Sunday 1^st April, 2012

The hostels are very full as there should be about 20'000 backpackers coming from the east coast to the west coast. When we had booked Sandra had not known if she would not like to travel a bit southwards. So I then just had booked for Dominik and me and so we had to change again rooms. Sandra met a former workmate as we lodged our luggage in the storage room. As soon as we left the hostel it started raining. After breakfast it got better and we went up the hill to Kings Park. We walked in the park and I saw black and red cockatoos. Then we went to the DNA Tower and climbed it to enjoy the view. The afternoon we were again riding bus and then we could get to our room. In the evening we walked through Northbridge and found a cinema screen with many cushions to watch the film. We watched the animation film Planet 51. As a few drops of rain fell from the sky we took our cushion and moved below a big umbrella. After the film we went to eat at Outback Jacks and enjoyed the last evening together with Sandra.

Saturday 3^rd March, 2012

In the morning we went to the Shoalwater Bay. Here we boarded the boat and the safari started. Only about 5 minutes out in the sea we already saw a few dolphins. The next hour we followed and watched them. For me it is the first time I saw dolphins swimming in the sea, but not for Konrad. As I had taken my pills against motion sickness I could stand in the front of the boat and take pictures. Konrad could not believe it as he remembered of the opposite in Island were the pills had not helped and I had been very sick. Our ride was not yet over. The boat went to Bird Island were there are cormorants and pelicans nesting. Then we met again a dolphin which was playing with a ray. Next was Seal Island with its seal colony. As it was very warm, they liked more to sunbath than to move around. We often saw flying pelicans. At the end of the tour we left the boat at Penguin Island. Here every hour a ferry goes back to the mainland. First we enjoyed our pick-nick as there is no shop here. We also observed a few of the local lizards. One just walked over the pick-nick area. Then we went onto the two kilometre long path around the island. First we saw a decayed tractor stand in the middle of the nature. Passing nesting pelicans we went to the beach. We enjoyed the refreshing bath and the waves and then we let us dry by the sun. Back at the start we went to see the feeding of the penguins. A few of them live in the visitor centre. They are not able anymore to live in the wild. Four times a day they get fresh fish. After the feeding we went back to the mainland and from there back to the motel next to the airport. As there was still some time left we went to the centre of Perth and walked a bit in the Kings Park. We heard some parrots in the trees and saw them flying away. The evening we closed with a dinner with sight to the city.

Wednesday 29^th February, 2012

Exactly at 8.45pm I was at the bus stop. In a few minutes the shuttle bus should arrive. The minutes passed and I waited and waited. After 25 minutes the bus appeared. The traffic should be the reason and some more stops are required. I thought: “Come on, that will run short on the airport”. Everybody around me was nervous as they have to do the check-in even earlier than I. On the airport the idea was to as fast as possible get the backpack and get to the counter. I got there just on time and should go immediately to the plane. At the gate they said the plane arrived late and thus boarding will be in 15 minutes. OK, somehow everything is a bit late today. After a bit more than an hour we landed in Melbourne. Here I had 40 minutes to change flight. The nice lady next to me said I should take the backpack. So I was the first leaving the plane and I could have a breather before getting into the next plane. Another three hours of flight were ahead. Shortly before landing there were many air holes and slowly I got a bit sick. No wonder as I did not eat anything except crisps and two cookies. Unfortunately I did not find anything without wheat in the hurry. In Perth I could again wait for half an hour for the shuttle bus. The first one said that my destination is not on his tour and I should take the next one in a few minutes. Around 4 o'clock I arrived at the hostel. It took a while until they found my reservation. Tired from travelling I put my luggage into the room. I just wanted to check where I will get the car tomorrow. I started walking equipped with the city map. I soon found the office of Hertz. As it was not yet late I went to the Kings Park. That was a good idea. There is a beautiful view about the northern part of Perth. While walking in the park, I saw three wedding couples. OK, the date is very special. A couple had its ceremony in the park with view to the city. I sat down in the grass, watched them and remembered me of my own wedding. As it is 3 hour later as in Tasmania I was now very hungry. Around the corner I saw a Japanese and as I love sushi, I went there. I was a bit overstrained by the big assortment they offered. A kind Japanese recommended a sushi with chicken and avocado served with a sweet-and-sour plum sauce. Lovely! Then I went tired back to the hostel.