Hi All
I have ben reading all the interesting news of you all in Singapore. Hope to join you all when I’m back there especially for trips from Sinagpore. I am hoping to see more of Australia these few years especially parts that I haven’t been. Friends here too talk about going round during the cooler months.
Just to share – I’ll be travelling to Adelaide – cheap airfares are on sale and we are renting a car , sightseeing places as we haven’t been to South Australia and then driving onto to Victoria, going along The Great Ocean Rd. It will just be 7 days.
Regards
Joan
Dear Joan,
Wow, when are you going Adelaide? Wish I could join you – love to fish giant squids.
We drove north to Geraldton via Moora & Mingenew during school winter holidays – beautiful scenery with some pockets of wild flowers towards Northampton via Chapman valley. Last Sunday we joined in St Anne’s Feast procession at Bindoon, detoured to Chittering valley for those divine sweet mandarins and then to Manduring for world’s best pizzas. Planning to drive to Monkey Mia & Shark Bay during Oct spring holidays – about 5-6 days.
Next week, Thurs & Fri high tide at Fremantle (Mews Road or South mole) is 0930hrs – good time for fishing big sand whiting and blue herring.
Blessings
Mary
Joan
Humbly through the years I have travelled to Australia many times, mostly in the big towns. Stayed in Perth in Arauleun
Valley, in Armaydale for a while. Nice golf resort. I have an affinity for Australia, though also travelled to other parts of the world. But I am rooted in Singapore.
When you drive out of the towns into the countryside, nature
unfolds its glory and you breathe the freshness of spring or autumn air. Very exhilarating to our elements. Self-drive is the best.
Along the Great Ocean Rd, following the coast line, you will be able to see the Seven Apostles. ( formation of 7 rock bolders in the sea and name the Seven Apostles).
Enjoy your trip.
Regards
Leepatrick
Hi Mary
We’ll be away for 1 week only in Aug. It’s a bit cold now and we hope it will be cool then. We’ll be back to visit the wildflower festival at Kings Park on 1 Sep.
A few years back I did a self drive with a relative to look for wildflowers up north. I had been down south with a group of friends the previous year and wanted to see wildflowers up north.That was when I posted in SHC website.
We went up New Norcia, onto Wubin, right up to Morawa where we stayed at a B & B. We managed to see the wreath wildflowers on the way up. They were really like garland of multi colours. Beautiful!
Coming down, we stayed a night at Cervantes to fish but not much bite.
Hope to join you on Fri at Fremantle. If you are free on Fri night, do come to Sts John & Paul, Willetton, where there is a Praise & Worship service at 7.30 pm – a teaching by Don Sproxton, Mass and then light supper.. Thu for me is golf.
Cheers
Hi Patrick
Are you the Patrick I met in Singapore re: education matters?
True, Australia is so big – there’s plenty to see and I believe that self-drives is the way to go. Saves a fair bit especially during the off peak seasons.
Initially we wanted to drive across the Nullabor but glad we decided to fly now. Airfares are cheap as friends later told us that petrol is double and it takes at least 2/3 days to cross 1 way.
It’s coming to springtime and hope to get some lovely views of the Twelve Apostles (maybe as you said 7 now) and also enjoy the food and wine. Will be driving and so need to take note of the limit.
Best of luck in your future travels.
Joan
Hello Joan
SHC has many Patricks. I am St.Patrick of Ireland, the Patron Saint. Ha! Ha! just joking.
The last time I counted was 7 rock formations quite far apart. In the Bible , there are 12 apostles
but unfortunately the five apostles did not make the cut.
Hence, I saw only seven.
In Perth,I love the seafood enclave in Sorrento. I remember
driving to the Wave Rock about 5 to 6 hrs drive and the Pinnacles about 2 hrs drive from Perth.
Travelling opens up the mind to the culture of a country and best is to travel when you are not too old. The energy level eroded with time especially if you need to walk alot on rough terrain. I am now in my mid 60s.
The broader perspective of life is live through our travels and the sweet reminiscence of it, especially dear if the whole family is involved. Switzerland and Canada holds unforgettable memories. Going up the Jungfraujoch at 11,333ft above sea level in the Swiss Alps and the Niagara Falls on the Canada side was so magnificient walking across the Rainbow Bridge. And driving from London to Edinburgh in Scotland was a sight to behold along the way. Visiting The Lake District, the Stonehegde in Salisbury Plain, the Roman Bath, Cambridge University, Cardiff, Yorkshire and the magnificient York Minster Cathedral, etc. The castles in Scotland is so unique and old.
