After our emotional fawewell to parents and after Emma had calmed down due to thinking she was going to Australia on her own (my passport number did not match my working holiday visa due to getting a new passport) we boarded the plane from Newcastle. Flights were all fine and hassle-free. Plenty to eat on each flight and rather full by the time we landed in Perth. Also got in some good viewing on each flight ('Clash Of The Titans', 'American Beauty', 'Kramer Vs. Kramer' and 'The A-Team' - strange mix of films! Emma watched 'Shrek Forever After'). Dropped off at The Old Swan Barracks in the centre of Perth by an airport shuttle bus. Shared a room with two Canadian guys, a guy named Tarik and an Irish fella named Soupe who shared some of his travelling experiences with us, whilst having a few cold ones in the bar. We then joined a table of more Irish travellers who were settled in Perth for the time being (Perth is fairly easy to pick up work). Payed $3 at the bar for burger and chips, played a game of bingo and on a very rare occasion I won a game of pool against Soupe!

Early start for me in the morning for me - U2 tickets on sale 9am for Sydney December show so that's 7am Perth time (and there was me thinking no gigs for a whole year - in Australia 5 minutes and I've bought gig tickets!!!). Back to bed and slept till nearly 1pm! Walked round the centre of Perth for a few hours and ended the evening with a stroll round the lovely King's Park which features a tree-top walk and a fantastic view over Perth. Back to hostel and I went straight out with the Irish boys for indoor 5-a-side football at the local leisure centre via a bumpy ride in Jason's van. First time playing football since playing with HMV gang, and needless to say I couldn't hack it by the end! Even bumpier ride back to the hostel - I was in the back of the van, struggling to find something to hold on to whilst going over speed bumps and tools falling off the walls! But there was beer back there so I couldn't complain! Emma messed around on the net at the hostel for the evening.

Next morning, very cold and yep you guessed it, I couldn't walk! Up at 6.30am to catch bus to Scarborough beach for surfing lesson that Emma had booked for my birthday present. I couldn't wait as I was finally getting the opportunity to live out my 'Point Break' fantasy! The Australian surfing community now know me as Bodhi, no lie! Seriously though, we were both not very good. I sort of mananged to stand up two or three times. Back to hostel after surfing for much needed relaxation time. Surfing is quite tough!

Checked out of The Old Swan Barraks Sunday morning and caught the train to Cottesloe for the next hostel - Ocean Beach Backpackers Hostel (just next to the beach!) As the season is fairly quiet, we were the only ones in our room of 8! Walked along beach with ice-cream and back to hostel for pasta...again (need to do more food shopping!). Back into centre of Perth next day to register with medi-care and to apply for bank cards.

Tuesday September 7th My birrrrfhday!!! Opened cards and had cheerios in bed. Walked to Cottesloe train station to visit shops and got caught in the rain on the way back. Back to hostel to watch an episode of Bewitched (with the second Darrin ) and Sabrina The Teenage Witch. In the evening we went out for a meal at The Blue Duck, a restaurant near the hostel just on the beach. We both had muscles, ciabata bread and wine for $20 each. After that I had the nicest cake ever, white chocalate mouse cake (maybe even nicer than Costco cake...maybe). We won't be making a habbit out of nights out, probably just this night and Emma's birthday in November. Back to hostel cooking after this night! We ended my birthday by watching 'The Hangover' in the film room of the hostel, and whilst skimming through the film list on the X-Box after the film ended, what's that I spotted?...Point Break! Yes I watched 'Point Break' for the 125th time!

After watching 'Point Break' the previous night I was seriously pumped to get back in the water to attempt surfing for the first time by myself. Even though the weather was still wet and windy I gave it a go. I lasted about 10 minutes! The wind was far too strong, ideal for professional surfers but not for people who only had their first lesson a few days ago. Emma and I got the train into Fremantle to head to the bank in the off-chance our debit cards had arrived. Negative, won't be at the bank till Friday! Walked round the centre of Fremantle and visited the Round House (the oldest public building in the State of Western Australia and used as a prison until 1886). We returned to the Ocean Beach Backpackers for a free sausage sizzle and a chat with other travellers.

Next morning we checked out of the hostel and headed back into Fremantle. We figured instead of staying an extra night at the Ocean Beach Backpackers we'd find a hostel in Fremantle as we needed to be there on Friday to collect our bank cards. At this stage Emma and I were keen to move on from Perth, however, we needed to hang around for our cards. Checked into the Sundancer Backpackers which had a very funky lobby and kitchen area, but not very nice rooms. Spent the afternoon browsing the internet looking for a car to buy in the Perth area and finished the evening with a game of table tennis with little Emma and watched 'Pan's Labyrinth'.

Collected bank cards Friday morning yey! Visited Fremantle market and had a look round the entrance of the old Heritage Prison. We headed back into the centre of Perth and checked back into the first hostel we stayed at - The Old Swan Barracks, whilst deciding on our travel plans, now we were able to move on with our travels. After much discussion, we both decided to forget the idea of a car (expensive!) and travel up the North coast via a hop-on-hop-off coach which we booked yesterday. Only problem with that is.....it doesn't leave till Tuesday! Doh! (we are itching even more now to leave Perth as there's only so much to do without spending any money).

Sunday 12th - Spent the day relaxing and reading in King's Park. Tomorrow we shall do a big shopping trip and will be leaving Perth on Tuesday the 14th at 7am to embark on our trip up the North coast to Broome.....

　
'Try some of these yams, try the grubs and the sugar ants. Just bite the end off, they're really sweet. Black fellas love 'em.'

Take care
　
Matt