Gold Coast September 2007

i just realised that i haven't posted this yet...

"sama ka sa gold coast"?.... that started it all...

then i found myself booking flights for myself, ruby and rondz... since then, the excitement just builds up everyday... being a themepark and beach buff, going to gold coast has always been in my wish list since i came to australia... and it definitely is a wish that came true...

while i took care of researching for the cheapest flight and surfing the net for what the theme parks have to offer, rondz owned up the hotel reservation... flight + hotel + ourselves... 27-30 september... gold coast, here we come!!!...

counting the days to the 27th is a mix of excitement and harassment... too excited for the thrill rides and for the beach... that actually was our inspiration to beat harassment... things need to be done, work needs to be finished, bosses needs to be pleased... but no worries, everything's manageable - we'll finish our task and we are going to enjoy our holiday...

at this point, im reminded of sgv where going for a holiday is like a mortal sin... you can't be broadcasting to everyone that you're going on a holiday if you don't want to see raised eyebrows and if you don't want to hear the famous unbeatable "buti ka pa..." line which is intended to engrave a feeling of guilt in your heart... here in sydney, everyone literally shares your excitement when you go for holidays... no guilt feelings, no work dramas of that sort... you are free to be happy... and they are happy for you too...

alright, here we go...

27 September, Thursday - off to the central station at around 630 to catch a train going to the domestic airport. we were among the early birds at the check-in counter, had dinner at red rooster while waiting for the boarding time... hmm, this is also my first domestic flight in australia.... the flight was 1 hr and 10 minutes.. of course, our cameras are always ready for every angle... 3 auditors on board = perfect documentation...

i probably don't even need to write here the first thing we did when we reached the hotel... (hint: canon!)... then we spent the next half hour or so surfing the net and planning the days ahead... we only have 3 days, can't waste a single minute....

i've been to more than a couple of themeparks and have definitely tried more than a couple of fun and thrill rides - this excited me but at the same time worried me as i've set a very high expectation of gold coast themeparks and i'll definitely be so sad if it turns out turkey... as much as i can, i tried to keep the excitement and ignored the silly expectations...

28 September, Friday - Warner Bros Movie World... still kilometers away, i can already see superman and batman... wew!!!! yep, we're finally here!!!... with a map on one hand and a camera on the other, we bravely entered the park as if all rides are gonna be chicken...we decided to follow the thrill challenge itinerary as suggested on the map to make sure we don't miss the action-packed thrill rides...

we started the day with what WB Movie World claim to be the best in the park... SUPERMAN ESCAPE... it is the southern hemisphere's #1 roller coaster flying 100km/hr... we queued for about an hour but its definitely worth the wait.... then off to Australia’s newest thrill ride… BATWING SPACESHOT which launches 60m vertically through 4.5Gs then plummet back to earth in a breathe catching negative-G descent… tip: swing your feet to relax yourself… after a couple of photos and video of both rides, we’re off to LETHAL WEAPON where you’re strapped in 20 tonnes of steel and propelled along 765 metres of cold hard track. Dives, bends, rollovers, sidewinders, double spins, loops and plunges – it’s all here, now this is what I call the best rollercoaster ever… with that, its time to refuel for the next rides… we head off to GOTHAM City Café… too hungry? – the riddler combo (beef burger, chips and coke) is the perfect treat!!! Perfect timing as the parade is up next – love batman, who can be sexier than catwoman, shrek is there of course, looney tunes gang were there, but hey, where is superman?!... on our way to the next ride, we tried our luck on one of the games, unfortunately, we were not that lucky yet… the WILD WEST FALLS ADVENTURE RIDE drops 20 metres at 70 km/hr – the effects before the drop amazed me more than the actual drop, its probably because I’ve been to more than a couple of this kind of ride before... now the next one wasn’t how I expected it to be… SCOOBY-DOO SPOOKY COASTER… wasn’t scared of the coaster, but m so scared with how spooky it can get… the amazing lighting and sound effects really got us ducking, weaving, screaming and laughing…i guess scooby-doo gave us some luck… we went back to the “ball –shooting” game… its not as easy as it looks, you have to shoot a ball in a big pail but you have to have the right balance otherwise, the ball will bounce back! Ending: we brought home 1 biggie bunny and 6 smallish =)… that was the end of Movieworld’s Thrill Challenge – of course, we survived!!!

