Backpacking Holidays in Perth, Western Australia - Part 1

I just came back from Perth, Western Australia about 3 weeks ago from a backpacking holiday.

We decided to go for a free & easy backpacking holiday due to 2 reasons:

1) Cover places of attraction that we really are keen to see, rather then being lead to places by tour guides (many are to commercial places/shops that the tourist guide has a commission) that we dislike

2) We can control the pace. Normally if you follow tour groups, the time spend at each location is very short - with just a few photo shots and you need to move on. With backpacking, we can control our own pace

3) Most tours agency in Singapore will only cover Perth City Central and maybe the Pinnacles. We would love to visit others Western Australia's awesome National Parks - oh by the way, if you go to places like Australia and New Zealand - it seemed like you have never been there if you have not visited their National Parks.

4) We love to interact with the people on the ground. Nothing beats chatting and knowing more about the lifestyle of the aussies living in Perth.

As usual for a backpacking holidays, you would need to check out 4 things:

1) Air-tickets - we went for budget airline Jetstar Asia as the deal was good when we bought the tickets 6 months earlier

2) Lodgings - we chose backpackers hostel (Globe Backpackers in Wellington Street - we will talk more about it later) rather than posh hotel in Perth as we would love to mingle more with the people, rather than enjoying the comfort but soloist lifestyle in the hotel

3) Travel Insurance - this is a must especially if you doing Backpacking

4) Search for Information on Places of Interest + How to travel around + Recommended food

1 and 3 was pretty easy during the planning stage.

No. 4 (Backpackers Hostel) search was relatively easy as you will find many listings on the web which consolidates the list of backpacking hostels. Just check out the ratings and testimonials by others and you will be able to distill down to a few choices to make a final decision. Once again, risk are involved since the testimonials may not be 100% accurate. One trick is to consider testimonials that are nearer to you. Overall, we would like to give a Thumbs Up for Globe Backpackers Hostel (4.5 / 5 ratings), based on the following:

My room in Globebackpackers

1. Staff: Super friendly & Helpful (Sarah and Tracey - you are brilliant in Customer Service!)
2. Accessibility: Very accessible. Train & Bus stations just opposite. Free Shuttle (CATs service) also 2-3 mins away. 3 mins walk to the major shopping area of Perth City.
3. Safety: Located along the main road. Felt safe when we went back to hostel late in night
4. Room: Clean, Comfortable, Private, Nice Linen. (Pillow maybe change to thicker ones?)
5. Toilet: Clean, Well Maintained. Private. Can't complain!
6. Price: Excellent from what i got! Felt comfortable in my 8 days stay there!

Posing with Sarah

Sean posing with Sarah

It is No. 4 (Information on Places of Interest + How to travel around + Recommended food) that we face challenges. There isn't much travel guidebooks about Perth (and outlying National Parks) in the library or bookstores. We did many nights of internet surfing for information but there was just very little information on the web. The one that always comes up is Tourism Perth Australia which, as we know shows you the "so-call" attractions. These information are usually suited for those going for standard tour activities - we were looking for more information on heartland activities and food.

It seemed like not many blog about Perth - there wasn't much travelogue or blogs to help backpackers like me. Alot was based on asking around when we were physically there in Perth. Are you one of them facing this problem like us???

As such, i promise myself to blog about Perth and Western Australia when i am back into Singapore, in order to assist other backpackers that are looking out for information on Perth. I hope google and yahoo! search engines would be able to display this blogpost for people to pick up and plan their backpacking holidays.

Let's get started with the Introduction of Perth!

Perth is the capital & largest city of Western Australia. The pace of living over there is so much slower and relaxing as compared to other Australia Cities such as Melbourne and Sydney. Most of the shops & eateries in Perth City Central are closed after 6pm and the streets will be quiet at about 8pm.

Perth International Airport

If you are a tourist looking for food in the streets, you can either go for fast-food chains such as McDonalds and Hungry Jacks (equivalent of Burger Kings). You can also find shops selling Pizza and Kebabs until late in the night - this are usually operated by asians. Alternatively, you can walk to Northbridge area where Chinese restaurants are waiting for you for late night / supper meals.

Cup of hot coffee in the early morning in Perth City

In the next few blogposts, i will share with you on the day tours that we took to outlying areas surrounding Perth City Central - many are the amazing National Parks in Western Australia. I will also give an overview of the economical food you can find in Perth City. Stay tuned for the next post!

PS: Drop me a comment. I would love to hear from you.

