On Saturday 16th September, we set out, along with 15 other locals to spend 6 days in Perth, Western Australia. The visit was arranged for members of the Royal Prince of Wales Lodge 1555 EC to meet with Phoenix Lodge, Perth, and spouses were invited along too.

Our first flight on 16th took us from Penang to Singapore, where surprisingly it was the gents that headed straight for the duty free shopping - whisky - to purchase gifts for our hosts during the week. Our second flight from Singapore departed at 1.20am and arrived in Perth at 6.30am. Travelling on the port (left hand) side of the plane, we both had a very good view of the sunrise. Our accommodation for the visit was at Comfort Perth City Hotel. It was 3* rated, about 5 years old & had rather good room facilities (TV, fridge, hairdryer, iron & board, tea/coffee). The only downside through the week was that although we didn't get rained on, it was sunny but very chilly, so we had to use the room heater, which was rather noisy, & there was no heater in the shower room.

After freshening up, 6 of us went for a walk around the city & the river area, taking time to pop into Perth Mint. Our first opportunity to meet with the Phoenix Lodge members & their wives was at a BBQ at Whiteman Park. We spent the evening relaxing.

After a rather good full English breakfast for George, and fruit, yogurt & English muffin for Carol, we all (except the golfers) travelled by CAT (Perth's free city bus transport system) to Harbour Town, a discount retail shopping mall, for retail therapy. Monday evening saw the gentlemen attending the Phoenix lodge meeting while the ladies were taken on a coach tour of Perth by night. We all met up afterwards for curry & drinks.

A cruise down the Swan River to Fremantle with 'Captain Cook Cruises' was included in our package for Tuesday morning. The weather was good but we decided to stay inside the boat. The Swan River is wide & shallow here, so the boat travelled on a sinuous course, passing some rather partial des-res's. On arrival at Fremantle, we transferred to a tram for a 1 hour commentated tour of the town. During the return cruise to Perth, we had lunch while sampling some local wines. That evening, the gents went off to another Lodge meeting while the ladies travelled to Northbridge to try their Asian Food Court.

Wednesday morning was taken very much at leisure as we had an afternoon tour - 3 wineries, 1 chocolate factory, 1 honey farm & Caversham Wildlife Park. The day was rounded off with a meal at 9 Marys in the City.

We like to get in some culture when we travel to a new place, so decided to spend Thursday morning at the Western Australia Museum. We entered the museum at 10.15am & made it to the coffee shop for lunch at 3pm! It was very interesting, well laid out, had something for everyone in there. We then caught the CAT to WACA . The meal that night was with Phoenix Lodge at the Flying Squadron Yacht Club on the Swan River.

Friday was check out day, so we packed & left our bags at the hotel, setting off for a day in Fremantle, where we went round the Motor Museum & then had fish & chips out of paper at Cicerellos by the harbour. The day was rounded off at AQWA (Aquarium of Western Australia), & a BBQ before being transferred back to the airport for an overnight flight back to Singapore, & morning flight on to Penang.