To Oz and Back - Science Techs Down Under

Wednesday, 5 December 2012

First adventure in Melbourne

Taking the train and trams in Melbourne to visit Victoria Market and the Museum of Chinese Australian History

We purchased Myki cards that you then load with money for fares. To enter and leave transit, one places the card against sensors and gates open.

Flinders Station is the main station downtown and central hub for transferring to other train lines or going out and taking a bus or tram.

We exited the station and walked down the street and caught a tram to Victoria Market where we joined up with Eva and Philip.

Victoria Market is HUGE! We could have spent hours exploring all there was to see and do. After a bit to eat, we hopped a tram and visited the Chinese Museum.

There are a couple of free options for visiting a great number of attractions in the downtown area.

We walked around a bit before taking the train back to the Hemisphere Hotel.

We are in Melbourne, but before sharing that, a quick look at our last activity in Perth,,, a visit to Kings Park. We were told that this is the largest urban park in the world. We haven't verified this, but we can confirm that there was more that we didn't see than what we did see.

Called the Christmas tree
because it blooms in December

View of downtown Perth
from the Mount Eliza escarpment

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Re: no birds- this make of cars does not advertise their cars using female models

Monday, 3 December 2012

Aquarium of Western Australia (AQWA)

On Sunday the 2nd the three of us went the Aquarium of Western Australia. Nice facility. There is a 98 metre long viewing tunnel where you are surrounded by several species of marine inhabitants.

Weedy Sea Dragon

Moon Jellies

Giant Clam

Lion fish

Puffer fish

Underwater viewing tunnel

Pink snapper

Grey Nurse Shark

Loggerhead turtle

Smooth stingray

Moray eel

Footballer sweep

Anemone fish (clown fish)

Wrasse

Cownose ray

Baby Salt-water crocodile

Perth to Melbourne Travel Day

About to leave Perth.

We were up a little after 5AM and at the airport by 6:30. We each have 2 bags for checkin and the kiosks for getting boarding passes only allowed one. Because we came international we were able to book all our flights for 2 bags. Anyway, after some confusion we went through the international priority business lineup and were successful in getting all our bags checked.

We took a taxi from Melbourne airport to the Hemisphere Convention Centre and Hotel and John made checking in a quick and effortless process. Everything that a guest might need, you contact the front desk. After settling into the room, we went for a walk down South Road and went grocery and "refreshment" shopping, as the prices at the hotel were a bit steep.

They have "555" phone numbers in Australia

Bowling Club here is not 5 or 10 pin.

Stores and malls in Perth closed at 5. We were relieved to learn that in Melbourne they are open to 11PM.

After dropping the groceries off, we went to the corner Chinese Noodle Bar and had supper. The internet at the hotel is a little wonky and to get full service we have to be downstairs in the lobby... for some reason up in the room and being plugged in (blue cable), we are not able to get google or facebook, while downstairs and wireless we can.

We seem to have brought the "bad" weather with us... It was 40C until we came, but today's high was 24 and now tonight it is windy out there. I looked now and it is 18/19C and rain for the next two days! We will find something to do though I am sure.

Sunday, 2 December 2012

ROTTNEST ISLAND

     The island is called Wadjemup by the Aboriginal Noongar people, meaning "place across the water". It was given the name "Rotte nest" (meaning "rat nest" in the Dutch language) by Dutch captain Willem de Vlamingh who spent six days exploring the island in December 1696, mistaking the marsupial quokkas for giant rats.

     Early on Saturday morning (7:15 AM Dec 1st) Scott & Karen took the train (LRT) from Atwell to the Barrack Street Jetty in Perth to board the 8:30 AM Rottnest Express ferry. The 1 hour scenic trip down the Swan River, with informative commentary from the ship's purser, revealed many highlights including a sailing regatta with hundreds of boats, a dolphin pod and Australia's most expensive property - a 57.5 million dollar mansion sold to mining magnate Chris Ellison in 2009.

    The crossing from Fremantle to Rottnest Island was a pleasant 25 minute trip. When we arrived at Rottnest we took a 90 minute bus tour that circumnavigated the island, hitting all the "high points" of history, flora & fauna, with very detailed and good humoured guidance from our driver Bert. Along the way we saw up-close-and-personal the very tame quokka "rats" (we were told that they number about 10,000 on the island), a lighthouse, beautiful seascapes, shipwrecks, coral reefs, Mediterranean-like Geordie Bay, salt lakes. nesting osprey and various other bird species.

     After a very generously portioned lunch at the Dome Cafe, Scott went to explore the salt lakes area some more and Karen went on a heritage walking tour. We reconvened in time to do a little tourist shopping just prior to the 6 PM embarkation time for the return ferry to B-Shed Terminal in Fremantle, where our very gracious host Anne-Marie was waiting to "chauffeur" us home.