PPS: This blogpost is part of a series know as "Backpacking Holidays in Perth, Western Australia". Click on "Holiday Tips" for whole series.

Suprise Google Adsense Cheque

It has been sometime since i last check my google account due to work commitments, and i am surprised to see another cheque posted to me by Google Adsense!


Is nice to receive cheques in your mailbox, rather than credit card bills.... =)

Isn't it?

What do you think?

Singapore 44th National Day Celebration

Hi everyone,

Just want to share with you on my trip to watch the Singapore 44th National Day Celebration at Marina Bay Singapore.

This is my first time to attend the National Day Parade, and definitely the first time at the temporary Floating Platform at Marina Bay.

It was all excitement as we (my meow and myself) waiting towards such an celebration event. On the day, we pack some bread and chips and head towards the Marina Bay via public transport of MRT. We have to walk pretty far and go through 1-2 police security checks before we can proceed nearer to the floating platform.

(just got pass the police check)

(we are near the floating platform where the parade will be conducted)

(Of course i am happy. It was a long walk)

(Floating platform at 4.30pm when we reached)

(It is full house at about 5.30pm)

(We heard of Kallang Wave at the defunc National Stadium. How about Marina Wave Roar at Marina Bay Floating Platform?)

(Yeah..That's Me!)

Last but not least, i must stand up for my national flag fly-pass.

Facebook Fantasy Football

I have been playing Yahoo Games - Fantasy Football for the last season (Year 2008/2009) available at www.yahoo.co.uk and was 4th in the group (with group code name Maradona). Can't wait for the BPL (English Premier League) season to kick start on 16th Aug 2009. Hee. My selection of team has been done By the way, my account name is "Eric The King 7".

Just realised while on my facebook account, that Facebook has also created an application for FB-Fantasy Football based on the BPL. I have also set up an account with them known as "Eric Cantona Shirt 7".

Looks quite cool!


Join me there!

Transforming my Optimus Prime (Leader Class) from ROBOT to TRUCK mode

In the blogpost about few weeks back, i mentioned that i was given a set of Optimus Prime (Leader Class) toy.

During my Organic Chemistry Mastery Workshops 2009 in mid-July, it was unveiled to the group of GCE O Levels Secondary 4 students and they were surprised to see me bringing a toy to a proper academic Chemistry Workshop.

After telling them how this Optimus Prime Transformer toy is linked and associated to chemistry, typically Organic Chemistry, they were excited for me (as well as themselves). However, i has problem in transforming the ROBOT mode to the TRUCK mode.

Even after the workshop, i did not manage to transform it properly after i read (and try to follow) the instruction manual. Hours and Hours passed and after 4 hrs, my TRUCK mode is still not in place.

During one of the recent Chemistry regular tuition class, one of my students told me to check out YOUTUBE to find videos on the toy transformation. I was initially skeptical about it, but when i reached home and check it out, i was shocked to find out so many videos that teach us the step-by-step! It is certainly 100% more useful than the instruction manual provided with the toy.

Check out these transition states of my Optimus Prime as it transform from ROBOT to TRUCK mode:









Saw my computer LCD screen? Yes, i was following instructions from youtube videos.

If you have problem in transforming your Optimus Prime (Leader Class), check out the youtube video below. That is what i did! Social Media websites are a source of enrichment and self-developments.


Link to Youtube video

Transformers - My 1st Toys since childhood dreams

Hello friends,

Sorry for disappearing for awhile on this blog cos i was away to conduct Intensive Revision Programmes for a group of committed GCE O Level Chemistry students, in the whole month of June.

Just a quick update, i have watched Transformers Part II: Revenge of the Fallen in the movies and also got my 1st toys from Transformers, since young. Watched the cartoons when i was about 19 years old, but has never gotten a Transformer toy before.

I got my Optimus Prime lately! Yeah! It was a gift from my meow, and was such a surprise for me. Big big set of Optimus - leader of autobots.



And i won the Scorponok (member of Decepticon..the bad guys) when i enter the "Transformer Spinning Contest" at Robinsons. This decepticon is featured in Transformer Part during the "Scorpion Attack of the US soldiers"


How about seeing me with the real Optimius Prime taking pictures together?????

Diabetes Please Note - Sugar Level

Hi everyone,

Thought this will be interesting for you to know.

For diabetes - PLEASE NOTE!

ps: received these pictures via my email sent by a buddy of mine























Hmm. No wonder they always say eat more fruits if you crave for "sweet" stuff, rather than buying off the shelves processed food that are available in supermarkets.

Hope this helps. =)