Dearies,
How are you surviving the cold winter? Though I am nowhere near that, I can feel the winter chills alright as I'm typing this.....at the office. Seated directly under an industrial size aircon blowing directly at me. Yeah I'm lucky like that. No prizes for guessing the layering I have on just short of leather gloves and knee high boots. At least I get a chance to strut around fashionably in pin striped blazers, floral bomber jackets and warm wool cardigans in comfort without breaking into a sweat....until its time to go for lunch outside :D
Anyways, to chase some of the winter blues away, let me warm you up with my travel story to the sunshine coast of Australia. Though I went there in June and technically in winter, the weather was definitely summerish. To go to gold coast in summer is like willingly to bake yourself in the open. At one point my friends in Perth (the colder part) even experienced 44 degrees of heat. To me weather in gold coast during summer is just oh so perfect!
Firstly we stayed at Broadbeach instead of Surfers Paradise as the latter was getting too packed and much too touristy. It is definitely more relaxed at Broadbeach and suitable for family with small kids. We stayed at South Pacific Plaza and I absolutely love it! Facing the beach (most of the apartments/hotels do actually), broadbeach mall right at yr doorstep and a Huge playground just nearby.
View from the balcony
Surfers Paradise is just bit further down the road
Cosy apartment and open kitchen where you can cook
and look out to the sea
Sunrise on a cool and cloudy morning
Sunset
Minion going for a morning jog
Whole beach to yourself
I spotted a whale from the balcony.......I kid you not!
These tents popped up overnight, selling local crafts and produce
Check out the essential oils, macadamia nuts and caramel fudge!
Huge playground to keep the little ones busy
Perfect weather for a picnic
Broadbeach mall is not that fantastic honestly (forget about clothes) but most importantly it has a great supermarket, the woolsworth. I dont know whether its just me but I love supermarkets. Feels so relaxed strolling down the aisle and checking out the local produce. Im so boring! I'm getting old.....
Scrumptious breakfast from one of the cafe at Broadbeach mall
Selection of couscous
Besides Woolworth, Coles is another popular supermarket in Australia. So what can you get here? Well lots of organic stuff, wide variety of multivits, honey, propolis capsules, lanolin cream, eucalyptus oil and they even have kleenex tissue paper infused with eucalyptus to help with cold and blocked nose. I mean how cool is that? Ive been using it really sparingly...coz I love it too much. Oh yes not forgetting those yummy chocolate sprinkled with coconut Lamington cake bites!
(pics from web)
You can get these at the supermarket - cheap and good!
So hungry for these light and yummy bite sized cakes!
Smell is released when you crush the tissue paper
Not available at the supermarket,
got them from the pharmacy
We rented a car so travelling by car, Surfers Paradise is only 5 mins away. A big shopping centre the Pacific Plaza just 7 mins away. To Sea World is just a straight route along the beach in 15 mins
. Forget about the factory outlet Harbourtown, the place is boring and the stuff there look really outdated. I do understand that factory outlets stocks past seasons but these are like 10 years past seasons ago. I will recommend Robina Town Centre instead, its definitely more swanky and uptown. To be fair Australia is no fashion capital and you simply don't go to Gold Coast for that however, do try to look for local brands and unique, exclusively designed sneakers from Adidas, Nike and the likes, from Surfers Paradise.
(pics from web)
Cool and oh so comfortable!
My only gripe with the apartment is that there are few steps leading down the apartment and there is no ramp. So going about with a stroller is a bit of a hassle. And oh how can I forget ......you won't believe it but there is no Free wifi! We had to pay about 69 aud for 100 over data!! Well Starbucks is just round the corner and there is always free wifi at Starbucks :D
Then again, mayb its a perfect reason to disconnect once in a awhile and truly relax and enjoy your beach holiday! :D
Ok tata for now.... bis dann tschuss!! :))
