A Day at Fremantle

Today was the first day I met all the other COST participants at Perth. 4 girls including me! I was so happy knowing that I'm not the only one! wee~ :)

Despite my fatigue from the 40 hours of flight and waking up 3 am every morning, girls and I decided to go explore around a beautiful coastal city named Fremantle or "Frio" as what the Aussies call it. Thankfully, Perth had pretty decent transit and the train took us directly to Frio. The weather was perfect. The sun shined brightly in the clear blue sky, yet the cool breeze kept the temperature just right. The combination of weekend and good weather must have brought everyone out to treat themselves as the city was bustling with many people! We grabbed some lunch, and this is when I learned a good lesson about Australian beverage prices. Wow, they are expensive! Beginning price is about 3 dollars just for water. Cynthia was smart enough to bring her own bottle of water today. I should start doing that from now on... :P

After lunch, we walked to our main tour destination at Frio: the Fremantle Prison. This largest convict built structure in Western Australia that was built in the 1850s was actually still active until 1991! Knowing that it has only become a tour site just recently, I could almost feel the prisoners' presence as I walked through the dark, gloomy corridors of the prison walls. This prison was a place of hangings, floggings, and other methods of brutal physical and mental punishment, including months of solitary confinement. Within the depressing atmosphere, I noticed bright, colorful walls behind the small doors of few cells. Most inmates at the Fremantle Prison were Aboriginals, and these Aboriginals had the gift of art. As a therapeutic method, some prisoners were given the option to buy paints and brushes with little money they made and were allowed to paint on their walls. I do not know everyone's story weather their trials were just or unjust or exactly how these poor people ended up within these walls; however, their artworks definitely were sending messages that they desperately wanted to be outside with the nature. After learning a bit about the history of the prison, I came out of the building and breathed in the fresh air of gratitude of freedom.

Can't believe we're smiling so big behind these bars!

Back in the busy streets of Frio, Street performers, who were surrounded by a large crowd, were showing off their talents and their intriguing sense of humor! This one performer had probably kept me laughing throughout his entire show. =D

So, I had a little taste of Western Australia, but there's still long way to go!
I really look forward to next week!