Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Overview of Western Australia and pictures.

By the time I got this post finished it was 4.10pm! I started at whatever time it says in the footer......

I am just in the process of importing all the photos that I took while I was in Western Australia. I think I took around 590 photos. I also had about another 15 that were from Melbourne so it is taking a little time to import all of these pictures.

I am looking at them and deciding which ones might be the best to show you how beautiful the West is. Most of the pictures are of nature. I realise I prefer natural shots as opposed to those of people. I don't mind the pictures of people but they're not my favourite.

I have also realised that my views of Perth were quite similar to The Missus who was visiting Melbourne from Boston. I was rather amused that she sees Melbourne as small - try Perth honey. I think Melbourne has a bigger population than Boston......

I like the idea of surprise that Australia has good coffee. Actually Melbourne has outstanding coffee and you MUST move beyond the American chains to get the best stuff. Try the Italian cafes for the best - including the flat whites you discovered. Perth on the other hand -the coffee - Meh!

The missus mentions that there isn't a whole lot to do in Melbourne. I was thinking the same thing about Perth. I then decided that this is unfair. If you know a city it is EASY to find something to do. There are so many things that you can do but it does depend on what you want to do. I heard the same sort of complaint from a Malaysian man in Perth. He comes from Kuala Lumpur where the city rarely sleeps. They have a big thing on shopping - at all hours.

Personally I found the museums interesting in all the towns/cities I ventured into. I also think just taking the time to observe how people live their lives rather than demanding to be entertained is important when you travel. I have been to small countries (Cook Islands) where the pace is so slow that you think carefully about something before you commit yourself to definitely deciding to do something about it.

Like most Australian cities there isn't a great deal to do in the city itself. We seem to have built a trading centre but things happen all over the metropolitan area as well moving into the country. Perth was much the same.

The rule about Australia is that it is a BIG place with a very small population. Western Australia even more so. You have to get out and about to see things. One week I was there I traveled 2500kms and saw a lot but I didn't even cover the whole state.

Here are a few photos of my trip - I have thought through which ones I think might interest.
A view of Perth city from Kings Park Gardens.

Sunset over the Indian Ocean at Cottlesloe. Beautiful.

Here is a blogging mandatory. Feet! That's all you get of me! My feet in the Indian Ocean.


Up close and personal with a baby kangaroo.
The memorial for HMAS Sydney in Geraldton - the dome is made of 645 birds - one for each sailor that was lost. It is an impressive site and something I am glad I got to see.

A close-up of some local wild flowers.

The Pinnacles. Really quite extraordinary.

Wave Rock - fairly impressive but after The Pinnacles not as impressive.

The jetty at Busselton - it's about 2km long. Slightly overcast - the rest sunny!


A river at but not Margaret River. One of the two overcast days I had.

5 comments:

River said...

This is a great post. I love seeing photos of places I haven't been to. The 2km jetty is quite a sight. You could walk or jog that morning and evening and have all the exercise you'll ever need. With a dip in the ocean to cool off after.

Laura Jane said...

Love the photos. I forgot to ask you about Wave Rock, but I think you're right - shoulda seen that one first!

Please email me the photo of you and I together (I won't post it!)

Me said...

I'm totally jealous you got to see a Joey (baby Kangaroo!)

I was DYING to see one!

Anonymous said...

I think it's interesting that you like pictures of nature/scenery more than pictures of people. I had a friend once who hated scenery pictures. If she wanted a scenery pictures, it would have to have a person in it somehow. So now I, too, like to have people in all my pictures. Kinda funny.

Great shots.

Vanessa said...

I agree, you MUSt move past CHARbucks or StarBURNT to get good coffee. In Seattle there was an abundance of stellar coffee shops and I miss them all. They even had a flat white at Vivace. It was my favorite Sunday morning treat!

Great photos!