Nadi to Sydney - Saturday 28 Oct 2023

Saturday 28 October 2023

7:00am Wake up. Had a restless night, waking up every hour. It's a nice day. Sunny, no wind - go figure.

Breakfast: Weetbix, muesli, nutrigrain, chia, milk.

Waiting for MC. Eat 2 boiled eggs. Also have another choc attack.

8:10am Checkout. Stop at Office for LC to pay the account.

8:30am Drive to Nadi.

Stop at the Maui Jetty for a quick photo.

Fill up at Mobil station just before entrance to airport. FJ$98.28 at $3.05/ltr.

11:20am Drop MC, LC and KC with bags at terminal. JT comes with me to Avis drop off. Worker has gone to get lunch - had to wait a few mins, before he got back. He does a once over of the car, checks the petrol. Does paperwork, gives me a copy and all good.

Walk back to International terminal - take photo of "I heart Fiji" outside.

Busting, so go to toilet.  Fiji kids are playing with the auto water, soap dispenser, air.

Sit and wait for checkin to open. Eat a head of lettuce. 

11:30am KC self-checkin and gets luggage tags. Line up for baggage drop off. 

12:00pm Go through customs - bag screening security

12:20pm Get SMS - flight is delayed 1hr. At departure lounge. Eat sweet potato and chickadees chips. Watch 2D1N using JT's hotspot.

Checkout the shops in airport. Nike, Rip Curl, Assorted jewellery, Tappoo City Duty Free. Food court - Hungry Jacks, Pizza.

3:25pm Board plane.

3:53pm still sorting out passenger requires on board - kids/babies.

4:00pm Finally up in the air. Watch Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.

5:30pm Dinner: Roast chicken breast, mashed potatoes, beans and carrots. Cheese and crackers. Coke and small bottle water.

Watch Elemental

8:14pm Start descent into Sydney. ETA is 7:45pm.

Self check-in at customs and immigration. Wait for luggage. Go through declare gates - waved through.

JT and LC catch the bus and train home. They arrive back at 9:35pm.

8:30pm Waiting at pickup area with KC and MC - it's cooler than expected. 

8:45pm NC picks us up.

9:20pm Home. Make 3 min noodles with wong bok.

9:35pm LC and JT home.

Eat noodles.

10:30pm Shower, sleep.

Note:  my feet are sore, itchy - a rash developed in Fiji as a result of allergic reaction to thongs. 

It looks like a bad burn.  I had been applying antiseptic hand gel and hirodoid. I apply cold pack in bed before sleeping. It's Tuesday 31/10/2023 and the rash is still there.

Suva - Friday 27 Oct 2023

 Friday 27 October 2023

7:00am Wake up. Cloudy, windy day. Sleep in.

Check email and clean up mailbox.

9:00am Get up. Still cloudy and windy. Fix up clothes.

9:30am Breakfast: Weetbix, muesli, nutrigrain, chia, milk.

10:10am. Walk on beach with KC.

11:30am Lunch: Tuna pasta with choy and 1/4 chicken pie.

1:00pm Drive to Suva. Head to point but road is closed - detour, but can't get to seaside. Double back and stop on seaside before State House. Stop closer to gates of State House. LC and I get out and walk down to take photos. MC keeps asking about Sun Yat Sen school. So we drive there, it is up on the hill. Arrive just before home time, so manage to get a park. MC goes down to enquire about his friend, Eva.  Waiting, LC takes photos. See cars coming in, picking up and leaving. He gets back. Eva is teaching, so will not be available until later tonight.  Has given MC her phone number.

Drive back down to the Pacific Grand Hotel. Park and go down to have a look inside and around. Very swish, but seems empty.  JT checks out the menu via QR code - cup of tea $7.

Drive back to Fiji Palms. 

4:30pm Back at Fiji Palms. I eat a chilli chicken pie. Have a choc attack after. Still trying to clear out the food.

5:30pm walk down to the bar for Happy hour. KC orders a watermelon daiquiri $15 and I get Annie's Love again $15. Snack food is fried balls with fennel. LC FaceTimes with Soph and Ally.

8:00pm KC and I order a meal from the bar/restaurant. KC orders the Kokoda with garlic toast $18 and I order the Garlic prawns with rice and coleslaw $35.  We share the food. The others go back to unit and have the rest of the pasta.

9:00pm back to unit. Shower, wash hair. Pack stuff. Tally up FJ$185 for drinks and meal. Pay LC FJ$190.

Fiji Palms, The Pearl, Navua - Thursday 26 Oct 2023

 Thursday 26 October 2023

7:00am wake up. Sleep in. Overcast, windy.

8:30am Up and dressed

Breakfast: weetbix, muesli, nutrigrain, chia, milk.

Writing up diary.

Sun myself out the back waiting for others to get up.

Walk on the beach with KC.

11:30am Have Vita Wheats with ham, tomato, cheese, lettuce. 1 boiled egg.

1:00pm  LC and I walk across the road to see what shops are there. MC, KC and JT are missing, can't see them anywhere.  They have gone into the Office. There are 3 competing little convenience stores and 1 bakery. Checkout The Establishment - it's open, but can't see menu - need to go all the way inside, which we don't.

