British colony of GOLD COAST

stamp: 1/2 penny

year: 1948

mammal: horse

PERJALANAN
Senin, 30 November 2009 | 08:52 WIB
Reny Sri Ayu Taslim

http://cetak.kompas.com/read/xml/2009/11/30/08521024/ke.queensland.aku.kan.kembali…

Keindahan Moreton Island, South East Queensland, Australia, sudah tampak sebelum kapal motor Tangalooma Express yang kami tumpangi dari Brisbane merapat di dermaga. Penat dalam perjalanan udara sekitar 7 jam dari Singapura ke Brisbane dan perjalanan laut dengan sedikit ombak selama 1 jam 15 menit antara Brisbane dan Moreton Island rasanya terbayar begitu menginjakkan kaki di pulau ini. Pasir putih dan air laut biru kehijauan serta semilir angin menyambut wisatawan yang datang pagi itu, termasuk rombongan media dari Indonesia yang datang atas undangan Singapore Airlines dan Tourism Queensland.

Berjalan dari dermaga ke penginapan berarti berjalan di antara pesisir pantai di sebelah kiri dan resor serta rumah makan di kanan. Penginapan dan restoran berjajar rapi menghadap laut di sepanjang pesisir. Umumnya restoran di pulau ini menyiapkan gazebo yang tertata apik di halaman, bersebelahan dengan pantai, hanya dipisahkan jalan aspal dan pasir putih. Gazebo-gazebo itu menjadi tempat favorit pengunjung, terutama saat langit di atas laut berubah jingga kala matahari terbenam.

Keindahan Moreton Island mungkin tidak banyak berbeda dengan pulau-pulau pada umumnya, termasuk di Indonesia. Namun, ada beberapa keistimewaan pulau ini yang tidak dimiliki semua pulau. Di sini setidaknya lebih dari 10 lumba-lumba secara rutin datang setiap petang ke pesisir pantai. Tak sekadar menikmati aksi lumba-lumba meliuk-liuk dan melompat, pengunjung didampingi petugas Dolphin Care bisa memberi mereka ikan.

Ada juga burung pelikan yang setiap pagi datang ke pesisir dan siap menyambut ikan yang dilemparkan dengan paruhnya yang besar. Sebagaimana di wilayah lain di Australia, pelikan dan beberapa jenis burung laut lain mudah dijumpai di pesisir pantai.

Kunjungan di Moreton Island tak sekadar melihat binatang laut atau bermain-main di pantai. Obyek menarik lain yang menjadi daya tarik dan favorit pengunjung adalah berseluncur di gurun pasir. Pulau ini memiliki hamparan gurun pasir putih yang berbukit-bukit seluas lebih dari 4.000 hektar.

Hari itu pengelola Moreton Island meminta kami mencoba berseluncur. ”Ini mudah dan menyenangkan. Ayolah, kalian bisa melakukannya. Rasakan sensasi terbang seperti elang,” kata John Paul yang memandu pengunjung untuk meluncur.

Untuk aksi menegangkan sekaligus menyenangkan ini, kami diberi bekal selembar papan tipis berlapis mika, seukuran tinggi dan lebar badan. Untuk meluncur, kami harus tengkurap beralas papan mika dengan kedua tangan memegang bagian depan papan. Dari ketinggian 50-500 meter, kami meluncur ke bawah. Sungguh pengalaman tidak terlupakan saat sensasi menyenangkan dan sedikit menakutkan bercampur jadi satu.

”Sungguh memicu adrenalin. Ada rasa khawatir, ngeri, tapi menyenangkan. Awalnya takut, tapi setelahnya mau mencoba lagi,” kata Andrea Lee, seorang presenter acara traveling di salah satu TV swasta yang ikut dalam rombongan.

Gold Coast, surga wisatawan

Belum puas di Moreton Insland, kami harus kembali ke Brisbane. Sayang, karena hanya semalam di Brisbane, kami harus melanjutkan perjalanan ke Gold Coast keesokan harinya. Walau hanya semalam, kami sempat berkeliling melihat pemandangan kota dari Sungai Brisbane dan singgah ke kawasan South Bank, tempat rekreasi di tengah kota. Brisbane memang terkenal dengan kota sungai. Tak heran bangunan-bangunan megah di kota ini bisa dinikmati dari sepanjang pesisir sungai.

