Perth 2010: Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse

We went to Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse right after the Lake Cave.
Considered the distance between both spectacular tourist attractions.
Considered it was the kids nap time, which can be done in the car, conveniently... haa...

It was not hard to find our way to the town of Augusta.
It was harder to find suitable food for the elderly as lunch.
We ended up having sandwiches at the Leeuwin Lighthouse cafe.

It was just A$5 to access the ground. We did not join the tour (A$15) as children like little Jiejie are not permitted to climb the tower... not sure why though.

The historic Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse near Augusta is situated at the most south westerly tip of Australia.

It was good enough for me to tell Jiejie about lighthouse, the ocean and the cottages. Obviously she could not digest my "lesson". She probably understand what and why the lighthouse for, but she may not be able to imagine how and why was the living being away from the town.

I simply adore the blue and the white...

Bomber at 8 months, 2 weeks old: on the road

Dear Meimei,

We, probably, the most inconsiderate parents of all.

Dragged you out from your comfort zone,
took you up to a flight in the middle of the night for so called vacation,
not to mention we mixed up your routine for the rest of the week.

You were barely 9 months old.

We thought you are an outgoing babe and eager to see the world as much as your jiejie does.We thought we did the most planning and checking to reduce the impact of the change on you.
We thought more holding and cuddling will soothe your crankiness.
We really prepared beforehand.
But it was far more tricky than we thought.
You become fussy, clingy, grouchy;You developed separation anxiety, you wailed whenever I moved away from you, slightly though.
You saw an opportunity to test mama's boundary.
Mama became mazy, gloomy, numbly.
You were so much persistent than your jiejie in term of testing mama's limit.

I could not remember whether you became easier to handle, or I gave in more and more.

So long I was beside you, you will behave much better.

So long you were not stuck in the car seat and being transported from 1 place to another for too long, you will be more cheery.

You gazed intently to jolly jiejie, to the breezy beach, to the freely birds.

You gurgled, cooed and babbled when you are in good state. "jiejie" was slipping out from your mouth once or twice.

You attempted to crawl forward, but somehow backwards which equally amazed us as we know this is a step closer to your next milestone.

Not forgetting that, your upper central incisor started to pop out from your gum.

It was a sticky business to bring you on a trip... we survived.

It's part of the parenthood, we know.

And we think we should not stop here.

We probably should start travelling to Malaysia more often to orientate you,

As Daddy believes that you will be an exciting little traveller,

just like your sister.

"Huh? We are not done?!!"

Perth 2010: Lake Cave

Lake Cave is believed to be the most beautiful cave of Australia. After we bought our tickets and waited for the guided tour, I prepared her by walking her through the gallery about limestones. She seemed enthused.

While waiting and having a cup of coffee in Lake Cave Tearooms, we were very much welcomed by the bush flies. Jiejie got annoyed totally, almost wanted to fight with them. We had a chat with the waiter (or the boss him self?) from the cafe and being introduced the Australian wave to sway the flies.

She was pleased then... until the tour started. With a walk through a wooden staircase of 350 steps to access to the bottom of the doline, she began to look unpleasant...

Once we were in the doline, the tour guide gave us the history, geology, and the "Do and Don't" about the Cave. Inside the cave is huge cave lake which is crossed on wooden planks with a handrail on one side.

Lake Cave is famous for its treasured formation, the "Suspended Table".

Different lights show different beauties and we gets a taste of sitting in the underground darkness.

What did I learn? Stalactites and Stalagmites.

and straw too

By the end of the tour, timid Jiejie can't wait to get out of the darkness.

It was very cooling inside the doline. I didn't feel too exhausted to climb the staircase up. Little Bomber was dozing away throughout the tour... gave me such a good time to enjoy the tour.

It was great to have a work out and an informative visit at the same time.

Perth 2010: where we stay in MR

Judging from the pictures, I liked what i saw most in Stayz Holiday... but was really indecisive and spoiled by choices. Knowing that we have 2 elderly (with a special need on sight problem to take care of) and 2 kiddos, the room configuration and the ambient of the house/room became the utmost priority to be considering.

After a long browsing and checking, corresponding and few rounds of discussion with SC, I decided and confirmed on Gnarabup Beach House. As Jane replied my email that, "Downstairs - bedroom one has a queen bed, bedroom 2 has 3 singles ( a bunk and a single); Loft/mezzanine area - this is quite spacious but it shares airspace with the kitchen/lounge area and there is a double bed and a single up there...", I thought, we can just occupy the 2 rooms downstairs and skip the loft area. The location of the house is just 10 km away from the town of Margaret River.

