Sunday, March 28, 2010

Australia holiday_Gold coast

The Gold Coast is a city situated in the southeast corner of Queensland, to the south of Brisbane, Australia. Only 78 km (48 mi) from Brisbane and it take nearly 2 hours train ride form Brisbane Central Train Station, to Nerang, a small township. From Nerang to Gold coast is 45 minutes bus ride and the train ticket include the bus ride. Tourism is the biggest industry in the region, directly contributing more than $4.4 billion into the city economy every year and directly accounting for one in four jobs in the city.

Waterfront canal living is a feature of the Gold Coast, and most canal frontage homes have pontoons.Residential canals were first built on the Gold Coast in 1950s and construction continues.Recently constructed canals include Harbour Quays and River-links completed in 2007. There is over 890 km of constructed residential waterfront land within the city that is home to over 80,000 residents, which is a very big number.

Gold coast town area in the afternoon. Most of the tallest residential high rises are seen only at Gold coast in the world.

Waterfront living at Gold coast.

Surfers Paradise is a suburb on the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia and only 78 km (48 mi) from Brisbane. It has many high rises and long beach with relatively huge shore.

Main entrance to the beach, Surfers Paradise.

Monday, March 8, 2010

Australia holiday_Melbourne II and Great Ocean Road Adventure

This is the final destination, the Twelve Apostles. The Twelve Apostles, which are located along the spectacular Great Ocean Road are giant rock that rise majestically from the Southern Ocean and are the central feature of the rugged Port Campbell National Park.

I enjoyed the world's great coastal drives along the Great Ocean Road with its dramatic scenery of striking contrasts. It took about 5 hours drive from Melbourne CBD.

With the powerful seas, golden beaches, peaceful townships, giant cliffs and lush forests, the journey was great but the weather was not attracting.

I wish I had a beautiful day with bright blue sky. :(

Dramatic, powerful, dangerous and majestic. How can words describe?? Although it was named twelve Apostles, to day it has only 9 left. Long journey to get there. With this beautiful large shore every body get down here to take pictures. If I am not mistaken, there are over 150 stair cases to reach here.

Dramatic, powerful, dangerous and majestic. Since it is a soft rock, it is your own responsibility for any consequences. Of course I took the risk to take pictures. :) Scenery along the way to the twelve Apostles. I captured this while people are concentrating the soft rock and the Ocean.

Zoomed in to the soft rock.

Other view of the dramatic, powerful, dangerous and majestic soft rock. Thanks God, a got a little blue sky which I was hoping for the whole day.

Different perspective of the soft rock.

I love this simple shot of dramatic scene.

At Port Campbell. Scenery along the way to the twelve Apostles. Great Ocean Road. At Apollo Bay where we have our lunch. Dramatic, powerful, dangerous and majestic.

Scenery along the Great Ocean Road.

This forest is just beside our tea party, our breakfast, during the second stop. By the way I can't recall the name of the stop. Sorry guys..

This guy was shot with 18-200 mm, full zoom during our second stop on the way to the twelve Apostles.

These guys are taken at our second stop where we have our breakfast, in fact tea and local cake, which they call it laminton cake.

We are on the Great Ocean road and on the right is the hill where some people build their summer houses.

On the left is the powerful Ocean.

Rest room at Bell Beach.

It would be a beautiful shot if it it sunny.

This the very first stop at Bell Beach on the way to twelve Apostles.

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Australia holiday_Sydney


Lamppost outside the Sydney Olympic stadium. All the light there are powered up by solar cell; you could see the solar panels in the picture.

Sydney Olympic stadium or Stadium Australia, currently known as ANZ Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium located in the Sydney Olympic Park. Sometimes it is referred to simply as the "Olympic Stadium", was completed in March 1999 at a cost of A$690 million to host the 2000 Summer Olympics.
The stadium was originally built to temporarily hold 110,000 spectators, making it the largest Olympic Stadium ever built as well as the largest stadium in Australia. But, for several reasons the actual capacity was reduced to 83,500 for a rectangular field and 81,500 for an oval field (making it the second largest stadium in Australia after the Melbourne Cricket Ground).