Perth

1 November – 7 November

Monday:

Another run-in with South African police.  We take the car back at the airport and are told we have to report the guinea fowl damage to the police.  Luckily there’s a police station in the airport.  After waiting for a while they hand me a scrap of paper and ask me to write what happened on there because they can’t find the form that needs to be filled in.  I wouldn’t like to be reporting any serious incidents. 

We’re flying via Kuala Lumpur and spent most of the ten and a half hour flight bumping around.  Yurk.  Couldn’t wait to get back on the ground, but then had another 6 hours to go…

Tuesday:

Luckily the second flight was smooth.  We landed at about 3pm to the friendliest airport staff I’ve ever encountered.   From landing, going through immigration, getting our luggage, to leaving the airport took about half an hour.  You’re not getting that at Heathrow.  We checked-in to our hostel and were given bedding to make up the bed.  4 sheets later we still couldn’t get one to fit the bed.  It felt like some twisted intelligence test, but actually they’d just given us the wrong size (3 times? No doubt a way to torture jet-lagged arrivals).

Wednesday:

I’d like to say we basked in the Perth sunshine, but I think wilted is probably more appropriate at 36 degrees.  Some very persistent flies kicking about too.  But Perth is a beautiful city, unfortunately my pics haven't done it justice.   We only realised today (Saturday) having read the paper, that the ‘cloud’ in the background is smoke from a bushfire.  

Thursday:

Today we’re meeting up with our friend Laura.  She’s been travelling for six months and is currently working and living in Fremantle.  We’re really looking forward to seeing a friendly, familiar face.  We get the train out there (about half an hour) and our first experience of Perth public transport is pleasant – fairly cheap, and runs regularly.   Fremantle is gorgeous – full of interesting looking shops, nice restaurants and bars.  Definitely on the list of places to live.

The sun is out so we head to the beach for a couple of hours.  Nick is very proud of his progressing tan, until I show him a picture of him next to Laura…

In the afternoon some rain comes in, so Laura takes us to a brewery turned bar called Little Creatures.  It’s a good place to watch afternoon turn to evening.  

After a final drink in the Norfolk we head our separate ways off home. 

Janet adds: I think seeing a face from home has made us all a little homesick. 

Nick adds: I’m not homesick.

Friday:

We head down to the CBD for a late breakfast and a look round the shops. We’ve set aside today to get our final bits of camping gear sorted, but it’s soon clear that the shops we need are out of the centre of town and we’d be better off waiting till we have our car (picking up Sunday) to sort it out.  We follow the treetop walk in King’s Park for some more great views of Perth and then decide to take the train out to Cottesloe.  

Cottesloe has a laidback feel and a lovely beach.  We settle in a bar to watch the sunset.  

Some engineering works delay our journey back into Perth, but the rail replacement bus makes us feel right at home.

Janet adds: Cottesloe is on the list too.

Saturday:

A horrific night’s sleep.  For some reason the air-conditioning in our bedroom has been turned down to arctic.   I’m so cold I have to get the sleeping bag out and bury myself in it.  I’ve barely got to sleep when we’re woken up by drunken kids being, well, drunk and loud.  By the time morning comes I’m just looking forward to getting out of the room.  We’ve decided to go and check out Mandurah today. 

It’s about an hour’s train journey south of Perth.  We have high expectations, but are a bit disappointed.  It’s a pretty enough town but with nothing to make it really special (except the pelicans).  

The train station is miles out of the town centre too, so we have a good long walk there and back.  After a couple of hours we’re ready to move on.  As it’s still early we decide to stop off in Rockingham on the way back.  Again, the station is miles out of town.  After 2 hours or so of walking around we still haven’t made it to the town centre and find ourselves back at the station so head home. 

Janet adds: Looking forward to another day in Fremantle and seeing Laura again.

Sunday:

We pick up our car this morning and head out of the city.  After picking up some extra camping gear we head for Fremantle.  It’s a lovely day and we spend the afternoon wandering about the shops and market.  Laura finishes work at 4 so we meet up to skype some friends and family.  In the evening we do a tour of some bars and end up in a chip eating competition (me and Nick against Laura and her friend Cally).

Later on we head back to the hostel for a drink and a chat in the garden.  When Nick started getting cuddles from a fellow backpacker (male) we decided it was time for bed.

Monday:

It’s a gorgeous day today and we’re sat in a café catching up.  We’re thinking a little swim and lie on the beach and then we’re off to Margaret River.  It’s a hard life.