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Published: June 17th 2009
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Our flight from Singapore to Oz was uneventful apart from us having hysterics whilst watching the “Top Gear Vietnam Special”. You know when someone has headphones on and is laughing whilst the rest of the plane is quiet? Yes, that was us!! Having done the Top gear trip in reverse order on our travels we just couldn’t stop laughing at some of the situations that they managed to get themselves into...many of them similar to situations that we had been through! (It’s well worth watching if you have not seen it, if only to see the stunning Vietnam scenery shown)
On arriving at Perth airport and waiting for our rucksacks to come off the conveyor belt I’m aware that one of the sniffer dogs is frantically sniffing Johns daypack. We know that they are REALLY strict on fruit and vegetables entering the country but there’s nothing in there...unless...oh my god I’ve forgotten that I’ve bought some henna for my hair in Little India (Singapore) and it’s in Johns bag!!!!! The guy with the dog asks us if there is anything in there that I want to declare and I tell him about the henna. He takes it out of John’s bag
(Bouncer’s going mad sniffing it like crazy) looks at it but says the henna should be ok, just to let them know as we pass through security screening. After having to now have both of our rucksacks opened and searched we are eventually allowed into the country (I think the woman gave up on the search after opening my rucksack and seeing how jam packed it was..even she couldn’t repack it!)
So, we have finally made it down under to Oz and as we leave the airport we are met by John’s mates, Jasper and John. After big hugs all round and me being introduced to them John takes us back to his house out in Joondelup (northern Perth) One of the first things that I find amazing is how empty the main motorway/highways seem to be. This is Friday afternoon...rush hour in London with gridlock almost everywhere yet here, the roads are all moving with barely any traffic!! The second thing of course that strikes me as we arrive at John’s house is...gosh this looks like Ramsey Street in neighbours!!!! Yes, its true! High rise buildings, forget it...everyone seems to live in detached bungalows(no noisy neighbours here)Thirdly....yes its sunny
here, glorious sunshine in fact, John has a pool in his “backyard” and, as he shows us later he is only 10 mins away from a beautiful beach with white sand and crystal blue sea...and we live in London because...........?????
Our first night is spent being christened in the true Aussie tradition of a “Barbie” in the back yard with a few “stubbies” of beer and some wine just chatting and catching up till the early hours. I must say it felt so good to be in a proper home and not a hostel or hotel room with friendly familiar faces for a change. I know that John had been really looking forward to seeing his mates again (it’s been 15 years since he was last living in Australia with them)
Waking with a bit of a hangover the next morning, we head into Perth (not before visiting “The Britz shop” so that I could get some marmite and ribena!) John has a bit of a “down memory lane” trip as he strolls around all of his old haunts, whilst I can’t believe how small Perth actually is! After heading down to the Swan River and ‘marvelling’ at the new
The Wheel
Not the London Eye!! Bell Tower and Big Wheel (not!) we head over to Northbridge where we meet up with Jasper again in the Brass Monkeys pub. The 3 J’s have a good time reminiscing about their antics of days gone by in Oz and, as the evening progresses and we move on to The Elephant and Wheelbarrow pub I feel like I have known John and Jasper for many years.
Saturday night brings out everyone else in all their finery and all dolled up but as we’ve been out since the afternoon we are still in “singlets and thongs” ...or vest top and flip flops to non aussies! As people are turned away from the pub for not being appropriately dressed we can remain in the pub, having been in for so long!! I must say its like a throwback in time though as all the women are dressed in high heels and skin tight miniskirts whilst I swear I see some men with mullet haircuts!!! After a brilliant evening and far too many drinks we managed to get the last train back to Joondelup which leaves Perth at 2am!! (take note London...no last trains at 12.30....mind you there were two guards on
the train)
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