All that glitters

The Gold Coast in Queensland has a well-deserved reputation for being one of Australia's brightest vacation spots. I discovered for myself why the Gold Coast, in Australia's Queensland, is so well named. On the final day of my visit Down Under, I struggled out of my large soft bed at 5 am and took a five-minute walk down the main road to the beach. The tranquility at dawn was broken by the murmur of surf and rustle of leaves. It was not a perfect day to enjoy the sunrise, as only a thin line of sky at the horizon emerged from the thick layers of clouds. But when a streak of pink dawn broke over the horizon - expanding gradually and becoming brighter - I looked back and saw a golden color gilding the glass buildings along the coast. The Gold Coast - with its brilliant buildings, sea and sand, all reflecting the sun's radiance - is true to its name and is quintessential Queensland, where Australia shines brightest. This was not the most thrilling moment of my trip, however. That was close contact with Australia's most beloved endemic animal, the koala, at Country Paradise, a Gold Coast theme park where tourists can experience Aussie farm life. The small but heavy critter has a funny and adorable appearance - a pair of short and hairy ears, small eyes, a big nose, and short gray fur covering its whole body. Although we each had less than 20 seconds to take a photo, it was nice to share a few of the cute, fluffy animal's waking moments - about six hours a day. The next time I met the creature was at a conservation park in Cairns, where a 3-year-old female called Dobby leaned into the arms of her "mommy", Tiffany. She surprised me by saying the docile animal, with its sincere and peaceful eyes, would attack humans in the wild. She added the clumsy and indolent male koalas often fight each other. Later, I found a note in my room at Sea Temple, a resort in Port Douglas, Cairns, which informed me of the kinds of insects and frogs I was likely to encounter during my stay. In addition to the sun, sea, sand, flora and fauna of Queensland's tourist paradise, there is the internationally celebrated Great Barrier Reef. Even a non-swimmer in our group felt she had to don a tight diving suit, life vest and snorkel to sample the bright blue waters. Wearing a large oxygen-fed diving mask, just like those worn by astronauts, two layers of thick diving suits and a heavy metal belt, I walked down some stairs to a platform about 3 to 4 meters beneath the waves. The 35-kg helmet and the metal belt turned from being a burden to a necessity as we walked along the living aquarium that was part of the 2,600-km reef. A variety of tropical fish swam by. Gorgeous corals blossomed, and giant seashells slept nearby. Queensland offers adventure to vacationers, whether it's a bird's-eye view from a hot-air balloon, riding in the forest on a 69-year-old Army Duck - a six-wheel amphibious vehicle from World War II - or listening to age-old stories told by Aboriginals under the stars. It is also a place to enjoy some rest. Lying on a beach chair and submersing yourself in the cool blue hues of sky and sea, it's easy to wish the moment could last forever.