Friday, June 04, 2010

Durban View Gay Guesthouse


Hey guys - we're excited to announce our exclusively gay guesthouse right here in the heart of Durban ... Durbs-by-the-Sea, the warm friendly city on the east coast of South Africa. Durban View Guesthouse welcomes visitors from around the world and we've already made some great new friends. Your hosts are Dave and Llewellyn. See links to our site for bookings and enquiries else where on this blog or click here.

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Dave and Llewellyn in Pride March


Dave and Llewellyn took part in their first gay Pride March this week in Buenos Aires Argentina. Pride is the first Saturday of November each year and this year we just happened to be in Buenos Aires in time for Pride and our first experience of marching in a Pride Parade.

There were about 20 000 people in the March and we were in the second row. It was an awesome experience and we bought our first Rainbow flag which we took with us on the march and is now in our Guesthouse pub, along with the few bits and pieces we bought in Buenos Aires. What a wonderful experience.

Saturday, October 24, 2009

Phone access for guests


As a new service to Guests at Durban View Guesthouse we now give a complimentary MTN sim-card starter pack to them. This is particularly useful for international travellers who do not have a local sim-card when visiting South Africa, and now gives them afforable local telephone contact.

A purchase of R50 airtime is necessary to activate the account and this should be sufficient for the duration of their visit to this country and will save them international roaming rates. Airtime is available to guests at the guesthouse through MTN Banking - a vendor for airtime across all networks as well as offering banking accounts and credit cards - a great new initiative of MTN in conjunction with Standard Bank - South Africa's leading banking institution.

Party weekend

It's the weekend and here to party up a storm in Durban are guests John, Gerhard and Rudi, and Cape Town visitor Marcel who popped in for a drink.

If you're in Cape Town and needing a fabulous
flowers and decor for weddings, events and corporate functions, Marcel is your man!

Rudi is here on an
MTN-Banking mission with MTN Mobile Money, a new concept in cell-phone and internet banking also marketing the re-selling of cellphone air-time by sms.

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Images of the city from the Guesthouse


Our recent guest Friedrich was a whiz with his camera and took these photos of the city from the Guesthouse.

In the top photo is our new
2010 FIFA World Cup Football Stadium which has just been completed. There were sceptics who said the Stadia in the country would never be completed in time, but they were proved wrong. The Durban Stadium, the Moses Mabhida Stadium feature a stunning cable car lift which ca take visitors to the top of the Stadium arch and for those more adverturous there are stairs on the other side to take one up or down as well.

In the middle photo are the night lights of our beachfront hotels, whilst the day photo below shows the CBD of the City from the Guesthouse. Thanks Friedrich for these stunning new pics.

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Braai for the tourists


Whilst we don't generally provide an evening meal at the Guesthouse, when we have a few international tourists staying with us and more often in summer, we have a braai (or barbeque as they may know it) with some of the local flavours and dishes. This also gives the guys a chance to meet and chat.

In the photo above are Julian (San Francisco) with Stuart and Furdoon (London). Both sets of guests took advantage of
Emirates new flights to Durban which skip out the inconvenience of and time delay stopping in Johannesburg - unless you intend to spend a few days in that city.

In the case of Julian who flew from San Francisco to Durban via Dubai business class, he was also given free accommodation and meals for a stop-over in Dubai which he enjoyed thoroughly.

Monday, October 19, 2009

Saturday Fun


In Durban from Secunda is engineer Freidrich who came to collect his new car - VW Tiguan - and spend a few days at the Guesthouse.
Joined on Saturday by Donovan (left) and Ryan (second from left) from Durban, we all puffed on a hubbly bubbly in the roof-top jacuzzi and enjoyed a few drinks around the bar.

London calling

Guests Stuart and Furdoon from London enjoy breakfast at the Guesthouse. They are doing Durban largely on foot and have done some big walking seeing the sights.

Muffin Dave

Llewellyn is usually the muffin man, but here Dave bakes and takes some fresh muffins out of the oven for morning breakfast at the Guesthouse.

Monday, October 12, 2009

Busy Sunday

Jerry (Salt Rock), Wynand (Irene) and Dave (Guesthouse co-owner) enjoy a drink at the Guesthouse on Sunday evening. Wynand owns and runs Gorgeous, a popular restaurant in Irene, Johannesburg and is taking a well-earned rest in Durban.