Walk to The Pearl next door via the garden side gate.  Kim, who is waiting for the bus, tells us not to enter via main entrance, but to go via the side gate. Only go into older part of building, not new part.  Restaurant/bar is still same. Shop is still the same - only some clothing, bilums.  Check out the pool. 

Bump into Sharon, George, Kim and Justin who have come via the beach. Stand around talking a bit.

Back to unit via the beach. Eat a Choc Attack ice block at the pool with KC.

Drive into Navua. JT buys 12 enamel bowls at FJ$1.85 each for Bindy and 2 for us. 

KC and I go to bakery to buy 5 chilli chicken pies FJ$4.95 each as they don't have any other pies. FJ$25.25.

Stop at True Mart to buy sweet potato chips and choc attacks 3 for $2.

Fill up petrol at Mobil station FJ$50 worth which is like 3 bars, as we were down to 2 bars. So now we are 3/4 full.

KC and I eat our pies on the bench overlooking the beach/ocean. Very windy. Pies are tasty, not really spicy, just enough.

LC wants to withdraw cash to pay our account, so we drive back to True Mart, so she can withdraw from the ATM.

4:30pm Go down to the bar with KC and LC. 

5:30pm Happy Hour - Try a Wild Bull $18 and KC has a Watermelon Margarita $15. Snack for tonight is a warm chickpea snack.  Sharon's group has some too, but they aren't eating it, so they offer it to us. It starts to rain.

6:30pm Rain has eased, so we head back to the unit.

7:00pm Dinner: Rice with pumpkin bully beef, okra and snake beans, choy. Trying to clean out the fridge.

7:30pm Hotspot JT's wifi. FB catchup at the unit.

8:30pm Back to Unit 2.

Shower, bed, watch YouTube

Fiji Palms and Locale - Wednesday 25 Oct 2023

 Wednesday 25 October 2023

8:00am wake up. Glimpses of sun, but very windy and overcast again.

Walk down to bar to check St George balance. - Avis has already taken money.

8:45am Breakfast cereal. Finish puzzle.

9:30am - 11:30am Walk beach to The Uprising.

11:45am Lunch - toasted sandwich with ham/chicken slice, cheese, tomato, lettuce. Slice toast with canned mackerel and onions.

Do laundry.

Go to bar to check FB.

1:00pm drive down to Pacific Harbour Cultural Centre.  Still renovating.

Accosted by a coconut seller. FJ$2 for small or $3 for large. He cuts a small one to try, then continues to cut 2 big ones. I tell him to stop, 3 enough - give him $6. OK, but not sweet - maybe better chilled. Put the coconuts in the car and take a look at shops.

Same, but a lot are closed due to renovations. Grocery shop is open. Take photos.

Drive to True Mart to by milk and water.

3:00pm Back to Fiji Palms.

3:30-4:30pm laze by the pool. swim. shower.

5:30pm down at the bar for Happy Hour. Try a Mojito $15 - was ok. Strawberry daiquiri for KC $15 and lemon lime bitters for LC $8.  Kaylene is very sun kissed. 

6:30pm back to unit.

LC cooks

Dinner - 3 min noodles with choysim, okra, cucumber and sweet potato.

8:00pm back to unit, shower, and bed.

Suva - Tuesday 24 Oct 2023

 Tuesday 24 October 2023

7:00am wake up. Cloudy again. Sleep in.

8:00am Out of bed. 

Have breakfast - cereal - do puzzle. Have 1/2 chicken pie.

10:45am Drive to Suva.

11:52am Park in MHCC car park $2.50/hr. Man at entrance writes down time and licence plates on card, which we display in car.

Walk to fish market - buy 1 bug fish for $20 and Suva Central markets - buy more veggies, choong, pineapple.

12:52pm walk back to put food in the car. Walk some more

Head back to centre food court - buy Singapore food - Fried rice, salt and pepper chicken and chips, beef with choysim (includes rice) sweet and sour chicken (includes rice). LC pays. Because we took too long to decide what to get, we actually go past the 2hr limit and end up having to pay $7.50 on exit.

1:57pm Because we have food - we head back to Fiji Palms. No sight seeing today.

3:19pm back at Fiji Palms - have late lunch.

4:30pm work on jigsaw.

4:30pm update diary at bar. Download photos. 

Back to unit - jigsaw puzzle.

8:30pm Dinner - Steamed ginger, shallot fish with watercress, beans, sweet potato and carrots. Choc attack ice block.

10:30pm back to unit. Shower and bed - watch Youtube.

Navua, Lovo dinner - Monday 23 Oct 2023

 Monday 23 October 2023

7:30am - wakeup. Cloudy and wet, so sleep in.

9:00am Breakfast - cereal.

Start The Beatles puzzle.

9:30am Go to Unit 1.

Have baked beans on toast.

Change of plans - instead of going into to Suva, let's go to Navua. As we are having lovo dinner tonight, no need to go into Suva for markets. Instead lets drive to Navua and check out what has changed.

11:00am Drive to Navua. Park opposite the markets and walk to the markets and down the street to shops.

On way back, stop in bakery and buy 5 x chicken pies, loaf of bread, cheese and onion loaf, 4 x cream bun $36.30. Give $50 note.

12:30-12:40pm Walk around back of bus depot check out "restaurants" at back. Then go into Shop n Save supermarket. LC looking to buy more snacks.

