We've moved on to our second destination, leaving Perth behind. The only clue I have to provide for our new location is that we are in a different time zone, an hour and a half away. This might be the first time I have experienced a ‘half time zone'.
Perth was an interesting place, far less congested than Sydney or Melbourne with great wildlife viewing on Rottnest Island. Prior to our arrival there I had no idea that Rottnest Island was developed during WWII as an artillery base, though the area was never attacked. While I opted to explore the island from the ground, others took a different view. Different perspectives only help add to the experience.
Lorna and John recognized the quokka that draws thousands of visitors to Rottnest Island, encouraging tourists to take a selfie with the small marsupial. Much like the capybara of the Pantanal, the quokka can be seen everywhere and they cause costly damage to trees and vegetation on the island. Perhaps there's a market opportunity for nutria after all.
We stopped at a diner that had quotes scribbled all over the walls. One I particularly liked read “Turbulence is everywhere; it's how you ride the wave that makes the difference”. Very fitting given we were close to a popular surf beach.
I brought three dossiers with me to read and review. These are from other universities. So far, I've only managed to complete one. The return flight occurs during the day so perhaps that facilitates completing the remaining documents and reviews.
Generally, I focus on having a clear intended outcome in order to provide direction in my work life. But when it comes to vacation, I definitely lean towards “You don't always need a plan. Sometimes you need to breathe, trust, let go, and see what happens”. Other than a purchased return flight, we have no appointments this week. We'll see what happens.