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So I haven't done too much so far. Spent my first week at my friends' (from the gate) house in Rockingham and just got over jet lag and sorted out stuff like aussie phone and bank account. Went to the beach, walked the dog, visited my friend's own store - Mummy's Little Essentials (very cool), drunk lots of wine and cider and ate some good hearty aussie meals. Met a load of their friends and went out a few times for a school reunion, plus a leaving do which was nice of them to include me in!
Knew that I wanted to stay in Fremantle (or Freo as the aussies call it) the main port in WA so looked up a few hostels on the internet but was told about Pirates backpackers by my friends, as it is just off the 'cappuccino strip'. So after booking in for Wednesday afternoon my friends very kindly dropped me off at the hostel after giving me a quick tour of the main bits of freo. Got into the hostel and had to wait for half an hour before reception even opened (by an Irish less-than-bothered receptionist). Checked in and was shown the toilets/shower rooms, kitchen etc and my bedroom which was a 6 bed female dorm. Nobody was in there. Sat on my bed and felt a little homesick for the first time as i had finally left a home setting and into the travelling world. So feeling a little teary I went to the shop to buy a few bits and came back and just cooked some dinner. People were a little strange and didn't really seem to want to talk to me (which I later on realised was because they were all living there and working in freo - most had been there for a few months) so I felt like a bit of an intruder. Back to my room and finally some of the girls came back. Got chatting to two of them, one an English girl and the other a French Canadian. Went for drinks downstairs and got chatting to a few people and was told about the 'family like' atmosphere as they'd all been there so long. Got along so well with the Canadian girl (Laurie) and have been inseparable ever since.
She has landed a job at the hotel so is unable to come with me on my travels up north. Everyone in the hostel was unable to as well so I was trolling through websites trying to find a travel buddy. Messaged a few People but no responses. I booked into a different hostel with my newfound friend and finally someone replied to me saying she is keen to travel together! She messaged saying she was actually in freo that day and did I want to meet for a coffee. So off I go wandering whether she is actually going to be a 60 year old man... Thankfully Charlotte turned out to be a lovely Belgian girl and so we are leaving tomorrow to drive up to Broome. Hired a car through a girl I worked with as she worked at a rental company in Perth so managed to get me a cheaper rate!
Moved into the new hostel which is HUGE and after a mishap with room arrangements (applied for female dorm but there were some very hairy looking females in there) we got moved to a smaller dorm (despite paying for the larger one). Both Laurie and I decided that even after pretty dire first impressions (FLYING cockroaches, dirty kitchen, weird old cat walking around crying/peeing everywhere) pirates was actually a breath of fresh air compared to sundancer, our new digs. Anyway, realising we were only there two nights we have spent the days lounging in the sun in 38℃ heat on various beaches and eating at some of the many cafes and restaurants freo offers. Had drinks at a a hotel bar and met some locals who were quite enjoyable to talk to. Today we met a local Laurie had been talking to who took us to his favourite beach and to see some roos which was good fun. As it's our last night we are going flashpacking and hopefully will find somewhere slightly less than average to eat!
Despite the lengthy post I think I have summarised the main points! Have been invited to Canada to stay and have been learning lots of new French phrases and been told I am doing really well! So leaving first thing in the morning to travel up north.
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