Javon's Birthday Trip To Queensland

17^th - 28^th May 2019

Singapore - Caloundra - Tangalooma - Surfers Paradise - Brisbane - Singapore

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17 May. Singapore. This was really a transit day. I flew in from London via Hong Kong and Javon worked and then flew down from Penang late in the evening. I went to see the Jewel at Changi, with the famous Rain Vortex. In the evening there is a light and sound show on the water of the Rain Vortex.

19 May. Caloundra. We picked up our hire car. We had problems with the non-existent built-in sat-nav. So the lady gave us a portable one, deducted our upgrade fee and off we went. It was about an hour to Caloundra. We then had problems starting the car. The RACQ came out and it started second time! We drove to Moffat Beach and Dicky Beach where the surfers go. Unfortunately there weren't that many as it was so late in the day.

20 May. Australia Zoo, Beerwah. Today we visited Australia Zoo. We saw many creatures including Tasmanian Devils. The highlights were stroking kangaroos and particularly holding a koala called Hudson. It turns out that our hotel didn't have daily housekeeping, so the bed was still a mess and our towels were on the bathroom floor! We were able to collect more from reception. Caloundra is a really quiet little town. Most restaurants closed by 8! We managed to find the local version of the Royal British Legion Club. Even that was quiet, but we had a drink. Javon played 5 games of Keno, thought he'd won on every one, but in fact won nothing!

21 May. Tangalooma Resort, Moreton Island. After an easy ride down, we arrived a bit early at the ferry terminal. After checking in, we took the comfortable ferry for the 75 minute trip to the resort. After a beer, Javon went sand tobogganing, while I sat on the balcony. I saw a wonderful sunset. In the evening we fed a dolphin. We went into the sea together with a guide. We each held a fish in our hands. Then we then plunged elbow deep into to the sea and the dolphin took the fish. We did this twice. Our dolphin was called Rani, he was the alpha male.

22 May. Surfers Paradise. In the morning, after checking out, we walked along the beach to a lookout that was up a long flight of steep steps. After the ferry ride back to the mainland, we drove to Surfers Paradise. Where we stayed for 4 nights. We had a jacuzzi suite. Bathroom with jacuzzi, separate loo, bedroom, dressing room and sitting room on the corner of the hotel. First thing we did was to go to Build-a-Bear Workshop, where Jav made a koala bear stuffed toy. His birthday present! Then we had teppanyaki for dinner. We went to the Hard Rock Cafe for a drink, but it closed at 9!

23 May. Surfers Paradise. A trip to Sea World today. We caught the end of the sea lion show, saw both the dolphin and stunt shows. Despite the name, there weren't that many animals there. Javon wanted to see polar bears. They have 6 but we only saw 2. The penguin exhibition was fun and I finally got to see them jumping out of the water. It was an OK theme park, but I wouldn't rush back.

24 May. Surfers Paradise. Warner Bros. Movie World today. This was more like it! A proper theme park. The only get wet ride was closed so we started straight in on the thrill rides. There are three very close together near the entrance, so we did those. Then we watched various shows on Main Street and finished off the rest of the coasters. We saw the stunt show and Lego 4D movie before rounding out the day with the first three rides again. A fun day. In the evening we ate at the Hard Rock Cafe. My 43rd and Javon's 10th.

25 May. Surfers Paradise. Javon's birthday and the reason for the trip! After a late start we went to Wet 'n Wild. A fun place, but a fair few rides were closed. Because there were very few people there, we finished quite early, so went shopping. In the evening, we ate in the Four Winds revolving restaurant at the Crowne Plaza.

26 May. Brisbane. We drove from the Gold Coast to Brisbane via IKEA! The hotel is über-trendy. We strolled along to the South Bank. Went on the Brisbane Wheel and into GOMA, the Gallery Of Modern Art. In the evening we had dinner with Jules and Sarah Evans. Jules I knew in the U.K. before he emigrated.

27 May. Brisbane. Late start, then we went to look for Javon's Indonesian friend. They spoke for all of a minute! A stroll through the Botanical Gardens, over the Goodwill Bridge and down to the City Hopper pier at the Maritime Museum. We took the free ferry to Sydney Street and then back to Eagle Street Pier. After a late lunch we found St Stephen's Cathedral and looked around. Before wandering down the Queen Street Mall buying Tim Tams on the way. Back at the hotel, Javon went for a swim and managed to drop his phone in the pool! It killed it. Apparently chlorine is terminal canver for mobiles.

28 May. Singapore. An early afternoon flight back to Singapore. A quick visit to the Jewel and then early to bed for a very early start for me.