The Indian and the Market (27 - 28/3/14)

27th March

Got up at a reasonable hour today so I could get a jog in before the temperature got too hot and was surprised to find I jogged further than before without needing to stop to catch my breath and no pink or green spots either. There might be something to this fitness malarkey after all. Went round to Sandra and Geoff's later on to write some of my blog on Sandra's laptop and had a swim in the afternoon. After that I went back to Brendan and Molly's to walk Gidgie. That evening Sandra, Geoff and I went out for dinner to an Indian restaurant that had been recommended to them. Although they neglected to bring one of our curries out that we'd ordered, the ones they did bring were very very tasty and they weren't too expensive either. Although saying that, despite insisting they shouldn't, sandra and Geoff payed for my dinner too. Some "discussions" with Geoff can't be won, especially when he goes and stands at the cash till to pay! After dinner I went back to Molly and Brendan's to spend the night there again.

28th March

Today I got up early because I wanted to spend the day in Fremantle. I got all my bits together for the day and left about half 9. I was in Freo a little after 10 and rode around trying to find a parking space and found one eventually in a multi storey car park with designated bays. I checked the prices with the attendant and he told me it's half price for motorbikes but if I'm back here before 3, when he knocks off, he'll let me out for free. Good times. I started off walking past a few little market stands just near the town hall and couldn't ignore the awesome smell of the Thai food they were selling at one of them. And for $5 it would be rude not to get something. I ordered the red curry and  tried to pay with a $50 note. The woman took it but when she checked she didn't have enough change to give me so she gave it back and said "come back and pay me later". It must be my honest face! Once I'd eaten I headed straight for the market but was very easily distracted by 'The sail and anchor' pub. I couldn't visit Freo and not go in, that's punishable by death. Even if it was before noon. So I sat at the bar and asked for a beer menu. They have a massive selection on tap and so I started with a dark beer. I only ordered a half because it was incredible tasty but incredibly rich too, and of course I was driving. I then tried another half of a sweet golden beer that the barman recommended. It was one of their most popular and I could see why. I could drink it all day, and massively regret it. They also had an own made beer that doesn't get put on tap till noon each day and it was just after 12 now so I asked if it was possible to have a cheeky try of that one. The barman had been very forthcoming with tasters of the others I'd tried to make sure I was happy with them but unfortunately this one wasn't on yet. About a quarter of an hour later though various staff members came out the woodwork, appeared at the bar, got a wine glass, poured themselves a small amount of beer, nodded, discussed and then disappeared. About a minute after this a taster glass of something got put in front of me. "It's on now" the barman said grinning, "it's why I work here, free tasters". I tried the beer. Holy shit, I could run my car off it. I just about saw straight enough to see someone write 10% abv on the board, where they had their list of beers, next to this ones name. There's no way I could do a pint of that without feeling it so as I'd had my fill I quit while I was ahead and said goodbye. I'm sure it won't be the last time I'm there. After that I made it to the market. Being a Friday it was relatively quiet and so I soon got round all the stalls. Freo is very similar to Covent Garden at home. The building has loads of character and the smells are amazing. There are people selling coffee beans, popcorn, incense, aromatherapy products, soaps, leather goods, fruit, Indian snacks, and every stall you walk past has an aroma. I love it there. I couldn't help but notice one stall in particular though. It sold one product....kites. And the stunt kites started small at $35 and went up to large at $65. These were not expensive at all compared to what you could pay in England so I stopped for a chat with the owner. After a 15 minute discussion my only decision was whether I would be able to risk it not getting broken in my rucksack. I would have to get the small one but I walked away telling the woman I'd think about it. I wandered the rest of the streets enjoying the street artists playing their music or doing their frozen statue bit and going down roads I'd never been down before and seeing some historic places and can safely say I have now properly done Fremantle. I even had time for the beach there. Time check... 14.45. Damn it, I had to rush back to the parking place to see what my new friend could do for me, as I wasn't ready to leave. He saw me as he was leaving the office and his replacement was just going in. He recognised me and told me to just ride out through the gap. I told him I wasn't ready to go and he said, do it anyway but that he'd said nothing, and gave me the hush hush look, whilst checking over my shoulder that his colleague hadn't heard. I gave him the understanding nod happy I would still get out for free. By now I'd made the decision to risk getting the small kite and so dashed back to the market to get it. With the kite in my hand I hoped it would be a good flyer and couldn't wait to get over the park to try it out. I did one more lap of the market to make sure I hadn't missed anything and took the long route back to the car park to check out some more street artists. By now I had change and so passed the Thai food stall on the way to give them their money. Because the woman's English wasn't spot on she misunderstood and I nearly ended up with another red curry. But she finally remembered me and thanked me for coming back. After my great escape through the gap in the barrier at the car park I was back on the road about 15 minutes later with my kite down my back like He-Man's sword. By the power of Grey skull I was soon back at Sandra and Geoff's happy that my first long bike run had gone off without incident, even in the rush hour. That evening I drank beer and Skyped my Dad to talk him through getting his new tablet connected to his Wi-Fi router. That took much longer than expected and so after the conversation I'd run out of beer and whiskey and vodka and rum and had to ring the Australian embassy to get my 6 month visa renewed. Lol. Just joking dad. We hadn't run out of rum. Geoff cooked me and him a burger for dinner as Sandra was out and after that I headed back to Brendan and Molly's for a nightcap and a movie. A great day :)