Perth
21 - 27 October 2018
I have never thought of travelling to Australia. But my partner described Perth as a peaceful and lovely city. So we decided to visit Perth in October.
There has been some ups and downs while planning for the trip. Canceled flight, my annual leave application...sigh. Nevertheless, all is well now and I just want to enjoy my first trip to Australia.
Flights
21 October '18 - AirAsia SGD 255.27 per pax
SIN - KUL - PER Base fare + 20kg checked baggage per sector to share
27 October '18 - Scoot SGD 179.55 per pax
PER - SIN Base fare + 20kg checked baggage to share
Car Rental
22 - 27 October '18 SGD 145.50 per pax
ATLAS Car Rental - Suzuki Swift booked via CarFlexi.com
Accommodation SGD 129.24 per pax
22 - 27 October '18
Airbnb - South Street Ale House
Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) SGD 7 per pax
multiple entry within a year
https://www.australia-eta.com.au/apply-online.html
Total expenditure before leaving SGD 716.56 per pax
There has been some ups and downs while planning for the trip. Canceled flight, my annual leave application...sigh. Nevertheless, all is well now and I just want to enjoy my first trip to Australia.
Flights
21 October '18 - AirAsia SGD 255.27 per pax
SIN - KUL - PER Base fare + 20kg checked baggage per sector to share
27 October '18 - Scoot SGD 179.55 per pax
PER - SIN Base fare + 20kg checked baggage to share
Car Rental
22 - 27 October '18 SGD 145.50 per pax
ATLAS Car Rental - Suzuki Swift booked via CarFlexi.com
Accommodation SGD 129.24 per pax
22 - 27 October '18
Airbnb - South Street Ale House
Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) SGD 7 per pax
multiple entry within a year
https://www.australia-eta.com.au/apply-online.html
Total expenditure before leaving SGD 716.56 per pax
Currency Exchange
(SGD to AUD)
We went to The Arcade which is located along Collyer Quay (Raffles Place MRT). We were lucky to chance upon Extract Money Changer (#02-31) that offers a rate of 1.00, and they provided us with a zip-lock envelope to keep our cash as well. The published rate on Google was 1.02, so it was a really good deal in our opinion.
We exchanged SGD 1,500 for AUD 1,500.
(FYI, we only used approx AUD 1,000 cash for our trip)
The super popular Arcade Money Changers at the entrance only offers a rate of 0.98. And right after we have done our exchange at Extract Money Changer, we stumbled on another store a few meters away that offers 1.01!
So please check the rates offered by all stores before you settle for any of them.
By the way, we only spent approximately AUD500 each (cash) during our trip in Perth.
So please check the rates offered by all stores before you settle for any of them.
By the way, we only spent approximately AUD500 each (cash) during our trip in Perth.
21 OCT 2018 - sUNDAY
We are taking Air Asia for our outbound journey to Perth, which means we have to transit at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA 2). Our flight AK720 leaves Singapore at 9.20pm, so we arrived at Changi Airport Terminal 4 around 7.40pm for baggage drop-off. We were worried that our checked baggage might get delayed/lost due to transit, so we packed 2 days worth of clothing into our cabin baggage.
Once we have done our pre-flight procedures, we stopped by Uniqlo because my partner left his jacket at home. Jackets are essential because it will be chilly on board. Plus, Perth's temperature was estimated at 15°C which spells Brrr cold for us tropical creatures.
Once we have done our pre-flight procedures, we stopped by Uniqlo because my partner left his jacket at home. Jackets are essential because it will be chilly on board. Plus, Perth's temperature was estimated at 15°C which spells Brrr cold for us tropical creatures.
AK720 departed 20 minutes later than scheduled. We were quite worried as our connecting flight D7 236 is estimated to take off at 12.05am. To make things worse, our plane was not given the clearance to land in KLIA2 upon arrival. So we had to wander the skies for awhile before landing.
Nevertheless, we finally landed in KLIA2 around 10.50pm. Once we're off the plane, we quickly walked towards our boarding gate for D7 236. We refilled our water bottle before entering the waiting area. Getting yourself hydrated is very important when you're travelling by air.
The boarding and take off were quite on-time. We were given Australia's Incoming passenger card once the plane stabilizes on air. Keeping a pen with you at all times would come in handy.
The boarding and take off were quite on-time. We were given Australia's Incoming passenger card once the plane stabilizes on air. Keeping a pen with you at all times would come in handy.
