Australia - Week 2

We've had an enjoyable week 2 in Australia! Here's a quick glimpse of week 2:

Last  weekend we traveled down the coast south for two hours to Bunbury, which is where James' parents live. We stayed here for the extended weekend. Us four went on a road trip through the Margaret River area; touring confectioneries, wineries, breweries, coffee places, and local olive oil and meat places. It was a great day!

We took daily walks around the neighborhood and beach near the Ball's house, it was great to be out in the fresh air. The beautiful beach was only a 7 minute walk away! Weather was just a bit chilly, so we only swam once over the weekend. 
 

  

 
One morning we traveled to a dolphin area. After standing in the water for a bit a dolphin swam near us for about 15 minutes. The dolphin was playful, rolling and flirting with the onlookers. We really enjoyed Bunbury. Staying with the Ball's was great - THANKS!

The next few days we were back in the city, Perth. We accompanied Katrina to Fremantle, where she works, one day to visit different sights. First stop for us was the Old Fremantle Prison. This prison was built in the mid 1800s by the prisoners it remained open until 1991. It is now a historical site and museum. They have restored some of the prison to reflect how it was at different points in time. Little has changed as the prison updated.
Prisoners were sent over from England, along with building supplies for the new prison, to Fremantle. A site on the hill was chosen for the prison because the ocean breeze would help blow away the smell and diseases of the prisoners. It took nearly 7 years for the prisoners to build the limestone (quarried from the hill which it was built on) prison compound. Solid steel doors served as the door to the tiny cells. In the early days, cells had a small hammock, a small sink, small desk, and a small tin bucket and lid for the toilet (these were cleaned each morning by an inmate). Inmates would work on the prison and other city buildings for 16 hours a day and spend 8 hours in their cells at night. Time progressed and building projects were finished inmates then spent 8 hours outside and 16 in the cell. Cells were also changed because of bug infestation, air supply, and a few other reasons - now cells consisted of a thin mattress, small desk, and the bucket/lid toilet. Solitary confinement was a tiny, dark cell with double doors so no one could ever hear your screams. Death row inmates were also brought here during their last two hours before taking a short walk to the gallows.

It was fascinating tour the prison and seeing how dated it was. The history of this place was very interesting, many stories from these walls!

Artistic Inmate

Original Cell. Hammock, sink, desk.

Double Door Solitary Confinement

The Gallows

In Fremantle, we also visited the Maritime Museum and toured a submarine. After the difficult climb in to the belly of the submarine we saw and learned about the missiles, the cramped living spaces, possible emergency escape routes, and the main control room. The entire interior was covered with gauges, knobs, valves, buttons, and such - overwhelming!

Missile Room

Tiny Kitchen - can you imaging cooking for 65 people in this!?

 

We visited The Roundhouse building in Fremantle, the first permanent building in Fremantle, first used as a jail, until the Fremantle Prison was built. Josh and James tried out prison life for a bit - didn't like it much, ha! They pulled cards to see what crime they committed and their punishments - real information taken from the record books. Josh bought sheep with the knowledge that they were stolen, he got 4 months without work. James stole a looking glass (mirror) and got two weeks and 5 dozen lashings!

We also visited a famous Western Australia brewery, Little Creatures, and took a brewery tour. 
 

Inside the Bar/Restaurant - and Brewery all around!

 It's been an enjoyable week. Besides all of these adventures we've enjoyed time in Kings Park, movie nights, and family time. We went into the city to a Thai restaurant one evening, it tasted like Thailand - and we even got to use a bit of our Thai!

This weekend we are headed down south to Albany, for the long Easter weekend with the Ball family.

Hello Australia!

We had a day and a half between Beth's family leaving and us departing for Australia. We relaxed and prepared for our three week trip.


We left Thursday afternoon for the airport. We boarded the plane and were on our way to Kuala Lumpur, 3 hours away. We landed and disembarked the plane, and walked a ways, outside on the tarmac into the terminal. We had about a 4 hour layover, then at about midnight we made our way on the tarmac to board our plane to Perth, a 5 and half hour journey.

Relaxing in the Bangkok Airport

 We arrived just before sunrise, very tired as we didn't sleep much on the flight. Katrina and James were there to meet us - big welcome hugs after a year and a half! We hopped in their car and drove to their place. It was odd not getting in a taxi but instead driving a personal car and it had seat belts in the back! We were also a bit chilly, this 70 degree weather is much different the 95+! We arrived at their place, had some breakfast then warmed up. Josh and I caught up on our sleep.

It rained most of the day we arrived, which James and Katrina said rarely happens in Perth. We stayed in and played Catan after some family bonding. Bonding and catching up had to come first - catan never makes friends...haha! Later in the week, after playing normal Catan we broke out their new Seafarers expansion.

We have been doing little things here each day, exploring the city and enjoying company. Here's a glimpse of we we've been up to over this past week.

Seafarers!

We went to Caversham Wildlife Park with Katrina one day. It is a very large wildlife park with over 2000 different animals in large caged areas, which visitors can enter and interact with the animals. We played with kangaroos, koalas, and other Australian animals. It was a very fun day!

Milking a Cow

Sheep Sheering Demo

Black Swan - only found in Australia!

Joey!

We attended an awards ceremony for James, at University of Notre Dame Australia, beautiful campus. Way to go on all your awards James! One day Josh drove after 5.5 months of not driving at all! We have also enjoyed a quick beach trip - surprising cool water but so refreshing! We had a great tea party with some of James family members. Josh went to an olive farm with James and friend this week. He enjoyed seeing a farm on this side of the world.

Olive Farm

One day us two traveled in the free city bus to the Perth Mint. We did a tour and learned about how the gold rush contributed to Western Australia and the Perth area. We got to see replicas of the world's biggest existing gold nugget, which is in Las Vegas. We also to to see the 2nd largest in the world, held in the Perth mint, along with many other gold nuggets and gold plates from around the world. There was a bar of gold we could lift - very heavy!! The Perth Mint, created the largest coin in the world, which we saw. Next we saw a gold pour demonstration. It took 15 minutes or less from the liquid gold to a solid bar!

The Perth Mint

Gold Campsite

James and Katrina live in a great area with nice city views and right next to Kings Park, the largest park in an urban city in the world! We have been to the park a few times - walks, afternoon reading sessions (or naps.) It is a very nice park, so lucky to be near it!

That about wraps up our first week in Australia. Weather is more bearable here than in Bangkok, that's for sure! 80-85 with little humidity much better than 95+ with very high humidity - and it cools down at night!