I am totally engrossed in the area, as I grew up nearby, as a kid. It bring back all the memories of my childhood, the sound of toads in the pond, the sound of wind blowing and leaves brushing against each other, the blinking fireflies, the zinc roof, the wooden walls, and the smell of fresh air!
I went back the following day with my family, knowing that my children will enjoy this place as well.
The pond where I sat for 2hours listening to the toads, the night before. Kids are enjoying the place.
Swing!
Treehouse!
Pots… big pots…
Deep pond
Path around deep pond
Zinc Roof!!
Around the premesis
Mrs Tan teaching Pottery
Potteries on display
Albany
We left The Lily at about 1100hrs this monring for Albany.
The 85km drive took about an hour and a half, due to the heavy flow of traffic before entering Albany.
The first thing we did was to to head for the petrol station. We have a quater of a tank left, but was afraid that the petrol price will go higher when we go further into the trip. We have travelled more than 1000km thus far.
Second thing we did, we went straight to Albany Plaza, but could not find a free parking lot. So we parked at Woolsworth, and went over to Coles (in Albany Plaza) to buy our food for the next few days.
We also brought lunch from Subway, and then we proceeded on to Jesters Pie, the real reason why we came to this part of Albany.
Jesters Albany
1/77 Lockyer Ave
Albany 6330
Of course, its available all over Australia, but its only at Stirling Range I remembered about it and the nearest location would be here, I guess?
We bought:
Chunky Beef (Stockmans)
Tender chunks of lean beef simmered in our traditional gravy
Chicken Carbonara (Pavarotti)
Skin-free chicken with bacon & button mushrooms in an Italian cheese sauce
Beef, Bacon & Mushroom (Footy)
Chunks of lean beef with bacon & juicy mushrooms topped with tasty cheese
Satay Chicken (Nutty Chook)
Skin-free chicken marinated in Jesters secret Satay sauce. *Contains Peanuts
And thats $18, FYI.
We didn’t spend much time in Albany, infact, only an hour for the shopping that we did.
We then went on to Albany Wind Farm.
Albany Wind Farm
Albany wind farm is situated in Albany on the southern coast of Western Australia, the wind farm is about 12km south-west of the city.
Torndirrup National Park
“At Torndirrup National Park, the Southern Ocean has sculpted a Natural Bridge in the coastal granites and formed The Gap, where the waves rush in and out with tremendous ferocity. The Blowholes, a crackline in the granite, ‘blows’ air and occasionally spray. The noise is quite impressive. Windswept coastal heaths give way to massive granite outcrops, sheer cliffs and steep sandy slopes and dunes.
The area was one of the first in the State to be gazetted as a National Park, in 1918, though it was not named until 1969 and acquired its first resident ranger in 1973. Torndirrup was the name of the Aboriginal clan that lived on the peninsula and to the west of what is now Albany. “-naturebase.net
It was an easy 20mins drive to reach the Gap and the Natural Bridge.
They both share the same car park. Once you enter the attraction via the only walkway, the Gap is on your left, and the Natural Bridge, on your right.
The Natural Bridge
The Gap
Blowholes
The Blowholes is further south, by car. Lookout for a very inconspicuous sign on the left of the road, pointing you into the road leading to the blowholes.
Once you arrive, its another 1.5km walk, and it takes a cool 20mins to reach the holes. Wear good shoes as you will be walking and climbing over some rocks, which can be slippery.
Do not expect to see geysers of water sprouting out of the holes like the Old Faithful.
Its merely waves creating air pockets in the cracks and creating loud noises.
But still, its worth the 20mins walk to me.
Nothing much left to be seen, since I am not visiting Whale World, we drove into the Vancouver Peninsula, to find more stunning views.
Vancouver Peninsula
Denmark
Its only then that I realised that its already 1600hrs and we have more than an hours drive to reach Denmark.
Denmark is a wonderful wonderful place to be in.
Unlike the route we have taken thus far, where all is relatively dry, Denmark has trees…. trees with GREEN leaves… and loads of them…
Found The Cove Chalet, and Illya immediately pulled us to the Wilson Inlet, wanting to show us this:
Spent another 15mins looking at the scenery, telling us that we can use the boat anytime, and that Honeymoon Island, although almost 200m off shore, the water level is only up to the chest level, but anywhere beyond that, its deeeeeeeeeeep.
He too showed us and walked us a distance on the Bibbulmun Track.
“The Bibbulmun Track is one of the world’s great long distance walk trails, stretching nearly 1000kms from Kalamunda (Perth Hills) to Albany (South Coast) through the heart of the scenic South West of Western Australia” – bibbulmun.org.au
By the time we got to Tingle Chalet, its late at night, and Illya had a volleyball game to catch.
Prepared the BBQ pit, and we had out first BBQ of the trip!
Shall show you Tingle Chalet tomorrow.
