Success and Longevity in training and in health: guest blog

For the past twelve months I have been spending as much time as I can each week exercising with a group of like-minded people. We do crossfit classes, we stretch together, we motivate and encourage each other. We have been brought together by our desire to be healthier, happier people. Our group guidance  sessions - sometimes up to six times a week- comes from our inspirational trainer, Rory Trend.

I have learned more about my health and fitness in the last year than in the previous twenty, simply by listening to and working with Rory. I asked him if he would mind sharing some key tips for my blog readers here, so you too can benefit from his training wisdom.

Here’s what he had to say…

Success and Longevity in training and in health

As all of my 20 years experience has been a combination of eastern philosophy, Kung-Fu and Tai-Chi training, with western philosophy and exercise science, I have developed many methods for overcoming the obstacles that we all face, not only training and health, but also work and LIFE. One thing we know is that life comes every day and we need to be able to overcome the obstacles that are thrown at us on a daily basis. That is where philosophy comes in, or what I call, ways of thinking. Before we can be successful in anything, we need to be able to get our mind to overcome the first and only obstacle that is in our way and that is, getting started.

Of course in this article I am talking about health and fitness.  As the age and levels of fitness will vary greatly to the people who are reading this, it is important to note that I will be using generic tools (philosophy) for you to try.

The Phenomena:

The less you do, the less your body will want to do. The more you do, the more your body will want to do.

The less you train or exercise, the more your body will tighten up and over time become useless to you.

Move it or lose it.

The more you train or exercise, the more it will tighten up. BALANCE exercise and training with relaxation, stretching, take a hot bath, a nice paddle in the pool or ocean. The buoyancy of the water will help your muscles to relax and will speed up recovery, especially for the people just starting out.

 5 Rules to successfully integrate training into your weekly schedule:

1) Make it fun, find something you like and enjoy that increases your heart rate and uses all the muscles that you don’t use in your job or daily routine.

2) Never train so hard on one day, where it will stop you from training again the next day. Always train hard and long enough so that you will want to do it again tomorrow.

3) Set your schedule and set your goals for the week. Keep them in your mind, so you can tell yourself you are going to do this at this time and look forward to it. It is called, chanting the mantra. I will do this, I will do this. I will start that, I will start that. Keep saying it until you are doing it. The mantra is self-designed to suit your immediate goal. Keep it in the fore front of your mind at all times.

4) Never ever, ever miss Monday, because if you miss Monday, there is a good chance you will miss Tuesday, if you miss Tuesday there is a good chance you will miss Wednesday etc, etc. If you do Monday there is a good chance of doing Tuesday etc, etc.

5) Find a group of people with similar interest and start off easy, work your way up. REMEMBER every one starts at the beginning some time and we all have to work up from there. So never be embarrassed or scared as we have all been through it as well.

As I could write a book on this subject alone, I would like to take this opportunity to say that if you would like further discussion, ideas or an assessment on your health and fitness, please do not hesitate to contact me via email  or go to my website!

Si-Fu Rory Trend

Master Trainer in Fitness

3^rd Degree Red Belt Kung Fu

Expert Chen Style Tai-Chi

Level 4 Body Guard

Thank you Adelaide: my gratefuls

Thanks to Writing Australia I am currently touring and delivering workshops on the craft of writing ‘chick lit’. I have already been to Melbourne (Wheeler Centre) and will be presenting in Canberra, Hobart  and Sydney shortly. Last Friday however, I flew to Adelaide to deliver a workshop and to be part of the Spirit Festival. Below are my gratefuls for that most inspiring 48 hours.

1.     South Australian Writers’ Centre: I can’t remember the last time I was at the SAWC but it felt good to return, especially to be in a room with twelve enthusiastic and talented local writers, all keen to make their mark in the chick lit genre. The SAWC also hosted the launch of Ali Cobby Eckermann’s memoir Too Afraid to Cry   (my speech notes are here).

2.     Talented local writers: I follow and am followed by some wonderful Australian authors based in cities and towns around the country. I didn’t realise that two of my faves – Bianca Wordley  (above) and Katrina Germein (below) - were actually based in Adelaide, so what a bonus to meet them. I must admit I was a little nervous to have blogger Bianca in my workshop, after all, she already knows how to write! And what a bonus to connect with Katrina at Al Cobby Ackermann’s launch at the writers’ centre.

