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tancheesing · 5 years

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{ pearl of the orient – penang island in 2000 }

penang is a beautiful pearl in my home country.

georgetown, the main city on penang island, has a UNESCO world heritage core area which is well-loved and frequented by tourists all over the world. ( The other UNESCO world heritage site in my home country is in Malacca : Malaysian sensibilities – Malacca old town )

” Designated a UNESCO world heritage site, the historic quarter of George Town in Penang, Malaysia, showcases multi-cultural influences. The region’s heritage can be traced back almost 500 years, when the former British colony was a prominent hub of trade on the Malacca Strait, enabling cultural exchange between Malay, Chinese, Indian and European residents.

As a result, George Town retains its unique character – evidenced by the mix of pastel-painted shophouses and Chinese mansions, European government buildings, diverse religious buildings, festivals, music, food and fortresses. “

in the year 2000, i visited penang & georgetown. it really touched my heart and opened up my senses.

in the year 2019, i.e. 19 years later after my first visit, penang & georgetown have changed a lot, with cars and high-rise apartment buildings dominating the townscape. some say it is a change for the better, as the economy digit is booming. to me, it is a change for the worse, as the charm and beauty of the townscape has been diluted in the name of development ( at all cost ). to me, development should be sensible and sustainable, though this requires the joint effort and collaboration of all parties involved in the development.

penang – a melting-pot of communities and cultures.

penang – a spicy 200 year old tale of migration, maritime trade and intrigue.

dragon reaching for the sky, the azure blue sky, but it is unable to fly and leave the temple. it is unwilling to leave the kaleidoscope of penang. it is a penang dragon.

penang hill railway. the railway links the bottom and top of penang hill. it brings people to explore the penang hill. “expect the unexpected!” the railway told me.

mid hill station. the wooden steps are built following the gradient of the railway. there is another train waiting for passengers on the other side. the train will guarantee you a nice and pleasant journey to and fro penang hill, just like penang …

” At the top of the hill, the air was buoyant, cool, and exciting to the appetite.”

~ John Turnbull Thomson

on the way to strawberry hill, you will see a big tree greeting you. “good day, sir!” on peaceful nights, sitting under the tree, you will hear the tree murmuring … “long live great britain!” … it remembered the old colonial days. it is a tree clinging to the past glory.

the pattern of the wall shows the hardwork of the laborers who piled up the stone works one by one.

which way does the wind blow from? east? west? south? north? penang is a blend of the east, west, south and north.

a balinese painting in bellevue, the hotel on top of penang hill.

cheong fatt tze mansion two signages on the wooden door advising people to ” practice courtesy & appreciate poems “.

an old lady in the old mansion. the lady ages with passing time, the mansion ages too. the lady will tell you an old story, the mansion will tell you more stories. the mansion is a library with a collection of stories, while the librarians are temporary …

gable end wall decorations at cheong fatt tze mansion

framing the old wall? framing the old stories told by the old walls? framing the time?

windows are the eyes of the building. the old colonial buildings in penang are masterpieces. too bad this one has put on too strong a make up …

love is a lane, at least in penang.

francis light statue in front of the state museum. he rooted the Englishmen in penang, he performed magic out of this island called “Pinang”.

notes on my native land

to this corner of the world came

people from china and india

from indonesia and europe

some of the people

adopted local ways

they spoke malay

dressed malay

but still kept their customs

others stuck to their ways

while firmly planting

a foot on malaysian soil

the alchemy worked

and today we have a nation

that is a kaleidoscope

of many things and many people

we all belong to this fabric

having each lent a stitch

to make up a whole

now we invite the world

to see this tapestry

~ David Lazarus 1986

the Europeans, the Indians, the Chinese, the Malays, the Arabs, the Archinese, the Eurasians, the Siamese, the Burmese, the Japanese, the Jews, the Armenians.

gambling ruins your family and kids

light street convent school. old memories left behind by the departure of the nuns …

the names of the prisoners detained during the Japanese occupation were carved on the wall. the wall is a storyteller. shall we have a museum of walls?

st. georges church. pairing of classical columns.

st georges church

the clock tower. colonial architecture + muslim crown. a perfect blend, just like the blending of cultures & peoples in penang. they are all called the penangites.

the Chew jetty kongsi penang

the Chew jetty at weld quay. keys of the fishing boats being hung on a wooden plate. the keys are important to the boats, the sea is the greatest source of livelihood for the people living in clan jetties. the sea is the past, present and future.

old rusty boat anchor. the anchor clings on to the seabed to moor the boat amid roaring sea, just like the clan jetties clinging on to the shore to house its peoples, the sons & daughters of the mighty sea.

the chinese texts depicting “cooked meat ball”. these texts are written on the wooden planks in the Chew jetty. is this simply an act of vandalism by the kids? or is there a meaning behind the texts?

wooden walkway in the Chew jetty. it is the spine of the jetty, connecting houses and promoting bonding among the residents. the clan community is closely knitted.

a tin to keep the cash. it is a typical way of keeping cash in old chinese provision shops. a red paper is pasted on the tin, with words of blessing “may profit comes”.

beach street fire station. beach street is the Lebuh Pantai ( in Malay language ). it was a street by the beach in the old days before land reclamation. it is now a bustling commercial street.

little india. this is a shop with the name “gathering life”. it is a pharmaceutical store, selling traditional chinese herbs and medicine. the birds are plenty here. maybe they are looking to “gather life”.

sri mariamman temple. ritual to bless the sick.

acheen street mosque. minaret piercing through the azure blue sky.

joo eng ching ( Dr Sun Yat Sen’s penang base ). green plant symbolises new life. do we bring new life to an old building through conservation?

syed alatas mansion. the mark left by syed alatas, a great man. the mansion itself has a story to tell. listen to the mansion. we should learn to listen to old buildings.

the kapitan kling mosque

the Khoo kongsi

theatre at Khoo kongsi. Khoo kongsi is a clan association that emphasizes strong brotherhood. the building stands as a tribute to the perseverance, tenacity and toil of the early chinese settlers in penang.

the gap between buildings revealed the sky above. however, there may be no gap in-between the strong brotherhood in the clan associations. or are there?

Cheah kongsi, the close neighbor of Khoo kongsi. bonding also exists between one can and the other. one for all and all for one.

tua pek kong. the God of Prosperity. the massive chinese migration to penang took place in the 19th century. the chinese came to penang with the aim to gain prosperity.

nin yong temple. stone lion roaring at you …

a paper one gets from the temple via praying to the temple God.

kuan yin temple. burning paper monies for the ancestors and the deceased.

interesting objects in a chinese temple

windows that are opened to the past. the old house intends to breath in old penang air …

brightly painted stupa sitting on top of a building, overlooking lebuh carnavan. a new age religious building fits itself into the context.

market at pulau tikus. what are inside the containers? memory of the past?

shirts for sale, hung on tree.

dhammikarama temple. delicate carvings on the layered roof of the temple. the play of light and shadow further portrays the beauty of the roof.

stupas pointing to the sky. the stupas resemble bells. hit the bells and you may hear a pleasant old burmese folk song …

the sculpture of a bird-like creature, the “naga” sitting on the corner of the roof, protecting the temple from devils. a tiny angel is praying underneath the “naga”, praying to the God to bless the penang people.

a dragon-like creature, feeding on the coconut leaves …

wat chaiyamangalaram ( thai buddhist temple ).

colourful dragnon-like creature. its left front foot is holding a red color object. what’s that?

stupa-like tower of the thai temple. there are many tiny men holding and supporting the many floors of the tower.

bangkok lane. some stained colored glass panels are missing. preservation and conservation are urgent to keep the rich heritage in penang.

value our heritage. it took decades to create something invaluable. however, it takes just days to demolish the invaluable heritage of ours.

