Are Your Gonna Wait Forever?
Trip Start
Jun 15, 2004
1
41
105
Trip End
Jun 15, 2005
Perth, Australia
Friday, November 5, 2004
Checked into a new hostel from last night, which was more central, but more expensive, and I seriously need to save some money, so off to the Ozi Inn, for $16.50 a night.
Spend the day recovering - doing my laundry, and then go food shopping - pasta, pasta, pasta, and pasta (Its Cheap!)
Have reunion drink with the people on the bus, and the DJ even plays U2's Vertigo - I do of course drink far too much, and get back at 2am
Friday 5th November 2004
Get woken at 6.20am by Irish girl shoving me, whispering "wake up, wake up", trying not to wake any other people in the dorm. I had of course agreed last night to go working today, laying turf, so feeling still drunk, got into the truck for the hour or so journey.
Apart from the Irish girl, the others working were local rednecks - 20 year olds, who already had 2/3 kids and fines for every car offence going. Hardworking day, in the sun, laying out 40 pallets of turf, but something different, and, earning money.
For the benefit of the Australian Immigration Service, this is of course a fictitious account, and I really spent all day in bed.....
Saturday 6th November 2004
Wandered Perth today, and frankly, didnt do a lot - I needed a cheap week! Did go on a backpackers night, where for $10, you could drink as much beer as you wanted, so it wasnt all bad! - unfortunately turning into Homer Simpson
Sunday 7th November 2004
Effect of last night has killed the entire hostel - nobody has got up, and nobody is doing anything - spend the entire bay watching TV and surfing!
Monday 8th November 2004
Uno, Dos, Tres, Corteche - yep, its U2 Vertigo day, so after finding two record shops closed, found one, bought the singles, and listened to death, and basically lounged about looking for a cheap day.
Met Fabienne from the Karajini trip at Perth Station, where I was surprised by the number of security / police, keeping out a number of Aboriginals - its very sad when you see them drunk around town, completely lost in the world around them now.
Despite this, enjoyed a very nice ice cream that Fabienne had promised me in the boiling heat of Karajini (where theres not a shop for 200km's), followed by a very nice glass of red wine - shame I'm leaving on Wednesday!
Tuesday 9th November 2004
Finally visited Rottnest Island with Nick from the Karajini trip - the island is so called because of the Quoka animals that live there - the Dutch thought they were large rats, hence "Rats Nest" Island.
Weather decided to rain as hard as possible just as we get off the boat, so sit in a bar, with a quoka just wandering around the bar.
Weather eventaully clears and we hire bikes to cycle the island - whilst still a bit overcast, the island is beautiful - no cars (apart from the odd bus or conservation vehicle), and lots of beautiful bays and inland lakes - though chickened out of swimming as it was a bit cold!
Saw my first wild snake in Australia - just ambling by as we stopped for a rest - looking afterwards, it was one of the poisionous ones - lucky as I had dissuaded Nick from trying to pick it up!
Could have spent longer here, in better weather
Still havent got paid for the work I did in Perth yet...I leave tomorrow...
