There's no such thing as a bad photo of Mooloolaba beach
When Sarah and I were on our way to Mooloolaba (pronounced “meh-loo-leh-bah” in Australia), I realized that I had forgotten to bring the address of the place we were staying. I had it in an e-mail, but since I didn’t have my wonderful new internet stick yet, I couldn’t check it. What I did have though, was a map that my co-worker Sara (pronounced “Sah-ra”) had printed out for me which had an ‘X’ marking the spot of the building and a cartoon whale drawn in the water. Sarah and I figured we’d just get there and find an internet cafe where I could check my e-mail for the address.
When my boss told me he had an apartment in Mooloolaba, in my head I pictured a normal apartment like the kind you or I would live in. It probably should’ve rung a bell in my head when Sara told me there would be a cleaning service but I pictured a cute old couple who happened to live in my fictional apartment building that offered cleaning services to the other residents when they were away.
Sarah and I drove up to roughly where ‘X’ marked the spot, and she said something like “no way, does your boss have a place at the Mantra?” I couldn’t remember what the building was called. Apparently a place at the Mantra is a big deal. LOL We decided we’d walk in and check it out.
We got to the reception table and I asked if I had any room booked under my name. When the girl opened a drawer after checking her computer, I thought “oh my gosh! We DO have a room at the Mantra!” Sarah and I both looked at each other and grinned. And then my thoughts were “what the hell?? This isn’t an apartment! This is HOTEL! And a fancy one at that!” My fictional little apartment block with the cute old couple was shattered but replaced by a much nicer beachfront hotel suite. “Yeah, I can live with that” I thought. 
We had arrived in the afternoon after having lunch at Aussie World just off the highway. This was actually my first time on an Australian beach so Sarah and I went trigger happy with the camera.
In Vancouver, the sand on the beaches feels like little itty bitty rocks or rougher hour glass sand. In Mooloolaba, the sand feels like baking flour! I felt like a guilty kid who had just taken a hundred bags of flour from the kitchen and opened them all just to play in it. 
Sarah had to leave the next day after we went to Underwater World (which I’ll elaborate on in another post), but I stayed at the Mantra for another night and then at a hostel for another night after that (the Mantra suite was only available for two nights). I spent my last day in Mooloolaba soaking up sun on the beach and I wouldn’t have had it any other way.
I’m glad you’ve made it to the beach! Distance from the beach is a distinct disadvantage to living in Brisbane. Sydney has great beaches!
I thought Mooloolaba was pretty close to Brisbane actually. It only took a couple of hours by car.
I do want to visit Bondi Beach in Sydney though. I want to replay the scene from Two Hands where Heath Ledger’s character buries a wad of cash in the sand (but of course use a fake envelope of paper) and see if someone tries to steal it.
Excellent post! Just reminded me when I visited a nude beach near Surfer’s Paradise and it was raining… I did not take off my clothes…hahahaa..Anyway, if you have time, you can also visit Byron Bay (boundary between Queensland and NSW). This is the best time to visit the place for whale watching!!!!
Byron Bay is on a lot of people’s must-do lists! I will definitely have to check it out this month.
I think it is so very cool that you made the trip and are having such an amazing time. I’ve been trying to follow along, a I can’t say how nice it would be to be able to do what you’re doing! Mooloolaba sounds great – have a great time!
Thanks for following Patrick!