Dad wondered what food I have been eating while over here.
I ate vietnamese food on monday night and japanese for lunch today. The strip in nearby William Street is similar to some of the vietnamese streets in Melbourne. I've got to practice using chopsticks, as former colleagues Linton and Anne will appreciate.
Cooking for one is something of a challenge in selecting small portions at grocers.
Cooking in, I've been using a lot of olives, sundried tomatoes, stinky blue cheese and mushrooms. Chorizo, that Spanish staple, is prevalent in delis nowadays but I haven't seen jamon serrano (Spanish ham).
Saturday, March 25, 2006
Work, week 1 impressions
It's a bus ride north of Perth in an industrial suburb. It takes me about 15 mins to walk to the bus stop from my hostel and about 10 once I get off. There are roads near where I work but no footpaths. Most people come in vans or utes around here.
People have suggested I seek alternative bus routes or other modes of transport (car/bike). For now I'm getting a walk...
Once I'm there, the people are fairly close and familial. Camaraderie is good. The celebrate staff birthdays and have friday night drinks and pizza.
The industry I'm working at is different from one's standard business application; I have many things to learn.
People have suggested I seek alternative bus routes or other modes of transport (car/bike). For now I'm getting a walk...
Once I'm there, the people are fairly close and familial. Camaraderie is good. The celebrate staff birthdays and have friday night drinks and pizza.
The industry I'm working at is different from one's standard business application; I have many things to learn.
Wednesday, March 22, 2006
Finally, some rain!
I've been here for exactly 2 weeks and for the first time it rained in Perth. :)
Anyway, I've been at work 3 days. My manager has been away 1/2 that time, so I'm struggling to work out what it is I'm doing. The job is with audio technology. The problem is I'm the only one working on a reworking of some existing software. The existing program, with all its jargon is hard enough, but I have to adapt new concepts. Big responsibility... Still it's more interesting that some other jobs I've done.
Anyway, I've been at work 3 days. My manager has been away 1/2 that time, so I'm struggling to work out what it is I'm doing. The job is with audio technology. The problem is I'm the only one working on a reworking of some existing software. The existing program, with all its jargon is hard enough, but I have to adapt new concepts. Big responsibility... Still it's more interesting that some other jobs I've done.
Sunday, March 19, 2006
Film review: The King
Yes, yes another film review. Perhaps I should see more of Perth but the nightlife in Northbridge wasn't very exciting.
The King stars Gael García Bernal (Amores Perros, Y Tu Mama Tambien, Mala Educaccion, Motorcycle Diaries, El Crimen de Padre Amaro, No News from God - counting only those of his films I've seen) as Elvis, a young man who on leaving the navy hopes to track down his birth father played by William Hurt (A history of violence). His father is a born again Christian preacher, whose bible-belt family aren't exactly a perfect match. Attempts to embrace this family by Elvis lead to catastrophe. García Bernal is one of Mexico's finest young actors but is again typecast, in his first all English role, as an amoral young man driven by his libido. Was 'The Motorcycle Diaries' a flash in the decency pan, or is he just drawn to awful scripts? 3/5.
The King stars Gael García Bernal (Amores Perros, Y Tu Mama Tambien, Mala Educaccion, Motorcycle Diaries, El Crimen de Padre Amaro, No News from God - counting only those of his films I've seen) as Elvis, a young man who on leaving the navy hopes to track down his birth father played by William Hurt (A history of violence). His father is a born again Christian preacher, whose bible-belt family aren't exactly a perfect match. Attempts to embrace this family by Elvis lead to catastrophe. García Bernal is one of Mexico's finest young actors but is again typecast, in his first all English role, as an amoral young man driven by his libido. Was 'The Motorcycle Diaries' a flash in the decency pan, or is he just drawn to awful scripts? 3/5.
Friday, March 17, 2006
View from Freo of a sailing ship
Cottesloe BeachPhotos from King's Park
The city
Botanic Gardens plaque
Swan River
Swan River
Swan River
Swan River
Entrance to King's park.
