The majority of you reading this have probably been to the GC many times, and experienced almost all of its fascinating features. Well, I'm here to tell you some things about GC, from an almost local's point of view. Unlike Surfers (Paradise) the GC still remains somewhat a daggy surf town. There aren't too many skyscrapers, and the traffic isn't as immobile as a watermelon, i.e, it still moves.
So, I have been to the Gold Coast many times, and quite regularly if you like. Previously our visits consisted of trumping down the highway in a big red Nissan Patrol, with a creaky Songbird caravan in tow. We would set up camp, and practically live at the beach for a week or two.
This time, it was different.
We sold the tiny old caravan a few years back, and since then holidays have included booking hotels, or day trips. We stayed at Sand Castles in Currumbin, home to the famous Aussie wildlife sanctuary, constantly urging us to "Get Closer!". Well, to put it out there immediately, we didn't in fact visit there.
We did spend hours and days on end at the beach, where we had about 5 minutes of sunhine all up.
Most of the time at the beach was spent in competition with my brother, trying to build the biggest sandcastle we could before each wave hit, and the biggest and strongest remaining sand castle (or sand lump) was the winner!
The first night there we zipped off in the car to get some of the Indian food we so much enjoyed the last time we stayed down there. I apologise but I really cannot recall the name of the resturant. All I remember is that a Night Owl corner shop was in the same block of shops. It was lovely; rich and creamy and spicy butter chicken melted in our mouths back at the hotel.
We also had fish & chips; delicious, of course, but all fish and chip shops seemingly are down there, so the choice is yours. The highlight of cuisine for me was the Sushi Train. I had never actually dined at a sushi train before, or a train of any sort, and to see the Japanese chefs flame-grilling salmon through the glass was an exciting scene. I hastily grasped all kinds of fish, rice, and both mixed with some sort of green vegetable, (and yes, I do know what seaweed is!)
Sometime during our trip, we travelled a short distance into Surfers Paradise, and experienced the historical wonders of Ripley's Believe it Or Not! Museum. WOW. I honestly thought at first that because the main museum was in America, that there would not be many sights to see there, just phamplets and a tour video. May I say it now? Boy was I wrong! Step by step, you entered deeper and deeper into the world of Ripley's!
We saw sculptures of a Chinese emperor with two pupils in the same eye! Shrunken heads made from the scalp and face of the dead! And, oh so many ancient torture instruments!
Gee Whiz the lit-up Surfers Paradise is great.
But I really do love the little surfer town of the Gold Coast so much more. For the peace of the beach and the lullaby of the waves.
Holiday Harriot.
xxx
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