WQ – Travels with Ali

~ Activities and Hobbies – What are yours? ~

This week’s WQ topic is activities and hobbies. Marsha at Always Write hosts this challenge every Wednesday. All you need is a quote relating to the topic and a poem, photos or a general post to go with it. Also by co-incidence Terri at Second Wind Leisure’s challenge is “Something to Do”.

I’m not sure what category travel falls under hobby or activity! My dear husband thinks it’s my hobby but I prefer to think of it as more of an activity.

“A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving”
Lao Tzu

The above quote does not quite ring true for me as I like nothing more than arriving at my destination, especially if it’s been a long flight.

In the last few years I’ve acquired some new hobbies and activities.

My favourite hobby after travelling is Bridge. I took a course a few years ago and have attempted to climb the ladder and join more advanced classes. My mind is totally focused during the four hours of play and time goes so fast. I’ve met a completely different set of people and twice a week we greet each other like old friends.

“No matter where I go, I can always make new friends at the bridge table”
Martina Navratilova

The above quote is so true, there is no need to worry about what to talk about, someone will always have a story to tell about a past game they have played. Absolutely boring for anyone who doesn’t play Bridge.

Blogging is also a recent hobby of mine. This fully took over my time at the start, trying to set up the website and master the way WordPress worked. I’m sure many of you agree how frustrating WP can be at times. I feel extremely pleased with myself when I’ve mastered something so simple as the menu and widgets.

I started blogging because I took so many photos and wanted to do something with them and also I was writing many reviews on Trip Adviser. Blogging has changed my life and it means I now have something to do all the time and again made many new friends.

“The first step in blogging is not writing them but reading them.”
Jeff Jarvis from BuzzMachine

I believe the above quote is very true, I often take inspiration from the bloggers I follow.

My exercise abilities are sadly limited! Although I do go to Zumba and Aqua Aerobics. Also I’ve started line dancing again. I have met a wonderful group of ladies who are welcoming and so friendly. We often meet outside Zumba for outings like the cinema or theatre. I feel so blessed to be part of such a fantastic group.

**The empty pool before 50 ladies jump in for an aerobics session**

In December our lovely Zumba teacher hosts a Christmas party for around 60 people and it’s always such fun. I’ll finish with a small video I took of all the ladies having the best time.

I believe having a hobby or an activity you enjoy is essential to your well-being. It stops the blues and those down days everyone has on occasion. It’s important to enjoy it though and not feel as though it’s a duty or a chore – what’s the point in that!

A question to my fellow bloggers. My media gallery is now 92% and the next step is upgrading. If you don’t have a paid website how do you manage with all your photos? I always forget to downsize my photos which would go a long way to resolving the issue.

I look forward to reading your responses.

~ Contained in Metal ~

Something different today, I’m trying for a double dip challenge inspired by Marsha and Cee. Starting with a quote and seeing if I can link a photo!

“I Have No Limits, I Cannot be Contained
Because I am the Container”
Jim Carey

“The body is but a vessel to carry the soul. A container ship to protect it, as it passes through the world”
Danielle Montgomery

**Container Ship passing through Launceston, Tasmania**

**Metal Sculpture of an empty Oil Tanker – MOMA, Hobart**

Metal sculpture depicting the lost children of the Holocaust,
Paris, France
**A container of souls**

I came across the following when researching quotes for this challenge, which really resonated with me.

“I Don’t Want My Legacy to be
Storage Containers of Stuff”
Janet M. Taylor

It brought home to me the amount of containers I have in my house. Storage chests, cupboards, drawers and in those more boxes of treasures. Sooner or later I will have to sell, give or throwaway so many things. Just recently in the UK, my brother did one last look around the loft and came down with all of our old books and school reports and exercise books. My parents, especially my Dad could never throw anything away. There’s always that thought “this might be useful one day”.

Are you a hoarder or a thrower/giver?

Many thanks to Cee (CFFC) and Marsha (WQ) for always coming up with such interesting challenges.

~ Sun, Sea Sand and Sculptures – A Taste of Things to come ~

It’s been so hot in Perth these last few days I finally persuaded Anthony to come to the beach with me. We arrived around 4.30 pm and found somewhere for the deckchairs. This week is the opening of Sculptures by the Sea 2023, so it was pretty busy on the beach with some sculptures already up and others being erected. Bulldozers were going up and down on the sand creating spaces for sculptures that needed reinforcing.

“The beach is a place of art,
Where sand comes alive by the sun’s light,
Where sculptures spring up like mushrooms in the night.
Each wave that greets the shore,
A brush stroke of ambience,
Creating a masterpiece on the sea floor
Sculptures of sand, soaked by the sun’s kiss,
Moulded with care, to make us never miss
The memories of our days at the shore,
And the special places we just can’t ignore.”

A poem created by the new AI Block on WordPress

I have just been reading Deb’s post about this new block and thought I would give it a try! I suppose it is cheating but so much fun.

As you can see Anthony is waiting patiently for me to have a quick swim. It’s ironic that I decided to go for a swim on the first day of Autumn and no sign of the end of the Summer in sight!

