Our Last Day in The New World...

The morning looked a bit cloudy and foreboding as we pulled into Fremantle around 6:30 in the morning. We have had three days of cloud and fog so it looked like another iffy day. At breakfast we were pleased that the temperature had risen somewhat and patches of blue were popping up.

As planned, we made our way off early and passed the 'Snoopy' test again. Soon we were striding towards #17 Queens Street in search of a rental car for the day. Bingo! Shortly after nine we were buzzing around the perimeter of Perth with yours truly at the wheel heading north about 80 K's to a wildlife sanctuary. The Cutler's and us have visited Perth and Fremantle a few times and this was to be a 'country- side' day.

We walked and wandered through the koala sanctuary, all the while being serenaded by soaring Black Cockatoos that soon reminded me of the crow situation at home. However, apparently these are an endangered species. The trade in exotic birds throughout the world is a very, very lucrative and active business. The actual smuggling of the birds is done at the egg stage of the game. There are people, 'couriers or mules', that are paid to be fitted with specially made vests or jackets with neatly made pouches that carefully hold the eggs. The rest is a matter of nerves and observant customs officials.  Australia is a prime source of exotic birds and their eggs. Maybe one day we will also be 'sniffed' as we leave the country!

After a lengthy exploration of the entire sanctuary including a walk around the lake and it's eerie bushes and swampy vegetation we had lunch before heading in search of kangaroos. We never did see any kangaroos, they are wild so they usually do not come out and browse until later in the afternoon. We were soon on our way south on one of Australia's very well maintained roads. We chose to go back via the more scenic coastal route.

An enticing looking pull-off took over the wheel and next we were at one of their 10,000,000 or so pristine white sand beaches. The pull of the surf was too much for Jim and I. We had put our suits in a bag, but did not have them on. The Cutler's did not bring them at all. I had erroneously said the day earlier that to my knowledge there were not any good beaches where we were going. [We put ours in just-in-case.]

I did a quick towel-change on the sparsely populated beach while Mr. Cutler did a 'whip off the pants and pretend it's a speedo suit' with his black underwear. The water was great, we were like little boys gain. [The girls say we never did grow up.] The surf was just right and there were no rocks, coral or nasties in the water. The Indian Ocean now, great!

After a bit of interesting re-attiring and drying off we were soon on the way south again. Along the coast road there are some very attractive homes, many look reasonably new. Here they have an interesting new homes sales scenario. In an area that is being developed, various builders will build and furnish a complete three or four bedroom home. These homes are side by side, all of them by the various builders, maybe 12 or more lovely homes, all somewhat different in style, but complimentary to each other and the location.

Future buyers then have the convenience of seeing which type of home suits them or fits their wallet best. They can then just go out and pick a lot and then negotiate with the developer. It makes perfectly good sense to me. We were all interested to see inside one of these places that seem to go forever along the coast.

Pricing: A building lot is around A$700,000, the home, another A $800,000. Total about $1,350,000 Canadian. There is a major boom on in Western Australia, ore, diamonds etc., but that is still a hefty price for a young family to take on. I have no idea who is buying them, they look like family homes not vacation homes. All of them have some form of water display, a fountain or small pool or something. There is absolutely no 'yard', front or back. The alleys are paved and that is how you enter your two-car garage. The homes are lovely and well built, made for the Western Australian sun and outdoor life.

Soon we were back in Fremantle, safe and sound thanks to three good navigators. Gail went onto the internet to talk to her son who is now staying at the Cutler's home. You may recall that Gail has a seriously ill brother in San Diego and her children are doing the visiting while he is in the hospital. It is a cancer issue.

We had a stroll through busy and bustling Fremantle, a Saturday so it was especially interesting. After replenishing our bodily fluids we did the 20 minute walk to the ship. A shower and a look at today's crop of pictures and it was time to go up to the BBQ on deck to the sounds of a quartet of Aussies doing Sea Shanties. The Deck was filled to the brim with happy Amsterdamers and the din was deafening. However listening to Sea Shanties is a bit like listening to a didgeridoo, after a few minutes it all sounds the same!

After the singers left, and the food taken away the 'Fremantle Doctor' blew in a refreshing evening breeze. Soon the deck was almost empty and we made our way to the cabin, happy and content with our last day in beautiful and friendly Australia. The ship left at 11 PM, by that time we were sound asleep. I did wake up shortly after sailing as the motion of the ocean started, I was lulled back to sleep almost immediately.

Good-bye 'New World'. Here we come 'The Old and Mysterious World'! Next stop Bali, Indonesia.