“enjoying food is the top priority of the general public.”

mbf tower by eco-architect ken yeang. a well-ventilated high rise residential tower.

the tower slopes toward the sea.

E&O hotel, once occupied the longest stretch of beach front in penang. 256 meters long.

batu ferringhi beach, bayu senja.

walking in sync with the rhythm of the sea waves.

a boat is made to venture into the sea, not to be left doing nothing on the beach.

the beach is an arena for the nature lovers.

i came to penang to explore places and people. i left with a deep memory of beautiful places and people.

pearl of the orient – penang island in 2000 { pearl of the orient - penang island in 2000 } penang is a beautiful pearl in my home country.

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alessa-mark-blog · 7 years

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10 Cheapest Asian Vacation Cities That Should Be on Your Wish List

The world comes to Asia for cheap and fulfilling vacations. You should too. From idyllic romantic destinations, to bustling cities full of life, you will find it all in Asia. What’s even better is that you will get it all at affordable prices, without any compromise on quality. So, here are 10 cheap Asian vacation cities that should be on your wish list.

1. Singapore

If you book the right tour with the right people, or plan well in advance, Singapore is actually a cheap city to vacation in. From romantic beaches to logic defying attractions, Singapore has it all. Singapore is healthy mix of many cultures, which has resulted in a wonderful nation of multicultural experiences. This country knows how to treat its tourists and hence, has attractions like, Gardens by the Bay, Marina Sands Bay, Singapore Flyer, Sentosa Resort, Universal Studios, Boat Quay, Botanical Gardens, Night Safari and River Safari. So, when you come here, make sure your Singapore city tour itinerary has the above attractions.

2. Hong Kong, China

Though it is a part of China, Hong Kong used to be a British colony, so now, it is an autonomous territory. Hong Kong is known for cheap shopping, bustling attractions and a skyline that is better than Manhattan. The places to see here are Hong Kong Disneyland, Ngong ping, Victoria Peak, Lantau Island, Madame Tussauds Hong Kong and Hong Kong Wetland Park. Of course, there’s more to see and do here, but you’ll need a long leisurely vacation to do that.

3. Bangkok, Thailand

Possibly the cheapest international holiday destination, Bangkok rolls out the red carpet for all its tourists. You can spend the day visiting places like Grand Palace, Safari World, Dusit Zoo, Siam Park City, Wat Arun, and the many floating markets. Also, try eating at food joints by street hawkers. Best food in town. And of course, the city comes alive at night, as Bangkok is famous for its happening nightlife.

4. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

The Malaysian capital is extremely popular with tourists, especially from Western countries. The city is clean, green and full of exciting adventures. You will also find the best food in Asia here. Your Malaysian holiday should have the Petronas Towers, Batu Caves, Genting Highlands, Merdeka Square, Aquaria KLCC, National Zoo of Malaysia and the Nation Museu, as a part of its itinerary.

5. Mumbai, India

Mumbai is an experience like no other. It will make all your senses come alive. It is home to the largest film industry in the world, Bollywood. So, don’t be surprised if you see roadblocks owing to a film shoot. In Mumbai, the must-see attractions are Gateway of India, Elephanta Caves, Girgaum Chowpatty, Taraporewala Aquarium, Essel World, and Jehangir Art Gallery. Do try Indian food if you love spicy cuisines.

6. Kathmandu, Nepal

Possibly the cheapest city to travel to in Asia, Kathmandu is wonderful city located among the Himalayas. Don’t expect a lot of development here as Nepal is still a poor nation, but there are a lot of facilities for tourists, who love visiting places like Thamel, Pashupatinath Temple, Boudhanath, Durbar Square, and Old Freak Street. Plus, from here, you can book a trek to whichever Himalayan mountain you like, even Mt. Everest.

7. Bali, Indonesia

One look at Bali, and you can tell that nature has been extra kind to it. The city and nearby areas are surrounded by amazing natural avenues that draw tourists from around the world. Bali is the place to be for meditation and yoga retreats, but there’s a lot more to the city. The most famous places here are Tanah Lot, Bali Safari & Marine Park, Mount Batur, Nyang Nyang Beach, and Pantai Boom. Bali also has many party destinations.

8. Colombo, Sri Lanka

The Sri Lankan Civil War is over. There’s peace all around, so, now is the time to explore this gorgeous country, blessed with mountainous terrain, thick rainforests, virgin beaches, and developed urban areas. The places to see here are Gangaramaya Buddhist Temple, St. Lucia’s Cathedral, Beira Lake, National Museum of Colombo, Bally’s Casino, and Khan Clock Tower. Travel and staying here is cheap and comfortable.

9. Vientiane, Laos

‘Simply beautiful’, as Laos is described is one of the most upcoming vacation destinations. The tourism here is soon expected to hit the $1 billion mark. In the capital, Vientiane, you can get cheap stays with delicious food, and get to see attractions like Pha That Luang, Patuxai, Wat Si Saket, Haw Phra Kaew, That Dam, and Wat Si Muang. Laos is abundant with natural avenues and temples.

10. Goa, India

Goa is actually a state, not a city. But it is so small that you can get from one end to another in a matter of hours. Goa is where South Asia and Europe comes to relax and party. North Goa is famous for its party beaches, while South Goa is famous for idyllic beaches and lazy lifestyle, and in Old Goa, you will get to see old Portuguese cathedrals. Goa is a place where time stops and worries go away. It’s the best place for a beach vacation.

If you are on a budget, you can still enjoy an awesome vacation in any of the above mentioned cities, and get everything you’d expect in an international holiday.

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wikitopx · 5 years

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In Saint-Pierre on the south coast of Reunion, you can be close to places that need to be trusted.

You can venture to a volcanic caldera, natural amphitheaters with enormous basalt cliffs, waterfalls, ravines, lava tubes and an otherworldly plain that could be on Mars. Such is the weight of awesome scenery in the region that a helicopter flight is a reasonable way to see it all. Close to home is a beautiful and prosperous town with some colonial architecture and a fragrant bazaar on Saturday. Locally you can tour coffee plantations, learn how rum is distilled and go swimming with dolphins. Discover the best things to do in Saint-Pierre.

[toc]

1. Domaine du Café Grillé

To understand Reunion’s rich botanical story comes to this coffee plantation that abounds with the exotic and endemic plants growing on the island. The distinction between the two categories is quite important, and a keen horticulturalists will be interested to learn which of Reunion’s plants were brought over by humans.

Knowing this will give you a new perspective on colonization, growing crops like coffee that were introduced to the island for cultivation. There are vanilla crops, sugar canes, pineapple and guava trees, more than 200 varieties of palm and an array of orchids to see. Finish up by tasting the many coffees picked here.

2. Saga du Rhum

Inside the island's oldest family distillery, Saga du Rhum is a museum devoted entirely to Reunion rum. You can choose between a guided or independent visit, the difference being that you can ask questions if you’re a rum aficionado.

But by yourself, you can get a lot of the information from the detailed panels shedding light on the sugar cane and distillation. And as with any distillery, there’s a bar where you can try Reunion’s various rums for free at the end.

You might be surprised by the range, and this includes “agricultural”, “traditional” and infused rum, or varieties that have aged in the cask for different periods.

3. Piton de la Fournaise

There are no two ways about it: If you set foot on Reunion you have to come to the Piton de la Fournaise, which is among the world’s most active volcanoes. It will be a day you won’t forget.

You need to allow a lot of time, and the going can be heavy, but the trail is well-signposted and even provides estimated journey times to the various landmarks on the volcano. Early-risers are best rewarded here, and a lot of adventurers get up in the wee hours to climb to the top of the crater and watch the sunrise.

It’s one of those things you’ll be bragging about for the rest of your life.

