I returned from Perth more than a week ago. It was my first attempt at a free and easy holiday, and consequently, it felt more rewarding and substantial than previous tour package holidays, because I actually went to places that interested me. Spending 5 days in the same city also allowed me to get a more complete picture of how Perth lived and breathed. It was not merely a gloss over an exotic locale, but an attempt to pierce beyond the veil of a different culture to experience its idiosyncracies and aspects.
I left on saturday morning, just after midnight. T3 for those of you who may not have seen it before.
Skipping the flight, which proceeded entirely in darkness. we come to the scene outside the hotel.
Before checking in, a sojourn into Perth’s famed King’s Park.
More macro shots of the diverse array of flowers there.
Path winding down to exit on freeway. So steep that climbing up evoked bad memories of the latter 4 kilometres of a 16 km fast march.
More macro flowers.
The Swan Bells at the harbour. Didn’t go in; expensive tourist trap. Its architectural definitiveness can be best appreciated from the exterior.
Generic evening view of skyline on the first day.
So we come to the second day, where we went on an expedition to the city’s port town, Freemantle, a wonderful tourist destination in its own right. Freemantle train station.
Lunch was served here, at Cicerello’s, a famous seafood restaurant.
Battered dory fillet, french fries, side serving of fried scallop and mussel, squid rings.
After-lunch walk around town:
View from high of the Freemantle beach:
Freemantle Maritime Museum. A curvaceous architectural curiosity.
This is me doing a Quantum of Solace thing.
We went back to Perth, eventually…
Artsy shot of the Palace Hotel against the BankWest Tower.
Home in Perth. Surprisingly comfortable, and excellent service.
The next day sees us taking a tour of the Swan Valley.
We were rather out of place; the remainder of the patronage consisted of middle aged American and Australian couples.
Anyway, Swan Valley is home to WA’s best vineyards and winemakers.
I knew the whole affair was overhyped!
Fruit.
Suffice to say the imbibing of alcohol took place, in extreme moderation, whereupon we returned to Perth to have dinner at some Korean joint. Ironic.
The next day, breakfast was had at a quaint cafe called Tiger, Tiger in some hidden alleyway. Its an open air concept, except sandwiched in an alleyway. Nice ambient lighting and atmosphere.
Today’s expedition was made to Rockingham, at the receptionist’s recommendation. Rockingham is a small seaside town not unlike Freemantle, except smaller and more villagey.
Another flower.
At this point some clarification is in order. We decided that it was necessary to visit Rockingham’s main tourist destination, the aptly named Penguin Island. We then proceeded to trek through the length and breadth of the entire town to get to the jetty, whereupon we missed the boat. But hey, there’s always another boat.
The beach:
The suburbs:
The lake:
Ducks:
Penguin Island (at last) with Penguins.
After walking through to the other side of the island, we have reached the end of the world. This is the Indian Ocean.
At this point my camera battery ran out, so here’s tomorrow. Its our last day. Notice the abrupt change in weather.
We went to a factory outlet and did random grocery shopping at Woolworth’s at Subiaco, but that isn’t too interesting.
Finally, airport:
And plane. Here’s me.
And that is the end of it.
Well, not precisely…
Some thoughts. First, WA seems an incongruously cosmopolitian place; half the residents are naturalized Australians with brown, yellow or blue skin. I saw Singaporeans, Chinese nationals, Indonesians, Japanese, Koreans (even a shop selling Korean DVDs and Korean instant noodles run by Koreans) at every corner, manning stores, walking to office, taking their white girlfriends out on a trainride, etc. Its a refreshing feeling to know that for once, you might not be immediately construed as a foreigner in a foreign land. A good feeling if you want to try blending in.
Second of all, the effusive, natural and spontaneous friendliness. Shopkeepers teaching us the basics of didgeridoo, non-intrusive attendants smiling at us when we enter the stores, helpful (if odd) passersby, and general indicators of a more open and friendly society than ours. Its kind of addictive, in a way. Its just a Western cultural foible.
I think I’ll post the entire album (400+ pix) up somewhere in the next few days.
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I would just like to add that the korean dinner was awesome.