Australia – Page 2 – The Hidden Panorama

Something To Look At : Wadjemup Burial Ground

Something To Look At (Post#22) : Wadjemup Burial Ground

Photos of the day are all about Wadjemup Burial Ground. During my visit in Rottnest Island Museum, I found articles or artifacts that tells that most of the aboriginals died in the island were buried somewhere without recognizing its burial-place. This area before has been used for recreation activities as it was not acknowledge as a sacred site. This means that the respect on buried native people and because they were prisoners was not given accordingly. Lots of aboriginals have been buried across the island. And when I found that they identified an aboriginal burial site, I can think that at this time of ours, the aboriginal community in the island will be able to make effort to tell to people so that a burial site will be able to received respect that it deserve. These photos are part of Rottnest Island Tour October 2016.

Notes :
Photo : burial site, Wadjemup Burial Ground, sacred site, aboriginal burial place
Location : Rottnest Island WA, Australia
Transportation :
1. Join Day Tours from Perth where different options are available or
2. Take cruise to the island with your own or rented boat
Official Website : Rottnest Island

Enriching Viewpoint : The Quod

Enriching Viewpoint (Post#5) : The Quod

Photos of the day are all about “The Quod”, the old prison which converted into a hostel or lodge, and now as Karma Rottnest. They also called this as “The Establishment” within the island. While I was following the walking trail, I can say it was the biggest structure of all the colonial buildings that is still standing today that I was able to see. The prison was designed similar to Fremantle Prison (first prison in Western Australia). “The Quod” has been described with terrible conditions where no furniture, sanitation, fireplace nor windows and prisoners just slept in thin blanket. The structure was made by Aboriginals themselves and it witnessed the sufferings of native prisoners until they died. But the cruelty experienced by aboriginals were said to be driven by the first superintendent named Henry Vincent. These photos are part of Rottnest Island Tour October 2016.

Information board at the front of “The Quod”

— The Quod

In 1856 a fire destroyed the original prison. The replacement prison referred to as the Quod, was not built until 1863-64. (The term “quod” in English slang for prison). The only entrance into the Quod was on the eastern side. The rooms on either side of the gateway face toward the Settlement, housed the Superintendent’s office and provided accommodation for the Warders.

The Aboriginal Prison closed in 1904.

In 1911 the building underwent extensive alterations to make it suitable for holiday accommodation known as the State Hostel. Further alterations to improve the standard of accommodation were made in 1986, but the original building form is still evident.

–rottnestisland.com

Notes :
Photo : historical building, The Quod, prison, aboriginal prison, The Establishment
Location : Rottnest Island WA, Australia
Transportation :
1. Join Day Tours from Perth where different options are available or
2. Take cruise to the island with your own or rented boat
Official Website : Rottnest Island

Rottnest … Island Museum

After visiting Wadjemup Lighthouse, our bus tour in the island ended when we returned to Thomson Bay Settlement area where most of the accommodations in the island can be found. When I checked the time, I knew that I still have more than an hour to explore other parts of the island, before boarding the ferry to return to Hillary’s Terminal. While walking around the settlement area, I found a small building and realized that it was the island museum.

Because of limited time to spare for the museum visit, I just quickly scan and browse the displays that can be found inside the museum. And honestly, with a short period of time, I learned a lot of things about Rottnest.

Rottnest Island Museum were able to show historical purpose of the land starting from the colonization period up to present time. It displays historical artifacts from being a prison island, a military defense station, an internment camp, reformatory camp to becoming an island playground. The museum opened my mind, that the beauty of the island is not the only thing it has but a history that deserves to be known by people whom visited the island to be able to appreciate not only its natural beauty but to be able to respect the people that made the island a livable one.

Rottnest … As Island Playground

Here are some artifacts that shows Rottnest Island as Holiday Paradise.

Because of the beauty of the island, the governor at that time were interested to have holiday residence in Rottnest which materialized in 1864. Historically, because Rottnest was used as prison island, holidaying here was exclusive only to governor, his family and guests. And their favorite pastimes were fishing, swimming and shooting.

