Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Golden Gold Coast Experience 2

" Hollywood on the Gold Coast " - WB Movie World tag line

" There is a child in every man. There is, and always will be. "

Since we were there during the Summer, we were lucky that the weather was co-operating with our schedule; though it was hot, it was windy throughout the day. Another thing about visiting Australia is that we did not have to face any language difficulty. English is widely spoken in Australia and asking people for directions became a task not too difficult to handle.


Movieworld
Arguably the best theme park for us in the Gold Coast. It was crowded with people on the day we were there. Queuing in line for rides took about an hour, which somehow frustrates me as waiting in line for the ride had forced me to compromise and skipped the other shows on that day. Nonetheless, it was worth the wait. As this was from the Warner Bros, i anticipated my meet with the Batman and some Looney Tune characters like Bugs Bunny and Tweety Bird- i had grown up and remain fond of them.

This was the Bat-mobile used in the movie.

Daffy Duck led by example.

Lucky to capture a photograph with the Flash and Green Lantern- part of the Justice League.

At the entrance of the Hollywood Stunt Driver show- my personal favourite in the park.


A short video from the show. Enjoy. The end was the best, filled with crazy stunts and explosions that wowed me!

Superman Escape is a MUST ride if you dare! It falls almost vertical and you have to tighten your grip as it moves at magnificent speed. This took an hour wait but it's worth it. Lethal Weapon was thrilling too as it flips you upside down. Don't underestimate the Scooby Doo ride- it's a fun surprise for all. Batwing Spaceshot was under maintenance that day- i wanted to ride on that. Nevertheless, the rides were simply awesome!

Don't miss the All Star Parade at 3.30 pm. It's the chance to catch all of your favourite WB characters!

Movieworld is a MUST go if you are in Gold Coast. My recommendations are the Superman Escape, Lethal Weapon, Scooby Doo, Shrek 4D rides, and the Hollywood Stunt Driver show with the All Star Parade. My visit to the Movieworld only elevated my interest toward the WB characters- Batman is my favourite while the Looney Tune characters will always be my childhood companion.


Surfers' Paradise
Many attractions are centralized in this area. Apart from its white sandy beaches, this place also offers lots and lots of shopping. On Wednesday night while we were there, we experienced the night market and to be frank, the atmosphere is totally different back home. At night, there were street shows too- musicians and magicians alike.

Ambled around Surfers' Paradise at night.

Running along the crystal clear water while enjoying the breaking of the waves.

Basking in the relaxation.


Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary
Here brings you close to nature; and close encounters with the adorable creatures. It was not as crowded as the other parks that we went, which was a relief. There were shows and presentations to catch for in this place.

This is imagination...

And this is reality... After the show, they allowed us to get closer to the animals presented- possum and baby snake. The presenter clearly stated that we are allowed to choose only one animal to get closer to, as if you have touched the possum, the snake may assume you as their food. I battled the odds and disobeyed the rule, looking at the snake's head every time it got closer to my right hand- i used my right hand to touch the possum before this shot.

Visiting Australia without kangaroos and koala bears equates not visiting Australia at all. Nothing beats the feeling of watching the kangaroos hopping together. Watch the short video i managed to capture.



Later in the day, there was the aboriginal dance and culture show. It was an entertaining watch.

Ending the trip to the wildlife sanctuary with the lorikeets' feeding. I adore these birds, colourful and unique. I was lucky enough as many birds came to my plate, and even to my head, as on that day, we were not so lucky to have many wild lorikeets flying around. Patience is essential for the birds to come, and a little stir of technique.

CWS was a nice visit as i enjoy being around and close to nature. Apart from the lorikeets, possum, snake and kangaroos, i challenged myself to lift a baby crocodile and got near an eagle- the feeling was amazing!


Kirra and Coolongatta Beach
According to the many websites i surfed, these beaches are more popular to surfers as the waves are better. They are located in the southern most part of Queensland.

Jump shot!


Point Danger
The view from this location is breathtaking! It is on a higher ground and you can see not only the cities from here but the waves coming in. The more interesting fact is that we can be on both places at once, without splitting ourselves into 2.

Hiking up the slope to witness the panoramic view was a sure reward! The horizon was clear beauty and the waves crashing into the rocks was a sight to behold.

This was what i meant- my right foot is standing on the New South Wales while my left foot is stepping the Queensland ground. 2 places at once.

Point Danger is a distant drive from the place we stayed in but it was worth the visit. The satisfaction achieved from the visit outweighs the journey back and forth.


Glow Worm Cave
Located at the Cedar Creek Estate, approximately an hour drive from where we stayed. These worms are unique and one-of-a-kind. They glow in the dark and this cave is specially built to protect these worms. The tour began with an introductory about these little worms before we were given a 'star' to enter the cave. By observation, these worms are tiny and silk-like shaped. The glow comes from their back. Despite its size, we managed to observe one wiggling through the silk web it produced. The admission fee was reasonable but it was rather far in, the hinterland.

In the man-made cave for the worms.


Harbour Town Shopping Centre
This place is a one-stop shopping destination. It boasts shopping, shopping and more shopping. The things were cheap, if i am an Australian, but the fact that with currency conversion, i replaced the items i wanted back on the rack. Nonetheless, i managed to buy some things there.

The Harbour Town visit marked our final destination in Gold Coast. Heavy-hearted, we had to pack our belongings and prepared to fly back home. The vacation was truly a golden experience! I am grateful to my parents and hereby thank them for the trip. They have realized one of my many must-visit places in the world and if given a chance, i will want to visit Gold Coast again.

My last dinner in Gold Coast- grilled snapper.


wc09 & Gold Coast.

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