Perjalanan Brisbane-Gold Coast berjarak tempuh 1-1,5 jam berkendara mobil. Gold Coast boleh dibilang daerah wisata favorit di Queensland, lebih kurang seperti Bali di Indonesia. Menurut data Tourism Queensland, tahun ini hingga akhir Juni kunjungan ke Queensland mencapai 2.012.000 orang. Rinciannya, yang berwisata sebanyak 1.454.000 orang, sementara kunjungan dari orang-orang yang punya keluarga bekerja dan sekolah di negara bagian ini sebanyak 484.000 orang. Adapun kunjungan untuk urusan bisnis sekitar 166.000 orang.

Dari jumlah itu, 992.000 orang ke Brisbane dan 785.000 orang ke Gold Coast. Selebihnya terbagi ke 10 wilayah lain di Queensland. Di Gold Coast, dari 785.000 kunjungan, 617.000 di antaranya untuk liburan dan hanya 123.000 kunjungan keluarga serta bisnis 32.000 kunjungan. Bandingkan dengan Brisbane yang jumlah pengunjungnya 992.000 orang, tetapi hanya 505.000 orang yang berlibur, 257.000 orang melakukan kunjungan keluarga, dan 107.000 untuk urusan bisnis.

Pengunjung di Gold Coast multietnik, mulai dari Selandia Baru hingga negara-negara di Asia, seperti Hongkong, China, Malaysia, Singapura, Thailand, dan Indonesia. Belum lagi pengunjung dari Eropa, seperti Perancis, Jerman, Inggris, dan Italia. Hingga akhir Juni, pengunjung dari Indonesia yang berlibur di Gold Coast tercatat sekitar 8.000 orang.

Karena multietnik, fasilitas yang tersedia—termasuk rumah makan— juga banyak pilihan. Untuk lidah Indonesia, walau
tidak ada rumah makan Indonesia, rumah makan Malaysia, China, atau Thailand bisa jadi pilihan.

Warga Gold Coast juga sangat terbuka bagi pengunjung dari negara mana pun. Keramahan ini saya alami saat berjalan-jalan sendiri hingga tengah malam. Dengan terjadinya berbagai aksi terorisme di Tanah Air beberapa tahun belakangan, saya sempat khawatir bakal diperlakukan berbeda di Australia. Nyatanya tidak terbukti.

Gold Coast adalah daerah pantai yang sangat ramai dan mendapat julukan surga para peselancar (Surfers Paradise). Setidaknya ada 70 kilometer garis pantai yang bisa digunakan untuk berbagai aktivitas, seperti renang dan selancar.

Hampir setiap hari kawasan pantai Gold Coast dipenuhi pengunjung. Nama Surfers Paradise diabadikan sebagai nama salah satu kawasan teramai di kota ini berupa pertokoan, rumah makan, kafe, dan hotel. Di kota ini, bangunan tinggi dan megah, bahkan yang berlantai 77 seperti Q-Deck, dibangun di pesisir pantai.

Hari itu kami diminta belajar dasar-dasar berselancar. ”Ini mudah. Anda tidak harus pintar berenang untuk belajar selancar,” kata Lisa Webber, salah satu pengajar surfing.

Lagi-lagi menjadi pengalaman tak terlupakan, apalagi baru kali ini saya belajar berselancar. Memang tidak serta-merta saya menjadi terampil, tapi setidaknya ketika melihat aksi peselancar berjungkir balik di antara ombak, saya bisa paham mengapa mereka begitu menikmati.

Gold Coast tak cuma pantai, tapi juga banyak obyek wisata lain yang bisa menjadi pilihan. Mereka yang senang tantangan dan permainan yang menegangkan bisa mengunjungi Movie World dan Dream World.

Di Movie World, wahana seperti tower scream dan roller coaster sungguh bikin jantung seperti mau berhenti berdetak. Namun, antrean pengunjung untuk mencoba wahana itu selalu panjang.

Selain menikmati wahana menegangkan, pengunjung bisa bertemu tokoh film dan kartun favorit seperti Marilyn Monroe, Batman, Shrek, dan Tweety. Setiap sore tokoh-tokoh tersebut akan berkeliling kompleks Movie World, bertemu dengan para pengunjung. Tentu saja pengunjung bisa mengabadikan mereka.

