Perth and WA — Mika's Photos

A fascinating 10-day visit to Perth, Albany, and all points in between. Viva Western Australia. Also, watch the video here: https://vimeo.com/166039368

Hello, Perth!

Our home for the next 2 days: an Air BnB inside the former Salvation Army in downtown Perth.

Looks like we've lived here for years!

The living room, with its private courtyard in the rear.

The mysterious Purple Vampire blocking entrance to the top floor.

Stopping for breakfast and some much-needed coffee at a local cafe.

The quait Perth CBD.

They're big into safety here... I guess it's an influence of all the mining companies.

The Government House.

And St. George's Cathedral.

Feeding her new-found friend.

The cinematographer sets up his giant filming apparatus.

Do you have all your ducks in a row?

Kid meets Kangaroo.

A well-groomed Dr. Seuss tree.

A friendly hydrant.

A sea plane that was puttering around for a while out in the Swan River.

Standing in formation.

There goes the sea plane! Practicing its water driving.

Dolphins! Out to see what all this propeller action is all about.

A wet Elizabeth Quay experiences a refreshing downpour.

This ambitious kayaker doesn't seem to mind the rain. In fact, he seems prepared: he left all his clothes at home.

The curvy Elizabeth Quay bridge.

What's this? A cycling race?

And a Studebaker Commander testing its parking breaks on a hill.

Uniting Church in the City at the entrance to the Trinity shopping arcade.

A large selection of fresh apples at Woolies.

Clever! I've never seen gum displayed vertically using magnets before.

A nice "green" wall outside the shopping centre.

Percy Buttons' Aspiration at the Hay Street Mall.

A view of the modern Bell Tower, built to ring in the new millenium.

Downtown Perth, after the storm.

The City of Perth library in the foreground, and St. George's Cathedral in the background.

Next stop: Kings Park and Botanic Garden!

They have many beautiful trees lining Fraser Ave., the main entrance to the park.

A gorgeous view of the city down below.

The cinematographer at his finest.

Excited, tired, or in pain?

Posing with the green and the trees.

So distracted by his art that he's about to prance off the cliff.

Enjoying the view from the roof of the Aboriginal Art Gallery.

Using our new super-spy equipment to watch pedestrians and cyclists on the Elizabeth Quay bridge.

Toy cars and a toy train!

The Court of Contemplation and State War Memorial.

A bride-groom to be, taking advantage of the good weather and nice scenery for their wedding photos.

An Australian magpie, known as one of Australia's "most accomplished songbirds".

Enjoying the peaceful walk. (Someone forgot to bring his iron to Perth!)

About to head up and over the bridge.

The snaky bridge.

The Swan Brewery Co. building now contains a cafe/restaurant and function centre.

The hiding rainbow lorikeet who made our new lens purchase worth it!

Welcome to Fremantle; a.k.a. Freo.

Downtown Freo: full of hipsters and hippies.

This looks like a nice place for a late lunch.

Our late lunch is here, at a burger joint on the main street.

Excited by the prospects of his veggie burger.

Then, it's on to the Fremantle Markets, which claim to stock "Everything you could possibly imagine, plus a little bit more." I question the claim slightly.

Although they did have a piano open to the public... and the music being played was definitely more than I could imagine.

A late-afternoon pick-me-up, Aussie-style.

Man Goes where?

This seagull has taken it upon himself to watch over these parked cars.

A historic building in Fremantle.

Back in Perth, it's time for an evening jaunt. It feels like midnight, but I think it's only 6pm.

We found a Harry Potter lane...

... which is actually London Court, a cute little shopping arcade built in 1937.

Welcome to the Perth Noodle Festival 2016!

Asian "street food," done Aussie style...

The Elizabeth Quay bridge looks great lit up at night.

As does the Bell Tower.

The next morning, it's a quick stroll around our neighbourhood before heading off to Rottnest Island.

A very big tree.

St. Mary's Cathedral.

I guess it's not surprising to see it so full on a Sunday morning!

Miss Maud's Swedish Hotel - this one puzzled all of us!

On our way to the ferry, we passed this canine chauffeur.

Mum with a strange growth coming out of her chest.