22 OCT 2018 - MonDAY
We landed in Perth International Airport Terminal 1 around 5.30am. We followed the pathway towards the immigration counters, and grabbing some local maps along the way. We didn't have a properly planned out itinerary, so we had to depend on maps and guide books to tour around Perth.
The immigration queue was smooth. We waited for 15-20 minutes before reaching the front of the line. My partner and I were able to approach the immigration officer together for passport checks. After that, we followed the signage towards the baggage belt. We were lucky to spot our checked baggage once we arrived at the belt.
We thought all is well before we spotted the queue for security checks. There was a group of school kids in front of us, and the queue exceeded the designated area. An officer was stationed halfway though the queue and he was checking through everyone's Incoming passenger card. When our turn came about, he looked at our passenger cards and told us we could take the exit behind him. We were stunned because we didn't expect that at all.
So we exited the security area and walked into the arrival hall. I was so relieved that we don't have to continue queuing for security checks because I was very in need of the toilet.
The immigration queue was smooth. We waited for 15-20 minutes before reaching the front of the line. My partner and I were able to approach the immigration officer together for passport checks. After that, we followed the signage towards the baggage belt. We were lucky to spot our checked baggage once we arrived at the belt.
We thought all is well before we spotted the queue for security checks. There was a group of school kids in front of us, and the queue exceeded the designated area. An officer was stationed halfway though the queue and he was checking through everyone's Incoming passenger card. When our turn came about, he looked at our passenger cards and told us we could take the exit behind him. We were stunned because we didn't expect that at all.
So we exited the security area and walked into the arrival hall. I was so relieved that we don't have to continue queuing for security checks because I was very in need of the toilet.
We stopped by Optus to purchase a SIM card. I've actually bought a roaming data SIM via Shopee before leaving for Perth. However, the data SIM is not capable of making phone calls. We figured it's best to get a SIM that could make calls just in case we need to call for help during our trip.
The data SIM that i bought from Shopee costs SGD 16.99. It is valid for 8 days with unlimited data usage (high speed for the first 4GB, and the speed will reduce to 128kbps for subsequent usage). There is no need for registration. Just insert the SIM and you should be able to start using it. I had some trouble with the data at first. But after numerous times of restarting my phone, the data started flowing through.
The data SIM that i bought from Shopee costs SGD 16.99. It is valid for 8 days with unlimited data usage (high speed for the first 4GB, and the speed will reduce to 128kbps for subsequent usage). There is no need for registration. Just insert the SIM and you should be able to start using it. I had some trouble with the data at first. But after numerous times of restarting my phone, the data started flowing through.
As for the SIM card with Optus, we bought the 5 days package that comes with a certain amount of talk time and 5GB of data as well. It costs AUD 10.
I would recommend purchasing the package from Optus because it comes with data and talk time at only AUD 10. We did not use much data during our trip anyways. I have used less than 2GB of data for the entire trip, and that includes the usage of social medias, constant posting of insta stories, Waze and an accidental streaming of YouTube for 15 minutes.
Once we have activated the SIM from Optus, we called Atlas Car Rental to arrange for shuttle pick-up from the airport to their office in RedCliffe. Little did we know, the office only opens at 7am. The call centre agent did not tell us that as well. So we waited in the cold weather for an hour before the shuttle arrives. The wind was very strong and we were so not prepared for it.
If you are planning to rent a car from Atlas, you will have to call them for the airport pick-up and wait at pick-up zone F. The pick-up zone resembles sheltered bus stops which is labelled alphabetically.
If you are planning to rent a car from Atlas, you will have to call them for the airport pick-up and wait at pick-up zone F. The pick-up zone resembles sheltered bus stops which is labelled alphabetically.
You will be able to see a car park and the airport control tower in front of the pick-up zone.
FYI, this is Atlas' airport shuttle service.
We arrived at the office and was greeted enthusiastically by a lady. I registered myself as an additional driver at AUD 10 so that I could take over the wheel when my partner is tired. We have paid SGD 166.73 as deposit at the point of booking (online), so we paid the remaining AUD 124.97 + AUD 10 (additional driver) at the counter. Please note that they do not accept cash. Only credit/debit card.
In addition, they will hold another AUD 350 on your credit card for any potential damages. It is just a pre-authorization and it will be released within 2 weeks if no charges were made with it.
The lady also explained that we have to return the car with a full tank because that's what we had upon collection. In the event that we did not refuel the car, a fee of AUD 3.300/litre will be charged.
