Firstly I would like to thank those who showed their concerned for the past few days. I'm great after this trip as I've made a choice. Actually I feel silly as its just my silly thoughts that made me feel so miserable. I would say that it(the setback) is a great deal of my life BUT its not my entire life. Therefore I should not just dwell on it, I have to move on in life to show other what I've learnt over the past weeks during discussion meetings @ Melbourne(
). I want to show actual proof in my life and I believed that I have won. I have won the battle over myself.
Now for more juicy stuff. Guess a lot of you are awaiting the details of my trip to Gold Coast.
Highlights of my trip:
- met a group of great ppl (Ruth, Melissa, Jessica, Luis, Jesus, Tyler, Jonathan, Vince and Haydn)
- Swam with Dolphins (1 meter away from me and past me for like 3 times)
- saw a shark (like my size) & stingray while snorkeling. Too bad didn't have water camera.
- sand boarding
- managed to stand up on my first attempt of surfing.
Let's go into the details of each day.
22nd - Sat
Woke up at 0755, rushed to take airport shuttle @ 0900. Reached airport at 0925. Its pretty exciting to take a plane as I've no clue on what to do, so its pretty much exploring.
Gloomy face @ airport
My flight, Virgin Blue.
Once I reached Gold Coast airport, took public bus and it only cost me $4.10. Its so cheap compared to the one i took from Melbourne city to Tullamarine airport ($26 - 2 trips). But its a long ride to Surfers Paradise abt 1hr. Checked-in to my backpackers @ 1345, went straight to call Tong, as I feel that's a need to let him know what is happening around me. But once I hear his voice, I broke down. Tried to call 2 other ppl but they didn't have time for me. But I managed to talk to Gerald.
Bought a milkshake from Mac and head off to the beach to chant, read "Create a New History of Everlasting Victory with Our Mentor".
The beach is packed due to Easter weekend.
Dedicated to my sisters (Sherry and Steph) who can't be here, hope you'll feel better. hehe ;)
Its a very revitalising 2hrs. I spent the rest of my day roaming around the streets, did evening Gongyo in a shopping centre, and called Sherry (as she would be worried abt me, hearing from Tong). Sis asked me to check Darrell Lea chocolates for her, that's is also the reason that I managed to see this below.
23rd - Sun
Woke up pretty early, went to chant and did morning gongyo at the beach again. Had breakkie at Hungry Jacks (Burger King). I dunno why, I suddenly thought of this phrase by Greg Johns (General Director of SGI Australia), "Its just 1 aspect of your life, why make it your entire life?". I was stunned while I was having breakfast, I took out my diary and wrote it down. Also I'm determined to break-thro this time round. My last setback took me 1yr 9 mths to realise that I've wasted my precious time for a little setback.
Roam around and saw this which I wanted to buy but was turn off by the price.
I like the white one.
Guess how much is one?
Took my first surfing lesson (2hrs) @ 1400, its pretty fun and I managed to stand up on my first attempt. I'm so proud of myself. Its really fun, although walking back to the tide is very tiring, I treat it as a means to train my fitness. haha...
Wash-up at the hostel and met up with Julia (my cousin who is in Brisbane visiting her bf, came to Gold Coast with a grp of friends). Joined them in the hunt for motel, had dinner really late at abt 1930. Rushed to the transit center to catch my bus to Brisbane city, the bus was late but met a sibling(Crystal and Jason) taking the same bus as me. At least I was not alone, cracked some jokes with them and shared with them about my hometown. Arrived @ my hostel and I was shocked, there's a pub that is owned by the hostel directly below. What worst was that they are jamming the loud music when I checked in @ 2240hrs. I went up to my room as screw-up do happen, there's someone left her stuff on my bed. I went up and down 3 times before things were settled, then I heard abt soccer match Man U vs Liverpool. Went down had a beer, I had to drag myself to bed at half-time as the Moreton Island trip ppl will pick me up at 0530. So I went to bed @ 0100.
24th - Mon
Rushed to the pick-up point, again the ppl are late. Maybe becos I'm too anxious (kan chong), I tend to arrive early. There's a total of 9 ppl for this 2 day Moreton Island camping trip. Took a catamaran, its pretty empty as its 0630 in the morning, just 2 vehicle in it. The view of the water is awesome and I did Gongyo looking at the great view...
First view of Moreton Island.
Reach camp site, its not bad... First stop is to a hill, we can see the entire Moreton Island from the top. I've a video but its too windy and the quality of my lousy camera, its noisy and can't really see well.
From top of the hill.
First grp pic. (Left to right: YG(Me), Jesus, Luis, Jessica, Tyler, Melissa, Vince, Ruth.
Squatting: Jonathan.)
We stop by the beach and was taught how to find Pipi (Shells). The race was abt how the shells get themselves back to the sand again. Splash some water on them and they'll dig themselves into the sand. Very interesting.
Next stop is to lighthouse, also with fantastic sea view too. We then head to my
guider's (Haydn) secret spot, its a great place to swim.
This rock look like some alien rite?
Did you see the face looking at the hill?
Lunch prepared by Haydn.
