Sunday 30 September 2018
Today we saw Martin and Judy tie the knot.
The ceremony was held at Eden Gardens.
Small and private, but a lot of guest who ended up having to stand in the hot sun. After the ceremony, they had light refreshments - sliders, sandwiches and wraps (bought from Costco) with drinks (water and coke), but not enough for everyone - it was first in, best dressed.
After the ceremony we went out to lunch at Macau Kitchen with Marmar and Teresa.
The Seeto's came over after lunch. Evan drove his parents to our place and he house sat while we all went to the reception at The Eight in Market City.
Full on Chinese banquet meal. Intro, slide show, speeches, live band and lots of alcohol. They also had a photo booth, always fun and lots of dancing.
Sunday, September 30, 2018
Friday, September 21, 2018
WA Day 8 Friday 21 September 2018 Perth to Sydney
Liang and Lorraine have left very early to catch their flight to Darwin.
We get up usual time. Have what ever is left over. Boil the 4 eggs. Some bread left over. Time to clear out the fridge and pack up our supplies.
Finish packing our bags - have been waiting for the others to use what they need, before I can pack everything away. Pack our cheeses and anything that needs to go into the bags.
Clean up our rubbish, sweep the floors - I swear we leave it cleaner than it was.
Evans packs the bags into the car. At least that's one less worry.
9.30am Checkout. Lily and Janet hand back the keys.
Drive to Perth airport.
10.30am Drop the others off at the airport. Was suppose to stop to fill up, but seems the app is not behaving and we end up at the airport. So Evan and I head to the closest petrol station to fill up and then return the car to the Avis car return, same place as pickup.
11.00am - check in. Bag drop and then go in to wait.
12.35pm - board plane
U.David and A. Cath are in premium economy
Evan and I are seated near an exit - lots of leg room
Janet, Fiona, Mark and Lily are seated way up the back of the plane.
I watch "Solo: a Star Wars Story"
Lunch is either a chicken pie, beef pasta or pulled pork salad. I order the pasta, Evan orders the salad and we go halves.
Have 2 lindt chocolate balls.
Watch "I feel pretty" but only get 1/4 of the way in before we are ready to land.
Arrive Sydney 6.30pm
Wait for our bags - seems like the last ones to come out.
Then it's a long walk to Express Pickup.
Ken has been waiting at KFC, so arrives no long after we get to the pickup area. Wait a while longer before Nathan comes to pick us up.
Drops us home, freshen up and then we go out for dinner at Macau Kitchen. Only the travellers. Others are busy or out and Nathan has eaten.
Have Fookien fried rice, Egg sauce noodle, salt and pepper pork chops and a choy dish.
We get up usual time. Have what ever is left over. Boil the 4 eggs. Some bread left over. Time to clear out the fridge and pack up our supplies.
Finish packing our bags - have been waiting for the others to use what they need, before I can pack everything away. Pack our cheeses and anything that needs to go into the bags.
Clean up our rubbish, sweep the floors - I swear we leave it cleaner than it was.
Evans packs the bags into the car. At least that's one less worry.
9.30am Checkout. Lily and Janet hand back the keys.
Drive to Perth airport.
10.30am Drop the others off at the airport. Was suppose to stop to fill up, but seems the app is not behaving and we end up at the airport. So Evan and I head to the closest petrol station to fill up and then return the car to the Avis car return, same place as pickup.
11.00am - check in. Bag drop and then go in to wait.
12.35pm - board plane
U.David and A. Cath are in premium economy
Evan and I are seated near an exit - lots of leg room
Janet, Fiona, Mark and Lily are seated way up the back of the plane.
I watch "Solo: a Star Wars Story"
Lunch is either a chicken pie, beef pasta or pulled pork salad. I order the pasta, Evan orders the salad and we go halves.
Have 2 lindt chocolate balls.
Watch "I feel pretty" but only get 1/4 of the way in before we are ready to land.
Arrive Sydney 6.30pm
Wait for our bags - seems like the last ones to come out.
Then it's a long walk to Express Pickup.
Ken has been waiting at KFC, so arrives no long after we get to the pickup area. Wait a while longer before Nathan comes to pick us up.
Drops us home, freshen up and then we go out for dinner at Macau Kitchen. Only the travellers. Others are busy or out and Nathan has eaten.
Have Fookien fried rice, Egg sauce noodle, salt and pepper pork chops and a choy dish.
