THE REST OF GOLD COAST AND BRISBANE

It's very unfortunate that I was, yet again, unable to enjoy another water park. The White Water World.

This time, we opted to go shopping (again) even though we already bought the tickets to get into the White Water World. It's just a neighboring park of Dream World, and our pass allows us to go back and forth from Dream World to White Water World for two days.

Remember, when we went to the Wet N Wild, I did not even as much as dipped my feet ankle-deep? It was too cold for me. Since I did not enjoy the first water park, then I figured I won't enjoy this one either. So I decided to go shopping instead.

Ate Luz, Ate Lydia, Mary, Allan, Mona, Xander and my family went to Australia Fair, back to Harbour Town, etc, while the Catuncans and the Aralars pushed through. Above are some of their photos taken from the said park.

After all the park visits, Ate Luz's mob left for Darwin, the Catuncans stayed at Gloria and Bernie's house in Brisbane...And then there were two families left. Ours and the Aralars.

Surfers BeachSide Apartment's pool and spa

We stayed in the Gold Coast for three more days, but of course we also went to Brisbane for a little bit of shopping, house hunting and sightseeing. We got invited by my son's ninang to have dinner at their place in Brizzy. Mae and Nelson, who is like a brother to my husband have now settled in Brisbane along with Gloria's family. I would
like to thank Gloria who took pains in driving us around Brizzy looking for dream houses, shopping in the Airport DFO, Mount Kuta and everywhere... She really took time off from work to show us their hospitality...Thanks again Glo. Ohhh...dare I not forget...her house??? It's not a house...it's half an inch short to become a mansion!!! Huge! Rose Hancock...eat your heart out!

(above left) Gloria's house (below) her neighborhood

House Hunting in Brisbane. Prospect move out Darwin.

Mount Kuta overlooking the Brisbane Night Line.

We had the pleasure of having been visited by old friends from Darwin who are now residing in Brisbane. Emy Antalan and Ate Tess's family are now happily settled in Bisbane. Our kids, when they were younger (may have been 5 or so years ago since they said their Goodbyes to Darwin) used to play and hang around together. This time around, someone has to crack the whip to make them talk to each other. The distance barrier seemed to have taken it's toll on friendships. The girls, Merryl, Tin Tin, Ailish and Leah seemed to have grown a lot and changed so much. These outback girls from Darwin have now turned into beautiful big city girls, while our kids seemed to have embraced goths, shuffling and I don't know what else....

Awkward at first, but I think, friends will always be friends. All it took was 'TIME ZONE'. We dropped them there so they can sort of have a 'Night Out' for the underage and get the bonding fired up again....Well it worked because by the time they all got picked up from Time Zone, they were already talking to each other, and seemed to have really enjoyed each other's company. Now we can talk about weddings....WWHHAACCkkkssshhhh!!!!

With Emy and Ate Tess.




Last day in the Gold Coast.

The 10th night, we headed back to Melbourne for another big & cold adventure....

Infinity photo...coming right up( needs scanning).

4TH PARK: DREAM WORLD-THE BEST PARK EVER!

Kahit hilo na sa mga rides, basta picture picture, posing pa rin.

During our first holiday to the Gold Coast, we were unable to visit DREAM WORLD due to the fact that we were there only for seven days. I opted to go shopping after the three major parks, so we've run out of time.

This time around, I thought I'd visit all the 5 major theme parks, and boy was I glad I went to Dream World. It's got the best ride ever: THE GIANT DROP.

The Giant Drop is the tallest free fall ride in the planet Earth!!!Imagine that ladies and gents...The tallest! It stands at 119m tall (400feet=39 structural stories)) and shares the same tower with the 'TOWER OF TERROR', which I also hopped in. The fact that the two rides are sharing the same tower made it more terrifying when you're on the 'GIANT DROP' because when you're right on the top waiting to be dropped (it stays there for a good 30 seconds or so), you can actually see the other ride zooming up, feel the whole tower shake, and hear the magnet holding the seats creak and crack. It's pure mental torment. It plays with your mind for a while, until the magnet lets go, then it's pure adrenalin rush!!!

The TOWER OF TERROR shares the same tower with the GIANT DROP

When I went on all the other rides, I was fully conscious of what was happening and whether I was up-side-down or not. But on this ride... It felt like my spirit was left behind up on the top and only caught up with my body when I was back down on terra firma.

You get into this 'gondola-like' seats along with seven other thrill seekers. You get pinned down by a rock-hard mechanism so as not to allow you from getting thrown over board. Then, you resign your self to fate, the inevitable plunging, and just await the vertical lunacy that is about to befall you. A magnet pulls this 'gondola' up, and it takes about two minutes to reach the top. So for a minute or so, you get to hover your gazes across the horizon while your feet hangs freely on air and your brain anticipating the GIANT DROP. When you reach the top, it stays there for a good 30 seconds or so, taunting you and making you feel like shitting your pants...sorry for the language, but there is no other way to explain how I felt. I guess it's that smooth sailing trip upwards that made it feel really intense...it's like it's teasing you.


That's me third from the left, then Mona. I think this was taken when the electromagnetic brakes were hankering on the ride to stop before it hits the ground at terminal velocity. Just look at Mona...parang tulala pa. ako naman nag mumura na!


...see how small the gondola looks? It's so tall.

Anyway, when it dropped...it dropped inexorably. No stopping for about 8 or 10 seconds. You can't scream, you cant smile, you can't think, you cant shout, you can't cry....no, you can't pray!

I waited for what seemed to be like eternity. It's probably the biggest inhale of air I've ever done in my life. I could just feel my lungs filling up with more oxygen than it can take. The velocity was so rigid, it forcibly whops your feet upwards.

To think that it's only 8-10 seconds, and should therefore not be as gut-wrenching as the lethal weapon ride in the Movie World, is plain stupid. It is what happens to your brain during that 8-10 seconds that matters. When we were back down on terra firma, that's when I screamed, shout, swore like it's my native tongue and pulled my hair out like Sisa!!! My spirit's back in my body, where it should be, at last!

Got this photo of strangers from the Internet. I just want you to imagine how it feels. Tingnan nyo naman itsura nila...parang nakaharap si kamatayan. Yong itsura namin ni Mona mas matindi pa dyan.

Guys, if you have heart problems, don't try this... If you don't, you're a chicken not to even try it once. I definitely wanna get back on this one. 5 stars rating from me!!!

Well, here are more photos from Dream World. I will be posting more when I get the chance to compile more photos taken by my friends and the ones taken from my dvd cam.

The motorcoaster...it's like a roller coaster, only that you're like driving a motor bike. Look at my hubby sa likod...parang na totorete!

Inside Dream World

This guillotine would be good for men who misbehave...and it's not the head that comes out of that hole...not the head with brains at least...ohhh...where are men's brains located nga pala...I forgot. Don din pala. ehekhekhek!!!

Mr Magoo and I.

Dream World Train Station

Vintage cars...that's my hubby driving his vintage.



This is the closest I'd get near a tiger's ass.


The Big Brother cafe, near the BB House.


The Log ride and THE CLAWS (photo of the claws taken from an Internet site)

a Wombat

Well...That's not all folks. As I've said, I've got more photos to add on as soon as I get them scanned.

catcha later...