In the second photo Lindeque from Cape Town joins John (Financial Services trainer from Johannesburg), Llewellyn (Guesthouse co-owner) and Pieter of
Queer City events, in Durban to organise Salvation, the most famous Gay Parties in London and the World, coming to Joburg (26 Dec), Durban (29 Dec) and Cape Town (31 Dec).

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Best of the Berg - 2 1/2 hours from Durban


We love the odd weekend away when our host Thomie looks after guests at the Guesthouse - and a great destination is our Berg mountain range.. especially the northern Berg Amphitheatre area at Royal Natal National Park where we stayed at the Thendele huttted camp.. accommodation closest to the mountains.

In the pics are from top - the Amphitheatre with the changing cloud patterns. The Tugela Falls in the middle of the Amphitheatre (12 hour hike there and back) is the second tallest in the world (938m).

The Cascades middle pic is a short 15 min walk and then of course there were the rocks just above our camp site where we could chill and unbutton the baggies....

Sunday, October 04, 2009

Weekend Fun


The rain and clouds of the week cleared up nicely in Durban for our weekend guests at the Guesthouse. Having fun in the roof-top jacuzzi are Llewellyn (guesthouse co-owner) with John (Johannesburg) and Shaun and Tom (Cape Town).

Gay Durban Book Now Hot Bodz Durban View

Saturday, October 03, 2009

Vote for Mr Gay South Africa


Now you can vote for KZN entrants in the Mr Gay South Africa Pageant by SMS.

In the photos above are hunky Ballito boy Gavin Deale seen at the Guesthouse recently when he won through to the finals of the Mr Gay South Africa Pageant.

If you want to vote for Gavin, simply sms GSA Gavin Deale to 35215 and your vote will be recorded.

Another hot finalist from Westville is Tyrone Nell (below), seen in this recent shoot.
Tyrone qualified as a finalist for the Mr Gay South Africa Pageant at the Knysna Loerie Festival earlier this year. He was also in attendance at the KZN Finals of the contest at the Guesthouse here last month checking out the competition.

You can vote by SMS for Tyrone by sending a message GSA Tyrone Nell to 35215 and make sure that one of our spunky KZN boys wins the Pageant for our Province.

Good luck guys... and to the readers, please get your sms votes going now. You could win a trip to Tanzania just by voting.

You can view more finalists by clicking on this Facebook link.

Friday, October 02, 2009

Vote for Mr Gay South Africa

Durban boy and finalist from the KZN regional finals of the Mr Gay South Africa Pageant, Tyrone Roberts will be viing for the top title in Johannesburg in November.

Voting by sms is now open and you can record your vote for Tyrone by sending a message reading GSA Tyrone Roberts to 35215.

Tyrone is one of 3 KZN boys in the running for the title.

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Public holiday

The sun is shining bright and it's a public holiday today in South Africa so we're off to the beach... let's hope we can find some hot beach bodz at Scottburgh where we are headed.
Durban View Book Now Gay Durban

Thursday, September 17, 2009


Second runner-up, Gavin Deale, with winner, Eddy Rust, and entrant Garret Brent at the Mr Gay South Africa KZN finals we held at the Guesthouse on Saturday... more hot pics below

Chris, Ryan, Donovan and friend had a blast at the Mr Gay South Africa pageant at the Guesthouse... see the facebook body shots pics...

Llewellyn (guesthouse co-owner) with Eddy Rust, winner of the KZN finals, although we understand he has since withdrawn and the runner-up and 2nd runner-up will now go through to the finals.

Tyrone Roberts (runner-up) and contestant Krishen Samuel getting ready for their debut on the ramp.
The new sliding door in the Pool room shows the patio deck we finished in time for the Pageant. Guests can now enjoy a sun-downer or catch the afternoon sun on the deck.

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Meeting the Artist


Guest Christiaan Diedericks (left top) and his partner Chris (right) visited Durban and the Guesthouse for the opening of his Cold Sweat Graphic Art Exhibition at the ArtSpace Gallery here.

Thanks for the invite to the Exhibition Opening guys. The contemporary art is impressive and we hope does well. Follow the link to Christiaan's
website for more info.

In the second photo Llewellyn and I appreciate the works on display.

Meet Nelson

Meet Nelson Clemente - composer, musican, singer, who with partner Les is a frequent guest at the Guesthouse.

