Fremantle

To say that the port city of Fremantle has character is an understatement...it has a charming ambience that distinguishes it from the modern city of Perth. A mix of late Georgian, Victorian, Gothic architecture make the town of Fremantle most interesting to visit, and certainly unforgettable.


Much of the architecture in Fremantle was built by the convicts during the colonial era in the mid 1800s. The Gaol, now renamed the Round House is a well-known landmark. It was a jail until 1886.




Another landmark is the Fremantle Town Hall, representative of Victorian  architecture. It opened in 1887.






Gothic Architecture
St John's Church attracted my attention at first glance. Overlooking King's Square, it is said to be the true heart of Fremantle.






Just look at these ornate facades. Just lovely!









Gold Rush Architecture
Described as a 'rich' style as we can see from the examples below. The Gold Rush brought prosperity to Fremantle in the 1890s, and the architecture of that era reflects that.





I like this pretty shop window.

  

The people  we saw on the streets and park were busy and on the go on that day, though.


  

  





Linking to:
Skywatch Friday
Weekend Reflections
Scenic Sunday
Shadow Shot
SOOC

Flocking Together

I have often lamented my lack of luck where photographing birds are concerned. The only  opportunity I could boast of was the Siberian Seagulls at Green Lake where there were thousands of these seagulls in flight. It would have been impossible not to have captured these birds in flight...they were everywhere!


Going through some holiday photographs recently, I realised that I did have quite a few reasonably good captures of birds...especially of the species that cannot fly or do not fly! Just from my New Zealand holiday itself,  there were these birds I should proudly catalogue under "The ones which did not get away" in my collection entitled "Feathery Friends".  Of course, there are no other categories apart form "The ones which did not get away".

For Poery Potluck on the theme "Nature and Life" :

flocking together

birds of different feathers

nature's pulse of life

These could swim away from me, but I caught them before they dove into the water.

These were enjoying their morning paddle in the pond too much to mind my nosy camera.

This one loved the camera...so it came towards me.

This family is lovely, they allowed me to take this photograph even though Papa Duck wasn't around for a full family portrait. I wonder how Papa Duck looks like.

This is my favourite bird...the one that is in the centre of the town...the pukeko that could not run away from me.

Linking to:

Camera Critters 

Scenic Sunday

SOOC

Weekend Reflections

Shadow Shot

Haiku Heights

Haiku My Heart
Poetic Forms: Haiku

Aberdeen Harbour

Iconic Aberdeen Harbour is recognized  world wide as it is featured in many movies such as a Bruce Lee movie and a James Bond movie. Aberdeen was a fishing village in the past, and the Hong Kong boat people lived here in the 1960s and 70s.  Today it is a different scene altogether. Our tour guide pointed out to us the expensive yachts  belonging to Hong Kong tycoons and celebrities, anchored here. There are still some local fishermen using the bay, and there are two huge floating restaurants where people go to sample fresh seafood. 










This is the sampan that came to pick us from the jetty, to take us on a tour of the bay area. 




Our sampan was overshadowed by the huge black ships that made a striking contrast to the pale grey skyscrapers in the distance.





There were so many types of sea vessels there. Aberdeen is indeed a safe harbour as this bay has a typhoon shelter called  Bei Fung Tong where the boats anchor when a storm is imminent.







Just look at the shiny, swanky yachts...an interesting  juxtaposition viewed from our shabby shuttle.



Our sampan approaches the Jumbo Floating Restaurant.





Lobster, anyone?

This bridge links Aberdeen with Ap Lei Chau over Aberdeen Harbour.

Linking to:

Weekend Reflections

Scenic Sunday