Aussie Break - Day 1 (Brisbane and Gold Coast)

8 July
We are back!!! Hopefully refreshed and recharged...hahaha but actually revving for another one.

It was a 11 days trip....eventful, fun, uplifting, tiring...all in one. I personally enjoyed the first half of the trip the most - Moreton Island, Gold Coast, Snowy Mountains... Sam's fav is Moreton Island and Canberra.

During this trip, Jovann got to feed wild dolphins, pick strawberries, rode a pony around the mountains, touched snow for the first time. He also bite a dog (not the other way round), terrorised a cat, and milked a cow. Jazreel learnt to speak new phrases and words : "Find Daddy/Mommy", "Sit down, Now!", "dolphin", "eat bread", learn to eat strawberries and sausages, and is basically a sweetie to be around.

We also realised that the older kid is not always the better behaved child, that it may not always be the children who cannot sleep on a night flight, that lugging 2 huge luggage + 3 cabin bags +2 kids + a twin stroller to and from airports is a feat only meant for the truly insane. Thanks so much to Sam's bro, Jovann's fav uncle Ernest, whom helped us tom pang some luggage not once, but twice.

We made in total 4 attempts to go harbourtown or DFO, but for some reason or other didn't make it. Bleh.

At the airport, mama and gong gong sent us off. The 2 of them snug in the twin stroller that will be serving us very well on our trip. We have 2 large luggages and 3 cabin bags, as well as my diaper bag and Daddy's allerhand backpack.

The kids all dressed for the bedtime in the air.

We had a late supper, me anxiously waiting for the lights to go out so I can put Jaz to bed.

To our surprise, the kids slept for 6 whole hours out of the 7hrs 40mins flight! Jovann on the seat leaning in the corner with pillows and blankets, Jaz 2 hours in my arms and 4 hours in the bassinet. Sam engrossed himself in Clash of the Titans whilst I tried unsuccessfully to sleep. :(

Rise and shine the next morning!

Getting ready to disembark! its 17degrees outside, yippeee! Jovann ready too with his new toys given by the stewardess.

Pure adrenalin was what kept me going like an energiser bunny when we reached, considering I only had less than an hour real sleep in total. But I was fresh and ready for strawberries! It was a place I sussed out when planning for the trip, 45mins drive north of Brisbane Airport. We arrived early within 30mins with Ernest's driving all the way, heee.

Jaz was napping but woke up when we starting picking, and in a good mood too.

Rows and rows waiting for us! You can't imagine how excited I was.

The funny twin strawberries!

We didn't know strawberries grow out from middle of the leaves like this!

You were allowed to eat only 1 strawberry when picking, yums yums. Really sweet.....

Back to the shop, bought 3 jars of freshly made strawberry jam and paid for our 2 punnets.

We stopped by a petrol kiosk for some water and to wash some strawberries for stuffing our face with heeee...

Drove back to Brisbane to catch the ferry to Moreton Island, Tangalooma Wild Dolphin Resort.

Before the trip, I told hubby that we will be feeding dolphins UPON arrival at the island, as the wild dolphins typically come to the shore between 6-7pm to be fed, and our ferry arrives at 6.15pm. I told him that if he is going down with Jovann, then change into shorts (crazy idea right, it being winter? But that's what I was advised and apparently what I saw some teeangers did). But hubby kept thinking there's time to go back resort to change, so when we were met (very well organised) by a representative at the wharf holding a placard with my name written on it, hubby and Ernest were not ready to go down. I brought a change of clothes coz actually I was itching to go down. So its me then! get ready to shiver!!! Its winter and I need to get up to my waist if the tide comes.

To my pleasant surprise, they were renting out waterproof coveralls with attached boots. how cool! you can stay dry up to your armpits! heeee! It cost $8 AUD, of course I go for it. Can save a pair of jeans from getting wet, why not? Jovann was feeling cold, but was very game for feeding dolphins and the 2 of us excitedly waited our turn.

We got to feed a dolphin named Tinkerbell. She took the fish directly from my hand...ooooohhh.....

I was carrying Jovann very high up for fear he will get wet, but he got wet anyway coz the waves were strong and the freezing water came up to my waist. The guide taught me to bounce up with the waves when it comes so that it won't catch me off balance. Brrrrrrrr.....cold....

Jovann ended up kinda throwing the fish down in the water heeee...but Tinkerbell caught it. Jov asked for another one from the guide, and he got to feed twice.

We got a buggy ride back to our room, I gave Jov a hot bath and all of us went for a nice warm and filling dinner at the Steak House. Jaz learnt to like green peas! Sam and Ernest ate too much buffet and couldn't finish their steaks. heeeee....I was introduced by Ernest to the wonder of sourcream+sweet chilli dip for fries. Yumms.

On the way back, Jovann and Jaz had a great and noisy time running up and down the small slope of green, and we were treated to a beautiful unclouded night sky filled with gazillion stars....