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Published: August 6th 2007
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Greetings from paradise!Surfers Paradise that is. Arrived last Sunday after (thank god) only a two hour trip from Byron. Starting to feel like Greyhound buses are my second home at this point! But there is still so much traveling left to do right up to Cape Tribulation so I may get used to it (...and the smell of the onboard toilet!)
Well, about Surfers, Surfers Paradise is a large commercial centre set on the Gold Coast. Huge skyscrapers tower above the wonderful beaches, and make up part of a lively and modern town. There is plenty of nightlife and shopping around (...someone confiscate my credit card please!) as well as sea world, dream world and movie world (Austalia's take on the Universal theme park, etc based in Florida.) Apparently in the post-apocalyptic world of Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior, the "paradise" that the refugees hoped to reach is none other than Surfers Paradise. Also Surfers beach was voted as one of the best beaches in the world by the American Travel Channel and was judged Queensland's Cleanest Beach in 2006 (and yes it's still clean now)
It's really such a beautiful place, it is just heart breaking walking by
all the 5 star resorts when you have to settle for the backpacker life! (Oh to find a rich man!) In saying that our YHA located at Main Beach on Mariners Cove is really lovely. It over looks the marina and the kitchen and lounge is all opened out from the balcony- so you get a nice sea breeze (not the cocktail unfortunately!) Very picturesque, so no complaints.
The day we arrived there was an open air concert called Fisho's at Mariners Cove which is held weekly and always draws the biggest crowd on a Sunday night and here was me and Susan thinking they all turned up to welcome us!
We wasted no time upon our arrival and got to planning our next day. Ever since myself and Susan set off on this trip I have continuously heard of her ambition to swim with the dolphins so it had to be seaworld next on the agenda. In my sunburned state I decided to sit this one out and be the good friend to take photos for her in the event that if the dolphin brushed up against my legs I would squeal at it and it would probably bite
me! Had such a great morning watching the dolphin show and cheering on Susan who had decided to keep it on the downlow that she can only swim in 5 feet of water, so I was ready to kick into Baywatch mode at any time. But she survived and has the tale to tell along with some cool pics I managed to get- so you go girl!
The rest of the day was spent watching the wipeout water skiing show, the quest for the golden seal show and when we got rained off the park- the 4D nature show. Thankfully it dried up soon in time for us to do the pirate ship ride, the corkscrew rollercoaster and the Burmuda Triangle tunnel ride. Susan apparently found it very amusing that I went into the Burmuda tunnel with straight hair and came out with an afro (little dolphin swimming swine!) All in all a great day (apart from the hair obviously!)
Next day we decided to go to discover the paradise that the surfers love so much and the famous coast of golden sands by hitting Main beach (of course I had to sunbathe with my combats on to cover my
barbequed legs!) and after just over 30 minutes the sun decided to disappear behind a sky full of grey clouds so I took the hint and headed back to the hostel. Susan hung on a bit longer praying for the sun to return but she admitted defeat soon after. So what else is a girl to do now but hit the shops! Was a good girl though and limited myself to a shampoo.
When the sun, or what was left of it went down it was time to sample surfers nightlife. So being smart (and skint!) backpackers we flicked through out vouchers to see where we could hunt down the free drinks (ok, it's sad I know...) and there it was in all it's glory "Ladies Night at Shooters! Free Champers!" yee-har! The club was pretty cool all decked out saloon style in cow skin, dark wood and fake brass cow heads on the wall (very stylish!) Have to say the attention to detail was spot-on, it even had cochroaches on the dance floor!!!
After cracking the whip on the dance floor, we tried the cocktail menu which included a 'Razzbull' and a 'Viagra' and so we were well on
our way (just as well there was no mechanical bull rides!) The only bummer was that most of the pubs and clubs on Caville Street had to close down at midnight due to Anzac day so no late partying for us. It was definately a blessing though as I was to meet with a family friend the next day- Father Kevin (yes he is a priest!) so probably best not to meet him with vodka breath! Had such a great day with him and his friend Marie and Susan. Got treated to a lavish lunch and the high life at the Sheraton Mirage hotel just across the road from the Palazzo Versace! We ate under an indoor waterfall overlooking the beach (jeez it's a tough life!) It's safe to say me and Susan as poor backpackers, filled up on the all you can eat buffet (such hungry hounds!) I'd say we don't need to eat for at least another week now!
Next stop Brisbane...
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