Hi everyone!

As always hope that you're all well and enjoyed the snow; I've seen pictures, very pretty - can't get my head around that type of weather at the moment as I've been spoilt with lots of VERY warm sunshine recently.

Another BIG thing to update you on since the last blog…Matt has now flown out to meet me in Australia and is currently with me in Adelaide! ha. He's a funny old boy isn't he!? Got to love him; I'm so pleased that he decided to fly out!

I'd just like to update you on Fremantle first as had such a brilliant time there, then I'll update on Uluru (my previous stop) separately.

During my first few days in 'Freo' I did the usual and got myself acquainted with the town and surrounding area. The town is very pretty - very colonial - it reminded me of a cross between Frinton and the Lanes in Norwich on a slightly larger scale with a Marina and a few parks and (for me anyway) wall to wall sunshine. Perfect! I visited the Roundhouse which was built in 1831 and is the oldest standing building in WA; the building was originally a prison and the site of the colony's first hanging. Later it became a holding-place for Aboriginal men before they were transferred to the prison on Rottnest Island. I also visited the Maritime Museum - Shipwreck Galleries which showcases the recovered remains of the numerous shipwrecks claimed by WA's coast. The largest display is that of 'The Batvia' - a Dutch ship from 1629 - one side of the hull remains almost completely intact! The museum its opposite a beautiful little marina and a large open park - Esplanade Park - in which I spent many an afternoon! There's a huge coffee culture here and I made sure to visit the well-known 'Cappuccino Strip.' Mum, you would've loved it! They do these amazing 'crumble' muffins over here which are like the nicest muffin you've ever tasted with a layer of chewy crumble on the top, served warm - can't get enough! I also visited the famous Fremantle markets; a large undercover market which originally opened in 1897 housing everything from carrots to candlesticks with lots of very cool locals and buskers thrown in.

I met Emily in Little Creatures (a well known brewery pub just off of the marina) on the second day of my stay for a few ciders looking out over the Indian Ocean. It was SO nice to catch up with her, as I said, I haven't seen her for nearly two years as she has been living and working Australia since January 2009. She had a lot to fill me in on; she is an absolute seasoned traveller now and can't imagine a different way of life. She says the Aussies have the whole work/life balance thing completely right, which I can see, even after three weeks here (and I suppose that the weather helps too, ha).

I was much luckier with the people in my dorms in Fremantle, the thing with backpacking though, as soon as you start to get to know someone - you or they have to move on. I shared rooms with people from the UK, Japan, Spain, Germany, Switzerland, America and New Zealand. The lady from New Zealand 'Melody' was quite a character actually; she was very friendly and chatty etc but decided to claim the whole floor space with all of her stuff and had this very annoying habit of snoring ridiculously loudly throughout the night. You have never heard snoring like this! It kept the whole dorm awake; I had to invest in some good quality ear-plugs as I was just getting no sleep. I'd be lying there at like half four in the morning just staring at her, praying that she would stop, ha.

I had some lovely beach time at the local beach Cottelsloe; note to Clacton - this is how seaside towns should be done! It really is lovely and so unspoilt, just a few shops and restaurants lining the front. I found out the other day that Heath Ledger's ashes were scattered there; I'm guessing he spent some time there when he was younger. I'd also heard that there had been a few shark sightings in the last few months so, again, I only made it in for a paddle. In the afternoons the 'Fremantle Doctor' tended to come in (a very strong wind coming off of the Indian Ocean). I learnt this the hard way on my first beach visit, I was covered - head to toe - in sand. From then on I found it easier to lay on the grass verge just before the beach. Saying that, the wind did drop off towards the end of my first week there and the temperature rose to the mid-30's - I would have quite liked that doctor to revisit at that point.

Emily, Connor (Emily's boyfriend) and I went out for a meal in town on the first Friday night, then after a few drinks back at her backpackers, me and her went into town for some dancing. Very fun, I'm not sure how quiet I was getting back into my dorm and climbing up to the top bunk after, ha.

Met Emily again for a few drinks on the Sunday night - so nice to go out in shorts and flip flops in the evening! I also went to the beach with Emily and a few of her hostel friends the following day, we made up a little picnic and everything! It was a struggle to keep the food cool though - another VERY hot day.

I took the ferry over to Rottnest Island last Tuesday; apparently the island was originally named 'Rottenest' (rat's nest) by a dutch explorer in 1696 because of the 'king-sized rats' or Quokkas he found there. In 1838 the island became the site for an Aboriginal prison. Since the 1960's the island has been turned into a tourist spot for visitors and residents of Perth - I can't say I'm surprised - it is BEAUTIFUL. Absolutely idyllic. There are no cars allowed on the island so most people hire a bike for the day and cycle the whole way around. I was lazy though and bought a ticket for the 'hop-on, hop-off' bus as it was again, SO hot that day. Only two small bays of the island have shops etc - the rest of the island is completely untouched, exactly as nature intended. I visited Salmon Bay, Longreach Bay and The Basin - some of the most beautiful beaches that I've ever been to. At one point I basically had a whole cove of one of the beaches to myself -actual heaven - I think this was the day that the snow started at home! Ha.

Went to see some live music last Tuesday night with Emily and a few of her hostel friends - the lead singer of one band made his dad get up on stage to play the Ukulele - got to love it. We also had another really fun night out on Friday - it was quite painful to check out of my dorm by ten on Saturday morning! I am so grateful to Emily for looking after me and showing me such a good time in Fremantle, it really was a brilliant two weeks.
And then onto the big red rock….

P.s All of that beach-time called for a lot of reading - for anyone who knows my strict rule of not reading the relevant Twilight book until the film has been released (however much I want to) I have a very big confession to make - I read Breaking Dawn whilst in Fremantle! I just couldn't help myself. I had tears streaming down my face under my sunglasses on the beach when I finished it last week. Teenager.

P.p.s Whilst travelling solo I became one of those annoying people who take pictures of themselves. Please forgive me, I just needed evidence of actually being in some of those beautiful places.