Visitors from Sydney....

Esmond's 5th Aunt and Uncle have flown from Sydney to Gold Coast for a 5 day break...

Both of us took Friday off to bring them around Gold Coast and Brisbane....

We decided to spoil ourselves so we booked two nights at Holiday Inn at Surfers Paradise.

I left work on time and took the train from Central station to Nerang, where Esmond picked me up. We promptly headed to Holiday Inn to check in before we went to pick them up at their hotel at Mantra Hotel. We had Spanish food for dinner... Pity it had been raining the whole day and the Surfers looks like a deserted city... there were hardly anybody on the streets! After dinner, we went back to their hotel for a chat before going back to our hotel to rest up...










We were allocated with a room on a high floor (level 17?) and we could see the ocean from the balcony of our room... Pity it was raining and the wind was howling the night before, we didn't get to enjoy the night view then...

And to fulfil on what we have missed out the night before, we proceeded to the tallest building in Gold Coast - Q1.... Why?










Because it ran a super duper promotion. It was 110% off the entry price. That's right. We don't even have to pay to go up to Level 70 to enjoy the view. They have to pay us! Look at the brochure above! That's what it said.... NOT.... It was our eyes playing tricks on us...











It was two brochures stacked on top of one another at the perfect position.... but we did have some discounts off. The discount coupons were from the Mantra Hotel and we only paid $13 each (normally it cost $16 if I'm not wrong...)

It didn't take too long for us to get to Level 70 on their express lift... and the view up there was amazing (even with the heavy storm clouds rolling in....)




















not to mention scary as well....










We also saw rows after rows of waterfront multi-million dollar homes...











And a lot of construction going on in the Gold Coast.... (however, given the current economic condition, there were a few construction / projects that had to be halted due to insufficient funding. One of them Raptis' Hilton Hotel....)

The Q-Deck is inspired by the Sydney 2000 Olympic flame torch.... Their viewing deck allows you to have a 360 degree view on Gold Coast.

We spent a good hour and a half up there.... and when we've had enough of the view, we headed back to Brisbane. On our way back, we stopped by for some Yatala Pies... We thought it was overrated....

We brought Aunt and Uncle to Mt. Cootha.

Then to Tibetan Kitchen at West End for dinner, before going to South Bank to walk it off...

After that, we headed back to GC. This time, we get to see the night view from the hotel room's balcony....










The next morning, we explored the hotel grounds before checking out. We picked up Aunt and Uncle and proceeded to Byron Bay. Before we reached Byron Bay, we stopped at Point Danger...

(standard position to take photo at Point Danger....)

Then, we continued on to Byron Bay....













It was a hot day and not a rain cloud in sight....

Uncle and nephew enjoying the ocean view....

After admiring the ocean, as usual, we went for ice cream before heading back to Coollangatta, where Aunt and Uncle took their flight back to Sydney. Their flight was delayed for 45 minutes (which gave us an opportunity to sit down and have coffee).

We had a beautiful day and weekend with Aunt and Uncle and we hope to visit them in Sydney soon...

Another standard position where photos are taken at Byron Bay....

Mapleton Falls....

On the last day of August 2008, we had once again travelled in a convoy of 3 cars. We met up at the Hypermarket of Aspley.

Mapleton Falls is located approximately 105km north of Brisbane, near Mapleton, in Sunshine Coast Hinterland.














When we got there, we promptly strap on our backpacks, camera bags and water bottle and hiked up the hill in single file...

Even Megan, Michael and Sabrina's 2 year old, joined in - with a little persuasion...
















At one point, she was even leading the pack!














It was Kin Onn and Glady's first time joining our gang on an outing...















There were quiet a number of fallen trees...

After approximately 45 minutes, we had completed the hike and came back down to the foot of the hill. (And we were famished too....)











So we headed back to the car to bring out all the goodies that each of us have prepared. We picked a table and spread the food out before digging in... When we've stuffed ourselves too much, we had a few games of frisbee...











We even had a visitor - a monitor lizard....

Actually this is a trial hike, to test out if Megan, Michael and Sabrina could handle the hike...

A more "serious" hike is on the way....

Riverfire 2008

Brisbane's annual Riverfire took place on 30 Aug 2008.

Bee Yen and Robert had invited us over to their place at Kangaroo Point for dinner and rooftop viewing of the annual event.

After some nibblies, we had a short stroll along the river to see formation flying. This is one of the programs leading up to the fireworks display later on in the night.











All along the various points in the Brisbane river, there are barges carrying tonnes of "gunpowder" that will light up the sky for 20 - 30 minutes...












Lots of people, families, friends, were out in droves at different spots along the river and parks having their picnics. Kids entertained themselves by clambering in and out of trees...












As night falls, the city lit up and people move towards the river banks, windows and rooftops.












The Riverside Centre was packed full to the brim!











And talk about starting off with a big bang! The Riverfire have traditionally started with a "dump and burn" display by a fighter plane. What is dump and burn? Well, it's the fighter jet dumping petrol and using it's turbine to burn the petrol trail it dumped... Given the price of petrol, it's quite a costly exercise...












With the departure of the fighter jet, came the blistering bangs of multi coloured fireworks...

Even the Story Bridge came on 'fire'....

And of course, the show had to end with another round of dump and burn...

Thank you Bee Yen, Robert for having us. It was a wonderful evening....

08:08 on 08.08.08

After the surprise proposal in 2007, the day has come to finally cement their commitment to each other.

And what better day than 08.08.08? With 8 being an auspicious number for the Chinese community, Jennifer and Rey tied the knot at the Registry of Marriage in Brisbane.












The 'ceremony' begins at 08:08am on 08.08.08...












The ceremony was simple and sweet. Once everybody (the bride, the groom and the two witnesses) have put their signatures on the dotted line in the presence of the solemnizer, Rey and Jennifer were pronounced man and wife...















This date is so special (only occurs once in a century), that Channel 9's Today show came and did a recording and interview of the happy couple. (So we all had our 3 seconds of fame except the bride and groom of course, which had their few minutes of fame...)













Their special day was also published in the community papers (Brisbane Times) too!

So quite a number of people shared their joy....

All the best to the happy couple. May they havea blessed marriage for all eternity...

Heartiest congratulations to Mr and Mrs Rynaldo Wahyudi!!!