Australian trip to Goal Coast is not a cheap trip. It is a quick sand trip. It sucks our money. Comparatively the theme parks are inferior to the ones in other countries. I Think the Hong Kong theme park is better. Of course none can beat the ones in the United States. I stayed at Water Mark and SPA hotel where there are many Muslim and Halal food around but the tour leader did not arrange our dinner at those places, Instead the tour leader chose the restaurant of his choice. You can guess why.

Food is expensive by our standard anywhere. The Shantung Ground nuts and Pestachios cost about AUS15 at a Woolworth near our hotel. Roti Chanai is AUS6 and Nasi Goreng Kampong is AUS12. Average price for the halal food is AUS20. The exchange rate is 3.1 to 1. If you decide to have a Roti Canai you have to pay RM18 per piece. You cannot bring your own food. The customs scan your luggage for food and use dogs to smell drugs. Yet a few who carried Maggie mee were found and caught. Never try to bring any food in.

Our tour leader was asking us to pay AUS118 for a trip to go for one day shopping inclusive of lunch and dinner. I did not want to go. I  prefer to push my wife to a the nearby shopping center and bought a 12 dollar lunch and dinner. 24 dollars is far cheaper than 118. That is why I called it a quick sand trip.

From the beginning I had set up my mind not to do any shopping because I am aware Malaysia is one of the shopping heavens. We can do shopping in Southeast Asian countries, not in Australia or New Zealand. So my wife had AUS160 change and me a little more. I told her we would use our money to buy food. While in the Sea World I bought a pop corn and a couple of drinks which cost me AUS15 (RM45). The tour leader insisted that we should spend money shopping.

The first of the free and easy days I took my wife to the Gold Coast beach, pushing the wheel chair for about 2 miles each way, along the beach and return thru the shop lots. We went into chopping complex and even fortunate to find mangoes costing USD1.89 rather than AUS2.99 which I bought in Woolworth.  I bought three mangoes and a green environment bag for a woman who was in my group. The woman had asked us to buy the bag if we found one.

My legs got tired fast and I had to stop several times under the shades. The 29 degrees celcius was hot and sweaty. My last stop was just near Maharani Restaurant. Maharani is the name of a Malaysian lady. Siti Nurhaliza and a ew other VIPs had eaten there before. I thought of having lunch there but it was still closed at 11.00 am. Anyway I would be having the first free day dinner there. I found there are many busses which go to many attractions and theme parks. You don't have to pay extra to any local tour company. You can come alone and probably spend less and eat at your chosen restaurants.

When I arrived the hotel, my wife took a rest. I was watching TV. The maid came in to change towels. I mention about the maid because she was the first ever beautiful young Japanese maid I ever seen. Like all Japanese she was very polite, soft speaking and I really adored her. I would not know what could have happen if my wife was not with me.

Anyway at the Movie World I met a ham, 9W2 so something. He said he is never active. He took RAE to help him in 4 X 4 expedition. We talked and then bid good bye. I hope he will contact me on reaching home.

What I was aware was that there was one Yang Berhormat in our group. This humble man is a Deputy Minister of Education. His wife had been helping my wife from the beginning, assisting her in her wheel chair, shoving my wife's legs into her loose shoes, took her into the bus and out. In my political remarks and essays I have been hitting hard at UMNO when there are good and humble UMNO around that I have not met before. I informed my wife that she should continue to behave as if she did not know who the man was. Since the trip to theme park was over, we felt a little relief.

TRAFFIC around Gold coast is not heavy. I notice the speed limit is about 20 mph. I asked the bus driver about the traffic fine for offenders and he described the charge will according to the ownership. A company has to pay a fine amounting to AUS3000 plus 3 points. Individuals talking on the phone while driving might have to pay between 300 to 500 Australian.

Comparatively the theme parks in Australia is no match to those in USA. The wax museum has no match to the one in London. In my opinion Hong Kong is a better place to visit.

Our tour leader is not the wheel chair friendly compared to all the others I have been with. You have to be really fit to follow this agency. This one is called Suria Sinar. Would I go with this agency again ? The answer is NO. Among the best but much more expensive of the Muslim tour is Poto Travel. I had the opportunity of following the Riang Ria ( sub branch of Relience ) to New Zealand and I found it was also a reliable one.

In case you think you want to visit God Coast, make your own arrangement. Going places with a bus or rental car would be cheaper and further more you can eat at the restaurants of your choice. There are many Halal Restaurants around, halal as run and cook by the Muslims.