GOLD COAST 6

It was an early wake up call this morning to head to Byron Bay. I've always wanted to see the sleazy town of Byron Bay and this was the perfect opportunity. Byron Bay is approx 1.5 hours away from Surfers Paradise. It's just over the border. So today were heading back to NSW haha



First stop for the day was at Tropical Fruit World. The plan was to spend a few hours doing a tour inside. I figured there would be some fruit picking and the oldies generally love that. Well was I wrong! The entire family got into a massive argument smack bang outside Tropical Fruit World. I barely got a photo outside before I joined the kerfuffle. The problem was the entry fee was quite expensive. It was going to cost a total of $160 to enter. In all honesty it wasn't worth it so I threw a big tantrum and we all stormed back into the car.

Above - Outside of Tropical Fruit World

Above - The BIG Avacado

Less than an hour drive and we arrived at Byron Bay. Well that was after a wrong turn that took us to Tumback. How the hell we got lost is beyond me. Wait its the theory of too many cooks in the kitchen!

Byron Bay was a small sleepy town filled with backpackers and surfers. It almost reminded me of Summer Bay haha

You had weirdo's with dreadlocks, tattoo's, holding tight to their surf boards. This would be a dream come true for the English tourist.

Even though it wasn't a hot day the beach was fairly packed with lunatics.

Walking along the beach I discovered a painting of Christine in her Bikini!

Byron Bay actually had beautiful landscape. It was a photographers dream haha. To an extent it had that deserted, lonely, quite feel about it. Maybe all the tourist were drunk in bed still?

We decided to walk to the town centre to discover Byron Bay. Let me say the town centre was quite small. It's a small hidden tourist town. There are only a few cafes and pubs around. Hence they know how to rack up the prices. One cafe was charging $13 for a tomato and cheese sandwich.

So you may ask what we ate for lunch in this sleazy town? We stuck to our roots and found a kebab shop run by aussies haha Actually the kebab wasn't that bad. After a filling lunch we decided to drive up to the light house. We have been told the view from the top is the best of Byron Bay.

The view from Mid-Point of Byron Bay:

View of Byron Bay from the top:

Byron Bay Light House:

The bush walking trail of Bryon Bay:

Ok after seeing the stair way maybe walking down isn't the best idea?

Some of my photography - All Copyright to NB Productions:

It was a long exhausting day at Bryon Bay. The walk around the light house took alot out of me. It was time to drive back to our apartment at the Gold Coast. My cousins were coming over for dinner.

Along the way we took a short break at Tweed Heads Beach:

You gotta love Gold Coast for their beaches haha

It was back to the apartment to cook dinner for the cousins!

GOLD COAST 5

Travelling around the Gold Coast can get exhausting with a family on foot so I figured we had to hire a car to get around in. Dragging myself up early in the morning I headed over to Avis car rentals where I signed the papers to hire a car. Just as I signed the papers it started raining. Thank god I have wheels now haha

Since it was raining the beach was pretty much out of the question. So I figured I should take the oldies shopping at Pacific Fair - one of the biggest shopping centres at the Gold Coast.

After a short drive we arrived to walk around and of course get abit happy snappy:



All that walking around really worked up an appetite. We headed to the food court for some fatty burgers. It was a good decision at the time ok?

Since it was raining we figured we should go visit a cousin that lives here that we haven't caught up with yet. Plus we also wanted to see Billyboy's son. Billy is our dog back in Sydney. When the female gave birth my brother took one of the pups up to QLD and gave it to my cousin.

As we were driving to my cousin's house I spotted "Christine's corner". It looked like a small shopping villiage. Too bad I was driving and couldn't get a photo in time.

So we arrive to my cousin's house to be greeted by Billyboy's son. This is the first time we saw him and we were really shocked to see they were practically identical.

After a quick coffee session we decided to head to Burleigh Heights. Burleigh Heights is a small beachside town near Surfer's Paradise. We barely got to walk on the beach when the rain started again. So after a few photos we raced to the nearest coffee shop for another coffee. Yes I know my heart will be skipping beats tonight.

Above - Burleigh Heights Beach

Below - Cafe @ Burleigh Heights Beach

Above - Random Surfer hitting the beach in the rain

We waited for the rain to ease up but it didn't seem to want to go away. Eventually we got up to head back to the apartment for a night in with a DVD. Now that we had a car we could plan daily road trips!

GOLD COAST 4

I past out last night with another bottle of wine. The best part was waking up to my dad's cheese, mushroom and tomato omlete. It was the best hang over food possible. Once I finished breakfast I decided to give the beach another go but much to my liking there was no hope. The sand storm had turned nasty.

So I decided to meet up with my mum and nan to do some retail therapy. Well this was actually more tortue. You see they are the kind of people that need to stop at every shop and look at everything for like 5 hours. The highlight of this adventure was taking my mum and nan into condom kingdom. I told them it was a bargain shop. The look on their faces inside was priceless. My grandmother couldnt run out fast enough. My mum decided to browse lol

After condom kingdom we decided to grab a kebab for lunch on the beach from this dodgy looking kebab kiosk that turned out to be owned by Turks.



