Woken up from a nap. Looking out at the blue skies. Missing Brisbane :)
The past week has been the most relaxed & happiest for 2011. No fixed itinerary yet everything fell in place. With the "Wiggly Woo" tune still stuck in my brain, a smile uncontrollably surfaces. Especially when i recall cute bb dancing away. Hee. Nice :)
2Oct - Brisbane Airport & Tamborine Mt
We touched down in the wee hours hence had to sleep at the airport til 6am when the car rental staff came in. It was an easy thing since the airport couches were comfy and the peeps that were around are there to stay for the night too.
The light from the sun woke us up & the Thrifty guy came in on time. Settled the paperwork. Grabbed a quiche, bruffin & latte while waiting for the car to be ready. It didn't take long.
Since it was too early to check in, we headed for Brisbane City.
Izzit really spring? It was cold and i didn't bring adequate clothes. Thankfully bb's oversized grey fleece saved the day(s)! :) After much SUPERmarketing at Coles & Woolies, it was time to leave for our next destination. I had to be dragged out...literally :P Tamborine Mt, here we come!
After much zig-zagging, we finally found Escarpment! The search was worthwhile. We were pleasantly greeted by the cosiest room nested in a rainforest surrounded by fresh air. There was even a fireplace! Tho we didn't need it. It's spring :P Where the bed was, we could watch TV. A tough battle with the couch tho.
No. 3
Oh! I must mention this BIGGGGGG jacuzzi bathtub with golden taps. How indulging!
After a hot shower, we drifted off to a nap. Erm, it was meant to be a nap initially but the tranquility turned it into a long one :P It was way past dinner time when we woke up. Luckily, we bought enough food to make dinner.
3Oct - Tamborine Mt. (Skywalk & Glow Worm Cave)
8.30am - the earliest we woke up for the entire trip...cos of free brekkie!
I love the button mushrooms! Yummy!
Stopped to take in the sights
Nature walk in the rainforest and ...
Skywalk!!!
Actually we thought it's overrated. Costs us AUD18.5o per person to get in and it didn't even take an hour. But well...we are tourists.
Beautiful Wisteria
With some time to spare, we popped by the Botanic Gardens. Was a much nicer place and the best part? It doesn't cost a thing.
A fascinating tour of the glow-worm cave. A pity the beauty can't be captured on film. The closest comparison is the "stars" on an Emirates plane.
Cute doggie at the backyard
Guy fixing the cable. Doggie's owner?
Waddle waddle
Our Trusty Ford for the trip
Drove back to the Knoll section to search for the waterfall. Didn't manage to find it but the walk was good exercise :P
Just in time to catch the sunset! See the rainclouds? It's gonna be a beautiful sunset! And so we waited...
and waited...
and waited. When we almost wanted to drive home...
Yippieee!
All thanks to this couple who was also there for the sunset (with wine & food) at the lookout. The sun appeared a minute after we "decided" to drive off. Indeed, some things take perseverance and patience.
The day ended well with a sumptuous dinner of lamb shank, stewed beef, choc. brulee & (gluten-free!) orange & almond cake :)
4Oct - Next stop, Gold Coast Broad Beach
See you again, nice place!
A refreshed me after 40 minutes of bb-driving-bb-snoozing
Imagine our excitement when we realized we got a spacious corner room with 3 windows (including the balcony) facing both sunset & sunrise :)
The bed was sooo...sooo comfy. We never woke up before 9am for the next few days
Beach View
River View
Pool view
The hotel is linked to the Jupiters Casino via the monorail station that is located right at its premises. How cool is that?!
Our dinner - cheap, fast and tasty fish & chips
5Oct - Gold Coast, Byron Bay
We rose early (enough) for a morning run. Skipped breakfast & headed straight to the beach. Has wanted to run to Surfer's Paradise but got kinda lost without a map. U-turned & decided to take a stroll back. The weather was so nice - a little sunny but breezy. Spotted a (dead) pufferfish & another unknown fish along the way. Forgot my cam so have to fall back on my photographic memory. But i guess my mediocre digital skills won't be able to capture the whole feel *just close your eyes*
JIT for brunch! Satisfied my craving for a pizza at this cafe just below the hotel. What next? Haha...had to do a bit of convincing to drive to Byron Bay. I'd visited the place more than 10 years ago with Stacey & Cecile - my 1st Oz trip. Remembered it to be a beautiful & happy place. Ha well, we rewarded ourselves with ice cream after a long drive & climb to the lighthouse. That was just 1 of the many reasons why.