Stop at Grace Garden for lunch. Order small pizza, grilled BBQ Wings and Prawn fried rice. JT pays.

3:00pm back at Fiji Palms. Lovo prep - they are putting the food into the pit.  The bure and pit has moved up to before the new unit blocks. Tubuna and friends put the food in and cover with dirt.

LC is making palm frond crowns. Work on puzzle, use wifi at bar.

6:00pm Watch then take the food out of the lovo.

6:30pm at the bar - Order Sunrise Glow $8, LC has a Mickey Mouse $8 and KC has the Pina Colada $15.

Take photos with staff - Buna and Alvin.

7:00pm Lovo dinner. Singer entertains us during dinner.

Coleslaw, cucumber/lettuce salad, Kokoda, taro leaves with bully beef/onion, steamed fish in coconut milk, chicken, pork. Fruit - pineapple, pawpaw, watermelon and casava cake.

9:00pm talking with Sharon about Fiji Palms and gossip.

10:00pm Shower and bed. Watch Youtube - 2D1N.

8:00pm Entertainment - local singers and dancers

Fiji Palms and Locale - Sunday 22 Oct 2023

 Sunday 22 October 2023

7:00am wake up

8:30am Beach walk with KC and LC.

10:00am Breakfast is 2 boiled eggs with vita wheat.

11:00am Fiji Palms orientation by Kim. Spring rolls and banana cake served. PowerPoint presentation - tours, what to do, what not to do. Meet the other owners/people staying at Fiji Palms.  George and Sharon are also long time owners - 20 years. They are here with George's niece Karan and her husband, Justin.

Kim advises renting from Go Green rentals next time. Supposedly cheaper.

1:00pm drive to True Mart/ Grace supermarket which is down the road, before Navua. It is huge with lots of Asian wares. Korean owned. Buy snack foods, milk, cheese, butter, garlic, biscuits, pumpkin, onion, bully beef, ice blocks. Have a look at the restaurant, but because we have bought ice block, they won't last, so we head back to resort.  There is an ATM and Mobil petrol station as well.

2:00pm drive back to resort. Have snack foods. Chips, Dalo chips, sweet potato chips, cheese slices with breakfast biscuits - like hard biscuits.

3:00pm walk on the beach with JT and KC. MC and LC go to the bard area for free wifi and TV.

4:00pm MT and KC laze by the pool. JT goes to bar area.

5:00pm JT and I prep dinner before going to the bar to use wifi.

6:00pm KC and I order Happy hour cocktails, although it's not half price. Palms Sunrise - vodka, mango liquor, fruit juice, grenadine $15 for KC and Annie's Love - pineapple juice, Malibu and ice cream $15 for MT - like a Pina colada - but better. Given complimentary snack - fried samosas with tomato sauce.

Chit chat with Toga (Tonga) barman. He has 7 kids, and his son is now in Canada - Victoria BC with an Asian wife. Another couple who were at the orientation, Rayan and ? also join in the conversation - he has served in the military and has been based all over the world. Met Rayan in Lebanon. They are currently living in Canberra.

7:30pm back to Unit 1 for dinner. Rice with bully beef pumpkin, onion and sliced cucumber.

8:00pm writing diary, back to Unit 2 for shower and bed - watching Youtube with JT wifi hotspot,

Sydney to Nadi - Saturday 21 October 2023

Saturday 21 October 2023

4am wakeup

5am Daz and Nathan drive us to the airport.

5:30am drop us off at International terminal

Qantas self-checkin and bag drop.

Go through customs - self check in and face scan.

Go through security.  Pulled aside - I forgot to remove my scissors from my carry bag. Confiscated - oh well.

6:00am KC buys Maccas - 2 big macs with fries and coke deal, I have some fries. KC and MC eat the burgers.

Walking to the gate, we pass Rip Curl shop. Look at their bum bags. - LC buys one and I decide to get one as well but diff design, same price - $32.70 after duty tax removed. 

7:20am at gate 55 waiting. The see Joanne's friend, but she's in a group going to Bali, they are waiting at gate 55, until an announcement is made and the gate is changed.

8:50am board plane, but departure time is delayed by 1 pax who hasn't boarded yet - they have to find their bag and take it off the plane.

Seated in 10A - KC, 10B - LC - 10C - MC, 11A - MT 11B - empty 11C -JT

ETA to Nadi is 2pm

9:10am still waiting on plane. Pax finally located on another plane.

10:00am Finally in the air

Meal served - scrambled egg with sausage, grilled slice of tomato and hash brown. Apply juice and small bottle of water.

Watch movie: Joy Ride and Past Lives.

Snack served - Raspberry blondie bar with apple juice.

1:28pm Descend into Nadi.

ETA 1:43pm (2:43 Fiji Time)

Line up to go through Customs and Immigration. They still stamp the passport.  I forgot to fill in some of the form, so the officer asks me when I am leaving? etc. Oops.

Collect luggage from carousel.

There is a Westpac currency exchange inside the airport. JT and LC changes money at 1AUD = 1.3FJD.  I give JT money to change.

Go through quarantine - bags are x-rayed and because we declare we have food, they inspect bags. Just baked beans, spaghetti and biscuits.