Di Dream World, pengunjung bisa melihat koala dan kanguru, dua fauna khas Australia. Tak sekadar melihat, pengunjung juga bisa memberikan makan kepada kanguru.

Sebenarnya ada banyak tujuan wisata lain di Gold Coast yang tak bisa dikunjungi semuanya dalam waktu singkat. Karena itu, di ujung perjalanan selama 7 hari di Queensland, saya berdoa, ”Suatu hari, semoga bisa kembali berkunjung….”

Australia is the place that taught me how to speak. I do not mean speech that one uses in daily life but more so, speech that commands attention. When I hold that microphone on the coach, I become a guide. Not the best I would say but at least I do the utmost I can.

Gold Coast is located an hour away from Brisbane, the largest city in the state of Queensland. This state is sunny all year round, though there is slight rain during the winter months,

The sun, beach, theme parks, shopping and food are great things to just make the holiday an enjoyable and pleasurable one. I must say that I love the fact that the Aussies speak English! After spending time in the Mediterranean countries, I really appreciate communication with the correct language (not that I do not like Turkish or Arabic, just that English is also more effective) Heh.  

Now, I am going to attempt to put pictures from 2 different trips into 1 blog post and let them do the talking instead.

Morning coffee after an 8 hour red eye flight at Eagle’s Street Pier

Then it was time to head to a farm!

Koalas! Sleepy all the time.

Lambs?

These baby goats are so adorable!

Sometime after this trip, I went on another one to Gold Coast but it had a visit to a resort. Named Tangalooma Resort, this is a place away from the city.

There was sandboarding there.

 And this is me, waiting for the people to finish playing. Haha.

Shipwreck Cove was breathtaking.

Never forget the theme parks in Gold Coast. I must admit that I am not a big fan of theme parks with adventure rides. In Movie World, I took the Scooby Doo Coaster and almost died. OMG.

The ride was an indoor roller coaster in the dark and I did not know! I assumed it was a haunted house ride or something! No pictures indoor unfortunately. I did manage to take another picture of another roller coaster though.

This ride is called Superman Escape and people are willing to queue ages to go on this ride!

Dreamworld is another fun place!

They have a farm within the area, rides for the teenager, the adult and also rides that cater to the young ones. Guess which one I went on, when I got so bored?

Yes. I took a little teapot ride. And it was not fun. It was swirling so fast and kept changing directions so suddenly, I felt I was going to puke. No more rides for me, not even the kiddy ones. Boo.

I love my job

And my cheeseburger with a bacon add on (you can never get this in Singapore because our Mcdonalds’ is halal, no pork is allowed)

And the chldren’s smiles.

Love them all.

Come visit the Sunshine State, if you do get a chance too!

Cheers peeps, till the next time.

not even december yet, folks. seriously. chill.

Taalla on jo kolme viikkoa kulunu siita ku me tultiin tanne.. Ja ei vois millaan vaittaa et on jo menny niin kauan.. Kyl menee aika todella nopeesti.. Ku on niin hienoja ilmoja taalla ja sit ku taa alku on tallasta et aika paljon tekemista et saa kaikki asiat kuntoon…

Nyt Matella on varma tyopaikka ja se alottaa maanataina ja Antilla saattaa olla toita siella kans.. Ma oon ite hakenu merimaailmaan toihin.. Olis niin nattia paasta sinne… Sit olis vapaapaasy kaikkiin sen saman puljun huvipuistoihin ja vesimaailmoihin ja tietenki siihe seaworldiin.. Toivottavasti ne soittelee huomenna ja pyytaa haastatteluun.. Olis se niin nattia.. Sit samalla koitan paasta raksalle toita ku taalla rakennetaa aika paljon uusia hotelleja ni ne varmaan tarvis kans kovaa vasaramiesta..

