Chocolate Faces

We had a tough evening tonight. One of those girls don't get along, we're all sick, everyone is ready for bed but not really; read me a story but not this one; I don't want my teeth brushed; daddy's all upset kind of evenings. Not the kind you like to share with everyone in the world. So, what to do instead?

Well, put a little video of better times, this one of Irini and her friend Marla sharing dessert... enjoy!

Indian Ocean Experience

Perth sits at the southwest corner of Australia. A five hour and 20 minute flight from KL it is a completely different world. The waters of the rivers and bays are bluer than Malaysian waters, the power of the ocean more majestic (Malaysia is 'covered' by Indonesia so that waters there are largely part of the straights of Malacca). Our friends Scott and Rebecca kept comparing the area around Perth to their experiences in California. To us, non-Californian, it seemed closer to the feel of Greece at Autumn (it is, after all, fall in Australia). Either way, we enjoyed it immensely. The bird and aquatic life around Perth, the presence of water in the city and surrounding areas, and the coastline around Perth are spectacular. The coast itself is dotted by beautiful westerly-facing single family homes interspersed with slivers of nature reserves (immediately next to the beaches) intended to keep human encroachment from the beach side. To the visitor it meant long drives (or bike rides, but not for us) along the coast with nothing but beautiful Indian Ocean and opportunities to get into boats to visit islands and estuaries. Everyone loved the experience.

Animals here and there

Our trip to Perth allowed us to do a whole lotta stuff that wouldn't normally be available in Malaysia. The weather was wonderfully perfect - around 25 centigrade - with crystal clear skies and nothing but easy-going Australian attitude to boot. Perth folk sure are laid back and this permeates everything they do, from the way they talk to visitors to the way the handle planning, driving, etc. The place is perfectly clean, organized and outdoors, outdoors, outdoors! It was part of the reason we chose Perth to begin with. The abundance of child-friendly opportunities was hard to beat and we found ourselves moving from one area to another simply because it was great for the girls (and for us too!). The visit included visiting a number of sites to see the animals. And there were lots of animals: wallabys, wombats, kangaroos, penguins, pelicans, sea lions, dolphins, parakeets, kookaburras, etc., etc., etc.

The girls delighted in seeing the animals up close and personal. Depending on the situation they even got the chance to pet a few (the kangaroos and koalas were a popular experience) and feed some farm animals (a llama, a couple pigs, a whole bunch of rabbits, some geese and ducks and two donkeys). The up close and personal experience was a great way for the girls to develop an appreciation for the new animals and get over the initial fear of dealing with the bigger ones. By the end of the vacation they happily chased after birds in the park or eagerly ran toward the seagulls and pigeons.

Nighttime Giggles

When we were in Perth we stayed at a simply wonderful little bed and breakfast named Como Bed and Breakfast. The place is a home to a retired couple who decided, in their empty nest, to keep themselves busy. Helen, our hostess, was friendly and warm and did a perfect job in allowing us to feel at home. The upstairs was designated as a visitor area with a lovely balcony, a living room, two bedrooms and a shared bathroom. The girls had the option of their own beds but, we were on vacation after all so why not all jump in that big bed and share the sleeping experience. Here is a short video of the girls.