After spending time with family down in Mandurah it was time to head back on the back packing lifestyle but first there was the small matter of going diving, my first since qualifying. The dive was off rottenest Island and my cousin Steve thought he would see what diving was all about and came with me on a try dive. The first dive was on my own and spent swimming round and looking at some nice sized fish for about 45min. The second dive after a spot of lunch I went with a group swimming through various caverns and holes on the sea bed. It was like Swiss cheese down there! Steve went with an instructor on his dive and he loved it and hopefully he will go get himself qualified too.

After I went to check in at my hostel in Fremantle which is just south of Perth and was a nice hostel with different things to do and is set in an elegant old building. Next day I chilled in Freo for the morning taking in a fry up followed by a smoothie and a paper sitting in a park admiring the weather. Later I met up with a mate Andrew in Perth for a few drinks. He's also traveling round Australia but mostly concentrating his time in Sydney.

Next day was my time to move on to Melbourne to meet up with an old work mate who was flying out for a couple of weeks but my flight wasn't until midnight so I had the day to myself. I decided staying in Freo would be the best idea and had a wonder through the market and on to Fremantle Prison which is right in the centre of the city. The place only closed its doors to convicts in 1991 and little has changed since its closure giving a real insight into the conditions of day to day life in the jail.

The place was originally built in 1855 by convict labour and they did a good job on it too, I guess they wouldn't want to life in a place falling apart would they? It was a fantastic tour and very interesting too. What is also interesting is that in Western Australia flogging is still a form of punishment however it hasn't been used in donkey's years. After that it was back to the hostel to chill to wait to go to the airport.

Next stop, Melbourne!!!!