4. Cité du Volcan

Before or after your life-changing experience on the Piton de la Fournaise you may want some background on the science of this monster, as well Reunion’s the other colossal volcano, the Piton des Neiges.

The museum is a simple drive north of Saint-Pierre and is loaded with child-friendly interactive displays and high-tech multimedia: There is a 4D cinema, a 270 ° panoramic screen, augmented reality and three-dimensional projections, all announced when the museum went through restoration in 2014.

You can also study an Interactive map showing the exact activity of the volcano forming Reunion.

5. Terre Sainte

On the opposite bank of the D’Abord River from the center of Saint-Pierre is the city’s fishing quarter. It’s a neighborhood of tight alleys with colorfully-painted weatherboard houses, and behind the beach are terraces shaded by gnarled banyan trees.

In the afternoon's locals come to benches to play boisterous games of cards and dominos overlooking the harbor and reef. And if you stop by a bit earlier in the day you can watch the fishing boats returning and unloading on the quays.

6. Marché Forain

If you need a real Reunionais to take home or want to try Reunion's great street food, head to the market at Ravine Blanche, on Saturday. Self-caterers can visit stock up on local fruit, fresh fish, meat and cheese.

There are also lots of gift-worthy delicacies like honey, jams, vanilla, packets of spices and kits for infused rum, as well as all sorts of handicrafts. And while you mill around you might be enticed by the food stalls grilling chicken and making samosas or stuffed peppers.

7. Local Beaches

Reunion’s coast is battered by the Indian Ocean, and this can make beaches for bathing quite scarce. Attacking sharks is also a danger, but Saint-Pierre stands out as one of the few places where you can safely shower.

That’s because the waves break on a reef a hundred meters or so from the shore, creating lagoons of crystal clear water beside low-shelving beaches. Plage de Saint-Pierre is the best of these and has a mixture of sand and stone by willow trees where children can play in perfect safety.

8. La Fenêtre des Makes

Another excursion that needs to be done early in the day is the trek to this perched lookout, known as the Fenêtre des Makes. It’s in the Saint-Louis commune by the village of Les Makes and sits 1,587 meters above sea level.

The vistas will blow you away and comprise the astounding Cirque de Cilaos and the Piton des Neiges volcano. If you’re up for the hike you can walk it along a trail from the Chemin Dépot just off the RN5, or just drive up the D20, which snakes up the mountainside.

Whatever you do, set off first thing to experience the view before the clouds roll in around midday.

9. Plaine des Sables

The Route Forestière du Volcan is a road like no other, weaving into an environment that resembles nothing on earth.

One of the strangest places is the Plaine des Sables: This bare and flat expanse was caused by a series of cataclysmic collapses tens of thousands of years ago, forming a flat space with reddish, bronze soil devoid of any features except for the colossal peaks and cliffs that encircle it.

When the fog descends there’s no telling where you are on this vast plain, so it’s best to stick to the road and see the landscapes from the car.

10. Air Adventures

Reunion is a rare destination where a plane trip is a sensible choice if you want to see the best of the phenomenal landscapes. Not everyone is up for grueling hikes, and by car, the winding mountain roads can put many of the natural wonders hours away.

The good news is that Saint-Pierre is just next to an aerodrome where there’s a range of companies waiting to whisk you off to view the volcanoes and cirques from the air. Choose from a big selection of flights, and rest assured that the pilots are constantly on top of the weather forecasts to make sure your trip isn’t spoiled by cloud cover.

More ideals for you: Top 10 things to do in Saint Brieuc

From : https://wikitopx.com/travel/top-10-things-to-do-in-saint-pierre-709741.html

#Wikitopx #Wikitopx - Feed

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write-2travel · 7 years

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10 Cheapest Asian Vacation Cities That Should Be on Your Wish List

1. Singapore

2. Hong Kong, China

3. Bangkok, Thailand

4. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

5. Mumbai, India

6. Kathmandu, Nepal

7. Bali, Indonesia

8. Colombo, Sri Lanka

9. Vientiane, Laos

10. Goa, India

If you are on a budget, you can still enjoy an awesome vacation in any of the above mentioned cities, and get everything you’d expect in an international holiday.

#places_to_visit_in_the_world #Holiday_Destinations_In_Asia

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roodiaries · 8 years

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The Return to Asia: Singapore Stories, Big India & A Nepali Christmas

Embarking on my first trip outside of Australia since arriving on the island-continent in February 2016 was something I'd looked forward to and planned for months while farming in South Australia (scroll down to previous blog for more info). A voyage into the unknown Indian subcontinent was an exciting and unexpected opportunity to see places I'd wanted to visit for a long time. On the one hand, it seemed a little absurd to be travelling 10,000km away (more than halfway home in fact) when I could easily see great places closer to Oz. But on the other hand, my ex-colleagues and friends from Loja, Rene and Soledad, were doing a tour of Southeast & South Asia, and the most interesting part of their trip took them through India and Nepal. So why not? I'd saved enough money and hadn't seen them for ages, so 6 flights over 17 days were soon booked and I was ready for the adventures with the Ecuadorians to begin!

I drove down to Adelaide with Renmark chums, Sam, Eisen & Yumena, for a rather formal - but nonetheless interesting - tour of the Cooper's Brewery: I was impressed that the current owners of South Australia's most famous beer are the descendants of the original 19th century brewer, Thomas Cooper (also a Yorkshireman!) I finally fled South Australia by night-flight to Sydney and spent a few days there sorting myself out while staying with Mark in his trendy Rozelle neighbourhood. Though his controlling housemate Vanessa took me for a stranger and demanded I leave when she found me laptopping downstairs one morning!

The first part of the trip was a long-awaited stopover return to Singapore, five years after I was there studying on exchange at the National University of Singapore. That was my first time living abroad and the source of a great many adventures in SG and eight other countries in Southeast Asia in 2011-12 – it's a shame I wasn't writing a blog then: it would have documented the ups and downs of several hapless bumblers traipsing around the region, full of legendary shaggy dog stories concerning daylight (wallet) robberies, Full Moon hospitalisations, back-room blackjack scams, rabid dog chases, giant bee attacks, volcanic dust storms, monkey madness, the ping pong mafiosas, asthmatic scuba and much worse. It was the quintessential Year Abroad and can never be topped. Singapore was the hub of this action, where I lived for 9 months and made many friends who I now consider some of my best pals. It's certainly one of my favourite cities and I was buzzing to be back!

I met up with one of the few Singaporeans I still keep in touch with, JD, who picked me up from the airport. The overwhelming humidity left me feeling suffocated and exhilarated in equal measure, and for the next four days it would be back to the body-punishing air-con-too-cold/outside-too-hot routine. I hung out with JD (who bought me lunch every single day: legend!) and another friend, Caryn, and I was able to experience once again the exquisite rooftop bars and incredible food. Seriously, I'd missed the hawkers! And I rarely give such high priority to food during a travelling experience: Singapore is a special case because it has it all. There's no getting bored with their array of cuisines, both local and from around Asia. I spent my time catching up with a couple of people over dinner and checking out a few sights that hadn't been around when I'd last been here (they build things incredibly quickly in SG: mostly because the mainly-Indian/Bangladeshi workers are made to labour relentlessly, part of the darker underbelly of a city that glimmers innocently on the surface). These sites included the Gardens by the Bay complex, which is a set of greenhouse domes, pathways, ponds and canopy walks, cementing Singapore's moniker as the 'Garden City'. I soaked in the views and gazed up at the ostentatiously luxurious Marina Bay Sands Hotel (the one that looks like a giant boat balanced on three towers), recalling the time when Kev, Mark, Scottish Kev and I sneaked up there somehow and chugged numerous tins in a state of embarrassingly British-hooligan rowdiness to disturb the genteel revelry of the upper echelons of international society. Much of the rest of the trip was a nostalgia tour of sites I used to hang out at: Clementi Mall where we'd sink large cheap Tiger beers on week nights till late; 'The Bridge' at Clarke Quay where students, locals, tourists, businessmen and everything in between mixed together in a cacophony of merriment; the utterly fake but still-enjoyable Sentosa Island with its cargo ships and oily sea; and of course, the university itself where I revisited classic food stalls, took the free shuttle bus round the tropical campus and felt like an old soul (I wanted to say to someone “you should have seen how it was in my day...”). It was genuinely emotional to be back here, but also a bit sad without the characters who made the experience what it was.