So far there are some wonderful colours dotted around and I’m looking forward to sharing more in the next couple of weeks.

My featured photo shows the surf lifesavers practicing their exercises. I thought this showed a certain order as I watched them paddling out, circling around and back again. (For Marsha’s WQ post).

In a sea of chaos and dismay
Order can brighten up your day.
An unbroken pattern of sound
That summons things around.

Another AI poem!

~ A Jewel in the Ocean, Rottnest Island, WA ~

Making the most of our time with Laurence and Maddy, we all decided to have a day trip to Rottnest Island. I had not been to Rottnest for over 15 years and it was a high time for a visit. We were booked for the 8 am ferry and they all wanted to hire bikes. Rottnest has a no car policy, navigating the island is by bike or on the island bus. I declined the bike riding, can’t remember the last time I was on a bike, and did not want to chance any mishaps before my trip to the UK!

A map of Rottnest Island, the ferries dock at Thomson Bay. Some of the beaches and also the shopping area are within walking distance.

The ferry is around a 30 minute ride over and can at times be quite bumpy. As there were no online bookings for bikes left just walk-ins, Laurence and Maddy headed off super quick to get in line. They were successful.

After hiring the bikes we headed into the main settlement to have breakfast and decide on the day’s itinerary.

Two very happy munchkins in their wagon

We went to The Basin as our first stop, a few minutes ride and a ten minute walk for me. By the time we arrived around 10.30 am it was pretty packed. A spot near the water was found and it wasn’t long before we were all in. The water is very shallow and you have to walk across rocks and seaweed to reach the deeper parts. I attempted this but then realised I wouldn’t be able to haul myself out onto the rock again! What a waste of effort.

The Basin

The water is crystal clear and various shades of turquoise

We parted ways after this and agreed to meet back at the pub for lunch around 1.30 pm. I decided I would walk to the next beach and they headed in the other direction to Parakeet Bay. I was wearing my new solar top for swimming as the sun is so strong here.

Pinky’s Beach

This was a much better swimming beach and I was able to swim without my feet touching the sand, also no rocks. I had a glorious swim here, but wanted to see more of the island so thought I should get a move on.

There aren’t too many affordable places to stay on this island so most people come for the day. There is a very expensive hotel called The Samphire. In the high season it’s around AU $800 per night. Other options are glamping, also expensive, camping and cabins. For people who have their own boats, it’s a wonderful place to anchor for the day.

About Rottnest Island

The island is a Class A Reserve, home to the Quokka. These small marsupials roam freely around and are very tame. There are notices everywhere not to feed them, they can be found around the bins and under tables in the cafes! You can pet them although there are warnings not to go too near, it is hard to resist though.

As you can imagine Lachie and Rosie were beside themselves looking for them. Not just the kids though, I saw many people in the strangest poses, lying on their backs to get selfies with them.

Rottnest has a very shameful past and was originally called Wadjemup, meaning “place across the water where the spirits are”, and belonged to the Noongar People. From 1838 until the 1930s it served as an annex of Fremantle Prison. It was used to incarcerate thousands of Indigenous men and boys from the ages of 8 to 70, often for minor offences such as stealing food. The name Rottnest came from the Dutch invaders in the 1600’s who thought the quokkas were rats and called it Rat Nest Island.

My husband’s family has connections to Rottnest, with one of Anthony’s Great Uncles (times 3 or 4) being the second Governor of Western Australia from 1839 to 1846. By the time he was Governor things between the indigenous people and the settlers had deteriorated very badly, with extremely harsh punishment meted out by the previous Governor. John Hutt implemented a policy of protecting the rights of Aborigines, and educating them where possible.

Most places in Australia have a dark history I’ve found, after travelling to many of the states.

The top left photo is the Wadjemup Museum for Children. The top right photo is The Chapel, built around 1860, not just a place of worship but a school too. It was constructed by Aboriginal prisoners.
The two bottom photos speak for themselves. I had a wander around but this was the only grave I could read, quite sad.

Salt Lakes

As you can see from the map the island also has many salt lakes dotted around. This one was called Garden Lake. There are 12 in total and have four times the amount of salt that is in the ocean. Despite this the plant life continues to thrive.

The church was next on my walk around and I saw that it was open so went in to look at the fabulous stained glass windows.

By now it was time to meet up for lunch. The sun was beating down and I needed to sit after walking so much. I didn’t get to see half the island and definitely making plans to come back.

Photos from Elena of Parakeet Bay.

Our ferry back was leaving at 4 pm, so time for a leisurely lunch, where many cocktails and beers were consumed. My dear son ever the prankster filled an empty beer bottle with sea water and said to Damian I can’t finish this, so Damian said I’ll finish it! Laurence laughed just in time that he didn’t swallow any. Revenge is being planned.

We all had the most wonderful day and I’m so glad I motivated myself to go.

I hope this post “piques your interest” I’ll be linking it to Marsha’s Wednesday Quotes.