Perth - Day 2

Assalammualaikum wbt,

Thursday, 3rd May 2018

So today is our second day. In fact, this is a second time I write post for my second day in Perth. I have wrote and even put pictures for my second day, I don’t what on earth happen, when I tried to publish the story, it’s gone. Poof! Gone. Just. Like. That. No backup, no nothing!! Usually if things like this happen, blogger would have a backup file, obviously luck not on my side this time. Hmmmm. 

So today is going to be full of activities for all of us as we are going to Lancelin Sand Dunes for sandboarding and the famous The Pinnacles at Nambung National Park. These 2 are major attractions in Perth and the journey there could take about 2 hours driving. So we left home as early as 7.30am in the morning. For this trip, I took a tour package from Homestay Mak Long at the price of $60 inclusive of entrance fee and tour guide. We brought along our packed breakfast that Mak cooked earlier and Kathy our guide and driver for that day is kind enough to stop at Yanchep National Park for us to do breakfast picnic. At Yanchep National Park, you can actually purchase tickets to go to The Pinnacles, but I’m not sure how much because it’s already in the package. First, we went to see wild koalas and kangaroos here. There are lots of them compared to the one at Caversham. They are more active and.. wilder. You can see them running, jumping, climbing, unlike the one in Caversham where they are all a bit... ermm relax? Hehehe. 

Hanif Aiden had so much fun chasing the Kangaroos, running here and there. The park is so beautiful and green, the weather is beautiful too, perfect for a picnic and pictures. For a moment, I thought to myself, ‘aaa this is what the mat salleh park feels like’. There are restroom, barbecue facilities and bench. While we were there, there are bunch of old mat salleh setting up their barbecue, on a Thursday. Oh, what a blessed life.

After breakfast, we continued our journey to Lancelin. Before reaching there, about 15 minutes before, we stopped at Lucky 7 shop to rent sandboard. Occasionally, there are other people renting out sandboarding at the Sand Dunes but Kathy said it’s much more expensive and we did not want to take a risk should they are not there today. One unit of board rental is included in the package too, but we rented out another 2 because there are 6 of us. I forgot how much is the price, but I think it costed about $10.

I read on the Facebook group, you should be extra careful parking your car at this place, because there are some ‘soft spot’ that your car might be sunken by the sand and stuck. Another point, why we get the tour package so lessen the burden of planning and thinking while everybody having fun lol. We chose quite a high peak to begin with, I thought to myself, nahhh, it just a bunch of soft sand, how hard could it be to climb? 

I take it back.

It was one hell of climb for a.. let’s say 5 seconds sliding down?! I need to sit at the top, catching my breath before sliding down. And sometimes, the board might not want to cooperate and would stop in the middle, or worse, not moving at all! Hahaha. It was fun nevertheless. I even brought Hanif Aiden to the top although half way he started being cranky wanted to be carried. No way son, I barely could carry myself up, let alone carrying you! So, I just pushed him and forced him to continue walking, hahaha such evil! But, it was all worth it, he had so much fun and laughing non stop while we were sliding down together and his Daddy? He forgot to record the video *face palm*. 

It’s best to sandboarding barefooted and please wear your sunscreen and glasses as the sunlight here is too bright and sunny making our eyesight a bit blur. Glasses and hat is important too to avoid the sand get into your eyes and hair. Well, even Hanif Aiden’s bump is full of sand too! There other lower peak dunes, but although it is easier to climb, but where’s the thrill right? Hahaha. We spent about 2 hours there.

After the fun sandboarding, we stopped to clean ourselves at the nearby restroom, about 15 minutes drive from the Sand Dunes. Australians taking their barbecue activity very seriously, every park has the barbecue facility including the one that we stop for restroom. I mean, it was Thursday, aren’t you supposed to go to work or something? How calm, and peaceful and leisure their lif is. Making me feel like migrating here. 

