1st July 2007

Today we got up and left the hostel for 10am, walked to the railway station and got on the train to Freemantle which cost just over $3 and took about 30 mins. It was pouring with rain, so glad i had my backpack rain cover, but Jen didnt have one so custom made one from a binbag!! Haha, classy travellers! First we went and had a look round Freemantle markets, but even they were pretty expensive! I bought a shot glass from a 'cheap' street shop. Then we went to the prison, where all the British convicts were sent, and the prison itself only shut down in 1991! The place was grim - total basics, unlike todays prisons! Saw some cells, the kitchens, solitary confinement rooms and the execution room where 43 men and 1 woman were hanged. After the prison which took just over an hour and cost $16 (8pound each), we got some lunch and went to another market where we bought boomerangs! Then we walked to the 'Round House' which was another prison but was tiny, but it had a good lookout over the sea which was rough and windy - great for surfing! Then back to the hostel where we have a 6 bed female dorm, we have met 1 French girl in our room who says there is a mouse in our room! I hope i dont see it! Thats far worse than damn cockroaches!! We're only here for 1 night though. Think we're gonna head to STA Travel tomorrow on our way back to Perth and see what we can do about these flights!

2nd July 2007

Today we got up and checked out of the hostel in Freemantle by 10am and headed straight to STA. Although to our disappointment, they told us that they couldn't rearrange our flights as we have paper tickets instead of e-tickets!, so we had to go to the Qantas Headquarters where a really helpful woman helped us alter our flights, all but my last flight home as BA haven't released the seats yet. So i had to email Greg at STA in Manchester (who we booked our trip with) to see if he could book it for me. But hopefully i will be home on the 17th/18th September instead of the 11th October. We went into Tourist Info in the centre of Perth and booked a day trip up to the Pinnacles Desert, which we're going on Wednesday, and that cost around 70pounds! So another expensive day! Survived on one meal today consisting of a grilled chicken baguette, so straight to bed to curb my hunger!

3rd July 2007

Today we visited the Western Australia Museum, which had everything from space to dinosaurs to the origins of Australia and Aboriginees. It was quite interesting. Learnt a lot about animals that this part of the world used to inhabit, which England didn't. Totally different dinosaurs and theories. Then we visited the Art Gallery, which wasn't really my kind of art, but ok for a look. Both were free, as we had to have a cheap day cos we'd spent a lot to do the Pinnacles Tour. Looked online for accommodation at Ayers Rock with no luck! For tea we went to a local supermarket bought some bread and eggs and cooked scrambled eggs on toast back in the kitchen at our hostel!

4th July 2007

Up for 7am pickup outside our hostel and taken to the bus stop to wait for our 4x4 sand truck. It was a beast, massive wheels and really high up! First stop was Yanchep National Park where we saw loads of kangaroos and koalas which was brilliant! (I have added all the photos for you guys to have a nosey!) Kangaroos were much smaller than i had imagined them and koalas much bigger!! They were so cute and cuddly looking. We were lucky to see 1 koala awake as they sleep for 18 hours a day! When we left there we arrived at the Pinnacles Desert. They really were spectacular, iv never seen anything like it in my life! Every one a different size and shape. We were looking for rude shaped ones with no success! Grrr. On from there we hit the sand dunes and then had a go at sand surfing down them which was mega!

5th July 2007

Today had breakfast then straight to the State Library to use the free internet to search for a place to stay at Uluru (Ayers Rock) - There was absolutely no free accommodation EVERYWHERE was booked up, so our only option was to hire a car and sleep in it too! 2 out of 3 car rental services there was nothing available but luckily 'Avis' had cars for rental at approx $240 (120GBP) so again not cheap but it was our only option. Petrol on top of that and a place to stay on the campsite - other than that the only option left was a 'standard room' and i am not paying 100 pounds a night (which was the price). Still no email from Greg at STA. Then spent the afternoon just mingling with other people in the hostel and making fags, yes i am poor so have resorted to rolling tobacco to save on the cash. Then packed our bags and straight to bed for pickup at 8am tomorrow for Uluru!!