The Perthfect Coastal City

Perth City Skyline, Image Source: Trek Earth

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live in a city that has sunshine all year round and is almost free from congestion, noise, pollution and grey skies?

If you’re tempted by the sound of magnificent unspoilt coastline, dependably marvellous weather, a laid back attitude, vast amounts of space and a real sense of freedom, then Perth, Western Australia is for you.

South Perth Foreshore

Whether it’s surfing that tickles your fancy or just lazing on the warm white sands, Perth features some of the most stunning beaches - not just in Australia, but in the world.

With 19 to choose from, Scarborough, Cottesloe and Trigg are the most raved about.

Scarborough Beach 

Trigg Beach

 Waterman's Beach

 Hillary' Beach

   

Not only offering the best surf breaks they also boast a fantastic outdoor cafe culture, pubs or parklands with barbeques.

     

The Naked Fig, Swanbourne Beach, Image Source: Google Plus

  City Beach

Sunday afternoons are traditionally spent hitting a legendary “Sunday session” for which "The Cott" or Ocean Beach Hotel in Cottesloe are famous for. Here you can kick back with a bevy and watch the sun as it sinks into the Indian Ocean.

Cottesloe Beach, Image Source: Kirk Hille Photography

Kings Park is the largest inner city park in the world and considered the soul of the city.

Rising steeply above the banks of the Swan River, it provides breath taking views of the city, the river and the Darling Ranges.

View from Kings Park, Image Source: Pictures of the Planet

Kings Park, Image Source: Meridian.de 

The park and botanical garden is ablaze with wildflowers, an expanse of native bush and towering scented gum trees spanning 400 hectares. 

 Gum Tree @ Kings Park

Just a little further down the river bank sits one of Perth’s major attractions, the iconic Bell Tower located at Barrack Square.

Barrack Street Jetty

Deemed one of the largest musical instruments in the world, 12 of the 18 Swan bells originated from the St. Martin-in-the-Fields church in Trafalgar Square, London and were a gift to Perth to mark Australia’s bicentenary!

The Bell Tower

Barrack Square is a great place to hop on a boat and cruise to Perth’s closest wine region – the Swan Valley – or to the historic and vibrant port city of Fremantle. 

'Fre0' Markets

It may be one of the world’s most remote cities, but the locals view Perth as an unspoilt paradise perched on the edge of the world.

Floreat Beach

The mineral rich state of W.A. has seen an economic  boom over the last few years and Perth is continually ranked as one the world’s most livable cities.

East Perth

Piccilo's Corner, Leederville, Image Source: Great About Perth

Leading a privileged outdoor urban lifestyle consisting of galleries, concerts, theatres and fantastic restaurants, it’s no wonder the people of Perth are such exceptionally friendly and happy people.

  Canal Living

After spending six years travelling and living abroad, I now appreciate just how truly amazing my home town Perth, Western Australia is.

Cheers! Fremantle Cappucino Strip

However, don't let me try to convince you, come and see for yourself.

Mandurah Dolphins

“One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.”
~ Henry Miller ~

Sunset @ Hillary's Boat Harbour

 Paradise or the Real Life?

 North Beach

For more reasons to visit Perth click on the links below:

© Copyright. All images are the property of Sarah Louise Radhanauth (unless otherwise specified). If you would like to use any of these images please contact me for permission at sarah@sarloushe.com

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Travel through Tropical Trinidad

Curious about Cuba?

Whilst currently adventuring through North and Central America, it dawned on me that I have yet to share any of my many amazing tropical travel experiences with Squeezed Daily's readers!

Cuba

I've decided it's time to take my coastal cohorts on an adventure to Central America, where commercialism has been traded for conversation and comradeship. 

Come along and free yourself in the largest of all of the Caribbean Islands and become immersed in the colourful, friendly and vivacious little colonial town of Trinidad, Cuba. 

Cuba 

In an island frozen in time but rich in tradition, warmth and hospitality, Trinidad remains intrinsically beautiful, colourful and alive.

Set dramatically between mountain range and gorgeous coastline, its streets are awash with colour - the entire spectrum represented in a stretch of shining immaculately restored buildings, revolutionary murals and lovingly nurtured vintage cars. 

Image Source: Flickr

Equally nurturing are the Cuban families who welcome you to their homes when you opt to stay in a 'casa particular', the only form of accommodation in Cuba other than a hotel. 

Taking the place of materialism, music and dance are the very essence of Cuba. Traditional Spanish & African rhythms in the form of jazz, rhumba and salsa belt out through live open-air concerts held on the steps fronting the Casa de la Música. 



Foreigners and locals unite to dance and dine on street food galore from market stalls lining the cobble stone streets. This crazy scene encapsulates the joyous, carefree nature that Cubans are famous for.

Modern beats are found in Cuba’s most unique night hot spot Disco Ayala. Existing deep down underground, within a hill side cave, a play of colored light and shadow cascades over the eccentrically shaped stone interior to a musical concoction of hip-hop, reggaeton and salsa-disco. 