The Round House, the first permanent building built in the Swan River Colony, and intended as a prison.

Looking south, over the Arthur Head Reserve.

Doesn't Fremantle look like a model toy town?

There were many beautiful historic buildings on the campus of the University of Notre Dame Australia.

The (former) Chamber of Commerce.

And here we are, at the famous Rottnest Island!

Where the party-goers are enjoying good times on some funky floats.

These girls enjoy their lunch with the gulls.

Some stressful minutes later, we're off on our bikes for a tour around the island.

The single-turbine wind "farm" that powers the island.

These trees seem to have given into the wind over the years.

Cheese! No casualties yet!

Mum, enjoying the casual cycle through the lakes in the island.

Off they go, like seasoned pros.

Red velvet cake? Or sea suds caked onto rock?

The real Wadjemup Lighthouse? Or just a toy model?

Beautiful blue waters - would be a great day for a swim!

In fact, some smarties are enjoying a dip to cool off.

Dunes and gulls ... definitely a different climate than the beaches in Thailand.

I have discovered where the Perth elite come to spend their time.

Two girls enjoy some paddle surfing.

Off we go, gravity in our favor! I hope no one misses that crucial left turn up ahead!

Decoys? Or the real deal?

Here's what we've come all this way for!! Quokkas!

Mum gets a great shot of Mr. Cutie.

Someone was partying too hard last night.

No quokkas in the general store? How discriminatory.

A bit of minor surgery needed after a confrontation with a quokka who was a little less welcoming than the others.

Late lunch = large lunch? Enjoying the view at Dome Cafe.

Whoops. This palm has seen better, stronger days.

The paparazzi has descended on Rottnest Island!

Aww! Now isn't he the cutest?

"Hello! Welcome to Rottnest!"

"This darned leaf. It's so tough. I just need to rip off one small pi--"

New BFFs! Enjoying a snack together.

This guy is a little too curious. That's probably why he has one fewer ear than all his buddies.

"Hello? What's this? An iPhone?"

"Cool camera you got there, lady! Let me see?"

We spent a bit too much time with the quokkas, I'm afraid, and started taking on some of their characteristics.

Back on the mainland, and back in Perth, it's time for some evening nosh up in the Northbridge neighborhood.

We found "Chinatown"... a row of Asian stalls (including Indian and Malaysian... so decidedly not all Chinese).

Asian it is!

A somber wall mural.

The next day, we're in the car heading south to Margaret River. We stop for lunch in Bunbury (the sister city of Chonburi, Suphanburi and Chantaburi), at the hip Cafe 140.

Turkish flatbread sandos for all!

They're telling it like it is in Bunburi.

This mural captures the essence of Western Australia.

The stubby little light house at Cape Naturaliste, the northernmost point of the Leeuwin-Naturaliste Ridge.

The waves were quite choppy!

But that didn't stop this father and son from taking a beach-side stroll.

Everyone's looking pretty wind-swept.

Dinner at our new home at the Acacia Chalets in Margaret River.

After many minutes of patient waiting, we spot our prey grazing in the back yard!

The next morning, we spy some Australian Ringnecks enjoying our lawn.

And some giant lemons? Or limes?

Our chalet in daylight!

I had always thought the 'roos come out around dusk. This one seems to be a rare morning-grazer.

On our way south, we drive via the picturesque Boranup Drive.

Karri Trees, as far as the eye can see.

They're tall, majestic... and make you feel like an ant on the forest floor.

Tiny people.

Finally, we make it to Cape Leeuwin, and its lighthouse -- which is considerably taller than its Cape Naturaliste counterpart.

Ahoy Matey! What do you see out there?

The lighthouse first opened in 1895 by John Forrest.

Visitors can climb to the top of the lighthouse for an additional fee.

Look at these three sociable tourists.

Rough waves, at the point where the Indian Ocean meets the Southern Ocean.

What a natural model.

This one less so.

We always knew that Mike was the apple of her eye.

What a family portrait.

We're *almost* as tall as the lighthouse.

All hail Australia!

What a stubby light house.

These rocks all seem to have a certain directionality to them.

Our next stop is at a vineyard!

Lunch at a well-regarded restaurant that uses its own-grown fresh fruits and veggies (and a little crazy) for its dishes.