We continued our journey to Cervantes for seeing the lobster factory and learning the process. We also planned to have lunch at Lobster Shack which is about 1 hour journey from Lancelin. But first, before the lunch, we were brought to the factory to watch the video on the history of lobster catching, then we brought to see the live process of lobster packing, sorting etc. I’m not sure about the ticket fee because it’s already included in the package. We were given a walkman/walkie talkie whereby we have to stop at each numbered station and press that particular station number to listen the details. I couldn’t really focus because we were walking on the bridge and under us is the sorting water where they place the lobster. It’s quite dangerous for kids especially the active one like Hanif Aiden, so, my husband and I taking turns holding/carrying him. 

Now it’s lunch time! I’ve been wanting to have lunch here ever since I made the itinerary. I’d even screenshot their Instagram pictures of lobster and then tagging my mother, and we’re drolling together seeing the picture perfect lobster laying on the bed of fries. In fact, the picture does it justice. Whatever I see from the picture, lays perfectly as it is in front of my eyes. Initially we all wanted to order Medium-sized lobster, but they weren’t available, only small size has. Well, we’ll take whatever you have anyway although to be truth, it wasn’t enough! Haha. My husband doesn’t eat prawns and its family, so he ordered Fish & Chips instead and for Hanif Aiden, I ordered Deep Fried Calamari Rings. They were all soooooo goooddd! The lobster is definitely the star of the show, its meat is succulent, and fresh dip with tartar sauce. Definitely worth the price. Kathy claimed, most of the tourist she took didn’t eat here because of the price, but for me, although it is expensive, the price is in fact more or less the same as in Malaysia. Plus, it might be once in our lifetime, and we’re here at its origin lobster breed, why not? Treating yourself with only the best of Western Australia specialty right? It’s for the experience, and of course for the tummy. 

After the hearty luxurious lunch, we were brought to Nambung National Park to go to The Pinnacles. The tickets were purchased earlier at the Yanchep National Park. Kathy drove us along The Pinnacles, it has the dedicated one-way road there which is lined/marked by the stone. Only for small cars and no caravan is allowed. We can stop at any designated areas with available parking as long as we don’t blocked the path. Hanif Aiden were asleep at this time and Kathy is kind enough to look after him in the car while we were taking pictures. With the blue sky and natural sunlight, the pictures turn out so beautiful! Like an editorial standard. Even my friends commented my pictures taken here looks like it came out straight from H&M catalogue, amboi! Hahaha. 

After that, we went to the gallery to learn more but it was almost closed at 4.30pm. The Pinnacles is actually a natural forming of limestone from thousand years ago which caused by the wind. Since the gallery is closing, I can’t continue my reading so, you might want to Google yourself up on this! Hahaha. We even had our Jamak prayers at the park there where there are not much of passers-by. 

We were supposed to go to Moore River, but it’s 5pm and since we’re in Autumn, it does look like night time already. Kathy then brought us to Niglin Lookout Point to see the magnificent view of sunset and overlooking Indian Ocean. SubhanAllah, it is so so beautiful and calming and peaceful. The view is breathtaking, however, you gotta be careful, especially during night time there might be a dangerous animals/insects pass by like snakes or scorpions. That is why, tourist aren’t allowed to overnight at any of the parks and even at The Pinnacles. The insects might hide between the rocks, please be mindful while taking pictures and not to climb the stones. 

After that, we heading home and stopped by at Woolworth to buy some groceries and Hanif Aiden’s diapers. As usual, Mak couldn’t contain herself from buying the freshest colorful vegetables and fruits while myself and husband couldn’t help ourselves from buying the drinks; milk and juices, and the snacks. They are tasted so so so good because of its locally produce. That is why our body is a little bit dehydrated, because lack of plain water teheheheeee. When we got home, as usual our routine is to cook for dinner. We had sardines, omelette and Ayam Masak Kunyit. Eating such a simple homecooked meal in foreign land and in cold weather is tasted even delicous! 

So end of Day 2, will continue our journey of Day 3 in the next post.