**Realized a mistake on the collage- it was supposed to be Brisbane Airport, not GoldCoast.
After 6 months of wait since my last US trip, we're finally going for the next holiday to Australia with our friends! It was another night flight this time, taking off at Singapore time 9.25pm. Thankfully, Qantas has ample TV programs to keep me occupied throughout the 8-hour flight. But seriously, I couldn't get use to the unusual meal times still - like serving scrambled eggs and bacon at 3:00am (SGT).
Our first stop would be to Tangalooma Island, a Queensland Island just 75 minutes away from Brisbane Airport (excerpts and picture taken from official website). Beautiful isn't it? It's just an island on its own, very much like Bintan (except alot cleaner and cooler) that offers mainly beach activities. The highlight of Tangalooma would be feeding the wild bottlenose dolphins during nightfall.
We arrived way too early for the first ferry to pick us up from wharf. It was only 9:00am (7:00am SG Time) in Brisbane, while the first ferry will come only at 11:00am. Stoned at the airport for 2 hours, got our pre-paid calling cards ready and bought hot choco and sandwich for breakfast.
Digressing a little; Vodafone offers really awesome pre-paid cards for international calls! It's only AUD 39 for AUD 150 worth of calling credits! That was offered in June 2009, and look at the current promotion for prepaid cards - AUD 29 for AUD 300 worth of credits! OMG! Where can you ever get such a deal in Singapore?
We had a 3-star rating deluxe room with a private balcony facing the crystal waters. Thought it was good enough despite the old bedsheets and furnishing (I guess anything with Balcony is good!).There was complimentary bottle of wine and chocolates upon arrival too! Hah!
It was freaking cold at Tangalooma actually; closing to 13 degrees during the day and as low as 10 degrees during the night. I had to change out of my comfy shorts(good for long flights) and into thermal leggings, and with extra layers of thermal pants, socks and boots too!
Quick lunch at AUD 28 for two was a total waste because the food really sucked, and the service just made it worse. We had to gorge down our lunch due to the tight schedule too.. gotta rush for next session for Parasailing in less than 45 minutes time.
Wohoo! My first experience of parasailing! It was really, really cold by evening. A group of 8 tourists shared a speedy craft to the middle of the sea, and each pair took turns to put on the safety harness while in queue for their turns.
It was very windy up there, approximately 130 metres above water. We were shivering from cold (AND fear!) yet enjoying the paranormal view over the horizon where the sunsets, catching glimpse of what may be, dolphins and turtles swimming near the surface. The most exciting part was when the parasailing team did an abrupt stop in the middle of the waters, and we were falling at increasing rate into the sea! They only begin accelerating again when we also had our chance to get our feet dipped into the water, just like all other pairs on board too =S
It was a worthwhile experience, cept' that it was tad expensive for AUD 130/pair for 10 minutes.
Thereafter, we strolled and played along the sandy beach; the guys were flaunting their muscles and bods after months of training. Kinda crazy to be top-naked during winter season at 10 degrees! We also bought ice-cream while we await for sunset for the dolphin feeding session.
By the night, about 7pm, the wild dolphins returned for feeding time. It was a brief educational session with the divers first, and a long queuing time for phototaking sessions. We had to get our legs soaks in water in order to touch the dolphins. It was much colder at night; about 7-9 degrees in strong wind! OMG. Sounds crazy isn't it? But we didn't wanna waste taking the 8 hour flight to Brisbane and not touch the dolphins, do we?
It was quite silly though; cos we only had a minute of phototaking AND getting up close with the dolphins. It was super chop-chop, didn't have a chance to take a clear picture at all. All I remembered was that the dolphins felt really smooth, waxy texture. :S
We returned to our rooms to bathe and wash up, before we head for BBQ dinner at the beach restaurants. Had our dinner in that boring lunch place again, watched the KTV singing session where tourists goes on stage with crazy hats and costumes, dancing and drinking beer! Really entertaining! ;)
And that pretty much wraps up Day 1 of Tangalooma / Brisbane. Be ready for Day 2: Gold Coast!
Don't we just love beaches? I think I'd prefer cool beaches like this ;p
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