So I was gonna post my pictures on here but I have found that it takes a really long time to get my pics up on here. What I have decided to do is post the pics on Flickr and post the link to see them.
Here is the link for the photos from my trip of Western Australia: http://www.flickr.com/gp/86172951@N00/fEykhE
There are descriptions of the photos although it would probably make more sense to read the blog and then look at the pics. Anyway let me begin.
DAY 1: Perth-Kalbarri
Well it was an early morning. We had to be at the bus for 7am and many of us had not seen that early in a long time. Our bus consisted of 3 Canadians, a Finn and 11 American’s but expect for one of the American’s they were all nice and friendly. Anyway our first stop was the Pinnacles which are rock formations that have taken a long time for nature to create however when you see them it just looks like fields of phallic symbols. You’ll see what I mean when you look at the pics.
We then stopped Jurien Bay for lunch, and while it was gorgeous there but again, like in Sydney, the Seagulls were insane. After Jurien Bay we headed to Hangover Bay.
One thing that was started on the first day was SPLAT. Essentially Lara, our guide wrote all of our names on a grid on the passenger side of the windshield and which ever square had the most bug guts at the end of the trip got the money that everyone put it.
After Hangover Bay we head to do Sand boarding. I only went down once and that was more than enough for me. The sliding down wasn’t the problem it was the walking up to the top that was hardest…just so not fun. The sun was starting to set but we made it to our hostel at Kalbarri. The funny thing for me was that Allison and Clea (the other Canadians) had never stayed in a hostel before so their reactions were priceless.
DAY 2: Kalbarri-Monkey Mia
It was an early morning. We had to be out for breakfast at 7am but we did it since we went to bed early the night before. After we ate the first place we went to was Kalbarri National Park where I ended up hurting myself and also completely realizing my fear of certain heights again.
I am not normally a morning person but Kalbarri National Park early in the morning is gorgeous. One of the places we hiked to there as Nature’s Window. You will see it in my pictures and recognize it as a common desktop on computers. All I can say is the view is stunning. From there we hopped back into our bus and head off to Shell Beach.
The beach is not made of sand but small shells and you can walk out at least ½ km before the water gets deeper than your thighs and then it suddenly drops off to be really deep. I walked almost all the way and when I was walking back to the shore I saw something in the water. I thought to myself “that’s a big rock” and I proceeded to walk towards it when it moved. It was a medium sized Stingray…how cool is that.
We ended the evening in Monkey Mia. Everyone on the bus was down at the beach with a drink and we watched the sunset. It was really nice. That evening there was an aboriginal show on. Some of the dancing they did looked so Jewish it was scary….just think Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof when he’s sings “If I was a rich man” and you’ll know what I mean.
Day 3: Monkey Mia-Coral Bay
The day started off with dolphins. The previous night Lara had given us some tips about how to get chosen to feed a dolphin but there was one thing that she didn’t say that I did that morning. I wore a bright yellow T-shirt that had something amusing written on it. Because of that I got to feed a dolphin…it wasn’t that interesting but I can now say that I have done it. I personally found the pelicans much more interesting.
After Monkey Mia we headed to an Ocean Park. It was interesting with the highlight being when Clea said that the Sea Snake felt like a purse…I thought it was funny.
After that was Eagle’s Bluff which is literally in the middle of nowhere and I took pictures to prove that (although I don’t think I posted them). The stromalites were next on the agenda. They are some sort of natural thing that happens, I just think they look cool.
We arrived at our hostel just as the sun was setting. After getting our rooms and having supper everyone on the bus headed down to the beach. The weirdest thing happened as we reached the beach, I remembered why the name of the place sounded familiar.
If you’ve seen the movie Contact and seen the bit where the Jodie Foster character sees here dad on a beach. While that beach is in Coral Bay. It wasn’t the exact one that we went to but it looked similar. A bunch of stayed on the beach and looked at the stars and decided not to be crazy and go swimming in the ocean at night.
Day 4: Coral Bay-Exmouth
Today was the first day of fun. After putting our stuff back on the bus and having breakfast we had to head to a shop near the coast to pay for what activities we were doing that day. Clea, 2 American’s and myself were doing a 3 hour snorkelling trip. However we didn’t leave until 1230 which meant we had 3 hours to kill so we went down to the beach. Now while were at the beach a couple of things happened to make me think the beach was cool.
First a BIG fish swam almost all the way up the shore near Clea and I. The other cool thing was a school of fish also swam close by too. Anyway after having chicken nuggets and fries we headed down to the boat. I’ve never seen water that colour before.