Thursday, September 20, 2018
WA Day 7 Thursday 20 September 2018 Mandurah and Serpentine Falls
Have a sleep in today as I have designated today as a rest day. It's a beautiful day today.
We let Janet and Fiona sleep in, as Fiona had a restless night.
The rest of us have breakfast at 8am as usual.
Lily and others, including U. David, decide to head out to Mandurah. We also plan to head out, but wait for Janet and Fiona to have breakfast before we drive to town.
In town, the others have already walked the shops and bump into us in the park area, as we have just parked. U. David decides to join us, saying the others walk to fast for him to keep up.
We walk back to shops. Fiona buys a name plate, I buy some twine in the discount store - Asian shop has closed.
Walk the terrace. Decide to have lunch in town and go back to Cicerellos, after checking prices at Dome. The others buy Red Rooster and have that for lunch. We order a seafood plate (crumbed fish, seafood stick, prawns, calamari, chips and coleslaw) and a quatrorellos (crumbed fish, prawns, oysters, scallops, salad and chips).
After lunch drive, I drive around to other side of Mandurah, before heading back to resort.
Inform others we are going to Serpentine Falls. Fiona and U. David stay at resort, so we just take the one car. Get to the falls park and looks like you need to pay entry fee - need to fill in details on provided envelope, put $7 (conc) in envelope, seal and leave in box. Torn off slip is displayed on car. Could probably park car outside the gates, but not sure how far it is to walk.So we pay and display.
Seems the walk to the falls is a very short walk. Evan spends some time taking his photos. The others go back to discover other trails. As we head back to find them, the ranger comes around. We ask him the way and he informs us that the trail they are heading for will take longer than the time we have left in the park. Also he wants all peoples back in the car by 4.30pm, as gates shut at 5pm.
Go back to car and wait for others. As we head out of the park, we spy kangaroos lazing in the picnic area. Stop the car and take photos. Again the ranger comes around and tells us it's time to head out.
4.30pm drive back to resort.
5.00pm Evan and I head to the beach for our last sunset, joined by A. Cath. Seeing as we'll be eating out tonight, no need to dinner prep.
6.30pm head out to Mandurah to have dinner at Penang House - malaysian, chinese food. Small restaurant but all tables are full. Liang, Lily and Mark do the ordering. 10 dishes. Get served prawn crackers, and food arrives pretty quickly.
8.00pm back to resort - time to pack
We let Janet and Fiona sleep in, as Fiona had a restless night.
The rest of us have breakfast at 8am as usual.
Lily and others, including U. David, decide to head out to Mandurah. We also plan to head out, but wait for Janet and Fiona to have breakfast before we drive to town.
In town, the others have already walked the shops and bump into us in the park area, as we have just parked. U. David decides to join us, saying the others walk to fast for him to keep up.
We walk back to shops. Fiona buys a name plate, I buy some twine in the discount store - Asian shop has closed.
Walk the terrace. Decide to have lunch in town and go back to Cicerellos, after checking prices at Dome. The others buy Red Rooster and have that for lunch. We order a seafood plate (crumbed fish, seafood stick, prawns, calamari, chips and coleslaw) and a quatrorellos (crumbed fish, prawns, oysters, scallops, salad and chips).
After lunch drive, I drive around to other side of Mandurah, before heading back to resort.
Inform others we are going to Serpentine Falls. Fiona and U. David stay at resort, so we just take the one car. Get to the falls park and looks like you need to pay entry fee - need to fill in details on provided envelope, put $7 (conc) in envelope, seal and leave in box. Torn off slip is displayed on car. Could probably park car outside the gates, but not sure how far it is to walk.So we pay and display.
Seems the walk to the falls is a very short walk. Evan spends some time taking his photos. The others go back to discover other trails. As we head back to find them, the ranger comes around. We ask him the way and he informs us that the trail they are heading for will take longer than the time we have left in the park. Also he wants all peoples back in the car by 4.30pm, as gates shut at 5pm.
Go back to car and wait for others. As we head out of the park, we spy kangaroos lazing in the picnic area. Stop the car and take photos. Again the ranger comes around and tells us it's time to head out.
4.30pm drive back to resort.
5.00pm Evan and I head to the beach for our last sunset, joined by A. Cath. Seeing as we'll be eating out tonight, no need to dinner prep.
6.30pm head out to Mandurah to have dinner at Penang House - malaysian, chinese food. Small restaurant but all tables are full. Liang, Lily and Mark do the ordering. 10 dishes. Get served prawn crackers, and food arrives pretty quickly.
