Merry X'mas !!!

" Joy to the world. "

This is the third installment to my Christmas posts since i entered the blogosphere three years ago. It is a tradition that i wish to continue. Going around places this Christmas, i took photographs of the decorations that they have put up to celebrate this joyous season. I expected more from certain places in Australia but may be i was a little too early. Nonetheless, the decorations are sure to mesmerize.

Christmas tree and me in Radisson Resort, GC.

While shopping in Harbour Town, GC.


Night strolling in Surfers Paradise, GC.

A random shot at a shop in GC. The shop created a cottage-feel that extends to the tree.

This has to be one of the best decorations this year- The Pavilion KL. I wasn't able to witness the decorations at night with lights, but during the day, it looks just as beautiful as it can get.

Sunway Pyramid is magnifique.

Jusco Wangsa Maju's tree. No much variation to the previous year though.

In Swiss-Inn SP. The Santa reacts to sound and sings!

The lovely tree in my aunt's home.

It was my first time visiting the Portuguese Settlement in Melaka and i am far from contentment after admiring their beautiful homes lit with Christmas light.

In awe. I think they actually compete amongst themselves.

This house allowed visitors to enter their home and get closer. See the Santa at the chimney?

Snowman greets at the entrance of the house.

Nice...

Sometimes, simplicity works best.

Starry...

More and more lights!

Red tree near Portuguese Square.

KLCC finally came up with something different. No longer the huge Christmas tree. Splendid Ginger bread man and candies!

Save the best for last. This is real tree, placed to perfection with the Christmas gifts at its foot.

Last night, i had a Christmas celebration with my aunts, uncle and cousins. It's so nice to get together, what more for this occasion. After the scrumptious dinner and some carolling came the most exciting part- the exchanging of gifts. This year, i got a tie and a book. My cousin also made cupcakes for all of us. Thank you!

Like previous years, i have been watching a lot of Christmas shows. Some simply touches you at heart.

Christmas is the season of giving, but what is the greatest gift of all? wc09 wishes you...

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

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.

Golden Gold Coast Experience 1

" Imagine... "

Six is the exact number of days i spent in Gold Coast, Australia. Six wonderful days. Hence, i have decided to split this vacation post into two parts and i hope you do enjoy them just as much as i did. As the navigator for the trip, i now have the map around Gold Coast in my mind and as the itinerary planner, i am ecstatic everything followed as planned and lived the trip with no regrets!

Gold Coast is located in Queensland, the eastern part of Australia. It is to the south of Queensland; below of which will be the New South Wales. It is two hours ahead of us here in Malaysia, simply put, if it's 10 am there, it's only 8 am here. It was Summer while we were there. From the LCCT airport, it took us 8 tiresome hours to reach our destination. Upon arrival at the Gold Coast Airport, we got to the car rental booth which i had pre-booked online to collect our car. Credits must be awarded to Australian road users. Malaysians are simply lethal on the road compared to them. Off, here we go!

Trust me, it'll get more exciting than this!

Radisson Resort Gold Coast
I have never experienced any hotel service better than here. This is the best hitherto! The receptionist, Paul, was helpful and friendly; the concierge assisted us in getting the tickets; a management trainee directed us to our rooms. Their warm and cordial welcome was definitely a nice way to begin our exciting vacation.

Pacific Fair Shopping Centre
Recommended by many websites for their abundance of shopping, this place is large. Often, i see myself before a map of the place. Although it was large, there was nothing much we bought except food for our breakfast the next day.

Aquaduck
This was interesting and surely one-of-a-kind. Like a duck, this bus traveled on land and later floated on the water. In the Aquaduck, a lady tour guide explained the whereabouts of the places, mainly the Surfers' Paradise area. This gave us a glimpse to our next 5 days in Gold Coast. However, the fee to ride on one is rather costly.

With the Aquaduck crew.

On land...

On water...

Infinity
Is a light maestro! Endless excitement filled us when we entered the maze made of mirrors and marveled at its superb light effects. We had to wiggle our way out through trap doors, walk pass the bottomless bridge and bounced around. This is a must-do when you are in Surfers' Paradise! Worth the price!

At the entrance of the maze.

Playing around with the lights.

Carrara Market
This market opens on weekends only. You can get lots of fresh fruits from here, that's for sure!

Peaches. Sweet peaches.

Dreamworld
The Big 6 thrill rides were what i looked forward to most. They were the rides that many people dare not even dare to look. Unfortunately, the Wipeout was closed on the day i was there and i managed to complete the other 5 only: the Claw, Cyclone, the Giant Drop, Motocoaster, and the Tower of Terror. If you dare, ride these as they are the more thrilling ones that will leave with you an impact and you'll walk away feeling somehow delighted and satisfied.

The Claw swings you like a pendulum, and rotates you while you are swung above.

