I was thrilled when my husband announced that we're going to Perth. I've never imagine that we would set our feet on the land of down under. I did dream of going to Gold Coast and ever planned with my ex-colleagues to go for vacation to Melbourne or Sidney (that was before I retired - optional - in March 2011), Perth never occured in my mind.
It's South Korea that stands on the top of my wish lists (still is). I've tried every tips and tricks but failed to persuade my husband to look for a package tour to South Korea. I'm a die hard fan of Korean dramas. See, its not just the story itself that sticks me like magnet in front of the stupid square box, it's their unique culture that attracts me - the unique pattern of their family-hood, the unique layout of their house, their 'dress to impress' attires and so much more. But most of all, I want to see these self-obsession society with my own eyes.
Back to the land of down under, after our passports were surrendered to our travel agent (meaning it's confirmed that we're going), I started to do a lot of research beforehand especially on places we are going to venture in Perth (beside taking out our suitcases, dusting them and stuffing our necessities into them).
I'm the type of person who do not want to be stuck in the dead end because of our own ignorance. Wherever we go, I'm the one who would be armed with a notebook which contents the details of the places we were heading. Yes! My notebook which was always in my handbags proved to be useful and saved us from the hussle and bussle.
We were in Western Australia in Summer. We moved on from Perth city to Margaret River and back up at Perth City. We had great fun (and quite tiring) touring around the Margaret River. Nonetheless it was a wonderful experience bottle-feeding the lambs. Australians are generally nice and friendly. Here are the summary of our tour, the details coming up!
13.12.2012 (DAY 1)
- MH 125 KUL ➺PER ETD : 0930 ETA : 1500
> Arrrival at Perth International Airport, meet & greet our driver guide
> transfer to restaurant for buffet dinner at Miss Maud Restaurant
> To Perth Pan Pacific Hotel for check-in.
14.12.2012 (DAY 2)
- Starting time leaving hotel : 0900.
- Ending time reaching resort : 1800
> Check-out from Perth Pan Pacific Hotel
> Proceed for Dimsun Breakfast at Dragon Seafood Chinese Restaurant (will take approximate 1 hour)
> Short tour at Fremantle : Fremantle Market/Monument Hill/Roundhouse
> Proceed for Fish & Chips lunch in Mandhurah
> Then 1 hour Dolphin & Scenic Canal Cruise
> After cruise, 1 1/2 hour coach drive to Abbey Beach Resort for check-in
> Dinner at resort restaurant
15.12.2012 (DAY 3) - Busselton
> Busselton/return jetty train ride and guided underwater observatory at Busselton Jetty
*subject to weather condition as jetty might be closed when the weather is wild
*If the jetty is closed due to the unforeseen circumstances, travel agent could replace with :
- Product tasting at chocolate company and Olive Oil Soap Factory
> Yallingup Shearing Shed
16.12.2012 (DAY 4)
- Check out resort/back to Perth and check-in hotel
> Check-out from Abbey Beach Resort, Busselton
> Guided tour at Jewel Cave
> Guided tour at Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse
> Proceed to local winery for lunch
> Back to Perth and check-in hotel
17.12.2012 (DAY 5)
- MH 124 PER ➺KUL ETD : 1630 ETA : 2200
- Starting time leaving hotel : 1000 hrs.
- Ending time reaching airport : 1400 hrs
> Check-out from Abbey Beach Resort
> Proceed tour to Kings Park
> After lunch, transfer to airport for KLIA flight
12 DECEMBER 2012
At 12.45 pm, we departed KIA (Kuching International Airport) and arrived KLIA (Kuala Lumpur International Airport) at 2.25 pm.
We chose to stay the night at the Empress Hotel Sepang which is 8 minutes away from KLIA as we need to rush to KLIA the next morning to make sure we manage to assemble there at 7am.
Perth International Airport
Perth here we come!
DAY 1 : 13 DECEMCER 2012
We had a decent breakfast at the Empress Hotel. Its steamed dim sum dumplings and its fried chicken in pandan leaf was a good kickstart for the day.
After breakfast, we boarded a bus together with other members of our tour. We managed to reach KLIA in time and checked-in together smoothly.
After breakfast, we boarded a bus together with other members of our tour. We managed to reach KLIA in time and checked-in together smoothly.
We flew Malaysia Airlines. We departed KLIA at 0930 hours.
The Malaysian Airlines stewardess was kind enough to have suggested two vacant seats on our left hand side to my son. My son took the window seat and with the other seat next to him remained empty throughout the journey, he enjoyed the huge space all to himself.
Our traveling agent helped to fill all the details in both our in/out going visas and helped us with the menus of the restaurants that we were going to dine throughout our trip.
The names of the menus were quite rare and confusing. It took us quite sometimes to look through the unfamiliar menus. At last we decided to play safe, beside those marked as halal, we chose seafood, fish and the similars. After finishing the tasks, my husband took his favorite Fisherman's Friend Cough Suppressant Lozenges (I prefer Strepsils Cough Lozenges though) and tried to sleep.
The Malaysian Airlines stewardess was kind enough to have suggested two vacant seats on our left hand side to my son. My son took the window seat and with the other seat next to him remained empty throughout the journey, he enjoyed the huge space all to himself.
Our traveling agent helped to fill all the details in both our in/out going visas and helped us with the menus of the restaurants that we were going to dine throughout our trip.
The names of the menus were quite rare and confusing. It took us quite sometimes to look through the unfamiliar menus. At last we decided to play safe, beside those marked as halal, we chose seafood, fish and the similars. After finishing the tasks, my husband took his favorite Fisherman's Friend Cough Suppressant Lozenges (I prefer Strepsils Cough Lozenges though) and tried to sleep.
With my husband drowsing beside me, I tried to engage my attention to the AVOD smart screen (audio video on demand). Credit to Malaysia Airlines for the inflight amusing entertainments. I enjoyed Korean movie "Runway Cop". And a comedy Korean movie "Rock 'n Roll Housewives" helped to make the last few hours passed pleasantly.
We arrived Perth International Airport at 1500 hours. Alhamdulillah, the customs and immigration clearance ran smoothly. The officers were quite friendly. They only asked for our telephone numbers. It took us less than 5 minutes to get through.
I've read in the internet that Australia's customs is one of the strictest in the world. It really bothered me that I prayed a dua throughout our journey. Below is my dua:
Rabbi Yassir wala tu-‘assir. Rabbi tham-mim bil khayr.
“O my Lord, make things easier for me, do not make things difficult for me.”
Alhamdulillah, Allah is always there to help and make my difficulties easier. The Qur`an tells us that Allah remembers those who remember Him.
Some of our tour members who had been to Australia several times said that they have never come across Australia's customs clearance as smooth as ours before!
We tried to capture a few pictures of the Perth International Airport before we met and greeted our handsome Australian driver guide. He drove us to Miss Maud Restaurant for our Smörgåsbord dinner!
Salam Hamidah, I read through some of your blogs; especially your itinerary about your trip to Perth. I enjoyed reading them as it helps me recollect memories about my Perth trip from 15.5.2012 - 21.5.2012. You did a very good job by putting your experience inside a blog that will last a lifetime. Thumbs up for you! Please keep up the good work.
ReplyDeleteWalaikum salam & thank you, Sharon. Glad to hear you said that. Unfortunately, I've to look after my bedridden mother since March 2013. Need to tube-feeding her 3 hourly, cleaned her etc etc that I couldn't 'afford' to focus on other things lately. However your words is a comfort, thank you.
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