After a long long drive and my long long fight with Monsta-Z, we finally reached Byron Bay - another Australian state : New South Wales!
How can we leave without indulging ourselves with some hokey pokey + strawberry sorbet?
Meanwhile, a pleasant surprise awaits us...
We arrived back in our room that overlooks this awesome sunset.
A facial mask & some sweet wine complete yet another lovely day.
6Oct - From Broad Beach to Brisbane Central
We had planned to wake up at 5am to catch the sunrise but it was cloudy. So we slept in.
Redeemed our welcome drinks at the gaming centre. Had my 1st try on the jackpot but no luck. I don't even understand the game...hhehe. Hence we bailed out with the remaining $3 - cash :)
Went for our brunch of kebab, baklava & sushi.
And i kept reminding myself we had to get the "Benny Hill" Christmas chestnut! Hahah! I totally wasn't expecting this tune when i pressed the knob at the side of this funny nut. Embarrassed :P
As we set off back to Brisbane Central, i suggested driving past Surfer's Paradise. Sort of a trip down memory lane thingy :)
Thinking that we missed the 2XU at Gold Coast, we were delighted when 2XU appears right at our face at Brisbane. Risking the possibility of getting another traffic penalty of "overtime" parking, we dashed into the store. Half an hour later, we are happy customers with good deals of a running skirt & new compression tights.
The Central branch was more business-like as well as ancient. The lobby reveals it all - dark but lit with tons of big candles. The room was not as bright but my mood was still light. Afterall, the bedding is the same - designed to make us feel as if we are in our own nest. Yay!
Before long, it was dinner time again! After gym, we headed for the Jap Curry House at Elizabeth Arcade but i guess we were too hungry. Both of us didn't order curry rice :P
7Oct - Mt Coot-Tha, Moreton Bay (Manly) & South Bank by Night
Here's a little something to remind myself not to jump to conclusions :P
While driving to Mt Coot-ha, i saw these words outside a store & excitedly remarked that it's cheap to get married in Brisbane.
Then...
The 9 behind was blocked by a lamp post. Duh me.
Perhaps it's not the flower-blooming season, the Botanic Gardens was so-so. But i still got smtg out from the visit. 1) Not all bees sting and these look like flies 2) Cosmonautics is the science of space travel
The lookout point that was higher offers a prettier views. Wanted to chill out at the cafe but the prices clearly imply a tourist trap.
And so with nothing much to hang around for, we moved on to Moreton Bay.
Though the tides were low, there is a certain peace in this place. We just sat back & did nothing. Bliss :)
Dinner was eventful this night.
Bratwurst by Treasury Casino.
Churros w/choc & cream (my first & i fell in love with it immediately) from the South Bank market
Jap Curry Pork Chop Rice at the other restaurant
Friday night was bustling with activities, which contrasts with a week day evening on the Brisbane streets. Or at least that's what it appears to us.
8Oct - Rest & Relax & South Bank by Day
brekkie of caesar salad w/smoked salmon, foccacio bread & Robert Timm's Mocha Kenya coffee
the church that we almost went in on the 1st day...well, not really :P
after some adventure gear shopping nearby, we headed back to Chinatown for...
the Big Deal (again) at Red Rooster! This time round, with peach green tea
we were in time for Valley Fiesta. How lucky!
(tho' i can't appreciate what the rock bank was playing)
Another grand church
By the traffic lights, a kangaroo backpacker & hill-billy me. Hhahaha!
Late munch at South Bank during the day! Yay!
Diamonds in the river!
This trishaw service seems to be operated by youngsters only & it's some kind of green cab
The Jap restaurant was not open but it led bb to remember a delicious find :)
Pancakes with brandied apricots
It used to be a church
After filling our tummies, we picked up our luggages & fill up Fordie's tum tum before handing it back to her boss, Thrifty.
Thanks Fordie! You have served us well :)
9Oct - Singapore
Sunset at B. Same sun but at a different B
Life is magnifique :)