3.     Alexis West: My heart smiles with gratitude for the lovely Alexis West, who coordinated the writers program of the Spirit Festival. Alexis looked after me in the lead up to the event, hosted me on arrival, gave me fantastic shopping tips and added her own groovy chick lit ideas to my workshop. Keep an eye out for this multi-talented woman she is going places. I’d be grateful if she took me with her!

4.     Spirit Festival

a.     Tandanya National Aboriginal Cultural Institute in Grenfell Street is a wonderful venue for art, books, dance, and storytelling. I was thrilled to return to Tandanya and be part of the writers’ forum with Dr Jared Thomas, Dr Dylan Coleman and Natalie Harkin. All members of the SA Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Storytellers and Writers Group, the locals are also part. of the Speaking Wave (Wangkanthi Wingkura) exhibition, adding their words to artwork from the Institutes’ permanent collection. Speaking Wave goes until 21^st April so be sure and check it out.

b.     New connections: I’m grateful to all those who came along to the writers’ forum on Saturday afternoon, including the women from Wanna Munda  pictured above. Also to catch up with roving photographer Wayne Quilliam and Twitter sister Azra Rochester (below).

c.     AaronFa’aoso  – yes the big spunk (pictured below) from the TV series R.A.N. and more recently The Straits. It was lovely to meet him and do my best groupie impersonation. 

5.     Della Rowley: Sometimes the death of a loved-one can bring people together in ways that may never have happened otherwise. In March 2011, my dear friend Hazel Rowley   passed away unexpectedly in New York. It was a tragedy no-one could every have imagined would happen. Since then, her loving sister Della – whom I spent a little time with on Saturday - has been working hard to keep the legacy of Hazel alive through the Hazel Rowley Literary Fellowship   and the Hazel Rowley Memorial lecture  , which will be delivered at Adelaide Writers’ Week this year by Alex Miller.

Why we’re grateful for Newcastle and The Hunter

Ladies Lunch the Landing Bar and Kitchen: http://thelanding.com.au/

I recently took the highway from Sydney to Newcastle for no other reason than to have lunch with some fabulous women who like to write, read, talk, eat and who also LOVE where they live in the Hunter. It would be an understatement to say I was totally surprised as I cruised into town and absorbed how the city had changed since my last visit there, back when, well I can’t even remember.

The entire waterfront /harbourside has turned into a social hub of bars and restaurants, making it the perfect setting for almost any gathering, just like ours pictured above.

So impressed with the ‘new Newcastle’ was I, that I need to let everyone else in on what still appears to be a well-kept secret to those of us who don’t reside there. I asked a few of the ladies I lunched with if they’d share why they are grateful for living in Newcastle aka Newy! Here’s what they said…

 Broadcaster and beekeeper Carol D with moi

Local ABC broadcaster, writer, beekeeper and deadly diva Carol Duncan says quite simply: The place is just freaking fabulous! My first few years were spent on a dairy farm in Northern NSW before my family moved back to Sydney to send us to school so I guess I have a foot in each camp - country kid and city slicker. Newcastle offers me (and my family) all the great things of a big city but without the dramas and huge expense. We live on an acreage just 15 minutes from the CBD with Lake Macquarie five minutes in one direction and the ocean five minutes in the other. While Sydney is a huge part of my heart and my family history, Newcastle is a beautiful city, which seems to get better every day. My children are Novocastrians! Now there's a concept I find quite odd after generations of being Sydney people!

View from The Landing, love it!

 

 Journalist, blogger, Francophile and coffee-fiend Linda Drummond says what she loves about Newcastle is: The combination of natural beauty, architectural awesome and optimism. New culture is exploding in Newy inspiring people to do something different and fabulous. The arts community is meshing perfectly with the food culture - there's a real sense of excitement here now. Linda also blogs A LOT about Newy also and you can read more here!  

 Newcastle Harbour

Writer, blogger, book reviewer and tea drinker, Susan Whelan says: There are no strangers in Newcastle. The standard Six Degrees of Separation seems to have been reduced to two here, or sometimes even one. I love that no matter who I start a conversation with, chances are we will discover a mutual friend, acquaintance or even relative. Maybe went to the same school or lived in the same street.  Maybe our parents once worked for the same company. There is always someone who knows someone who shares one of your interests or can help answer a question. Lack of anonymity can be a little frustrating at times, but I am very grateful for the sense of community and belonging that results these myriad connections.