We hangout at the beach after lunch. As we are driving to "the desert" to sand board. , we saw wild dolphins and gave chase. I was luck to be the first one to have a close encounter (1 meter away) with dolphins and a total of 3 times that they swam close to me. At "the desert", it is made up really steep sand slope and you could gather up to 60km/h. Its fun speeding down the slope and with full of sand in your mouth, but remember the theory of "What goes up must come down", the meaning in the opposite way; to do that again, means that we have to climb up the slope to play again. Its really tiring climbing. I only played 4 times as everyone is exhausted. Next we head back to camp site to chill out and watch sunset.
Beautiful Sunset.
At the end of the day, we are pretty hungry and we ate up all the food that Haydn cooked. He claims that its the first time that nothing is left. After dinner, we set by the fire and had beer and played drinking games. Its was great fun... We all had a long day and went to bed at 0000hrs. I didn't want to pay for the sleeping bag and I was shivering throughout the night despite putting on my sweater and windbreaker.
25th - Tues
As its really cold, I woke up like 0800hrs. Its 5-star breakfast, we had pancakes. I ate 8 of them and felt bloated till the evening. We went snorkelling at the ship wrecks, the water is cold, although I have wetsuit on. In the course, we saw a shark chilling out in the bottom of a ship wreck and a stingray too.
Catamaran
Last destination in Moreton Island, is the "Blue Lagoon". Its a fresh water lake, its a great place to chill-out.
Ruth and me. 
More abt her, she is a 18yrs old English gal who is travelling alone to OZ to work and travel. I really respect her for what she is doing, I'm 7yrs her senior and have just started to be prove that I'm independent, away from home.
Luis and me
(on the catamaran back to Brisbane, I was chatting with him and Jesus. I asked him how old is he? The reply I got was, "I'm a Pig". I was caught off guard by his respond, I don't understand what was he referring to. I'm amazed that he know Chinese Zodiac and was referring to that. He is actually younger than me by 5mths.)
My wonderful guide, Haydn.
There's some screw-up on my transport to Gold Coast as I've missed the coach. But I managed to catch one of the coach which is travelling to Brisbane airport. So my evening is about travelling up to airport and down again to Gold Coast. There's only a short interval of 30mins for me to catch the coach to Gold Coast and that's my dinner time. There's long queue everywhere and I choose Hungry Jacks as its easier to eat, even on the go.
The mood is beautiful and headed off the beach after checking in my hostel, Sleeping Inn again.
A night shot of the sign. 2 yrs ago I took the day shot with Ethan on my shoulders.
26th - Wed ( Last day in Gold Coast)
Precious last day @ Gold Coast. Went to the beach for the last time before I head back to Melbourne. I'll miss the great weather, as its freezing in Mel.
After the beach, I went shopping at Surfers. Bought some cheap T-shirts, but they don't have my size. Argzz... So ended up getting 2 T-shirts for Kiat.
This suit him so much.
But at a closer look? haha... To tell others not to treat him for granted.
Got him a pink one too, as he keep talking to me abt getting a pink tee.
As my flight is in the late afternoon, I've decided to head to the Pacific Fair to take a walk. Its really cheap to take a bus there ($2.30). The last time I went with Tong and Sherry, we took a cab and its really costly, but that's the price of having kids along the way.
I really ended up buying stuff,, dunno why I was really happy although the weather is hot and bright.
Stuff I bought:
2 X Swimming trunks from Speedo.
My first Rip Curl beach shorts.
Took a break and have my only starbucks in Gold Coast.
Pacific Fair.
Took a bus to the airport and along the way found out that I've left Jie's sweater @ the hostel. Once I reached the airport, I ran straight to the public phone to call Sleeping Inn. What could be worst that the self-check-in machines are not working and there's a long queue. I was panicking and a couple infront of me striked a conversation with me; expressing that I have a worrying look on my face, they joked and laughed. I shared with them about my concern abt not finding my sweater and missing my flight. With 5mins to board the plane, I was stopped to enter the departure hall as a pocket knife was found in my bag and was asked to either check-in a luggage or dispose the knife away. So i choose to check-in my shoe bag. I ran and managed to hop on the plane.
As its cheaper to travel in a transit flight, my first flight was to Sydney. I swallowed my dinner in lighting speed again and my flight back to Melbourne was delayed and gate changed 3 times. Its a like amazing race in Sydney airport. During the waiting time, I called to Lilin to joke with her, saying that I'm in Sydney. When she realise that I was just doing a transit, she is pretty much dissapointed. But I'll visit her in May when Jiawei is there, then 3 of us can catch up again. ;)
Not forgetting Fen, who I also called to disturb as I'm waiting for my flight. Thanks!
When I reached Mel its freaking cold, its 9 degrees compared to 26 in Gold Coast. Its another 20mins wait for the bus to the city. Guess who I called? heehee: Its home this time. Spoke to Jie about my happenings for the past few days. Walked all the way back from Southern Cross Station.
When I reached home, I was welcome by Nat and Thomas. It good to be back again and shared with Thomas that I've won.
That's all for the past 5 days...
With Grace; stopped the gals from teasing my teeth with rock melon.