Even though that a permit to land in the island is required, still the urge to visit the island for people were very strong, there were evidence that yachtmens and visitors camping in the island from 1890’s and earlier. Then, in 1902, the rules were relax and permission was granted to ferries to bring excursionist on Sundays. In 1907, more allowances to visitors were given, that’s why basic facilities were built for day trippers and campers.

Then, the decision to close the island as prison and convert Rottnest to holiday and recreation use was made in 1904 but the development was a slow one. In 1907, the plan for development was drafted and carried out.

Here’s other displays that showcases the island as recreation haven.

Rottnest … As Island Military Defense

Since the island was used as military defense for the Perth and Fremantle port, the significant role that contributed by the island happened when the 9.2 Inch Battery was installed in the middle of it which started in 1936. I had a chance to visit the Gun Room and Platform (Oliver Hill), as well as the Tunnel where the pumps, magazines and engine room can be found that support the defense. The Rottnest Island earned its title as the ‘gatekeeper’ as it was able to defend the port when Darwin and Broome was bombarded in 1942 during World War II.

Rottnest … As Prison Island

If I witnessed the island as haven for recreation and vacation activities nowadays, the island before serves different purpose for almost a century. While traveling across Northern Territory and Western Australia, I had learned a lot of things about the life that Aboriginals started to experience when the country became European colony. And Rottnest Island witnessed more, how cruel the life it was for the natives when colonizer arrived in the land and they were not spared for it.

There were worst times for the native prisoners. There were periods where number of prisoners increased too much which directly affects the social and health conditions in the prison. But even, these issues were raised as concerns in the council, no actions were done to alleviate or resolve the problem. This made the aboriginal prisoners lived in harsh conditions with inadequate of food and shelter that most of the time leads to lots of deaths.

But because of the plan to convert the island from being prison land to holiday location, the prisoners arriving to the island became lesser and lesser until the prison closed in 1931.

One thing that to take note as an important thing to learn while exploring the museum is the understanding of the significant role of aboriginals towards the development of Rottnest Island that we see today. It was considered that the aboriginals played a key role in the history of development of the Swan River Colony and the State of Western Australia. Reminiscing how beautiful the island at this time, why like me were able to appreciate and enjoy the island was mainly because of the natives whom sacrificed a lot for the island.

Wadjemup – Black Prison White Playground

There is a portion of the museum where it displays historical facts about the aboriginals and Wadjemup or Rottnest Island. Here, it shows the darkness history that natives experience while being prisoners in the island. It is a sad story that people should learn and moving forward help to make a better world for them to even at least respect their rights to live properly in their own land with their own culture to embrace.

“Greeting from Rottnest” by Sally Morgan

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Rottnest … As Boys Reformatory Camp

Aside from being Aboriginal Prisons, Rottnest Island became a location for reformation of young boys that had conflict with the law. Before they were sent to the island, these juvenile sent to Perth Gaol together with adult prisoners. The created boys reformatory in the island with the objective to separate the young from adult prisoners to avoid bad influences from the old ones.

Rottnest … As Island Internment

There was a time that the island was used for confinement of the foreign nationals during World War I and II because they were alleged as ‘enemy aliens’. These were Germans, Austro-Hungarian, Croatians, Czechs, and Slovaks citizens that were detained in Internment Camp during first World War, while Italian internees detained during second World War.

Rottnest … As An Island of Limestone

The most ancient rocks underlies on the Swan Coastal Plain are 10 km below the surface and believed to be at least 280 million years old.

The oldest rocks that can be seen at Rottnest form a low cliff at Fairbridge Bluff, Salmon Bay. Here is a well-preserved fossil coral reef, known as the Rottnest Limestone, which stands nearly 3 m above modern sea level and overlies older dune limestones.

Most of the limestone present on Rottnest was formed from dunes of limesand, blown inland from beaches during Late Pleistocene time.

