3RD PARK: WET N' WILD

Same pick up spot. different day.

Wet N' Wild Gate-just look at lil' miss pink. She has a future in modeling talaga.

Yes, it's winter. Yet, the kids did not seem to mind the chilly water in Wet N' Wild. I would have loved going on the rides in this park too, but I backed out the moment I dipped my toes in the water. I was told their pools are heated. HEATED my BFA! It was freezing. I wondered what it's like without the heater? Must be ice skating rinks-everywhere!

Well, the kids enjoyed it. Their excitement seemed to have warded off the possibility of hypothermia. By golly, I realised, I am no longer a kid. I would have jumped into these pools irrespective of the temperature if I was still in my early teens. But at this point of time, if I did, I would also be blogging about what it's like in the Gold Coast Hospital.

Ay oo nga pala...look at Daddy Ed's outfit naman??? Amongst the males with us, he's probably the only one who is unwittingly fashion conscious and was uncharitably adventurous with what he's wearing. Watch out for his all weather all leather attire in Melbourne...

Tindi ni Daddy Ed, parang mayamang sugar daddy papuntang scuba diving!

Kain/Tulog/Pasyal/Shopping/Kain. Sarap ng buhay!

The water slides were enormous. They looked so endearing, but I gladly said no to the temptations. The first ride I would have wanted to be on was the 'CYCLONE'. The kids did not mind if they had to carry the huge heavy raft all the way to the top through a steep stairways. It looked like they see the top of the stairs as their nirvana. All the huffing and puffing are compensated with the adrenalin flow the moment you slide(with the raft) through the first slope inside a tube, then cascade through a giant funnel-like watercourse and gets dumped to the pool through another chute. The kids climbed up these stairs so many times with the big heavy raft just to experience the thrill over and over until maybe their legs started saying, "there are other rides where I don't have to stretch my muscles dude!!!"

Cyclone

Then there's the 'MAMMOTH' which was like the Empire State Building of Wet n Wild. It's big, it's high, it looks so intimidating. Clara went on this one (for whatever reason-maybe promised by her husband that he'll buy her a signature bag-I don't know), took on the challenge, hopped into the raft, confronted her fears, then heard a woman before them screaming as their raft lounged down! That did it. She bounced back out of their raft-while it was already moving and therefore strained her ankle. On top of that, she got told off by the life guard never to jump back out while the raft is moving. DUH! Well, she still ended up buying a lot of signature bags.

The Mammoth

The wave pool looked so calming. It gives out that ambiance of being on
a beach. Oh, we're having one very soon here in the Darwin Wharf. Looking forward to that. Anyway, the kids enjoyed this too, but having been exposed to the cold winds on this wide open area, felt cold after a while. So they went to the little thermal pools and allowed their body temperatures to aspire once again, ready for the next ride.

Wave Pool

Thermal Whirlpool Baths

Too cold for me. I had flu, I was crook, I did not want to spoil the rest of my holiday. so I gave this park a miss. The first time we went to the Gold Coast, I also gave this park a miss. I thought this time, I will have fun and make the most of the rides. Unfortunately it was just too cold for me. I'm just probably not meant for water. I'm meant for the wind to take.

1:30PM, we left the Aralars and the Catuncans in Wet N Wild and headed off shopping to Harbour Town, a huge factory outlet with all the big names. Tommy Hilfiger, Oroton, Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, Sintra, Nike, Converse, etc etc. You name it, if it's got a name, they've got it. And the fact that they are DFOs, the prices are unbelievably cheap. I was not able to take much photos in Harbour Town. How do you expect a child to listen to the mum when she sees barbies on her left, then all of a sudden she sees Cabbage Patch dolls on her right and then sees Disney Princesses up ahead? It was pretty much the same feeling for me. I saw GUESS to my right, saw PLAYBOY to my left and up ahead are the big wigs, such as Ralph Lauren/CK and David Jones. Holy Kalabangga! Who would have thought about pictures???

I got one photo though...as we were leaving (night time)...we went past this fruit stand that's incredibly cheap cheap cheap as hell!!! I don't get excited with fruits, no matter how cheap they are. So I had this "@#$%*!?" in my brains all of a sudden...PHOTOS?! OMG PHOTOS!!!

Of course by that time, it was too late.

2ND DAY: SEA WORLD-

Every morning, we wait for the bus that drops us off to the parks from our apartment on this spot, just right in front of SBA. As expected, we got in trouble because of our halakhakan. This very morning, we got yelled at to shut up...ooopppss.

Anyway, this was the day the high rollers came home from their first casino episode, and they were telling everyone about my hubby hugging the machine trying to find out where the rooster's crow is coming from, and so we were all laughing like crazy.

The cable that brought us to the other end of Sea World

When we got to the Sea World, everyone got in through the gate OK except Ate Lydia. She lost her FUN PASS, a ticket for the three major parks which we purchased on-line. She's instead brought with her the cover of that pass, not the pass itself. She's only used it for one park so far, the WB. If she's lost it, then that means she won't be able to get into the next day's park which is 'Wet N Wild'. A little bit of my blah blahs with the supervisor, then she's good to go with a brand new pass. Well, that's what happens when you don't sleep....you loose focus.

These guys passed out on this bench with Ate Lydia drooling (honestly)!

Our first ride was the cable that brought us to the other end of Sea World, where we took the train that toured us around the whole park to have a better idea of where the rides and pens are and how grand this park is.

The cable ride overlooking the dolphin's tank



The Aralars, in a train ride going around the park.