8.00pm back to resort - time to pack
Wednesday, September 19, 2018
WA Day 6 Wednesday 19 September Ellis Brook Valley Reserve and Lesmurdie Falls
7.00am Breakfast
Today was planned to go to Rottnest Island, but we decided to revise these plans. So instead we will be going to Ellis Brook Valley Reserve, on the hunt for more wildflowers and waterfalls.
9.30am we head out and drive to Ellis Brook Valley Reserve.
U.David and Fiona stay in the car, while the rest of us hike up to the Sixty Foot Falls lookout. This walk reaches the top of the spectacular Sixty Foot Falls, affording magnificent views of the City and Valley along the way, before descending past the old Barrington Quarry where old workings provide a window into the geology of the area.
While the others go back after the look out, Evan and I decide to continue and do the loop, so we make our way to the top of the falls and then continue back down via the quarry.
Side note: this place has lots of different trails from easy to hard. We did the hardest one. Would be good to visit again. Apparently echidnas can be spied on the easy trail.
12.30pm, Everyone hungry, so we drive to the closest McDonalds at Gosnells - reward for Fiona waiting patiently for us, plus U. David keeps implying to Fiona that she'll get maccas, so we go. As usual, Mark would prefer Hungry Jacks, but we head into McDonalds. Order 2 Family packs and 1 fillet of fish. Evan has already ordered for his family. I have a McChicken, while others have big macs. Family pack also come with nuggets. A treat for Fiona. Lots of food.
1.30pm After lunch we head to Lesmurdie Falls. My navigator steers me in the wrong direction and we end up doing a loop of Gosnells - get held up by a train crossing.
2.00pm The others are already waiting in the parking lot, as we arrive. Again Fiona and U. David wait in the car.
We check out the Cascades trail, before heading to the Lesmurdie Falls. Spy some native birds. Lots of bird watchers in the area. The others spy a bandicoot towards the parking lot.
Side note: this place also has a loop trail to the falls and back, we only got to the falls and had to turn back. Would be good to hike to the foot of the falls.
4.00pm head back to resort. Lily and others go to Aldi to buy sausages and eggs - supplies for breakfast, whilst we head back to resort.
5.00pm head to beach for sunset.
7.00pm dinner has been made by A. Cath and Janet - Sausages, chicken drumstick meat, choy and I make the rest of the zucchini.
Today was planned to go to Rottnest Island, but we decided to revise these plans. So instead we will be going to Ellis Brook Valley Reserve, on the hunt for more wildflowers and waterfalls.
9.30am we head out and drive to Ellis Brook Valley Reserve.
U.David and Fiona stay in the car, while the rest of us hike up to the Sixty Foot Falls lookout. This walk reaches the top of the spectacular Sixty Foot Falls, affording magnificent views of the City and Valley along the way, before descending past the old Barrington Quarry where old workings provide a window into the geology of the area.
While the others go back after the look out, Evan and I decide to continue and do the loop, so we make our way to the top of the falls and then continue back down via the quarry.
Side note: this place has lots of different trails from easy to hard. We did the hardest one. Would be good to visit again. Apparently echidnas can be spied on the easy trail.
12.30pm, Everyone hungry, so we drive to the closest McDonalds at Gosnells - reward for Fiona waiting patiently for us, plus U. David keeps implying to Fiona that she'll get maccas, so we go. As usual, Mark would prefer Hungry Jacks, but we head into McDonalds. Order 2 Family packs and 1 fillet of fish. Evan has already ordered for his family. I have a McChicken, while others have big macs. Family pack also come with nuggets. A treat for Fiona. Lots of food.
1.30pm After lunch we head to Lesmurdie Falls. My navigator steers me in the wrong direction and we end up doing a loop of Gosnells - get held up by a train crossing.
2.00pm The others are already waiting in the parking lot, as we arrive. Again Fiona and U. David wait in the car.
We check out the Cascades trail, before heading to the Lesmurdie Falls. Spy some native birds. Lots of bird watchers in the area. The others spy a bandicoot towards the parking lot.
Side note: this place also has a loop trail to the falls and back, we only got to the falls and had to turn back. Would be good to hike to the foot of the falls.
4.00pm head back to resort. Lily and others go to Aldi to buy sausages and eggs - supplies for breakfast, whilst we head back to resort.
5.00pm head to beach for sunset.
7.00pm dinner has been made by A. Cath and Janet - Sausages, chicken drumstick meat, choy and I make the rest of the zucchini.