 Close up on Crown Street by night

A lover of old-fashioned mix tapes, old buildings and Doctor Who, Athena says: It's laid back lifestyle and spectacular beaches. The diverse art and music scenes, the fabulous world class restaurants and wine and because of its size and compactness, we can connect through twitter with all these things and people on a personal level and in real life. It's a place that every day you see reminders of it's past but also see its vibrant and exciting present and future.

 A fleeting hello with Jayne Kearney while I prepared for a long, Newy lunch!

Mum and writer Jayne Kearney has returned to her hometown after venturing around the country. She says: It’s almost cliché to talk about the ‘Newcastle degrees of separation’, but I think it’s one of the best things about our region. Yes, we are also blessed with some incredible landscapes – from beach to vineyard – as well as some fascination and vibrant sub-cultures and a very handy proximity to the Big Smoke (all things I adore) but I have come to understand that it is our sense of community, which can be our real strength. I didn’t realize it when I was younger and was all too quick to dismiss my city as unsophisticated and boring, but I know now that when you get to know Newy peeps you make a unique connection. We are proud of the fact that when you first meet a Novocastrian, no sooner to you scratch the surface and you’re joining the dots to all of your mutual connections. I hope that as Newcastle comes of age – which it feels we are on the cusp of doing – that we make sure these connections and our community hospitality extends out to everyone who comes to our region, either as a visitor or to make it their home.

Jayne works as a communications officer at the University of Newcastle on the community engagement initative, Engage Newcastle.

Warners Bay in June

Librarian, geek, music lover, film buff, and groove instructor, Cathy Shay (whom you have met previously on my blog here) LOVES the Hunter.  Here’s what she has to say: The Hunter Region is a wonderful place to live. I was born in Newcastle, but live in Warners Bay, near the lake of Lake Macquarie. It is about a 15 minute drive into the beaches of Newcastle from where I live or a 10 minute walk to the lake so I have the best of both worlds. Water features heavily for most Novocastrians (people from Newcastle), be it the harbour, beaches, lake or The Hunter River. It's very healing to be near so much water. Over the years Newcastle has turned from an industrial town to an edgy and cultural place - we still have a long way to go, but there we are getting there.

I love our cultural scene. Inner City has transformed into cafe strips (Beaumont and Darby Streets and now the East end near the beaches) that would rival St Kilda. Small art galleries, funky bars and cute bespoke shops of art, crafts and wares are popping up around and between the cafes and restaurants. Add in a thriving arthouse cinema crowd and great local bands and there is always something amazing to see or do in your spare time. A lot of these vendors and artisans contribute to local markets, which are also plentiful. The Olive Tree Market and Farmers Markets being my favourites.

As a Librarian it would be remiss of me not to mention the fabulous events and activities the local libraries provide. Not only are there free books, DVDs, music and magazines to borrow, most local libraries have book clubs, regular activities for children and teens, and other events or displays to entertain their community.

Then there are Novocastrians, a friendly and interesting bunch of people; and the best place to meet them is on twitter. Newy Tweeps (as we are called) are an eclectic bunch, but love to meet up in real life and this is how we get to know some of the cultural events happening in our city, by making new friends and sharing our experience. Of course there is more to Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and The Hunter Region than I have mentioned but those are the things I love at the moment.

Needing some more specifics – check out Cathy’s recommendations below!

Bar Petite: http://www.barpetite.com.au/

The Terrace Bar: http://theterracebar.net/

Bocados Spanish Kitchen: http://bocados.com.au/

Bacchus Restaurant: http://www.bacchusnewcastle.com.au/

Lizotte's Newcastle: http://www.newcastle.lizottes.com.au/

Tower Cinemas: http://www.eventcinemas.com.au/Cinema/Newcastle

Blackbird Corner: http://blackbirdcorner.blogspot.com.au/

The Emporium: http://renewnewcastle.org/projects/project/the-emporium/

Blue Star Elements: http://www.bluestarelements.com.au/

The Lock-Up Cultural Centre: http://thelockup.info/

Lake Macquarie City Libraries: http://library.lakemac.com.au/

***

 Newy is also fab for random meetings with firemen on pushbikes! And they read books too!

Do you have any other favourite places or reasons you love Newy you’d like to add? Please leave a comment so others can find more joy in the Hunter as well.

TOO AFRAID TO CRY - Ali Cobby Eckermann

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Last Friday night I launched Ali Cobby Eckermann’s memoir Too Afraid to Cry.   Below are some of my speech notes. Unfortunately, words on a page cannot express the level of emotion felt in that space at the South Australian Writers’ Centre in Adelaide, when we all came together to honour the courage of Ali.

