First Couple of Months in Oz – Part 1

First Couple of Months in Oz – Part 1

Well, this blog entry is guest written by Chris.  Claudia has suggested a couple of times that I should write some entries, so this is a catch up for what’s been happening in Australia.  Made possible by the fact that I finally have internet at home!

Perth is generally a nice place, and a well-laid out city.  It’s an odd combination of a small town and a large city – a big central business district that contrasts with the small surrounding neighborhoods. The individual city councils have debates about letting businesses get too big – for example, there are often hearings regarding letting restaurants add a few chairs.  Most stores are not open on Sundays, so shopping has to be done on Saturdays.  The local post office is not open on the weekends – to pick up a package, one can go to the local post office before they officially open on the weekdays, knock on a secret “hatch”, and then sign for the package.

The local beer scene is becoming quite active, although there aren’t too many IPAs around!  A picture of the best one I’ve come across is Feral Hop Hog.  A local aficionado said that my quest for a good beer might be more fun if I started looking for other types such as dark ales, since there are quite a few of those.  I guess there’s some sense in that, although having a hopeless quest can be pretty fun.

Feral Hop Hog.

The bicycle paths are quite extensive, so I’ve been riding back and forth to work most days.  It’s getting dark early and I’ve been working a lot.  The weekends are nice, though.  Riding along the coast north of Cottesloe provides some wonderful views.

Getting home after a long day at work.

View from the bike path above Joondalup.

Cottesloe Beach at sunset.  The trees behind the building are roosting places for hundreds (thousands?) of lorakeets.  The noise can be deafening!

The sun in Oz is quite intense and definitely not to be taken lightly. I missed a spot on my arm and was out for an hour, and the spot almost started to blister.  So, it’s been sunblock and long sleeves, and even then the tan has started.  Even the enormous Western Australia lettuces feel the need for sunglasses!

Big Western Australian iceberg lettuce that stole my new sunglasses.  They grow them big in Oz!

(to be continued…..)