Following my kebab I had an appointment to get my hair cut at fox. Some NZ chick decides to do cut it and as usually cuts it too short.

The plan for tonight was to hit some bars with Najm. However when I called him I found out that he broke his leg and was on crotches in Sydney. Apparently he missed his flight due to it. This meant another night with the oldies in front of the TV hehe

GOLD COAST 3

It's Day 3 in Gold Coast. Usually when I'm in the Gold Coast I dont have a sober moment but its different when you travel with family. You need to have some sober moments. So struggling out of bed late after drinking up last night wasn't the perfect start to the day.

Grabbing coffee and breakfast on the balcony was the best thing to help. More coffee less chit chat. My plan for today was to hit the beach. I'm not sure what the rest had planned for the day. The minute I finished breakfast I headed out to the beach with a towel. So excited to see a beach. You see we didn't have a summer in Sydney this year. The weather has been disgusting so I was really looking forward to some beach tanning time.

I get to the beach and within 5 minutes there was a sand storm. I can't win! I dont care I refuse to leave. I'm getting a tan even if I am covered in sand head to toe. As I'm trying to get a tan a group of Asians in front of me are causing a scene with their tent. The sand storm is blowing their tent away. I don't understand why Asians even bother coming to the beach. For fucks sake you come to get a tan. Why bring a fuckin tent??????

The sand storm was starting to turn nasty so I packed up my gear and headed back to the apartment. I made some lunch and sat down to watch some Italian cooking show on TV. Seriously I'm starting to get into these cooking shows. They are quite entertaining.

Once the show finished I decided to take my mum and my nan for a tour of the apartment and the surroundings. The apartment actually has a really nice garden to sit down and relax in.

The Garden:

The pool - no sand storm here:

Just in time for a sunset shot:

After our apartment investigation we headed over to Santino’s Pizza place. I went here last time I was in Gold Coast. This was the "Am I sunburnt place". Don't even ask me to explain that one. Lets just let that rest in peace. We quickly ordered pizzas and salad. The restaurant was quite which meant we got excellent service for a change:

After dinner we went for a stroll around town for gelato...

GOLD COAST - DAY 2

It's always a good feeling waking up in Gold Coast to that hot sunny weather. What better way to enjoy the Gold Coast then a nice long walk along the beach after breakfast. What even makes it better is if you spot hot promotional models like this:

Today was all about impulse decisions. Nothing was pre-planned. Walking along the beach lead us to Q-Deck. I had heard about Q-Deck before. If you catch the lift to the top floor you get a nice 360 degrees view of thee Gold Coast. This had photo opportunities all over it. I lead the way to Q-Deck.

Above - View of Q-Deck as we approach it

We arrived at Q-Deck and my dad decided to stay downstairs. He wasn't interested in climbing to the top. So my mum, nan and I decided to catch the lift to the top floor - level 77. We purchased tickets and entered the lift.

Above: In the lift going to level 77.

We got out of the lift to see these beautiful amazing views of the Gold Coast.

We walked out of Q-Deck to find my dad in panic mode. Apparently some guy staying at Q-Deck threw a cabbage from the top floor of the Q-Deck that smacked a guy in the head who was sitting down. There was a huge fuss when the guy was knocked out and I missed it damn it!

Meanwhile my dad gives me a brochure. Apparently while he was waiting he was approached by promotional staff trying to convince him to come to Q-Deck for breakfast. Buffet breakfast for $45 per person. Now I think the view would be worth it!

We decided to do some retail therapy but this lead to us purchasing red rooster to have on the beach. This is the life - welcome to Surfers Paradise!

After lunch we decided to walk back to the apartment for siesta. Yes life is getting tough already haha Along the way I thought I'll get a photo of the famous clock that kept us awake every night last trip:

Walking past I spotted this massive Garfield teddy bear. I told my parents I was going to buy it and take it back home. I would probably have to book a seat for it on the plane.

We got back to the apartment and I couldn't sleep so I turned the TV on to watch My Greek Kitchen. It's a short cooking show with this chick that travels around Greece cooking and eating. Today's episode she was going to Cyprus to show us where hellum comes from and how to make Cypriot risotto. Next thing you know my entire family was out in the living room watching this. It was quite interesting to see how hellumi cheese was made. It actually makes me think twice now before eatting it haha.

After the show we decided to have dinner in the apartment. Before we came back to the apartment I brought of bottle of wine. Next thing you know my grandmother had a glass of wine and crashed with her 12 pills she took.

My parents and I decided to go for a walk around town. Within 2 minutes of leaving the apartment we witnessed a car crash. We heard the noise and all we saw was a car smashed from behind and a motor bike. No sign of the other car and I highly doubt a motor bike could do that damaged.

We started walking down Orchid St where all the bars are when my mum stopped outside a strip club demanding to know what it is. I had to grab her and drag her away trying to explain that was a strip club. The look on her face was priceless!

Now walking into a strip club with my mother would be wrong on so many levels so we had to stick to street entertainment for the evening...