Yes, Sam, thanks for your help. You are the sole reason, quite honestly, that I’m going over there. Lemme know when the visa app arrives!
Now I’m in Paris, so I should fill out my Perth experience, which pretty much rocked. An amazing way to say goodbye to Oz for a while.
Thursday night at the dance, they asked me to DJ. So I played a few swing songs to let them know that I knew what swing was. Then, I played a few hip hop beats, a Portishead track, some Cake and Morpine as well. Boy did their heads spin. HUTTAH! After the dance, there was the first of many after parties. Folks just go over to a Perthies house for more music, much more beer, and food. And talking. We stayed out late (3am).
Friday was spent in Fremantle. Cafes and ice cream parlors, buskers and tourists. Before the dance that night, I ate at a ‘creole’ place called Morrison’s. Aussies have no idea what corn bread is. Oh well. The dance that night was to a live band that played fast and hot music. The afterparty went till 2am and I never really had a break.
Saturday I made a mistake. I tried to go drink for drink with an Aussie. We started just after noon, and boy did I have fun getting to five! I show up to the dance that night completely inebriated (that’s what happens when you have cereal for breakfast, a liquid lunch, and no dinner). I entered the dance competition and made it to the top ten. So there. As soon as the evening was over, straight to bed. No afterparty for me.
Sunday was tour Perth day. I went to King’s park, went to the whispering wall (a huge wall that carries your whispers to the other side of the park). I met up with a non-swing friend I met in Melbourne (on holiday in Perth), and we ate some Japanese food as we listened to a singing busker. A terrible pop karaoke singer, an Australian Idol in training. *shudder* The dance that night was a 40’s themed ball. So every one gets dressed up in suits, sailor outfits, and vintage garb (except for me - no room for my 3 piece in my bag. uf). But that dance was the best of the whole weekend. 6 hours of dancing in a huge, old hall. I drank four liters of water (and only used the bathroom to change shirts). The after party was very relaxing, and on the way, the whole dance (ie 200 people) stopped at Alfred’s, a hole-in-the-wall hamburger joint that keeps odd hours. You know, it’s the kind of place that would keep odd hours. We each order food, and I had my first bacon-cheese-egg hamburger. Very revitalising after the marathon circle-prancing. Out till 8am.
Monday was the goodbye dance. I woke up just in time for it. We went to a pub after and then to my host’s house for the after party. It was sweet. Munchies, drinks, laughs. Finally sleep.
Tuesday/Wednesday - off to Paris. I leave Perth to spend a few hours in Hong Kong. The airport is flash - plasma flat screen TVs everywhere, telling you weather, arrivals, departures, other things. A TV lounge, very comfortable and modern and NEW couches and recliners. Very open and full of things to do. The flight to Paris is long (the same as from LA to Melbourne). So, 21 hours of flight later (combined time), I arrive in Paris at 7am. My folks are waiting for me, and my recovery from the previous bender begins.
Today, we went to the Louvre mesuem - a ginormous art musuem holding ancient and classical art. I saw the Mona Lisa! And the Winged Victory. I also went to the top of the Eiffel. Very breezy. A funny thing about Paris - their public transport is strange. They have double-decker commuter trains, and their metro trains use rubber tires (like a bus). Everything is electric and silent, but the ‘tracks’ are concrete and metal strips wide enough for the tires. I laughed at first.
The language barrier is intimidating. Ordering food tonight was a bit embarrassing. But I’ll get used to it.