Tuesday, September 18, 2018
WA Day 5 Tuesday 18 September 2018 Perth
7am Breakfast
9am drive to Perth
10am Arrive at Kings Park. Manage to get a parking spot in upper car park for disabled. Unfortunately, there aren't any spaces, so Liang drives back to lower car park and parks there.
We take photos and wait for the others to park and walk back up to gift shop area. The guided walks have already started, so we just walk on our own - take a group shot before we begin. I take care of Fiona, cause I know Janet wants to explore. We take it slow. Uncle David gives up and offers to take Fiona back to gift shop and cafe area. So we continue walking and taking photos. Liang has wandered off, Janet has wandered off. Eventually, Evan, A. Cath and I also wander off.
12.30pm Meet back up at gift shop. Everyone hungry, except Janet who is still wandering around the gardens. Leave her there and we drive to Northbridge, arrange to meet at Viet Hoa for lunch. Manage to find parking spot opposite the restaurant. Liang finds parking in a laneway close by.
1pm Lunch at Viet. A. Cath, Fiona and I share 2 dishes. Dac biet pho and combination noodles. Also have share some with Evan, who orders the Bun noodle salad, same as Lily, Lorraine and Liang. Mark orders the broken rice and U. David orders the char siu noodles.
2pm After lunch we take a walk to Chinatown. Evan and I leave them at Chinatown, while we go back to get the car. Chinatown is very small and shops don't open until late at night, as they discover. Mark and Lily have also made their way to Chinatown, as Liang and Lorraine arrange to meet with a friend.
Drive back to pick them up, but Lily and Mark walk back to restaurant and wait for Liang and Lorraine to pick them up. We take a driving tour of the city, to Elizabeth Quay and then back to the gardens. Whilst we head back to gardens to pick up Janet, Lily them also check out the clock tower and quay, before heading home.
3.30pm We get back to Kings Park. Janet has finally finished, but I show Evan, A.Cath and Fiona the views of the city. U. David waits on the bench near the gift shop. Take photos at the memorial. Take more photos of the flowers.
4pm We head back. Drive back to Mandurah.
5pm Back at resort.
6pm Head down to the beach to catch the sunset. Then back so that Evan can prep dinner.
7pm Spag Bol for dinner
9am drive to Perth
10am Arrive at Kings Park. Manage to get a parking spot in upper car park for disabled. Unfortunately, there aren't any spaces, so Liang drives back to lower car park and parks there.
We take photos and wait for the others to park and walk back up to gift shop area. The guided walks have already started, so we just walk on our own - take a group shot before we begin. I take care of Fiona, cause I know Janet wants to explore. We take it slow. Uncle David gives up and offers to take Fiona back to gift shop and cafe area. So we continue walking and taking photos. Liang has wandered off, Janet has wandered off. Eventually, Evan, A. Cath and I also wander off.
12.30pm Meet back up at gift shop. Everyone hungry, except Janet who is still wandering around the gardens. Leave her there and we drive to Northbridge, arrange to meet at Viet Hoa for lunch. Manage to find parking spot opposite the restaurant. Liang finds parking in a laneway close by.
1pm Lunch at Viet. A. Cath, Fiona and I share 2 dishes. Dac biet pho and combination noodles. Also have share some with Evan, who orders the Bun noodle salad, same as Lily, Lorraine and Liang. Mark orders the broken rice and U. David orders the char siu noodles.
2pm After lunch we take a walk to Chinatown. Evan and I leave them at Chinatown, while we go back to get the car. Chinatown is very small and shops don't open until late at night, as they discover. Mark and Lily have also made their way to Chinatown, as Liang and Lorraine arrange to meet with a friend.
Drive back to pick them up, but Lily and Mark walk back to restaurant and wait for Liang and Lorraine to pick them up. We take a driving tour of the city, to Elizabeth Quay and then back to the gardens. Whilst we head back to gardens to pick up Janet, Lily them also check out the clock tower and quay, before heading home.
3.30pm We get back to Kings Park. Janet has finally finished, but I show Evan, A.Cath and Fiona the views of the city. U. David waits on the bench near the gift shop. Take photos at the memorial. Take more photos of the flowers.
4pm We head back. Drive back to Mandurah.
5pm Back at resort.
6pm Head down to the beach to catch the sunset. Then back so that Evan can prep dinner.