Finally clear and outside, JT withdraws money from ATM.  Kaylene and I go in search of Avis rental office. Walk out and around, back to where we were...signage needs to be better. JT gets SIM card

Lady at rental drives the car around, takes photos of all sides and will email me the pics. In meantime, MC is impatient and loads the car with our luggage. Lady shows me where tyre and equip to change is - under the passenger seat - would not have looked there. Knock wood we don't need it.

Drive out of airport and head to Nadi Markets, except, I miss turnoff and so we head to the other markets which we went to 5 years ago. Buy ginger, pineapple, choy.

4:00pm Drive to resort. Lots of roadwork along the way. Lots of potholes - or "lovo pits".

Along the way, we look out for sellers on the road. Finally spot lady selling craps on the other side of the road. Stop and make a u-turn. She has 2 bundles, one with 6 and the other with 7.  Both for $50.  They are small, mainly female but sat yuk. Definitely not waterlogged.

Harrowing drive in the dark - lots of crazy drivers speeding and overtaking slower cars.

7:30pm Arrive at Fiji Palms. LC, MC and JT go down to check in. Given Unit 1 and Unit 2, beach front units. MC. LC. KC in Unit 1 and JT and I in Unit 2.

Unpack. JT preps dinner. Take photos of the carbs. When I go to put them in the freezer, one of the nips me on 2 fingers - I scream - so painful. So thankful it let go and didn't clamp down. Need to give it a good wash and LC gives me cream and JT band aid. Just hope it doesn't get infected.

KC and I walk down to the bar. Have a game of snooker. Talk by a waitress at the bar (Dee) that there are problems with the water supple and tomorrow there will be no water as we are checking out the bar menu.

9:40pm Dinner is finally ready. Pasta, choy and crab.  Crabs are yummy, cooked with just ginger. Take our time eating them.

11:30pm Shower

12:20am writing up my diary and sleep

 

Perth to Sydney - Friday 29 Sep 2023

 Friday 29 September 2023

8:00am Wake up

9:00am Breakfast - Weetbix, muesli, nutrigrain, chia, milk

10:00am Checkout

Drive to Costco, Casuarina. Walk all the aisles, almost - killing time.

11:30am Drive to Cockburn Central

Checkout Red Spot shop - like Reject Shop but more pricey

Walk to main shopping centre. KMart - JT buys swim rash top.

12:30pm Food court - I buy Seafood Singapore Noodles $15.50 to share with JT - she eats leftover food.

1:30pm Fill up petrol at 7-11 Queens Park $16.

2:00pm Return rental car to Avis. They do a once over, check petrol and all ok. We walk to Terminal 3 with bags from rental parking lot. Lucky it's the closest to the rental lot.

Check in at self checkin stand, but we still need to line up to drop our bags at the JetStar staffed counter. 19kg and 10kg respectively.

3:00pm Waiting to board. Sign on board says final boarding, which gives us a heart attack, but the line hasn't been moving, so we walk up to gate to check, but instead flight is delayed. 

3:15pm Plane delayed - flat tyre.  They needed to change the tyre, so boarding time changed to 4:20pm

4:34pm Board plane via front air bridge. Seats 9D and 9E. I have window seat, JT is in middle and a big "gwai lo" is in aisle seat. Seats are just before the engine and wing. Very noisy

5:00pm In the air. 

5:20pm $15 meal voucher - Orange Juice $4, Homestyle sandwich - vintage cheddar and salad and Egg mayo with lettuce $11.

Update diary. Fix up/delete my photos on iPhone.

Arrive: 10:42pm

Wait for luggage

11:30pm NC picks us up

12am Home - unpack, shower and watch 2D1N until sleepy.

Mandurah - Thursday 28 Sep 2023

Thursday 28 September 2023

Breakfast

Drive to Creery Wetlands Reserve.  Walk to boardwalk that goes out to the marshland.  There are lots of mozzies before the boardwalk at the info board. Nothing much to see and too many insects.

Drive to Santi Ikto and park at same place as before. Walk to the giant but there are too many people.  school holidays, so can't take pictures properly.  Take a few and head back to car.

Drive back to Mandurah Forum.  Walk the shops for an hour killing time.

Drive back to resort.  Make 3 min noodles with egg, lettuce and ham for lunch.

Nap/watch Youtube 2D1N on the phone.

6pm Walk to beach for sunset

7pm Dinner - rice with beef mince, carrots and bok choy.

Mandurah - Wednesday 27 Sep 2023

Wednesday 27 Sep 2023

Today is going to be a hot day. Turned out to be hottest day for Sep

Rest day and laundry.

Breakfast: Weetbix, muesli, nutrigrain, chia and milk.

Choc mint magnum - eating food that others bought.

Lunch: Slice of bread with 1/2 sausage, onion, leftover jap chae, meatballs, carrots, tomato.  Apple black currant juice.

Watch 2D1N Youtube on couch.

6pm Walk down to beach for sunset.  Lots of people on the beach today.

Dinner: rice, sweet and sour seafood mix, bok choy, prawns. Coke.

9pm in bed and watching 2D1N

Perth - Tuesday 26 Sep 2023

 Tuesday 26 Sep 2023

Breakfast: weetbix, muesli, nutrigrain, chia and milk. Ham and lettuce.

10:30am drive to Perth

11:30am Park in King's Park.  Walk around garden. Janet wants to find her orchids. Have a picnic lunch overlooking the fountain.

