Perth: The best things in life are free after all<\/p>\n
Prapi Widinugraheni, Contributor, Perth<\/p>\n
It was a warm Saturday morning on the \"cappuccino strip\" of
\nFremantle, a port town about 20 minutes from Perth's central
\nbusiness district.<\/p>\n
As people breakfasted at sidewalk cafes, three men walked by.
\nNothing about them was unusual, but their slow gait -- and the
\npack of kretek (clove) cigarettes one was holding -- was a
\ngiveaway: Indonesian tourists in Perth.<\/p>\n
Fremantle is favored by tourists. It has everything, from an
\nexciting history, good souvenir shops and a great atmosphere.
\nFreo, as it is known by locals, is \"alternative\", hip and artsy.<\/p>\n
But it hasn't always been that way.<\/p>\n
Fremantle was founded in 1829 as a port for Britain's
\nfledgling Swan River colony in Western Australia. The years
\nbetween 1850 and 1868 saw the arrival of convicts, who later
\nbuilt structures like the Fremantle prison, an insane asylum and
\nthe first bridge over the river in Fremantle.<\/p>\n
These buildings remain intact and can now be toured almost
\nevery day of the year. The asylum is now the Fremantle History
\nMuseum and is said to have a resident ghost. The prison, which
\nwas decommissioned as an operating jail in 1991, was opened to
\nthe public in 1992.<\/p>\n
Colonial landmarks are not the only attraction in Fremantle.
\nIndigenous Australian and contemporary art galleries, museums and
\norganized tours abound. These include Indigenart art gallery, the
\nArmy Museum, the Maritime Museum, Fremantle Aboriginal heritage
\ntrail, Fremantle historic walking tours and Fremantle Prison
\nnight tours.<\/p>\n
Then there is eating in Fremantle. According to the local
\ngovernment authority, 1977 was the year when local coffee shop
\nPapa Luigi's introduced al fresco dining, starting what is now
\nthe trendy \"cappuccino strip\".<\/p>\n
Along this strip and nearby alleyways are some of the best
\neateries in Perth and its surrounds. Italian fare is perhaps the
\nmost common in the area, with tight competition forcing
\nestablishments to outperform each other.<\/p>\n
At one end of the cappuccino strip are the Fremantle Markets,
\nlocated in a large warehouse-like structure built in 1898 and
\nfull of stalls selling beautiful knickknacks. It's a heaven for
\nsouvenir-shopping.<\/p>\n
The year 1984 was perhaps the biggest turning point for
\nFremantle, when major restoration and gentrification works
\ntransformed the working-class port town into a hub for all things
\nhip and funky.<\/p>\n
The year before, local businessman Alan Bond and ship builder
\nBen Lexon had won the America's Cup, arguably the greatest
\nsailing competition in the world. The victory meant Fremantle
\nwould be hosting the America's Cup competition four years later.
\nDuring these four years, the local government organized a
\nthorough, cosmetic face-lift to make the town more attractive.<\/p>\n
Australia lost the cup in the championships held in 1986-87,
\nbut for Fremantle it was a victory nonetheless, as millions of
\ndollars came in over just a few months.<\/p>\n
Further up the Swan River is the Western Australian capital of
\nPerth. Like Fremantle and other older cities in Western
\nAustralia, Perth's history is very much linked to the arrival of
\nEuropeans in the region between the 17th and 19th centuries. This
\nis despite the fact that Australian Aborigines -- the original
\ninhabitants of the land -- had roamed Australia for more than
\n50,000 years and traded with seafaring Indonesians during that
\ntime.<\/p>\n
The first Europeans to sight Western Australia were Dutch
\nexplorers who charted the land during their trips to the
\nIndonesian Spice Islands. Later, in 1827, English Captain James
\nStirling decided the area was appropriate for a settlement. In
\n1829, the Swan River colony was established.<\/p>\n
The Western Australian Museum is a good place for the
\nhistorically-inclined tourist to know more about Western
\nAustralia's land, people and nature. For more depth, visit the
\nart gallery and state library next door.<\/p>\n
Perth is also modern and multicultural. Within walking
\ndistance from the museum is the train station, the central
\nbusiness district, the city's main shopping precinct and dozens
\nof eateries, particularly around Northbridge where Asian fare is
\npredominant.<\/p>\n
Galleries, movie theaters and theaters near Northbridge and
\nthe central train station have a steady flow of exhibitions,
\nperformances and shows. Currently these include La Boheme at His
\nMajesty's Theatre, Music Viva-Jerusalem Quartet at the Perth
\nConcert Hall, the WA Police Pipe Band at Forrest Place and
\nBuddha's Birthday Festival at the Supreme Court Gardens, to name
\njust a few.<\/p>\n
About 10 minutes away from the city center are the Perth Zoo,
\nthe 400-hectare King's Park & Botanical Gardens, the Bell Tower
\non the Swan River foreshore and Scitech Discovery Center for the
\nkids and young-at-heart.<\/p>\n
Further up along the Swan River, about 25 minutes from the
\ncity center, is the quaint town of Guildford which lies in the
\nheart of the Swan Valley.<\/p>\n
Guildford was established by Captain James Stirling as the
\nrural center of the new Swan River colony at the same time
\nFremantle was designated as the colony's port town and Perth as
\nits administrative center. Guildford represented the upper limit
\nof navigation on the Swan River; it was also fertile enough for
\nagriculture.<\/p>\n
As areas east of Perth were opened up, Guildford became an
\nimportant transportation center, with boats bringing in settlers
\nand farmland supplies, and taking out farm produce to the city.
