Out and about

Early morning latte with a side of toddler.

 If you want to get to know a new city, walking helps considerably... Said everyone ever, of course. So that's what I've been doing this past week, and will be doing for the next few months: walking all over the place. And bit by bit, I'm getting more used to way things are done here in Perth. I couldn't get over all of the round-abouts, but I'm better adjusted now. (Even when the pedestrians don't have the right of way *scoffs*)

Perth on a Sunday morning.

Ah, the silence.

 The good thing is that everything is within reasonable walking distance. I can go to the park, get coffee, the library, shop, get coffee... I have yet to find one bad cappuccino/flat white in the coffee shops I've visited.

Clearly I'm already a fan.

Getting to know the locals...

The other thing I'm getting used to is living around a one-year-old. There are pets, and then there are toddlers. Toddlers are funny, because it's that stage when they are discovering everything (and the stage where you have to start watching their every move like a hawk). You point something out, and they will notice it. Sometimes they will laugh, and other times they will cry. If you can manage to go a day without making them cry in some way, mission accomplished. But they will, inevitably, cry.

A vineyard we visited for quality wine tasting

This week I've began the task of nephew watching. I'll be taking him out the library and park, and to a toddler-centric gym where he can crawl around and climb on mats. 

In other news, there was a shooting in our neighbourhood on Monday morning. I'm here one week and the crime rate is already soaring in Perth. (Normally it's zilch.)  I feel like I brought a piece of dirty Toronto with me. 

Also, I finally got Instagram! When I don't have my SLR on me, my phone is what I'll be using instead, and it's more than likely one of those photos will end up on the gram'. 

Intro

Ain't that the truth.

(I'm terrible at writing intros, so I'm just going to jump right in.)

Next week I will be heading off to Australia for four months! I'm starting this blog as a way to write about my adventures, discover the Aussie way of life, and post many, many pictures. Some of which may include food. 

Rather than hitting it off in the outback and wrestling with kangaroos (as one does when visiting Australia), I will hitting up the west coast in the city of Perth, where I will be hanging with my sister, her husband and year old son. My duties, while I'm there, will be to:

1. Get re-acquainted the aforementioned one-year-old
2. Get him walking like a champ
3. Play any one of these games (my favourite would definitely/obviously be no. 5, but I'll save that one for [much] later.)
4. Explore as much of Perth as possible
5. Take pictures
6. Update often
7. Find weird bugs (then back the hell away) 
8. Meet a Hemsworth brother
9. Eat

Things I will not do:

1. Trek through the outback (sorry to disappoint)
2. Wrestle a kangaroo 
3. Meet a Hemsworth brother (sadly)

This week is reserved for getting last minute items and getting my suitcase packed for a four month stay. I haven't been bitten by the travelitis bug yet (yes, there is such a thing), but that may change as my flight date approaches. It's so weird how fast it's come up.

Nothing beats a change of scenery much like Australia. Once I get past the 20+ hour plane ride (give or a take a few hours) I should be fine. 

Hanging Rock, aka Mount Diogenese, is a geological formation in Central Victoria. It was the inspiration for an eerie book, later turned into an eerie movie in 1975.  I definitely won't get around to visiting it, but it's just another thing that seems so very mysterious... And very Australian. 

Until next week...!!!

Top image from here