You must be wearing white to dine at this restaurant.

Oh, apparently only if you sit on the other side of the table.

The most beautiful plate of fresh veggies I've ever seen.

Spending a comatose afternoon at the beach side: looking north toward Surfers Point.

There's a nice beachside walkway that connects Gnarabup with Surfers Point.

We arrived to Surfers Point just in time to see them packing up after the 2016 Drug Aware Margaret River Pro.

This lady has seen enough!

This beach supposedly has some of the best waves in the world.

Cool move!

Riding the waves at sundown.

Looks like Mum's about to brave a storm.

This Akita wishes his owner would stop texting and start paying more attention to him!

Last stop of the day: our Kangaroo lollapalooza!

"Who, me?"

Most of the extended family was enjoying the freshness of the 18th hole... except for ol' uncle Sal, who just couldn't help himself.

"Why hello there, young one."

Posing with my friends.

The baby of the bunch.

Back at our house... we had some unannounced dinner guests!

The next morning, we continue our drive south-east, in the direction of Pemberton.

Stopping outside the Manjimup Visitor Centre, wondering exactly where we are.

Next stop: the Diamond Tree Lookout, where only crazy people go.

It's a 52m tall live Karri Tree, that anyone can climb up using pegs nailed into its sides.

If you manage to scale all 52 meters, there's a cozy wooden viewing platform waiting for you at the top.

That's about as high as I can go, thank-you-very-much. About 10 meters up.

And that's all she got!

Do I need to come down?

The short walk at the base of the Diamond Tree was much more my speed.

More giant Karri trees.

This tree doesn't look very natural!

Lunch at a local bakery famous for its pies and pasties.

We were in for a great surprise at the Pemberton Visitors Centre - this surprise visitor!

He, and some friends, were orphaned when their mums had encounters with cars.... so now they were being rehabilitated by local rangers. And volunteering part-time at the visitors' centre.

Don't they look so comfortable in these baskets?

Relaxing like he owns this place.

I've seen more comfortable beds than this...

A gang of emus... including one headless one.

A bird standing guard over the entrance to the Beedelup Falls.

He knows he's handsome!

Testing the bridge load limit?

I think these falls have seen wetter days.

Praying mantis showing off his Kung Fu (Panda) moves.

Why do I look like the only one enjoying the little walk?

And we're off for a bit of a more strenuous walk: from Heartbreak Crossing to the Dave Evans Bicentennial Tree... via Blackbutt.

Enjoying the walk?

What reflective water! I guess the river's not really flowing!

Barely rippling.

The sky? Or the water?

Group shot!

Finally, a downhill!

More tall Karris.

Whoops! Someone lost his skirt!

More short people and tall trees.

Blue sky above the tall trees.

This tall one has seen stronger days.

The Dave Evans Bicentennial Tree, another fire lookout tree, with a lookout platform at 75m!!!

It was pegged for climbing to celebrate Australia's bicentenary in 1988, and was built to be a tourist attraction - not a fire lookout tree!

Yet again, more locals who are far more brave than any foreign tourists.

A colorful guest who is also staying at the Forest Lodge Resort.

Sunset over the resort.

Breakfast time in Pemberton!

A good reminder hanging on the wall of the breakfast cafe.

On our drive from Pemberton to Albany, our first stop is the Giant Tingle Tree.

A local snail.

Well, this is pretty funny, because I know the tree had something to do with a Butt, but I don't remember what.

Tingle trees are lumpier than their Karri cousins.

What a twisted tree!

Here's the Giant Tingle Tree!

And its slightly smaller cousin.

Next stop: the Tree Top Walk, with a very cute totem capturing all the local mammals.

Ahh! This is higher and sways more than we thought!

Starting to question why we came on this swaying walk.

The view from the top is great!

Looking down at the tall trees *down below*!

Those kids don't seem to be phased by the height or the sway.

Heart-pounding, but worth it.

A bit nervous? Nah!

Back on solid ground, we can appreciate the nobby tingle tree with a face.

Peek-a-boo!

Embracing tingles.

Our lunch stop today: the town of Denmark!

And finally, we reach Albany, our southerly destination.