We only used 60% of the fuel during our trip in Perth. The lady suggested us to refuel using Unleaded 91 and it costs us AUD 39.20 to refill the 60% that we used. Unleaded 91 was priced at 159.9 cents/Litre at Shell - Coles Express on 27 October 2018.
Oh, and the car can only be used within Western Australia.
In addition, they will hold another AUD 350 on your credit card for any potential damages. It is just a pre-authorization and it will be released within 2 weeks if no charges were made with it.
The lady also explained that we have to return the car with a full tank because that's what we had upon collection. In the event that we did not refuel the car, a fee of AUD 3.300/litre will be charged.
We only used 60% of the fuel during our trip in Perth. The lady suggested us to refuel using Unleaded 91 and it costs us AUD 39.20 to refill the 60% that we used. Unleaded 91 was priced at 159.9 cents/Litre at Shell - Coles Express on 27 October 2018.
Oh, and the car can only be used within Western Australia.
Once we have examined the car for scratches and loaded our luggage into the trunk, we took off towards Fremantle for breakfast. We made a few wrong turns along the way, but we manage to arrive at Port City Roasters by 9am.
We ordered flat white, hot chocolate, poached eggs on toasts with an extra side of bacon and smoked salmon bruschetta. I loved the salmon bruschetta. It was a little too raw for me to handle, but I still wiped the plate clean.
Our breakfast costs AUD 39.50 including 10% GST.
Our breakfast costs AUD 39.50 including 10% GST.
We went for a stroll around the neighborhood after breakfast because it was still too early for us to check in our Airbnb. I loved the vibe of the city. It feels so serene and peaceful.
We had no place in mind to visit, so we drove towards our Airbnb. We called the host - Vince and he said we could check in at 11am. It was 10am at that moment, so we decided to rest in the car. But I was too excited to be in a new city, that I Googled for nearby places to go.
My partner was too tired to stay awake because he couldn't sleep well on planes. So I drove towards South Beach with him napping at the passenger seat.
My partner was too tired to stay awake because he couldn't sleep well on planes. So I drove towards South Beach with him napping at the passenger seat.
There were ample parking lots at South Beach and we parked near to one of the beach entrances. My partner continued sleeping in the car while I fished out my slippers from our luggage and wagged towards the beach.
We left the beach around 11.30am and drove back to our Airbnb. We looked for Bruno and he led us up to our room. The accommodation is situated one level above their bar. We had a queen bed, sofa, table, chair and a cabinet. The bathroom is for share, and the fridge, ironing board are in there as well. Wi-Fi is available too. The bar holds karaoke nights on Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays, so it might get loud during these three days. But we weren't bothered by it, cause they will end by 10.30pm.
Other than these facilities, our Airbnb host offers Meal Vouchers worth AUD 10 per person every day for dine-in at their bar. They have a list of menu items that are priced at AUD 10 which is available to the public as well.
Overall, we were satisfied with our Airbnb choice. We paid SGD 258.48 for 5 nights, and both hosts are very friendly. There is a car park right behind the building, which is very convenient for us who rented a car.
After we have settled down with our luggage, we took a nap because we were tired from not sleeping well on the flight. My partner woke me up 2 hours later for lunch. He was so excited about going to Cicerello's. He has been raving about this restaurant ever since we decided to visit Perth.
The drive from our Airbnb to Cicerello's took around 10 minutes. There are free parking spaces reserved for Cicerello's customers as well. The lots are situated in front of this yellow statue.
The drive from our Airbnb to Cicerello's took around 10 minutes. There are free parking spaces reserved for Cicerello's customers as well. The lots are situated in front of this yellow statue.
Cicerello's is a self service restaurant. They have a beverage cashier, a food cashier and large refrigerators with more beverages, sauces and snacks. Basically you'll have to order at the food cashier, get a buzzer and wait for your food to be ready. While waiting, you could order some hot beverages at the beverage cashier.
Our food was ready 15 minutes later. We ordered the Traditional Fish'n'Chips and Grilled Fish & Chips. We also had a cup of hot chocolate to share.
We were bloated after lunch, so we walked around the area and took some pictures.
After that, we took a 30 minutes drive towards Elizabeth Quay which is located in the city centre of Perth.
We spent 30 minutes walking around Elizabeth Quay, and then headed back to our Airbnb for dinner. We had Steak Sandwich and Bacon & Chicken Sandwich using the meal vouchers.