Willing to share my travel experiences and photo presentation of countries visited to fellow SHCians if call upon, in future monthly gatherings. I can see holidaying is
in many SHCians blood.
Lee patrick
Patrick!
Are you sure you saw 7? Knowing you, it could be 12 and yet your sight……..Of course I know your bond for Australia, hmm…….
Joan,
Put some photos in our SHC website of your trip so we could all admire the beauty of Australian outdoor life.
Who knows, maybe one day SHC members could decide to hold an annual get-together in your country, followed by a short holiday.
Think about it.
Hi Joan,
I guess you have good reasons to spend a lot of time in Australia, especially Perth. To me, Perth is an attractive place. I like the free aircon air, the open space, the oceans, the fishing and way of life. Many people say Perth is slow, well if one likes it that way, I guess one can go for it.
I always love the topic of retirees spending 3 months short term retirement living in Perth. Joan, you travel between Singapore and Perth regularly, can we hear from you if this concept makes sense. For retirees, is 3 months workable, looking at it from the cost and livability point of you?
Terence Seah
Hi Joan,
Sorry, borrow your post to answer to Geraldine.
Geraldine,
Maybe my eye-sight and memories failed me to see only seven apostles. That was in 2001. If I return to view it again it may be just four. A cantonese saying: “old eyes are cloudy”
Hahaha !
Terence,
Perth is a good place for layback lifestyle, especially in
the valleys among nature’s exquisiteness and serenity.
I have a good friend who owns a six rooms bungalow in Rolleystone, in Arauluen,Perth with membership golf resort. I stayed there for awhile in 2006.
Most of the time the big house is vacant. My friend’s family
stays there only 2 times a year for a month each because he is an IT Consultant in Dubai working for the Dubai port and live in Dubai. He is Singaporean.
Maybe it is viable to loan the place from him for the empty period they are not there.
SHCians retirees can stay for 1,2,or 3 months. The place is about 2hrs drive to Perth city. Beginning, it may not be easy for many to adjust to such lifestyle. After you stay two months or so, routine will bore you down.
Many things in life are easily pictured in our imagination.
We need the real life experience to come to terms whether
we like such tranquil lifestyle in the valleys and vines. Not doubt, can see plently of wild kangaroos and play golf just near by.
I may approach my buddy, whether he is willing to lease, for
one, two or three months for SHCians if you concur the idea.
Nothing obligatory. Wait for your green light.
Thank you.
lee patrick
Patrick,
Hahahaha………yes, it will probably be 4. Besides the old eyes being cloudy, your mind is also foggy. Kekekekeee.
Hi Patrick Lee #5
That offer of sharing your photo presentations in 1 monthly gathering is a great idea. I’m certain those who love travelling will want to watch. If it’s organised for Dec, I will attend.
Self-drives are lesiurely and fits into one’s views of what travelling is all about. So far, outside of WA, I’ve driven in Malaysia and Ireland. Hope to cover Ireland, Scotland, Lake District, USA etc one day
Perhaps a motoring club can be started by SHC. Those who don’t drive or don’t feel like it can share the costs of petrol etc. But yes, share your travel photos first.
Regards
Joan
Hi Terence #8 and Patrick #9 and Charles #7
Terence, 3 months retirement living in Perth is certainly workable but may not suit everyone. For those who are still working or just want to have a getaway, perhaps 5 days – 10 days will be sufficient.Some aspects of Perth living may seem more expensive than Singapore. House and car Rentals, eating as a group, AC environment certainly cut costs here.
One must like reading, the simple things in life, the quiet and cool weather, the outdoors etc. The company is most important. You can have groups who share common interests eg fishing, golfing, bushwalking, food and wine, driving around, shopping at markets or just a mix of everything.
In Australia, $50-100/day may cover everything, from rent, food, petrol etc depending on one’s comfort and style. Whenever we travel, we normally put aside that amount.
If Patrick can manage to get his friend’s place at Araluen rented for SHCians, it will be wonderful. Araluen is beautiful – really country living. We try to visit Araluen park at springtime to see the tulips. Spring is coming round the corner from Sep-Nov.
Certainly Charles, I will share when I’m back in Singapore in Dec. Yes, if SHC can manage to get a place here, then the gettogether can be here one day.
Regards
Joan
Hi Joan,
Thanks for Friday’s invitation to Praise & worship at Sts John & Paul. I will be attending 9am school mass at Mater Christi. Thinking of cuppa & soup at Muffin break – 6 deg too brrrr for fishing.