A colorful butterfly is waiting to greet us.

This beach town seems to be hopping 12 months a year.

What? Pine trees on the beach?

This seagull feels it's his duty to be local lifeguard for the afternoon.

Amphitheater-style picnic benches, all facing the ocean.

Enjoying the Marine Drive Scenic Path, which connects Middleton Beach and downtown Albany.

Great clouds over Middleton Beach.

And a great boardwalk!

Our first bandicoot sighting.

And a giant ship at sea, not too far from us!

Looking into the Ataturk Entrance.

What a windy path!

A great hiding place.

More picturesque clouds.

Photo moment.

These fishermen seem to have their hands full.

That ship has probably seen better, more seaworthy days.

A saw dust plant! We could feel it in our lungs.

It's a proper half-moon tonight!

Great views from these houses along Brunswick Road.

A colorful clock at the former Town Hall.

Dinner at a "late"-night institution: Dylans.

The next morning, we're off to Torndirrup National Park.

The Natural Bridge was carved by the strong ocean waves.

Good thing we brought layers to bundle up!

The attraction was only reopened to visitors two weeks earlier.

Overlooking "The Gap" - a gap in the granite rocks, with a 25 metre sheer drop to the ocean.

Ahh. Now you can see the gap.

Looks like the waters below might be a bit choppy.

But nice and blue!

Better bring your innertube if you're going to swim around here.

For a slightly calmer next stop, it's the Blowholes... which may or may not be blowing.

Heading down the 900m path.

Waiting patiently for the blowholes to blow.

As is this father-daughter couple.

Another artsy prance by the cinematographer.

Haven't seen a lizard of this kind yet.

This area seems to have no shortage of choppy waters.

Some sun in your eyes?

Final stop for this hook: Frenchman Bay, which is sheltered enough for some calm swimming. Anyone ready for a dip?

Sailers and swimmers both can enjoy these calm waters.

Looking east toward Misery Beach - the more pleasant place to swim.

A fishing boat?

Pausing to orient ourselves...

... while the swimmer gets ready for some Southern Ocean action.

Can he do it?

Yes! Victory!

And that's all! Time to dry off.

These picnicers are enjoying the smooth rock.

Back in Albany for some shopping and lunch.

The Albany Entertainment Centre - kind of reminds you of a larger, more iconic opera house, doesn't it?

There should be a good view somewhere around here.

Taking a coffee break while dad shops for his local wines.

The University of Western Australia Albany Centre looks awfully like a train station.

Historic buildings in Albany centre.

Including this one, where we dined the night before.

Perfect timing for us: the 3 days of PUBLIC2016, an art and mural fest in Albany.

Borondo, from Spain.

Andrew Frazer, from Perth.

An exhibit of local artists, inside the former Town Hall.

A nice blue pattern - by whom?

Sleeping man with large nose by Darren Hutchins, from Fremantle.

Posing with (interrupting?) the artist himself!

A mess? By Hense from the USA.

Tools of the trade.

Chad Marwick, an Albany local.

Delicious local pizza for dinner!

The next morning, on the way out of Albany, we stop at the Saturday Farmers' Market.

It's a cute affair, with lots of fresh fruits, veggies, cheeses, meats and more from around the region.

Local musicians liven up everyone's morning.

Fresh red capsicum.

No trip to Albany is compete without seeing Dog Rock!

Our last stop, before making the long trip back to Perth, is Porongurup National Park.

We've hiked 2.2 km up to Castle Rock.

Still standing!

Taking a breather before embarking on the final challenge of the climb.

Making our way up to the skywalk!

First, it's an act of balancing as you scramble up these rocks.

The only casualty so far was the water bottle in my back pocket.

Then, over a few more rocks.

Like this?

Stop to enjoy the strong, fresh winds.

And up a long ladder to the top!

The view is worth it!

Farmland and forest as far as the eye can see.

Glad we brought our sweaters!

Yay! Time to head back down!

This is considerably easier than the walk up!

We did it!

Enjoying a relaxing lunch of leftovers at the base picnic area.

Finally, we make it back to Perth, for one last hurrah.

And dinner at Chutney Mary's, where dad was stoked to have met Mary herself.

Cheers to Western Australia!