Brush with Bush and Buzz

Encounter in an Eerily sleepy city

Landing in Perth we found a bus to take us to the town centre. We remained on the bus till we got to the terminal, for we had no idea which bus to take to our friend's Apt in the city. With address in hand we approached a couple of people who were able to give us options- generally to take a cab. But we chose the bus instead. With some effort we found out which berth was most likely and sat there for what seemed ages not even knowing if we had already missed the last bus. It was late in the evening and there were only a handful of people at the terminus. Our patience paid off.We managed to alight at the right stop. Having parked our bags in the apartment and after a light refreshment we decided to go out into the city to shop for grocery. It was 6:00 pm and as luck would have it all the shops were closed. The pedestrian mall was bereft of people. We could hear our own footsteps echoing all around. On our way back three teenagers confronted us demanding  money. It scared us, but we  moved away with firm steps and we were left alone aside from snide remarks. It could have been worse ( I'll leave it to your imagination) according to our friends in Perth. What an eerie introduction to Australia.

Gambling debut

Our friend helped us rent a car the next day. With him we drove to Crown Casino, in Burswood, got token's for a dollar, played at a slot machine, lost a dollar and that was the first and last time we ever gambled in a Casino. 

We also drove across town ,crossing Swan river towards a residential area when we came across The Old Mill, a restored tower mill located on Mill Point. We found out later that it had been restored to its original as built in the1830s. It has become one of Perth's best known historic landmarks and serves as a sightseeing attraction. 

Shore gazing

We then drove off towards Fremantle - the port for Perth, ambled around the harbour admiring the yachts and then took on the town square and narrow streets with an array of boutiques and restaurants. We made 2 more visits years later and got to see the market and the Prison and thereby learn the history of a penal colony.

From Fremantle we drove via Mandurah to Bunbury. At Bunbury we parked the car in a parking lot facing the shoreline and simply sat there enjoying the breeze. 

Next on the route was Busselton. Again we parked at  the beachfront featuring the 19th-century Busselton Jetty that stretches nearly 2km to the Underwater Observatory.

A rare beauty: the deep cave

Jewel cave, near Margaret River, was too good to resist. Walking down 300 metres on well constructed stairs and walkways was a once in a life time experience. The crystal encrusted cave also boasted subterranean lakes.

Lodged Caravans 

A little more into the route we decided to stay the night close to Margaret River, which had an underground cave. We chanced upon a caravan park that lived up to its name. There were disused caravans, propped up on bricks, arranged in a circle.. The ablutions at the far end of the park were common. We had bought fish and chips at a small booth on the way from Bunbury. We bought two but they turned out to be so huge - the fish being the size of two palms, and the chips, a huge mound -- that we couldn't finish eating . We checked into our fully fitted caravan, put together a simple meal, and heated up the leftovers to  compliment the meal. The manager/ proprietor was a friendly man who never had Singaporean guests before. A walk through the camp led us to an isolated beach and a beautiful sunset.

Eerie karri

 For our next stretch we diverted from the scenic route, opting to drive through the 'bush'.We were surrounded by karri trees, some almost reaching the sky (a 100 metres?), all standing stiff like black guards of the forest. It seemed as though the trees were charred ( the result of a forest fire?). All of a sudden, the road gave way to unpaved lanes. We could feel the tires crunching against the ground. It got a little scary because there seemed no end, and not a soul to be seen on the stretch. We braved it, finally inching on to paved road about half an hour later.

Indulgence

Our next stop was Albany. We drove along the shore appreciating the strategic position for Anzac  centre and, on an impulse, decided to try a Lamington.  Walking around town we chanced upon a quaint pastry shop that looked very English and ordered the hugely popular cake coated with chocolate sauce and rolled in desiccated coconut. It did not live up to the hype, being overly sweet.

Me? Speeding ticket? Yes!

From Albany we decided to drive back all the way to Perth. This alternate route had a straight road all the way with nary a fellow traveller. Suddenly a tall khaki hat showed up with his hand waving at us. Assuming it was a hitchhiker we just sped on until it struck me that it could have been a policeman. So I slowed the car, and reversed (I had the road all to myself) all the way to where he stood. He pointed something at me with a smile and asked me how fast I was driving. I thought I had maintained 110 kph, the official speed limit, but he showed me the speed detector.  Without a doubt I'd been going at I25 kph. There was nothing to argue about and so Drink ( who was happily munching away on his apple, devoid of all cares ) and I waited for the inevitable ticket. Our spirits remained undaunted. What we got was just a warning - enough to last me a life time. Since I was a foreigner, and it was my first driving offence in Australia  the warning was a 'rap' on the wrist. Grateful we drove away more subdued and wiser. There's  a first time for everything. 

Inadvertant Fly protection

At one point we stopped to admire the golden wheat fields rippled by the breeze. The temperatures were high and it was getting uncomfortable in the car. So we opened the doors and stepped out to admire the ears of wheat that had fallen to the ground and lined up along the road shoulder by the winds. But we couldn't stay out for more that a minute because a swarm of flies, as huge as beetles, settled on us. And so we had to make a quick exit. If you wanted to collect those ears you would be hindered by the flies. They are inadvertantly doing you a service since picking the wheat laden stalks is illegal.

Local concern

From yet another friend we learnt about water scarcity. The public toilets were dry toilets. The water for the basin came from rainwater collected in tanks near them. In homes the dishes were typically piled up in a sink full of water, to be washed at one go so as to save water. There were rules about watering the garden during the summer months.

Also most of our Asian friends had unlisted numbers to avoid harassment. The Vietnamese farmer's  market, held once a week in a remote part of Perth was known for its more affordable produce. The price was reduced further for misshapen vegetables.