Ollaan saatu muutama kaveri taalta jo lisaa.. Ku me ollaan nukuttu yhella syrjasella parkkipaikalla mika on tarkotettu houseboattien asukkaitten parkkipaikaksi ni siella ollaan tavattu yks kalastaja. Kurt. Se o hauska heppu, heraa joka yo klo kolme kalastelee.. ja kay nukkuu joskus 11 aikaa illalla…

Sit yks yo mein auton ikkunaan oli ilmestyny varoitus tan surfers paradisen councililta et ens kerralla ku ne nakee et me nukutaa autossa julkisella paikalla nii joudutaa maksaa 375 $ ja se on jonku verra rahaa.. Kertokaa 6,5 ni se on kroonoina.. Mut nyt me ei enaa nukuta autossa ku me nukutaan yhen ukkelin kotilaivassa.. Se on sellanen kelluva talo missa on 2 isoa makuuhuonetta ja viel isompi olohuone mis nukkuu kaks saksalaista jatkaa… Stephan ja Axel… Ne on kans hyvia jatkia, mein ikasia.. Eika oo ees kallis asua siina.. Tiskaa vaan astiat ja auttaa sita vanhaa ukkoa ku se korjaa yhta purjevenetta etta paastaan purjehtii ens viikolla… Ja sitte hakee kaupasta ruokaa ja tommosta pikkusta. Ei paha.. Nii sen ukkelin nimi on Barry ja se on varmaa joku yli 65 vuotias. Ma luulen.. Se tuli yks aamu herattaa meiat ku me nukuttiin mein ambulanssissa ja voi etta silla ukolla on matala aani.. Varmaa matalempi ku Royhkalla.. (eiks kake oo se kuuluisa basso suomessa) Ensi sita saikahti et mika ihme ukkeli tulee toho ovelle huutelee mut sit se oliki tosi lepponen vanha ukko…

Sit se tekee viel ite aika hyvaa ruokaa.. Eilen grillattiin kaiken muotosia ja moisia nakkeja ja makkaroita ja oli mahtavaa.. Sit siita talolaivan katolta pystyy hyppiin veteen ku se on jtn 2-3 metria korkea.. Natti heittaa voltteja.. Ja sitte ollaa Napen kans kalasteltu sellasella heittoverkolla… Saatii jotai pikkukaloja…

Nii ja meinas viel unohtua… Ei olla mitaa kenguruita viela onnistuttu nakeen mut delfiineija kylla.. Ja ollaan uitu niitten seassa… Alussa se vaha jannitti jos ne tulee pukkaan pai tai jtn.. Niinku ne tekee jos on haita lahella… Mut ne ei kuitenkaa tullu.. Niita oli jotai 8-10 kpl. Ja oli kyl iha nattia nahda livena delfiineja niin lahelta… Parhaillaa kavi 3 metrin paassa ottamasa happea.. Pitaa ens kerralla koittaa paasta kyytii..

Nyt ollaan etitty kamppaa tai oikeestaa huoneita meille kolmelle.. Kaytiin kattoo yhta missa ne vuokraa huoneet sulle itelle mut sit yleiset tilat on yhteiset… Mut siel ei asu muita. Yks huone on vuokrattu jo ulos mut se tulee vasta 3 kk paasta takas.. Loytyy uimaltaat ja kunnon kahvinkeittimet.. sellaset mita on kahviloissa.. Se vaikutti iha hyvalta.. Mut pitaa saada ensi toita…

Taalla jo alkaa soimaa jingle bells joka paikassa.. Tuntuu niin honolta ku ei oo yhtaa kylma eika lunta ja kaikki ukkelit ja muut alkaa olee jo kunnon joulufiilareissa… heh..

No mutta kertokaas teki mita sinne teille kuuluu ja voi meille kaikille laittaa postiaki.. siis emailia.. Taalla muute alkaa jo tottumaan englannin kieleen ku sen vanhan ukkelin kanssa jutellaa.. Se autto mua ku tein itsesta sellasen itse-esittelyn tai tyopaikkahakemuksen vai mika se on ku sa kehut ittes iha pilviin et ma oon hyva tyontekija yms.. Ni se kerto kaikkia hyvia jippoja mikka saa tyonantajan kiinnostumaa susta… Ku se on itte joutunu palkkaamaan tyontekijoita aika paljon ja se on haastatellu niita ja se tietaa mita tyonantajat haluaa tyontekijoista.. Iha jees..

Ma tassa jatkan ettimista ja oottelen sita soittoa sielta seaworldista et jos ne tarvis uutta delfiinin kouluttajaa..

Kuullaa taas..

cya. Magnum

By Michael Hughes       November 27, 2009

The Hilfiger luxury estate listed at around $28M sold for $20M in Greenwich, Connecticut.  Sotheby’s International Realty says the mansion is being purchased by a family who toured it in September.