The true is, it was the cheapest among all: A$160 per night per house that can fit comfortably 6 adults. [My second choice, which is very style and characteristic showing in the website, was A$310 per night per house]

Jiejie was super thrilled with the house: the verandah, the double volume of the kitchen/lounge space, and staircase. She was particularly very fond of the bunk bed, offered her self to sleep on the top bed while daddy slept below. The verandah was so inviting and made her willingly ate breakfast with daddy every morning (picture above); Not forgetting the big bathtub in the bathroom allowed both sisters had some water fun together! The wood heater that lightened up by daddy every night was an eye opening to her. You can see more on the house through here.

The neighbourhood seems quiet, I guess most of them like us, ain't local, rented a house there and were out every morning and return to the house around 5 or 6 in the afternoon. We did not get to meet the owner of the house. Perhaps they watched us from far. The house was not big, but is a good size for Jiejie to mingle around. It was like vacant for a long time, webby ceiling when you look up, dusty air when light shine in... imagine you are like powdering the sofa once you get up from the seat.. :p (it bothered me a little). Clean bathroom though. Good thing is that it provided a washing machine and we brought our own linen to make our selves comfortable:).

It would be prefect if the house is cleaner. But... somehow, I'm glad that the house wasn't haunted ;p and we checked-out the house peacefully (and little bomber slept through the nights).

Perth 2010: Gnarabup Beach

I reckon this is Gnarabup Beach, in Margaret River. Supposedly, 10 minutes away from where we stay. But... I returned with little bomber after 10 minutes of walk as I could not see the beach any close to where I stopped. Despite the terrain, it was too chill for a baby to join the stroll. It was chill for me. Anyway, it is a beautiful shoreline and some long stretches of white sand. Learnt that, this is an ideal playground for surfers.

We ain't surfers. But it doesn't bore them to appreciating the nature. It became a wonderful opportunity for Jiejie and papa to act and to snap with the nature... wonder what was she pretending.

Many of the pictures taken by SC kind of blur to show the beauty of the nature, but it can tell that she can simply turned a beautiful beachside a fun stage for her imaginative-play; that the daddy and daughter had a remarkable "connection" time together.

While I was glued with little bomber cozily in the house, the weather seemed getting cooler and turning dark. It nerved me when I was waiting the return of them, ha!

Blamed SC for causing hy returned with a runny nose, even though I see the beaming face of my girl.

Perth 2010: Busselton

I didn't snap or record much for the trip. Iphone was idle most of the time. The following pictures are all by SC. I thought that i should enjoying the trip less tense and just attend to my little ones fully. Honestly, this was a good trip for me to learn and survive from a grouchy baby and a curious pre-schooler.

This is our second visit to Perth. Mainly to get away from humid concrete jungle of Singapore as well as to reminisce Jiejie's memories of being far and cold. We have stop travel back to Malaysia by plane ever since SC bought the car. When she knew about our trip to Perth, she once asked, "can we take car to Australia?" Oppss, she has forgotten about aeroplane.

Our destination this time is to visit Margaret River. We stopped half way in Busselton mainly to see the famous Busselton Jetty, even though the Underwater Observatory is closed due to restoration, I just couldn't resist to stop by and have a close look of the picturesque jetty my self. I was intrigued by the simplicity of the blue formed by the sea, skyline and the wooden jetty that stretched nearly up to 2km towards the sea.

When we reached Busselton, it was almost 5pm. We were kind of panic as we know that most business in Australia closed at the dot of 5 (most days). But we were lucky that Sunday, we found Gale Street Motel and Villas which offered a Villa (of 2 bedrooms) at the cost of $170. Ya, I took the risk and did not book the accommodation in advance. It was the 2nd day of the trip, I was a little unconfident that we were able to depart from Perth as kids may need extra time to adjust themselve to the change.

Anyway, we were glad that we drove away from Perth city and reached Busselton, a bit late though. After checked-in, we immediately went to the one and only store which opened until 7pm that day (advised by the Motel receptionist).

While SC's aunt was preparing dinner and I was glued to little bomber, SC took Jiejie to the beach for a stroll and shooting... It was a cold windy evening.

Busselton Jetty is on the doorstep of Gale Street Motel and Villas. We went there after our breakfast and checked-out from the Motel the next morning.

It was breezy, but little Bomber was wearing 4 pieces of clothes, a pair of legging and booties. She was curious but she was tired too... She had a terrible sleepless night, wailed  almost every hour without a clear reason. Yeah, very pitiful. So was the mum!

On the other hand, Jiejie was thrilled when she knew that she had another opportunity to have sand play.

She was happily occupied with the white, infinite ground and her limited tools... plus daddy's tripod.

She was wearing a pair of long pants and 4 pieces of tops too... But I reckon she had a bit of work out, she took off piece by piece slowly.

It has been so long that I forgotten about the blueish part of the nature, the breezy and calm morning...

witnessing a simple joy of a child.

as well as admiring those lucky birds...

Telling my self that I am a blessed girl to have such relaxing morning hanging out by the beach with the family...

The first 50 meter of the jetty is still permitted, so we went to the Interpretive Centre for some souvenirs.