Gold Coast - day 6
20 June Wednesday
My first jet-boating experience was in 2007, when we had travelled to New Zealand on our honeymoon. Strangely, I had loved the crazy speeds and turns the boat indulged in, even though I am not a fan of roller-coasters and other adventure rides. When I was looking up things to do in Gold Coast and jet-boating came up, I quickly added it to our list because I wanted Xena to experience it.
Our jet boat was scheduled to leave at 10 am. We checked in around 9.30, and they gave a short briefing and our life jackets and raincoats. The long, dark blue raincoats were spattered with salt from the many many seawater splashes they had endured. When Viv wore his, he really looked like a homeless man, especially because all you saw was this ‘dirty’ oversized raincoat and his slippers, which he had chosen to wear. But of course he had the last laugh because while he’s been smart enough to wear slippers, we had chosen shoes (because it was simply tooooo coldddd), which got thoroughly wet during the jet boating.
Our driver introduced himself and we set off. We started off at a moderate pace, but soon we realised what a cheeky sense of humour he had. After the first few times he spun the boat at a crazy speed, making us get splashed, he realised that some people, especially those sitting in the middle, were still dry. "We gotta fix that, don’t we?" He remarked, took out a spray bottle and literally squirted the dry folks with water!
He also showed us Hugh Jackman's house and many other multi-million dollar properties along the way. He also informed us with a straight face that his home was one of them, and when I laughed he took out his spray bottle and sprayed me!!
It was very very windy and even my tight woollen cap was almost flying off. Overall, it was quite a thrilling experience, but sadly, Xena wasn’t too pleased. She kept saying that she wanted it to get over because she hated the salt water getting on to her glasses and into her mouth. She looked very pleased when we were done and got off the boat.
After the boat ride, we got her an ice-cream and then headed back to the hotel to change because while Viv was dry, Xena and I weren’t. Next, we headed to Harbourtown outlet mall. Viv was looking for shoes and finally found a good pair of Nike shoes at a good price. We also went a bit bonkers at Cotton On because the stuff was unbelievably cute and the prices unbelievably low.
In the evening, Xena wanted more beach time, so we went to Surfers Paradise beach, where she enthusiastically built more sandcastles! Really, one would think we didn’t live on an island ourselves.
My first jet-boating experience was in 2007, when we had travelled to New Zealand on our honeymoon. Strangely, I had loved the crazy speeds and turns the boat indulged in, even though I am not a fan of roller-coasters and other adventure rides. When I was looking up things to do in Gold Coast and jet-boating came up, I quickly added it to our list because I wanted Xena to experience it.
Posing outside the Paradise Jet Boating main office
This was our boat.
Our jet boat was scheduled to leave at 10 am. We checked in around 9.30, and they gave a short briefing and our life jackets and raincoats. The long, dark blue raincoats were spattered with salt from the many many seawater splashes they had endured. When Viv wore his, he really looked like a homeless man, especially because all you saw was this ‘dirty’ oversized raincoat and his slippers, which he had chosen to wear. But of course he had the last laugh because while he’s been smart enough to wear slippers, we had chosen shoes (because it was simply tooooo coldddd), which got thoroughly wet during the jet boating.
Our driver introduced himself and we set off. We started off at a moderate pace, but soon we realised what a cheeky sense of humour he had. After the first few times he spun the boat at a crazy speed, making us get splashed, he realised that some people, especially those sitting in the middle, were still dry. "We gotta fix that, don’t we?" He remarked, took out a spray bottle and literally squirted the dry folks with water!
He also showed us Hugh Jackman's house and many other multi-million dollar properties along the way. He also informed us with a straight face that his home was one of them, and when I laughed he took out his spray bottle and sprayed me!!
It was very very windy and even my tight woollen cap was almost flying off. Overall, it was quite a thrilling experience, but sadly, Xena wasn’t too pleased. She kept saying that she wanted it to get over because she hated the salt water getting on to her glasses and into her mouth. She looked very pleased when we were done and got off the boat.
After the boat ride, we got her an ice-cream and then headed back to the hotel to change because while Viv was dry, Xena and I weren’t. Next, we headed to Harbourtown outlet mall. Viv was looking for shoes and finally found a good pair of Nike shoes at a good price. We also went a bit bonkers at Cotton On because the stuff was unbelievably cute and the prices unbelievably low.
Lunch was at Sumo Salad.
Afterwards, Xena got a doughnut at Doughnut King.
Building sandcastles
Viv takes a walk on the beach.
Silly shot #1
Silly shot #2
Viv tried his hand and making a tower using a cup...
...and it worked! Xena was thrilled.
So she made three of those...
...and decorated them with seashells.
Aerial view of the sandcastles
It was getting bitterly cold and kind of dark, so after about half an hour at the beach, we managed to pry her away from the sand with the promise of the hot water pool at the hotel. We drove to an Indian place called Curry Express for dinner. I will always remember the place because I had the worst masala chai of my life there.
After dinner, Xena spent some time splashing in the hot water pool with Viv.
Stunning view from our room
Xena wrapped up her day with a bath. Once again, she called me in to inform me that she was Whaley the whale.
Labels: Gold Coast
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