23 OCT 2018 - TuesDAY
We woke up at 8am. It's hard not to wake up early because the sky will be bright by 5am. We didn't have any pre-planned itinerary, so we'd pick our daily schedule the night before or that day itself.
I found a breakfast place which looked gorgeous in pictures. It's called Canvas, and it's located in the Fremantle Art Centre.
I found a breakfast place which looked gorgeous in pictures. It's called Canvas, and it's located in the Fremantle Art Centre.
We ordered Eggs your way (poached) + toast + bacon, their signature Shak-Shuka, flat white and hot chocolate. Shak-shuka is served in a pan with two eggs poached in a sixteen hour tomato sauce, topped with fresh cilantro, with a side of bread and butter.
FYI, as long as I see 'butter' described in a dish, it has won me over.
FYI, as long as I see 'butter' described in a dish, it has won me over.
Our breakfast costs AUD 42.50.
We enjoyed dining in the garden and I will definitely frequent this cafe if I'm living in Perth.
We enjoyed dining in the garden and I will definitely frequent this cafe if I'm living in Perth.
I've fallen in love with the beaches in Perth. Hence we decided to visit Cottesloe Beach, which is the most raved about beach in Perth. It's a 15-20 minutes drive from Fremantle and it was the most enjoyable drive I've had. We drove past a stretch of beach along Marine Parade which is also part of the Indian Ocean. And it was beautiful. I couldn't help but to leave the car and stare into the scenic view.
We arrived in Cottesloe and parked at the designated parking lot. I changed into my slippers and waddled towards the beach.
And guys, don't wear jeans to the beach.
It's uncomfortable having sand inside your jeans.
It's uncomfortable having sand inside your jeans.
After Cottesloe, we drove towards the city centre for lunch. My partner found a Chinese dimsum restaurant along James Street. It's called Fortune Five Chinese Restaurant.
We knew the food portion in Perth is larger than what we're used to. But we didn't expect the dimsums to be served in big portions as well. We ordered too much and weren't able to finish it all.
We would recommend the egg tarts and seaweed roll (with prawn filling). The egg tart is a tad caramelized at the top, which has a lil' Portuguese egg tart feel to it. Loved it.
Our dimsum lunch costs AUD 41.50.
Next stop : King's Park.
Our dimsum lunch costs AUD 41.50.
Next stop : King's Park.
We rested on the lawn while enjoying the breeze. How nice will it be if we're able to live in a 15-20°C weather. I would definitely go for picnics every weekend.
My partner wanted to show me black swans. So we left King's Park for Lake Monger. It's a 10 minute drive.
My partner wanted to show me black swans. So we left King's Park for Lake Monger. It's a 10 minute drive.
Other than black swans, there are ducks in the same lake as well.
My partner has warned me not to get too close to the swans, cause they will chase you if they felt threatened. So we decided to leave when several swans came on land.
It was only 4pm, but we have no other places to go. So we headed back to our Airbnb and rested until dinner. It was a 30 minutes drive between our Airbnb and Perth city centre.
We ordered Lasagna and Fish & Chips using our meal vouchers.
We ordered Lasagna and Fish & Chips using our meal vouchers.
24 OCT 2018 - WednesDAY
We were woken up by the bar alarm at 5.45am. Someone either tried to enter the property without consent or forgotten that the alarm is in place. We continued sleeping until 8am and then freshen up for the day.
We planned to visit Rottnest Island but it rained unexpectedly. So we decided to postpone Rottnest and head towards Swan Valley instead. But first, breakfast.
We planned to visit Rottnest Island but it rained unexpectedly. So we decided to postpone Rottnest and head towards Swan Valley instead. But first, breakfast.
We went to Duck Duck Bruce, which is located in Fremantle. It was still drizzling when we arrived, and the cafe was filled with the breakfast crowd. We managed to get a table for 2. I ordered 'We're All Going on a Summer Hollandaise' which is a fancy version of eggs benedict, and my partner ordered his usual eggs on toast. My eggs benedict comes with potato bhaji hash browns, greens, poached eggs and burnt butter hollandaise. My partner chose to have scrambled eggs to accompany his toast, with a side of bacon. |
The dishes aren't fantastic. I won't be coming back for seconds if I'm a resident.
The meal costs AUD 30+. We did not order any beverages to go with the meal.
