Q1 View of the Gold Coast From the 77th Floor

Q1 is the Worlds Tallest Residential Building
78 Floors with a lift that takes 42 seconds to reach the 77th Floor where the Viewing Area was located

At 322.5 m (1,058 ft) and with a roof height of 275 m (900 ft), Q1 qualifies as the world's tallest all-residential building when measured to the top of its structural point (spire), but is the world's second tallest behind Melbourne's Eureka Tower (roof height of 297.3 metres, 975 ft) when measured to its roof height and highest inhabitable floor. However, according to the ranking system developed by the US-based Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat, the main criteria in which heights are ranked is to the top of the spire, therefore Q1 qualifies as the taller.

It is currently in the top 50 tallest buildings in the world when measured to its structural point, dwarfing the Gold Coast skyline with the closest buildings to Q1's height being the 220 m (720 ft) North Tower of Circle on Cavill and the under construction 250 m (820 ft) Soul building.

Q1 was designed by Atelier SDG, and its form was inspired by the Sydney 2000 Olympic torch and the Sydney Opera House. The name was given in honour of members of Australia’s Olympic sculling team of the 1920s – Q1.

It was developed by The Sunland Group and built by Sunland Constructions. The building was the Silver Award winner of the 2005 Emporis Skyscraper Award, coming in second to Turning Torso in Sweden.

The building is supported by 26 piles, each two metres in diameter, that extend 40 metres into the ground then up to four metres into solid rock.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Q1_(building)

Buildings on the Gold Coast

High rise buildings dominate the Coast with windows opening to the Open Sea and Sky.
The views from Q1, the tallest building show this very clearly. The Gold Coast is High Rises with stunning views of the Sea.

It was interesting seeing a couple of small cottages along the coast, one next to the High Rises.
I called this cottage a Million dollar shack, which it has to be as the land would be worth a Highrise with a sea view. I yearned to knock on the door and see if my fisherman lived there, or someone who slept in and missed the morning.

Seldom was there anyone looking out of the windows or the balconies. The apartments were virtually deserted. Only once when I was trying to get a photo of the phone number above what looked like a backpackers place, two hungover guys glared at me, and I turned away feeling embarrased to be focusing on semi dereliction, when there was so much grandeur and beauty around.

I stayed the first week at The Shore, which was located right on the beach and gave me some fantastic sunrises. The second week I stayed at the Hawaain which was more upmarket, with downmarket views, and far too much shade, on level five when I always want High Living for the Views.

To my surprise both apartments lacked Internet facilities.

Beach at Surfers Paradise

Every Morning I walked or ran on the beach.

Every morning was different. Sometimes the sunset was pink, other times bright red.
Sometimes there was no sunset, and one morning it drizzled rain and sprinkled my face with sharp drops.

Every morning the sand was scattered with footprints of running shoes, as joggers ran along the waters edge.

One morning there was a fisherman on the beach.
Another morning there were birds pecking at fish tails possibly thrown overboard by an unseen boat.

Mostly the mornings had only a few people, and only they saw the beauty of the early sunrise, and the rising of the sun.
Many people smiled or said hello as they walked or ran past.

The morning was very beautiful... almost alone, with nature waking up and throwing off the coverlets of the night, as she stretched forward her fingers of welcome to the Day she brought to the World

"Good morning", I say again as I jog past another runner, 'Good Morning to You"

And I smiled

Marathon Gold Coast Australia

People from the Outback escape to the Beautiful Gold Coast for Holidays.
When I was there I saw that the Gold Coast Marathon was on. Impulsively I joined the run selecting the shorter 5 kms, as I had not done any training or preparation for being in a Marathon.

Wearing my new Red participant T-Shirt, I travelled to the start in a shuttle bus, which was late, and got us to the Start at 10.25. The race started at 10.10. This meant that there were many people ahead, and one had to dodge around the walkers if one was trying to do it in a set time.

It was interesting seeing the number of people at the Marathon. There were many Japanese of all ages, and quite a few prams, and a sprinkle of juniors getting in everyone's way, as they sort of refused to move aside without looking bruised. Some would even walk in the way, and trying to pass was often hazardous when at the back of a huge line of people. I will make sure I am never late for a Marathon start ever again.

There were a few stalls with water and in the beginning the health drink which was lovely. I had a drink at every stall. There was some entertainment, but not as much as I expected. A rabbit hopping on the sidelines, two guys making Music under an Umbrella, and after the end, 2 Jazz musicians looking for a gig.

Even the cameras were not flashing as much as they could have been. I never even saw the Official camera and judging by the photos, it did not work overtime. maybe that is an outlet for some bright photographer next year..take a photo and hand out a card.

Being in the shorter walk was diferent to being in a half or full Marathon. I missed the competition, as the walk, from the time I joined it, was mostly happy friendly strollers, with only 2 groups that I followed keeping pace with me. There were even prams rolling babies along, and every smile cost me another second, and who can resist the smile of a baby, or Santa. Yes, I passed Santa in his Red Suit walking the marathon too.

There were many older people walking by themselves. That fascinated me too. I was surprised at the number of Over 60 in the race.