Perth
First I wanted a lazy day in Freo but then I decided to navigate to Perth.
I think I haven’t mentioned it before but finding your way around without somebody reading the map next to you and giving you direction 5 sec after you should have turned left/right aint that easy.
So it turned out that that GPS of mine was one of the best burchases I ever did. Just set the route in the morning and after that you will always know where you are and which direction you should go.
Mark the point where you parked the car, rented a room or had some delicouse fish and chips and find your way back.
So, after only one wrong turn I parked the car in Kings Park. A lot of signs tell you that
a) the maximal parking duration is 3 hours and
b) only as long as you stay inside the park.
Asked the lady at the information center where to park if I want to go down town after visiting the park. Hearing the word “parking” the old lady started to laugh at me. Seams that Perh and Parking aren’t going well togehter. Then she told me (but I don’t have it from here, if you know what I mean) that parking at the end of the car park should help to avoid any park time controls.
I trusted her ( you always trust old ladies).
After a walk trough the botanic I realized that the only way to enjoy a park like this if you are not into plants and trees is a park bench and a book or a picknick basket and a book. Or skip the book and replace it by a girl.
Since i haven’t had a book with me I took a bus to the city center.
To give you a feeling, the center of the park and the city center are only 3km apart. So the city center isn’t that big, What makes Perth big are the spread out suburbs around the city, the habour and the industrial zone.
Walked up and down the two main shopping streets to get a feeling and spottet two cinemas. Which is important to me because i wanted to watch “Over the Hedge” . But unfortunately it’s not out in Australia yet.
Found a lovely bakery which did delicious sandwiches and took a rest on a bench in the pedestrian area.
And there was the girl.
When she sat next to me on the bench my first thought was: “lots and lots of hair on your forarms, baby!” and then it turned out here name is Diane, she is still a virgin, rich, lives in a 500m2 appartment, I am handsome, she likes my green eyes and my salt and pepper hair, she is from Beirut and if I was married because if not she would be available.
...
I am really honoured but no, thanks!
Left and went to the next book store.
After so much social affection I went to an internet cafe and fixed some smaller issus with my blog. There should be no more trobles now and if there are, try to delete the cache of your browser. Or with other words: its not my fault! ;o)
Got on the bus to get back to the car but fetched the wrong one. When I was finally on the right one the driver told me that the bus would terminate at train station. Like every other bus too.
Now let my tell you something about Perth: After the sunset, after everybody left the town to go back to their houses somewhere in the outer suburbs or coastline they practically fold up the sidewalks and shut down the town.
All this bus changing left me a little confused about the orientation. I simply switched on my GPS and voila, had the direction to my parked car.
Twenty minutes later I knew that I was right about trusting the old lady.
Back at my backpackers deluxe room I packed up my stuff for the next day.
I don’t remember bringing that much stuff... bugger!
Thursday, 25 May 2006