7pm Spag Bol for dinner
Monday, September 17, 2018
WA Day 4 Monday 17 September 2018 Augusta - Margaret River
7am Breakfast - Evan and Lorraine make breakfast. Evan has boiled some eggs, and Lorraine fries some eggs, but over cooks them.
Have them with the rest of the cocktail franks and sour dough bread
9am drive to Augusta. It is overcast and there are forecast for showers.
Stop at the Margaret River Cheese Factory. Toilet and stretch break.
Cheese tasting. Think Fiona has eaten a block of cheese.
Janet buys some cheeses to take back to Sydney. A. Cath also buys some cheeses and honey.
Other buys coffee to perk them up.
Take photos with the painted cow outside the factory.
Continue our drive to Augusta - drive through Cowarup, but as it is raining, I don't stop and we continue on our way.
It is raining on and off. Hoping that by the time we get to the lighthouse that it isn't raining. We are in luck, in fact the clouds have disappeared and the sun has come out.
Janet, U. David, Fiona, Lily and Mark wait in the coffee shop.
Lorraine, Liang and A. Cath pay to go in, but no tour of the lighthouse. I pay for myself. Evan has somehow snuck in while Lily distracts the man at the counter.
Take photos. There is also a cow here as well.
See where the Southern Ocean meets the Indian Ocean.
Get back to the cafe. Lily has had a scone. So has Fiona. Others are hungry, so we head into town. I noticed a bakery on the way in. So we stop there and buy some pies. It starts to rain heavily again, so we eat our pies in the car.
Drive to Boranup Forest Viewpoint - Liang wants to see the Karre trees - he's seen someone else post pictures of the forest. So we go there before heading to Margaret River.
Stop at the viewpoint. Take photos.
Next stop we drive to Margaret River Providores, via Margaret River - do a big loop, because my navigator says signal keeps dropping in and out - we eventually get there at 3.30pm - I'm hoping they aren't closing yet, phew they close at 5pm. I buy my herbs and spices as well as honey and strawberry jam. Toilet break for some.
Do some taste testing. U. David buys some wine. Evan buys some liquer and herbs and spices as well for A. Cath.
Take photos in the garden.
Drive to canal rocks. Again sprinkling on the way, but seems to hold off when we get there. Take photos. Evan wants to stay longer, but it's time to go, have a long drive back.
Decide to buy takeaway for dinner - so we stop at Mandurah Cicerello's for fish and chips, while the others continue back to the resort. Make a salad when we get back.
Have them with the rest of the cocktail franks and sour dough bread
9am drive to Augusta. It is overcast and there are forecast for showers.
Stop at the Margaret River Cheese Factory. Toilet and stretch break.
Cheese tasting. Think Fiona has eaten a block of cheese.
Janet buys some cheeses to take back to Sydney. A. Cath also buys some cheeses and honey.
Other buys coffee to perk them up.
Take photos with the painted cow outside the factory.
Continue our drive to Augusta - drive through Cowarup, but as it is raining, I don't stop and we continue on our way.
It is raining on and off. Hoping that by the time we get to the lighthouse that it isn't raining. We are in luck, in fact the clouds have disappeared and the sun has come out.
Janet, U. David, Fiona, Lily and Mark wait in the coffee shop.
Lorraine, Liang and A. Cath pay to go in, but no tour of the lighthouse. I pay for myself. Evan has somehow snuck in while Lily distracts the man at the counter.
Take photos. There is also a cow here as well.
See where the Southern Ocean meets the Indian Ocean.
Get back to the cafe. Lily has had a scone. So has Fiona. Others are hungry, so we head into town. I noticed a bakery on the way in. So we stop there and buy some pies. It starts to rain heavily again, so we eat our pies in the car.
Drive to Boranup Forest Viewpoint - Liang wants to see the Karre trees - he's seen someone else post pictures of the forest. So we go there before heading to Margaret River.
Stop at the viewpoint. Take photos.
Next stop we drive to Margaret River Providores, via Margaret River - do a big loop, because my navigator says signal keeps dropping in and out - we eventually get there at 3.30pm - I'm hoping they aren't closing yet, phew they close at 5pm. I buy my herbs and spices as well as honey and strawberry jam. Toilet break for some.
Do some taste testing. U. David buys some wine. Evan buys some liquer and herbs and spices as well for A. Cath.
Take photos in the garden.
Drive to canal rocks. Again sprinkling on the way, but seems to hold off when we get there. Take photos. Evan wants to stay longer, but it's time to go, have a long drive back.