Pete in front of the city
Thursday, March 16, 2006
Film Review: Capote
The film centres around Truman Capote (Breakfast at Tiffany's) and his journalistic colleague and friend Harper Lee (To Kill a Mockingbird). They travel to a small country town to report on murder mystery. Truman is touched by the plight of the accused... As a journalist, he reports on the plight of the accused; the film upon his condition. Note the standard plot device of a biography within a biography. The film asks the audience, which biography is a more compelling story? The fate of the pair on death row, or a 'free' man who is trapped within a prison of his own creation?
Philip Seymour Hoffman won the best actor Oscar for this performance. He plays a self-assured successful author seeking to write his next masterpiece. This pursuit consumes him - this film may be seen as a portrayal of the man as he would appear in his own biography, Capotesque. 4/5
Philip Seymour Hoffman won the best actor Oscar for this performance. He plays a self-assured successful author seeking to write his next masterpiece. This pursuit consumes him - this film may be seen as a portrayal of the man as he would appear in his own biography, Capotesque. 4/5
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
Film Review: History of violence
The Luna on SX is 30 seconds walk from my hostel in Freo. It's an independant cinema chain with locations scattered about Fremantle and Perth.
The film stars Viggo Mortensen (Lord of the Rings). With short hair and an intense expression in the eyes he reminds me of Alan Alda from MASH. He plays a small town family man, Tom Stall, whose life is turned upside down when armed men attempt to rob his cafe.
The film's central premise is about the nature of our character. Can we make fundamental changes to our lifestyle and demeanour (such as uprooting oneself to Perth) and thus change who were are? Or does our past forever influence who we shall be? (you can take the boy out of Melbourne, but...) Can we truly reinvent ourselves or does our former existence simmer below the surface. These are the questions faced by the main character Tom as he confronts memories he had tried to suppress.
On the whole a good, if predictable, tale of a man battling his inner demons. Bloody in parts. 3.5/5
The film stars Viggo Mortensen (Lord of the Rings). With short hair and an intense expression in the eyes he reminds me of Alan Alda from MASH. He plays a small town family man, Tom Stall, whose life is turned upside down when armed men attempt to rob his cafe.
The film's central premise is about the nature of our character. Can we make fundamental changes to our lifestyle and demeanour (such as uprooting oneself to Perth) and thus change who were are? Or does our past forever influence who we shall be? (you can take the boy out of Melbourne, but...) Can we truly reinvent ourselves or does our former existence simmer below the surface. These are the questions faced by the main character Tom as he confronts memories he had tried to suppress.
On the whole a good, if predictable, tale of a man battling his inner demons. Bloody in parts. 3.5/5
Monday, March 13, 2006
Hair today, gone tomorrow.
Jen, a Canadian girl working at the Billabong hostel cut it for a steal at $10. It's a little shorter and neater. Well, I do start a new job next Monday...
I'm getting old. Too many GB teenagers at the hostel are heightening the number of grey hairs. :(
I'm getting old. Too many GB teenagers at the hostel are heightening the number of grey hairs. :(
Beaches
I've been to Cottesloe, in Perth and South Freo.
As most of readers would know, I've not much of a swimmer but having tide and salt water is nicer than chlorine and still water.
Cottesloe, and surrounding suburbs have a continuous stretch of golden sand. Unfortunately, the coast is a long way away, by public transport from inner north suburban Perth.
South Freo is a smaller beach flanked by Norfolk pines. Incidentally, I was bored with Perth so I've moved down to Fremantle for a few days. This hostel has no pool but the beach is a 15 minute walk from the town of Freo.
Plus, this hostel has cats! I love Freo! :)
As most of readers would know, I've not much of a swimmer but having tide and salt water is nicer than chlorine and still water.
