Very busy day yesterday. But first, the girl from Friday night turned out to be on pills too, but she was KO-ed the third time she was brought back to the room. Thankfully. And still alive the next morning.
Chad dropped by the hostel at 9am, and we headed out to Whiteman Park, home to Caversham Wildlife Park. It's like a zoo, but many of the enclosures are open, so one can wander in and pet a koala, or feed the 'roos. They have a "meet the animals" show, as well as a farm skills display - sheep shearing, whip cracking, mustering, etc. Great way to spend a morning, and I can only imagine how fantastic it'd be as a child.
Out to Swan Valley next, cheese and wine tasting at the Lancaster winery. Dessert wine was particularly delicious. Then the Duckstein brewery for some German beer and cuisine. Chad was beginning to drop off then, so we stopped back to his place in Mt Lawley so he could have a quick snooze. I indulged in some retro TV - Cheers and MacGuyver, and then we were off to the coast. Hillary's Bay first, a wonderful marina area with a pleasant mall, family friendly beach, playgrounds - the kind of thing we just don't have in Ireland, unless it costs an arm and a leg. A walk on Scarborough beach, past the Cot, and on to Freo.
Dump bags at the hostel, which is a little mad. Guys are strolling around in women's clothing as if nothing were amiss. After a quick look around, I regret not having stayed here before now. Chad and I head to Little Creatures for dinner and drinks, and meet his mates Jez and JT. JT is hyper, like he's just done a line, but he says he's full of caffeine. Banter for an hour or so, then Chad departs. Absolute gent - showed me so much of Perth, he's well suited to the hospitality trade. Hope I can return the favour in future.
Head to meet Jake in Benny's, but fall foul of the dress code. Change in the hostel. Good to see Jake again, and Bec. Club is too loud to talk properly really, but we chat for a bit. He's got a job for the moment, and they're moving into a place in Mt Lawley next week. Band are great, thought I'm not au fait with most songs. We all leave at 1am when the place closes.
Have a lazy morning, due to there being a mini-party in my room at about 5am. All friendly lads, but quite merry. I doze, despite their presence. Watch Cowboys & Aliens. Get out around lunchtime, down to the Maritime Museum, but it's $10 in. Stop by the roundhouse for $1. Oldest building in Freo, and probably Perth and WA too. Watch the sailing champs for a while, then get a Perth Guinness in Rosie O'Grady's. Not bad, but not great. $10.60.
I'm a little disappointed in Australia so far, and in myself. I think the budget worry has prevented me from being any way outgoing, so I've met very few people. But Aus has so far been full of long stay tenants, who have their patterns and friends. I'm regretting not getting a working visa, and spending a decent amount of time here, to really experience Oz without the money worries. And meet some people that.
Funny seeing Irish and English names crop up so often in placenames. Harcourt Street, Michael Close, Fitzgerald Street, and even Glendalough. Homesickness on the part of the founding fathers? Or else places are named after explorers - Stirling, Fremantle.
Chad dropped by the hostel at 9am, and we headed out to Whiteman Park, home to Caversham Wildlife Park. It's like a zoo, but many of the enclosures are open, so one can wander in and pet a koala, or feed the 'roos. They have a "meet the animals" show, as well as a farm skills display - sheep shearing, whip cracking, mustering, etc. Great way to spend a morning, and I can only imagine how fantastic it'd be as a child.
 |
| Chad feeding the wildlife |
Out to Swan Valley next, cheese and wine tasting at the Lancaster winery. Dessert wine was particularly delicious. Then the Duckstein brewery for some German beer and cuisine. Chad was beginning to drop off then, so we stopped back to his place in Mt Lawley so he could have a quick snooze. I indulged in some retro TV - Cheers and MacGuyver, and then we were off to the coast. Hillary's Bay first, a wonderful marina area with a pleasant mall, family friendly beach, playgrounds - the kind of thing we just don't have in Ireland, unless it costs an arm and a leg. A walk on Scarborough beach, past the Cot, and on to Freo.
Dump bags at the hostel, which is a little mad. Guys are strolling around in women's clothing as if nothing were amiss. After a quick look around, I regret not having stayed here before now. Chad and I head to Little Creatures for dinner and drinks, and meet his mates Jez and JT. JT is hyper, like he's just done a line, but he says he's full of caffeine. Banter for an hour or so, then Chad departs. Absolute gent - showed me so much of Perth, he's well suited to the hospitality trade. Hope I can return the favour in future.
 |
| Sunset in Freo |
Head to meet Jake in Benny's, but fall foul of the dress code. Change in the hostel. Good to see Jake again, and Bec. Club is too loud to talk properly really, but we chat for a bit. He's got a job for the moment, and they're moving into a place in Mt Lawley next week. Band are great, thought I'm not au fait with most songs. We all leave at 1am when the place closes.
Have a lazy morning, due to there being a mini-party in my room at about 5am. All friendly lads, but quite merry. I doze, despite their presence. Watch Cowboys & Aliens. Get out around lunchtime, down to the Maritime Museum, but it's $10 in. Stop by the roundhouse for $1. Oldest building in Freo, and probably Perth and WA too. Watch the sailing champs for a while, then get a Perth Guinness in Rosie O'Grady's. Not bad, but not great. $10.60.
***
I'm a little disappointed in Australia so far, and in myself. I think the budget worry has prevented me from being any way outgoing, so I've met very few people. But Aus has so far been full of long stay tenants, who have their patterns and friends. I'm regretting not getting a working visa, and spending a decent amount of time here, to really experience Oz without the money worries. And meet some people that.
***
Funny seeing Irish and English names crop up so often in placenames. Harcourt Street, Michael Close, Fitzgerald Street, and even Glendalough. Homesickness on the part of the founding fathers? Or else places are named after explorers - Stirling, Fremantle.
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