Doreen's Endless Page 韻語: December 2008

Gold Coast sunrise

This is the last post of my Gold Coast experience and I am sharing with you the different sunrises we captured at Burleigh Head through out our stay. These photos ain't come easy. We woke up at 3:30am, hanging around by the beach front for hours while feeding the mosquitoes, not once, not twice but 4 times!!

All these photos were taken by Rick, I was merely there giving my mental support, assistance and also deviating the mosquitoes. Hahaha. Anyway, I'm pleased we did get some beautiful shots but the most important thing is the time we spent together and the experience we went through (you know, like sitting in the dark feeding mosquitoes. Hahaha).

I truly enjoy beach at dawn. It is calm, it is quiet. All that is surrounding you is the song of nature i.e. the insects and waves couple with the beautiful twilight backdrop. The air you breathe is so fresh and clean that it clears your polluted mind. You feel like you have found a treasure that not many people even bother nowadays, and you have seen the true beauty of the pure and untainted earth. If you have tried it, I'm sure you know what I mean. If you haven't, well I hope these pictures give you some incentives to meet the true earth we're living.

Labels: leisure, Photoshots, travel/adventure

Gold Coast food

I feel really bad if not writing a post about those yummy food we had....so nah, here they are.....

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Mama Roma Italian

Zushi Sushi

Montezuma's Mexican

Local delicacies at Swell Tavern

Labels: food/drinks, travel/adventure

Gold Coast Qdeck

Q1, the tallest residential tower in the world and tallest building in Australia. With AU$18.50, you can zoom up to Qdeck, located at the top floor (Level 77) in 42 secs to enjoy 360 degree view of Gold Coast. While you’re there, seat back and indulge yourself in their delicious cakes and coffee or cocktails (additional to your entrance fee) over the spectacular view! And of course, it is best to go there just before sunset to guarantee yourself the most beautiful view of Gold Coast at dusk.

Click the image for enlarged version

Merry Christmas everyone!

Labels: leisure, travel/adventure

Rick's birthday

Celebrated Rick's birthday at Peking House for their famous peking duck 北京烤鴨 (2-course). There were 3 different type of 2nd course to choose from: fresh lettuce wraps, stir fry bean sprouts and fried noodles. We picked the noodles.

The birthday boy

魚翅海鮮羹 Shark fin seafood broth

海鮮豆腐羹 Seafood tofu broth

北京烤鴨一吃 Peking duck 1st course (one whole duck!)

北京烤鴨二吃 Peking duck 2nd course

家常豆腐 Homestyle spicy tofu

There were too much food to clean for just the two of us, so we "da bao" (takeaway) the leftover home for tomorrow. No wasting food in the house of R&D!

I actually planned to wear something colourful for tonight's affair but the sudden cold snap had messed it all up. So I dug out my woollen tights and put together something like this last minute....

The skirt is one of my loots from my recent Gold Coast trip. I had long for a puffy tutu skirt like this when I first laid my eyes on those selling in Portman. One of their designs was almost the same as this one but without the black ribbon. However, their length and the puffiness were just not quite right for my frame. This one from Aussie is just the perfect fit!

I think the get-up gives some French maid vibes.

Now, where is my duster?

Labels: Event/Celebration, food/drinks

Gold Coast theme parks - Movieworld

As I mentioned earlier, Warner Bros Movieworld is (I think) popular among Asians. The entrance seemed like a gateway into the greater Asia. It felt different, it felt like home.

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The spaceshot is actually quite fun. It shots you right up in high speed, free fall then back up and down like a spring.

The Wild West Falls Adventure. Fun to get yourself wet but not that scary for me.

In the Wild West village

Superman Escape. I was a bit chickened that day, didn't try.

Awww.......Duffy...I wanna hug you to sleep can?

It was a fun day. We decided to call it a day at around 2:30pm and took bus back to Burleigh Head for a late sunbathing session.

Labels: entertainment, leisure, travel/adventure

Gold Coast theme parks - Dreamworld

Theme parks are the main attractions of Gold Coast for the young and brave. There are 5 theme parks in Gold Coast - Dreamworld, Wet 'n' Wild, White Water World, Movieworld and Sea World. From what I observed, Dreamworld is the all time favourite. Wet 'n' Wild and White Water are more popular among the locals and Europeans while Movieworld are more for Asians.

My picks were Dreamworld and Movieworld. I will talk about Dreamworld in this post and Movieworld next.

I started off the day leisurely by visiting their wildlife park to experience some native animal encounters, getting up close with the koalas, kangaroos. I then proceeded to their Tiger Island for some tiger/white tiger sighting.

Like a family portrait. Muahahahaha

I like this pic so much....the kangaroo so bad sticking out his/her tongue doing the sick face. Hahaha

At their tiger island. The white tiger so lazy hiding somewhere.

After the slow and leisure, it was time for some adrenaline boost. There are 6 thrill rides in Dreamworld which will really thrill you to the max I tell you. Their famous one is the world tallest (according to Guinness book world record) 120m free fall Giant Drop tower. Watching those victims getting dropped with their bloodcurdling scream was scary enough to put me off. My first thrill was 'The Claws' and boy was that scary! I screamed and screamed and screamed my heart out!