After breakfast, we took an hour drive towards Swan Valley. We made a stop at the airport cause we needed to use the toilet urgently.
Our first stop in Swan Valley is the Caversham Wildlife Park. The entry costs AUD 29 per adult.
I was quite excited to finally get to see kangaroos and koalas.
The meal costs AUD 30+. We did not order any beverages to go with the meal.
After breakfast, we took an hour drive towards Swan Valley. We made a stop at the airport cause we needed to use the toilet urgently.
Our first stop in Swan Valley is the Caversham Wildlife Park. The entry costs AUD 29 per adult.
I was quite excited to finally get to see kangaroos and koalas.
I took a lot of pictures, so I'm gonna upload them in Gallery format to save time and space. Please click on the pictures to enlarge it, and you can keep spamming on the > arrow to view the rest.
Next up, kangaroos!
I'd say that I prefer insects over animals. I mean, I'm not gonna cuddle insects but I'm less likely to get freaked out by insects compared to animals. I like to keep a distance with all kinds of animals. So I did not attempt to feed the kangaroos.
I'd say that I prefer insects over animals. I mean, I'm not gonna cuddle insects but I'm less likely to get freaked out by insects compared to animals. I like to keep a distance with all kinds of animals. So I did not attempt to feed the kangaroos.
We left the kangaroo compound the same time as a group of school kids came rushing in. I would be terrified if I were the kangaroos.
We continued with our explore through the guided paths.
We continued with our explore through the guided paths.
We walked pass the Farm Show and went in for a peek. The show was coming to an end, but we were able to witness the audience feeding lambs and milking the cow.
Other than the Farm Show, we are able to see lots of other farm animals as well.
We felt hungry when we saw others having lunch at the picnic tables. So we exited the park to get our pre-cooked meals from the car that we bought from Gilbert's Fresh Market this morning. In order to come back in to the park, we have to get a stamp from the souvenir counter on our way out. Without this stamp, we will not be allowed back in without purchasing another ticket.
We bought these three items at AUD 13.70. Because it was bought from the deli counter, the dishes were cold. So, we did not enjoy our lunch at all. The lasagna was too tough to be eaten cold, so we only finished the piece of veal and the pasta salad.
After our meal, we rushed back to meet the wombat.
After our meal, we rushed back to meet the wombat.
The show is called Wombat and Friends!, so there are other animals in the same room too.
After that, we went to look at the koalas.
On the way there, we stopped by a peacock enclosure. We were so lucky to be right in front of the peacock when it spread its feathers.
On the way there, we stopped by a peacock enclosure. We were so lucky to be right in front of the peacock when it spread its feathers.
We joined the queue to take pictures with the koala. We have to sanitize our hands before we are allowed to touch them.
And we're done with Caversham Wildlife Park!
We didn't have a good lunch, so we headed towards The House of Honey for some good stuff. There were no more empty parking lots when we arrive, so we parked by the road side.
We didn't have a good lunch, so we headed towards The House of Honey for some good stuff. There were no more empty parking lots when we arrive, so we parked by the road side.
We went to The Sticky Spoon Cafe and ordered honeycomb ice cream, honey cake and cherry berry cheesecake.
It totaled to AUD 20.30.
It totaled to AUD 20.30.
The honey ice cream is SO GOOD. You have to try it if you're visiting House of Honey. You could taste the raw honey, but it's not too overwhelmingly sweet. It's just amazing, I missed it so much.
I like that the cakes come with whipped cream, but the cakes are not super delicious though. You could still try the honey cake if you're there cause it's sort of the 'Star' of the place, but one slice is enough to share.
After this, we drove to Whistler's Chocolate Company.
I like that the cakes come with whipped cream, but the cakes are not super delicious though. You could still try the honey cake if you're there cause it's sort of the 'Star' of the place, but one slice is enough to share.
After this, we drove to Whistler's Chocolate Company.
We received samples of chocolates once we entered the building. There are rows and rows of chocolate for sale and a museum replica made of chocolate and gummy bears!
We ordered a hot milk chocolate, an iced chocolate and a Smarties biscuit. Piece of advice, don't order the biscuit. It all costs AUD 15.50.
It was almost 5pm, and most places are closed by 5pm. So we started our journey back to our Airbnb, which took an hour. We rested and had dinner using the meal vouchers. We ordered Aglio Olio pasta and Bangers & Mash.
My partner visited Perth a few years back, and he remembered having an awesome Peking Duck meal at one of the Chinese restaurants. So he searched online and found the name of the restaurant : Good Fortune Roast Duck House.
