Ben met me from the airport in my new "home".... A campervan that he had bought at my suggestion for me to sleep in outside his house. He shares with two friends, so I thought they would need their space, and I would need mine..... A good compromise which also gave me wheels and independence!
He took me to see some of the local beaches as it was almost as hot as it had been in Asia.... Altho less humid. This is Cottesloe
And Scarborough.....
We were at Scarborough for the all Australian surf life-saving championships.... Something the Aussies take very seriously. Having had even just a few days in Werstern Australia I can see why.... On some beaches the surf is HUGE.... It comes all the way across the Indian Ocean. It was ok here today tho....
We went to Hillarys boat harbour and beach....
And explored Perth city...
Perth is not really a tourist destination.... It doesn't have lots of "sights" but it has a very nice laid back atmosphere and a beautiful location on the Swan River. This is the skyline from the south side of the river, taken when I went to Perth Zoo.....
And this was the zoo.... With animals and birds local and not so local. There are kangaroos and wallabys in WA in the wild
But not wild koalas.... Only here in the zoo
Luckily there are no wild "salties" either... This was a 12 foot one in the zoo
But the Swan River does have these...
Millions of them.... All sizes. People use the river for lots of water sports- jet skiing, water skiing.... It can't be very nice when you're in the water with all those jellyfish....
I met some of Ben's friends... We went to Mount Lawley for a drink one night....
And to some friends house for an afternoon barbie..... I played my first game of beer pong, and got the ball in the cup first time! Yay! Total fluke!
The party went on into the evening... It was a good party!
And of course with my mobile bed I could sleep outside their house and drive home in the morning!
I went out without Ben one day into Perth.... To the Swan Bell Tower, to ring the bells. Yes I am... Was.... A campanologist!
My technique soon came back
The bell tower is the only one in the world that was purpose built..... For the millennium celebrations. 12 of the bells were donated by St Martins in the Fields church in London, and the other 4 of the 16 bells were cast especially for Perth. I had a guided tour...
The larger heavier bells have a deeper tone. All the bells are "up" ready for ringing, and the blurred ones in the picture are being rung as I took the photos. I was wearing ear mufflers at the time as the bells are very noisy!
The view from the top of the bell tower was beautiful
Across the river looking south.... They are developing the river frontage and want to move the ferry terminal shown. But apparently they didn't talk to the ferry companies before they completed the plans, and the ferries will struggle to turn to exit the dock forwards, so would have to exit backwards which takes longer and alters all the timetables.... So watch this space to see what happens...
One of the bell ringers also controls the carillon bells at Carillon City shopping mall
He sets the computer programme for the bells to ring at lunchtime and 5.30 every day... Or at any time that he decides.... So they rang at his command for me and another girl to listen to.... Wonderful!
The passing shoppers enjoyed them too
They took me through London Court to the bells.... Very twee..
I went out one evening on my own... To dance Lindy hop! Swing It Perth was fab! Wonderful class and very friendly. I meant to go again but was away or busy so never made it.... I will do when I go again!
Ben went out one day without me....
I declined his offer to join them on the back of the bike! He's the one on the red one.... A beautiful powerful Ducati..... But I had no need to go...!
So on my last night we went out for a meal
He has some wonderful friends who made me very welcome.... I hope to be back. A fabulous end to my travels....
Oh.... And I can't forget dear Sully!
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