Touchdown in Perth

So we have now been in Perth for 5 days. The flight from Singapore was just 5 hours and we both slept the whole way so it passed quite fast. We got through customs pretty quickly... and fortunately they didn't confiscate my Percy Pigs! We picked up hire car from a nice lady who told us she was soon to be visiting the UK...specifically to see where Heart Beat is filmed (Heart Beat seems to have only just made it to WA!).

We moved into our holiday rent, then went into jobs mode. The next 2 days were spend doing paperwork...a thrilling start to our new life in Oz! In 48 hours, between us, we managed to sign our rental contract, apply for medicare, finalise medical registration, attend an interview (and get offered a job), obtain a tax number, set up an Australian bank account and purchase new phones!

Things seemed to be going swimmingly...for Chris! I on the other hand encountered a few problems. First of all the bank accounts that we set up back in the UK had managed to completely mess up my details. My account was set up in the wrong name, had the wrong date of birth and a wrong account number. On top of that they had forgotten to order me any bank cards so there was no way to access the money I had transferred in advance! Not a good start! Next we went to buy phones. After my UK iphone passed away 3 months ago, I had held out to get a brand new top of the range smart phone once I arrived in Oz. I had my heart set on the beautiful HTC One. Unfortunately I was refused a contract due to no credit history within Australia! The only way I could get my shiny new phone would be to purchase it outright...at $800!! So instead we opted for the slightly cheaper nokia lumia. Chris chose the sleek looking white phone, and not wanting us to get the same, I asked for another colour... they only other colour available was bright yellow! So yes, I now have a bright yellow banana phone!! No only that, but it took 4 (yes 4!!) trips back to the shop before they realised they had sold us the wrong sim cards!! Aussies!!

Anyway, after 2 days of work, we decided to treat ourselves to some exploring. We set off to Fremantle, a  quirky port town south of the river. We drank coffee, wandered though the markets and most importantly put our feet in the Indian Ocean for the first time! The waves were a little stronger than I had anticipated and I came very close to losing my flip flops and walking home bare foot!

Freemantle

Freemantle Round House (the old gaol)

The Indian Ocean

We then set of driving up the coast, checking out the suburbs. We passed through the medics ghetto (Cottesloe), through City Beach and finally to Scarborough. A slightly different view to the one we usually see in Scarborough!

Cottesloe

Scarborough Front

Later on we went to explore Kings Park, a 5km x 2km park just south of Perth CBD. The South East aspect is made up of manicured lawns and a large botanical garden. The rest is natural bush restoration. We decided to explore the natural bushlands. After walking for almost 2 hours we realised 2 things..1. We were lost and 2. The sun was about to go down. I did not like the thought of walking through bushlands in the dark in only my flipflops!! At a noticeably quicker pace, we set off to find civilization. Fortunately we managed to pop back out of the bush at the same point we entered! Just a few short kms (on paved roads!!) back home! We stopped of for a sneaky schooner on the way... I felt we had earned it!

Kings Park - beautiful...in the day light!

More adventures soon!

The Stackers xxx