We just had dinner. So we pondered for awhile, trying to decide if we should go there for supper. My partner called the restaurant and was told that the last order will be at 9.30pm. Hence we immediately grabbed our bags and drove 30 minutes towards the city centre.
We just had dinner. So we pondered for awhile, trying to decide if we should go there for supper. My partner called the restaurant and was told that the last order will be at 9.30pm. Hence we immediately grabbed our bags and drove 30 minutes towards the city centre.
We ordered Peking Duck and the Roast Combination of roast duck & roast pork.
The meal costs AUD 37.50.
The Peking Duck comes in 5. Each served in individual small plates. It has been such a long time since my last Peking Duck, and I enjoyed this meal so much.
The meal costs AUD 37.50.
The Peking Duck comes in 5. Each served in individual small plates. It has been such a long time since my last Peking Duck, and I enjoyed this meal so much.
After that, we drove 30 minutes back to our Airbnb and called the day.
25 OCT 2018 - ThursDAY
It's Rottnest day!
We woke up at 8am to get ready and we arrived at the ferry terminal around 9.30am. We weren't sure where to park our car because some areas have a restriction of 3-hours-parking only. So we stopped our car right in front of B-shed to purchase our ferry tickets first. B-shed is where the Rottnest Express ticketing counter and departure pier is located at.
We woke up at 8am to get ready and we arrived at the ferry terminal around 9.30am. We weren't sure where to park our car because some areas have a restriction of 3-hours-parking only. So we stopped our car right in front of B-shed to purchase our ferry tickets first. B-shed is where the Rottnest Express ticketing counter and departure pier is located at.
We bought 2 return ferry tickets at AUD 138 (AUD 69 each). We didn't purchase the bicycle or bus packages because my partner said there are up-hills and slopes that make the journey difficult; and the bus that the ticketing counter is offering isn't the one we have in mind.
I think it's cheaper by a few dollars if you purchase your tickets online. So if you're certain of your travel date, try purchasing it on their website for a lower fare. They do offer online promotional prices at times too.
Other than online fares, you could try looking for promo codes in travel catalogs. We found a few promo codes in the travel booklets we took at Perth Airport. But the codes we found have expired.
I think it's cheaper by a few dollars if you purchase your tickets online. So if you're certain of your travel date, try purchasing it on their website for a lower fare. They do offer online promotional prices at times too.
Other than online fares, you could try looking for promo codes in travel catalogs. We found a few promo codes in the travel booklets we took at Perth Airport. But the codes we found have expired.
After we've got our tickets, we asked the staff where to park our car. She told us to park behind C-shed, where the public is allowed all day parking at a fixed price - AUD 10.
Once we've found an empty lot, we parked and walked towards the auto-pay machine to pay for the all day parking. The all day parking is tracked from 8am - 8pm, and it costs AUD 10 per vehicle. After inserting coins and keying in your car plate number into the machine, it will dispense a parking ticket for you to place on your car's dashboard.
We walked back towards B-shed for breakfast before leaving for Rottnest Island. We ordered 2 Bacon Breaky Wrap and an ice chocolate from Express Lane at AUD 25.20.
We bought the 10.30am ride. We boarded the ferry 20 minutes earlier and opted to sit indoors because I get motion sickness very easily.
We departed 5 minutes later than scheduled. To minimize the chances of me getting seasick, I rested my head on the table and tried to ignore the waves.
We reached Rottnest Island in 30 minutes. The water is so clear and the view is amazing.
We visited the tourist center and bought ourselves all day tickets for the Island Explorer bus. It costs AUD 20 each. The Island Explorer bus tours around Rottnest Island and will stop at designated bays at designated time. Just press on the bus bell whenever you feel like exploring any of the stops. You will be given the bus schedule and a map of Rottnest Island when you purchase the tickets.
We boarded the 12pm bus, and the scenery along the way to our first stop is amazing.
We arrived at Little Salmon Bay 20 minutes later. The water is so clear that I couldn't believe my eyes.
I have planned to swim in the ocean before we even got here. I have bought and brought a water resistant cover for my phone so that I could bring it underwater for video recording.
This is the first time I've seen the ocean with such clarity. I was so grateful that I've braved the cold to witness the beauty of mother nature. The waves kept hitting and tilting my balance, which resulted in shaky videos but I'm happy I captured this moment to cherish for the rest of my life. I swallowed a huge gulp of sea water when I first dived in and needless to say, it was the saltiest water I've ever tasted. My ears hurt so much because of the cold wind and water.
