Brisbane 2014 Day 4 – Parklands and shopping

The sleep was ok in Seaworld resort but it was kinda noisy at times. The sounds could come from neighboring room during their baths where sounds from the running water could be heard or when the fridge started up after a while or from some excited kids at the corridor.

Woke up at 745am as it wasn’t a busy day. Packed and had our packed breakfast from the day before. Checked out at 930am before making our 2nd trip to Sea World to catch the seals’ show we missed the day before. It was an interesting show with the animals being part of a cast of a detective storyline. Amazing to see some the big seals doing the tricks that were instructed, returning to catch the show was worth it. We liked the dolphin show better though.

Our breakfast.
Our breakfast.
Macaroons bought from the night market.
Macaroons bought from the night market.

 

 

Another stamp another day.
Another stamp another day.
Dolphin close to walkway.
Dolphin close to walkway.
Seal with a box.
Seal with a box.
Seal showmanship.
Seal showmanship.
A pelican joined the show.
A pelican joined the show.
One of the limited number of rides.
One of the limited number of rides.
Obstacles course in Seaworld.
Obstacles course in Seaworld.

Left Sea World and drove about an hour down to Brisbane. Checked in at the Meriton Serviced apartments and was given a low floor of 20, comparing the towering 70 over floors that it had. Lifts were all controlled using the electronic card and dedicated to the users. Room was ready and it was amazing. Modern design, very spacious, not too bad a view, a great deal of facilities, good proximity to most of the areas we wanted to visit for a comparatively affordable price. Only for the carpark that was Aud35 a night, it was a good accommodation overall.

Living Room
Living Room
Kitchenette.
Kitchenette.
Small study.
Small study.
Huge comfortable bed.
Huge comfortable bed.
Dryer and washing machine.
Dryer and washing machine.
Toilet.
Toilet.
Shower.
Shower.
View from the bedroom.
View from the bedroom.

In search for lunch we walked about 20 mins to the South Bank Parklands across the river. The walk was easy in the lovely weather and we enjoyed the beautifully designed city and park. And there was free wifi, everywhere in the park! Over at Little Stanley street, there were rows of food cafés and restaurants and we settled for Japanese restaurant Ginga, something affordable and ok food.

Bridge across the river.
Bridge across the river.
Museum
Museum
Restaurants lining Stanley street.
Restaurants lining Stanley street.
View of the parklands.
View of the parklands.
Ginga restaurant.
Ginga restaurant.
Lunch - Katsu Don and Curry rice.
Lunch – Katsu Don and Curry rice.

After lunch, we crossed over to another row of cafés inside the parkland itself, visited Stone Cold Creamery for some ice cream. There were some policemen that were standing around a person somewhere closed by, didn’t bother to find out more as we left soon after we were done with ice cream.

We walked off our lunch as we went past the man made pool/beach within the parklands and past the ferries wheel and across Victoria beach towards Queen Street Mall.

Man made pool in the Parklands.
Public pool in the Parklands.
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
Ferris wheel in the park.

Shopping here reminded me of Sydney, but at a much smaller area. Had some stuff to buy and visited the stores such as Myer and Target. In the end didn’t get anything much since prices weren’t that cheap.

Treasury building near shopping street.
Treasury building near shopping street.
Inside Myer shopping mall.
Inside Myer shopping mall.
Queen Mall Street.
Queen Mall Street.

We decided to go to the City Botanic Gardens for a short stroll about 600m stroll southwards. Nothing fantastic about the gardens, maybe we didn’t walk that much of it, but the chilly weather makes walking in these parks feel great.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Plants arrangement in the Botanic Gardens.
Plants arrangement in the Botanic Gardens.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

As the sun started to set, we got to Coles to purchase some pasta and soup to cook in the kitchenette of our services apartment.

Touch screen for lift operation.
Touch screen for lift operation, that’s cool!

Cooked some dinner, washed some clothes (washing machine and dryer provided) caught some tv and went to bed. Skipped the Mount Cool Tha lookout as it was already dark and simply too lazy to do so.