Laminar form of Staghorn Coral and Branching form of Staghorn Coral

Colony of Brain Coral and Pocillopora Reef near Parker Point

Tamala Limestone

Tamal Limestone at Salmon Bay

Dugite

Before I left the museum, I had a chance to see what Dugite look like, the only venominous snake that exist in Rottnest Island which displayed as a preserved one inside the glass.

Until then.

Notes :
1. Plan to visit Rottnest Island ? Please check latest information here.
2. Location : Rottnest Island, WA 6161, Australia
3. Directions to Rottnest Island :
Transportation :
a. Join Day Tours from Perth or
b. Go to Barrack Street Jetty Elizabeth Quay terminal and take Rottnest Express
ferry
c. Go to Hillarys Ferry Terminal and take Rottnest Fast Ferries boat
d. Go to Northport Rous Head Harbour or B Shed Victoria Quay in Fremantile and
take Rottnest Express ferry or
e. Go to B Shed Victoria Quay in Fremantile and take Sealink Rottnest Island ferry
4. Directions to Rottnest Island Museum
a. From Main Jetty of the island, turn right and walk along Digby Drive road
Official Website : Rottnest Island

Arts and Craft : “Greeting from Rottnest” By Sally Morgan

Arts and Craft (Post#27) : “Greeting from Rottnest” By Sally Morgan

Photos of the day are all about the painting entitled “Greeting from Rottnest” made by Sally Morgan that is being displayed in Rottnest Island Museum. At first that I found this banner, I thought that it was just nothing but, it caught my eyes because it shows modern people above and people’s bone at the bottom. Then, when I read the excerpts included at the bottom of the banner, then I realized that it shows the reality even at the time of my visit in the island, because even myself, if I did not visit the museum is most likely ignorant to the Rottnest dark past.

“Greeting from Rottnest” was painted in 1988 as response to bicentennial of the colonization of Australia. In summary it depicts tourist visiting Rottnest Island standing above the unmarked graves of Aboriginal prisoners which forgotten. The tourists are smiling for photographs and underneath the buried aboriginals and showing their shield eyes from the sun and metaphorically from island’s history. Morgan, the painter is a local artist and author where she frankly look at the history of the place. These photos are part of Rottnest Island Tour October 2016.

Notes :
Photo : painting, “Greeting from Rottnest” By Sally Morgan
Location : Rottnest Island WA, Australia
Transportation :
1. Join Day Tours from Perth where different options are available or
2. Take cruise to the island with your own or rented boat
Official Website : Rottnest Island

Reflections, Inspirations and Perceptions : Wadjemup – Black Prison White Playground

Reflections, Inspirations and Perceptions (Post#4) : Wadjemup – Black Prison White Playground

Photos of the day are all about the thoughts behind “Wadjemup – Black Prison White Playground” that I was able to read when visiting the Rottnest Island Museum. It’s been a while since my last post that tackles my thoughts and opinions about something. While looking at photos that I can publish that related to Rottnest Island, I found photos that shows a heart breaking reality about it. This somewhat reminds me when I visited Center for Civil and Human Rights museum in Atlanta which made me cry while exploring it. And reading the texts and notes again breaks my heart. The dark history contradicts the beauty of the island. These photos are part of Rottnest Island Tour October 2016.

Western Australia … jails its Indigenous population at a higher rate per capita than any other country in the world

— Amy McQuire 2011

This really a disturbing information that I discovered about Western Australia history.

… we have in Western Australia a king-sized problem in this respect. Until the community solves that problem it is useless to expect that it will not be reflected in an institution such as Fremantle Prison

— Royal Commission into the Treatment of Aboriginal Prisoners at Fremantle Prison, 1973

Another notes that support that indeed there were issue on treating aboriginals in the prison.

Come read the loneliness and confusion
On the walls of this cell of seven by eleven
Yeah, okay, I’ll be honest: I ain’t no saint.
But then again, I wasn’t born in Heaven.

– Okay, Let’s Be Honest by Robert Walker, Inside Black Australia: an anthology of Aboriginal poetry 1988.

