Arrived at Perth International Airport in the early morning

Can you smell the Christmas atmosphere? xD

My brother was out to work when I woke up, so I have to be the chef to cook, and then Facebook-ing while waiting for my aunty and cousin to pick me up

On the way to Uncle Roger's house, with aunty Esther and Raymond

Arrived at Uncle Roger's house

I just feel so excited when I see Christmas tree!

TV room @ Uncle Roger's house

Jonathan was fighting with Joshua in the swimming pool!

Northbridge, the Chinatown

Street @ Northbridge

Christmas decorations

It took me a day to visit Swam Valley which is about 30 minutes drive from Perth. We arrived there in the afternoon, had our meal before the trip started. Right after that, we have visited the wineries, chocolate company, and nougat company. Swam Valley is famous of its wineries. You can enjoy fine wine, cheese, chocolates, nougats, dried fruits, honey, non alcoholic wine, grape juice and a variety of seasonal produce. Most of them, you can try for free before getting one. I enjoyed wine tasting at the wineries and chocolate tasting at the chocolate company!

Black Swam Winery & Cafe

Swam Valley

Swam Valley

The Margaret River Chocolate Company

Chocolates!

Mondo Nougat

Second day, we went to Uncle Roger's favourite Chinese restaurant in Northbridge for a DimSum lunch. Right after that, we went shopping in Harbour Town! Harbour Town sells a lots of stuff at reasonable price. Indeed a cool place for the shopping addicts especially the ladies. We also went to MYER, but I can't remember which branch was that, heh!

Lunch with cousins before shopping

Harbour Town, it's time to shop!

Harbour Town

MYER

And spared another day to visit Canning College, Curtin College, and also my brother CK's ex-school, University of Western Australia, also known as UWA. Just stayed there like 10 minutes each, to take some pictures, and my brother shared me some thought when he studied there. Guess what, I am regret to further my study in local college, I should have followed my brother or my sister, at least that's different experience, which I had missed out. Cut the crap, after that, we have also visited the famous park, Kings Park! You can enjoy the best view of Perth here!

My brother CK's ex-school, University of Western Australia

Kings Park

Rainbow @ Kings Park

Kings Park

Perth view from Kings Park

Perth view from Kings Park

We spared another day in the town for sightseeing and photoshooting. I've been nagging my brother to find out where is London Court as I remember I saw it from Vivent's album, it's a nice place. Who knows, it is actually a small street! But it is a nice place to shoot some pictures I'd say, heh, I am finding an excuse so that the rest of them not going to blame me for the trouble to find out the small street. xD

Perth City

Perth City

Perth City

Malaysia Airline!

The street that linked to London Court

Steve Kwok @ the same street

Finally we spotted London Court!

This is how its entrance looks like

London Court, a short and small street

Another nice place that we have visited is the Cottesloe Beach. Even though I don't really love water sport, but feeling the heat of the sun under the cold water is simply awesome! We went there on a windy day, so I was freaking cold even with jacket. But since it is such a nice place, I ended up took off my shirt and jumped into the water with my cousins.

Cottesloe Beach

Steve Kwok @ Cottesloe Beach

On Christmas eve, we had our dinner at Uncle Roger Kwok's house, together with some of his business partners. Another lobsters meal, yummy! After that, we gathered in the TV room for caroling. It has been so long since I last caroling, but I can still remember few carols well wuey! In case you don't know, I had joined the caroling team from Wesley Methodist Church Segamat to visit house by house during Christmas eve when I was in secondary school.

Christmas dinner

Christmas dinner

Dine & Wine!

Lobsters

BBQ lobsters

BBQ lobsters, ready to be served

The prayers before meal

The guests are seating

And the party people

Steve Kwok & cousin, Jonathan Beech

Thanks everyone for the Christmas gifts

The day after Christmas, we went to Wild Life Park to pay a visit to the kangaroos and koalas! I remember when I was young, my uncle and grandparent brought me alots of souvenirs from Australia with kangaroo and koala picture on it whenever they coming back from Australia. But this is the first time I could see and feel them that close! It reminds me of my grandparent, miss you both so much!!!

Steve Kwok with the kangaroo

The kangaroo

Steve Kwok with the kangaroo again

Kangaroo feeding

The koala is sleeping, so cute wuey!

The next day, we went to Frementle for our fish & chips lunch on CK's treat. Followed by sightseeing and photoshooting. We had our late breakfast thus were so full at lunch time, couldn't finish the nice fish & chips.

Frementle

Frementle

Frementle

Frementle

Frementle

The cousins - Jonathan, Jacqualine, Raymond, and Steve Kwok

In the nite, we attended Zoe's 25th birthday party. Erm, if I am not mistaken, the restaurant is located in Northbridge (Zoe, correct me if I am wrong k). And after that, headed to a KTV nearby, forgot the name as well, haha! Nice dinner treat from Zoe, thanks! Zoe is my sister-in-law's buddy, she was the bridesmaid during CK's wedding. So CK is going to share the gift with his wife. Raymond and I got Zoe an Ipod Shuffle, hope she likes it lar.

Zoe's birthday dinner

Karaoke niteout

Birthday girl, Zoe

Passed by a club named Library Club, a venue for the school boys to do revision?

10 days sound a lots, but if you look at my schedule, it wasn't enough! My cousins were heading to Rottnest Island on the day I left. :( Well, I guess I did not spend the days there wisely, that's why. I believe I have missed out a lot of nice places in Perth. You know, you have to wait for everybody in the family to get ready. By the time everyone is ready, it is already lunch time, and after lunch, you won't have too much time to be spared in Perth as many of the shops are closing down at 5pm! And sad thing, I did not manage to try out the famous Corica Apple Strudel due to its closure during year end holiday period! *Sigh* But I am sure I'm gonna try it out during my next trip to Perth! =p

Arriving at Perth International Airport, good bye, Perth!

In the flight, reaching KL soon! Phew!

Anyway, these are part of my memories in Perth, the rest are all in my mind, will keep them in my heart always. Thanks everyone for making my Christmas trip a memorable one!

Talking about migrating to Australia, erm, Perth is a dull city without too many entertainments especially nite life. But it will be fine if you are migrating with your family like my brother. You won't want to party all nite long when you have commitment with your spouse isn't it? xD But, to a Chinese education guy like me, I could foresee certain difficulties to survive in a foreign country, especially when it comes to English verbal communication, especially at the initial stage. But one thing I found is that their accent is not that difficult to be understood, I see the possibilities to survive. So to me, it sounds possible to migrate to Australia. Anyway, I guess it gonna take me at least 1 to 2 years before I start thinking about it. If you ask me now, my answer is "sorry I don't know".

Ok now, guess what, I will be leaving Shell next week! There are so much to be recalled during my 15 months project employment with Shell. Thanks for everything, you're always in my mind! I had great fun working there!

Today is the last day of year 2008, I've did a personal review, especially the mistakes made in the year. Learnt a lesson and will be doing better in the coming years, I promise. There are a lots more in my mind which I don't feel like sharing it with the public. Wish me luck in year 2009, will you?

Tonight, with the feeling of sweet yet bitter, I will be sending off year 2008.

Good bye 2008!

Labels: Family, Memories, Party, Thought, Trip

This entry was posted on Wednesday, December 31, 2008 at 8:26 PM. You can skip to the end and leave a response.