After a few hours' transit in Kuala Lumpur (the Airport King of Transfers), I glided 4000km north-west to the much cooler climes of Delhi, at the heart of the Indian subcontinent. It was with Malaysian airline, Malindo Air, certainly the best of the airlines I flew on during this trip, though my mind was preoccupied by thoughts of how to find my hostel in Delhi, and whether I would be overwhelmed by pushy taxi drivers upon arrival and give in to the pressures of culture shock when swapping the relative calmness of the developed world for the more haphazard ambience of the developing. In fact, it was a gentle introduction to a city with a metro population of about 22 million as I passed unnoticed in the dark through rows and rows of stationary three-wheeled tuk-tuks (or ‘auto rickshaws’ as they’re supposed to be called in India) and along the brightly lit and incredibly busy Qutab Road in Paharganj district. Something I already knew in theory but which became apparent in reality was the sheer diversity of stuff going on to bombard the senses, especially the eyes. Animals wandered willy-nilly along alleys and main roads: not just dogs and cats, but goats, rats, chicken, pigs and cows (which are of course holy to Hindus so unfortunately nobody shoves them out of the way). Countless ramshackle stalls sold spices, curries, chai tea and a million other exotic fares I had absolutely no comprehension of. People just wandered the street, some sitting around chatting, others lying under a bridge ready for another night on the street. Rickshaws and motorbikes weaved and squeezed in and out of the crowds, beeping their horns constantly as a customary announcement for people to shift their arse: I've never been anywhere with so much beeping; it's unbelievable.

I found my hostel – Zostel on Arakashan Road – without too much trouble, due to good signage. One thing that makes India more accessible than many countries is its use of English as a widespread second-language: most people in the cities speak it to a decent level, and others to a basic level, while road and shop signs are usually in both Hindi (the national language) and English too. It's clearly a positive effect of British involvement for 200 years: first via the East India Company's more stand-offish economic rule, and from 1858-1947 as full-on Empire rule. Though you would certainly have to mention some of the brutal things the British did here as well (e.g. the Amritsar Massacre in 1919; response to the Bengal Famine in 1943). I remember one Indian girl in a university class I did about her country's history ask me: “how does it feel to know what your ancestors have done?” I really didn't know what to say to that.

I only had one full day in Delhi, and made the most of it with a taxi tour to see some of the main sites here and in the British-built Indian capital of New Delhi, in practice a mini-city within the city of Delhi. Here, the traffic was less and the tree-lined boulevards spoke to a distinctly colonial era, adorned with pretty fountains and majestic buildings. One of these was the museum and former home of PM Indira Gandhi, India's first and only female leader (and no relation to Mahatma Gandhi), with a great collection of photos and artifacts on display. Outside was a boardwalk with a piece missing and a placard that stated it was the place where Indira was gunned down by her own guards in 1984, as a victim of the very religious communalism she had tried to fight her whole career. The exact same thing happened in 1991 to her son Rajiv, who was also PM. Three notable Gandhis assassinated in modern Indian history!

We saw the hugely impressive Qutb Minar, a treasure bestowed upon the city by the first Muslim ruler to conquer northern India in the 12th century (Qutab-ud-din Aibak from central Asia). Also there is the millennia-old Iron Pillar of Delhi, which my guide explained has non-rust qualities unfathomable even to modern-day scientists. I took a peek inside the Lotus Temple at dusk, a strangely captivating Baha'ist place of worship, open to all faiths as a site of reflection and peace. The Baha'is believe in respect for nature and the unity of all people under one God, irrespective of religion, race and nationality. It's hugely idealistic but logical and forward-thinking, and from my experience a very tolerant group, numbering some 5 million followers worldwide.

I met up with Ecuador chums Rene and Soledad at last and we spoke in Spanish almost the whole time, as I wanted to practice: it was strange speaking it in India, because I would often distractedly turn to a local and address them in this continentally inaccurate tongue - “disculpe señor, don- oops!” Not that I was very good – I fumbled through subjunctives and reflexive pronouns like a true amateur. ¡Qué bestia! I was also at the wrong end of most of the trip banter, accused of being 'cold and complaining too much,' like a proper Englishman and the antithesis of the passionate Latino personality. And for only saying “hello” in a casual manner when I saw them for the first time, rather than exploding with enthusiasm and darting over to adorn them with plentiful hugs and kisses. So I had to tone down the negative comments for the sake of the group morale: “Wow, isn't this wonderful, I just love the fact that this great big greedy fat pig is rolling around in shit so much, it's amazing!” It was all in good fun though, and sarcasm/complaining is a way of adding spice and good craic sometimes: things are boring if they're always rosy and dandy (I think this is more of a British/Irish thing?)

We travelled by train southwest to Rajasthan state, a name evoking romantic images of a distant desert land where the Maharajas live in fairytale palaces. Our destination was Jaipur, the famed 'Pink City' and state capital. We stayed in the lovely Vinayak Guesthouse with helpful staff and a rooftop restaurant playing Indian melodies to set the mood. In and around town, there was plenty to see, including the vast sandstone/marble Amber Fort where the local Maharajas ruled before Jaipur itself was founded in the 18th century by Jai Singh II. The dastardly monkeys were also a factor here, scaring us when they tried to grab our stuff! The Hawa Mahal is another strange archictectural marvel in the centre of town: an eye-catching facade built simply so the women of the court could watch events through secret windows unseen by the men of society.

Jaipur is a major market haven, and the stalls selling clothes at very cheap prices abounded on every street and alley. Rene certainly got his money's worth, bartering frantically with one old guy for about 20 minutes to get a dozen scarves while the whole street came to watch! I particularly enjoyed the salesmen chat given in one shop: “do you exercise? You look like a Maharaja with that beard. You're a good size, not too tall.” All my insecurities put to bed in one very charm-ridden compliment session when perusing the shop, though unfortunately this was a much pricier one and smooth talking wasn't enough. In a more modest stall, I bought a single Indian-looking shirt, and the seller insisted on showing me a picture he said he'd had taken with 'Wolverine' in his other shop; I went with him and there was indeed a picture of Hugh Jackman... looking stressed and trying to escape the public attention, surrounded by bodyguards (I bet he wished he really did have claws)!

I'd had a great deal of trouble trying to book trains around India: simply signing up for the IRCTC website is a mission in itself involving mind-bogglingly complicated levels of email codes, proof of identity and fake Indian mobile numbers, and had had to book two of the three train journeys with a travel agent for an extra charge (feeling exasperated after weeks of trying online). For the one from Jaipur to Agra, however, I hadn't been able to book, so we ended up in the second-worst class. We were also a bit nervous because we'd been told by an Aussie couple in the guesthouse that their train had been delayed... by 17 hours! Our train was thankfully on time, but seeing hordes of people pile into the carriages nearby was a dread-inducing sight, and I imagined we'd probably end up having to stand in the toilet for 4 hours. Actually, we found seats and had a fun experience with the locals, drinking plenty of sweet chai tea (for 10 rupees each – equivalent of 20 cents), which all of us came to love. There was even space for Niña Soledad's enormous suitcase too!

