Principessa - Records and Reflections: http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

My trip to Perth is full of surprises. I've been told that it is a boring place and I was mentally prepared to see less sights and enjoy time with the girls instead but i was so wrong! Perth is exciting in its own laidback way.

People are friendly, traffic is non-aggressive. The natural sights and beaches are the best part of Perth. My only gripe? The ultra-harsh sun made worst by the cloudless skies but gives pictures such a contrasting shade of blue.

Welcome to Perth City!

99cents cupcake - it is so cheap! But too sweet.This is my late-morning snack.

London Court Shopping Area

The inscription is so meaningful
Lunch @ their almost non-existent Chinatown

Vietnamese Pho with Beef - i like!

Swan Bells and Perth City

Dinner by the Lins siblings
Roasted Lamb and Yams, Avacado Salad, Mushroom Soup all made from scratch! And apple crumble dessert with ice cream

We stayed at Deb's house the whole time we were in Perth, and it was the best part of the trip to be altogether. Deb's family is really hospitable and kind to us throughout. They have a very warm close-knitted family it feels like a real home :)

Trip to Fremantle + Fish @ Chips!

Fremantle is one of those places where you can chill out with a beer and fish @ chips (though i do not drink beer, i hate it), enjoy a lovely breeze in the shade (because Australian sun is no joke, it burns. Very harshly) and watch fishing boats go pass. You could prepare a picnic on the grass, or walk to the Fremantle markets to buy nougats, coffee beans and nuts.

A common bird there, besides frightful seagulls

Shopping at Fremantle Market

Morish Nuts from Perth is so good. Caramel coated nuts that are so addictive, just like popcorns.
We bought ALOT back.

Fish @ Chips Lunch

Fremantle Beach

A shop called 'Cake Soap' that makes pretty cakes of soap that are so realistic and intricate. They look good enough to eat but i'll not want to use them. How can you bear to!

Jolly is mad. This train track is a functioning one used regularly

2D2N Farm Stay + Margaret River Visit

It takes 3 hrs to drive from Deb's house to the farm and it was my first time experiencing a country road drive at night. We set off at about 6pm and it was dark, no lights except for the car's on the quiet deserted roads. We were expecting kangeroos or road kills but thankfully (must be Jolly's fervent prayer) that we met no kangeroos and i haven't seen any road kills!

Just about a week ago, Deb's bf car got hit by a kangeroo and it was baaaaad. Can be really dangeroos because wild kangeroos are huge and hop really fast.

Road trip to Deb's Farm + Woodfired Pizza Dinner at a Travern

Chunks of really good meat and cheese. I never had such a fulfilling pizza, Pizza Hut is really just blah compared to this! It was sooo good. We were too hungry (FAMISHED) and i could only take a quick (blur) snap before quickly gobbling some food. So hungry!! Partly because we waited for maybe half an hour for it? They burnt our pizza and made a new one for us.

Relaxing at the backseat while Deb drives on

This is a tough job, opening the farm gates in the dark of the night where snakes and kangeroos lurk, thanks to Anna and Jolly!

We sat by the fireplace at night to dry our hair, and talk about boys and relationships.
It was so fun :) I missed you girls!!

Scenery during sunrise - Tres Belle Vue!!! (Very beautiful view)

Breakfast - Beef & Mushroom Porridge + Lots of Green peppers made by Jolly

We have crumpets and toast the next morning, no pictures though -pity!! Crumpets is also something new i've never tried before, they sort of taste like mix of a pancake and kueh. I love to toast them and have them with butter + honey, or butter + jam. Why can't they have it in Singapore though?

Exploring the farm and pictures!

Those are young macademia trees in a distance

Margaret River (1) - Cheese, Fudge, Nuts and chocolate factory

After much cheese tasting, i have concluded that blue cheese are not my kind of thing. I love Camberet Cheese though, they are creamy and just right, and light cheeses with some flavour.

Fudge are not my thing either, they are too sweet! Give me dark chocolate anytime..

Make your own museli! How ingenious. I'll love to mix my own breakfast cereals

Chocolate Factory - not too fantastic

Lunch @ Woody Nook

The ambience is perfect for a lunch date, the food is fresh and tasty. I haven't been exposed to much higher end European cuisine, it is my first time tasting some of the food. We ordered a tasting platter for two and a salad, with fudgey we bought at the factory for dessert.

I have concluded that cheese and fresh greens are the mains in European food!! And some wine of course..