Decide to buy takeaway for dinner - so we stop at Mandurah Cicerello's for fish and chips, while the others continue back to the resort. Make a salad when we get back.
Sunday, September 16, 2018
WA Day 3 Sunday 16 September 2018 Freemantle
7am Evan makes breakfast: boiled eggs with cocktail franks, leftover baked beans and sour dough bread, which Liang has bought from bakery across the road.
Fiona doesn't want to get ready. U. David says he will stay with her.
9am we drive to Fremantle. First stop Fremantle Prison. Park in car park next to prison. Pay for 2hr parking.
10am Get there just as Convict tour is starting. Everyone, except Lily and Mark do the tour. They go to the markets.
Convict tour takes us through the 4 cell blocks. Shown a typical cell, which is just large enough to fit a hammock and wash basin. No toilets, convicts used buckets.
Then it's up the stairs into another block. Then to the prison library which now is devoid of any books, just empty shelves against the walls, the front desk, office and back rooms.
Then it's to another section where the chapel for the Church of England. Then shown another chapel with confessional booths and back room.
Then taken outside and back into another section, which now houses a pictorial museum with timeline of events - start of prison to closing. Also shown morgue and cold storage area which are side by side down below where it is dark and cold.
Then out into the prison yards - exercise yards 1 and 2, then into solitary confinement cells - some which have no windows, so are dark as.
Tour takes over an hour and half. Especially as the group needs to keep waiting for Evan who is busy taking photos.
Once we finish the tour, toilet break then we check out the other free exhibits, souvenir shop before heading back to car.
Message Lily and Mark that we have finished. Decide we will try and park closer to markets. But there is a football game on at the oval near the markets - parking is at a premium. So eventually we head back to parking area below the prison and 5min walk to the markets. Liang has managed to find free parking on the street somewhere close. Pay for another 2hrs and get 1 free hr
Meet up at front entrance of oval and cross over to the markets - walk through the markets and make our way to Asian food court. Get a table and each order separately. Janet, A. Cath, Evan and I decide to share 3 dishes. I buy the Char Kway Teoh, Singapore Noodles and Wonton noodles from same place as last year. Evan buys us fresh fruit drinks from the only drink place in the food court.
After lunch, we walk towards the Roundhouse. Liang and Lorraine get distracted by the bird call man selling his bird call pipes. They end up buying a set. Continue on our way and finally get to the Roundhouse. Evan busy taking photos of historical buildings - looks like a film set, backlot. Others have already entered the Roundhouse. Take photos, toilet break. Then Liang has to go move car. We wait around for him.
Liang and Lorraine arrange to go meet up with a friend. So we leave them here, and walk back to the markets, via the harbour. Mark is complaining his feet hurt, so we head back to the Markets. Janet and Lily buy fruits, strawberries are cheap.
Then it's time to head back.
Get back to the resort and Fiona is now ready to go out. So we take her with us to go shopping for dinner. But the shopping centres are already closed - so we head to the IGA across the road. Buy a roast chicken and ice cream.
We have roast chicken and garden salad for dinner.
Fiona doesn't want to get ready. U. David says he will stay with her.
9am we drive to Fremantle. First stop Fremantle Prison. Park in car park next to prison. Pay for 2hr parking.
10am Get there just as Convict tour is starting. Everyone, except Lily and Mark do the tour. They go to the markets.
Convict tour takes us through the 4 cell blocks. Shown a typical cell, which is just large enough to fit a hammock and wash basin. No toilets, convicts used buckets.
Then it's up the stairs into another block. Then to the prison library which now is devoid of any books, just empty shelves against the walls, the front desk, office and back rooms.
Then it's to another section where the chapel for the Church of England. Then shown another chapel with confessional booths and back room.
Then taken outside and back into another section, which now houses a pictorial museum with timeline of events - start of prison to closing. Also shown morgue and cold storage area which are side by side down below where it is dark and cold.
Then out into the prison yards - exercise yards 1 and 2, then into solitary confinement cells - some which have no windows, so are dark as.
Tour takes over an hour and half. Especially as the group needs to keep waiting for Evan who is busy taking photos.
Once we finish the tour, toilet break then we check out the other free exhibits, souvenir shop before heading back to car.
