Flight to Perth was SQ223 and it left on time at 09.30. Flight time was only a mere 5 hours this time. It was a Boeing 777-300 again and again the food, comfort and service was excellent. Also in seat 34C again. I got talking to a really nice couple, Alfie and Lisa ,who were returning home to Perth after 3 weeks travelling around America (NYC, Vegas , LA, San Fran). Got loads of good info from them about Perth and they have offered to take me out for some beers one evening which is really nice of them. I’ll give them a call in a couple of days when we’re all over the jet lag. Flight went really quickly with a lot of talking and a bit of sleeping. Arrived in Perth on time at about half 2. I felt very emotional as the plane landed as I was back in Australia, after an absence of 14 years. I couldn’t quite believe I was back. I’m in AUSTRALIA, I’m in F*****G AUSTRALIA!!
Got though Immigration with no real problems. I ’d had to fill out an Immigration Form before landing and one of the questions was occupation. I didn’t want to put unemployed as this sounded wrong and I couldn’t put International Traveller as this sounded stupid so I put down what I used to be. There wasn’t enough room on the form for parcel courier so I just had to put courier. The Immigration Officer had a bit of a sense of humour and quipped ‘not drugs courier I hope’.! Told him multi drop parcel courier and he stamped my passport and let me in.. I’m now free to roam this beautiful country for a whole 12 months. Next it was onto baggage reclaim and I must admit to feeling a bit worried that my backpack would never appear, but luckily it did and fairly quickly (a nice change that is!). Then it was through customs. There were three lines that people were being directed through. Line 1 was straight out the door, Line 2 was to have your bags opened and searched. I was put in Line 3 to have my bags sniffed by a dog! Must have been something to do with putting courier on the immigration card! Bags sniffed an ok I was free to enter the country and I walked out into the arrivals area almost crying with happiness that I was in AUSTRALIA! Next I had to get to the city and the cheapest way , but most definitely not the quickest as I was to discover, was to get the Perth Airport Connect Bus. I got my ticket from the booth and was told the next one was in 30 minutes at 3.30 and went from opposite the booth. I waited and loads of buses came and went to the other terminal and the car parks but none to the city. At about 3.35 with nothing in sight I asked the girl in the booth who said it had been and gone! Apparently it was a smaller bus which I had noticed a lot further up but it didn’t say ‘city on the front’ and noone had said anything! Another guy I spoke to said he had missed it aswell for the same reason. I told the girl in the booth this but she was young and not really bothered so just waited for the next one. As soon as I saw the next one arrive I went straight up to the driver and asked him if he was the city bus. He said no at first but then said he went to the other terminal and then on to the city and asked if that was okay. I said yes as there was no other bus in sight and this was turning into a right fiasco! Then loads of other people and it was bedlam. Eventually the bus trundled off via the domestic terminal. Once there another bus driver came up and said he was doing the part of the city I was going to so I had to transfer to another bus! Eventually this set off into suburban Perth and I started to get glimpses of the city skyline! This driver was a really friendly guy and I was sat up front as we got into the city he pointed out all the good places to eat. Got dropped off at my accomodation, Brownlea Apartments, about 3 hours after arriving at the airport but wasn’t bothered atall! I remained super chilled as I’ve got plenty of time, there is no hurry and things will just happen as they happen! There’s no point in stressing about anything. I’m just enjoying the ride.
Reception was closed when I got to Brownelea but that was okay as I’d already been given instructions on how to get my room key from the key safe on the wall. That done I went up to my room. It’s quite basic but very clean and there is a nice looking pool. I now feel very very very very very very very tired but also very hungry. I had a walk down the road to Northbridge where there are loads of places to eat. I ate some Malaysian food and got some breakfast stuff from the shop for the morning and went back to my room and collapsed. Fast asleep by 9 dreaming of all the wonderful adventures to come.