Lunch: Sandwich with ham, lettuce, avocado, tomato, carrots. Chicken chipees.

Walk around some more after lunch - look at shop, but nothing grabs me.

3:30pm Leave and drive back to resort thinking we'll beat the traffic, but there is lots of traffic.

Dinner: Lettuce, carrot soup with rice, leftover japchae, pancake, meatballs and prawns.

Cockburn - Monday 25 Sep 2023

 Monday 25 September 2023

ET, NC and JT go to hospital for ET blood test.

Buy Maccas breakfast.

9:15am Breakfast - Maccas sausage and egg mcmuffin and hash brown.

11:00am drive to Cockburn Gateway Shopping Centre.  ET stays back. KMart, Aldi 

2:00pm Back at resort. Help NC BBQ sausages and onions with resort BBQ

Late lunch: Bread with beef sausage, onion, sweet chilli jam. Lettuce, cucumber and tomato salad.

Lie in bed watching 2D1N series.

5:45pm walk down to beach with ET to watch sunset.  Not as nice as previous day

7:00pm drive to Mandurah for Thai but it's closed.  Settle for Korean at Bob Jo.  I have Beef Bibimbap. JT orders japchae, ET and NC have Kimchi stew with rice and seafood pancake. ET pays.

8:15pm Drive to airport straight after dinner.

9:15pm Drop NC and ET at Terminal 3. They are flying back to Sydney.

10:15pm Back at resort.

Carousel, Airport DFO, Freemantle - Sunday 24 Sep 2023

 Sunday 24 September 2023

9:00am Breakfast

11:00am drive to Westfield Carousel - big shopping centre. Walk centre. Nathan checking out KMart. Buy sushi and eat upstairs only to discover food court downstairs afterwards. JT buys carry on Samsonite suitcase in Myers, 40% off plus $20 gift card.

2:10pm Drive to airport. Drop Kaylene off at Terminal 3. She is flying back to Sydney.

2:30pm Drive to DFO which is next door to the airport, Big outlet, but only 1 hr free parking,

3:30pm Drive to Containbow, Freemantle - instagram rainbow of shipping containers.

4:00pm Park in parking lot below prison. Use app. $1.66. Walk to Freemantle Markets. JT buys tomatoes and strawberries. I buy fresh lemonade $10. Pork belly bao $10 and soft shell crab bao $11. Takeaway.  NC buys gozleme and eats it there.

4:30pm park in Beach St south $0.85. Looking for Brendan Pan's Bumplings, which is situated in a building which has other eateries. I buy sichuan chicken dumplings 8 for $15.40, Crispy pork dumplings 4 for $7.80 (like fried wontons), takeaway.

5:00pm drive back to resort. Stop at Hungry Jacks for NC. The sky is looking good for sunset. Trying to get back to Silver Sands beach but by the time 6:15pm we get there the glow of sunset has waned - no more red glow.

7:00pm Eat bao and dumplings for dinner. NC and ET have their noodles - have to eat what they bought.

8:00pm shower

9:00pm Bed

Perth - Saturday 23 Sep 2023

 Saturday 23 Sep 2023

11:30pm Perth Mint. Parking in lot near the mint. JT pays $7 for all day parking.

12:00pm Killing time in the Mint looking at the shop and other rooms.

12:30pm Perth Mint tour $22 pp. 3 concession, 2 adults and $5 coupon. 

Sit outside in garden to wait and when the guide arrives, the tour starts there. Guide tells us about the history of gold discovery in WA.  Then he takes us inside to see the 1 tonne gold coin. This is followed by a demonstration of gold pouring into an ingot.  After the demo, we can wander around. Mint a souvenir coin - although when I go to do mine, the machine sticks and nothing comes out. Need to ask for assistance. In the end I end up getting two tokens minted. Usually costs $2 for a token, but we are given one as part of the tour. I buy a Quokka silver coin $115.  KC buys "Congratulations newborn coin set" $75 - present for Zach.

2:20pm Eva suggests eating at the Peoples Inn Dumpling House. Taiwanese dumplings and noodles. We get Pork and Prawn dumplings, Pan-fried pork and cabbage dumplings, noodles with mince and bean sauce, and noodles with pork and mushrooms to share - ET pays.

3:06pm Catch the free cat bus and get of at Perth Stations because NC is bored of riding the bus. Walk to Hay St Mall. Head to Maccas. 

4:00pm KC buys us softserve and apple pie. Others just have soft serve. There's  suspicious package outside the door. NC is worried.

After softserve, we walk up the mall to meet up with NC who went to check out the Nike shop - asking if they have an outlet in Perth - they don't.

Walk back to the car.  Toilet stop at the Mint, just before they are about to close.

5:00pm Drive back to Mandurah.

6:00pm Walk down to beach with KC to watch sunset.

7:30pm dinner - rice with leftovers. Soy chicken, sweet and sour prawns and choy. KC has her frozen butter chicken meal and NC and ET have their frozen beef ragu pasta meal too.

8:30pm shower

9:00pm in bed writing diary and then watch 2D1N youtube.