The mansion features a 2,000 bottle wine cellar, indoor basketball court, sauna, massage room with a waterfall and home theater.  It sports eight bedrooms and nine bathrooms boasting over 20,000 square feet of living space.

Hilfiger purchased the home in 2005 for $18 million.  It has been on the market since 2008.  The designers’ reason cited for moving was to relocate to New York City.

The Hilfiger mansion is located on Connecticut”s Gold Coast which has an abundance of suburban/country perfection.  and is home to Martha Stewart Judge Judy and Mary Tyler Moore to mention a few.

Main Beach on the Gold Coast is located just two minutes drive north of Surfers Paradise. Main Beach has the perfect mix of beach, theme parks, restaurants and shops that you would expect of a Gold Coast suburb. Additionally, Main Beach has a variety of activities and attractions to choose from, including the ones below:

Learn How To Surf

Are you a newbie to surfing? Want to learn how to surf in just a matter of days? Then, you come to the right place! Get Wet Surf School offers tourists or locals like surfing lessons on perfect conditions right in their wave pool.

There are available beach lessons that are held every morning and afternoon. As for the wave pool lessons they are offered only at the White Water World before opening to the public.

As for the beach lessons, these are held at The Spit. This is the perfect place to be for learners to have fun and learn lessons.

The wave pool do give an alternative to those a safer yet fun environment to surf whatever age they may be. This is the perfect practice venue before you even hit real waves out on the beach.

Family Attractions

Get access to a variety of coastal environments that will leave you in total awe as you open your eyes and watch the beautiful beaches, dunes, Littoral rainforest and coastal vistas only at Gold Coast Oceanway. The good thing about this tourist attraction is that it’s children friendly. Therefore, you can bring along your young ones and the whole family with compromising fun for the adults. It is an experience that all of you will enjoy.

You can even bring your dogs as long as they are on a leash. You and your spouse, children and even your pet can enjoy a whole-day affair only at Gold Coast Oceanway.

Theme Park

Sea World is one of the most amazing theme parks located in Main Beach on the Gold Coast. It offers a wide range of exciting shows, attractions, and rides that will keep you and your family busy the whole day.

Fancy watching real-life sharks? You can through visiting Shark Bay and meet gigantic sharks while getting impressed with the breath-taking views both above and below water.

Have you seen Polar Bears? If not, then this is you chance to see how cute these creatures are. Just visit them at Polar Bear Shores and get mesmerized as you watch them play.

All these attractions and more are found only at Main Beach, Gold Coast. There is always an activity that fits you or your whole family’s taste, mood and budget.

Then-Sous Chef (now Chef de Cuisine) Jon Bignelli of D-50, preparing Squab with butternut noodles, cream soda and carob. (Creative Commons photo from the Flickr account of diacritical)

Here’s the most interesting thing to happen to me in a long time: a winner of Bravo’s Top Chef recommends I have potential roommates cook for me, so I can find someone who loves food as much as I do.

What a rockin’ idea!

The Chef is Stephanie Izard (here’s her blog), and via a Twitter conversation, I lamented that I’m having trouble finding someone who likes food as much as me. She suggested I make them cook for me. My translation: a full-blown cookoff.

But what’s a cookoff if no one’s participating? To that end, I’m spreading the word among Chicago’s media (and social media) that I have a Gold Coast apartment ready to share with the best cook I can find to room with. I’m also trying to spread the word among students of the Culinary and Hospitality Institute of Chicago—AKA CHIC.

I’ll keep you updated on my marketing progress, and after I return to Chicago from a Thanksgiving holiday in Ohio, I’ll shoot some pictures of the apartment for this continually-evolving post, to which I’ll refer candidates.

I figure the cookoff will take place mid-December, with a move-in date as soon after as possible. (Maybe I’ll have to wait until Jan. 1, I dunno.)

Komune Resorts,

The new resort for surfers and travelers who enjoy the beach lifestyle will be opening on the Gold Coast in February 2010. Just in time for the Quicksilver Pro.

The resort is on Coolangatta beach only minutes walk away from some of Australia’s best surf beaches. The resort includes 10 stories of share, self-contained and penthouse accommodation.

The building has gone under 5 months and $2 million dollars of renovations to make it the best surfers resort in Australia. Renowned Italian architect Giovanni D’Ambrosio has designed the building to include all the features of a surfers resort but also be a sanctuary for rest and social activity.

