Gold Coast - Surf Lessons

Only the Brave Need Apply
The thermometer was stuck in the high 60's and the clouds were there to stay.  Only four were brave enough for the surf lessons: The Bro, Sis, Sis-in-Law and Sis' Girlfriend.  They wouldn't admit it but as we waited at the meeting point they hoped the instructor had overslept or decided to cancel.  When he appeared, cheery and loud, barking out orders, they slumped and dragged their feet.  They slowly donned their wetsuits.  They were joined by another student who'd driven down from Brisbane that morning.

Gold Coast - California Parallels

It's Eerie
If they didn't drive on the left and speak with a funny accent you'd swear you were on the Pacific Coast Highway somewhere near Del Mar or Oceanside.  The Hoop pines that line the roads remind me of the Torrey pines in Southern California.

Gold Coast - Bushwhacking

Binna Burra
Lamington National Park is 25 miles inland and spreads west from the strangely named town of Binna Burra.  It's a subtropical forest growing from the remnants of a large volcano.  Most of the park is on a plateau 3,000 feet above sea level.  Lamington is one of the fifty reserves that comprise the Gondwana rain forests of Australia.  The name refers to the ancient singular land mass when Antarctica was joined to Australia.

Gold Coast - the Beaches

They're Spectacular
Though reminiscent of Southern California, the beaches here have a special beauty.  The skies look to have been painted in watercolors without a hint of imperfection.  This was shot with a miniaturization filter, giving a blur to the skyscrapers that tower over this stretch of beach. 

Gold Coast - Native Species

Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary
In the 1940's an enterprising horticulturist bought a tract of land near the beach,  He lured the local birds with twice daily feedings, making his inland flower farms less popular amongst the feathered set.  It has since grown to house many of Australia's native species.

Gold Coast - Touchdown

Cribs
After a less than enjoyable overnight flight in which I got about an hour's sleep I was happy to reach our home.  One benefit of coming to the beach in the winter is you can live like a superstar for cheap.  Ok, perhaps not cheap but less expensive than 5 hotel rooms.  Our house is a half mile from the beach on a quiet street.

Gold Coast - Here We Come

Is it Vacation?
If you're unemployed, can you actually take a vacation?  "Vacation from what?" those around me ask.  I see their point, I guess.  However, this one was not my idea.  This is a Chan clan family vacation to Australia's "Gold Coast", just south of Brisbane.  There will be 8 of us: me, Jean, Mom, Sis, Sis's girlfriend, Brother, Sis in Law and Niece.  It's a surfer's paradise but since we'll be visiting in their winter, the highs will only be in the low 70's and much chillier at night.  We're taking a 10pm flight tonight and will arrive seven hours later.

Singapore - Climbing over the Roof

New York to Singapore Direct
Flight SQ 21 is famous - it's the longest commercial flight in the world - 18.5 hrs from Newark to Singapore with no stopovers.  There are no coach or first class seats, it's all business class.  Where there would normally be seven seats across, there are only four: one on each window and two next to each other in the middle.