as we still have an hour before closing time, we din’t miss going around the park and getting amazed with the rest what the park has to offer… we went around looney tunes village, took some photos, brought some souvenirs, had ice cream before we decided to head off… it was SUCH a long day…

by the time we arrived at the hotel, we were starving, but that din’t spoil our excitement to soak in the pool… poor rondz as he has to go to the resto and order our food… he dint have much time to swim… good thing the food was really yummy… and I mean yummy!!! and, and, and!!! how can I forget, that this night is also what I call the “freedom” night… unfortunately, details can’t be divulged in this blog!... suffice to say, that IT was indeed a night!!! whatever that means…

29 September, Saturday… we started off really early, and by mid-morning, we are already by the beach – Surfer’s Paradise! The sun is soooo ready to burn our skin (not that mine can be burnt further, duh!). At the first instance, I favoured Surfer’s Paradise over Bondi, but I don’t necessarily think that this is a fair judgment. Oh, it also reminded me of Hawaii, yes, Hawaii… in front of you is the cool beach and behind you are tall buildings and hotels. No one’s ready for a swim yet, so after so-so clicks with canon, we headed off to SeaWorld! Entering seaworld made me feel like a kid again – I guess, that’s partly because of the smart kid we chatted with on the bus on the way. More so, when we pass by sesame street (not really a big fan that’s because I rarely watch it when I was a kid!), it makes me feel like going back to my younger years! Undoubtedly a roller coaster addict, I led the march to Cork Screw all the way to the very front of the coaster – it was great!!! Of course, we also did not miss the Pirate Ship. Although I would say, the Anchor’s Away in Enchanted Kingdom is much bigger, they both have the same impact on your stomach (yes, who don’t feel throwing up, raise your hand!!!). It was a good ride that gave us a birds eye view over Sea World. Next stop was the “Unknown” – I really can’t remember the name of the ride but I perfectly remember its entrance that says “Entrance to the Unknown” – that was a cool ride… true enough, every next turn is “unknown” – surpirise surprise!!! Now, hurry, hurry, and I mean, run… we can’t miss the dolphin show! I’ve been to so many dolphin shows already but this one really stunned me – those dolphins were hell amazing, makes me want to hug them… I seriously salute their trainers!!! After being amazed by the dolphins, we bid a quick hello to the polar bears and the sharks on our way back. We decided to take the cable car ride so we won’t miss the “Waterski Wipe Out”. That I would say is my favourite part of our Seaworld trip – one, because, I haven’t seen that kind of show in other themeparks I’ve been too before and two, because, those waterskiers were just bloody talented!!! They deserve a round of applause and a standing ovation!!! That was our day at Seaworld, now we are so ready for a swim! We went back to Surfer’s Paradise for a swim and of course, needless to say --- more pictures!!!

We planned to go to Brisbane but the cab charge is just not worth it… blah blah blah… we had dinner and next thing I know, I was deep sleep… no, I wasn’t drunk (missed the pubs! next time!)… just seriously tired…