Here last week for the Mr Gay South Africa pageant (see photo below) Nelson hails from Perth, Western Australia and has been staying with Les at Richards Bay (help) for the past number of months.

You can catch Nelson in singing mode at the Zululand Expo from the 24th - 26th September. Nelson will be giving 3 performances (each evening) during the Expo. Follow the link also to his
website where you can download and hear some of his compositions.

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Fun at the House

Enjoying some good Australian wine with our Perth guests and friends - Dave (guesthouse co-owner) with Nelson and Les (Perth savages) and Llewellyn (guesthouse co-owner) during the Mr Gay South Africa KZN finals at the Guesthouse last night.


The hot line-up of sexy hunks taking part in the Mr Gay South Africa pageant at the guesthouse last night to find a regional winner and runner-up to go forward to the national finals later this year.

Finalist from the Eastern Cape finals, Tyrone Nell, seen at the Guesthouse with our barman Jarrod.

Party-goers enjoy a drink and a chat before the Mr Gay South Africa contest gets underway in the new entertainment area around the pool at the Guesthouse.


Model boss Wesley Hiepner tries out the ramp across the pool as the judges get ready for the competition to start.


Saturday, September 12, 2009

Building works completed in time for Mr Gay South Africa tonight



There is still time to make a booking for the Mr Gay South Africa KZN finals which take place at the Guesthouse tonight - and our stunning building alterations have just been completed in time for the Pageant. We have extended the pub entertainment area - photo above.


The sundeck above the entertainment area now gives us doors off the Rainbow room and Pool room to enjoy a sundowner or morning coffee.

Dave appreciates the new decor of the Rainbow room.

Loo with a view - Guesthouse co-owner Llewellyn tries out the loo in the Rainbow rom .. fronting on to the sundeck... :-)
Bookings for Mr Gay South Africa can still be made for the Pagent tonight at BookNow.biz.

Wednesday, September 09, 2009

Mr Gay South Africa finalist Chris Macgregor


The Eastern Cape regional winner and finalist in the Mr Gay South Africa Pageant is hotting up the stakes - here's sexy Chris Macgregor who hails from Durban but is staying in Cape Town at the moment. Lucky Cape Town.

The KwaZulu-Natal regionals take place at our gay Guesthouse this Sat 12 Sept and then it's on to the finals... so good luck Chris.
For bookings click here

Monday, September 07, 2009

Durban's Tyrone Nell vies for Mr Gay South Africa

Here is Durban's own Tyrone Nell who is competing for the Mr Gay South Africa 2009 title.

The KZN regional finals will be held this Sat 12 Sept at our Guesthouse and the finals later in November. Tyrone is pictured here modelling a new range of
underwear about to be launched in South Africa.

Saturday, September 05, 2009

Mr Gay South Africa KZN regional finals at Durban View Guesthouse

This Saturday is going to be a hot affair at the Guesthouse with the KwaZulu-Natal regional finals of the Mr Gay South Africa Pageant taking place.

Bookings for accommodation or to see the Pageant may be made on our webpage at BookNow.biz.

The regional finals for the prestigious contest have already taken place in the Eastern Cape, Western and Northern Cape as well as the Free State and the Gauteng regionals take place the week after on the 18th September at Monte Casino.

Here are the hot finalists so far from the regionals that have taken place.

Chris Macgregor, Finalist: Winner Eastern Cape

Leo Jan de Beer, Finalist: Second Runner-up Eastern Cape


Shahin Eskandar, Finalist: Winner Western & Northern CapeKarel Petzer, Finalist: Mr Mardi Gras 2007

Quentin Saunders, Finalist: Mr Mardi Gras 2008

Tyrone Nell, Finalist: Runner-up Eastern Cape

Jan du Toit, Finalist: Winner Free State


Charl van den Berg, Finalist: Runner-up Western & Northern Cape

Book Now for the KZN Regionals this Sat 12 Sept at Durban View Gay Guesthouse and see some hot guys in action on the ramp. It will be a glittering affair.

Friday, September 04, 2009

Marketing South Africa's skills


We had Guests Portia and Lauren at the Guesthouse this week on a mission to market the skills and fruits of labour of Eastern Cape artists. They have been making an unusual and beautiful collection of jewellry. The collection includes beaded wire necklaces, bracelets and rings in a range of dazzling white, black, silver and neon colours.