The Giant Drop lifts you up 119 metres high before falling down! I screamed until i reached a point where there was no voice coming out.

Along with the Giant Drop is the Tower of Terror which blasts you away at a speed of 100 mph! That's super fast for a ride!

Pointing towards the two thrill rides.

Dreamworld is divided into several sections. At each section, there will be rides and attractions to go for. If you go to Dreamworld, you MUST enter the AVPX, a new attraction in the Dreamworld. We were given a laser gun and divided into two teams: human and infected human. Our mission is to see who survives and scores the higher point. How i wish we have one like this in Malaysia!

The tiger behaviour presentation in the Tiger Island.

Tiger leaping from platform to platform.

I like the setting of the Dreamworld.

Caught the Rugrats mascot around the park.

Bidding farewell to the park.

Dreamworld is a place worth going. Whether or not you enjoy rides, the place will fascinate you and you'll be entertained. My recommendations are the Big 6- if you dare, and the AVPX.

Seaworld
In the itinerary, this park was the most appealing to me. May be because it was my passion for marine animals and my enthusiasm for these magnificent creatures. The sea lion show and the dolphin show are a MUST-watch when you visit Seaworld. The sea lion show was hilarious and creative, yet the message was sent across. The dolphin show was splendid and entertaining, with amazing heights reached by their jump from the water. Even the rides: Bermuda Triangle, Viking Flume and Jet Rescue (Corkscrew was closed on that day) were awesome. The effects were stunning!

Waiting in line to enter.

The awesome sea lion show.

In the Polar Bear shore.

Jump and dive! Way to go!

Trying to touch the rays in the pool.

Big Bird statue in the Sesame Street sections. This park is also divided into several sections.

Jet Rescue caught me by surprise of its speed. I didn't expect this to be fast. Can you spot me? Go for this if you're looking for a thrilling experience in Seaworld.

Patting a statue of a dolphin. Background is the pirate ship, in the making, for a Pirate Unleashed show coming soon in Seaworld.

Seaworld was definitely not a let down. I am glad and truly appreciate the work done by the Seaworld personnel to maintain, preserve and conserve marine animals. There will always be a place in my heart for these creatures. My recommendations are the sea lion and dolphin shows, the Bermuda Triangle and the Jet Rescue. Also, take a tour around the underwater tunnel and get closer to some marine creatures.

More is yet to come, i can assure you that! wc09 will begin constructing the second part...

Coming Soon...

Dubbed as the most anticipated holiday and the most exciting vacation ever, my Gold Coast experience is coming up your way here soon. With pristine white beaches and breathtaking views to jaw-dropping rides and thrilling, heart-stopping sensation, there is just so much to offer!

2012- Time for miracles?

" We were warned. Who will be left behind? "
" The moment we stop fighting for each other, that's the moment we lose our humanity. " - 2012

When i saw the trailer months ago, i said to myself, "This is a movie i must watch in the cinema after my exams!" Despite the fact that many people should be having the 'Twilight' fever now and i should be watching the'New Moon' instead, honestly, i'm not a fan of the Twilight series at all.



2012 was phenomenal- no doubt. It is the BEST DISASTER movie ever produced! Rich with computer effects, this movie actually brought up the question on our humanity- and that was when i broke down in the cinema!

John Cusack.

And his family.

The movie started with much development on the plot and the coming of the disaster. Sharing the scientific research on the end of the world was, to me, rather scary. Although i told myself that this is just a fictional movie made for entertainment, the information made it seemed so real.

Effects...

So much water.

Since it's a disaster movie, you sort of know and predict the ending. There weren't any twists in the plot, just more and more complications. The cast in this movie is great, though they were unfamiliar to me. But the strength on this movie lies on the script- apart from its brilliant effects. I had never shed a tear in the cinema since the Lion King and this movie, surprisingly, made my eyes red! Seriously! The most touching moment was in the last thirty minutes of the show. How some people could be so selfish for survival, that they forget the humanity in us. How the family bonds and ties solidifies and sacrifices for one another. Before i entered the cinema, i told my mum, sister, brother and aunt that this movie is just for us to enjoy the computer effects. I left feeling so 'cheated'. I cannot say further. Go watch it! Go! It was still full when i went two weeks after the opening.

The feeling of feeling hopeless and helpless in this mega-movie! Pictures from RottenTomatoes.

Alright, time for small-screen now. I watched the Superstars of Dance finale and its a dance show worth watching! International stage from various countries compete in this competition. My favourite for the Group was the Irish team but they did not make it into the finals. Winner was team US and they were deserving champions!






Just starting is the Biggest Loser Asia and i find this a good reality movie. Whether or not you win the cash prize, you are already a step to being a winner in your life. A healthier you is the priceless win for the contestant. Way to go!

2012- a time for miracles to happen? wc09 is blown away... and the Avatar is next on his watch list!