With views over both Coolangatta beach and the Tweed river the resort is located perfectly to suit the demands of people traveling to the Gold Coast.

The resort hosts a variety of facilities for the surfers, backpackers and travelers:

• The option of share, self-contained and penthouse accommodation.
• Video, intercom and key card security
• Security safes
• Air Conditioning
• Telephones
• Laundry facilities including washing machine and dryers
• Television including cable and free-to-air T.V.
• Cooking Facilities
• Surfboard Racks
• Internet Computers and WiFi access
• Restaurant and Bar
• Pool
• Views of Coolangatta and Tweed
• Modern and relaxing social environment

Komune will be the latest surfing and beach style resort for backpackers and travelers on the Gold Coast.

Gold Coast Restaurants lift the lid on simmering rivalry

RACV Royal Pines held the 2009 Gold Box Challenge on Monday . Teams from Brisbane, Cairns and the Coast tussled for supremacy as they took on the Gold Box challenge planning, preparing and in the end presenting a  4 course menu from an assortment of restricted ingredients.

Winners of consectutive Gold Box Challenges...The Sofitel's Room 81

No one really was surprised that Room 81 yet again took top honours.  Their high regard to the ingredients, responsiveness, time-honoured cookery methods alongside modern presentation and a constant flow of procedure in the end edged their Brigade led by Chef de Cuisine Paul Smart. Joining Paul for the event were Sous Chef Angela Brown and Apprentice Rhys Lyons.

As one of the ensemble of judges I can say that swipes, smears and foams are very much still in fashion  here in Qld.

swipes, smears, smudges and brushstrokes all made the plate

We also saw ravioli’s a touch too big, embellishments wasted, eagerness appreciated and classical appreciation of cookery embraced.

As mentioned Room 81 of The Sofitel Gold Coast took the top gong, Salsa Bar and Grill (Cairns) second and Chill on Tedder took 3rd in the overall scoring.
Awards were also given for each course -  Room 81 took the starter for there Mulloway 2 ways – seared with avocado puree, mussel vierge, zucchini flower filled with Mulloway mousseline with a white tomato foam.

Chef de Cuisine Mathieu Astier of Prive249 (Sofitel Brisbane) painting the picture of one of his award winning dishes

Entrée to Prive 249 of The Sofitel Brisbane for Mulloway cooked on it’s skin with vegetables spaghetti and mussel emulsion
Best main came to us from Chill on Tedder for a cracking rendition of a classic meatloaf  of slow braised oyster blade wrapped in prosciutto atop spiced red cabbage with pork and leek croquettes, pea puree and Cabernet Merlot jus
While dessert was created by the team at Room 81 with a chocolate fondant, mango yoghurt panna cotta, green tea jelly with mango granita and sphere.

Dessert by Wilson's Boathouse...the most up to the minute dish I saw, Bravo

Honourable mention from the author goes to Wilson’s Boathouse for a dessert struck from the pages of Molecular Genius Grant Achatz who some may know of Chicago Restaurant Alinea.

I loved what I saw, though some among us were a little puzzled…. Food was the winner on the day folks….get amongst it chefs, create and have fun doing it!

!!!

Modern architectural design combined with contemporary and modern twist interiors makes The Waves Resort an enticing place to stay. The resort offers self-contained apartments, with gourmet kitchens and top of the class bathrooms.

Why I fell in love with Wave Resort is its accessibility to Broadbeach dining and shopping centres. It is situated right above central Broadbeach. The best part of it all was seeing the beautiful views of the Gold Coast coastline, Surfers Paradise skyline and Gold Coast Hinterland views.

The moment I step right in to the reception area, I was mesmerized by the interior design of the resort’s waiting area. It’s marvelous.

I am quite meticulous about cleanliness and sanitation. I give this resort a 10 out 10 rating for its clean apartment and modern kitchen to die for. The resort has top of the line facilities that cater to the needs of every guest.

I really do like swimming and Wave Resort never failed to satisfy me with my desire to take a dip and just enjoy. The resort’s plunge pool is a winner! I even had the chance to try out their roof top jacuzzi, and I am glad that I did as the views from the roof top are spectacular.