***

This week I was with the community at La Perouse to celebrate the 5^th Anniversary of the official Apology to the Stolen Generations, and the impact that moment in Australian history had on many of us with family members removed through government policies of ‘Protection’. With that in mind I think it’s fitting that tonight we are here for the release of Ali’s work Too Afraid to Cry, which talks about the pain, the heartache, and the sense of loss our mobs continue to experience. But equally important is the story of reunions, of coming home, of finding family and peace, and the cementing of identities.

I’ve known Ali for a number of years. I’ve seen her speak at festivals around the country, I’ve sat on panels alongside her, we’ve marched for the mob in the NT together, and we have supported each other across distance by text messages and voicemail. I have admired her as a strong black woman and as an extraordinarily gifted writer. I consider Ali my sister-in-arms.  

Last year I read her award-winning verse novel Ruby Moonlight and I turned a nice shade of green, envious of her capacity to tell important stories so lyrically.

Then four days ago when I opened Too Afraid to Cry I read about a different Ali to the one I have laughed with, talked writing and politics with. Her memoir begins a painful story of abuse, her day of deceit at the age of 7, and the broken trust that scars a child for a lifetime.

The story that follows is an honest one that retells the sense of loss due to forced removal and adoption. It helps the reader to understand the cause and consequences of alcohol abuse, self-abuse, the loss of self-respect and esteem, and unfortunately, that there are many close to us who have suicidal thoughts, even if they never tell us. In this way, Ali’s memoir is incredibly brave, for she has been as honest with her readers and her family, as she has with herself.

Ali’s story is a complex one, but she has told it simply, and with incredible dignity. Within the book she talks about keeping a journal while in rehab, and says:

Writing is allowing me a new clarity of mind, and I have begun to worry less about my future. Writing allows me to define my dreams. Writing allows me to discover who I truly am.’

In writing about who she truly is, Too Afraid to Cry is also memoir about identity – Ali’s identity as a sister, a daughter, an adopted child, as a Lutheran, and importantly, as a blackfellas finding her way home.

It is a story about the burden of silence, the brutality of teen bullying and racism and the futility of living in a domestic violence situation.

I cried a number of times while reading Ali’s story, for the things I related to, and also for the things I didn’t. But it’s important for me to say that I smiled also, because Ali’s trademark sense of humour is there and it softens the sometimes gut-wrenching blows.

Readers get to share the love between Ali’s parents, we learn about life on Malee Brae, and the annual viewing of The Sound of Music on Uncle Ray’s farm, and I’m so glad you included the pig kill!

I particularly liked reading about the ‘best childhood days at Sellicks Beach’ with Big Brother, and that as a child Ali was always cast as an angel in the Church’s Christmas performance, which is probably why she appears so angelic today.

I wasn’t surprised to read that Ali loved school, especially reading, spelling and drawing, that is, until she was assaulted and humiliated, which saw the return of the ‘icy wind’ of fear and memories. These fears thankfully were momentarily forgotten however when Ali and her teenage girlfriends listened to Rod Stewart and Hush and Sherbet, and traded pictures of their favourite pop stars to stick on their textbooks.

Ali’s life-journey shared in Too Afraid to Cry will touch many readers – those she knows, and many people she will never meet. And the trickle-down effect of your story will be great; you need to understand that right now.

Ali writes in conclusion: ‘Together we will be there always turning the past hurts into healing.’

And tonight this is what you are doing, Ali. Thank you for inviting me, thank you for inviting all of us into your life circle, so that we too can turn past hurts into healing.

Too Afraid to Cry will make people think, but more importantly, it will make readers feel. And that is the gift not only of a brilliant storyteller, but more so it reflects the strength of a woman with a heart that forgives completely, shares openly, and loves deeply.

It’s my great honour to launch Too Afraid to Cry.

***

Too Afraid to Cry was published by Illura Press, and can be ordered direct from their website   or ask your local bookshop to order it in!

I’m grateful for VD… (sarcasm alert)

 http://www.onlysweetangel.com

I love Valentine’s Day so much, I just had to blog why…

1. Because I can finally tell the person I love that I love them. Lets’ face it, I'm 44 years old and I need VD as an excuse to do it. It’s simply impossible to say or show love to that special person any other day of the year.