Queueing....so excited!

The whole thing swings like a pendulum while spinning. *shudder*

Spot me!

My heart was pounding after the ride but I could still take some more. So I went for 'Wipe Out' next.

Look at my hair. Muahahahahaha

Bad move! If you think 'The Claws' was scary, 'Wipe Out' would literally wipe you all out! The twists and turns got me real sick. Two rides, I raised my white flag called it the day. Sigh! Age is really catching me up. Giant Drop? NO WAY! My life is too precious!

So after a long lunch break, we walked around taking some random photos.....

Got thief look like this one meh? Muahahahaha

Now my turn. I still insist I don't have a thief face. Muahahahaha

A terrible enactment. Where got people still look so happy while trying to escape? Fail, fail fail!!!!!!!

The staff brough the tiger cub out for a wee walk

We were told that we can gently pet on the tiger's back. The fur is so soft!

One great disappointment I had was the SPACE STATION on their big screen IMAX theatre. It was basically a 45 mins documentary about building the International Space Station on a big big screen narrated by Tom Cruise. A real time waster unless you miss Tom's voice OR you really have a lot of time to burn OR you want some air-conditioned comfort to chill you off.

Labels: travel/adventure

Gold Coast - the sun salute!

At long last, Mr. Sun has decided to show up……

And what is the best way to greet Mr. Sun in Gold Coast?

Yeah, like this! This is how he likes it!

Labels: leisure, travel/adventure

Gold Coast sunset

Not quite those typical "salted egg yolk" type of romantic golden sunset but I love how the rainbow and purple hue gives a mysterious and magical kind of feeling. It’s rather soothing, and romantic in a way.

Click the image for enlarged version

Labels: leisure, Photoshots, travel/adventure

Butlers Chocolate Cafe

Let's take a break from Gold Coast and back to Wellington.

Accompanied Rick to his company Christmas dinner at Mac's Brewery, yeah the place where a live spider found himself into my friend's bowl of salads! I never went back since but for this Christmas function, I had made an exception.

Before heading to the dinner, Rick and I had some coffee time at this relatively new Irish chain in town, Butlers Chocolate Café. I am quite impressed with the hot white marshmallow chocolate I ordered. It tastes really nice. With every coffee purchase, comes a free chocolate to give you a taste of heaven!

Labels: food/drinks

The dark side of Gold Coast

A hell on earth! When darkness falls, this place comes to life. The vampires wake up from their sleeps and toy with their victims. Dracula's Cabaret Restaurant is a vampire themed restaurant that will thrill you with excitement and leave you breathless. The ticket includes a delicious 3-course dinner and live entertainment.

We entered through a coffin into the underworld which was full of creepy waiters who would spook you unexpectedly. We ordered our drinks at the bar and indulged in the dark, gothic design interior full of horror displays. We then took the Dracula's ghost train ride into the Theatre of the Vampire, where the 2-hour live horror-comedy show entertained us over our dinner. It was all great fun!

Photo taking and video-ing are not allowed inside the evil mansion, so couldn't really share much.

Labels: entertainment, food/drinks, travel/adventure

Gold Coast shopping treat

Due to the wet weather, my initial plans of outdoor activities could not be executed (geez...how come sounds so very "Mission Impossible") till later. So we ended up doing some unanticipated indoor activities - SHOPPING!! This trip was meant to be lazing around by the beach, taking photos and some exciting outdoor activities. Shopping was indeed in the plan but only minor, but when the weather forced you in and when there were like so cheap can die bargains surrounding you, it would be so wrong not to give in. I really didn't expect to bring back such a steals! (^_^)

First stop was Pacific Fair, the largest shopping mall in Gold Coast with 260 stores. The whole design of the mall is so cartoon-y that I felt like I was shopping in Disneyland!

Then, went to Harbour Town, a shopping complex specialising in outlet stores for many big names in retailing. Of course, there are also not-so-big names and small names can be found! That is where I stole the most bargains and shopped till I dropped! Muahahahaha

So, there gone my two days.

Labels: travel/adventure

My birthday in Gold Coast

The holiday was good although the weather wasn't brilliant. There was no sun in sight most of the time and we only managed the greet Mr. Sun in the last two days of the holiday! Yeah, he knew I was leaving soon so finally came up to meet me. Stuck up lah! Anyway, the best way to put it, we had a big combo - The rain, heavy pour, t-storm, shower, cloudy, windy, sunny and we survived!

The place we stayed

I flew off on my birthday and touched down just in time for my birthday dinner at Conrad Jupiter. The sky looked real sad and eventually burst into "tears", big one too! The pour was so terrible that I had to walk with bare feet and of course soaked wet. I was quite disappointed and annoyed celebrating my birthday this way. But now that I think of it, it was kinda fun and special. Hahaha.

I love food so the best way to keep me happy is of course, the ALL YOU CAN EAT BUFFET!!!!!! Satiate me with all the food, fill my stomach and I will love you forever!!!! Hahahahaha.

And here is my birthday cake, arrived a couple of days in advance. Durian cake! It's not artificial durian flavoured ok, but REAL durian "meat" as the fillings between layers. *Thumbs-up*