21st and 22nd April 2007
The day started very early. We left at 615am. After one and a half hours of traveling, we reached Nambour-one of the suburs on the Sunshine Coast. Well, I slept throughout the journey; I just have the weakness of uncontrollably falling asleep in any vehicle. Damn! It’s not a good sign when you are traveling with other people.
Wayne dropped us at Nambour train station and we bought daily return bus ticket that permitted us to travel unlimited trips within the covered zones. The first stop that we went to was Eumundi Market, which well known for its size and variety of goods selling. But frankly speaking, I find all the markets here look similar and standard, plants, art crafts, ready to eat food, fresh fruits and vegetables and etc. Nonetheless, It’s a very good place to kill your spare time.
From the market, we traveled to Noosa Head by bus, which famed for its beach. But we didn’t go to the beach at all. Our plan for that place was to cruise through the river and stop at a place called Noosaville, we paid $12 for half way return. It has scenic view throughout the journey but the destination was like a dead town with few shops and cafés. We were so disappointed and whined for the unworthiness to take the pricey ferry. Yet, we realized the bus that we took back to Nambour passed by Noosaville. Huh…we were so mad…!!! Speechless…*^%$!@ =(
Above:-Noosa head ferry Terminal on the left; scenery captured on the ferry on the right
The journey back to Nambour was quite long, about an hour. We waited at the bus stop nearby the badminton court and Wayne fetched us from there. Then, he drove us to our stay over accommodation, a caravan park. We were so exciting to see how does it looks like cos Wayne described the condition as bad as he could. Haha…but not at all. The very small cabin can accommodate up to 5 people. It has a ‘triple-decker’ bunk and a queen size bed. Not to mention, Wayne hogged on the queen size bed and we got the bunk bed and slept beside the toilet. Hmmm…not too bad for a short stay. Most importantly, they priced quite reasonably.
Temporary bunked in spot. Rainforest Caravan Park
We had Thai cuisine for dinner at this very dull, quiet and secluded small town. But the price was not corresponded with the location at all. Supposedly, a country town should have a cheaper spending rate, isn’t it?? Sigh…I spent twenty bucks for the dinner and it was not very nice though, super disappointed on the Tom Yam Goong…I think the chef sprinkled sugar as the salt, otherwise it wouldn’t like a bowl of sweet soup.
After dinner, we went to another famous beach, Mooloolaba-about 20 minutes drive from Nambour. Hmmm…this place is heaps more happening, just like Gurney Drive in Penang. There are lots of coffee house and dining rendezvous. I guess I’m just too city girl to live in the country town and hence I feel alive when I was in Moololaba beach. We had after-dinner coffee in Starbucks, actually I had Hot chocolate instead…Muahaha…The wind by the beach was very strong, I was shivering badly although had my jacket on. Need not to say, I definitely love to have a cup of hot chocolate at that moment. We headed back to our cabin after the coffee and called it for the day.
The next day, the early bird winner went to Fel. I was awakened and conscious on her moves but was just lazy to wake up physically. Lying on the bed until all my sleeping worms ran away, I woke up and it was already 830 in the morning. Having breakfast, washing up, packing and ready to go, we checked out at 10 am. We went back to the badminton court to support the rest from the badminton club. We watched about three matches before leaving for one of the most famous tourist attractions on the Sunshine Coast-Buderim Ginger Factory.
We followed the Taste of Ginger Tour that cost us $10.95. The owner of the factory is super duple clever to transform the dull factory environment to a very interesting tourist spot. They created a ginger town in the factory boundary. The tour included the briefing on the history of ginger, the processing of the ginger from the farm to the factory, an on site factory viewing and a ginger tasting session. It’s a very brilliant way of carrying the tour, especially the tasting session. It could easily promote their products that selling at the Ginger shop within the property. I had Ginger chocolate and Ginger mango ice cream that selling at the ice cream parlor. I bought a jar of Ginger, Lemon and Lime jam as a souvenir.. Pheew…I was thinking to buy more but I’m super worried of my luggage. I’m kinda figure out I would have an overweight luggage with me. so…no more buying…sian!
Ginger chocolate and Ginger mango ice cream...have you ever tried before???
5 samples were given for tasting. Ginger refreshing drink, Sweet chilli + Ginger + BBQ sauce dipped with meat ball, ginger cream cheese with cracker, pickled ginger + cheese with cracker and last but not least ginger pineapple cubes.
On the way back, we stopped by a peculiar pub in terms of its outlook, decoration and atmosphere-Ettamogah. We got a free drink from Wayne. I was kind of not used to drink in day time. Feel strange to see a super red tomato face from the mirror. Hehe…
We didn’t have proper lunch, Uncle Wayne was kinda craving for food and he said he would be able to find a Fish & chips shop on the way. He found one in Redcliffe. It is just 20 minutes drive up north from Brisbane. I was not sure whether he knew that place earlier or just followed his gut sense to reach that quite famous Fish & chips shop. It was very crowded and had a very long queue. I’m not sure whether the crowd was there for the taste or the price or the variety. For me, I think the environment is the best cos fish and chips taste quite standard as my taste buds told. Sitting by the port, enjoying the picturesque view with countless ship-boat-yacht parking at the port, seeing the flock of seagulls flying in the azure sky, feeling the tranquility of dusk, and eating fish and chips, it was such a sinful indulgence. At that moment, I swear I had no regret to leave Gold Coast. I have gone through those very precious moments in my life which yearning by many people. I’m just lucky to be here, to live with Wayne and to share my memories with you.
Redcliffe
We headed down south and back to my so called home on the Gold Coast. It was a very contented weekend. Thanks Wayne for showing us so many places.
Left with one public holiday-ANZAC day on this coming Wednesday-and a weekend, I was kinda upset when I stared at the aeroplane flying freely in the sky. No long from now I’ll be sitting on the plane and heading back to my origin. I reckon I would have flooded by so many things by then. Therefore, in this coming month, I wanted to fully utilize my time and relax to the extreme most.
Btw, I realised I put on weight...can feel the flesh is horizontally adding on my body...sian...!