Both girls work for
Aid to Artisans, a charitable organisation that trains and promotes artisans principally from the Eastern Cape to run a manufacturing and marketing business that is sustainable. They also promote and market the jewellry nationally and internationally and help improve designs to increase the appeal of the finished product to the international community.

You can contact the girls by
email and soon a list of retailers where the jewellry can be bought will also be made available.

Thursday, September 03, 2009

Business as usual

It's been a sweat, but it's business as usual at the Guesthouse as our building alterations near completion. The rooms are back in commission and the steel framework for the wooden patio deck is now complete. This will give the upstairs rooms a deck to walk out onto, smoke in comfort or sit down for a cup of coffee or a sundowner cocktail.

Underneath, we will have an extended covered entertainment area and a new breakfast setting.

It's very exciting and some of our guests who have seen the work in progress will be able to return after next week to see the completed project.

Monday, August 31, 2009

Guests from Europe

David from France and Romijn from Netherlands who are in South Africa on a work contract - Romijn is with Barclays Bank and seconded to Absa - visited us in Durban for a break from the pressures of the corporate world.
Enjoy your stay in South Africa guys.

Saturday, August 29, 2009

Weekend at the Guesthouse




Hey it's weekend at the Guesthouse and we're having loads of fun.

In the photos enjoying a drink around the Guesthouse Pub are co-owner Llewellyn, and Johannesburg guests Paul and Peter and Brett. Lance and David also from Johannesburg came down to celebrate David's birthday - 3 virgos in the house tonight and two of us share the same birthdate even!!
After many drinks the rooftop jacuzzi was the place to be and in the 3rd photo it's shooters all round as we sing Happy Birthday to David.

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Birthday and Building

Dave's Birthday was largely spent this year supervising the builders making the alterations to the Guesthouse for the patio deck.

Llewellyn took the day off work too and raced around with Dave taking cake to the office, fetching artwork Dave put together for the office renovations as well as onsite meeetings with the builder, the steel guy, the electrician and engineer.

There was time to fit in a Long Island Iced Tea made famous in Durban by Billy the Bums and roast a Beef roll to take to Hillcrest to enjoy with mom, Lynn and the kids along with Llewellyn's fine cake he baked for Dave.






Saturday, August 22, 2009

New deck for Pool and Rainbow room


Dust and disruption are the order of the day as we quickly break through walls and add a 1st floor sundeck over the pool area at the Guesthouse.

Thankfully we have timed the contractors to all finish by the end of next week by which time the Pool Room and the Rainbow room will have a sundowners and smoking deck off their rooms, and underneath we will have a new entertainment patio off the Pub in time for the Mr Gay South Africa KZN Regional Finals which will take place at the Guesthouse on Sat 12th September.

Bookings for the event as well as the Guesthouse can be made online at Book Now by clicking on the link here.

Thursday, August 20, 2009

From Around the World

Welcoming Guests from around the world is Llewellyn, Guesthouse co-owner, (2nd from right), with from left to right Wayne (Johannesburg), Leonardo (Columbia), Lawrence (Belfast) and Deon (Cape Town).

Leonardo is our 3rd guest in as many months from South America and is joining 3000 international delegates for a Statistics Conference at the
ICC.

Sunday, August 09, 2009

Welcome from Brasilia

A vet from Brasilia, the administrative capital of Brazil, welcome Marcello, here at the Guesthouse and in Durban for a Conference at the International Convention Centre (ICC). This is our first guest from Brazil.

It is always great to hear about destinations we ourselves have not visited and Marcello has had some interesting tales about his city and travel around South America to share with us.

Friday, August 07, 2009

2010 World Cup Football: Durban's Stadium

Durban's 2010 World Cup Football Stadium, the Moses Mabhida Stadium, is well on its way to completion later this year.

In the last photo above, the stadium can be seen from our Guesthouse sundeck and we have watched its progress over the past number of months. The roof structure is presently being completed and the seating is in the process of being installed.

A funicular railway will take tourists up the one side of the impressive arch that towers 30 stories over the adjacent beachfront area, while others more energetic will be able to walk up the stairs on the other side of the arch.

Llewellyn and I took a jog around the Stadium the other day and could see the hive of activity which now goes through into the night to ensure completion well in advance of the World Cup Foorball event next year.

Durban is likely to be one of the venues for a semi-final as well as pre-event training and some of the matches.