The different array of Broadbeach cafes and restaurants found within walking distance from the resort are a sure hit to every one who wants to dine in and have a taste for fancy meals or maybe just a cup of coffee.

Truly, Wave Resort is indeed the perfect accommodation located in Broadbeach on the Gold Coast.

For those not living in Australia a little preface might help.

Schoolies is a yearly event participated in by throngs of school-leavers (aka Year 12 students who just graduated from high schools) at Surfer’s Paradise. There are often official events where it is supposed to be drug and alcohol free. It’s supposed to be a week for the school leavers to party and celebrate the end of their compulsory formal education.

The problem is that, even though the official events held during schoolies week is sectioned off with guards and entry is only granted on the occasion that the participant can produce a current school identification. However, due to this event being held on the Gold Coast, many school leavers from far and wide converge on this small tourist strip and literally take over the town. They drink, and get drunk. Every year the police force wastes unnecessary man power to guard the youth of this generation from drugs which somehow manage to infiltrate the strictest security.

This weekend past alone, 69 people got arrested due to being too drunk on the streets. Seriously, 17 year olds wandering the streets drunk. There was even a 12 year old who went to Surfer’s Paradise with a friend so that she could party with the older kids. What is this society turning into? Binge drinking era where booze is the only outlet one can find?? That’s some major screw up. I don’t see why booze are such an attraction anyway, you pay big bucks for the results which are, but not limited to, lack of coordination, lost of mind control over bodily functions, incoherency, tendency to act rashly, and so on.

I understand that a lot of people enjoy the feeling of being tipsy. It boosts their confidence in being able to do things that are otherwise impossible to them. However, that does not apply to me. I hate the feeling of not being in control of your actions. It’s so dangerous. What if in that state of mind, you accidentally do something that you would regret for life? So why the attraction of ecstasy pills, marijuana and alcohol utterly baffles me. But I guess being young, consequences aren’t high on the priority list. Timely enjoyment is more of a priority.

South Golden Beach is a small community in northern New South wales. It is about an hour from the Gold Coast of Queensland just before Byron Bay. On most days the beach is almost deserted apart from the casual jogger or the local out for their daily beach walk.

The photo shows a view from the beach towards Cape Byron and its lighthouse.

Awards for excellence in Wine Service and Range were announced recently – A recognition given by Restaurant and Catering Qld.

No real surprises here…

Moo Moo The Wine Bar + Grill for the fourth year in a row has been awarded the Restaurant & Catering Gold Coast Wine List award for a Restaurant over 100 seats.

Restaurant owner Steven Adams was extremely pleased to receive this award at the Restaurant and Catering Gold Coast Wine List awards held last night on the Gold Coast. 

“With approximately 350 wines on our wine list including 50 by the glass, there’s always a wine to suit and satisfy every customer,” he said.

Steven’s comprehensive reserve cellar consists of approximately 65 premium class wines, including 13 vintages of Penfolds Grange and some real stellar wines from all over the world.

Daran Glasgow’s refined intelligence of both Food and Wine earned his establishment Chill on Tedder Dining and Wine Bar one more decoration taking the Best Wine List Award for a restaurant under 50 seats.

Versace elegance

Other notable recipients were Songbirds in the Forest,  Winner Wine Service Award (Justin Leith) Winner Best Wine List Featuring Qld Wines and Winner Supreme Wine List Award for a stand alone Restaurant while Palazzo Versace’s Vanitas grabbed the silverware for Winning the Supreme Wine List Award for a Restaurant contained within a Hotel.

  Opened in 1999 in Glen Cove NY, there is an exclusive 24 hour private guard gated community with views of Long Island Sound called The Legends Yacht & Beach Club.

This exclusive Nassau County waterfront enclave of 40+ distinctive homes has its own marina, clubhouse, private beach, indoor tennis and outdoor pool overlooking Long Island Sound.  Legends Yacht and Beach Club is located on the famed “Gold Coast” of Long Island’s North Shore and situated on a private setting on the onced owned estate of MGM founder Marcus Loew.  Legends Yacht & Beach Club is situated within the Glen Cove  School District #5 and is about 25 miles to NYC.