Good night Brisbane!
Good night Brisbane!

 

Gold Coast 2014 Day 3 – Sea World and Movie World

Light that came from the window woke me up. Went to the balcony and struggled against the morning chill to take pictures. Went back to sleep when the sun came up.

Break of dawn at the Sunshine State.
Break of dawn at the Sunshine State.

Got up again at about 745am and got prepared. Checked out and paid for carpark which was Aud8 per day and drove to Pancakes on the Rocks, the branch in Gold Coast! Our 2nd visit here since the last time in Sydney and it didn’t fail to disappoint.

Parking by the roadside was easy, ordered a Chicken Mushroom Crepe and Blueberry Pancake. Crepe was tasty and smelled really great. Pancake was tasty just as usual. Had a filling breakfast before driving to Sea World Resort.

Chicken and Mushroom Crepe.
Chicken and Mushroom Crepe.
Blueberry Pancake
Blueberry Pancake

The GPS brought us to the Sea World main entrance itself but the resort entrance was further down the road.

We checked in and left our luggage with the concierge. On to our first Sea World park, which was free for these 2 days, being part of the accommodation package. Walked the resort entrance to wait for the tram but decided to walk instead as the tram regular timing was 20mins. The staff stamped a Dora stamp on our wrists, for reentry purposes.

Dora stamp
Dora stamp

Went to the Reef Rays exhibition and touched some rays. Waited till 11am as we thought there was some feeding going on but it was in fact feeding by the public who had to purchase 5 fishes to feed, for Aud9. Too expensive for us.

Pool of adult stingrays
Pool of adult stingrays
This one protrudes out of the water against the wall.
This one protrudes out of the water against the wall.
Touched the stingray as it swam past us.
Touched the stingray as it swam past us.

Walked over to the dolphin show and thoroughly enjoyed a great show by the dolphins. Lots of acrobatic jumps from them.

Death defying dolphins acrobatics
Death defying dolphins acrobatics

Went over to the shark encounter and the underwater exhibition area. Was pretty impressed to see lots of underwater sea creatures swimming around, even saw a shark with a young one under its tail.

Shark with its young.
Shark with its young.

Proceeded over to the polar bear encounter and saw 2 bears, one of them playing around with a green plastic barrier piece until it got its head stuck in it! That was really funny as it had went on for a while until he took it off.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
Stuck!

After the polar bears, went over to the penguin exhibits and for the first time, we saw Emperor Penguins! These huge birds looked great and it was just fun to see them in the ice cold enclosure, some standing proud, some lying flat on their tummies and others flapping their wings.

Emperor penguins in all sorts of postures.
Emperor penguins in all sorts of postures.

Then we went to get lunch, had Domino’s pizzas. We finished off with some shopping before leaving the park for Movie World, which was also free.

Pelican vs Tram.
Saw this funny scene. Pelican vs Tram.
Crowded lunch area.
Crowded lunch area.
Dominos for lunch.
Dominos for lunch.

It was a 10km drive away and by the time we reached the park, it was almost 230pm. Proceeded first to watch the Scooby Doo show which frankly was kinda meant more for kids. Then we walked around the park and shops.

Green Lantern ride can be seen from the outside.
Green Lantern ride can be seen from the carpark.
Warner Brothers Movie World theme park.
Warner Brothers Movie World theme park.
Scooby Doo show.
Scooby Doo show.
Superman escape ride.
Superman escape ride.
Western theme.
Western theme.
Some indoor thrill ride that was closed.
Some indoor thrill ride that was closed.

There were a couple of thrilling rides which we can’t enjoy (due to preggy) so went back to watch the main parade where characters get to walk down the Main Street.

It was a good thing that we sat at the kerb 15mins before the parade to secure a good visual and of course, some hi-fiving opportunity. However it seemed we have chosen the wrong side of the kerb as most characters were at the opposite side of the road. Wifey to get to hi five Batman and Flash though.

