Tuesday 8th July – Arriving in Perth
When I landed at Perth aiprort I got my bag then headed out to customs. As I put my hand luggage through the magic x-ray machine they asked what I had in my bag which looked like a tube. I started taking things out of it and suggested that the item in question might be a packet of sweets. They didn’t seem to think so and, after I had offered several tube shaped options, they asked that I put my bag back through. Somewhat reassuringly they said that it didn’t show up the second time and sent me on my way wondering firstly how good their x-ray machines were and secondly what they had nicked from my bag!
When I emerged out the other side of the airport I saw two ladies, one of whom was holding a sign which read, “Zelma”. I headed to them and found Aunty Iris and her friend Carol who had accompanied her. Carol’s husband Mike was also there. I had a cigarette outside the airport and then, partly due to having flown in from Singapore, wondered what the “butt etiquette was. I asked and Mike said:
“Yes you can put it out on the floor as long as you pick it up.”
I thought this slightly strange as numerous other people had clearly failed to adhere to the second part of this rule but obliged only to be told that he was, infact, joking.
As we drove to Mundjong, where Iris lives, there was a field on the left hand side of the road with loads of kangaroos in. Mike pulled over and I have to admit that I was really excited to see them. The thing which struck me on the way out of Perth into the countryside was the vastness of the country and how far you could see without seeing anything in particular other than the occasional bush or tree.
When we arrived at Iris’ house I met her husband Jim who turned out to be a real character. The house was lovely and really homely which was so welcome after a lot of time in slightly anonymous hostels. The garden was beautiful with stunning plants and I was so excited to see cockatoos and various other beautifully coloured birds landing in the garden.