They didn’t have to be cruel by beating us or anything else,
it’s just the isolation. I think that was the pain. The pain was the isolation … I can see prison as more of a mental strain than anything else. More mentally. It sort of broke people

— Aboriginal Prisoner 1980

Discovering the thoughts of the aboriginal prisoners that time who experienced reality and brutality of prison in Rottnest are more eye-opener than any other historical facts that are published at that time.

At eight o’clock the first two of the condemned made their appearance on the scaffold, yelling and moving, the ropes were adjusted about their neck, the caps drawn over their features – when one of the poor fellows spoke loudly to his companion. “M…..are you dead?” “No, not yet” replied M…

–The Perth Gazette and West Australian Times

Chains in the northern, not the southern, portion of this state are fixed to the necks instead of the wrist of the nation prisoners … Children from 14 to 16 years of age are neck-chained

Both photos above showcasing how the colony brutalized the native people of the land, a heart breaking history.

Rottnest … is called the “Black Man’s Grave”, and may not after all be such a delightful spot in which to pass an idle hour as one might fancy. It is indeed a place of painful memories

Herald 29 May 1875

This thought about the island made me realized that it was not perfect because of its past history but the people today should be able to be thankful to the aboriginals to have such wonderful island, its because of them that is why we have a place to get relax and appreciate the beauty of nature in a more comfortable and relaxing way.

The prisoners will sit down and weep most bitterly, particularly old men, or those who have left wives and children on the main … they seem most intensely alive to their lost Freedom, and lamentably bewail their captivity.

–Description of male Aboriginal prisoners on Rottnest Island in 1842 Government Gazette, 11 February 1842

This is historical reality that we understand that native people whatever their color and culture is, must be respected specifically this time, aboriginal and non-aboriginal people must have equal rights in our world today.

Midgegooroo, on seeing that preparations were making to punish him, yelled and struggled most violently to escape … in fewer than five minutes he was pinioned and blindfolded, and bound to the other door of the jail … they then fired and Midgegooroo fell …

–The Perth Gazette and Western Australian Journal 25 May 1833

A cruel reality that honestly, I cannot imagine and do not want to think of. But learning this historical facts must influence the people right now that all people have rights to live not only according to laws of the land but according to the culture that they have. We have to respect that all people have their own ways of living, as long as we do not take away the rights of others.

This is not the place to grow up from being a teenager to becoming a man

–Aboriginal prisoner, End of the Road documentary, 1991

Reading these notes about the life of the aboriginal prisoners in Rottnest Island made me felt uneasy as these were historical facts. The beauty that surrounds the island contradicts its past and that is true, but it was not bad to appreciate the island of its serenity, for me, we just have to remember and be thankful that the aboriginals made a huge contribution to the island why now it is so charming, a contradicting tranquility that it offers in our time that does not exist when the island was still a prison land.

Notes :
Photo : history, facts, thoughts, Wadjemup – Black Prison White Playground
Location : Rottnest Island WA, Australia
Transportation :
1. Join Day Tours from Perth where different options are available or
2. Take cruise to the island with your own or rented boat
Official Website : Rottnest Island

Arts and Craft : “A Glimpse of Thompson’s Bay” & “The Sea Wall Thompson’s Bay” By Axel Poignant

Arts and Craft (Post#26) : “A Glimpse of Thompson’s Bay” & “The Sea Wall Thompson’s Bay” By Axel Poignant

Photos of the day are all about photographs that were hand-coloured bromide prints displayed inside Rottnest Island Museum made by Swedish Axel Poignant whom moved to Western Australia in 1926 which also became a leading society photographer in Perth. In these photos, Poignant portrays Rottnest Island by featuring Thompson’s Bay (Thomson Bay). These photos are part of Rottnest Island Tour October 2016.