Bugs and Co. on parade.
Bugs and Co. on parade.
Why so serious? Joker on parade.
Why so serious? Joker on parade.
Justice League on parade.
Justice League on parade.
Dark Knight arrived on his Batmobile.
Dark Knight arrived on his Batmobile.
Tried to catch hi-fiving Flash on camera but he was too quick.
Tried to catch hi-fiving Flash on camera but he was too quick.
Batman was close by.
Batman was close by.

After the parade, I queued for the Superman escapes ride for at least a good 15mins, when I didn’t knew there was already a queue within the building. But it was good ride, super-man was really fast, too scarily fast. After that, I got onto Green Lantern ride, wasn’t that quick but exciting ride as well since we got flipped upside down. Unfortunately for the 2 rides, I was partially blind without my glasses (not allowed on the ride, taken care before entering the ride proper) but it was still fun as well.

Superman escape with the speed of light!
Superman escape with the speed of light!
Screaming my head out, as I zoomed past.
Screaming my head out, as I zoomed past.
About to flip over.
About to flip over.

Left with the sun setting in the horizon and a chill coming in. Went back to get our hotel room before going out for dinner, as the resort restaurant dinner was pretty expensive.

Double queen bed.
Double queen bed.
Toilet.
Toilet.
Bathtub.
Bathtub.

Ended up in Surfers Paradise again and while walking, saw a Night Market going about and went walking around. There were many arts and handicraft stuff, some clothing and some foodstuff. We bought some cakes from a store before going over to Ben’s for dinner. Ordered fish and chips and a chicken burger.

Night Market in Surfer's Paradise.
Night Market in Surfer’s Paradise.
Ben's dinning place.
Ben’s dinning place.
Chicken burger.
Chicken burger.
Grilled Barramundi with chips.
Grilled Barramundi with chips.

After dinner, bought some bread stuff from Woolsworth for the breakfast the next day before driving back to the resort. Then it was internet and sleep before an early visit to the Sea World again, since we missed the seals show in the morning at 1030am.

Escape plan to Australia and Fiji in August 2014

A brief summary on the itinerary

Escape Plan to Australia and Fiji in August 2014:

Total duration 18D17N
Singapore is 2hrs behind Australia and 5hrs behind Fiji.
Flight time is 6hrs direct flight on Scoot from Singapore to Gold Coast.
Night flight on 25th July and arrival in Gold Coast at 8am on the next day.
Return flight is 8hrs direct flight on Scoot from Sydney to Singapore. Day flight on a Monday afternoon (off in lieu for National Day) at 1240pm and arrival at 7pm on the same day.

Day 1&2 Arrival at Gold Coast
Day 3 Sea World and Movie World
Day 4 Brisbane Parklands and shopping
Day 5 Arrival at Nadi
Day 6 Nadi town, Port Denarau and Robinson Crusoe Night cruise
Day 7 Arrival at Matamanoa Island
Day 8 Matamanoa Island
Day 9 Modriki Island
Day 10 Nadi Transit to Melbourne
Day 11 Arrival in Hobart
Day 12 Bonorong and Port Arthur
Day 13 Freycinet National Park
Day 14 Cradle Mountain and Dove Lake
Day 15 Strahan and Lake St. Clair
Day 16 Penguin, Cataract Gorge and Lauceston
Day 17 Platypus house, Sunday Market, City Park and Launceston town
Day 18 Home Sweet Home

This escape plan was planned as our last overseas holiday for 2014 before delivery of little one. As it was summer in the northern hemisphere, we had to choose to head south. Only Australia was presented an option that was not too far away based on flight time. Fiji was a side trip as it was cheaper to fly to Fiji from Australia then from Singapore.

Budget nature: Budget buster.

This is definitely not cheap for the duration, the weaker currency of Singapore dollar against the Australian dollar, the higher prices of food and accommodation in Australia and a side trip to island resort in Fiji.

Complexity: Easy to get around if you drive in Aussie. Fiji travel by taxi is manageable.

The various cities of Australia is easy accessible by their advance network of public transport but driving would be the easier way to get around. This is even more true in more countryside Tasmania.

Getting around in Fiji is hassle free by taxi but expensive. If you are adventurous enough, you could take their cheaper local transport.