Cottesloe, and surrounding suburbs have a continuous stretch of golden sand. Unfortunately, the coast is a long way away, by public transport from inner north suburban Perth.
South Freo is a smaller beach flanked by Norfolk pines. Incidentally, I was bored with Perth so I've moved down to Fremantle for a few days. This hostel has no pool but the beach is a 15 minute walk from the town of Freo.
Plus, this hostel has cats! I love Freo! :)
Saturday, March 11, 2006
Ed, Jeff and Pete
I went to my first 'gig' in Perth last night at the Rosemount in Fitzgerald St. Ed Kuepper teamed up with fellow Saint Jeff Wegener on drums and Sunnyboys bassist Peter Oxley.
It's astonishing that all being 50ish, still manage to grind out 90 mins of powerful rock, with no flat bits.
Kuepper still amazes with his ability to crank out notes that shouldn't exist on a guitar. It's very easy to lose oneself in the moment. Certain chords evoke a thought in one's head, and one is on a tangent... I think Buddhists practice meditation for similar effect: higher plane of reality and all that. :)
I'd seen Ed solo before; an extra presence is added with drums and bass. :)
Standing in front of gigantic speakers sure shakes out the earwax!
It's astonishing that all being 50ish, still manage to grind out 90 mins of powerful rock, with no flat bits.
Kuepper still amazes with his ability to crank out notes that shouldn't exist on a guitar. It's very easy to lose oneself in the moment. Certain chords evoke a thought in one's head, and one is on a tangent... I think Buddhists practice meditation for similar effect: higher plane of reality and all that. :)
I'd seen Ed solo before; an extra presence is added with drums and bass. :)
Standing in front of gigantic speakers sure shakes out the earwax!
Friday, March 10, 2006
Freo, way to go.
In a previous post I mentioned that Perth seemed a small and uninspiring city.
Well today was the first day with reasonable weather. So I jumped on a train to Fremantle. The ciudad vieja (old city as they say in Spain) is a charming maritime village full of interesting shops where Dad could potter about for hours.
There's a small Bathers' Beach near the centre which is a little too small. So I went for a walk to the South Beach in South Freo. The eponymous doctor was in, making in cool but the water was warm, and the sands deserted (for a Friday afternoon).
Afterwards I enjoyed the hospitality of the Little Creatures Microbrewery with quirky staff and most palatable food and drink.
Well worth a return trip. :)
Well today was the first day with reasonable weather. So I jumped on a train to Fremantle. The ciudad vieja (old city as they say in Spain) is a charming maritime village full of interesting shops where Dad could potter about for hours.
There's a small Bathers' Beach near the centre which is a little too small. So I went for a walk to the South Beach in South Freo. The eponymous doctor was in, making in cool but the water was warm, and the sands deserted (for a Friday afternoon).
Afterwards I enjoyed the hospitality of the Little Creatures Microbrewery with quirky staff and most palatable food and drink.
Well worth a return trip. :)
The city
Where I am staying is on the fringe of northbridge and mt lawley. Close to the city, ~ 20 mins walk. From there one can see the city skyline.
Perth has a few tall office buildings. Nonetheless it's tiny. Hay and Murray streets are 2 shopping 'lanes' connected by arcades. They have all the standard shops you'd expect: Myer, David Jones, target, telstra shop etc. But the CBD blocks are small, it seems little bigger than Bendigo.
From there I walked up the hill to Kings Park. This is lovely parkland which includes the botanic gardens. It's entry is via Fraser Avenue - a long straight passage flanked by beautiful gums. As well as the flora, the region provides views of the city skyscape and the enchanting Swan River. Forget the Yarra!
I'll upload some photos when I visit a cafe to plug in my camera. The hostel computers aren't equipped as such. :(
So, I haven't yet been to the beach; the hostel has a pool. But I'll visit Freo some day soon.
