Day 11: Beach Day

This morning we walked to the beach for breakfast.

Afterwards we strolled along the beach (safely in the daylight – no stingers or crocs). 

We walked back along the esplanade and stopped at the small grocery store to purchase some breakfast staples for the week.  Then we headed back to the apartment to put on our swim suits in order to brave the Pacific Ocean.  Everyone had a blast splashing in the waves.  The Pacific is much warmer on this coast than it is in California (and no stingers or crocs…in this season).

Before heading back to the apartment, we, of course, stopped for gelato, and then stopped at the pool for a quick dip before showering for dinner.

We ended our day at the beach with a  very distinctive Australian dinner.  Dave & Alia had kangaroo, I had a crocodile curry, and the boys shared an Aussie mixed grill of emu, kangaroo, crocodile, and barramundi (Jasmin clung to tradition with a beef dish).

Day 10: Perth-(Alice Springs)-Cairns

I must say Dave did a wonderful job this week driving the “Australian” way (opposite side of the road than we’re used to).  He was able to stay to the left for the most part, and except for the occasional slip-up between the wiper and the indicator wands; some legally questionable left turns; he managed quite well.   

And our visit wouldn’t have been the same without Charlie thoughtfully and selflessly (not to mention, patiently) leading us to many of our destinations (even in instances when he wasn’t joining us on the adventure).  Following the white Golf was a lot more fun than any Navi System out there.

So, this morning, with heavy hearts, we said good-bye to our hosts and headed to the airport for our flight to Cairns, on the opposite coast, in Queensland, Australia.

Once again our departing flight was delayed.  Only about 40 minutes this time, due to poor weather in the airplane’s originating flight.  We were slightly concerned about making our connection in Alice Springs, but were assured that because there were about 40 others also making the connection, the plane would wait for us.  Sure enough, when we reached Alice Springs, our arriving plane and the one we were departing on were the only two planes at the entire airport (!).   We disembarked from our plane, walked across the tarmac into the airport through one door, and exited via the next door, across the tarmac and boarded the waiting plane.  It would’ve been faster just to walk from one plane to another. 

As soon as we were off the plane in Cairns, we knew we were definitely no longer in Perth.  We were hit with a wall of warm humidity, very different from the cool, although damp climate we had experienced in Western Australia.  Our driver was waiting for us and took us to our new accommodations.  After we were settled in our new apartment, we went for a short walk to the beach.  We were contemplating putting our toes in the western side of the Pacific Ocean, until we saw this sign…

Then we thought we would wait until daylight.

Day 9: Rainy Day

Today was a rainy day in Perth. 

We took a drive down the coast with Dave’s Aunt & Uncle, Jamilee & Ken.

We stopped in Rockingham, but it was too cold to walk around.  We did jump out for a quick excursion out on a rocky outcropping to explore a bit and take in the view.

We drove further south to Mandurah and stopped for lunch.  Afterwards, we wandered around some shops and had a snack at a bakery (because it was too cold for ice cream!).  Mandurah is a lovely seaside community, which would be quite a quaint get-away in the warmer months.

In the afternoon, before dinner, we went to say good-bye to Dave’s Aunt & Uncle, Ava & Gus, and cousins, Khalil & Hanadi. It was just a quick visit, but we got some nice photographs of everyone as a great keepsake.

Once again, Aunt Jamilee, hosted a wonderful dinner for us and Charlie & Fouad and their families.  The kids were glad to spend some more time with their cousins and were reluctant to say good-bye.

It’s hard to believe that we leave Perth tomorrow.  This part of the trip has gone by so quickly!  We have had such a wonderful time getting to know our relatives and seeing the sights of Perth.

Day 8: Rottnest Island

This morning we took a ferry to Rottnest Island.  After we fueled up with some hot beverages, we rented bicycles and set out to explore the island. 

The tiny island is inhabited by a type of kangaroo, called Quokkas, unique only to the island.  They are small (about the size of a large cat) and very fuzzy.  They were so incredibly tame that the kids could go right up and pet them.  When they’d had enough, they just hopped away.  The kids kept a tally of Quokka sightings, which amounted to about 40 critters by the end of the day.