Message Lily and Mark that we have finished. Decide we will try and park closer to markets. But there is a football game on at the oval near the markets - parking is at a premium. So eventually we head back to parking area below the prison and 5min walk to the markets. Liang has managed to find free parking on the street somewhere close. Pay for another 2hrs and get 1 free hr
Meet up at front entrance of oval and cross over to the markets - walk through the markets and make our way to Asian food court. Get a table and each order separately. Janet, A. Cath, Evan and I decide to share 3 dishes. I buy the Char Kway Teoh, Singapore Noodles and Wonton noodles from same place as last year. Evan buys us fresh fruit drinks from the only drink place in the food court.
After lunch, we walk towards the Roundhouse. Liang and Lorraine get distracted by the bird call man selling his bird call pipes. They end up buying a set. Continue on our way and finally get to the Roundhouse. Evan busy taking photos of historical buildings - looks like a film set, backlot. Others have already entered the Roundhouse. Take photos, toilet break. Then Liang has to go move car. We wait around for him.
Liang and Lorraine arrange to go meet up with a friend. So we leave them here, and walk back to the markets, via the harbour. Mark is complaining his feet hurt, so we head back to the Markets. Janet and Lily buy fruits, strawberries are cheap.
Then it's time to head back.
Get back to the resort and Fiona is now ready to go out. So we take her with us to go shopping for dinner. But the shopping centres are already closed - so we head to the IGA across the road. Buy a roast chicken and ice cream.
We have roast chicken and garden salad for dinner.
Saturday, September 15, 2018
WA Day 2 Saturday 15 September 2018 Mandurah - Busselton - Lake Clifton
7am wake up
8am I cook breakfast: fried eggs with bacon, baked beans and toast.
9am out the door
11am Arrive Busselton Jetty - miss the chance to ride the train - tickets all sold. Next time is 12noon. Janet, U. David and Fiona sit at tables near cafe/takeaway whilst we walk the jetty. Pay $4 each. Walk to end and back. It's a lovely day - sun is shining and it's not windy, bonus.
12.30pm - too late to go to Bunbury markets. Instead go to KFC for lunch. Lily buys food from KFC app - suppose to get seniors discount too, but person at cashier rings it up wrong and only give discount on last item ordered. Lily makes a fuss.
2.00pm - 4.00pm - Late afternoon, decide not to go to Cape Naturalist lighthouse, instead head back and drive to Lake Clifton to see thrombolites - tide is high, thrombolites are submerged, mozzies are out. When we arrive at car park, it's empty. but starts to fill up as we are walking the boardwalk.
Drive back to Mandurah.
Walk to beach with Evan to take photos of sunset - Lily and Lorraine also join us.
A. Cath and Janet prepare dinner
8am I cook breakfast: fried eggs with bacon, baked beans and toast.
9am out the door
11am Arrive Busselton Jetty - miss the chance to ride the train - tickets all sold. Next time is 12noon. Janet, U. David and Fiona sit at tables near cafe/takeaway whilst we walk the jetty. Pay $4 each. Walk to end and back. It's a lovely day - sun is shining and it's not windy, bonus.
12.30pm - too late to go to Bunbury markets. Instead go to KFC for lunch. Lily buys food from KFC app - suppose to get seniors discount too, but person at cashier rings it up wrong and only give discount on last item ordered. Lily makes a fuss.
2.00pm - 4.00pm - Late afternoon, decide not to go to Cape Naturalist lighthouse, instead head back and drive to Lake Clifton to see thrombolites - tide is high, thrombolites are submerged, mozzies are out. When we arrive at car park, it's empty. but starts to fill up as we are walking the boardwalk.
Drive back to Mandurah.
Walk to beach with Evan to take photos of sunset - Lily and Lorraine also join us.
A. Cath and Janet prepare dinner
Friday, September 14, 2018
WA Day 1: Friday 14 September 2018 Sydney - Perth - Mandurah
Friday 14 September 2018
Darren drops us off at the airport.
Spot Lorraine and Liang who have already checked in. They go through security to the gates.
Wait for Seeto's who are being dropped off by Ken.
Check in and drop bags off.
Go through security with no problems.
Go looking for Maccas, but end up at Hungry Jacks, where Lorraine and Liang are seated eating breakfast.
Order breakfast for Fiona, Janet and I. Pancakes and hash browns.
Go to gate.
Boarding on time.
We are all seated in same section, U. David and A. Cath, Evan and I, Janet and Fiona, Lily and Mark. Lorraine and Liang are seated in the section before us.
Served water. Then lunch. Watch 2 movies and ep 1 of jap series, but don't get to finish it.
Arrive at Perth airport. Set clocks back 2 hrs.
