Day 4 In Perth
0800-1100: You would no doubt have realised by now that the days are beginning to start later then when we first arrived. This day, we spent most of the morning packing up our stuff for the trip later in the afternoon and planning the route to get to Margaret River. Turns out that the journey is going to take around 4 to 5 hours just to get there. Its going to be a long drive. For the morning to afternoon though, we were going to take a cruise along the swan river and enjoy a buffet lunch. Being typical Singaporeans, we thought that it would be prudent to skip breakfast so that we can load up during lunch. With that, the journey to Swan Bell's Tower began.
Right Across Sullivans Hotel
Black Swan
Walking is one of the preferred modes of transport in Australia. Mostly because the weather is excellent, the sun is great and everything is just worth looking at. For example, right across our hotel, you can find a pond filled with all manner of birds and fish. Couple that with excellent rays from the sun and basically, its postcard perfect.
You know you are on the wrong side of the highway when.....
Chanced upon this sign quite a few times and it was cause for more then a few laughs. This was placed on the highway (of all places) and basically, if you were driving towards it, there should be quite a small commotion heading your way.
Impressions: This and quite a few signs point to the efforts made by the WA government to make finding your way around Australia easier for bungling tourists like myself. I can't mention how many times i almost got lost if not for helpful signs posted along the way. Kudos for that.
Impressions: This and quite a few signs point to the efforts made by the WA government to make finding your way around Australia easier for bungling tourists like myself. I can't mention how many times i almost got lost if not for helpful signs posted along the way. Kudos for that.
A Memorial Along the way to Swan Bell
Swan Bell Tower
This is how the sun looks in Australia
Pathway To The Quay
Our Boat for the day
Fremantle Lunch Cruise (AUD 88 per head)
This is how the sun looks in Australia
Pathway To The Quay
Our Boat for the day
Fremantle Lunch Cruise (AUD 88 per head)
Swan bell tower is as the postcards have shown. It was picturesque and stylish but to climb to the top required $ which we lightly refused. Still, it was a nice view and something that should be seen at least once.
1100 - 1400: The cruise i've been waiting and hyping myself up for. Cruising up Swan Lake towards Fremantle for lunch. A buffet lunch no less. The price is pretty steep however, at Aud 88 per head but we figured since its for close to 3 hours, it should be worth it.
1100 - 1400: The cruise i've been waiting and hyping myself up for. Cruising up Swan Lake towards Fremantle for lunch. A buffet lunch no less. The price is pretty steep however, at Aud 88 per head but we figured since its for close to 3 hours, it should be worth it.
Views of Perth
More on Swan Lake
The faraway coast
Sails
Perth From the Boat
Rich District
Food
More Food
Bathroom
Food
More Food
The trip was long indeed. We were hungry because all we had for breakfast were a box of deformed strawberries we bought from Fremantle market the previous day. Upon boarding, your photo is taken and immediately processed to be sold to you during the journey for AUD 10 per photo. Unfortunately, our photo didn't turn out too well and we politely declined. There's an upper and lower deck with the bar on the lower deck. Everyone gets a complimentary cup of coffee or tea which is very much needed if you were sitting on the open air seats on the upper deck.
The seats were rather small and narrow but was still alright. Me and my gf were seated on the upper balcony on the open decks until we were too frozen that we finally conceded that a seat inside would be better. That wasn't the only reason though. The captain's commentary of the landscape could only be heard clearly in the sheltered seats as well.
The sights were fascinating and its amazing how the rich spend their money on lavish apartments. Overall, i'd say the commentaries were amusing.
Anyway, we were hungry, so we sat closer to the serving counter in hopes that we might be the first to the queue. Alas, this was not to be because, the crew has a system where the people seated further from the food, gets to queue for it first. The result was that we waited 20 minutes more before our turn came.
The Food: When it was our turn finally, we were stark raving mad and hungry. Thank goodness the food was pretty good or it would have been a very sour experience indeed. There were prawns, bread rolls, ham, lasagna, chicken curry, rice, potato salad and vegetable salads. And i'm pleased to report that they all tasted fresh and tasty. In particular mentioned, the lasagna, curry and prawns hit the spot pretty well.
Overall thoughts: Captain cook cruise to Fremantle is informative and interesting with nice food to boot. However, i honestly don't think its worth the money to travel down to Fremantle and back since many sights and sounds were repeated. Maybe the dinner cruise would fare better since there's entertainment or the wine cruise since there's wine sampling but on the lunch cruise, i'm gonna say: "Save your money for the other cruises with entertainment."
The seats were rather small and narrow but was still alright. Me and my gf were seated on the upper balcony on the open decks until we were too frozen that we finally conceded that a seat inside would be better. That wasn't the only reason though. The captain's commentary of the landscape could only be heard clearly in the sheltered seats as well.
The sights were fascinating and its amazing how the rich spend their money on lavish apartments. Overall, i'd say the commentaries were amusing.
Anyway, we were hungry, so we sat closer to the serving counter in hopes that we might be the first to the queue. Alas, this was not to be because, the crew has a system where the people seated further from the food, gets to queue for it first. The result was that we waited 20 minutes more before our turn came.