So the third and final point on the Golden Triangle was Agra, another Mughal-built city. But whereas Delhi and Jaipur's interesting monuments and atmosphere went a long way to overcome the cumbersome cluster-fuckery of street life, Agra was a total shit-hole redeemed only by the Taj Mahal (which is a pretty decent redeeming feature to have in your city to be fair). We actually stayed at the place Karl Pilkington stayed at on An Idiot Abroad (he storms out because of the smell and the 'ensuite shed'), but they'd clearly improved it since then. We saw this amazing Wonder of the World from across the Yamuna River at sunset, before arriving at the South Gate at 5am the next day. We queued with our new friends from the hostel for over an hour waiting for them to open the bloody gates, and pretty much missed the sunrise, shivering in the early morning fog, hungry and tired. The bucket-loads of tourists almost ruined it for me: the ridiculous rituals of needing to have every possible picture of every possible pose with every possible family member left me seething: I wanted to slap them repeatedly across the face and run off with their camera. See with your eyes, not with your lenses! Not that my friends were much better to be honest... I never used to be this intolerant of tourist habits: I think it was the tiredness and me getting older and more cynical, plus I'm being a bit of a hypocrite because I took some pics too. Anyway, after the photos were all taken and ready to become people's next Facebook Profile Picture, we spent hours exploring the Taj itself and admire its pure white marmoreal exterior and impressively detailed austere interior (it is a tomb after all, built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan for his favourite wife, Mumtaz Mahal, in the 17th century). A classic Indian site, and a worldwide icon deserving of its revered status.

Next stop was Nepal, the 'Roof of the World' and a wonderful travel destination as it turned out. Flying in with the snow-capped Himalayan skyline to the north was an awe-inspiring site. We spent a few days in bustling capital Kathmandu and nearby historic city of Bhaktapur (richly decorated UNESCO World Heritage Site and former capital of the region), and two days in chilled second-city Pokhara to the west. I found Nepal to be much more relaxing and less pressured than India: locals didn't seem to stare as much; they didn't push you to buy things; less bartering; there was much less traffic too. A hike we did along a ridge above Pokhara at sunrise was the main highlight for me: the sun revealing the mighty peaks of Machapuchare (6997m), Annapurna I (8091m) and Dhaulagiri (8167m), some of the world’s tallest mountains. We walked about 10km between the villages of Sarangkot and Naudanda, past quiet farmsteads and small sloping allotments, taking in the ridiculous views both above and below us. It would have been cool to do a proper Himalayan trek, but due to money, time and (above all) general fitness, it wasn't possible this time around.

It was pretty bizarre being in Nepal for Christmas, but the locals celebrated with New Year-style parties and the cool temperature and tasty roast turkey dinner helped make it feel a bit more Christmassy! I was in great company but still felt a longing to be in Durham with my family, only able to speak with them over a WhatsApp call for about 5 minutes because of the dodgy connection. Rene and Sole left for Burma, and I spent the evening of Christmas Day in a hippie hostel called Fireflies. It wouldn't be somewhere I'd normally choose, but I felt a need to connect with people seeing as it was Christmas Day. I bumped into Georgia, the California girl I'd met at Delhi Airport when we were both late for our flight, and met a lot of other friendly international people for another meal, good conversation and some beers. On my last day in Nepal, I ventured to the hilltop Monkey Temple (Swayambhunath), an ancient and holy Buddhist site centred around a golden stupa with the eyes of Buddha gazing down at you from each side. As with a lot of structures in Kathmandu and elsewhere, it was severely damaged by the 2015 earthquake: the city is still punctuated by piles of rubble and wooden beams propping up historic buildings. But the Nepalese people have made tremendous efforts of rebuilding and maintaining their incredible architectural treasures.

My last stop was almost 24 hours in Kuala Lumpur, again in transit. I spent the fourth night of my life at this airport (mad considering I've never lived here), curled up on some carpet somewhere, too tired to care and using my trusted Osprey bag as a pillow. Then I went to explore the malls of KL (and saw the new Star Wars, which was bloody fantastic), and took the opportunity to nip to Putrajaya, located between KL proper and the airport. Putrajaya is its own Federal Territory (like KL), was only built in 1995 and contains most of the government offices, despite KL still being the Malaysian capital. I told the taxi driver to take me “somewhere good” because I didn't have a clue about the layout of the city or what it contained; laying this responsibility of my entertainment upon a stranger was almost too much for the poor man, but he dropped me off in the sweaty heat at Putra Square beside the PM's house and the pretty pink Putra Mosque, overlooking Putra Lake (they're not very inventive with the names of stuff here!) It was a pleasant day's excursion but I was ready for a long uncomfortable Air Asia flight back to Sydney to celebrate New Year and continue my life in Australia. Absence makes the heart grow fonder, and I'd missed my new 'home' country. But it had been one hell of a trip.

Thanks for reading, I’ll post soon about the new life in Sydney (sticking to Australia next time),

Oliver

(see below for photos!)

#Singapore #India #Nepal #Malaysia #BacktoAsia #HolidayAfterFarming #Where'sTheDriver?#EcuadorianAdventure #SouthAmericaAndUKMeetsAsia #TajMahal #chaitea #thali #sexypose #DoYouExercise?#Hello

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icekish90 · 8 years

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Australia 2017 - Western Australia

WEEK 2

01.02.2017 – Day 8

The beautiful sun is back in Perth, woohoo! An early start at 6:00am as Claire and Katrin (friends from the hostel) had booked tickets for the 3 of us to visit Rottnest Island. Rottnest Island is Western Australia's very own Island getaway, featuring a casual atmosphere, picturesque scenery and some of the world's finest beaches and bays, is located just 19 kilometres off the coast of Fremantle (extracted from the official website). Our journey started on William Street, around the corner of the hostel, where we were picked up from the Rottnest Fast Ferries (the company we booked under). The driver picked up other passengers along the way, before getting on the motorway to drive towards Hillary’s Boat Harbour. This is where we would get our Ferry to Rottnest Island, which was a 45-minute journey. Before boarding we received a bike and snorkelling gear, which were within our package. The total cost for the day trip was $100 each. The island consists of 3 bike ride routes to ride around the island, snorkelling points, the Wadjemup Lighthouse for a 360 Degree view around the island and a small airport. It was my first-time snorkelling, however I did well for my initial swim around Little Salmon Bay, Unfortunately, I did not get to see much on this attempt, however I managed to catch some fish on Parakeet Bay (caught on my GoPro). I also caught many pictures with the famous Quokka’s that live on the island. These little animals are part of the Kangaroo and Wallabies family, and are the size of a domestic cat. They are a member of the genus Setonix and are herbivores. I also caught a glimpse of some lizards, however non-of the venomous snakes that were warmed throughout the island signs. The roads were challenging to ride around, nevertheless is was a lovely day out, especially getting to relax on the beaches and cooling down in the sea.

02.02.2017 – Day 9

It had been over a week and I had not started to write my daily blog I aimed to complete for the trip. A late start to the morning due to a late night of partying with my friends from the hostel. I started the day writing up what I had been doing for the week, and summarising the highlights so far. As I had not planned much for the day, I spent the rest of the afternoon walking around Northbridge (the area which I was staying in), taking in the sights of the wall art found around almost every corner. I also discovered that the area was full of quirky restaurants and a green area which contained a large screen displaying cartoon films for the public. After finally uploading some pictures to Facebook and posting my blog on Tumblr, I had finished for the day.