Rottnest Island - Friday 22 Sep 2023

 Friday 22 Sep 2023

8:00am Breakfast cereal

9:00am Drive to Freemantle - leave early as I am worried about parking

10:00am park at Victoria Quay Wilson all day parking. Which is near Tramshed E. End up being early, so we take a look at the shops in Tramshed E - lots of old trash and treasure shops and some food shops.

Looks like it's going to be a nice day.  Because I'm not sure if we just go to the ferry, I line up at the temporary booth to ask and they give us info and maps.

11:20am Line up to go on Rottnest Express

11:30am Depart. Sit in lower deck as upper deck is already full. Near the bar. 

12:00pm arrive. Off the ferry, KC, NC and I line up for our bikes. Need to grab helmet and locks before getting the bikes. Have to adjust the seat - NC helps me out. Glad I am not any shorter, I can just reach the ground on my tippy toes. Plan to have lunch first and then explore the island, as JT and ET are doing the bus tour which doesn't start till 1:50pm.  NC leads the way and we ride around to the shops, while JT and ET walk there. KC buys subway - I share with JT - chicken original. We sit and eat.  A quokka is in the area, and people take selfies and photos of it.

1:00pm NC, KC and I take off on our ride.  NC leads the way as he has been before and remembers the ride and trails. 

1:50pm JT and ET does the bus tour around the island.

Somehow we meet up at the lighthouse and then they are off.

We take our time resting and I eat an apple, NC goes to toilet. On our way down, we see a quokka on it's own so KC takes photos with it. I fee it some carrot sticks and it's easier to take the photos. It's hungry and wants more, but I don't want to get into trouble - no feeding the quokkas. It tries to eat through Kaylene's backpack drink holder. Time to go.

Continue riding and make our way back to start. NC spends time with JT and ET.

Closer to the shops and wharf there is a bunch of quokkas being photographed. We join in and try and take selfies.  Very hard as you need to get down to their level. 

As we have time, KC and I continue cycling to another lighthouse closer to the wharf.

5:10pm back to the ferry.

5:30pm Depart for Fremantle. Look for a place to have dinner. Drive closer to the restaurants. 

6:50pm End up at Cicerello's. Deluxe tasting plate x 2 $53.50, Grilled fish, battered fish, oyster kilpatrick, 2 king prawns, chilli mussels, 1/2 lobster. Salt and pepper calimaro and chips. Small seafood chowder $15.55, Squid rings $?? 

7:40pm finish eating

Drive back to resort. 

Mandurah - Little Lui Giant - Thursday 21 Sep 2023

 Thursday 21 September 2023

8:30am wake up

ET has to go to Peel Campus Hospital to do blood test. Nathan drives and JT goes along.

Breakfast - cereal.

10:30am - Drive to Marlee Reserve to find lost giant, Little Lui. Park in giant parking area. Walk track, follow signs. Other people are also looking for giants.  Finally find Little Lui hinding behind a bunch of twigs - with groups of other people taking photos. Wait our turn.

11:30am Head back to Mandurah. On the way out of the reserve, I spot a kangaroo on the side of the road, it turns out to be a mother with a joey in the pouch. Reverse so NC and ET can take photos still in the car.

In Mandurah, park behind Dominoes in parking lot. Nathan buys pizza - 2 supreme pizzas, garlic bread and large drink.

12:00pm Park at Foreshore and eat our pizza at a picnic table.

1:00pm Back at resort. ET is tired.

1:30pm Drive to 7-11 to fill up and then go to Mandurah Forum. Big W, KMart, Coles, Woolworths.

3:30pm Back to resort. I am tired too. Have a nap. Chicken chipees.

5:00pm FB/videos. JT prepping dinner.

6:00pm JT cooking

6:30pm Dinner - Rice, tomato, onion, prawns, sizzling steak, gravy with onions, choy.

Margaret River - Wednesday 20 Sep 2023

 Wednesday 20 September 2023

8:30am Breakfast - cereal

10:00am Drive to Bunbury. Fill up at 7-11. Piss stop at maccas. KC buys burgers. ET buys nuggets.

1:00pm Margaret River Dairy Co. JT buys brie $6.50, cheddar $6.50 and strawberry jam $10.  Have nuggets with sweet and sour sauce.

1:20pm Margaret River Chocolate Co. I buy 1/2 Chicken Caesar wrap $14.95 and wedges with sweet chilli jam and sour cream $9.95 - share wrap with JT. Others have eaten Maccas. KC buys chocolates.

2:00pm Drive 800 down to Providore. JT buys sweet chilli jam, KC buys jam, spices. Garden is muddy so no photos of the flowers

2:30pm Drive to Augusta. Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse.

3:45pm KC and I go into look at Lighthouse. I use JTs seniors card for discount. Adult is $7.50, Conc is $6.  The others wait in the car.

4:30pm Drive to Boranup Forest. There is now a bigger parking area. But the lookout is no longer there.

6:00pm Arrive at Canal Rocks. Too cloudy for a good sunset.

8:45pm Arrive back at the resort.

9:00pm Dinner - leftovers spaghetti marinara, soy chicken wings, lettuce, cucumber, tomato, beans.

Mandurah Giant Hunting - Tuesday 19 Sep 2023

 Tuesday 19 September 2023

8:30am Wake up. Cloudy and overcast.

Do a load of washing.