Tuesday, August 04, 2009

Melanie sings at the Guesthouse


What a fabulous weekend we had at the Guesthouse. Idols famous Melanie Lowe (top, 3rd and 6th photo) had her official coming out show called "Living the Truth" which kicked off with 2 shows at the Guesthouse. From Durban she tours the country taking with her her message of hope to all gay people of South Africa.. as she chronicals her journey and decision to come out.

Melanie became engaged earlier this year to Angela and they will be married in Elgin (Cape) on the 21st March next year.

In the top photo are Melanie and her multi-talented musician Ilse, the third photo Guesthouse co-owner Llewellyn with Melanie and partner Dave, 4th photo guests at the Show, 5th photo our new Barman Jarrod (centre) with Llewellyn and Dave, and in the bottom photo Melanie, Ilse and on keyboard Mark.
Look out for more of Melanie's performances around South Africa.

Monday, August 03, 2009

Shannon Hope opens Show







Shannon Hope opened the Show at the Guesthouse this Friday. It was part of Melanie Lowe's "Living the Truth" Coming out Tour which kicked off in Durban this weekend.
In the photos at the Friday performance are: (top) Shannon Hope, (second photo) Bernie and Armand, (3rd photo) Ek and Greg, and bottom photo Guesthouse co-owners Dave (left) and Llewellyn (right) with Anthony (centre).

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Mr Gay South Africa @ Durban View Guesthouse


THE SEARCH FOR THE ULTIMATE GAY MALE

The newly registered and trade-marked pageant has been launched – the richest male pageant in the country. The search is on for a gay man of impeccable character, taste and style – and of course – a temple of a body to house these admirable qualities. A candidate of whom the LGBTI community – in all it’s diversity – can be proud of.

Durban View Guesthouse has scooped the KwaZulu-Natal Regionals of the Mr Gay South Africa Pageant and Sat 12th September will be the date to book your seat now.

Please click on this booking link and make sure you will be in the ringseats for the action.

In the photo (below right) are some of the contestants in the Eastern Cape who have already qualified for the competition from the regionals held at the Knysna festival earlier this year.

There are still opportunities to enter this prestigious competition and to do so you need to follow the links to the Mr Gay South Africa website here.




Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Melanie Lowe to sing at Guesthouse

Living the Truth Shows - Fri 31st July and Sat 1 Aug 7pm
Excitment is building for Idol's fame Melanie Lowe's official coming out party and Shows next week at the Guesthouse.
Fresh on the heels of the revelation of her engagement to the gorgeous woman in her life, singer Melanie Lowe is climbing out of the closet and taking to the highways and byways of South Africa to bring her Living the Truth tour to our city.

Taking its name from her new song, Living the Truth - inspired by her relationship with her fiancée, Angela - her new tour promises to showcase the songstress as never before.

Featuring her much-loved hit songs and a few surprises, each show will strip back the mask and offer an intimate portrait into Melanie’s life, as she shares honestly and openly her own experiences and the stories behind her songs. Sultry and sexy as ever, but 100% Melanie, loyal fans won’t be disappointed and new fans will be captivated. Join Melanie and share in her journey of self-discovery on the road to finding true love.
The tour kicks off in Durban with two shows at Durbanview Guesthouse on 31 July and 1 August. Bookings online at BookNow.biz and pay at the door. Tickets are R60 per person.

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

July and August events


July and August are hot months at the Guesthouse.

Melanie Lowe
Friday 31st July and Sat 1st August are Melanie Lowe's coming out Shows - "Living the Truth".

The Shows will be very exclusive and intimate and will provide a very indepth look into Melanie's life, in light of her recent coming out and engagement. It's an exclusive for Durban View Guesthouse and we are very proud to be able to host Melanie at this important moment in her life and to share her music.

Bookings

Bookings are open for both shows by emailing us at durbanview@gmail.com or by clicking on this booking link and choosing the Show date you wish to attend. Tickets are R60 each and are payable at the door.

Barmen
Our hot barmen Jaco (top) will be serving guests at the Friday Show and Jarrod (bottom) will be serving on Saturday and again on bar duties for guests in the guesthouse on Fri 28 August. You can book your room accommodation for any future date at the Guesthouse now through our online booking link here.
Jaco and Jarrod will alternate as our new barmen once a month just to spice things up a little for our Guests.

