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Apr. 8th, 2003 03:12 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
jawnbcPerth, Western Australia
This is what I looked like at the beginning of my sojourn to Perth:
More images are here.
A bit of play-by play is to be found
I’ve flown Virgin Blue previously, but only to Brisbane, a mere 70 minute flight. Perth is 4 hours West of Sydney. But Virgin lived up to its no-frills but not dumpy claims. Besides, after a few dozen 10+ hour flights (Vancouver to Hong Kong, London, Frankfurt; LA to Auckland, Sydney; Washington DC to Tokyo; London to Cape Town or Jo-burg...you get the idea), 4 hours seems like no big deal. I had booked into the Abaca Palms, a gay men’s B & B in Mt. Lawley (6 minutes and 4 stops from the Perth CBD via the excellent light rail syste). Bruce and Lloyd’s place is quite comfy and the boys provide free airport transfers, a nice welcome to a stranger in a strange land. That night I made an early night of it, and committed to a full day of touristing on Friday.
Friday: Freemantle et la plage: After a yummy brekkie I headed off to Fremantle, 10km or so from Perth, directly on the Indian Ocean (Perth is inland on the Swan River). Freemantle is quaint, easily navigable on foot, and seems to lack a decent beach. But the guys at Abaca have already given me directions to the local gay and nudist beach. While in Freemantle I pick up a sandwich and some libations (OJ) and start out. From the nearest rail station (Grant St.) it’s an icky 20-30- minute walk to the beach, but it is lovely--the West coast of Oz is mostly talcum-powder white sand, with clear waters and usually a good swell. Between dips in the surging surf (I’m a waterbaby and grew up bodysurfing, but even I was a bit disconcerted), I eventually headed back to Mt. Lawley. Shower, a lovely mushroom currie for din-din, then a visit to Notre Dame de Vapeurs. ‘Nuff said. ;)
Saturday: Perth: slept in, missed brekkies and headed out to do Perth city sightseeing. Wandered around the CBD, and ended up at the River shore. Jumped on the local looks-like-a-trolley-but-it’s-a-bus-you-can-get-on-and-off-at-your-leisure-according-to-our-schedule service. Visits to the local casino (played Keno and lost about 10 bucks in 90 minutes; not bad) and King’s Park. At around 1000 hectares, it’s one of the largest city parks in the world and it is lovely! About 100m or so above the city’s CBD,it has lovely views and a great Botanical Garden. Grabbed a quick and dirty dinner and headed back to the B & B to make an early night of it.
Sunday: Rottnest Island: My ferry left the Perth warf at 08h45, and Bruce kindly drove me down. I love water so opted for 1.5 hours each way via boat, instead of training to Freemantle and taking a 40 minute crossing. Rottnest, named by a Dutch explorer who mistook the local marsupial quokkas for rats, is gorgeous. Water, beaches all lovely. Few cars so great for cycling--and I cycled around the entire bloody island, about 35km! Also snorkelled a bit, but the coral is relatively uninteresting when compared to the tropics--but the visibility was excellent. Strong headwinds also made snorkelling difficult as the day wore on. But Rottnest is a well-run park and should be on anyone’s itinerary for Perth if they can spare a full day to visit. On the way home visited the other House of Towels (quiet; Sunday evening), and was in bed by midnight.
Monday: Kultur: With only a half-day, I focussed on the museums of Perth. The Art Gallery of WA was great, particularly the exhibit of grade 12 art students’ works. The WA Museum had a very good general natural history exhibit, plus a special show on the history of LGBT folks in the State. Befoe I know I had to hop back on the train to get my bags and head to the airport.
This is what I looked like at the beginning of my sojourn to Perth:
More images are here.