“A Glimpse of Thompson’s Bay”

“The Sea Wall Thompson’s Bay”

Notes :
Photo : hand-coloured photographs, “The Sea Wall Thompson’s Bay” By Axel Poignant, “A Glimpse of Thompson’s Bay” By Axel Poignant
Location : Rottnest Island WA, Australia
Transportation :
1. Join Day Tours from Perth where different options are available or
2. Take cruise to the island with your own or rented boat
Official Website : Rottnest Island

Discovery – Wadjemup Lighthouse

Discovery (Post#67) – Wadjemup Lighthouse

Photos of the day are all about Wadjemup Lighthouse or commonly called as Rottnest Island Lighthouse Station which also located almost at the center of the island not far from Oliver Hill. Its original tower was the first stone lighthouse built in Western Australia made by native prisoners as the island used to be a prison for aboriginals. Then the second tower which is the current visible lighthouse was a replacement of the first that was demolished. I was reminded again that the designer of the lighthouse was William Douglass, the same designer of Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse that I had a chance to visit as part of Margaret River region tour. These photos are part of Rottnest Island Tour October 2016.

Notes :
Photo : Rottnest Island Lighthouse Station, Wadjemup Lighthouse
Location : Rottnest Island WA, Australia
Transportation :
1. Join Day Tours from Perth where different options are available or
2. Take cruise to the island with your own or rented boat
Official Website : Rottnest Island

Oliver Hill – Gun and Tunnel Tour

Part of my Rottnest Island exploration was a visit at Oliver Hill where an important military remnants can be found – the 9.2 inch battery. The place became World War II heritage site because of its significant role during the said war.

Our bus tour parked at Oliver Hill not far from the Crew Shelter where Gun platform was installed beside it. The moment we got off the bus, we walked inside the Crew Shelter where we found information about the 9.2 inch Battery and its huge role to defend the port of Perth where it showcase how far the gun can reach which encircles the island itself and even able to defend Perth and Fremantle port.

Crew Shelter

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Information Board inside Crew Shelter

9.2 Inch Battery at Oliver Hill – Cross Section and Plan

Gun Store

Gun Room and Platform

Then, with the help of military veteran volunteer, we went inside the gun-room and went upstairs to the Gun Platform. Then, he explained some facts about the 9.2 inch battery while emphasizing the objects and parts that can be seen inside the gun room and gun platform.

9.2 inch GUN CARTRIDGE HALF CHARGE

Two of these made up a full charge. Both were expelled into the chamber of the gun as the hollow power rammer withdrew after ramming the shell into the rifling of the barrel.

To reduce wear in the gun barrel, one half charge could be used alone in practice shooting

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Inside Gun Room

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Inside Gun Platform

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The Gun Piece

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Outside Surroundings of Gun Battery – seeing the island at different angle

Not far from the Gun Battery, we descended for few meters to visit a tunnel and before we entered the underground infrastructure, we found the entrance to the H1 magazine, a spur (or small branch) from the main railway line that ran past on it. The exposed rails are part of the original spur line.

H1 Magazine

We entered in a small service door that goes inside the tunnel. And the following rooms that we had visited are Underground Hydraulic Pump Chamber, Shell Room and Cordite Room – both part of Underground Magazine and Engine Room.

PUMP CHAMBER

The Pump Chamber housed electrically driven pumps which supplied high pressure oil, air and water to the H1 GUN Platform.

High pressure oil was used to drive hydraulic motors and rams on the Gun Platform, allowing the movement of the gun.

A three stage air compressor supplied compressed air for blowing out the breech chamber and bore of the gun. Water was supplied to wash out and cool the breech chamber.

The access shaft carried pipe work destined for the gun platform. An emergency escape and ventilation shaft from the Pump Chamber led to an outside door at ground level.

Underground Hydraulic Pump Chamber

MAGAZINE SHELL STORES

The shell store housed three types of Shells

High explosive shells designed to explore immediately on impact; armour-piercing shells, which could penetrate 6 inches of steel or 12.8 kilometers and drill practice shells.

The shells were moved by overhead chain blocks to the magazine hoist and then hoisted to the Gun Room

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Shell Store / Underground Magazine

MAGAZINE CORDITE ROOM

The cordite room was used for storing the propellant cartridges.

Each cartridge containing 24.3 kilograms or cordite enclosed in a silk cloth bag approximately 760 millimeters long

Cartridges were stores in zinc coated steel cylinders for transport, which had a quick screw on-off lid.