Anyway, here are some photos to show you how interesting this park is. There were shows almost every hour to showcase dolphins, seals, etc... We did not wait for the 2:00PM big show however because we've seen it all before during our first holiday to the Gold Coast. It's where trainors get thrown around by the dolphins and all that... So, unfortunately, I am unable to show you what the show was like. But trust me, it's awesome!

After a while, I did split up from the group and headed down towards the Sea World resort all on my own. Along the way, I went past the shark's tank and the 'Happy Feet's' cage. I wanted to dive with the sharks, of course, under the supervision of professionals, but I did not bring with me any spare clothes. I can't go on the whole day soaked because it was really cold (It's winter!). But I would have loved to swim with sharks! Wouldn't that be thought provoking?

Guess what this hunk's job is? Cleaning up the shark's tank.

I would wanna bring my fish line here.

Happy Feet's den

The Polar bear under water viewing hall was colossal, it would have been more exciting taking pictures of them submerged but the polar bears just would not go under water. They were playing and biting each other above grounds. The thought that we may soon be loosing these sensational creatures stirs sadness in my heart. Global warming, oil spills and hunting significantly reduced their population and the fact is, Polar Bears do not easily reproduce. There are only 22,000 to 27,000 Polar Bears left worldwide, including those in captivity. So if and when you can, do help reduce green house gasses emission by simply switching off any electronic devices in your home that are not in use. We have seen through modern history how the Tasmanian Tigers dissipated, Polar Bears are also heading towards extinction. We don't want that. We don't want our grand children asking us what Polar Bears look like...We want them to see at least once, a real Polar Bear in their lifetime.

A lot of work and programs are in place worldwide to ensure the survival of these majestic creatures. That's how dangerous their number has gone down to. They have become a protected specie.

These Polar Bears have it good inside this colossal glass cage. They get fed and looked after with proper vet care. But the ones in the wild are lucky to even reach adulthood. Please click the photo below to enlarge some written facts about Polar Bears.

Talking about protected specie...I had to protect my own. What's the Cheryl specie without Nachos? What is my survival rating without my favorite food? Hey you guys, I know you'll ask "where and when was this?". Well, I ate these all on my own. Did not share this with you that's why you won't remember anything about these yummylicious nachos....They have it nice and yummy in Sea World. Just look at these!!! I feel like going back to the Gold Coast now... (Where are we going next guys? New Zealand? NAKS! Take note, for a long weekend lang yan ha? OO nga pala may meeting tayo mamaya sa mansion ni Madam President para sa marketing strategies natin sa August. Uhhuurmm!)

Before 2:00 the Casino babes, Jashkah and I left the park and instead went......

BILLABONG DFO SHOPPING!!!

ITUTULOY...

HIGH ROLLERS

Heard of a 'CASINO KNOCKOUT'?

We actually went to the Gold Coast with some High Rollers (Ate Luz, Ate Lydia and Mary) whose sole purpose was to rid Conrad Jupiter Casino of any possible dough they can bleed from this mega-gambling empire.

They are the high rollers of Darwin who traveled with us in budget airlines, like TIGER AIRLINES(who, if you remember, do not pay damaged luggage), ride the bus with us from one destination to another, and shopped in DFOs (Direct Factory Outlets) for cheap bargains.... Tsk Tsk Tsk. They are too meek and humble to even accept the casino's offer of a limo ride.... Ok ok, enough of the day dream guys!

Anyway, the night after our first park (WB), these mob frocked up, embellished themselves and took a taxi ride all the way to Conrad Jupiter. They took with them my husband, the only gambler with a limited gambling budget, and should therefore be called a low roller.

I stayed in the apartment with Jashkah, watched CI (Crime Investigation) and fell asleep in the couch. I woke up around 2:00 AM and they're not back yet. So I rang Ate Luz's phone up. No one answered. After a while I rang again, still no answer. The third (or was it?)time, my husband answered. He's got Ate Luz's phone. Ate Luz's ring tone is a roosters crow (heard one of those?).

Meanwhile, Ate Luz has left her phone in my husband's jacket's pocket. My husband's never heard of this ring tone before (he's not into cell phone thing), so when it crowed, he thought the machine he was playing was very unusual. He thought it gave out a 'TOKTOGAOK" sound when you're winning. He's fed and fed the machine with notes because he said he's winning!! DUH! If you're winning, you don't put more money into the machine...You take money out of the machine DA!!!

Good, he had some senses left, he noticed he'd just been feeding the machine more and more notes...But he was still puzzled as to why the machine kept crowing and he's not winning. When he heard the crowing again, he hugged the machine, put his ear right next to the machine screen and listened intently on the sound and finally...FINALLY(!!!) realised it's coming out from his pocket, not from the damned machine!

...And then we spoke!!!

I didn't know about this until they came home...what time? 7:00AM!!! And the bus to the SEA WORLD was due to pick us up at 9:00AM

Yes, the life of the high and low rollers. I hope the photos did this story justice, if I didn't by words.

By the way, Ate Luz won over a thousand dollars and played some back again, brought back home a $600.00 winning. Not bad Madam Butterfly. My husband won $70.00. That's better than loosing all his money from the damned crow!

The other two (Ate Lydia and Mary)? ...Well, if you ask them...Its, " I won $ earlier on then I lost $ a little bit later, but won another $ and lost $ but I still have $"........... I'm not going to bother deciphering a gamblers rambling. What matters is, they enjoyed themselves! Enjoyed it too much in fact, they had to go back there every night of the holiday.

Good on you guys.This is what happens to people who goes to Conrad Jupiter Casino at 8:30Pm, comes home at 7:00AM and goes to SEA WORLD at 9:00AM.........They loose their FUN PASS! Literally the 'PASS' and the 'FUN'! They fall asleep inside Sea World all lined up in one bench, drooling!