Leaving Holiday Tours

So 2 weeks ago, I handed in my resignation letter.. it wasn't an easy decision to make, honestly.. And today, is my last day.. I needed to be in only in the morning as I have 8.5 days of annual leave to clear before the end of my notice period..

My new employer also agreed to buy 1 month of my notice period so that I join them next week. In fact my timeline is so tight that had I missed one day handing in my resignation it would have screwed up every plan..

I've been with Holiday Tours for more than 6 years.. I enjoyed my time here mostly, there are times and things that I cannot tolerate, but over the years I have learnt to let it be, for the sake of my own sanity.. I've learnt there is no use getting worked up over things you can't control.. You can control how you react but you cannot control customer's reaction..

It's no doubt the perks and benefits are there, included discounted travels and heavily discounted hotel rooms, and plenty of familiarisation (hosted/sponsored) trips, although not everyone gets to go on trips or on all trips, me included..

To sum it up, I have been on paid/sponsored trips twice to Club Med Cherating, Club Med Phuket, Club Med Bali, Gold Coast and most recently Gold Coast-Sunshine Coast-Hervey Bay, Queensland..

In the 6 years, for the first time, albeit on my own expenses, I've gone to United Kingdom, France, the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, Italy, Dubai, Japan, Vietnam, Cambodia, Australia, China. some of the countries I would then visit again and again, and flown on some of the famed aircrafts like A380 (Malaysia Airlines to London and many times on Emirates to Europe and Australia) and A350 (Singapore Airlines), and in business class of Qatar Airways (KL-Phuket), Malaysia Airlines (long and short haul) and Lufthansa (KL-Bangkok).

It's also no secret that I have coughed up thousands of ringgit paying for mistakes, so much I lost count how many thousands I've paid.. Where it was my mistake, I have to bear the responsibility, as with anyone else.. Where it was NOT my fault, I didn't have much choice but to fight and argue it out like in a courtroom..

Much as I am excited and eager to move, I also am going to miss this place, the bonds between colleagues from all the branches whom some I am very close with.. and then there are some whom I am sworn enemies with.. I still won't call colleagues as friends, and I think it should remain that way.. friends at work doesn't necessarily means friends outside and I would like to keep it that way..

So its bye for now but I know it's not the end cos I still need to come back and do things like visa and all that..

Since I'm flying off to Shanghai on my first business trip middle December, my passport and visa is pending and will not be ready until next week..

Australia Working Trip (part 6)

The next morning we headed out for the Great Beach 4WD Drive.. it's one of the very few beaches in Australia where it's legal to drive on, and it's a highway in its own right..

Riding in a 4WD on the beach with the waves

Amazing

The beach highway

Double Island Lighthouse at the end of Rainbow Beach

Rainbow Steps at Rainbow Beach for a Rainbowlander

Double Island Lighthouse

Rainbow sands on Rainbow Beach

So I got stung by sea lice (I thought it was jellyfish) while swimming in the sea.
They are like rashes, dots and raised bumps but in groups.
They are very itchy and sting, and you can only put cooling cream on it and resist the urge to scratch.
It subsides after a few hours.

Our drivers along Rainbow Beach

Have you ever driven into the sea?
Yes, with the Rainbow Beach 4WD tour, you need to drive into the sea as this part of the beach is so narrow you have no choice but to drive in the sea

From Rainbow Beach we transfer into Hervey Bay where we would see the whales the next day.. But first, we checked into our hotel, Mantra Hervey Bay which is located next to the Straits Marina.. Very convenient hotel to stay in if you want to go whale watching from Hervey Bay, known as the capital of Humpback Whale Watching (season July-October).

Looking out from the lobby, flanked by heated pool

How often do you get a jacuzzi in your hotel room? 

Each one of us get a single room, more like a two-bedroom hotel room

The living and kitchen in the next door unit

Whale Watching

A wefie before setting out

A dolphin just following us

A whale breaching

Getting some education on whale

Hervey Bay’s premium mid-sized whale watching and charter boat, with a strong focus on ecological practices and sustainability.

Whalesong Cruises is a locally owned family operated business, specialising in humpback whale and dolphin close encounters from their luxurious, purpose-built vessel. Wide decks and low passenger numbers of 25 to 45 people provides you with many vantage points and optimal space to interact with the curious and playful whales often frolicking within metres of the boat.

The guaranteed, experience of a lifetime aboard Whalesong is only available to a lucky few, for a limited time each year. Opportunities to listen to the whales sing underwater may be available.