2. I have an excuse to wear my incredibly skimpy red lingerie - which I might add - I look extremely hot in!  Every other day of the year I have to wear my Bonds cottontails (which I also look extremely hot in!)

3. Thanks to VD, I can eat all the heart shaped chocolates I can possibly consume without getting sick, AND my trainer says 'That's fine, after all, it's Valentine's Day!'

4. On VD, I can treat myself without feeling guilty. I don’t need to justify to myself that I deserve something beautiful to wear or smell or eat, even though I work my butt off 50+ hours every week, most weeks of the year. It’s like February 14 says, ‘Anita go spend some money already, buy something red! Buy some chocolate. Buy a flower and for-fk-sake, buy a stuffed toy.’

Thank you Valentine’s Day, I feel so empowered right now as an intelligent, strong, capable, much loved woman. I love you!

Cathy Shay: another grateful librarian

If you are like me, then you will love libraries and those that make them run each day. I have visited many libraries over the course of my professional writing life, and indeed as a student when I was young. I changed my career because of attending a teacher/librarians conference back in 2006.

I have written my own blogs on library love, libraries I am grateful for, and I've had librarian Michael Jongen blog his gratefuls for me in the past.

Most recently, I was thrilled to meet Cathy Shay over lunch in Newcastle. Cathy (pictured above in the wonderful city of Paris) is a passionate librarian, and I asked if she would like to share what she loved about her job for my readers here. And today, I am pleased to post her gratefuls.

Cathy Shay says: 

I love being a Librarian, it's all that I know, it's all I have ever wanted to do. I have worked in libraries my entire life and have been a qualified Librarian for about 10 years.  To be able to do the one thing you want to do, love to do, need to do is an incredible blessing and for that I am extremely grateful.

I am the Librarian in charge of a medium sized library in a large coastal community. The best part of my job is helping my community find that perfect book to read or that correct piece of information. You have to love books and love people - that's the essence. Literacy is important in the community and whilst educational and helpful, reading can also be a great escape from everyday life. Of course, libraries aren't just about books anymore, we have films, music, magazines and loads of online resources. We also present lots of activities and events in the library and teach the community about technology.

I like to see my library as the lounge room of the community. A busy library with music playing, computers being used, people napping, having lunch, or reading the paper, and keeping the staff on their toes is my idea of heaven. It makes me sad when people don't know about or use their local library or even worse, don't read...do they realise what joy they are missing out on? 

I'm passionate about ensuring everyone gets the same opportunities in life and am thrilled to be able to provide that assistance free of charge to those that may not have access to books, technology and the services we provide.  And I still can't believe I get to work with Jane Austen, Helen Garner, William Shakespeare, Nick Hornby, Bob Dylan, Martin Scorsese, Alfred Hitchcock, Anita Heiss and the rest of the cool kids on a daily basis.

***

You can check out Cathy’s blog here! 

And you can follow Cathy on Twitter here! 

Are you are librarian or someone who loves libraries, then please leave a comment and let me know what you love most about the ‘library life’ and the best library you’ve ever been to and why!

Travel: Gourmet Gold Coast

Author Anita Heiss and lawyer Robynne Quiggin find where the grown-ups play on Queensland’s Gold Coast, eating their way through Surfers and surrounds.
 

The level of fine dining on the Gold Coast is rising as quickly as the apartment blocks along the beachfront. And in 2012 two world-class restaurants with kitchens run by some of Australia’s best chefs, have made their mark in Surfers Paradise, attracting tourists, locals and business-people alike.

The best view on the Esplanade from Seaduction

On The Esplanade at Surfers, floor-to-ceiling windows with breathtaking views from every table are the highlight of Seaduction  - in the hotel Sea Temple. The location is a drawcard, but dining there is an overall experience. The decor is stylishly funky, service is enthusiastic but not intrusive, the lighting allows it to be romantic but it’s also a space where groups gather to celebrate. The modern Australian menu prepared by renowned chef Steve Szabo  (previously of Palazzo Versace fame) will tantalise your taste-buds in new ways. We recommend: the homemade tortellini with goats cheese, baby beetroot gel, crushed walnuts, mandarin and burnt butter; the roasted shellfish soup served with tempura scampi and fresh crab, egg yolk and egg white. Wash it down with the Totera Sauvignon Blanc.

