Mission Australia 2013 - Day 03
Perth – Wave Rock
Given the comfort we were getting from Vineet & Shilpa, getting up in
time was really getting difficult. We struggled through the heat outside and it
was well past 10 AM that we could depart for our 5 hour journey to Wave Rock
via Tin-Horse Highway. The first hour went on smoothly but then Ayana started
getting really cranky and was not ready to sit in the tight harnesses of the
baby seat. Already Neha was there on the back seat by her side to comfort her
but no, she wanted to get out. Despite making a late start, I wanted to relax
and so on Neha’s insistence of getting Ayana out of the baby seat – with
reluctance I decided to halt amidst nowhere. 10 minutes passed by with complete
silence – I could only restart when Neha conceded & promised to keep Ayana
in the baby seat.
Ayana at peace after a cranky session
The Tin-Horse Highway was quite lonesome (unlike similar state highways in
NY – due to the much lower population in WA) and looking at the time & the
road condition, I decided to skip detours for any more landscapes & reached
Wave Rock just after 3 PM. Despite the terrible heat; we made the most of
our once-in-a-lifetime visit to Wave Rock and clicked many pictures of us together.
We also met the A-Line Clothing Manufacturers who were there for an ad
photo-shoot. They were quite kind to offer us a bottle of mineral water which
Neha reluctantly took.
Climbing the Wave Rock
The parking-cum-entry ticket was a $10 affair but a smart oriental girl traveling with friends offered to give us hers for $5. I was apprehensive of this earlier but later agreed to it and found myself saving $5. I also tried to play the same game upon my return and I had succeeded but just before leaving, my customers came back with a true claim of being exempted from the ticket because they were camping in the campervan park. I, gleefully & promptly, returned their money (later explaining Neha that I did this with happiness because I always want to portray an honest image of India).
Entrance to Wave Rock
While returning towards home in the sunset, I recalled that Budget Rental required me to be within the Perth Metropolitan Area between sunset & sunrise and got really concerned about our schedule ahead. Also, main cause for the worry was that our phones did not have any signal since we left the urban area. When we stopped at Stumpy’s Roadhouse for filling up the Gas, it was perfect sunset & my worries touched the twilight sky. I recalled the stories of kangaroo crashing into the car at twilight & after dark – and with Ayana howling all the way, I was really concerned of what could happen. Neha grew really tired & sympathetic with Ayana and decided to take Ayana in her arms at which I immediately flared up in anger and blasted her off. Obviously I had to regret instantly but at that point my anger seemed the only way to over come Neha’s motherly emotions that risked us in the view of the Police.
Neha enjoying the Cleaning at Stumpy's
With Neha's childhood friend Abhishek
at Chatter's Restaraunt Midland
Anyway, minutes after my scolding, we drove past the forest area and Perth
city lights appeared in view. Checking our phones got us a clear signal &
we could talk to Vineet. On the other hand, Neha’s old school friend Abhishek
was waiting for us at Dinner at Midland & when we confirmed our plan to
arrive soon; we fell into deep regret for not joining our hosts for dinner –
albeit we had planned so.
Vineet took our decision in stride – telling us that we’ll have to eat the
Rajma next day anyway – which we gladly accepted. We joined Abhishek at
Chatters where our new hosts were surprised to know that we were veggies
sitting in a Seafood place. Anyway, he arranged mock-chicken (tofu) dishes for
us which Neha ate reluctantly after much insistance from me. Overall, we had a
good time with the soft drink thrown in. After picture session, when it was
time to leave, I fell into horror when I realized I had dropped my car keys.
Fortunately, an attendant appeared from the cafe nearby and handed over my
keys. Oh My God! Abhishek & I thought to ourselves and I resolved that I
would never ever give my keys to Neha again!
