Back in Brussels - 3 April 2016

Some people complained, there were too few photos of ME on the Blog, so here are those, I can fin

Dressed up for the Mosque in Kuala Lumpur - in January, on the way over.

  With fly-net at Hamelin Pool.

With Hans and Inga

Waiting for the "Ancient Empire" walk between the 400-yrs old trees.

In the Arboretum - "Maritime Pine" (Tingle State Forest)

Somewhere at the Southern Sea between Augusta and Albany

Wine tasting!

Wednesday, 30 March 2016

We are now facing the cold reality .... Brussels airport still closed, we are flewn from London to Amsterdam, where we are to catch a train to Brussels around 15:30.

The apartment at Plasky seems to be flooded and there is no hot water.  About the heating we don't know.  

"Heureux qui, comme Ulysses, a fait un beau voyage" - "Lucky is he who, like Ulysses, made a fine trip".

"Room with a View" at Hotel Sama-Sama at Kuala Lumpur airport - yesterday.

Sunset over KL, during "High Tea" at the hotel before catching an overbooked flight to London.

Monday, 28 March - leaving Australia

A quick morning walk in Easter-quiet Perth before cheching out at 12. 

We are to take off at 16:25 on MH 124 (Malaysia Airlines) for arrival in Kuala Lumpur around 22 hrs.

Hans has booked us into "Sama-Sama" at the airport with both pool and sunshine.  No sightseeing, no rushing - just a relaxed day before the long flight back to London for arrival Wednesday morning.  From there we will see how to get to Brussels.  Is seems that the airport is still closed.

Here a few last souvenirs pictures from Australia.

"Our" Easter Sunday mass at St. George's Cathedral.

The bells from St. Martin's-in-the-Fields were donated to Perth and placed in the (green) Bell Tower.

Yesterday, Easter Sunday, at the beach in Hilary's Boat Harbour.

The newly finished Waterfront in Perth.

One of the very wall painting on William Street.

Inside each letter is a scene from the Northbridge area, where we stayed at 3 different occasions.

Day 75 (I think) - 27 March (for sure) ..... last night in Perth

"The Book" talks about the exceptionally good breakfast at "Little Willy's".  Our hotel being on Robinson Avenue, we are just around the corner to Williams.   The breakfast at the hotel being not all that tempting, our day is all set:

Breakfast at "Little Willy's" on William Street.

10-o'clock mass at St. George's Cathedral.

Excursion by metro and bus to Hilary's Harbour north of Perth.

How - and when ?

Family ticket = 24 hours by bus, metro and ferry all over Perth for 12,50 $AU.   Compared to Brusels, it is a treat.

Too many people at the Aquarium at Hilary's Harbour and we change plans in favour of a short walk at the beach before "travelling" back to Perth.   

After the many days and hours of driving, public transport is, indeed, most agreable.

And now we have reached the last night in Australia.  

The feelings are mixed ... will we ever come back ?  

Day 73, Friday 25 March - still at the same campsite, in Toodyay

Here is an example of a perfect set-up, with camp kitchen and private toilet.  "Be prepared" seems to be the motto of our new neighbours at Toodyay campsite, where we are to spend another night, the third.

The sun has been shining and we have a "cabin", but I am eager to get out of this place.  Easter means a long weekend for campers and maybe the last one before winter.  The campsite is slowly getting packed with people of all sizes in their huge caravans.

Australia is a "Big Place of Plenty".

The day has been very warm and thunder is at the horizon.  During our supper on the wooden terrace it starts raining and within seconds there is lightning and storm.   It is good to have solid roof on a night like this.

We are to give back the car in Perth tomorrow.  

Sadly enough that means the end of nights in the tent under the full moon or the bright stars - a very exceptional experience.

24 March -

Dear all -

We have been reading about the terror attacks in Brussels Tuesday and we know, that many of you are worried about us.

The airport of Zaventem is still closed, but we are to return, via London, only Wednesday, 30 March. 

Hans & Bente

Day 70 - Tuesday, 22 March - "Lake Navarino" (campsite)

We start the day visiting l'Arboretum in "Inglehope Park",  just south of Wellingup.  

A lovely walk for an or more by foot, taking tile to take close looks at the many treed, we have seen in the forests in the south. 

The "Mediterranean Maritime Pine" which sheds its bark so beautifully ....

.... leaving the trunk ever so shining.  It grows generally 35 m tall.  We know this Maritime Pine from Jar sur Mer, in France

"The Sidney Blue Gum" grows up to 66 meter tall and is slim and very colourful.

Banga tree - grows to 2 meter tall.  The bush they are like   bad weeds.  We call them 'Comic strip trees"  or "Tegneserietræer".  The needle-like leaves grow out from the top of the "stem" and so does the cream coloured long and slim flower, usually one per plant.   The Banga is slow growing, long living and very fire resistant.

"Euc marginata" popularly called Jarrah is also a Eucalyptus.  It is the most common Timber tree in West Australia.  We drove through huge State forests of Jarrah just a few days ago between Walpole and Denmark, on the south coast.

A small sample of the "California Redwood" ends today's Arboretum tour.

 

We expected much from the "Lake Navarino" campsite and were deeply disappointed.  

 

 Huge forest fires two months ago.

But the story is even sadder for the owners who acquired the camping two weeks before the fire.   

They lost 90% of the infrastructure and were busy rebuilding, when we were there.  Good news are that, although the forest still smells fire and ashes, they are fully booker for Easter.