LOCATION MAP
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Bluff Knoll
The peak is 1095m above sea level, but the car park is only about 450m above, and is served by a sealed road, about 8km long.
We actually went up the car park after dark last night after dark, and its kinda eerie.
But this morning, its a whole different story.
We left Stirling Range Retreat at 0645hrs and managed to get to the car park before 0700hrs.
I will let the pictures speak for itself.
We met the park ranger, who watched the sunrise with us, and apparantly, he comes up here everyday to make sure everything is alright, and that the toilet is clean.
He is almost 65.
He was also telling us that the day before, the fog was much denser and the moon was bigger and close to the hills, and sky was all purply.
Too bad we missed that.
Stirling Range Drive
We went back to Stirling Range Retreat to pack up again, and went on our way to do the 80km scenic drive, along Stirling Range Drive, right to Red Gum Pass road, and then right again to Salt River Road.
The only sealed section you will see along this stretch is when you turn right into Salt River Road. However, please be careful as there are loads of road kills I can see along the way.
Guess how fast my wife is going at on a sealed road.
The Lily Windmill
After driving for almost an hour and a half, and making a circle around Stirling Range Drive, we came to The Lily Windmill.
LOCATION MAP
View Larger Map
5 years into our marriage, my wife and I are finally embarking on our honeymoon.
We will be traveling from Singapore to Perth tomorrow night, and will be back next Sunday.
Boy am I looking forward to this!
Itinerary:
Day 1
Perth
Day 2
Wannaroo
Yanchep
Day 3
Gingin
Bindoon
Northam
Day 4
York
Stirling Range
Day 5
Albany
Denmark
Walpole
Pemberton
Nannup
Day 6
Balingup
Bridgetown
Busselton
Day 7
Fremantle
Day 8
Perth
how nice is that?!
*muack*
Thank you!
So…. as above…. anyone wants to join me?
I am now sub 140! yes! Yes! YES! 139.4kg….
although still heavy (or infact damn heavy!), I am still happy that I am losing weight…
went back for the 3rd session after work.
current weight: 141.9kg
Lost another 1.9kg…. thats more like it… says the doctor…
Total lost: 144.6-141.9=2.7kg
next session, 7th Mar
Went back today to the slimming center…
my weight…. 143.8kg
I lost 800g… still not ideal enough, doctor says… wah laoz…
So I went for the slimming session, and went on to IKEA to get the $24 computer table.
On the way home, the family felt hungry and wanted to get them some food. And because of my new diet, we are pretty lost on where to eat.
Drove to Clementi, wanting to eat the XO Fish Beehoon, but they are not open.
Then suddenly remembered that we have not had dumplings (饺子) for the longest of time.
Drove to Bt Batok East Ave 5, and saw (from the car park) that someone is manning the shop. Tore coupons, and we prepared for an assult.
Reached the front of the coffee shop, and kns! its under renovation!
But hey, Botak Jones is opening a branch here!
Address:
Block 233 Bukit Batok East Avenue 5
#01-53
Singapore 650233
Please try the shop selling dumplings (饺子) and noodles （炸酱面）. Cheap and good.. trust me!
So anyway, I din get to eat all the food that I would really like to have before starting the diet… guess someone is helping me to kick start the regime.
For those who know me personally, most would know that I have been putting on weight through the years.
However, I have made up my mind to slim down, or at least cut some weight. Thus, I signed up with Aimin Slimming Hospital (爱民减肥医院） at Starhub Center.
Its a slimming hospital based in Tianjin, China, and has many successful examples.
Its $1888, for 30 sessions of acupuncture, and to follow their diet for the next 3 months at least.
They do have massage for specific location slimming as well, and that cost $888. Not interested in that, so I have no more information.
Coming back, I paid up, and went straight for the acupuncture session.
Took the weight, and damn! I weight 144.6kg! And that has already gone down actually, as when I started going gym in Nov 07, the weighing machine (which can take up to 150kg), cannot show any figures.
So, 20+ needles were poked on my flabby stomach, and legs. And let me tell you, its not a comfortable feeling. Its not painful at all though, but it feels sore, like having a very sour feeling at the needle points when it hits your acu points. However that goes off shortly, and the needles stays in for 30mins.
I have to go everyday for the next 2 days, and twice a week thereafter, until the 30 sessions are over.
The basic principal is simple, the acupuncture, will make you not feel hungry.
Following the diet, of 1200 cals, your body will start burning the body fats.
And with less intake, your stomach will start to get used to having less food.
It is sustainable on its own, since by the end of the 30 sessions, your stomach would be used to having less food. And therefore, your intake will be less, and your body is already used to all the new “settings”.
However, you will still need to take your meals, although you do not feel hungry, so as to be healthy.
I was abit skeptical at first, because I am a person who will blackout when I feel hungry, and with less food intake, the chances of this happening is rather high. But since I paid, might as well give it a try.
Any questions? Please do ask… I am more than happy to share my experience, since not many people talks about it online