We hung out at Little Salmon Bay for an hour and hopped on to the next Island Explorer Bus that came by. Our next stop is Little Parakeet Bay, but we should have stopped at West End for the Seal Viewing Platform and boardwalk. Sigh. Nevertheless, we were able to look at beautiful sceneries throughout the bus ride.
We hung out at Little Salmon Bay for an hour and hopped on to the next Island Explorer Bus that came by. Our next stop is Little Parakeet Bay, but we should have stopped at West End for the Seal Viewing Platform and boardwalk. Sigh. Nevertheless, we were able to look at beautiful sceneries throughout the bus ride.
We arrived at Little Parakeet Bay 35-40 minutes later. I've planned to swim here as well, but I had second thoughts because my swimsuit and towel have dried off from the long ride. In the end I decided to just stroll the beach and take some pictures.
After changing out of my swimsuit at the resting booth, we waited for the next Island Explorer Bus to return to the starting point.
We boarded the bus around 2.25pm, and it took around 10 minutes for us to arrive at the starting point.
We encountered some quokkas on our way to lunch. While most people find them cute, they looked like huge rodents to me. And I ain't a big fan of rodents.
We chose to have Subway for lunch, and discovered that they serve pizzas as well. This is the first time we've seen pizzas at a Subway, so we decided to order that instead of their usual sandwiches. We bought a bottle of coke to share too, and the meal costs AUD 30.50 in total.
After lunch, we went for more sightseeing on foot. The sceneries are picture perfect.
We were supposed to return with the 5.30pm vessel, but we asked if we are allowed to board the earlier vessel at 4.30pm, and the answer is yes. So we dragged our lifeless body onboard and slept through the rocky waves back to Fremantle.
We were held up by the traffic exiting Fremantle, but we made it back to our Airbnb safely. We rested until dinner time and had Classic Cheeseburger with egg and topped up AUD 1 for bacon.
26 OCT 2018 - FriDAY
We have no other places to go, so we dedicated the whole day for Fremantle market and Fremantle market only. Plus, Fremantle market is only open on weekends. We were there around lunch time, so there were limited parking spaces. We had to circle the area for quite some time before we finally found one. We paid for 2 hour parking at AUD 6.20 and placed the parking ticket on our car dashboard.
We decided to start our lunch with some ramen at Dosukoi Ramen.
We ordered a bowl of Soft Pork Soup Ramen to share at AUD 9.90.
After paying for our ramen at the cashier, we were given a number slip. We looked for empty seats which by the way, is extremely limited in the small shop, and sat there waiting for our ramen to arrive.
We ordered a bowl of Soft Pork Soup Ramen to share at AUD 9.90.
After paying for our ramen at the cashier, we were given a number slip. We looked for empty seats which by the way, is extremely limited in the small shop, and sat there waiting for our ramen to arrive.
Our order arrived 5 minutes later, piping hot. The server left us to enjoy our ramen after verifying our order number.
The broth is flavourful, the noodles are al dente and my partner said this bowl of ramen was the best he has ever tasted.
Once we're done with our ramen, we went to get Chicken Paella (AUD 12), Roasted Duck Bao from What The Bao (AUD 10) and some freshly squeezed orange juice.
Once we're done with our ramen, we went to get Chicken Paella (AUD 12), Roasted Duck Bao from What The Bao (AUD 10) and some freshly squeezed orange juice.
The Chicken Paella isn't amazing, but it felt good to have some rice after consecutive days of westernized meals. The roasted duck bao tastes good, but it's very messy to eat cause my bao was torn into two pieces horizontally before I even started eating. I didn't take a picture of the orange juice. We could taste that it's pure orange juice without any addition of water or syrup in it cause it's really really sour. But it's very effective for soothing constipation.
We went for a walk outside of Fremantle Market, but there isn't much to see. So we went back to our Airbnb and slacked the whole day till dinner.
We drove back to Fremantle Market around 7pm. We went for the ramen again because my partner loved it to bits. We had to leave our contact number at the cashier because there are no empty seats available and there's still a long queue waiting for seats. We had the same soft pork soup at AUD 9.90.
We went for a walk outside of Fremantle Market, but there isn't much to see. So we went back to our Airbnb and slacked the whole day till dinner.