Musical guests

Well we never got to hear Carlos play our piano, but then perhaps an accomplished musician needs a break when going on holiday.
The guesthouse recently welcomed Carlos (left) and Andre for a well-deserved break.
You can find out more about our musical maestro by clicking on this link to his website.

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Visit to Grahamstown


We love visiting different parts of our own country and this weekend past we travelled to the Eastern Cape Province to the beautiful little town of Grahamstown for their annual Arts Festival.
In the pics are my kids Mark (left) and Kate-Lynn with myself (Dave, right in photos) and partner Llewellyn (blonde). The Festival was a blast and we had an awesome time seeing some of the best talent South Africa has to offer, combined with the largest craft market I have ever seen and fab restaurants and evening entertainment.. particularly Pirates!!

Wednesday, July 08, 2009

Bar fun

Having fun at the Guesthouse Pub are Wessel (left) our new part-time barman Jaco (centre) and Dave (guesthouse co-owner). Jaco will be looking after guests once a month.

Riaan and Michael from Johannesburg joined us for their second July Handicap Race day at Greyville just down the road from the Guesthouse. This was a Facebook event.


I took a short video clip at the races of the naked "13th Race" after the running of the last horse race. Unfortunately I was a bit far from the runners this time, but here's a snapshot from my video.


After a few drinks at the Guesthouse, it's time to get to The Lounge.. here's Dan, our guest from Canberra with guesthouse co-owner Dave and local boy Sandhip Singh at The Lounge. Dan said there are such yummy boys in Durban, he will have to come back soon.

Tuesday, July 07, 2009

July Races


Africa's greatest horseracing event, the Vodacom Durban July Handicap was an awesome day.. and just down the road from the Guesthouse.
The house was packed for the event and in the photos are from top, Dave and Llewellyn, Guesthouse co-owners in their waistcoats in the theme of the day "The Games People Play". In the second photo is the start of the event, third photo is Llew, guest Dan from Canberra and Dave, forth photo are more guests from OZ, Les and Nelson who also joined us for the day at the races and lastly a guy on stilts showing some of the bright colours that abounded the race course.

Wednesday, July 01, 2009

Melanie Lowe Coming out Show for Guesthouse

We are set for an awesome July and August with Melanie Lowe's coming out party at the Guesthouse - 2 Shows "Living the Truth" on Friday 31st July at 7pm and a second show on Sat 1st August.

Melanie recently became engaged to Angela and both of the fab girls have stayed with us at the Guesthouse so it will really be a priviledge to host Melanie's official coming out party and Show right here amongst her friends and fans at the Guesthouse.

Accommodation bookings can be made
here and if you wish to attend Melanie's Show the cover charge is R60 per person per show and an indication of your attendance can be made on FaceBook and a formal booking made here.
Angela, Melanie and Llewellyn at the Guesthouse recently.

It's the Durban July

The Games People Play is the official theme of this year's Durban July Handicap - South Africa's Premiere Horse Racing event of the year.. and it's all happening just down the road from the guesthouse.

We'll be in the VDP Marquee with guests enjoying the beautiful sunshine of Durban, the fashion extravaganza and the steeds...
Here's the booking link and info for the Marquee:
The VDP GROUP consisting of Clapham Grand, Manhattan, Tiger Tiger, Joe Cools and Clapham Grand-London have secured what they believe to be the Biggest and Best Marquee for the Durban July. The site will have 4 large bars with gorgeous bar ladies, a VIP section, a massive dance floor, an outside deck, 2 big screens, 6 plasma screens, a top of the line sound and lighting rig and in house betting facilities.

Of course the best of the July races is the 13th race.. the unofficial naked guys race which takes place under the full floodlights of the evening as the last horse race finishes. Check out the YouTube video clips of previous races and be sure to take your place in the naked dash or on the sidelines watching the fun, the spills and the hot bodz!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKXxjhylkUc

Monday, June 29, 2009

Meeting the world


We love meeting the world and the world comes to us. In the photos are guests from Singapore, Johannesburg and Atlanta region... we heard tales of Aligators, St.Helena Island and Singapore... always interesting and varied personal accounts from differing parts of the globe.
In the photos are (top) Andries, Llewellyn and Johnathan, and (bottom) David, Peter and Llewellyn (guesthouse co-owner).