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Cordite Room / Underground Magazine

Walking along the narrow tunnel (Man-Made Earth Mound) towards the Engine Room

ENGINE ROOM

The engine room supplied the electrical power for the ‘H BATTERY, being H1 and H2 Guns.

The engine room contained two 180 H.P 6VCR Ruston Horsnby 6 cylinder diesel engines, direct coupled to a 120 KW Lawrence Scott DC generator

The engines were started by compressed air. Fuel was supplied to each header tank from the storage tanks situated adjacent to the engine room entrance.

When the main engines were not running, power for lighting, machine tools and other equipment was provided by an auxiliary 38.5 H.P Lister 4 cylinder diesel engine direct coupled to a 24KW DC generator.

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Engine Room

Service Door of Engine Room

We exited another service door as a marked that we finished the tunnel tour. Then, we returned to the top through stairs which not really far from where we started.

Lake Vincent / Baghdad from Oliver Hill

Oliver Hill has important role that cannot be just ignored as there was a time that it has done its purpose after the gun battery was built here. But by looking at its surroundings, how beautiful it is, I just realized that the generations after war must be appreciative as we see and feel the peace that reigns in our time.

After historical visit in Oliver Hill, we returned to our bus to continue our journey in the rest of the island.

Until then.

Notes :
1. Plan to visit Rottnest Island ? Please check latest information here.
2. Location : Rottnest Island, WA 6161, Australia
3. Directions to Rottnest Island :
Transportation :
a. Join Day Tours from Perth or
b. Go to Barrack Street Jetty Elizabeth Quay terminal and take Rottnest Express
ferry
c. Go to Hillarys Ferry Terminal and take Rottnest Fast Ferries boat
d. Go to Northport Rous Head Harbour or B Shed Victoria Quay in Fremantile and
take Rottnest Express ferry or
e. Go to B Shed Victoria Quay in Fremantile and take Sealink Rottnest Island ferry
4. Directions to Oliver Hill
a. Join Day Tours from Perth
b. Take a train ride from Settlement Train Station to Oliver Hill Station or
c. Biking from Thomson Bay Settlement to Oliver Hill.
Official Website : Rottnest Island

Life Of Others : Oliver Hill – King’s Skink (Egernia Kingii)

Life Of Others (Post#29) : Oliver Hill – King’s Skink (Egernia Kingii)

Photos of the day are all about King’s Skink or Egernia Kingii. A skink which is a type of lizard belong to the family of Scincidae, one of the most diverse families of lizards and endemic to Australia. Like Quokka, this creature must not be disturbed and just enjoy them from a distance. I was able to see this one when we arrived at Oliver Hill for gun and tunnel tour adventure. These photos are part of Rottnest Island Tour October 2016.

Notes :
Photo : King’s Skink or Egernia Kingii
Location : Rottnest Island WA, Australia
Transportation :
1. Join Day Tours from Perth where different options are available or
2. Take cruise to the island with your own or rented boat
Official Website : Rottnest Island – King’s Skink

Name Of The Place : Oliver Hill – World War II Heritage Sites

Name Of The Place (Post#61) : Oliver Hill – World War II Heritage Sites

Photos of the day are all about Oliver Hill where it features the military remnants from World War II specifically the 9.2 inch gun and underground tunnels. The site became a heritage site because of its significance during that time. These photos are part of Rottnest Island Tour October 2016.

Notes :
Photo : Oliver Hill, Name Of The Place
Location : Rottnest Island WA, Australia
Transportation :
1. Join Day Tours from Perth where different options are available or
2. Take cruise to the island with your own or rented boat
Official Website : Rottnest Island

Discovery : Rottnest Wind Turbine

Discovery (Post#66) : Rottnest Wind Turbine

Photos of the day are all about Rottnest Wind Turbine. Because the island aims to increase renewal energy and to reduce the greenhouse gas emission, to be able to achieved that objective, a wind turbine was built. Currently it is 35% source of the islands electricity which generates 600kW. Though the island just have 300 permanent residents but it receives half a million visitors annually and 15k during peak season requires enough electricity supply. Even though it cost $3.8 Million but it were able to reduce 430k Liter of diesel and greenhouse emissions by 1.1k tonnes per year. These photos are part of Rottnest Island Tour October 2016.