 Legend Yacht & Beach Club can be reached by Glen Cove Road to Brewster with a left on Dororis, left to Woolsey until the end.  It offers a stunning collection of custom single-family homes each with its own boat slip and the private marina on the sound. Surrounded by Pembroke Drive, Delamar Ct and Red Spring Lane,  Legend Yacht & Beach Club has endless sunsets and is a one-of-a-kind lifestyle for those buyers of discrimating taste.  According to pubic records for 2007, a residence at Legend Yacht and Beach Club sold for $3,200,000.

LARRY AND SHEILA Realtors with Charles Rutenberg Realty can sell you a residence at The Legends Yacht & Beach Club in Glen Cove NY when available,  or any other luxury community on the North Shore of Long Island.  Perhaps you would like to sell your present residence and want to list it with Larry & Sheila.  We can feature your property on our popular websites, and if you are relocating to The North Shore of Long Island, we are Certified Relocation Specialists!  Please call us at 631-805-4400.

Data is complied through the multiple listing service public records.

Email: sheila@suffolkexperts.com

http://www.suffolkexperts.com

We are not affiliated with this community, but are independent Licensed  Realtors.

All content text is the exclusive property of Suffolk Experts, and may not be used without the expressed written permission of Larry & Sheila.  All information is believed to be accurate but is not guaranteed.

11% growth in home sales forecast for 2010

By Inman News, Thursday, November 19, 2009.

The deepest and longest recession since the Great Depression appears to be over, Fannie Mae economists say, projecting sales of new and existing homes will jump 11 percent next year and that national home prices will stabilize, remaining essentially flat.

The mortgage guarantor’s monthly housing forecast projects 5.96 million home sales in 2010, with sales of existing homes growing by 10 percent, to 5.46 million. New-home sales are expected to rebound even more sharply in 2010, growing by 24 percent to 498,000.

“It appears that the economic recovery is here,” Fannie Mae economists Doug Duncan and Orawin Velz said in a report summarizing their economic and mortgage forecasts, although they expect it will be weak compared to previous recoveries from deep recessions.

Real gross domestic product (GDP) grew at a 3.5 percent annualized pace in the third quarter, following five declines in the prior six quarters, they noted, but growth is likely to moderate in the final three months of the year before strengthening in late 2010.

The first-time homebuyer tax credit helped boost third-quarter home sales, which also led to a jump in real estate brokerage commissions, Duncan and Velz said in their report.

A 23.3 increase in the annualized rate of residential investment (home sales) in the third quarter was the largest in more than two decades, although it came from “extremely depressed” levels, the report said. Real residential investment was contributing to economic growth again, adding 0.5 percentage points to third-quarter GDP growth.

But a survey of consumers in October showed the percentage of respondents indicating that “jobs are hard to get” hitting a new high for the downturn. In their economic forecast, Duncan and Velz said they expect the unemployment rate to average 10 percent next year, up from 9.3 percent this year and 4.6 percent in 2007.

Their housing forecast projects that housing starts will surge by 35 percent next year, from a recent historic low of 462,000 projected starts in 2009 to 624,000 next year.

Fannie Mae expects national home prices will stabilize next year, with the median resale home price remaining essentially unchanged at $170,800. That’s a 0.2 percent decline from 2009 and a 22 percent decline from 2007… (continue reading)…

    Here is a private luxury community in Glen Cove NY called Cove Landing  on Long Island’s Famed Gold Coast and The North Shore.

Opened in 1986 in Nassau County, Cove Landing is located by Landing Road and Red Spring Lane within the Glen Cove School District #5. This upscale North Shore residence consists of attached townhomes that each have central air conditioning, gas heat, 2 car garage and  full basements.  The community is surrounded along Bluff Road, Windward, Water’s Edge and Willada Lane.  This is a pet friendly community offering a pool, 2 tennis courts, beach and mooring rights.  According to public records for 2008,  a residence sold at Cove Landing for $833,500.

LARRY AND SHEILA Realtors with Charles Rutenberg Realty can sell  you a luxury townhome at Cove Landing when they become available, or any other community on the North Shore of Long Island.  In the event you would like list your present residence with LARRY & SHEILA , we can  feature it on our popular websites.  Please call us at 631-805-4400, and ask your friends and neighbors about us.  Are you Relocating to Long Island?  We are Certified Relocation Specialists!

http://www.suffolkexperts.com

Email: sheila@suffolkexperts.com

We are not affiliated with this community, but are independent Licensed Realtors.

We do not have any information on management or contact phone numbers.