The cheese, fudge and chocolate tasting earlier left us so full!

A visit to a large winery and pictures

Sand, sun, sea and bathers @ a secluded beach

This is a highlight of our trip, WA's beaches are one of the most beautiful and cleanest I have seen! The water is so clear and refreshing and although it is cold in Autumn, the sun keeps us warm.

We took so many pictures it was crazy!!!

Slapping on copious amounts of sunblock

Wenny's specially cooked Dinner - Teriyaki Chicken Pasta + Stir fried Veggies

Yea, i don't often cook for others, much less a full meal! So the girls are my first special dinner guests, i'm glad they love the food! We cooked so much, 6 organic chicken thigh, 1 brocooli and half a cauliflower for 4 girls.

And Jolly's homemade Corn Soup - it was soooo good!

Comfy bunk beds with electric blankets - so cosy! The nights are really cold but the sky is completely lit with stars it is surreal. I'll say, if you miss the country area of WA, you're missing out a whole lot of WA!

Perth City is really not the best part of Perth, try a farm stay if possible :)

Clear blue skies with wispy clouds - what a perfect day!

A visit around Margaret River (2) - Ice cream and picnic lunch

Fall is here, can you see it?

What makes everyone happy?

ICE CREAM! From G-spot ice cream

Wildberry sorbet for Jolly, Mint Choc Chip for Deb, Butterscotch for Anna, and Rum & Raisin (i will love it much more if there's cookie dough) for me. You know, it is somehow accurate in representing our personalities that day. I usually choose dark chocolate, cookie dough or rum & raisin. :)

Picnic lunch at Harvey Dam

The lovely podium and area under the shade is fab for our picnic. Moreover there is nobody there and Deb did a rendition of Shakespeare's most widely quoted verse

D: "All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players'

And I'll say.. 'Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?'

A morning walk through King's Park

A visit to the UWA Campus and Lunch

Pide with chicken, beef and lamb. They taste like Arabian Pizza with the soft chewy dough and spicy filling. I love it though it is a tad too oily - but oh so good! YUM. Where can we find it in Singapore? This is Turkish food.

The flaky Turkish dessert does not fail us either, made of layers of pastry and syrupy honey like goodness. Certainly made for sharing. Thou shalt try new food, be adventurous!

With a view like that to de-stress at the UWA campus, it is impossible to feel stressed, how can NUS compare? I think we will produce better students if our weather is less humid less hot and has views like that!!

Black swans along the Swan River

Beautiful arches of the campus - i feel like a student in this outfit

I belong here!!

Shopping at Leederville

A quiet shopping suburb with quirky boutiques and many hangout spots - i like this more than downtown Perth! Anna is the only one who shopped mainly. I wasn't so interested in the clothes here because the Autumn/Winter collection is not my kind of thing. I love Spring/Summer.

But Deb and I took pictures while waiting

Dinner by Deb - Lamb Stew :)

A visit to the Pinnacles, wildlife park and sand dunes

We paid for a one day Pinnacles + Cavensham Wildlife Park + Sand dune adventure + Picnic Lunch package that costs about 168AUD because koalas, kangeroos, wombats and the pinnacles cannot be missed or you'll feel like you haven't been to Australia. Luckily for that, we travelled in comfort in a nicely air-conditioned bus instead of having to drive 5 hours (and maybe more) in the hot sun just to see some over-raved stones. A package tour is most worth it, quick and easy, just eat sleep and see! :)

I will never do this in the city though, one day is enough. Tours make one lazy and passive, but once in a while it is good! Moreover, we have an overnight flight to Sydney at midnight.

Soft soft fur of koalas, they look really cute and huggable :)

I love this picture :D It is so carefree and beautifully composed.

At the Sand dunes

The sand here is soft and cool because the sun is setting. At first, i was so irritated with the sand entering my shoes and it weighs my foot down when i walk. So i took them off and ran around the sand, it was so fun, wheeee!!!! *anna style*

We had to wax our sand-boards so that it is easier to slide down. It was fun but i was so busy enjoying the feel of the sand on my feet and taking pictures of everything, to truly have a substantial sand-boarding experience. It lasted for only 15 minutes? Pity, that's what i hate about tours - time limits!

See how happy Anna is!

We also went for a 4-wheel drive adventure where we have to put on the seat belts and the driver will drive up and down huge sand dunes. It wasn't as scary as it looks but it was sure STEEP!! It's like you can't see anything in front and the vehicle is tilted so precariously, it was fun though!