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Notes :
Photo : Rottnest Wind Turbine
Location : Rottnest Island WA, Australia
Transportation :
1. Join Day Tours from Perth where different options are available or
2. Take cruise to the island with your own or rented boat
Official Website : Rottnest Island

Life Of Others : Cathedral Rocks, Rottnest – New Zealand Fur Seals

Life Of Others (Post#28) : Cathedral Rocks, Rottnest – New Zealand Fur Seals

Photos of the day are all about New Zealand Fur Seals found in Cathedral Rocks. The photos that I capture are from a distance where these seals looks like dance or playing around in the water. It was a great scenery adding the scenic backdrop of Cathedral Rocks which became home of the said seal. These photos are part of Rottnest Island Tour October 2016.

Notes :
Photo : Cathedral Rocks, New Zealand Fur Seals
Location : Rottnest Island WA, Australia
Transportation :
1. Join Day Tours from Perth where different options are available or
2. Take cruise to the island with your own or rented boat
Official Website : Rottnest Island

Transportation : Rottnest, WA – Bicycle

Transportation (Post#17) : Rottnest, WA – Bicycle

Photos of the day are all about bicycle. During the visit in Rottnest Island, most of the visitors or guests bring their own or rent bicycle. Biking is another activity that people enjoy in the island, just be prepared physically as the biking trail has some steep paths that needs endurance or else you will end up bringing your bike to the top. The island offers a lot of biking trails, therefore anyone has options how to see and to explore Rottnest. These photos are part of Rottnest Island Tour October 2016.

Notes :
Photo : Bicycle
Location : Rottnest Island WA, Australia
Transportation :
1. Join Day Tours from Perth where different options are available or
2. Take cruise to the island with your own or rented boat
Official Website : Rottnest Island

View At My Window : Little Salmon Bay

View At My Window (Post#44) : Little Salmon Bay

Photos of the day are all about Little Salmon Bay. It is a tiny beach not far from Jeannies Lookout and located between Porpoise Bay and Salmon Bay. It is another a great spot for swimming and snorkelling. These photos are part of Rottnest Island Tour October 2016.

Notes :
Photo : bay, beach, Little Salmon Bay
Location : Rottnest Island WA, Australia
Transportation :
1. Join Day Tours from Perth where different options are available or
2. Take cruise to the island with your own or rented boat
Official Website : Rottnest Island

Life Of Others : Cape Vlamingh, Rottnest – Silver Gull

Life Of Others (Post#27) : Cape Vlamingh, Rottnest – Silver Gull

Photos of the day are all about silver gull. This is the second post that I am featuring the not so usual birds that I keep on encountering while traveling in Western Australia. Please see the first post here. What I like taking photos of birds is the moment when they are flying. I know that taking videos are easier to capture them, but in photos which capturing a still moment, is something that I am more fascinated. These photos are part of Rottnest Island Tour October 2016.

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Notes :
Photo : silver gull, bird, Cape Vlamingh
Location : Rottnest Island WA, Australia
Transportation :
1. Join Day Tours from Perth where different options are available or
2. Take cruise to the island with your own or rented boat
Official Website : Rottnest Island

Chromatic Outlook : At Jeannies Lookout

Chromatic Outlook (Post#54) : Jeannies Lookout

Photos of the day are all about Jeannies Lookout where visitors can enjoy the idyllic view of Jeannies Pools. The said pools are series of holes in the reef between Parker Point and Little Salmon Bay. And the said spots offers great destination for snorkelling activity in the island. These photos are part of Rottnest Island Tour October 2016.