30 September, Sunday… again up so early, its our last day and we have to pack our things ready for check out… “ano suot nyo?”… “pants na lang para direcho na sa airport”… “shorts ako, init kaya”… “e d na tayo makakapagpalit eh”… “oo nga”… “ cge na nga, ako na din”… everyone in jeans, off to Dreamworld… Excited? Ready! First stop, The Claw - tried traveling 9 storeys into the air, swinging at up to 75 km/hr? and wait, it also spins 360 degrees! who is scared? – ghie!, yes, nachicken ako while we were on queue… it feels literally being thrown up up, in circle and away! but duh, I love it and I really love it! Just right next to The Claw is the Wipe Out! The Wipeout spins, twists and tumbles you through a body-wrenching range of dumping breaker waves leaving you helpless - strapped in the middle with no lifeline. It was bloody awesome!!! Our next stop is a ride that left me twirled – I hate it but rondz loves it! I’ll never ride that again – er, I forgot the name! Cyclone is next – it travels 13 storeys with 1000 tones of high-speed, heart thumping, hair raising twists, and into a 360-degree loop and screaming sidewinder. It was cool and great but not very extraordinary compared to the other roller coasters. Ah, huge thanks to Cyclone, it gave me a view of Whitewaterworld – naku naku I want to go, I want to go, I want to go!!! Yah, right, we are in jeans!!! Okay, decide now, are we or are we not?! “Eto na, dapat kc nagshorts na lang talaga tayo”… Eh, no worries, thanks to that shop, ripped off $85 from my card for a pink thong, pink shortie shorts and a pink top… Don’t get too excited with Whitewaterworld guys, we can’t miss Giant Drop! - the tallest, free-falling ride in the world, according to the Guinness Book of World records. Free fall time is 5 seconds. The cruise to the top takes approximately 90 seconds. Falling 120 metres is the equivalent of falling from a 39-storey building. Giant Drop is the reason I insisted on Dreamworld (and yes, its my favorite). Aha, again, I felt so chicken on the queue – seryoso natakot ako although im really excited! Good thing, it took a while before our turn and then I was able to compose myself, eto na, the fear has died down, its now pure excitement!!! Okay, here we go… up, up, up, up, up… right, the view is great isn’t it, its amazing, we’re so close to the sky, tic tac tic tac, going down yet? dunno… yah, yah, couple of chats, then only who knows when… drop!!! Waaaahhhhhh…aaaaahhhh… aaaaahhhh… thank god, im still alive!!! That was fantastic!!! 2 rides we missed in Dreamworld are the Motocoaster and the Tower of Terror – we obviously wanted to go but the waiting time means we can’t go to the Whitewaterworld (the newest waterpark in Australia). Entering the waterpark makes me miss my family, especially my nephews and nieces – i’m sure they will love this place! Who wouldn’t?!!! Hyper as I am, run it is, not just walk… the park is closing in 3 hours. What can be a braver start than The Rip? It launches from a 16 metre tower into 12 metres of pitch black terror before blasting into a massive bowl of WhiteWater’s best. After the massive whirlpool of high speed revolutions, you are sucked into the corkscrew core, blasted through a huge curtain of water to experience a momentary weightlessness before launching into the plunge pool. That was a blast!!! Next stop is the BRO (Blue Ringed Octopus) – using specially designed sled mats, with your head first, slide from 16 metres high into a maze of thrilling twists and turns reaching speeds of around 50 km/hr. That was so great!!! The Green Room is up next. The almost an hour wait was definitely worth it. The specially designed 4 person cloverleaf tube accelerates from a 75 metre tunnel to a 15 metre funnel before literally dropping out! You are thrown into the upper hemisphere, off back-to-back vertical banks before a needle-nose splashdown that will give the most hardened of thrill seekers the chills. That was definitely amazing!!! And now… (drum rolls please)… I din’t know water parks have roller coasters too --- Super Tubes Hydrocoaster – it is a water-based rocket and the world’s very latest innovation in waterslide thrills and technology. That’s my favorite amongst the water rides – bloody awesome!!! What a day it was! Of course, we din’t miss some clicks, no way! And, obviously, we can’t hide the joy – no one can be more photogenic than us that day!!!

Needless to say that our holiday in Gold Coast is a blast!!! It was superb!!! I just love it!!!

In behalf of my Gold Coast buddies, i would like to thank our sponsors...

- Google.com for redirecting me to the right websites of the themeparks
- American Express for letting me book our flights...
- Jetstar for the budget airfare and the bonus bumpy landing...
- Sydney City Rail for the quick ride to the airport...
- Raddisson hotel for the nice accomodation, the daily morning transfers, and the luscious dinner...
- Gold Coast surfside bus lines for the great road trips to the theme parks...
- Rip Curl, Billabong and Roxy for dressing us up to the White Waterworld (what a rip off!)...
- Canon for our magnificent photos...
- Doritos, our official chips...

Lastly, what can be a better bonus if not dvds styled by rhie - it was absolutely fantastic!!!!

I can’t end without sayin’, “been there, done that, definitely going back!!!”…