9:00am Breakfast - cereal

9:30am Second load of washing

Book tickets for Rottnest Island - Friday 11:30am departure from freemantle. Back at 5:30pm

11:30am Drive to Mandurah Info Centre. Get giant map.  Drive to Wannanup, Estuary Place. 20 min walk to Seba's Song.  Giant is overlooking the river/estuary. Can't take frontal photos. Overlooks the sea wall.

2:00pm Late lunch at Thai on the terrace. Seafood pad Thai, Beef green curry with rice. Shared with JT and KC. 

Drive to Halls Head to look for Santi Ikto. Park in the residential area, even though there are signs saying there is no Giant parking. It's a short walk along the path to get to the giant up on a hill looking out to the ocean. Not a lot of people.

Next we drive to Coodanup to look for Yaburgurt Winjan Cirkelstone. He is in the parklands near Mariners Cove. Lying on his stomach and playing with rocks.

Drive back to Halls Head shopping. NC wants to check out the KMart. 

4:00pm Arrive at Halls Head Central shopping. Look in Reject Shop, Aldi, Coles. Buy donuts, cheese and bacon rolls, marinara mix.

4:40pm Drive back to Mandurah.

5:00pm Back at resort.

JT cooking spaghetti marinara and choy and kings prawns for dinner

7:00pm dinner

9:00pm sleep

Perth - Monday 18 Sep 2023

 Monday 18 September 2023

8:30am Breakfast cereal and slice ham

10:10am drive to Kings Park, Perth

After a quick look around the park, we drive to the city.

Park on the street $6/hr

1:15pm Nao Ramen. for lunch with Eva's friend.

Have shoyo ramen $16 with boiled egg$2.50

Put in another $6 - walk the shops in Hay St Mall. Little Tudor Enggland - tourist arcade. Uniqlo, KMart. Like Pitt St Mall.

Drive to Elizabeth Quay. Drizzle of light rain. 30min parking.

Drive to The Blue Boathouse. Instagram spot. Drove past it and had to circle back to drive to parking spot and then walk to the boathouse.

Drive to Subiaco Art Centre hunting for a giant.

Find Bille Bob lazing around.  The only giant that's in Perth. Take photos then head back to Mandurah.

6:20pm Park at Cicerello's. Take a look at menu. Drive down to Mandurah shops to check out other restaurants but end up back at Cicerello's. 

Dinner: seafood chowder. Salt and pepper squid, fried onions, garlic prawns with chips and salad.  A lot of chips. Seafood chowder is worth it. 

Drive to Mandurah Woollies. Nathan and Eva go shopping.

7:30pm Drive back to resort.

Busselton Jetty - Sunday 17 Sep 2023

 Sunday 17 September 2023

Breakfast: Cereal, fried egg on slice of bread with ham and avocado.

10:00am Drive to Busselton

12:00noon Train leaves. Underwater observatory is sold out.

JT, NC and ET buy train tickets.

KC and I buy $4 each tickets for walk on Jetty and gelato $6.50 each.

Train doesn't leave until 1am, so we have lunch first. 

Buy takeaway fish and chips from The Goose. JT pays. Eat in the park.

KC and I walk the jetty first.

1:00pm Others take train. They have 8mins to look at the end before taking the train back.

1:30pm Just as we arrive, they leave. Takes us 30 min to walk there. Take photos and another 30 mins to walk back.

2:00pm Others are having tea and coffee at The Goose and wait for us.

2:30pm Drive to Lake Clifton

4:16pm Suppose to be low tide but water level is up and can't really see the thrombolites.

KC and I go in search of the giant. Follow the lakeside loop trail. At the junction make a right. Then at the black poles another right. Jyttes Hytte giant can be found at the end of the paddock. Tree hugging giant. Wait for a group in front of us to finish taking photos.

5:00pm Drive back to Mandurah on Old Coastal Rd.

Fill up petrol $85 at Ampol at Mandurah Forum. KC pays.

Drive back to resort.

JT cooks chicken wings and 3 min noodles. I have a banana, yakult, 1/3 banh mi leftover.

7:30pm dinner

Shower

Bed

Freemantle - Saturday 16 Sep 2023

 Saturday 16 September 2023

8am Wake up.

8:30am Walk down to local shops with Eva. Buy chicken, steak mushroom, steak onion, sausage roll, sausage and 2 ham bacon rolls.$35.  Eva buys coffee.

9:00am Back at resort have breakfast - cereal and 1/2 chicken pie, 1/4 steak pie.

10:00am Drive to Freemantle. Park on street. walk to markets. Walk around and check out the stalls. KC buys fresh lemonade drink. Check out fruit and veggies. KC buys gozleme $18. I buy banh mi $30.  have to wait for banh mi. They say they will txt us, but they didn't. We head out of the markets and check out the shops on the street - a lot have closed down. head back to pick up banh mi and eat it standing up on the outside tables.

Drive to Round House parking. Walk to harbour restaurants and bathers beach. Walk to the Round House and go in. Gold coin donation. 

Drive back to mandurah

Eva makes spaghetti with packet sauce. I reheat mussels in white wine and garlic sauce bought at Aldi. JT makes choy.

7:00pm have dinner

Sydney to Perth - Friday 15 Sep 2023

Friday 15 September 2023

11:55am JetStar flight cancelled.

KC sends txt at 6am 

That morning spend my time trying to contact Avis to change the pick up time for the car without having to pay double the price.