Culinary genius Steve Szabo

Seaduction’s piece d’resistance - their desserts largely created by Zorica Szabo known for her fun approach to food - will have you wide-eyed like a child, as a platter of passionfruit marshmallow  arrives with pistachio powder, orange and black sesame seed tuile, popping candy and homemade passionfruit ice-cream. We also recommend the lemon curd tart with gingerbread snap base, with lime and olive oil and petite meringue. Our advice is to leave some room so you can experience the unique petit fours served as lollypops made up of strawberry chocolate and compressed honeycomb. The presentation and concepts may be fun, but the flavours are very, very serious. (Dinner Entrees: $21   Mains: $35 Desserts: $18)

 Passionfruit marshmallow

Salt Grill in the Hilton

 A New York atmosphere complete with generous wait staff and jazz music piped through the restaurant will great you at celebrity chef Luke Mangan’s latest success, the Salt grill  in The Hilton, Surfers Paradise. Opened in September 2011, Salt is popular and busy without being chaotic, the layout sophisticated and welcoming, the atmosphere relaxed and comfortable. It’s the way you like to feel when you sit down to enjoy an extraordinary meal. 

 Hiramsasa kingfish sashimi

We urge you to start with the signature dishes only available in the Surfers Paradise restaurant. The ‘glass’ Sydney crab omelette with mustard broth is as equally impressive as the Hiramsasa kingfish sashimi with ginger, shallots and Persian fetta, both having distinct but perfectly balanced flavours.

There are two significant ‘sharing’ dishes for mains -  a 1kg rib eye with sides, and a barramundi stir fry – but we’re told that some ambitious people have polished them off solo!

Luke’s Liquorice parfait is the signature dessert but unless you’re really into the aniseed flavour we suggest the banana soufflé with the rum anglais, fig and pecan ice-cream and / or the coconut panna cotta with compressed pineapple, passionfruit OR the Salt Grill Chocolate 3 Ways -  all will have you leaving as if your dining life is complete.

 Salt Grill Chocolate 3 Ways

The Parmesan and Truffled French fries also require a mention because they can’t be passed up either. 

Toast your elegant dining experience with something from the diverse wine list such as the 2009 Pecante Costa Atlantica (Western Spain) and Pieropan Soave (Veneta). Salt may be four letters, but it is five stars! (Dinner Entrees: from $21  Mains: from $32  Degustation: from $120)

 The layout and atmosphere a huge plus for dining at Hellenika's

So popular is Hellenika’s at Nobby’s Beach that you can’t get in without a booking. It’s the only place on the Gold Coast where you can enjoy authentic Greek cuisine paired in a Mediterranean style atmosphere, and a key selling point is the fresh-produce served with minimal interference, relying largely on pure Greek olive oil and herbs. To greet you on entry will be restaurant Manager Beth or one of a number of food-wise staff who will walk you through the menu which includes hard-to-find-in-Australia Greek wines such as: Gaia Thalassitis Assyrtiko (Santorini), Lafazanis Agiorgitiko (Peloponnese) and Samos Muscat.

Some Greek wines may only be found in Oz at Hellenika's!

The menu is extensive, which makes it hard to choose, so the banquet is a blessing and allows you to taste a diverse range of mezedes, with a  menu that can also be added to. And while there are plenty of vegetarian options we suggest the following: saganaki (mouth-watering grilled sheep’s milk cheese), dolmades (close-your-eyes-and-swoon veal and rice wrapped in silver beet), hirino (cannot-share-this-is-all-mine salty pork belly with leeks), arni sto fourno (better-than-mum-makes slow baked Junee lamb shoulder).

(Mezedes from: $14.50   Oven dishes from: $26.50  Banquets from: $49)   

Seafood and meats grilled to perfection!

 Then, for an eclectic breaky do yourself a favour and search out the Black Poetic Lyrics   in arcade along Surfers Paradise Boulevard. Indulge in The Green Thumb with ricotta and honey almonds, ratatouille and eggs with basil cream to die for, all served by cheerily confident chef Josh. You’ll want to go back, we do.

To settle your stomach: Take some time out from your culinary indulgences and nurture the outside of your body as well. We recommend heading to the Golden Door Day Spa at Marina Mirage. Treat yourself to the kahuna style lomi lomi massage (ask for Erika) for an extraordinary full-body experience, and a facial a la carte with bright eyes treatment so you sparkle all over. All spa treatments include complementary use if the spa facilities so you can stretch out your relaxation and steam a while also.

For more ideas of dining on the Gold Coast head to Tourism Queensland and start dreaming.