gold coast show

I have a day off tomorrow - it's a public holiday for the Gold Coast Show. Quite frankly, I don't get it. Don't get me wrong, I love a long weekend and am definitely not complaining about it. I know that it's been going for over a hundred years now and showcases the Gold Coast, but to me it just feels like a cheap ripoff of Brisbane's Ekka. Our show follows the Ekka by a couple of weeks, goes for three days (compared to two weeks) and is smaller, and quite frankly worse. Okay, fair enough, the Gold Coast is smaller than Brisbane, but I don't know...

I guess I just don't see the point of the whole concept. You pay to get in, and then you pay to go on the rides as well as trying to win prizes (damn Carnies...), as well as spending cash on showbags and food. Not the kind of place I'd like to be taking my kids if I had any. I think I went once or twice as a youngster, but I didn't go on any rides - all I wanted to do was get showbags. I think I actually nagged the hell out of Dad one year to go, just because I wanted the Jurassic Park showbag.

I went to the Ekka not too long ago (I think I went in 2000 and again in 2002), and I must admit I had fun. It was expensive though. Didn't really go on many "rides" as such, nor did I go on a showbag shopping spree, but I know that I spent quite a lot of money on trying to win prizes. It was always really crowded and hot, with people everywhere. I don't think I had a mobile phone the first time I went (well the first time I remember going anyway) and got separated from a few of my mates. Not the best way to go through the day, but still managed to enjoy myself.

Anyway all I'm getting at I guess is that I don't think I'll be going to either show anytime in the near future, I'd rather spend my day off at a theme park or something and not need to pay for the rides once I pay to get in... or just chill out at home. The latter is looking very promising right now...