Gday!!!

Sorry for the lateness, only it's been harder to get online than we had hoped (we trekked across the island to Kingstown army barracks and nearly went into the Commanding Officer's room.)

There's already so much to tell! So, from the beginning:

After a teary goodbye at stupidly-early o'clock, we went through customs only to realise once shopping that Mary-Ann had managed to lose her phone (already!) We hastily asked an official-looking person for help and retrieved the phone by going back through customs to the desk - proving ownership by the fact that the background was a picture of us in France.

We found our way to the plane and checked out the in flight entertainment - excited by the choice (Up, Julie & Julia and the Time Traveller's wife etc) we were excited to catch up on the films. However, the novelty soon wore off and food was on our minds. Throughout the journey our thoughts were mainly on this subject and this reminded us of Tanzania!

The flight dragged, and the comfort faded, we couldn't sleep (cue the little violins...) After majorly underestimating the distance from arrivals to our gate (of course, the furthest away) we had to near run the 300 mile corridor.

Eventually we arrived at Perth and both had bizarre experiences at the passport checks. The airport official seemed to find Mary-Ann's name rather amusing and Amy had to check her own passport in on a machine!

We caught a taxi to Amy's grandma's house in Maning, Perth, wehere we will be based for our stay in W.A. After unpacking and re-packing for our Rottnest Island 'surprise' we headed to the shops to get in a few bits and later went to the local fish and chip shop where we were treated by the owner to 2 complimentary pineapple fritters to 'wecome us to Oz.' Mary-Ann also found an interesting-looking classical music shop which we will checkout on Saturday.

We decided to get an early night, but this back-fired and amazingly enough we only managed about 2 hours sleep; home was on our minds and we were (still are) missing our families greatly.

Today we were up at 7 to catch the ferry to Rotto, a tiny and beautful island just off the coast of Fremantle where cars are forbidden and quokkas are indiginous. The first ferry we caught was fairly pleasant but the second was god awful! The weather was so windy and rainy (are we in the right country?) that the boat was literally climbing and falling over waves (each of which was pre-empted to the upper deck by the screams from the lower deck.) Mary-Ann made a friend in one of the 2 guys sat next to us when she asked him to fetch her a sick bag - he then even offered her his water bottle post-throw up.

Coming off the ferry we got drenched and chilled through, but made it in one piece to the apartment (which happens to be the same one Amy's family stayed in in 2005.) We went to the shops to get in the basics and couldn't believe the expense of it all (how weak is the pound?!) a pair of jeans in the clothes shop was $269 and lunch and shampoos cost us $47, about thirty pounds, ish. We went to the bakery to get a giant lamington (mm...) before heading back for lunch.

Since lunch we've been sat cuddled under a bed cover on the sofa writing our diaries. Photos should follow soon but as we've mentioned internet has been tricky. We will try and get back online soon but it will probably be some time next week.

Missing you all lots (enjoy it, it won't last long. Like the rain, we hope!!!)

All our love,

Amy and Mary-Ann

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