Image Source: Flickr

Keep cool with a Mojita (Mint Rum Julip) or a Canchanchara - the special "aphrodisiac" cocktail of the region made from lemon juice, honey and rum.

By day enjoy a slower pace of life. Wander through the plethora of museums dedicated to architecture, traditional furnishings, art, archaeology and revolution. Soak up the backdrop of mule-drawn carts as they clip-clop through the traffic-free streets. 



Pass by children laughing and playing whilst the old folk’s rock gently beneath their shaded porches. Be sure to chat with the Cuban people who are famous for being educated,  communicative, spontaneous and happy.

Cuba

The dense cultural fiesta of Cuba evokes images of a decadent era now forgotten. No other Western nation offers such unique experience. The “real” Cuba may leave you enlightened and somewhat confused. With an open mind you’ll most probably fall madly in love with the country, while being thankful you don’t have to live in it. 

With such uncertainty to whether socialism will survive in the inevitable post-Fidel future, now is the time to celebrate Cuba’s bygone era and embrace its mystery and charm before it’s too late.   

“Traveling is a brutality. It forces you to trust strangers and to lose sight of all that familiar comfort of home and friends. You are constantly off balance. Nothing is yours except the essential things – air, sleep, dreams, the sea, the sky – all things tending towards the eternal or what we imagine of it.”
~ Cesare Pavese ~

Travel bug bitten you yet? Watch this space for more tropical travel destinations from around the globe!

© Copyright. All images are the property of  Sarah Louise Radhanauth (unless otherwise specified). If you would like to use any of these images please contact me for permission at sarah@sarloushe.com

Chilled out on Moreton Is.

Just spent the weekend over at the magnificent Moreton Island, about a 2hour motor boat

ride away from where we live in Manly Harbour. Apart from becoming stranded on a sand-

bank for four hours on our way and having a close encounter with a 2 metre bull shark

while swimming off the back of the boat, the weekend was pretty perfect.  We toasted marsh-

mellows over the fire, went swimming on the surf side and caught a stack of fish for dinner.

I'm feeling pretty chilled out right now.

Casa Surf Project

Is a fun and innovative project by Riviera Magazine, put together by designers

 and surf icon brands like Billabong, Rip Curl, etnies, Roxy, Quicksilver, L*Space,

Lost International along with Glaceau to create these amazing suites in the historic 

beach hotel La Casa del Camino, Laguna Beach. 

BILLABONG SUITE 206 

Designer Rona Graf of Grace Blu Designs worked with Billabong to create this earthy chilled out suite, using mixed natural finishes such as stone, reclaimed wood, glass, concrete and textured soft furnishings. 

Custom made features set the room off, like the three dimensional wall art above the bed, hand painted surfboard and a reclaimed tree coffee table from Indonesia.

QUICKSILVER SUITE 211

This suites design has a very inviting and lux feel, with it's simple colour scheme of cream, chocolate and grey enhance the mixed timbers used heavily in this room. 

Designer Angela O'Donnell captures the  essence of rustic seaside hotels of another era, using reclaimed wood, faux brown leather for the headboard with French  bronze tacking forming the Quicksilver logos above each pillow and custom made lantern pendant lighting.

LOST SUITE 322

Contrasting  in a black and white Moroccan theme, the Lost suite has a clever mix of classy

and cool. Designer Christine Hallen-Berg's colour scheme came from the pillows she made from the lost board shorts, with the green appearing in pops through out the room and ensuite. Again, custom built-in cabinetry and features gives this suite a unique touch.  

GLACEAU SUITE 315

Design team from PD&A, Karen A. Struck and Michael J. Russell, have a distinct ocean theme

for the Glaceau suite. Using lots of luminescent and reflective elements, and beach side colours and textures, giving the suite a soothing underwater vibe."Guests should feel like they are truly beach side when they walk into the room, and enjoy the beauty of Southern California" explains Struck.

RIP CURL SUITE 314 

With it's surf shop giant mural on the wall and the mix of greys and blues, the Rip Curl room

has a young and fresh feel. Debbie Nassetta of Roomscapes based the colour schemes off Rip Curl board-short fabric that were used as shower curtains and cushions on the bed.

Some of the unique features in the room are the signed surfboard by pro surfer Alex Smith that hangs in the bathroom, white rippled headboard that glows at night with blue LED lights and Rip Curl lifestyle photos presented in colourful cubes throughout the room.

BILLABONG WOMENS SUITE 306

Designed with 'surf culture' flavour by designers Michael Soriano and Lindsay Orne. 

Filled with playful and quirky design features such as beach ball, fondue set, seaweed installation above the faux grass floor complete with vintage folding chairs!

Careful planning by cleverly positioning mirrors to create vistas and visions of the outside 

ocean view, enhance this chilled out boudoir.

You can stay in one of these one off designed rooms for a reasonable $250 .98 plus some of the profit is donated to key charities in the first year. http://casasurfproject.com/