Since I don't have a car in Perth I've been constrained to the areas that are accessible by public transport. Public transport isn't very cheap when your income is ~$200 per week and rent is $140 per week. On top of that the sun is bright and cancerous during the day, and basically every animal here is lethal if it looks at you the wrong way, so lately I've adopted a sloth-like sedentary life-style. Under further scrutiny those might not be great reasons for inactivity, but I've rationalized reasons nonetheless. (Aside: Who's the guy that decided to ignore the entire convention of using spaces between words when he allowed "nonetheless" in the dictionary? I hope that editor was fired).
But every once in a while, if I wake up before noon on one of the five days that I don't work each week, I shower myself in sunscreen and seek an adventure outside. Most recently, that adventure was a walk in the park, Kings Park to be exact, located just a short distance from the center of the city.
I had walked by Kings Park during the City-to-Shore Fun Run on my first weekend in Perth in August. The Run was a charity event, which I didn't formally participate in, but informally, I think all 30,000+ participants were glad that I didn't use my mind-bullets on anyone. (Or did I?) Such was my familiarity that I felt I could "guess" my way to Kings Park by walking west from the city along the river. This turned out to be an excellent guess, which I never fully realized because I started doubting myself and then asked for directions. In a Spanish accent, a hotel attendant told me to "go up the Jacob's Ladder. It's the best way to get to the park."
Indeed, a handful of paces further from the hotel and I arrived at the so-called Jacob's Ladder, but was disappointed that it ascended a mere 40 meters -- some 300 steps -- nowhere close to the heaven in the Book of Genesis. Like a moth to a flame, the stairs were flooded with fitness-conscious individuals who doggedly trudged up and then mercilessly down like a modern day Sisyphus and his boulder. The attractive women panting heavily as they passed served as a minor consolation for not finding salvation.
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| The view NOT from heaven. |
Once on top of the stairs, Kings Park was distinguishable by a parkway lined with tall beech trees running parallel to a path on a ridge overlooking Perth and the Swan River. The notable attractions at Kings Park are war memorials, a botanical garden, and well-trimmed grass that would do justice at a golf course.
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| Perth from a viewing point at Kings Park. |
I strolled around various areas of the park, headed in the general direction of the botanical garden. Following the signs and arrows, I mistakenly read a sign as saying Bubonical Garden and laughed to myself. Here is my rendering of such a garden.
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| A unicorn playing in a drab Bubonical Garden. |
The botanical garden showcases the different flora and fauna from all around Australia. I can relay this fact only because of the signage provided. In my opinion, all the plants looked of a robust-and-rugged variety that can hold up to the harsh sun and arid climate. One particular surprise in the garden was a glass-walled arch-shaped bridge that spanned between the tree canopies and offered a clear view of the river.
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| A cool little bridge, blending modern architecture in a natural setting. |
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| A baobab tree and the Swan River in the background. |
I made my way further through the garden, following signs for a "Place of Reflection". In my heart, I hoped that this place would contain a placid water pool reflecting the sky and trees like a mirror. I found plenty of tranquility but the reflection was all internal. Still pleasant but not as fun.
I began the walk back to the city in order to catch a train home. Along the way I came upon a woman in a bright red dress shaking it like a Polaroid picture, backed up with a simple musical accompaniment. An on-looker explained it was an Idol-style competition between international students finishing up their time studying English in Australia. From a judge's commentary, I picked up that they were representing Brazil. Check it out in this video.
And at that, I earned my Vitamin-D quota to justify my hibernation of late.
