Queensland, Australia Vacation

Queensland, Australia - Toowoomba, Brisbane, GoldCoast
20th - 28th September 2012

Preparation :

This trip occur about 3 months ago when I was going to work, after I came out of Tanjong Pagar MRT, I took "Today" paper and "My Paper", and saw the advertisement that Scoot is having a promotion that from Singapore to fly to Goldcoast is about $100+, went into the

Type of Trip : Free and Easy

Traveler : Wilson, Angelina, Kaylin(2 years and 2 months old), Kirk, Hayley and Ashley(5 months old)

Air Ticket and Time : Total of $1177.32 for Hayley, Ashley and myself, inclusive of Return Tickets and Taxes, also with more leg room seat selection and 30kg check in luggage.
From Singapore to GoldCoast - Departure : 20th September 2012, 10:25pm
Arrival : 7:50am
From GoldCoast to Singapore - Departure : 9am
Arrival : 3pm.6555

Hotel : Toowoomba : Cheng and Debra's house
Brisbane - Medina Executive Brisbane
Gold Coast - Vibe Hotel Gold Coast

Language : English

Currency : Australia Dollar

Meals : Toowoomba - Hong Kong chinese restaurant(Treat by Cheng), Red Rooster, Weis Seafood restaurant at Margaret Street(Our treat to Cheng and Debra), Angel's Cafe at Stenner Street, Gourmet Cafe at Highfields, Self cook at Cheng and Debra's house, Dinner at Yang Wei's house
Brisbane - Dim Sum lunch at ChinaHouse, Steak place at South Bank
Gold Coast - 1st day - Japanese restaurant at Seaworld cruise, Mcdonald breakfast at Seaworld cruise, Dinner at Titanium Bar next to Vibe Hotel.
2nd day - Vibe hotel breakfast, Movie world "Wild West Roadhouse", Chinese Restaurant at Pacific Fair

Camera Equipment : Nikon D7000 with Tamron 17-50mm f2.8, Tokina 11-16mm f2.8, Nikkor 85mm f1.8, Lensbaby Composer Pro with Double Glass and Fisheye Optics, Macro Converter and Macro Filter kit. Sony NEX 5 IR with R72 and 600nm.

Day 1 - Singapore to Australia Gold Coast Coolangatta Airport

On thursday evening 20th Sep, hayley was on 1 day leave and I took a 1/2 day leave, after work, I rush home to do a final pack and check, then went off to "Astons" at Changi Airport to have our dinner there, after dinner, went to Terminal 2 to check in and to meet Wilson, Angelina and Kaylin.

Our cute Kaylin is talking to some Aussies in the same queue.

 The Ho's and Teo's family before entering the gate.

On the flight before take off.

 The sky turns bright very early, saw this and can't resist to take a picture of it.

 In the middle of the flight, heard abit of commotion and found out that Kaylin vomited on herself, a picture showing her vomit on her seat.

The helpful crew came to help clean the seat up for her.

Ashley on the other hand, is sleeping soundly, and thank God for the extra seat, so we can place her next to us while we rest.

The seat after cleaned, but was still damp, thus the stewardess place some plastic sheets on the seat.

Just tempted to take Ashley's fatty hand

Ashley woke up and keep staring at mummy.

GoldCoast Airport to Brisbane

We took a maxi cab from the airport to the nearest rail station - Varsity Lake, and we then took the train to "Central Station", from there we walk from Central station to Hertz at Brisbane at "55 Charlotte Street" to collect our car. After a long time, the staff gave us a Toyota Kluger, but but abit challenging to squeeze 3 big luggages, another 2 smaller luggage, 4 adults, 2 child seat and 2 prams.

After we got our car, we went drove to Queen Street, there is this building "Myer building" for our lunch, we went to the food court, whereby hayley wanted a Kerbab with rice on plate and Red rooster chicken. Had a great lunch, but our heart drop after we went to pay for the parking, the Parking cost us AU$30 for just about 1 1/2 hour. We can't believe our eyes...

Not to drag any further, we go straight up to Toowoomba via Warrego Highway.

On the way along the highway, Wilson stop the car at the road side to get some food stuff for Kaylin, I saw this beautiful sunset and went to took a picture of it.

Another picture of the sunset without much dramatic feeling.

Upon arrival at Cheng and Debra's house, we were welcome by a whole group of old friends and table of food. Yang Wei brought Wilson and myself to Grand Central to buy some groceries for next day's breakfast. When we went there, it was late and most of the shops already closed, felt really great being there again. remember the shopping centre that I walk up and down in my Uni days, especially during Summer where everywhere is warm, shopping centre and the library is the only place with Air conditioned.


After the welcome party after everyone left, I took my tripod and camera to the front gate.

Cheng's and Debra's house under the starry night sky.

There is moon that day, but the stars are still visible and alot. Just wish I could visit again to take the clear sky.

Toowoomba Flower Festival
22nd Sept 2012

Early morning after we cook our breakfast, we bid farewell to Cheng, Debra and Stephanie as they head down to Brisbane. After breakfast, we drove the car and went straight to Queens Park to catch the parade and see the flowers.

 Ho's family enjoying the patches of flowers at Queenspark

Hayley is loving it, ashley is still wondering..."Where am I?"

We decide to put Ashley on the grass and she was fascinated with the new texture, keep touching and pulling the grass.

 All the ladies

At the carnival, there is this place call "Noah's farm", where alot of animals were inside to be fed and touch. - Pigs, goats, sheeps, chicken, duck, and many others.

Before we head back to the house, the ladies pose to show how fresh the air was....

  Lovely Ho family photo.

After visiting the festival at Queens park, all of us were too tired and decided to go back to rest. Hayley and myself turn to Japanese garden for a short visit which is situated behind the university.