Perth has a few tall office buildings. Nonetheless it's tiny. Hay and Murray streets are 2 shopping 'lanes' connected by arcades. They have all the standard shops you'd expect: Myer, David Jones, target, telstra shop etc. But the CBD blocks are small, it seems little bigger than Bendigo.
From there I walked up the hill to Kings Park. This is lovely parkland which includes the botanic gardens. It's entry is via Fraser Avenue - a long straight passage flanked by beautiful gums. As well as the flora, the region provides views of the city skyscape and the enchanting Swan River. Forget the Yarra!
I'll upload some photos when I visit a cafe to plug in my camera. The hostel computers aren't equipped as such. :(
So, I haven't yet been to the beach; the hostel has a pool. But I'll visit Freo some day soon.
House hunting
I have tried a couple of sources. I looked at the Edith Cowan Uni (ECU) noticeboard. The guy I rang stated the offer of housing was only for students. :(
I went to a house through Quokka in Mount Lawley. No luck - the place was a pigsty and the room was in a family home where the son had never moved out. Sound familiar? I need a change!
I went to a house through Quokka in Mount Lawley. No luck - the place was a pigsty and the room was in a family home where the son had never moved out. Sound familiar? I need a change!
Wednesday, March 08, 2006
In the beginning
I arrived on a 38 degree day. :(
I'm staying at http://www.billabongresort.com.au/ which is a little north of the Perth CBD.
Given it was yucky weather I stayed next to the pool most of the day.
Nothing exciting to report. The in-flight movie was as follows:
Good Night and Good Luck: Robert Downey Jr (Kiss Kiss Bang Bang) and George Clooney(Confessions of a Dangerous Mind) appear as producers of a current affairs TV program in the 1950s. It tells the story of tv staff during the 'McCarthy Era'. A predictable historical drama detailing counter-propaganda of the press, the dangers of suppressing free speech. (1984's double think comes to mind) The film was a little too politically correct for me. Obviously it was targetted at drawing parallels between the paranoid slide into semi-totalitarianism in the 1950s with the current Bush Administration. Too meek; didn't quite manage to pull it off... If you like the above 2 actors, see the aforementioned films instead. 3/5
I'm staying at http://www.billabongresort.com.au/ which is a little north of the Perth CBD.
Given it was yucky weather I stayed next to the pool most of the day.
Nothing exciting to report. The in-flight movie was as follows:
Good Night and Good Luck: Robert Downey Jr (Kiss Kiss Bang Bang) and George Clooney(Confessions of a Dangerous Mind) appear as producers of a current affairs TV program in the 1950s. It tells the story of tv staff during the 'McCarthy Era'. A predictable historical drama detailing counter-propaganda of the press, the dangers of suppressing free speech. (1984's double think comes to mind) The film was a little too politically correct for me. Obviously it was targetted at drawing parallels between the paranoid slide into semi-totalitarianism in the 1950s with the current Bush Administration. Too meek; didn't quite manage to pull it off... If you like the above 2 actors, see the aforementioned films instead. 3/5
Friday, March 03, 2006
Welcome
I'm creating this blog for family, friends, ex-workmates and fellow travellers.
I'm moving from Melbourne, Victoria to Perth, Western Australia for work purposes.
I arrive March 7, 2006 and start work, hopefully, on the 20th.
I've never been to Perth so it will be an interesting 2 weeks exploring the city, finding a place to live and seeing the sights.
So this blog exists as a beginner's guide to Perth. Expect photos - hopefully I can plug my camera in somewhere.
Piajero = Pete + viajero, i.e. Pete the traveller.
I'm moving from Melbourne, Victoria to Perth, Western Australia for work purposes.
I arrive March 7, 2006 and start work, hopefully, on the 20th.
I've never been to Perth so it will be an interesting 2 weeks exploring the city, finding a place to live and seeing the sights.
So this blog exists as a beginner's guide to Perth. Expect photos - hopefully I can plug my camera in somewhere.
Piajero = Pete + viajero, i.e. Pete the traveller.