\nFrom around 1850, convict labor improved the roads from Perth,
\nallowing travel by road from Fremantle, via Perth and Guildford,
\nto the new eastern regions.<\/p>\n
The Kalgoorlie gold rush in the 1890's attracted immigrants --
\nfrom overseas as well as from Australia's eastern coast -- to
\nWestern Australia. Many of them settled down in the region,
\ncausing a surge in the new colony's population.<\/p>\n
Guildford's importance declined by the early 1900's with the
\nconstruction of the railway line to the neighboring town of
\nMidland. But its quaint buildings and English heritage
\narchitecture remain, along with its fertile land which now
\nsustains dozens of vineyards and pastures.<\/p>\n
There are more than 80 vineyards, restaurants and breweries
\nlocated along the 32-km Swan Valley drive north of Guildford. No
\ntrip is complete without having a go at wine tasting in the
\nregion. Each vineyard prides itself of its own label, which is
\noften sold exclusively on-site.<\/p>\n
Guildford is minutes away from Whiteman Park, which features
\nchildren's playgrounds, barbecue areas and walk trails in a
\nbushland setting. Caversham Wildlife Park, which is also close
\nby, is a favorite for tourists who want to see and touch native
\nAustralian wildlife.<\/p>\n
For a sample of Western Australian scenery, a visit to
\nYanchep, John Forrest, Serpentine, Walyunga or Avon Valley
\nNational Park, is essential.<\/p>\n
At Yanchep, visitors can interact with, and get a glimpse of
\nlocal Aboriginal culture and lifestyle when Aborigines from the
\nNyoongar tribe share their stories and conduct didgeridoo and
\ndance performances. At Walyunga, visitors can go on an easy 1.2
\nkm Aboriginal heritage trail and learn about Aboriginal myths and
\nlegends.<\/p>\n
All national parks are within a 30-minute to one-hour drive
\nfrom Perth's city center.<\/p>\n
Western Australia has a coastline measuring 12,500 km, most of
\nwhich take the form of lovely sun-drenched beaches. A visit to
\nPerth is incomplete without at least seeing one beach. Cottesloe
\nBeach, about 20 minutes from the city center, is arguably the
\nprettiest around Perth. Scarborough and Trigg are good surfing
\nbeaches, whereas Floreat and City are better for swimming and
\npaddling.<\/p>\n
Many cafes and restaurants can be found around Cottesloe and
\nScarborough, but they are few and far between on the other
\nbeaches. But don't be discouraged: Perth is dotted with hundreds
\nof parks that have lush green grass, shady trees, children's
\nplaygrounds and barbecue facilities, so picnics are the way to
\ngo.<\/p>\n
Perth is a lovely place where troubles are few and the best
\nthings in life are free. The best times to visit would be around
\nMarch-May and September-November, but if you're beach inclined,
\ncome in December-February when the weather is hottest and
\nsunbathing (with lots of sunscreen) is coolest.<\/p>\n
It's six hours from Jakarta and there's an allowable limit of
\none carton of kretek cigarettes. What more could you ask for?<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/perth-the-best-things-in-life-are-free-after-all-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}