I awoke at 6 am, ready for a day of exploring Surfers Paradise, a charming seaside city on Australia’s Gold Coast. Around 4 am, Jeff was already up and about in the house, a fact Seul-ki had forewarned me about, so I took it in stride. Recognizing that this wasn’t my home, I made a point to respect and accommodate every routine and habit I came across. As I mentioned yesterday, Seul-ki has been staying at Jeff’s house recently. Now, at first glance, Jeff might seem like a bit of a serious, stern character, but trust me, looks can be deceiving. If you’re a decent person (like yours truly, haha), he flips the script and showers you with top-notch respect and hospitality.
Dawn Conversations and Unfolding Generosity
At around 6 am, Jeff switched on the lights, rousing me from sleep. He kindly inquired if I preferred tea or coffee, to which I opted for tea and expressed my gratitude. We sat down, shared a drink, and engaged in a more extended conversation. It was a chance for us to connect, as yesterday didn’t allow for much interaction. I expressed my thanks to Jeff and mentioned that Seul-ki had placed some fruit in the refrigerator. Encouraging him to try it, I shared that it was my favorite fruit.
Jeff suggested I take a shower, and I followed his advice. He generously offered for me to stay another day, but I politely declined, explaining my need to head south and find a laundromat, given I was down to my last t-shirt and pants. Despite my initial refusal, Jeff insisted I bring my laundry inside, and I accepted to avoid any displeasure on his part. Grateful, I thanked him repeatedly, and he assured me it would be ready within 40 minutes. His kindness left me in awe. Later, Jeff mentioned that meeting Australians as nice as him was a rarity, especially among the younger generation who seemed indifferent. The plan was for Seul-ki to accompany me to Gold Coast for the day, and Jeff would later pick her up, sparing me the drive back to Norwell (100 km north of Gold Coast).
Navigating Job Opportunities
Seul-ki, in the midst of job hunting, received a callback from one of the restaurants, leading to a job interview scheduled for 11 am. With the current time at 9:15 am, she had to make her way to Brisbane. Despite the potential time crunch, she agreed to the interview. Jeff, wanting to assist, offered to drive her to Brisbane, but she declined, opting to take the train. I volunteered to take Seul-ki to the train station, and Jeff provided me with directions.
Seul-ki printed her resume, and I dashed to my car to stow away my belongings. Meanwhile, Jeff had just wrapped up washing my clothes. By around 9:30 am, Seul-ki informed me that the train was set to depart in just 10 minutes. Jeff urged us to head there immediately. In a sprint, I made my way to the car, swiftly set up the GPS, and zoomed off with remarkable speed.
Unfortunately, our arrival was delayed, but Seul-ki assured us that another train would be arriving in 10 minutes. I suggested Seul-ki call the company, offer an apology, and explain that she would be a bit later. Eventually, she made the call, and her interview got rescheduled for 3 pm. As we reached the train station, Seul-ki took a photo of us together and bid farewell. A twinge of sadness enveloped me as she departed. The time spent with Seul-ki was enjoyable, and her lively demeanor added a delightful touch to the experience.
A Quick Break on the Road
I cruised towards the highway but made a pit stop along the way. Needing a refreshment, I grabbed a drink and applied some gel to my hair. Additionally, I cleared out my cooling box, disposing of the melted ice and water. I parked the car on a quiet, somewhat eerie road near the Ormeau cemetery. The surroundings were eerily silent, and I couldn’t help but chuckle at the thought of disturbing the peace of the resting souls as I emptied the water on the roadside. While driving, I had noticed a small lookout point with a view of the highway, which was the primary reason for my stop. Taking advantage of the break, I enjoyed a drink, took a quick restroom break, and snapped some photos. After a brief 10-minute pause, I continued my journey southward, heading to Gold Coast.
The Library and the Mall of Surfers paradise
About an hour later, I reached the area and set up my GPS to locate a library. The plan was to charge my laptop and phone, and, of course, I needed internet access. The Broadbeach library turned out to be spacious and really clean. The air conditioning was a welcome relief from the scorching heat outside. After spending nearly an hour or two there, I decided to drive to the nearby mall, just across the street. I was a bit concerned about my car being too tall for the parking garage, but luckily, it fit within the 2 meters height limit.
The mall, like all malls in Australia, was beautiful. I must say, Aussies really know how to create stunning shopping spaces—they’re all so roomy and pristine. I strolled over to the cinema, but unfortunately, they were only showing mediocre movies, and I wasn’t keen on wasting money on that. The taste of that Hercules movie in Solo, Indonesia is still lingering, and it’s been over a month!