Friday, June 19, 2009

Durban mid-winter

Can you believe it is mid-winter in Durban and this is still the weather we enjoy?.. it's an all-year city which is why we love it. Our temperature ranges between 18c in winter to 35c in summer. And today is another glorious day.

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

SunCaost Casino takes my credits


As former Deputy Mayor of Durban and member of the Durban Publicity Association and Durban for the Olympics Committee, I am usually one to publicise the good about our city.

However the local
SunCoast Casino and Entertainment Complex comes in for stern criticism for deleting the credit balance on my casino card and then after a protest offering to re-instate half of the balance.

This is unacceptable.

I am not a gambler at heart but as a member of
Gold Circle Racing I like to entertain clients and guests in their private suites at the Horse Racing complex just down the road from our Guesthouse.

In turn the Horse Racing club and the Casino have a joint agreement to promote their respective facilities which grants free betting vouchers to their members each alternate month.

I usually enjoy the facilities at the Casino complex which includes restaurants, beach access, movies and entertainment, and I took up their betting offer prior to the expiry of the voucher period. I traded the voucher in and the credits due were loaded on to my Club Festival Card. Similarly you can load cash on to your card as well as winnings and then carry this card around or even leave the casino and return when you wish to resume your gambling.

WIPED OUT!

Imagine my surprise when I returned this week and found that my credit balance had been wiped out by the casino!! R0; zero on the card. I see credits on my card as my cash and taking them away in my view amounts to theft of this money by the casino.
The casino's response is absolute nonsense - the printed terms and conditions on the voucher indicated that the voucher was valid for the limited period only, and I maintain that I surrendered my voucher within the validity period and that once the credits were loaded on my card, ownership of those credits and the funds they represent passed to me and may not be unilaterally cancelled by them.
I challenged the casino on this and their view is that because I didn’t spend the credits by the date that the voucher expired, they were entitled to zero the remaining credits on my card.

PUBLIC BEWARE!

I don’t believe members of the public are aware that the casino has control over the money loaded on to their Club Festival cards and that the casino can tamper with their balances and by the click of a button alter those balances and I feel a public awareness campaign needs to bring this to the public’s attention. I am dissatisfied with the way in which my challenge was brushed off by them and I was offered 50% of the credit value.
* SunCoast Casino have since apologised and are re-crediting my account with the exact amount of their debit. *

Sunday, June 14, 2009







Thursday, June 11, 2009

View from Durban View roof-deck

Llewellyn captured the moment from our rooftop sundeck as the moon rises in it's full glory over the city of Durban.

Trying out the various settings on his new camera from our Durban View Guesthouse rooftop has produced a stunning glimpse of the view we enjoy each day.

Monday, June 01, 2009

Dave and Llew back from Sydney


After a whirlwind trip to Sydney and Auckland, we arrived back home in Durban yesterday. In the photos are the Sydney Opera House, the city centre and the Sydney Harbour Bridge seen from the Milson's Point side of the bridge. We climbed the bridge, walked across it, went on the Ferry underneath it and crossed it by bus and by train.


Sydney harbour by night on the Ferry back from Manly village.


Llewellyn with the city, bridge and opera house in the background.

Durban harbour seen from our window seat in the SA Airways plane.

The best way to enjoy a long flight is to have a drink or several on the plane. Dave and Llewellyn say cheers, and it's good to be back.

Saturday, May 16, 2009

Sunrise


We woke up this morning to a beautiful sunrise... seen here from our bedroom window, looking past our guest City View room to the east and the Indian Ocean. We thought we must capture this 6am setting, trying hard to imagine that it is already 4pm the same day in Auckland and that we will be flying out tomorrow for 2 glorious weeks in Sydney and Auckland... will be posting some holiday snaps here.

Friday, May 15, 2009

The Decks winner



Donovan is the winner of our Underwear and Swimwear Show prize of a 2-night stay at The Decks Gay Guesthouse in Cape Town. The competition was held at the recent Show at Durban View Gay Guesthouse and the contestants were expected to show us what they were wearing!!

Donovan was a bit shy to show the camera his winning underwear when receiving the prize, but here is a picture we took on the night of his sexy bum.

The other side

Photographer Rob Ross who stayed at the Guesthouse this week is not often on the other side of the camera, but here he is at breakfast when he stopped by in Durban this week; and pictured above is one of the awesome photos you can see on his website. Click on the links to see more.