The Food: When it was our turn finally, we were stark raving mad and hungry. Thank goodness the food was pretty good or it would have been a very sour experience indeed. There were prawns, bread rolls, ham, lasagna, chicken curry, rice, potato salad and vegetable salads. And i'm pleased to report that they all tasted fresh and tasty. In particular mentioned, the lasagna, curry and prawns hit the spot pretty well.
Overall thoughts: Captain cook cruise to Fremantle is informative and interesting with nice food to boot. However, i honestly don't think its worth the money to travel down to Fremantle and back since many sights and sounds were repeated. Maybe the dinner cruise would fare better since there's entertainment or the wine cruise since there's wine sampling but on the lunch cruise, i'm gonna say: "Save your money for the other cruises with entertainment."
Adamsons Riverside Resort
Bathroom
1400 - 1900: With the cruise over, it was time to bid goodbye to Sullivans and leave for Margaret River. After asking directions from our favorite lady at the hotel, we were off to a new location that is hundreds of miles away in a country i've never been too. Now that is what fun and adventure is about.
The journey: The journey was definitely long. 4 straight hours on the road with only the countryside, trees and cows as company. It was scary too because all along the way, all we saw were a few cars going in the same or opposite directions and a few small towns. The signboards were a little confusing because one minute they had Margaret River on it and the next, the signboards don't even mention the place for a couple of tens on miles. We were worried about the petrol because it seemed a long way but it was thankfully more then sufficient.
We had to stop 3 times to look for directions and once, we were at Bunbury where we had to ask the petrol kiosk lady how to get to Margaret River. We were still on the right track and according to the lady, it was just another hundred miles to the place. By that time, however it was already 4pm or so.
So we travelled downwards again and for the next 2 hours, we got really worried as all signs stopped showing and the place was nowhere to be found. The sun was setting and there were no street lights. To say i was panicking would be an understatement. It was already dark when we arrived at an information chart to get our bearings and by this time i would really worried. It was around 6 pm and we still have not got to our location. Worse still, the map did not show Margaret River yet again! Man, i was really really worried.
After a few minutes and deciding the place was still further down, we set off again. To our great relief and surprise, the moment we turned the car and crossed a small little bridge not 400 metres in front, we saw our hotel!
Praise of all praises and happiness of all happiness. We have arrived! And not a moment too soon. The sky was already dark. And the reception, who also happened to be the lady boss of the motel was still in. Generally, the reception at Adamson's will leave by 6pm.
The motel: At first glance, the motel doesn't look like much but i'll give you the full view on the next post. The room was cosy, the boss, Ms Sharon Dancey was extremely kind and hospitable to make us feel welcome. Including the room, we also borrowed a few dvds to watch for the night as we were too tired to venture out and honestly, the place was so dark by then, it didn't seem wise to venture out. So we stayed indoors we our wine and had potato chips for dinner.
This ends day 4 on my trip and i was happy to have gotten to the motel. The cruise wasn't much to yell about but the journey to Margaret River was an eventful and trying experience. We planned our activities for the next day and it was going to be even better then this day for sure. Cheers!
The journey: The journey was definitely long. 4 straight hours on the road with only the countryside, trees and cows as company. It was scary too because all along the way, all we saw were a few cars going in the same or opposite directions and a few small towns. The signboards were a little confusing because one minute they had Margaret River on it and the next, the signboards don't even mention the place for a couple of tens on miles. We were worried about the petrol because it seemed a long way but it was thankfully more then sufficient.
We had to stop 3 times to look for directions and once, we were at Bunbury where we had to ask the petrol kiosk lady how to get to Margaret River. We were still on the right track and according to the lady, it was just another hundred miles to the place. By that time, however it was already 4pm or so.
So we travelled downwards again and for the next 2 hours, we got really worried as all signs stopped showing and the place was nowhere to be found. The sun was setting and there were no street lights. To say i was panicking would be an understatement. It was already dark when we arrived at an information chart to get our bearings and by this time i would really worried. It was around 6 pm and we still have not got to our location. Worse still, the map did not show Margaret River yet again! Man, i was really really worried.
After a few minutes and deciding the place was still further down, we set off again. To our great relief and surprise, the moment we turned the car and crossed a small little bridge not 400 metres in front, we saw our hotel!
Praise of all praises and happiness of all happiness. We have arrived! And not a moment too soon. The sky was already dark. And the reception, who also happened to be the lady boss of the motel was still in. Generally, the reception at Adamson's will leave by 6pm.
The motel: At first glance, the motel doesn't look like much but i'll give you the full view on the next post. The room was cosy, the boss, Ms Sharon Dancey was extremely kind and hospitable to make us feel welcome. Including the room, we also borrowed a few dvds to watch for the night as we were too tired to venture out and honestly, the place was so dark by then, it didn't seem wise to venture out. So we stayed indoors we our wine and had potato chips for dinner.
This ends day 4 on my trip and i was happy to have gotten to the motel. The cruise wasn't much to yell about but the journey to Margaret River was an eventful and trying experience. We planned our activities for the next day and it was going to be even better then this day for sure. Cheers!
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