Friday 16^th March, 2012

In the morning we went again to the beach of Monkey Mia. We watched the first dolphin feeding from the pier. We hopped for a second feeding, but until 10am the dolphins did not return to the bay. After we drove to Denham and did some sightseeing in the small fisher village. Here I learnt that pumping up tires is quite easy. The kind sir from the petrol station told us how much we need to fill them. I do not know what kind of dimension they use, but not bar. First we visited a pearl shop and I bought a black pearl pendant, then we went to the airport. Here we entered a propeller machine and made a scenic flight of 30 minutes from Denham to the Big Lagoon. I would not have stood it longer as I got a bit sick from the many air holes. We enjoyed a beautiful view over the lagoons and the Francois Peron National Park. The we drove to Eagle Buff, a lookout over Shark Bay. We could count many sharks swimming below. On the Shell Beach we walked many small shells to the beach. The beach consists of small white, beige and reddish shells. At 5pm we reached a Road House (Petrol Station with shop and usually with accommodations on a outback road) with a camping. We decided to drive to the next one and at 6:30pm we found a closed camping. We wanted to stay on the carpark as it was already getting dark. As soon as we stood there and opened the roof clamps, the owner came out and told us that we are not allowed to stay here over night. He did not want to hear my explanation that we did not know that the camping is closed. On request he finally explained that the next carpark is in 5 km and in 42 km we can stay for free. So we had to drive another 42 km. The sight got worse and worse. On the carpark we were not the only ones. As we did not have current here, it was very warm inside and we sweated. Tired from everything we went to bed early.

Thursday 15^th March, 2012

Recovered from the scare of yesterday we had also today to get up early as at 7:30am there is already the first feeding of the dolphins. At the beach we got told that it will not be before 8pm. First everyone went into the water and we waited for the dolphins. During this time the ranger told us about these animals. They only feed 5 dolphins. At the first round only one came. To start the feeding, we had to leave the water and 5 volunteers were chosen. Those could then give the fish to the dolphin. Unfortunately we were not chosen. After we booked a sailing tour and went back to the beach for the second feeding. Now there were less people and it proceeded in the same pattern. It was very interesting to see dolphins as close as one meter. This time about ten animals came to the beach, there was even a mother giving milk to her calf. Then we the sailing tour started. In the three hours we saw turtles, a tiger shark (they are quite big), a dugong and a few dolphins. The afternoon was again very warm and we spent it in the shadow. I used the time to write for my blog. In the moment I sometimes do not find the time for it. In the evening at the pier we saw two turtles swimming. With relaxing music and a fresh breeze in the face we sailed towards the sunset.

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.