Saturday 3rd March, 2012
In
the morning we went to the Shoalwater Bay. Here we boarded the boat
and the safari started. Only about 5 minutes out in the sea we
already saw a few dolphins. The next hour we followed and watched
them. For me it is the first time I saw dolphins swimming in the sea,
but not for Konrad. As I had taken my pills against motion sickness I
could stand in the front of the boat and take pictures. Konrad could
not believe it as he remembered of the opposite in Island were the
pills had not helped and I had been very sick. Our ride was not yet
over. The boat went to Bird Island were there are cormorants and
pelicans nesting. Then we met again a dolphin which was playing with
a ray. Next was Seal Island with its seal colony. As it was very
warm, they liked more to sunbath than to move around. We often saw
flying pelicans. At the end of the tour we left the boat at Penguin
Island. Here every hour a ferry goes back to the mainland. First we
enjoyed our pick-nick as there is no shop here. We also observed a
few of the local lizards. One just walked over the pick-nick area.
Then we went onto the two kilometre long path around the island.
First we saw a decayed tractor stand in the middle of the nature.
Passing nesting pelicans we went to the beach. We enjoyed the
refreshing bath and the waves and then we let us dry by the sun. Back
at the start we went to see the feeding of the penguins. A few of
them live in the visitor centre. They are not able anymore to live in
the wild. Four times a day they get fresh fish. After the feeding we
went back to the mainland and from there back to the motel next to
the airport. As there was still some time left we went to the centre of Perth
and walked a bit in the Kings Park. We heard some parrots in the
trees and saw them flying away. The evening we closed with a dinner
with sight to the city.
Friday
2nd March, 2012
We
soon left Perth and followed the highway towards the south. We wanted
to go to the sea. After passing big industrial facilities we came to
Rockingham. A bit ahead of the town we stopped and enjoyed a walk
along the sea. From there we could see a grain terminal where grain
was pumped into big cargo vessels.
In
Rockingham we soon went to the tourist information to find out about
accommodation possibilities. We got a list and the information that
it might be a bit difficult as in Western Australia there is a long
weekend due to Labour Day. First we walked to a nearby Motel and
asked, but without success. We called different places, all booked
out. But the first Bed&Breakfast we called had still some free
accommodation. With the certainty of having a bed in Rockingham we
went to the quay of the ferry to Penguin Island. Here we booked a
tour for tomorrow. More I do not want to tell yet.
As
it was only early afternoon, we walked around Lake Richmond. It look
a bit far, but after 40 minutes we were around. In the lake there
were many pelicans, some were also flying. At the lake there were
also thromolites. They are algae and bacteria which together grow to
kind of rock (living rocks). At one point at the shore there were
many information panels explaining the landscape and its formation.
Also the animals living here were introduced. I realised that the
snakes here can get up to two metres long.
As
we checked-in to the B&B we saw the same white parrots as
yesterday. I was astonished that they also could raise their head
feathers like cockatoos.
We
drove to Peron Point to watch the sunset. Unfortunately there were
clouds hiding the sun, so we thought that there is no sunset, but
just before it touched the sea, there was a hole in the clouds and
so we still got to see a nice sunset.
Thursday
1st March, 2012
I
was walking for 30 minutes with my big backpack on my back and a
smaller one in my front. The destination was the car hire company
where I had hired a car. The fist thing I did was start up my
navigation system to find a way out of the City. At the time I had no
idea where I should go and so I drove in the direction of Armandale.
Used to the green countryside in Tasmania I saw here only dryness and
red soil. Till I arrived Amandal I found nowhere to stop. My fist
thing in Amandale was shopping and after I drove to the tourist
information. I asked what I could see here and the lady gave me some
information. I droved to Churchman Brook Dam because the lady in the
office had told me it would be nice there. I walked there and ate my
lunch. After that I droved without a destination and at last I drove
back to Armandale. I was walking in the garden and spent some time
reading. I also looked at the ducks in the pond, the ibises and the
white and pink parrots. There were many parrots in the garden and it
was funny to observe them playing together.
At
5.30 p.m. I started to drive because at 11.00 p.m. Konrad was
arriving here and we were staying close to the airport.
I
had to get used to early sunsets in the west. In exchange I could
look at the stars.
Wednesday
29th February, 2012
Exactly
at 8.45pm I was at the bus stop. In a few minutes the shuttle bus
should arrive. The minutes passed and I waited and waited. After 25
minutes the bus appeared. The traffic should be the reason and some
more stops are required. I thought: “Come on, that will run short
on the airport”. Everybody around me was nervous as they have to do
the check-in even earlier than I. On the airport the idea was to as
fast as possible get the backpack and get to the counter. I got there
just on time and should go immediately to the plane. At the gate they
said the plane arrived late and thus boarding will be in 15 minutes.
OK, somehow everything is a bit late today. After a bit more than an
hour we landed in Melbourne. Here I had 40 minutes to change flight.
The nice lady next to me said I should take the backpack. So I was
the first leaving the plane and I could have a breather before
getting into the next plane. Another three hours of flight were
ahead. Shortly before landing there were many air holes and slowly I
got a bit sick. No wonder as I did not eat anything except crisps and
two cookies. Unfortunately I did not find anything without wheat in
the hurry. In Perth I could again wait for half an hour for the
shuttle bus. The first one said that my destination is not on his
tour and I should take the next one in a few minutes. Around 4
o'clock I arrived at the hostel. It took a while until they found my
reservation. Tired from travelling I put my luggage into the room. I
just wanted to check where I will get the car tomorrow. I started
walking equipped with the city map. I soon found the office of Hertz.
As it was not yet late I went to the Kings Park. That was a good
idea. There is a beautiful view about the northern part of Perth.
While walking in the park, I saw three wedding couples. OK, the date
is very special. A couple had its ceremony in the park with view to
the city. I sat down in the grass, watched them and remembered me of
my own wedding. As it is 3 hour later as in Tasmania I was now very
hungry. Around the corner I saw a Japanese and as I love sushi, I
went there. I was a bit overstrained by the big assortment they
offered. A kind Japanese recommended a sushi with chicken and avocado
served with a sweet-and-sour plum sauce. Lovely! Then I went tired
back to the hostel.
Tuesday
28th February, 2012
The
programme of today is told fast. After sleeping in I went walking. I
started in the harbour. There I watched a huge ship which was in the
harbour since Saturday. Along the shore I walked to Sandy Bay and was
surprised how fast I got there. Back I went through Battery Point
which I visited already at the beginning of my trip. After lunch I
had to wash the clothes and to put everything into the backpack. To
save some space my old trekking shoes finished their trip here. They
are definitively gone and the holes are too big.