We drove back to Fremantle Market around 7pm. We went for the ramen again because my partner loved it to bits. We had to leave our contact number at the cashier because there are no empty seats available and there's still a long queue waiting for seats. We had the same soft pork soup at AUD 9.90.
Before leaving Fremantle Market, we bought a classic spinach and feta gozleme from Gozleme at AUD10. It was alright, nothing much to shout about.
We went for another walk outside of Fremantle Market, because my partner remembered the area to be picturesque with fairy lights brightening the streets.
There's a red ferris wheel about 3 minutes walk from Fremantle Market. We bought tickets at AUD 20 for 2 persons. The ride took approximately 10 minutes.
We rushed back to our Airbnb after the ride so that we could order dinner using our meal voucher before the kitchen closes. We had Spaghetti Bolognaise and All day breakfast.
27 OCT 2018 - SaturDAY
It's out last day in Perth!
We packed our luggage the night before and checked out around 11am. We stopped by the Post Office to buy stamps for my postcard. It costs AUD2.30 to mail it back to Singapore.
We had our lunch at Cicerello's and ordered their Seafood Platter for 2 (AUD93.85), which is the biggest mistake of our life. Before we go into details, here's how the Seafood Platter looked like.
We packed our luggage the night before and checked out around 11am. We stopped by the Post Office to buy stamps for my postcard. It costs AUD2.30 to mail it back to Singapore.
We had our lunch at Cicerello's and ordered their Seafood Platter for 2 (AUD93.85), which is the biggest mistake of our life. Before we go into details, here's how the Seafood Platter looked like.
The Seafood Platter looks amazing. But the mussels, raw salmon and raw oysters are NOT FRESH! These three items tastes fishy (腥味很重) and borderline disgusting. The lightly grilled fish fillet is dry and sort of tasteless. It's so not worth paying AUD 93.85 for!
My partner had a fever on the flight back to Singapore and started vomiting once we arrived home. We have a good reason to suspect that the raw items are the ones that made him sick. My partner only had the Seafood Platter for meal before our flight, and he is the only one who ate the raw items as my stomach can't tolerate raw food. Fortunately he stopped eating the raw items once he realized those are not fresh. If he had finished all the raw items, we would have spent an extra night in Perth's hospital.
The sickness did not kick in until we were on board the plane. So we were still able to return to Fremantle Market for some desserts before heading to the airport. I bought the banana and strawberry sugar cinnamon crepe from Michele's Crepe Suzette at AUD8.50, and it was delicious!
My partner had a fever on the flight back to Singapore and started vomiting once we arrived home. We have a good reason to suspect that the raw items are the ones that made him sick. My partner only had the Seafood Platter for meal before our flight, and he is the only one who ate the raw items as my stomach can't tolerate raw food. Fortunately he stopped eating the raw items once he realized those are not fresh. If he had finished all the raw items, we would have spent an extra night in Perth's hospital.
The sickness did not kick in until we were on board the plane. So we were still able to return to Fremantle Market for some desserts before heading to the airport. I bought the banana and strawberry sugar cinnamon crepe from Michele's Crepe Suzette at AUD8.50, and it was delicious!
Once I've finished my dessert, we went to Shell petrol station for a refuel. We need to return the car with a full tank, so we refilled the tank with Unleaded 91 at AUD39.20. We were surprised that we only used up 60% of the tank for our entire journey in Perth.
After refueling, we headed towards Atlas car rental office in Redcliffe. Once they have checked the car condition and petrol level, they arranged for the shuttle to drop us at Perth Airport Terminal 1.
After refueling, we headed towards Atlas car rental office in Redcliffe. Once they have checked the car condition and petrol level, they arranged for the shuttle to drop us at Perth Airport Terminal 1.
And that's the end of our trip. Other than the food poisoning, we enjoyed the trip very much. Especially the cool weather. How we wish we could have the same weather (minus the high UV index) in Singapore.
If you're planning to visit Australia, you MUST apply sunscreen everyday. Don't be fooled by the weather. Even if it's not hot out, you still have to put on sunscreen to avoid sunburn due to the high UV index.
We spent approximately SGD 1720 in total (for 2 persons).
If you're planning to visit Australia, you MUST apply sunscreen everyday. Don't be fooled by the weather. Even if it's not hot out, you still have to put on sunscreen to avoid sunburn due to the high UV index.
We spent approximately SGD 1720 in total (for 2 persons).