03.02.2017 – Day 10

Today’s plans were initially to travel to Fremantle to visit/ stay at Smita and Krish’s house, who are Hemant’s sister and brother-in-law living out here. Plans changed slightly and instead I had organised to stay in Perth City for a couple more days. As my booking ran out at the initial hostel, I moved onto another hostel nearby. A little quieter, but it was only going to be for a couple of nights. After checking-in in the morning and sorting my bag out, I headed out for a walk towards Elizabeth Quay. For lunch, I had a lovely Peri-Peri Chicken Sandwich from a café called LeVietnam (worth a visit if your planning to come to Perth). During my walk, I took in the sights of the large high rise buildings, the London Court Street, Perth Town Hall, Supreme Court, the beautiful Stirling Garden and Supreme Court Garden, before arriving and admiring the famous Bell Tower. The weather was hot with a cool breeze as I sat on a bench looking out towards Swan River, a relaxing time spent indeed. Whilst walking back to the hostel, I seem to have walked into a crowd of sports fans. Little did I know there was a basketball match on between Perth Wildcats vs Brisbane Bullets at Perth Arena. Unfortunately, I had arrived when the match was starting so I didn’t end up buying a ticket. Hopefully catch a match when I’m on the East Coast.

04.02.2017 – Day 11

An early start today by getting ready and heading downstairs to the kitchen for the free breakfast included for my stay at the hostel. Not as much choice as expected…. Corn Flakes with 2 Toasts… Still better than nothing. After finishing, I headed out to walk towards Kings Park, 4.06-square-kilometre park located on the western edge of the central business district in Perth. Here I captured amazing views of the city (North and South) and Swan River whilst climbing up Mt Eliza. Whilst walking around there are information boards telling the historic stories of the discovery of the park, including the arrival of the Dutch, French and British. The Botanic Garden interprets Western Australia’s flora, and replicates around 3,000 native species. It was an awesome experience to capture the beauty of WA through this wonderful garden. I also climbed up ‘the DNA Stairs’ which is 101 steps high, leading to a 360-degree view of the surrounding area. In the evening, I headed over to the nib stadium where Perth Glory football club played their football in the A-League. A match was on at 7:00pm and I managed to get into the ground for free courtesy of a fan having a spare ticket available (I was at the right place at the right timeJ). The match was played between Perth Glory and Newcastle Jets. It wasn’t an amazing game of football, but it was an experience to watch it, especially next to the hardcore fans chanting songs throughout the match, and the celebration songs that were played every time the home team scored. The final score finished 3-2 to Perth Glory, a happy evening for the locals.

05.02.2017 – Day 12

Day 12 was ‘how to be a game console historian.’ This was a quote shown at The Nostalgia Box – A Video Game Console Museum in Northbridge, Perth. I felt like I was in gaming geek heaven, where those wonderful childhood memories had been recaptured. It was cool to learn about the early stages of gaming, the development of the industry, the competitiveness of the companies involved, the simplicity of the games all the way to the power and performance of the today’s games consoles. My history highlight was the learning the development of one of the best games ever PAC-MAN. Did you know that the character of Pac Man is a Pizza with a slice taken out of it? Yes, this indeed was the creation of the character itself. Of course, the main highlight was to play on the many different consoles available… I mainly stuck with the PlayStation and Super Nintendo (the two of which I played with growing up). The PlayStation had none other than Crash Bandicoot, I could have played this for hours upon end. The Super Nintendo had the legendary Street Fighter II cartridge. I started of rusty, but soon brought out the skills of a true STREET FIGHTER gamer. An awesome experience even for a non-gamer, highly recommended to visit!

06.02.2017 – Day 13

It was time to head on over to Fremantle where I would be catching up/ staying with Smita, Krish and Little Druv (Hemant’s Sister, Brother-in-Law and Nephew) for the next week. Before heading over via train, I spent the late morning and early afternoon at Elizabeth Quay and had some lunch at a fantastic restaurant called Annalakshmi. This was a South Indian Vegetarian Fine Dining restaurant on the swan river and had working volunteers who were brought together by Swami Shantanand Saraswathi (Swamiji). Annalakshmi prepares free food and allows those who visit/ eat to ‘pay as you feel’ once finished. It was an enjoyable and relaxing experience and the food was delicious. A great place to visit whether it is on your own, as a group, or to feed another person! After a 10-minute walk to the train station and a 30-minute ride on the train, I arrived in Fremantle where I was picked up by Smita and Druv. It was great to catch up with Smita and to see little Druv for the first time, who was looking at me and trying to figure out who I was. At this moment in time I was known as Kishkaka (KishUncle). As the weather was beautiful, I decided to take a walk into the city centre to the visitor’s centre, along with a stroll around the area. I was a little peckish and decided to treat myself to some Waffles and Gelato on the Cappuccino Strip. A filling dessert indeed, however I still had dinner to look forward to back at the house.

07.02.2017 – Day 14

I had heard that Fremantle had the best restaurant selling Fish and Chips close to the Harbour at a place called Cicerello’s. This started my day as I had woken up a little later than planned. Cicerello’s is a unique eating experience in the heart of Fremantle’s Fishing Boat Harbour. They are known to sell the best fish and chips with freshly caught seafood including oysters, mussels, crabs and crayfish. It was a slightly windy day as I devoured through my lunch overlooking the fishing boat harbour, with seagulls flying/ walking by. To burn off the food I decided to walk around the area, until turning up at the WA Maritime Museum, a symbol of Fremantle’s past, present and future as a coastal city and port. It was wonderful to encounter the unique galleries, the leisure boats and handcrafted sailing boats to commercial pearl lugers, and learn the history of the importance of the Indian Ocean for the Travellers and Traders. The museum contained so much information, I needed to rush near the end due to the building closing. I also climbed up to see the Round House, a permanent building built in the Swan River Colony and the oldest building still standing in Western Australia. Unfortunately, I was not able to go inside the building as it was closed, however I admired the architectural works of the building whilst the Indian Ocean created a beautiful scenery in the background. In the evening, Krish had invited me to play Squash with him at his local club as it was social night. I can’t remember the last time I played the sport, but I gave it a go. I didn’t win a single match, even though I played the beginners. It was fun to play, meet the locals, and I managed to get a good workout from it.

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fadingfartconnoisseur · 8 years

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Western Australia – The Unknown Side of Oz You Need to See

Not many people think about exploring Western Australia (WA), or even think to include it in their plans when first visiting Oz. As the country’s largest state that covers a gigantic 2.5 million square km – equivalent to the size of Western Europe – it also makes it hard to know and plan exactly where to go in Western Australia, especially on a first visit.

As the lesser-known region of Australia, that was exactly its draw for me. Visiting Western Australia was the chance to delve into the ‘other side’, home to some of Australia’s most iconic natural attractions and underrated cities.

When I was invited to travel to Western Australia to add more stories to their ‘Just Another Day in WA’ platform, it was an instant yes. Alongside the neighbouring Northern Territory (which I went to after), it was one of the last two states of Australia (and the more remote ones at that) I had yet to visit. It takes just 18 hours from the UK to travel to Western Australia’s up-and-coming Capital of Perth, which is four hours less than the quickest flight to Sydney. That in itself is a reason to jump off here, aside from curiosity. So during September and October I ventured on a journey during the start of the Australian ‘winter’ of the tropical north, and it became a trip I can never forget.

What attracted me most to Western Australia was the mix of burgeoning urban cool with untouched, wild, adventurous rural.

Perth, as a landing point, is a city shedding its ‘boring’ reputation to become one full of hip coffee houses, craft beer breweries and an exploding food scene. It’s a gateway to a coastal stretch of 19 white sandy beaches and to the one million square metre expanse of the north-western frontier of canyons, wild rivers, national parks and ochre orange outback roads that lead to tiny aboriginal communities and some of the earth’s last remaining untouched wilderness areas. Outside of the capital are a million and one things to see in Western Australia and exploring Broome and the Kimberley was just a patch on what there is to uncover altogether.

While there’s a lifetime of adventures to be had, here is a suggested destination overview on where to go in Western Australia – the main sights, city hubs and attractions as well as off-track adventure spots, which you can easily hop between within one-two weeks.