Local and national award winners with a crew who love what they do, Whalesong offer two convenient cruises daily with expert commentary and interpretation. The Morning cruise offers morning tea and a buffet lunch. The Afternoon Sunset cruise offers a light lunch and savoury platter. Tea and coffee available all day.

Whalesong is environmentally friendly, reducing, reusing and recycling where possible to minimize their carbon foot print.

Australia Working Trip (part 5)

From Gold Coast, we move up to Eumundi Sunshine Coast for a quick stop at Eumundi Brewery before heading to Noosa, where we stayed in the luxury 5 star Peppers Noosa Resort & Villas.. We all got a villa room! It was an amazing property just uphill of the Noosa main beach and I tell you, there's a great gelato stall at the corner, AUD8 for a scoop but it's well worth it..

Entrance to Eumundi Brewery

Fermentation tanks

Boiling tanks

The finished product

We were treated to different types of beer that Eumundi brews, along with a great great sumptuous lunch at the hotel..

Next is Peppers Noosa Resort and Villas!

Reception

Living room

Bedroom

Kitchen

Everything you need is right here!

Bathroom with DOUBLE shower heads, one on each wall!

Washer and dryer

Balcony overlooking into the forests

Courtyard

A bottle of wine, and some fresh fruits and cookies, complimentary of the hotel..

Our dinner was at Noosa Boathouse.. not many pictures since its more like a normal floating restaurant.. but the food is amazing...We arrive at the restaurant on on a Noosa Ferry cruise from Noosa Marina at Tewantin, the heritage heart of Noosa..

Dinner was sponsored and hosted by Visit Sunshine Coast and Tourism Noosa, Queensland Australia.

Australia Working Trip (part 4)

After Corroboree Asia 2018 event, we were broken up into smaller groups, 26 groups, to tour around Australia.. I was grouped with the Singapore group and we left for Sunshine Coast and Hervey Bay, up north from Brisbane..

It's a luxury route and a 5-star treatment all the way.. We stayed in some of the finest hotels along the route and was fed with great food, and VIP access into some places..

First stop was TopGolf.. It is a driving range located beside MovieWorld and owned by the same company.. We were treated to a round of golf lesson, and a buffet lunch spread.. It was my first time trying my hands at actual golf..

We were on the top level (of 3 stories) at one corner

Driving range

Different clubs for different distance

Now only I know there is difference in the club size and whether it's made of wood or metal handle, for men and for women, as there's difference to each one of it..

The ball will come out automatically when we hover the club over the sensor, and ready to take a shot here

And act macam... 

Ok la.. not bad score for a first timer trying my hand at golf... scoring mostly 80 metres hole..

After playing golf, we were treated to some fun time next door at MovieWorld.. each of us were presented with a cape.. and I chose Superman.. as we didn't have much time here (it's okay because I've been here before also on a free ticket), we left after about an hour and enough time to go on the Superman ride, totally recommended it..

Superman!

In the evening, we were treated to a 55 minutes ride sponsored by Paradise Jet Boating and each time the boat turns we would swing our arms out.. really, we expected to get a lot more wet but all we got were just mini splashes...

Paradise Jet Boating

At night, we headed out to NightQuarter for dinner.. it's an open area with hundreds of container stalls under large tents, with many kinds of food, performance, souvenirs etc.

Ticket costs AUD3 per adult and you'll be subjected to body and bag security checks upon entering with metal detactors.. Cameras are not allowed and must be deposited at the counter..

NightQuarter is the Gold Coast’s creative playground. Located in Helensvale, the market is divided into unique precincts featuring micro-restaurants, emerging fashion and unique live music spaces. Experience the intersection of food, community, and culture, with well-curated and diverse concepts from over 120 entrepreneurs, artisans and performers. 

Discover a moveable feast of mix-and-match eats from oysters to souvlaki, bao to the Australian meat pie. Queensland’s best purveyors have been hand-selected, with a curated mix of handmade crafts, emerging fashion, desserts and vintage collectables. With six distinctive bars, find cocktails, craft beers and local Queensland wine. 

NightQuarter has also re-invented The Backyard, with a custom wood-fired barbecue that uses only sustainable hinterland timber, capturing the quintessential smoky flavour of the Australian bush in grass fed steaks and Tasmanian salmon. Every weekend, find a line-up of the Gold Coast’s best emerging artists, travelling musicians and the country’s biggest touring acts. 

Open every Friday and Saturday from 4pm to 10pm, on Town Centre Drive in Helensvale (opposite the Helensvale train station). It is easy to access by road, train and Uber.