As today was our last spoiled breakfast in our Thailand resort, the pancake man baked us an extra special elephant banana pancake (in the meantime we already got bears and mickey mouses) !
After we gorged on breakfast we packed our bags and backpacks (again -.-). At 12 o'clock we were friendly kicked out of our villas, which we knew of course, and spent the rest of the time homeless at our "private" pool until we were picked up, drinking coconut shakes to mark the occasion.
In the shuttle was already a couple from another resort, and we picked up another two persons later. The driver took us all the way over the small island to the ferry port. I tell you, this was a thrill ride sometimes, as if the van would almost fell over in the bends.
In the picture you can see Thailand's mainland, the bow of the ferry, the front cars, and... Wait - where's the cordon that defines the protective distance? Ooooh, right, we're in Thailand... As you can see in the picture below, the ferries are not too much designed according to latest aerodynamic experimental results, no. And the windowpanes aren't equipped with an anti splinter protective foil, which means that tourists, protecting themselves from the rain by pushing the window upwards, break the pane and cut their fingers, and aren't even sincerely thankful for the plaster my mother gave them. Yusss.
Fortunately the plane was not cancelled this time, and we even met one of the unlucky co-travellers that had to go by bus on Day 84, a German woman that speaks Thai. In Bangkok we were shuttled to the "Airport Hotel" which was 15 mins away from the airport by bus, but still the closest place to spend the night between two flights. We had a great Thai Tea that we love so much for dinner, for the last time.
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| The "ignes fatui" (Fisher boat lights) from above (Day 85) |
The next morning was painful. Our family had to split again which hurt so much. May everything go right! When the others flew home, my father and me flew on our 9th flight (of 33) to Singapore, and had to stay for another night in the Transit hotel. Advantage: no immigration, no emigration, and a lot of time saved. The only disturbing point: behind that curtain is a wall, not a window. Since the entire hotel is inside the extra-territorial zone of the terminal, the room and bathroom are windowless. The curtain is intended to give you the feeling of a window (that you close anyway to sleep, and sleeping is the only reason to go to the Transit hotel, so in the end it didn't even disturb us).
Near that Transit hotel there was the Butterfly Garden which was totally amazing. When you enter and expect hundreds of butterflies flying around you, you're totally focused on the wrong thing and don't see a single butterfly. Just when you start to become disappointed, you see the first butterflies sitting on the pineapple or flower installations having lunch/dinner/snack. You get used to single butterflies hanging on branches, and suddenly you see more and more! In the end you just stare at the ceiling and watch these uncountable butterflies fighting against the glass wall. Somehow sad.
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| A "new-born" butterfly In the background the rest of the cocoons. |
look at the signs
Finally ARRIVED in Perth! And the Australian immigration procedures were much less painful than anticipated because the passport control and photo taking was automated (we had obtained electronic visitor visa before) and we even hadn't to unpack our bags for inspection. At least my father's procedure worked well - my passport couldn't be read, maybe because I'm a minor, maybe for some other reason. Therefore I was sent to a different queue for the "failed", where I, in contrast to my dad, got affixed a fat Australia stamp in my passport ;-)
It was however quite cool and even raining Being used to humid warmth now for three months, we were happy to have carried "useless" fleece jackets and long training pants for that long time because we now needed them.
The nice taxi driver drove us to our cozy cottage and talked with such a harsh voice and Aussie accent that I almost didn't understand the context... This's gonna be funnnn ;-) When we explored our cottage, we discovered that the fridge was already filled with eggs, meat, cheese, milk, bread, stuff like that and even beer! Apples, oranges, corn flakes and coffee powder, everything you need was already bought - what a wonderful surprise. Our landlady anticipated that the supermarkets will be already closed when we arrive and that we will be hungry. How attentive and definitely worth a big thumbs up on TripAdvisor.
All in all, except that every step crackles in the whole cottage, and that there is as good as no isolation (which must be very hard in winter), it's awesome. And just a 15-minute walk to Fremantle centre. And quiet.
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