Opting for lunch, I headed to the food court and grabbed a sandwich from Subway. The term ‘food court’ triggered memories of my first experience in one back in Singapore—a real ‘Asian’ encounter. However, the current food court was a mix of major Western fast-food brands. Once again, I found myself missing Asia. Australia may be stunning, but it comes with a hefty price tag. Even now, I was readjusting to the Western standards and prices.
Surfers Paradise Beach
I anticipated that the awesomeness of this journey would only ramp up in the coming days. Post-lunch, I swung by Coles to grab fresh ice for the cooling box. After a final pit stop, I bid farewell to the splendid shopping mall. It was time to venture into the city and soak in the Surfers Paradise skyline up close. The drive towards the city felt exhilarating, with the music blasting at maximum volume, windows down, sharing the tunes of Queen and Coldplay with everyone around. As I approached the city center, the skyline beckoned, and I couldn’t resist capturing some snapshots while waiting at a red traffic light.
I found a spot near Surfers Paradise Beach, paid for an hour’s parking at around 4 AUD, and enjoyed my Coke along with some donuts from Coles. The heat was relentless. As I strolled towards the Q1 tower, I discovered they offered free parking for Skydeck guests. Opting to explore, I purchased a ticket and mentioned I’d retrieve my car later to park there. On my way back to the car, I couldn’t resist capturing the breathtaking beach scene. It reminded me of the movie Inception, specifically the skyline of an abandoned city next to a beach. The only difference here was that Surfers Paradise was far from abandoned—it was buzzing with life, haha.
As I gazed from the beach, the Q1 tower loomed large—an impressive sight. Once the tallest building in Australia and the Southern Hemisphere, it relinquished its world title in 2011 to Dubai. For a reasonable fee of 22 AUD, I entered, and it was certainly worthwhile. Bringing along a Coca-Cola saved me from the exorbitant drink prices. Looking back, I chuckled at my past complaints about Indonesian prices in Indonesia—oh, how times have changed!
Surfers Paradise Q1 Tower’s Skydeck
The Q1 tower treated me to breathtaking views, and I was equally impressed by my camera’s capabilities. Fortunately, my camera skillfully captured the scene, despite occasional challenges with reflections from the windows. Luckily, the pictures of the view turned out to be nothing short of amazing!
A wedding reception was underway, but with only a few tourists around, it suited me just fine. After snapping about 30 pictures, I settled into the best spot, taking in the stunning vista of the northern part of the Gold Coast. It was truly incredible as I sipped on my Coke, soaking in the panoramic views. Once my drink was done, I couldn’t resist playing with the zoom function on my camera—quite amusing how I could play the role of an unintentional observer from this vantage point, haha!
My camera’s zoom capabilities were truly incredible. After spending an hour capturing some final shots inside Q1’s Skydeck, I departed just 10 minutes later. The next task on the agenda: finding the perfect camping spot in the city.
Heading north as the sun dipped below the horizon, I reached Southport near Seaworld. While there was a parking spot, it seemed devoid of fellow backpackers. I approached a passerby, inquiring about the possibility of overnight parking, but he couldn’t provide a clear answer. Not eager to risk a fine – especially since Jeff had warned me about the strict enforcement in the city – I decided to explore nearby hostels. Unfortunately, a highly recommended one was fully booked.
Dorm Room Jackpot
I then decided to head to the southern part of the Gold Coast in search of a new camping spot, yet once again, no other backpackers were in sight. Feeling a bit defeated, I directed myself to a nearby caravan park. Inquired about the cost of sleeping in the car on their grounds, I was taken aback when they quoted a whopping 50 AUD. Deeming it exorbitant, I began to leave when a thoughtful colleague intervened. She suggested I could opt for a dorm room at 25 AUD per night. Though the room had six beds, it was presently unoccupied. DUH, I’d prefer a dorm all to myself and save 25 AUD in the process! Thank goodness for this colleague.
I opted for the room and inquired about the wifi password. The girl provided instructions on entering the park by car and accessing the facilities like toilets and showers. Around 8 pm, I entered the park feeling fatigued from driving around this evening. The past hour spent searching for a place to sleep proved quite exhausting, particularly with the added challenge of navigating through a traffic jam. Moreover, somehow the traffic lights seemed to playfully change to red every time I approached, haha.
I relaxed in my private room, making use of the internet. I engaged in conversations with friends back home and those I had met during my journey. Eventually, I focused on typing up blog reports and went to bed late. My plan for tomorrow was to sleep in until 9 am since I had to check out at 10 am.