Perth – The Landing Point and Gateway

Perth is the capital, the gateway and the likely first landing spot. It is also worthy of a few days of your time. It may have rained for the first few days of my induction to Australia’s ‘Sunniest City’ (so-called as it has more hours of sunshine than any other in the country) but that didn’t dampen the enthusiasm for what has come to being listed as one of the world’s ‘most livable’ cities. Not only do you have a ‘Sunset Coast’ of 19 beaches including the much-loved Cottesloe and Scarborough, the island getaway of Rottnest and one of world’s largest inner-city parks (the Kings Park and Botanic Garden), but Perth is constantly expanding its urban cool offering.

Where to Go in Perth:

You can kick back in the street-art laneways and coffee shop-lined streets of its go-to neighbourhoods, because one of the answers to the question of what to do in Western Australia outside of the wilderness is to hone in on its areas of growth and regeneration. In Perth these areas include Northbridge – the theatre and gallery filled area behind the Central Business District (CBD), full of international food hubs and a miniature Chinatown lined with dumpling stores – and in the younger, design hub of Leederville. ‘Leedo’ thrives on the artistic regeneration of its self-proclaimed “immigrant nostalgia architecture” built upon a melting pot of Italian, Chinese, Jewish, Greek and Macedonian heritage. There’s also the central Perth city State Buildings, whose former government holdings are now an ultra-swanky and fun hub of retail and dining offering from chocolate and coffee to Asian cuisine. The area of Fremantle has its own unique offering (see below).

A wander in the very heart of Perth, where you are likely to want to visit the 2.6 billion dollar public space project of Elizabeth Quay, is not without understanding the city’s native beginnings and the stories of its true origins begin in this area. An afternoon spent with Walter from Go Cultural Tours – a descendant of several Aboriginal tribal clans of the southwest region of Western Australia – provided a first-hand Aboriginal perspective and insight into the Nyungar people, who are the traditional owners of this land (for over 50,000 years). Old hunting grounds, lakes and sacred sites are now the high-rise CBD, major hotels and beaches; roads and highways cover former tribal trials. Walter highlights how Perth today is trying to reconcile its dark history and modern growth with its social, spiritual, cultural and historical significance in consultation of new offerings and ceremonial activities.

Don’t believe what you hear about Perth being ‘the boring side of Australia’. It knows it doesn’t live up to Melbourne and Sydney and it’s OK with that. It’s exudes its own vibe and I had so much fun digging that out, which is a part of the experience of Perth. It’s evolving, and if you don’t know where to go in Western Australia you will not be sorry you started here, even if by default of your flight path.

Where to Stay in Perth:

The Alex Hotel – a creative space right in the very heart of the city and in walking distance to the creative highlights and foodie hangouts.

Where to Eat and Drink in Perth:

The Boatshed. Where you can dine in a replica boatshed with views across the Swan River and the Perth Central Business District skyline.

For the ultimate introduction to Perth’s evolving food scene, from the up and coming culinary hangouts and local kept secrets to the best ice cream in the city, head out on a crawl of the city’s coolest venues you wouldn’t otherwise find on your own with local foodie, Laura Moseley.

Petition Kitchen in the State Buildings. Dine in an iconic landmark while sampling some of the best local produce from seafood to seasoned fresh vegetables. Our share plates were devoured quickly. Be sure to also check out the ‘Gin and Tonic on tap’ from the adjacent bar.

Odyssea on City Beach. Watch the sunset across the Indian Ocean with a cocktail on the terrace before sampling the gourmet options of the modern-Australian menu.

Freemantle – The Hip Neighbourhood Highlight

A once fledging neighbourhood on the Swan River with a 19th Century shipping heritage decided to repurpose all its old spaces and turn itself into a cosmopolitan historical port city. Fremantle, on-trend with mixing the charming Gold Rush era old with the bohemian attitude new, is the number one local highlight of downtown Perth.

Where to Go in Fremantle:

For me, Fremantle felt like a stand-alone city very separate from Perth (despite being an outer-borough 20km south) and a dedicated stay here means really being able to take in everything on offer in such a small space and live locally. A great introduction to the history, culture and quirky corners of the city is with local, Rusty Creighton from Two Feet & a Heartbeat. You’ll soon see that ‘Freo’ is one of THE places to go in Western Australia for urbanite cool – where you can dine in reformed docks and warehouses, sleep in boutique hotels set in former sea cargo crates and brunch, market stroll and listen to live music in heritage hideouts (the largest collection of such buildings in Western Australia).

My two favourite staples of local living – craft beer and coffee – are pivotal to the social scene here. The craft beer scene in Fremantle has exploded, with pubs like Sail and Anchor and Monk Kitchen sitting opposite one another. The star of the show is undoubtedly the Little Creatures Brewery at the Fishing Boat Harbour, whose huge converted boat shed interior is pulsing with hop-loving locals sampling their hometown brews.

No artistic hub is complete without the staple supply of coffee houses, a varying choice found neatly aligned on the aptly named ‘Cappuccino Strip’ (South Terrace – from Bannister Street to Fremantle Markets). It’s in Fremantle that I learnt of the local order – a ‘long mac topped up’ – allowing me to gain a true mark of acceptance as a Perth local.

Where to Stay in Fremantle:

Hougoumont Hotel Fremantle. A quirky ‘affordable luxury’ boutique hotel in the very centre of Fremantle. Named after the last convict ship that transported convicts to Australia and situated on Bannister Street, where those new arrivals began a new journey.

Freemantle YHA Prison. A modern hostel set within the World Heritage-listed former Freemantle Prison built in the 1850’s.

Where to Eat and Drink in Fremantle:

The National Hotel. First a shop and then a bank before being turned into a hotel in 1886. After being partially destroyed by fire in 1975, it underwent significant restoration in 2013 and re-opened as a modern bar and restaurant space, retaining its hold as one of the most historically important and most loved buildings in Fremantle.

Little Creatures Brewery. Because craft beer is at the heart of the city and this ‘open’ brewery with visible cellar door gives it an added touch of cool.

The Attic. For a bohemian coffee space whose hip wooden interior and instagram’able breakfast and brunch menu perfectly sums up the Fremantle spirit.

Day Trip to Rottnest Island – The Local Getaway

Out of all the day trip options of things to do in Western Australia, choose Rottnest Island – a local getaway that’s just 19km off the coast of Perth. Especially since it’s just a short ferry ride from Fremantle Port (the shorter distance) and Perth’s Barrack Street Jetty. The 11km island is packed full of idyllic scenery including over 60 beaches and 20 bays concealing pristine coral reefs but its main attraction is its chief inhabitants… the Quokkas!

What to Do on Rottnest Island:

There are so many Quokkas on Rottnest Island that it becomes complete cuteness overload to be so close to a distinct animal species native only to Australia. The best thing is, Quokkas know how to work the camera and love being the centre of attention. The rite of traveller passage here is to find the perfect Quokka selfie friend.

Car-free ‘Rotto’ (as it is affectionately known by locals) is best explored by bike, which we were able to hire easily as part of a combined ferry-bike hire ticket option, ready and waiting for you when you disembark. With clear blue skies, I also got the chance take a scenic Rottnest Air Taxi flight taking in Fremantle and Perth also, which really put into perspective how close the city coastline is to this gorgeous little island.

Importantly, take time to visit the Rottnest Island museum, which can be found in the area with a cluster of bakeries, coffee shops and restaurants. The island’s past as former Aboriginal prison is sobering, and a reminder of the dark history of Western Australia and the rightful ownership and past of the lands we enjoy today and often take for granted. Rottnest was also used as a military defense system during WWII.

How to Get to Rottnest Island:

The Rottnest Express ferry service runs daily from Perth and Fremantle, and also offers guided tour packages.