Now I have always liked the ocean but I’ve never understood why people snorkel. However after the 3 snorkels we did I have realized why. It’s like an alien world that is so beautiful and peaceful. While t he coral isn’t bright colours the patterns are amazing and there are some many different colours and shapes and sizes of fish. It was incredible.
After we had returned to shore and the group of people that did the eco-tour returned we headed off to Exmouth. The drive there was one of the most incredible one’s I’ve been on. There was amazing lightening to be seen out one window for a little while. The sunsets were incredible. Because we were in the Outback and above the Tropic of Capricorn it made the sunsets even more incredible. When we arrived at are accommodation the last bit of sun was disappearing.
The accommodations were cool. The place was a ‘holiday park’ and the things we were staying in were like small cottages but the were cute and a nice break from sharing a room with 8+ people. For our supper we were told to be there for 745 however it ended up being over an hour after then when we finally ate.
The reason for that is that the trip to Broome had something break on their trailer so we were carrying their stuff and they were bringing the fish (Baramundi) that we were having for supper. Anyway they arrived later than expected and then fish ended up being frozen. However that hour we had was great fun and waited without complaining.
Day 5: Exmouth
So today was the big day for me. I was going diving with Whale Sharks. It cost me $350 so I was thinking that it had better be good. We had to get up early. There were 5 of us going. Anyway after we had signed paperwork they sent us to get our gear and to my absolute horror we had to wear wetsuits.
After the boat left the shore we had to put on our wetsuits. One of the funniest and most horrifying experiences I’ve ever had. There is no way to get in one gracefully. After a couple of hours we still hadn’t seen a Whale Shark and we were wondering if we were going to see one and then we saw one.
The only thing was that because I am a slower swimmer I was at the back of the pack and people kept kicking bubbles in my face so the first time I went in I didn’t actually see anything. However the next 3 times we went in with the Whale Sharks I saw them and it was incredible. They were 8 meters long and it was incredible. On the way back we stopped for a snorkel and it was so nice to go into the water without a wetsuit on.
After we had returned to the dive shop we got back on the bus and head to Vlaming Head lighthouse for the sunset. It was beautiful and we got a good group picture.
Day 6: Exmouth-Farmstay
Today we started heading home. It was a very early morning-we were on the road by 630am. It was also the day that we were going to cover the most distance: 800km.
One of our stops was at the Tropic of Capricorn where we took pictures of ourselves under the sign. I refuse to post the picture of me under the sign cause I look retarded. Also when we stopped at a petrol station we got to see a Joey that had been rescued from it’s mom who had been hit by a car.
We were staying at a Farm that night. Now one thing that I haven’t mentioned yet that happens during the day in Western Australia when you are away from a Perth is the flys. The fly’s are insane and SOOOOOOO annoying and at the farm they were so many of them. We did a nature walk and we survived the flys to get good pictures of the sunset.
At the farm we were staying in the shearers quarters and it was a good 2 minute walk to the washroom. Now the washrooms were awesome…the stalls didn’t have doors instead it was shower curtains…I love it. Our supper that night was sooo good: Shepard’s Pie and garlic bread.
Day 7: Farmstay-Curtin University
Today we went to one place that thoroughly creeped me out: Hutt River Province. Essentially in the 1970’s this guy found a loophole because he didn’t want to pay land taxes to the Australian government. This loophole allowed him to declared war on Australia and because Australia didn’t respond he won de facto and thus his principality was created. Most people found it amusing and funny I found the place creepy, mainly because there was a religious aspect to everything.
Our last stop before Perth was the Riverside Animal Sanctuary. It was awesome. There were many different animals that we could feed. There were Joey’s, birds, alpaca’s, sheep, rams, a horse, a camel, a pony, an emu and an ostrich.
However there were two highlights for me. The first was that we got to touch and hold some snakes that were so cute. The best thing though was discovering a truly ugly animal that is so unique….that being the Chinese Goose. It’s ugly and funny at the same time.
After the sanctuary we were on our last leg home. When we arrived at Curtin a very eerie thing happened. On the radio was “All Good Things Come to an End” by Nelly Furtado…how weird is that.
I got home at 545ish…and that night proceed to go out and see 300 which is an awesome film.
Other pic albums:
I also have two other albums of pics.
One is of my time in Sydney: http://www.flickr.com/gp/86172951@N00/a0F3x4
And the other is of different pics around Perth: http://www.flickr.com/gp/86172951@N00/k4TNu8
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