Toowoomba (Rest and Relax day)

23rd September 2012

 Early morning, we decide to take this a relax day, so in the morning, took out my camera, attached with a lensbaby and close up filter to take some flowers at Cheng's front garden.
 

Ashley was still having fever and had been groaning.

Took a walk around the neighbourhood to take pictures.

Ashley got better in the afternoon. so we thought of going to West creek to take the miniature train ride.

Upon arrival, we realised that the train is closed due to the Flower of festival. So we went to have a walk at West creek.

 After we went back in the evening, the sunset was fantastic and decided to take a picture of it.

Journey of our new member - Ashley Teo

28th April 2012, 1600hrs

This special post document down the arrival of our new family member, Ashley, who was born on this special day,

Name : Ashley Teo
Date of birth : 28th April 2012
Time of birth : 1600hrs
Place of birth : Singapore General hospital, Blk 5, level 2 room 2(Delivery Ward)

On 27th April 2012 at 3am+, I was awaken from my sleep....
Hayley came out of the toilet and shouted my name..

Hayley : Ling, got "Show" already...
Kirk jump up : Oh.. then....(still holding my head)...etc, lets call the delivery ward and ask them how..
Hayley called, nurse ask her to go to Delivery ward to check. We then pack some things, took a taxi and rush to the hospital, block 5 level 2.

Upon arrival, the doctor checked and told her that "Show" started, but its not dilated yet, less than 1cm, and ask us to go back, infact ask us to go back to work tomorrow. At that moment, hayley's reaction was.. huh? back to work?? I needed sleep. but probably we were too obedient, so went back around 5am, I slept for about an hour before I went to work, hayley could not sleep due to baby kicking and pushing and went to work also.

At night, I told Hayley, lets sleep early today as we didn't sleep last night, so we went to bed at 11am. Again I slept but hayley could not sleep.

On 28th April, 1am, again hayley shouted again and I jump up.

Hayley : Ling, bleed again and got contraction this time round.
Kirk : Oh....should we go again??
Hayley : Think we go..
And off we went to the hospital. upon arrival, the doctor check again and this time round the doctor said that contraction starts, but still not dilated yet. and ask us to go back. but this time round, Hayley felt that she would like to stay in. so I went off to do the admission and at around 3am, I went back home while Hayley stayed in a B1 room sharing with 4 others. Reach home around 4:30am.

At 5:35am, hayley called my mobile, and 1st word that struck me was...
Hayley : Ling, water bag break liao.
Kirk : Oh..... (still holding my head)..so did the doctor say roughly how long baby will come out?
Hayley : not so fast, still less than 1cm.
Kirk : So how long does the 1cm grow?
hayley : don't know, but maybe quite long.
Kirk : Ok, I will come over soon.

After that, I woke up, showered, took my camera and went off at around 6:30am. went to level 30 to take the beautiful sunrise from my Iphone 4s and from my camera. after that, went downstairs to have breakfast till 7:15am. Then went off to hospital.

Around 7:30am I arrived at the Labour ward and seeing Hayley groaning in pain due to the midst of contraction. so I sat there and waited, at about 9am, the nurse and doctor advise to go straight to delivery room so that she can make use of the equipments there to make her more comfortable.

At 10:30, hayley was ferried to the delivery room. At first, the midwives gave hayley "Entonox", or "Nitrous Oxide", AKA Laughing Gas, and every few mins she will need to be gas. to expand from 1cm to 2cm take a long time, till 1 of the doctor have to come to help stretch to expand to 2cm, by then 1 of the midwive suggested to give Pethidine, it is a type of drugs that helps to relieve the pain abit, but it did not help much, and still go for Nitrous Oxide. meanwhile 1 of the midwive assured us that by 4cm, they will give her Epidural, which many described it as Magic formula, so anxiously waiting to dilate to 4cm.

Time comes when it is finally dilated to 4cm, the anesthetist came and prepare the Epidural, but before she could start, she ask hayley a series of questions, and 1 of the question she ask was if hayley had met with any accident or back problem before. And hayley confess that she had a slip disc, upon hearing it, the anesthetist stop and explain that with the past injury, she will not proceed on, this leave a cut to hayley's emotion and will have to bear with it till Ashley is out.

at about 1:45pm, I ask hayley if she can managed so far and so I went to "Coffee and Toast" at SGH for late lunch, and during lunch, my Mother in law, Clement and Wendy came to meet me for lunch, so we took lunch together till 2:45 and decide to go back up to the delivery ward.

When I came to the ward, I was surprised to see about 5 midwives and the Head of Gynecology, Assoc Prof. Tan Hak Koon, 1 of them excitedly told me that it is now 8cm and can prepare the procedure. All the midwives were there, and very encouraging. While hayley was pushing, the midwives will update the progress, and ask me to take a peek at the baby's head. The pushing lasted till 3:40pm, and by then it is 9cm and Prof Tan came in, prepare his robe, he continue to encourage hayley to push. At the final moment, at 4pm sharp, Ashley is being pushed out, Ashley is born.

After Ashley is born, there was a moment of boo boo, the midwive brought ashley to her mummy, they put ashley on hayley's body for about 1 min, then Prof Tan quickly ask them not to as ashley needs to be checked. Below are the stat.

Name : Ashley Teo
Chinese name :
Height(Head to Toe) : 52cm
Head Circumference : 34cm

Next she was cleaned off those dirty blood. and then brought to hayley once again. immediately she was breast fed and about 1 hour later, she was send back to the labour ward to rest. Ashley was brought to nursery and then back to the ward to be with hayley. I get to stay in the SGH "Hotel" for free.