Where to Eat and Drink on Rottnest Island:

Hotel Rottnest – For beachside views in an iconic island location.

Rottnest Bakery – For a sweet, sugary fix to help fuel your exploration.

Broome – The Sleepy Pearling Town

There was something so fascinating about the sleepy town of Broome – mainly in that it has a multitude of stories to tell while remaining completely laid back. Like how its spectacular beaches conceal 120 million years old preserved dinosaur footprints and why there’s camels in Western Australia – where riding them along the 22km long Cable Beach has come to mark the famous picture of the setting of the sun out across the Indian Ocean.

Where to Go in Broome:

Namely, Broome was once the very centre of the booming pearling trade where Malay, Chinese, Japanese, Filipino, European and Aboriginal cultures blended together in the early 1880s, working as pearl luggers who lived in what is now the Chinatown retail hub. Now its one of the places to go in Western Australia where the history is still present and remembered. You will find it in Carnarvon Street’s remaining corrugated iron Pearling Master’s houses conceal pearl shops, eateries and cafes, in the still operating Sun Pictures (which stands as the oldest outdoor movie theatre in the world), and when you walk along Streeter’s Jetty – the pivotal point of the Pearling industry in early 1900’s when the luggers dropped off their shells amongst the mangroves. Statues and streets are named after places in Asia – marking a remembrance of the many people who never made it back home during this huge trade of dangerous and prolifically hard work.

Broome is picturesque on every point of its coastline. Gantheaume Point in particular is a collection of fiery orange and red rock formations and cliffs, a one-hour walk from Cable beach. Here lay hidden some the dinosaur footprints invited eager eyes when the reef is at a low tide of 2.16m or less. A plaster copy is on shown at the top of the cliffs for those who are not so lucky to find the prehistoric markings.

Yet the most memorable scenes came from off-track exploring, which was only possible with the knowledge of Broome born and bred local, Brad – an Aboriginal guide from Narlijia Cultural Tours. Brad tells the stories of his Aboriginal heritage rooted in this area, alongside the modern-day issues of change and integration.

He jumped in our hired 4×4 and drove us to Riddle Beach that resembled a picture of Mars, a huge sand dune mound marking an aboriginal burial site, through the shrubbery of unmarked roads that led to the secluded Bard Creek and to James Price Point – the far-stretching and secluded cliff top view to watch the sun set on another day in Western Australia. We had each and every site to ourselves, which is exactly the beauty of Broome and its surrounding outback.

Where to Stay in Broome:

Cable Beach Club. The only resort overlooking the infamous and beautiful Cable Beach, with everything from elegant rooms to deluxe suites and a host of on-site restaurants and bars.

Where to Eat and Drink in Broome:

The Aarli. A young and hip all-day dining hotspot in the heart of Chinatown with a cocktail menu as long as its tasty offering.

Matso’s Brewery. An award-winning craft beer brewery that operates from one of the town’s oldest buildings standing at over 100 years old. You absolutely must try the Ginger Beer if you only have time for one.

Introduction to Broome:

Unique Kimberley pull together bespoke itineraries of Broome and Kimberly cruises. I met with owner, Robyn Maher who gave us an introduction to Broome’s hotspots in one afternoon that included Gantheaume Point and Matsos Brewery – areas of which you can explore in greater detail in your own time.

Booking a Camel Ride on Cable Beach:

Check out Broome Camel Safaris, or quite simply remembered as ‘the camels in blue’. Be sure to grab time for a chat with Matt Morton-Deakin, a Brit who has been calling Broome home for many years and who knows some of the best hangouts and photogenic spots (which he compiles on his dedicated Broome Instagram account).

The Kimberly – The Last Wilderness of Western Australia

Broome is the connection to the Indigenous Outback of Western Australia and home to one the last remaining wilderness areas on Earth known as the Kimberley. This region is the beautifully deserted image of the Australian Outback you’ve always dreamt about and I was able to explore this 90km stretch of the Peninsula known as ‘Dampier Land’, in a 21-man overland truck on a day-trip with an adventure company called Kimberly Wild.

The road takes you through the Beagle Bay Aboriginal Community, whose Sacred Heart Church whose interior crafted from pearl shells is the star attraction and the Ardyaloon (One Arm Point) Aboriginal Community who are known as the saltwater people shell fishing traders. The drive ends at the very north of One Arm Point, home to the world-famous operational pearling farm of Cygnet Bay, where you can also take a speed boat out around the rocky Buccaneer Archipelago.

Discussion about travel in Western Australia and the Outback naturally leads to the accessibility of the area, the history of this pristine native wilderness and Aboriginal rights since it is a region cultivated, protected and owned by little more than 1,000 people in tiny clusters of Aboriginal communities. I explore this in more in my article about paving the roads to the Kimberly and tourist access.

I flew back to Broome in a one hour scenic Kimberley flight that started the Peninsula tip coastline of Cape Leveque, where you rally get to the swirls of colour and landscape of Australia’s isolated northwest.

I talk about my time in Western Australia more than I talk about any other part of Australia, even though I only skimmed the very surface of its continent size landmass. I’m now obsessed with getting back to Broome and making inroads eastward through the state on a mega multi-week road trip.

One trip to Western Australia is just the very beginning, but enough to realise that there is more to this country on the underated ‘other side’ than you ever realised.

Western Australia Things to Know:

Getting Around Western Australia:

Internal Flights. If you are short on time and not able to embark on a long road trip between Perth and Broome (and the surrounds) then Qantas and Virgin are the go-to airlines that connect the cities. Also look at Airnorth for deals.

Getting Around Perth and Fremantle: A CAT bus service (visitfremantle.com.au) and 25 minutes train from Perth. Tram tour, or easy to explore by foot.

We used the services of Perth Luxury Tours at some points of our trip, and mostly for transfer services. They specialise also in small, private customized tours including inner city, Fremantle, Kings Park, Swan Valley, Pinnacles and Margaret River.

For further information on planning your trip, visit the Western Australia tourism website and VisitPerthCity.com specifically for city exploring and Perth’s surrounding neighbourhoods and sites.

From Perth there are two sealed roads to the North – The North West Coastal Highway and the inland Great Northern Highway. From Broome there is http://ift.tt/2iJPuxk unsealed Gibb River Road to head east to Kununurra (the Gibb River is main water course that runs through the heart of the Kimberly). There is also the road known as the Kimberley Aerial Highway.

Outback driving is not for the faint hearted and is only for the most experienced off-roaders. Therefore, you may be better off joining overland tours, ranging from day trips to multi-week itineraries.

The Western Australia Climate

The seasons in Western Australia are much like the Mediterranean – hot summers and mild, dry, winters.

Summer: November to April

Winter: May to October

Next up for me in Western Australia?

A state the size of Western Europe is no mean feat, even for the most avid of adventure enthusiasts. Now the Western Australia bug has bitten, I went back to my usual map geeking to roughly plan what I would do on a future return.

My first choice is to overland from Derby (in King Sound) to Kununarra following the Gibb River Road – a classic outback drive that is considered to be one of the last true Aussie outback adventures! It was constructed in the 1960s to transport cattle and is now a 660km road through the beautifully wild Kimberley Plateau. Unsealed road link Kalumburu Aboriginal Community and Mission on Northern coast. Derby was the first town settled in Kimberly (22km NE of Broome).

The Pilbara region. Checking out Karijini National Park (which is 2 billion years old), the Eighty Mile Beach Marine Park and following the Warlu Way drive trail following Aboriginal stories.

The Kimberley National Parks – Windjana Gorge, Tunnel Creek (Western Australia’s oldest cave system), Wolfe Creek Crater (made frightfully famous by the horror movie of the same name but home to a 300,000 year-old meteorite crater), Geikie Gorge, Mitchell River, and Purnululu (the Bungle Bungle Range)

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