Evan and I go to Avis counter to pay and get paperwork for car. The rest go to get bags and have walked to parking lot.
Pack up the car. Lily and Mark stay back to wait. The rest get into the car. We are driving to drop off Liang and Lorraine at their rental car pickup. Get in the wrong car. It won't start. Finally figure out it's the wrong car. Would be too much hassle to change paperwork, plus the car we have been given is newer than the one we have gotten into. Have to unpack and move to the right car.
Finally we drive off to "No Birds" car rental place, in 369 Guildford Road, Bayswater, get there and they find out that it's not the place to pick the car up. Have to drive further to another suburb, 172 Kewdale Road, Kewdale.
Get to the car rental place. By this time, I decide to change our plans, time is ticking and by the time we drive back to airport, we won't have time to go to the Lesmurdie Falls. No waterfall, we will just drive straight to Mandurah and have late lunch, early dinner. So Lorraine and Liang drive back to airport to pick up Lily and Mark, whilst we drive straight to Mandurah.
Drive to Mandurah Terrace and google search place to eat. Decide to eat at Cicerellos - fish and chips. So Janet orders 4 "Fish and Chips" while we wait for others to arrive. When they arrive not long after, they order seafood plates. Everyone hungry.
After our late lunch early dinner, it's off to Aldi to do some shopping. Buy groceries.
Drive to Silver Sands Resort. Janet and Lily check in. We are in units 29 (Lorraine, Liang, Lily, Mark) and 31 (U.David, A.Cath, Janet, Fiona, Evan and I). Lower units, so no need to climb a lot of stairs and right outside the pool. Pity it is cold.
After unpacking car and settling in. Evan and I head down to the beach to catch the sunset. Liang uses the spa.
A. Cath and Janet prepare a light dinner - chicken corn soup, we are all still full from fish and chips.
Early to bed, as we need to be up and out by 9am tomorrow.
Darren drops us off at the airport.
Spot Lorraine and Liang who have already checked in. They go through security to the gates.
Wait for Seeto's who are being dropped off by Ken.
Check in and drop bags off.
Go through security with no problems.
Go looking for Maccas, but end up at Hungry Jacks, where Lorraine and Liang are seated eating breakfast.
Order breakfast for Fiona, Janet and I. Pancakes and hash browns.
Go to gate.
Boarding on time.
We are all seated in same section, U. David and A. Cath, Evan and I, Janet and Fiona, Lily and Mark. Lorraine and Liang are seated in the section before us.
Served water. Then lunch. Watch 2 movies and ep 1 of jap series, but don't get to finish it.
Arrive at Perth airport. Set clocks back 2 hrs.
Evan and I go to Avis counter to pay and get paperwork for car. The rest go to get bags and have walked to parking lot.
Pack up the car. Lily and Mark stay back to wait. The rest get into the car. We are driving to drop off Liang and Lorraine at their rental car pickup. Get in the wrong car. It won't start. Finally figure out it's the wrong car. Would be too much hassle to change paperwork, plus the car we have been given is newer than the one we have gotten into. Have to unpack and move to the right car.
Finally we drive off to "No Birds" car rental place, in 369 Guildford Road, Bayswater, get there and they find out that it's not the place to pick the car up. Have to drive further to another suburb, 172 Kewdale Road, Kewdale.
Get to the car rental place. By this time, I decide to change our plans, time is ticking and by the time we drive back to airport, we won't have time to go to the Lesmurdie Falls. No waterfall, we will just drive straight to Mandurah and have late lunch, early dinner. So Lorraine and Liang drive back to airport to pick up Lily and Mark, whilst we drive straight to Mandurah.
Drive to Mandurah Terrace and google search place to eat. Decide to eat at Cicerellos - fish and chips. So Janet orders 4 "Fish and Chips" while we wait for others to arrive. When they arrive not long after, they order seafood plates. Everyone hungry.
After our late lunch early dinner, it's off to Aldi to do some shopping. Buy groceries.
Drive to Silver Sands Resort. Janet and Lily check in. We are in units 29 (Lorraine, Liang, Lily, Mark) and 31 (U.David, A.Cath, Janet, Fiona, Evan and I). Lower units, so no need to climb a lot of stairs and right outside the pool. Pity it is cold.
After unpacking car and settling in. Evan and I head down to the beach to catch the sunset. Liang uses the spa.
A. Cath and Janet prepare a light dinner - chicken corn soup, we are all still full from fish and chips.
Early to bed, as we need to be up and out by 9am tomorrow.
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