A bit of play-by play is to be found
I’ve flown Virgin Blue previously, but only to Brisbane, a mere 70 minute flight. Perth is 4 hours West of Sydney. But Virgin lived up to its no-frills but not dumpy claims. Besides, after a few dozen 10+ hour flights (Vancouver to Hong Kong, London, Frankfurt; LA to Auckland, Sydney; Washington DC to Tokyo; London to Cape Town or Jo-burg...you get the idea), 4 hours seems like no big deal. I had booked into the Abaca Palms, a gay men’s B & B in Mt. Lawley (6 minutes and 4 stops from the Perth CBD via the excellent light rail syste). Bruce and Lloyd’s place is quite comfy and the boys provide free airport transfers, a nice welcome to a stranger in a strange land. That night I made an early night of it, and committed to a full day of touristing on Friday.
Friday: Freemantle et la plage: After a yummy brekkie I headed off to Fremantle, 10km or so from Perth, directly on the Indian Ocean (Perth is inland on the Swan River). Freemantle is quaint, easily navigable on foot, and seems to lack a decent beach. But the guys at Abaca have already given me directions to the local gay and nudist beach. While in Freemantle I pick up a sandwich and some libations (OJ) and start out. From the nearest rail station (Grant St.) it’s an icky 20-30- minute walk to the beach, but it is lovely--the West coast of Oz is mostly talcum-powder white sand, with clear waters and usually a good swell. Between dips in the surging surf (I’m a waterbaby and grew up bodysurfing, but even I was a bit disconcerted), I eventually headed back to Mt. Lawley. Shower, a lovely mushroom currie for din-din, then a visit to Notre Dame de Vapeurs. ‘Nuff said. ;)
Saturday: Perth: slept in, missed brekkies and headed out to do Perth city sightseeing. Wandered around the CBD, and ended up at the River shore. Jumped on the local looks-like-a-trolley-but-it’s-a-bus-you-can-get-on-and-off-at-your-leisure-according-to-our-schedule service. Visits to the local casino (played Keno and lost about 10 bucks in 90 minutes; not bad) and King’s Park. At around 1000 hectares, it’s one of the largest city parks in the world and it is lovely! About 100m or so above the city’s CBD,it has lovely views and a great Botanical Garden. Grabbed a quick and dirty dinner and headed back to the B & B to make an early night of it.
Sunday: Rottnest Island: My ferry left the Perth warf at 08h45, and Bruce kindly drove me down. I love water so opted for 1.5 hours each way via boat, instead of training to Freemantle and taking a 40 minute crossing. Rottnest, named by a Dutch explorer who mistook the local marsupial quokkas for rats, is gorgeous. Water, beaches all lovely. Few cars so great for cycling--and I cycled around the entire bloody island, about 35km! Also snorkelled a bit, but the coral is relatively uninteresting when compared to the tropics--but the visibility was excellent. Strong headwinds also made snorkelling difficult as the day wore on. But Rottnest is a well-run park and should be on anyone’s itinerary for Perth if they can spare a full day to visit. On the way home visited the other House of Towels (quiet; Sunday evening), and was in bed by midnight.
Monday: Kultur: With only a half-day, I focussed on the museums of Perth. The Art Gallery of WA was great, particularly the exhibit of grade 12 art students’ works. The WA Museum had a very good general natural history exhibit, plus a special show on the history of LGBT folks in the State. Befoe I know I had to hop back on the train to get my bags and head to the airport.
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no subject
Date: 2003-04-07 12:02 pm (UTC)Glad your trip went fine - its sounds really good, actually. I like the way you skipped over
Glad your trip went fine - its sounds really good, actually. I like the way you skipped over <Notre Dame de Vapeurs</i>, though, coz I would have done the same. Skipped over to, that is...
no subject
Date: 2003-04-07 12:03 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-04-07 08:04 pm (UTC)Perth
Date: 2003-04-07 03:07 pm (UTC)I hope to do my canoe trip at the end of April or beginning of May (after the semester ends). That should be a fun one for me. I'll make some pics for ya, of course. :-)
Re: Perth
Date: 2003-04-07 08:07 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-04-08 10:36 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-04-08 06:09 pm (UTC)