friends........

Mid May, I’m off for 3 weeks to New Zealand then St Louis and California.

Catch you soon........ take care , keep dancing,  keep smiling and enjoy life.

regards

Big “M”