Hi Patrick,
Last April, SHC group led by Terence drove to Roleystone after visiting macadamia farm & Melville Rose heritage at Carmel, then via Brookton Hwy & Bedfordale to buy persimmons. We also drove north in a 5-car convoy – with Perth SHC members Agnes, Pat & Hou Chong to view the awesome Pinnacles at sunset.
Agree with Joan, it will be great if SHC can rent your friend’s place at Araluen – a popular picnic & wedding location in the suburb of Roleystone. Just 30 mins drive from my place, I frequently roam the beautiful valleys & hills for fresh fruits from the orchards and taste delicious homestyle food at tea-houses & cafes dotted along the hills & valleys…and there’s yummy roast duck at Happy Valley Chinese restaurant. In early Oct, stone fruit trees produce beautiful array of white & pink blossoms. From Roleystone, there are buses to the train station and it is a short drive to the medical clinics and hospital. The 4-hour drive to the town of Hyden to climb the Wave Rock (looks like a gigantic tiramisu cake) will pass by beautiful wild flower countryside and from Hyden, another 4-hour to Esperance for pure white beaches, fishing & crabbing.
Spring is coming soon, so do not miss the free aircon and beautiful tulips and pink blossoms.
Mary Lee (Perth)
Hi Joan,
Wish you have a nice holiday and yes, please share your photos when you are back from your holidays. Hope the next SHCs holiday to Australia, I will be able to join them and can meetup with you, Mary Lee and the rest in Australia.
Cheers,take care,
Lilian
Hi Joan and Mary,
Thanks for the response. Do drop me an email for personal
travel discussions and experiences. Will be most willing to share my vacation photos for your appreciation when you are in S’pore in December, all in photo Albums and documented.
Regards
LeePatrick
Dear All
I worked and lived in Perth western australia in the australia and in New York Long Island USA. Perth is a very quite town for singaporean. its very easy to hire a car to explore downtown perth and the country side down south to Augusta and Bundbury. It is equally easy to share a car and ride to Southern australia on a DIY (Free and easy ride, farm stay is also easy to book). just connect with perth city for the tourism promotion board of western australia travel who will book and plan accommodation all over perth, down south and even to sydney and melborune. its fairly easy to drive to sydney and melbourne.
My humble opinion is you guys could share accomodation with cooking facilities or stay in a motel. Perth is very quiet at night unless you have a car to drive around.
happy holiday folks cheerio
Hi Lilian #14
Yes, with Patrick, will try to share our travels. Hope you can come up to Perth one day and with Mary and others, we can do something here.See you in Singapore.
Regards
Joan
Hi All
It’s quite easy to source for accomodation in Australia/Perth. I usually go on the net or sometimes newspapers etc. Self -Drive is the best way to see places as you move at your own time.
If you rent a self-contained chalet/unit and share, it may cost sometimes from $20-30 up per person per night. These would be outside Perth, in the country during off peak season. SC units may be 2 or 3 brs/ with 1 bathroom, 1/2 toilets. You may get a bigger house that can take 8 – 10 people even. It works out cheaper if the group is bigger.
For my trip in Aug, I’ve booked various accomodation at Glenelg in Adelaide, along the Great Ocean Rd for $110 per night for 3 people. They are self-contained which allows us to cook our own breakfast,before we check out, a packed lunch maybe on the way and a nice dinner to wind off the evening.
Regards
Joan
have fun on your trip … lokz
Hi Lokz
Thanks. Hope to see you and your Mum again. Will be in S’pore in Nov/Dec. Are you planning something near to S’pore?
Joan
Hi Patrick #15
Would you like to share your travel experiences at the open house at my place? The date possibly will be Nov 15 in the afternoon. Will confirm the date later. Look out for Jassmine’s post on Barter ….. for comments.
Regards
Joan
Hello Joan
What a surprise! Will be delighted to share my travel experiences at your place. Please confirm date.
Since there are so many Patricks in SHC. In corresponding with me please insert a L after Patrick as in PatrickL so I will know it is me in the comment.
You may email me at leesjuan@yahoo.com ……Thank you
Cheers
LeePatrick
Hello PatrickL
My email was in response to your comment at #15. I cannot confirm the open house at my place. Too much organising work. I hope to meet some members who had in contact with me and possibly meet up with you and the others in Nov.
Will let you and the others know directly by email.
Regards
Joan