Footy

Australian rules football is an awesome sport. I am genuinely disappointed that my introduction to the sport came at 27 years of age. I know, it sounds a bit dramatic. But as an athlete (formerly), I think Aussie rules looks like a lot of fun to play and it is surely a physical game that tests one's endurance. There is no doubt that I would join a recreational league if I could find one.

As you may have guessed by now, I went to a "footy" game in Perth. The Australian Football League is the professional organization of Australia's premier players and teams. Fans pack stadiums, or "ovals," by the tens of thousands. A very short train ride from downtown Perth can get you to Subiaco Oval, home of two professional AFL teams, the West Coast Eagles and the Fremantle Dockers. Before flying to Perth, I went online and was able to score a single ticket in the nosebleed section of Subiaco Oval. The game was sold out and the atmosphere was electric as the West Coast Eagles defeated Melbourne, 90-82. When I purchased the ticket, I had no idea what to expect and I knew nothing about the sport. But by game's end, I was hooked.

Footy is a cross between soccer, American football, and rugby. The rules are few and players just have at each other and for nearly 2 hours. The game is divided into quarters, with each being roughly 30 minutes in length. The objective: do whatever you can to kick the ball through the uprights without it being deflected by the opponent. Sounds easy enough, right? Well, no, considering that each team has 18 men on the field at once and the opponents are ready to crush you at the first opportunity. Plus the oval is significantly larger than a soccer field or football field, so sprinting the length of the field is hard enough, let alone kicking the footy through uprights. I have been told that some players will run nearly 20km in a single game. I believe it.

Footy is a rush and I highly recommend that you attend a game if you ever make it to Australia. If you'd like to know more about the sport, here is a link to information on Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_rules_football

Exotic Rottnest Island

Rottnest Island - a very unflattering name, don't you think? The little guy pictured here is to blame. Quokkas, which are small marsupials, were originally mistaken for large rats by the Dutch explorers that came to the island in the 17th century. The island's name actually means "rat's nest." Well, I can't say that I would have visited "rat's nest" if the locals hadn't raved about its beauty. And for the record, the quokkas are actually pleasant.

Rottnest Island is roughly 18 kilometers from the west coast of Australia. The most popular way to reach the island is by ferry, which takes little more than 30 minutes time. The ferry takes guests directly to the only developed part of the island. There are a few establishments for food, bicycles, and snorkeling gear. Some tourists elect to stay on the island and the port is close to several dozen cottages.

Outside of the entrance port, Rottnest hosts peace and quiet. How quiet you ask? Well, no cars are allowed on the island. I saw one bus, one garbage truck, and several boats but no other motorized vehicles. Most tourists, like myself, rent a bike for the day and ride from bay to bay. One of the great things about the island is that there are so many great bays and beaches on Rottnest that it is possible to find your own private beach if you are there on the right day. I chose to go on a Monday and I felt like there was nobody else for miles around. It was fantastic to say the least. The water was clear and cool and there was not a single cloud in the sky. Seriously, I looked back at all the pictures from that day and I can only see one baby cloud... 18km away over the mainland of Australia.

Besides my objective to relax on Rottnest Island, I also snorkeled at multiple locations. The picture here to the left is the first location where I went diving. Salmon Bay is a short ride from the main port and is very diver friendly. The maps showed a snorkeling "trail" in Salmon Bay and I was surprised to find that a course has actually been created underwater. The bay has roughly a dozen markers, which are stone tablets anchored to the sea floor that give historical facts and interesting dive highlights. I would spot one of these markers from the surface and dive to the sea floor to read what was written on the tablet. It was a great feature of snorkeling there.

The final two photos were taken at the last dive spot I chose. Although I had been somewhat disappointed in the snorkeling up to that point, the last location saved the day. The water had been a little choppy all day and visibility was not ideal, but that didn't keep me from spotting an incredible surprise. I was on the surface and a huge dark shadow appeared beneath me. It was a massive stingray as big or bigger than any I have seen in an aquarium. I was startled at first, but fascinated by the size and grace with which the ray moved. I kept my distance but was able to swim near the stingray for several minutes.

If you ever make it to Perth, Australia, I (like the locals) strongly recommend a trip out to "Rotto."

The Greatest Sunset on Earth?

Ever wonder what a sunset looks like in Australia? Well here it is. On Cottesloe Beach, just 15 minutes from central Perth, the sun seems to dip straight into the Indian Ocean as the day comes to an end. The colors are spectacular and the view is unobstructed as far as the eye can see.

I spent an entire day on Cottesloe Beach and this is how it ended. Pretty spectacular, huh? But the sunset wasn't the only good thing about this Perth suburb. The beach itself was covered in fine, white sand and the water was refreshingly cool. You've got to dive right into the water to eliminate the initial chill, but the clear water is relaxing and feels just right. Cottesloe has several small shops and a hotel, but that's pretty much it. It's more like a quiet neighborhood than a tourist attraction. Many of the nearby homes are designed with wrap-around porches and have lush green lawns. After hopping off the Fremantle train line, Cottesloe Beach visitors must walk over the hill, through the quiet neighborhood, passed the coastline golf course, and down to the beach. Everything about the area is wonderful - perfect for a day of relaxation.

As the sun set on Cottesloe, a flock of colorful birds swarmed the trees just off the beach. They flew in by the hundreds and began to call loudly. Although their volume was a bit much, it was still an interesting spectacle to see. It almost seemed like the birds came in to watch the same sunset as everyone else.

Welcome to Perth - Western Australia

Welcome to Western Australia's capital city! Perth is located on the southwestern Australian coast and is home to about 80% of the state's population. I had the privilege of spending some time in Perth and loved every minute.

The pedestrian friendly city was perfect for someone like me. I soaked up the incredible weather all 5 days - clear skies and 25 degrees Celsius (77 F) daily. I stayed near Hay St. and Murray St. in the heart of Perth, where cafes, pubs, shops, and culture are buzzing. Street performers entertain the passersby and cafe customers who fill the streets. One such entertainer, Percy Buttons, was a famous street performer from the 1920s-50s. The city erected a bronze statue (seen here) to commemorate his life and talents. I couldn't miss the opportunity to pose with such a beloved performer.

Perth seemed like such a relaxing place to me - maybe because I was on vacation. There was something about the weather and the scenery that made me feel fresh and comfortable. The city is situated on a river that runs the few kilometers from city to sea. The water is cool and blue and really adds to the scenery of Perth. The city is very clean. It has well organized transportation services such as the ferry and train systems. Many locals use these services to come into and go out of downtown Perth. The surrounding suburbs appear quiet and very family friendly. The suburban areas I visited - Fremantle, Cottesloe, South Perth, and Subiaco - are located on or toward the coastline. All the areas looked like great places to live. Each area seemed to have it's own identity, but none were far from the big city.

I had an eventful trip. I spent a wonderful day on Cottesloe Beach. I attended an Australian Rules Football match (called "footie" by the locals) at Subiaco Oval. I visited the Perth Zoo and had close encounters with a few of Australia's famous creatures. A friend and I spent an evening "pub hopping" and got a taste of the British, Irish, Belgian, and Aussie pubs in Perth. I visited historic Fremantle and toured some of the sites there. My last day, I took the ferry from Fremantle to the exotic Rottnest Island and spent the day snorkeling and exploring. The time in Perth was memorable for me and I highly recommend a holiday there. I'll be sharing my activities in Perth over the next several days!