KC/JT rebooks a Qantas flight for 7:35pm QF653  ETA arrival is 10:45pm.

4:00pm JT leaves  home to catch train to Mascot, then bus to the airport.

4:45pm We leave home. Lily drops us off at the airport. JT is already there.

Luggage checkin 20.2kg (JT, MT), 16kg (ET,NC) and 10kg (KC)

Security screening - no need to remove anything out of the bags. X-ray machine looks more powerful now. I had to go through the gates twice - removed my Fitbit - it was setting off the alarm.

6:30pm sitting in food court waiting.

7:50pm sitting in plane. 53K and 53L.  NC and ET are sitting in 2? and KC iss up in front of plane.

8:21pm still taxing on runway.

Hoping we get to Perth on time to pick up hire car which closes at 11;30pm

8:25pm in the air. Watch Flash move and Soul mattes - Korean movie. 

Inflight meal - pasta with meatballs, kitkat, water and apple juice.

10:45pm land

11:00pm I head to rentals with Nathan. The inside desk is closed and sign says to go to rental parking lot. pick up rental MG.  Lady at counter is very helpful and lets me pay the same rate after I explain my situation.

Nathan goes to get others. Do a once over load the car and then we are off to Mandurah. European drive - wipers and indicators are reversed.

12:30am Checkin to Silver Sands resort.

Unpack. KC in lounge. NC and ET in main with ensuite, JT and I in other room with single beds. There is no bedding for the lounge, so JT calls up lady and they arrange for maintenance guy to drop bedding around.

1:30am shower and in bed.

Saturday 03 June 2023 : Fiona's 50th Birthday

Saturday 03 June 2023 : Fiona's 50th Birthday

Janet arranged to have Fiona's 50th birthday celebrations at Gymea Tradies.

She invited ex-carers, friends from Civic, Seetos, Cheongs, Li's and family.

Got there at 10am to decorate the place. Soph helped with the balloons.

Was a sit down lunch set menu, alternate plates.

Followed by cake, dancing and games.

Thursday 08 June 2023 : Vivid 2023 with family

Thur 08 June 2023: Vivid 2023 with family

Went out to the city with Lily, Justin, Soph and Ally. 

Lights at Central station

Market City

Darling Quarter and Darling Harbour

Friday 26 May 2023 : Vivid 2023

Friday 26 May 2023: Vivid 2023 - Vivid Sydney, Naturally

Fri 26 May 2023 : Shift 1 - Zone 2 Campbells Cove wayfinding

Sat 27 May 2023 : Shift 2 - Zone 1 SOH, CQ Wynyard Tunnel exit

Fri 02 Jun 2023 : Shift 3 - Zone 1 SOH, CQ - Wayfinding at CQ wharf and light rail

Fri 09 Jun 2023 : Shift 4 -  Zone 1 East Circular Quay

Sat 10 Jun 2023 : Shift 5 - Zone 1 East Circular Quay

Sun 11 Jun 2023 : Shift 6 - Zone 1 East Circular Quay

Fri 16 Jun 2023 : Shift 7 - Zone 1 East Circular Quay

Sat 17 Jun 2023 : Shift 8 -  Zone 1 East Circular Quay

Thursday 6 April 2023: Rutherglen and Albury

Thu 6 April 2023: Rutherglen and Albury

Day 6 and we drove to Rutherglen to check out the Big Wine Bottle which stands at 36m tall.

Had lunch at 'Australia's greatest pie shop', Parker Pies in Rutherglen.  Tried the gourmet chicken pastry and it was pretty good.

Then drove to Albury Botanic Gardens. Took a walk around the gardens.

What else, we drove to the Albury War Memorial and stopped in Albury to take photos of it's Historial Buildings.

We leave tomorrow morning. Hopefully traffic will be ok.

Wednesday 5 April 2023: Cobram,

Wed 5 April 2023: Day 5 - Cobram, Picolo, Echuca, Rochester

Drove to Cobram to check out Manto's Produce.

 

Then we drove via Picolo - still chasing silo art to Echuca.

Arrive just in time to catch a cruise on the Murray River. Boarded the Pevensey Paddle Steamer which was used in the mini series "All the Rivers Run". 

Late lunch Bru Burgers

On the way back, stopped at Rochester for more silo art

Tuesday 4 April 2023: Lake Mulwala

Tue 4 April 2023: Lake Mulwala

Today we booked a lunch cruise on Lake Mulwala.

Boarded the Paradise Queen.

BBQ lunch included lamb chops, rissoles, sausages, fresh salads, bread and butter.

The cruise goes through the old red gum forest.

Monday 3 April 2023: Benalla Street Art

Mon 3 Apr 2023: Benalla

Today we drove to Benalla on the hunt for street murals.  Apparently there are over 75 of them. Parked the car and went on the hunt.

Loved "Baby Joy"by Julian Calvino.

"Migrant Rabbit"by Anton Pulvrenti

Had lunch at The Cake Maker's Daughter. I ordered spaghetti bolognaise with garlic bread and Janet had the Caesar salad with chicken.

After lunch we continued looking for more murals.

On the way back, we followed the Silo Art Trail and stopped at Goorambat.

Followed by the GrainCorp Devenish Silo

GrainCorp St James Silo

Tungamah Silo