Notes :
Photo : natural pools, Jeannies Pools, Jeannies Lookout Scenery
Location : Rottnest Island WA, Australia
Transportation :
1. Join Day Tours from Perth where different options are available or
2. Take cruise to the island with your own or rented boat
Official Website : Rottnest Island

View At My Window : Parker Point

View At My Window (Post#43) : Parker Point

Photos of the day are all about Parker Point. Part of the island tour was the stop in Parker Point. Parker Point is one of the scenic splendor of Rottnest, one of the stunning snorkelling destination and a marine sanctuary zone. Though I never got a chance to do the snorkeling in Parker Point but the scenic view that it offers to the visitors of the island is absolutely breathtaking. The said spot is recommended for the water adventurer enthusiast to visit. These photos are part of Rottnest Island Tour October 2016.

Notes :
Photo : Parker Point, beach, coast, shore, snorkelling spot, underwater playground,
Location : Rottnest Island WA, Australia
Transportation :
1. Join Day Tours from Perth where different options are available or
2. Take cruise to the island with your own or rented boat
Official Website : Rottnest Island

Discovery : The Shark Wreck

Discovery (Post#65) : The Shark Wreck

Photos of the day are all about “The Shark” Wreck. One of the intriguing and interesting scenery that I had seen while our tour bus was taking Parker Point Road in Rottnest Island was the wreckage visible near the coast or beach. It is called “The Shark” Wreck, it was a hopper barge (non-mechanical ship that cannot moved around by itself and designed to carry materials) wrecked happened in 1939 as it broke free from moorings at Fremantle and drifted to Henrietta Rocks where it was wrecked. This wreckage location became one of the easy snorkel spot to enjoy. These photos are part of Rottnest Island Tour October 2016.

The Shark Wreck

Notes :
Photo : The Shark Wreck, hopper barge wreckage, ship wreck
Location : Rottnest Island WA, Australia
Transportation :
1. Join Day Tours from Perth where different options are available or
2. Take cruise to the island with your own or rented boat
Official Website : Rottnest Island

Name Of The Place : Rottnest Island

Name Of The Place (Post#60) : Rottnest Island

Photos of the day are all about the name of Rottnest Island. What’s with the name? If you will hear the name of the island, you will definitely think of something else? What is it? Does the word “rat” rings the bell? Historically, when Europeans discovered the island, one of the first things they noted was the sightings of wild cat which then mistook as giant rat and named the island as “Rotte nest” which came from the Dutch word “Rattenest”, meaning “rat nest”. And the so-called giant rats that they saw is actually Quokka. These photos are part of Rottnest Island Tour October 2016.

Notes :
Photo : name of the place, Rottnest Island
Location : Rottnest Island WA, Australia
Transportation :
1. Join Day Tours from Perth where different options are available or
2. Take cruise to the island with your own or rented boat
Official Website : Rottnest Island

Life Of Others : Quokka – “The Happiest Animals on Earth”

Life Of Others (Post#26) : Quokka – “The Happiest Animals on Earth”

Photos of the day are all about quokka. In Rottnest Island, they call this nocturnal animal as “The Happiest Animals on Earth”. We were at the Parker Point when we had a chance to see this creature up close. There are bikers who surrounds this one and we had seen water was given to it. Another incident that I was able to see them again freely when I was doing a historical walking trail at the area of Thomson Bay Settlement. But, I reviewed the island’s website about this cute animal and because Rottnest Island is an A-Class reserve area, the island is a protected area for quokka. This means that anyone should not give water and food for them. And do no touch or get too close to them, just appreciate their cuteness from a distance, it’s the ways to protect them. If in case you wanted to visit Rottnest Island, please follow the rules and policy in protecting this cute nocturnal creature that is native in the island. These photos are part of Rottnest Island Tour October 2016.

At Parker Point

At the historical town proper of the island (Thomson Bay Settlement)

Notes :
Photo : animal, wildlife, quokka
Location : 86 Southside Dr, Hillarys WA 6025, Australia and
Rottnest Island WA, Australia
Transportation :
1. Join Day Tours from Perth where different options are available or
2. Take cruise to the island with your own or rented boat
Official Website : Quokka, Wildlife-Quokka