Gold Coast -- Here comes the Sun!

From the rain drenched Sunshine Coast to the beautiful, sunny beaches of the Gold Coast -- Not a Paradise on Earth, but rather a Paradise in the Waves!  For this place is commonly referred to as 'Surfers Paradise'.  The Gold Coast city has the second largest population in the entire state of Queensland and some say that it's due to the surfers, who spend most of their time riding the waves.  However, we think that its tourists like us that hang around and enjoy the sun!
 
Unlike the Sunshine Coast, with its moderate amount of development, the Gold Coast is a veritable tourist's dream, filled chockablock with condominiums, hotels, shops and attractions. A new piece of real estate, called simply 'Jade', is a luxury skyscraper on the beach, where you can own an entire floor of the building. Each floor contains its own pool, which begs the question: Why do you even need a pool, when you can walk 100 meters and be in the surf?  Oh and incase your interested, each apartment of Jade will set you back a cool four million dollars, while the three-level penthouse just sold for over $20 million.  That kind of money would tend to account for a hell of a lot of zinc cream, board shorts and wax for your surf board, but at least you're near to the surf.
 
On our way into Surfers Paradise, two wishes needed to be granted for our intrepid adventurers. For Colin, that meant the whole team (consisting of Colin's mum & brother plus the two itinerant travelers) must stop at 'Yatala Pies' to savour the delectable flavour of a good old Aussie Pie ("yeah mate, good on you, ya little ripper!"). This first wish was granted and although Colin enjoyed his hearty pie, no one else was Australian enough to appreciate the sublime delights offered by this fine establishment.
 
The second wish belonged to Melissa and was simply to see a real kangaroo (not some picture, nor a stuffed toy, nor even a scarf with the word 'kangaroo' written on it).  On the second day down there, that wish was granted - take a look at the pictures capturing the moment, which Melissa said was nothing short of 'Magical'.  The Koala picture was taken with Arial, the 'bear super model', and you can easily tell who was the most photogenic of the three of us in that picture.
 
With the sun setting and the days turning to nights, we would often play one of the many board games that we brought down with us. Our favourite game was the world traveling Canadian game called 'Sequence'. Now usually Melissa and Colin who have played this game a lot, would have no worries in beating any first timers quite easily. However one night, the night in fact of the full lunar eclipse, they were well and truly beaten 8 games to 1. So as a general rule, you probably shouldn't play games during lunar eclipses, but instead sit back in front of a TV program instead.   Speaking of which, there is a show on now called 'Australian Idol', that Colin has become quite addicted to (he's sad to say).  So if anyone knows of any 13 step program for such a thing, please send help immediately.
 
Any Aussie will tell you, that when the weather in Australia turns from 'warm' to 'really warm', there is a pivotal moment when a male goes from wearing jeans and a t-shirt, to wearing shorts and a t-shirt. Walking around on the beaches of Surfer's, this moment had indeed come for Colin, just before the first day of spring, which fell on the 1st September.
 
During Melissa & Colin's exploration of downtown Surfers, they stumbled along Cavill St, which is truly the touristiest part of the Gold Coast. A portion of this street has just recently been updated and is called 'Circle on Cavill', which reminded us somewhat of Times Square, with its Video screens and concentration of shops.  Amongst these shops, is an "Ice" bar, (completely made out of ice!), where they provide you with a warm parka to wear as you enter.   Apparently this place is run all through the year, unlike the Toronto version, which is only open while the temperature is below minus 5.  It does sound like a great place to spend a hot summer's night, that's for sure!  Also on this street, was a new franchise called 'The Strike Bowling Bar'. This is such a brilliant combination:  A bar, a bowling alley, a big screen TV playing video clips, fluorescent bowling balls, and all the odds and ends you'd find in an amusement arcade! We thought of Ben & Kate who we have been bowling with before (fancy a trip to Australia for a game?).
 
Pretty soon the days dreamily floated by and it was time to leave this new found paradise. On our last day, we went for a ride (in a car rather than on a surf board) between the beaches in the area. From Kirra to Burleigh Heads to Coolangatta, with each beach as beautiful and spectacular as the last.
 
To phrase it as an Aussie might, our trip down to the Gold Coast was "Too easy, no dramas, had a good one... Take it easy Mate - No worries."
 
Yeah no worries... Next Up:  Back to Colin's home town of Brisbane City and Melissa's first Vegemite Experience!