During our ride, we stopped along the way to take in the breathtaking views of the Indian Ocean and the city of Perth on the horizon.

We paused to climb the dunes and dip our toes in the ocean on one of the secluded beaches. 

While we were riding, we saw a ship wreck just off the shoreline too.

Before heading back to the main settlement area, we ascended the big hill to the lighthouse, situated on the highest point on the island. 

The route back took us along a cosway in between salt lakes.  The beaches here were closed due to nesting birds.

After a late lunch, we wandered around the settlement area, petting some more Quokkas, and looking in the shops, and then headed back to the mainland on the ferry.

 In total, we rode about 16km (for those of you linked to Strava, you can see our route online on Dave’s page). 

In the evening, after a light dinner at Dave’s Aunt & Uncle’s, we put the kids to bed and met Charlie & Fouad for some drinks.

It was a very fun day with more unique experiences.

Day 7: Food, Food, & More Food

This morning, Charlie, Fouad and their families came over for breakfast.  Dave’s Aunt made a huge spread and we all ate heartily.

The kids enjoyed more time with their second cousins.  As a special treat, Fouad came in his Lamborghini.  The boys (both small and big) enjoyed admiring it.

After our breakfast visit, we went to Dave’s other Aunt & Uncle’s for lunch.  They, too, set out a delicious meal and it was too tempting not to indulge.  We had a nice visit, including a walk around the block a few times to burn off some of the appetizing energy we’d consumed.

In the afternoon, we went to Charlie’s house.  We had a tour of the major renovations they are immersed in and a glimpse of the completed vision.  We had a nice visit, which of course, included coffee and cakes.

From there we went back to Dave’s Aunt & Uncle’s  for dinner.  As soon as we were finished, Fouad & Tracy dropped off their kids and took Dave & me to the Swan River shoreline to see the city at night.  It was quite pretty and a little chilly.

See Dave’s Perth, Western Australia photo in his Gallery.

Charlie & Megan met the four of us at a café for tea and hot chocolate (but no cookies, believe it or not!), before we headed home for the night.

Day 6: Chocolate, Wine, and Beer

This morning we went to a mall with a Target store.  We were so excited.  We purchased some socks and other essentials while we were there.  Afterwards, we met Charlie & Fouad and their families for lunch. 

Then we shuffled the kids (9 of them) and stuffed them into 3 cars and drove to the Swan Valley. 

Our first stop was the Margaret River Chocolate Factory where we had “Chocolate Tastings”, plus ice cream for the kids and coffee for the adults.  There was an observation window where we could see the liquid chocolate being stirred mechanically, as well as witness the preparation of some of the chocolates.

Next we visited a winery (not Yellow Tail), and had a wine tasting – not the kids, they ran around next to the vineyard.

From the winery, we went to a Brewery and shared a few flights of beer.  The kids continued to occupy themselves.

And from there, visited another winery. 

We were hoping to visit a cheese factory as well, but we informed that it was no longer open for business.

Afterwards, we headed Fouad’s house for dinner and more wine (and a movie in the home theatre, for the kids). 

It was another fantastic day!

Day 5: Authentic Australian

This morning after breakfast, we headed over to Dave’s other uncle’s house for “tea”.  We had a very nice visit with his Aunt & Uncle, Ava & Gus, and two cousins, Hanadi & Khalil.  They spoiled us with lots of cakes and cookies.  We even had some authentic Australian Anzac cookies, which were originally introduced to us by one of Ben’s classmates back home.  They were very yummy and fun to dip in the tea.

After tea, we headed to the mall to explore.  We bought a few more souvenirs -the boys bought authentic Australian wallets and the girls got some authentic Australian opal jewelry.

When we got back, Charlie & his family came over and the kids played in the park until it started to rain (real, authentic, Australian rain).

Later, we all met up with Fouad’s family for pizza and a movie; Ice Age 4 (the Australian version).  It was a lot of fun.