Some opinions about my new home: Perth in Western Australia
I found this discussion online that started with the following question
If Perth is so great why do so many people leave?
and thought I share the answers with you. I am not leaving but moving to Perth and was curious what people generally think of living in Perth.
Here some quoted answers (that might interest you as well; or at least my aussie-hon):
My guess - isolation. Once you leave, it soo hard to live that far away from anything else ever again.
Hmm alot of people who leave return within a few years though…
There is much more people coming in than going out… check the real estate prices!
it depends on what stage of your life you are in. Perth is a fantastic place to be a kid or to raise a young family, but when you are in your early 20’s it’s better to be in a place with a bit of a buzz.
I have to leave it to appreciate the beauty and lifestyle.
People are moving here for a better lifestyle and standard of living, not leaving.
I consider Perth the “Safe Haven”. We leave Perth to explore the world, and to discover what is really out there. Being here we become complacent. That is why we need to be out of Perth to fully appreciate what it is really worth.
I left Perth 9 years ago…(…)But now that i’m back here in Perth, I love it. It’s more touristic than it has even been, the place is continually under construction, and the weather is … brilliant, even now in winter.
The media in australia, not just perth, is very, very backward. So if you wanna get as far as you can in that industry you will eventually have to leave. Sad cos i love perth more than any city i have been too. It is so relaxed and you can have a great life with little stress.
I think you have to leave to realise how good it really is! Brunch at the beast, weekend down south, wine in the valley…I should be in advertising!! After 2 years away I can’t wait to get back there - Viva Perth!!!
Beautiful city but felt isolated and that it lacked a buzz. Got abit samey after a while. Freo and Subi were pretty lively.(…)So glad to have experienced Perth for 5 years, my children were born there too. It will always be a special place.
Am a Perthie born and raised here but am sorry to say am leaving for Melbourne as Perth is a bit too small for big ole me… who wants adventure and cheap living!!! Perth is a rich state now.. only the wealthy can afford to live here…
I’ve just come back after being away for two years travelling and I’m still amazed of the high praises Perth does get from travellers from all across the world. I can understand the attraction - beautiful beaches & scenery, genuine people, relaxed lifestyles and attitudes. In terms of growth, I think you’ll find perth is one of the fastest growing cities in Australia. Overall the local economy is flourishing, and there are tonnes of jobs around (…) There is alot to be seen outside of Perth whether be overseas or interstate. I do want stay long-term outside of Perth but in the end i think i will always come back.
Yup… isolation… i guess everyone has to travel and see the world (or the rest of Australia) at some point in their lives.. just i got stuck out here (London) since it became too expensive to own a place in Perth!
I’m originally from Sydney, but have lived in Brisbane, and NZ and now here in Perth since Dec 2005, and think it’s a great place to live, there’s so much to do here - sometimes hidden.
People might leave b/c of : some attitudes of people, or they might feel isolated. …when we lived in Wellington, NZ, we felt much more isolated there than we do here. Here we dont feel isolated at all - everything’s here, I’m sure it was some close minded easterner who made that up. Plus we are closer to Africa and the rest of the world than you are if you live in Sydney…trust me and I’m from there. There’s definitely something special about Perth, we spend most weekends out on the swan river, fremantle etc on the small boat that we bought plus I guess an added bonus is the pay here is really good - better than the East on both counts. Perth rocks!
I love how laid back we all are and that we don’t have sunday trading everywhere. More time to spend with friends/ family.
Id move back away from the uk tomorrow if i could! but cant, not until i get my qualifications to gain enough visa points!! The city is so clean and refreshing to visit, the suburbs are nice and open with parks etc. Plus the weather is unbeatable!
It’s all relative I think, Perth is somewhere to be a kid or a parent but in the middle you really need to get out and bring some outside ideas back to the place.
Perth is a fantastic place but it feels very different after 4 years away. Actually quite expensive by world standards (ignoring currency exchange rates). Definitely feels very clicky (but I’m sure it always was). Service in restaurants and cafes is poor. Property prices are amazing for what you get.
But Perth will always have beautiful beaches, blue sky and terrific weather. It will also have BBQs on a Sunday afternoon, sessions at the local pub, miles and miles of cycle paths and, actually, to disagree with an earlier post, excellent public transportation for a city that is very geographically spread out.
i came here 11yrs ago and thought, “very cheap..could make a go of it here”…well never did have the opportunity and now the prices are the same as sydney!!
I think Perth has several major weaknesses at present; lack of affordable housing (prices are overinflated because of a boom), lack of a vibrant arts scene, inflexible shopping and trading hours, rigid local governments (particularly the Perth Council who seem to keep making stupid decisions) and also extreme geographical isolation. Compared to Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra and perhaps also Brisbane, Perth also no doubt lags behind in overall economic strength, cultural vibrancy, connectivity to the global economy, innovation, education, and competitiveness. Our main strengths are a good climate, very strong economy and good prospects for growth. Perth could become a lot more than what it is now.
I left Perth in 1990 and have lived in the UK since then. Why did I leave? To experience the wider world. (…) Ok I would miss London / Europe, can’t deny it. But the healthy, clean, open life in Perth can’t be beat and I know my kids (who are still young) won’t find a better place to grow up in. Believe me there is a lot of people here wished they lived there.
sometimes Perth can be boring and limited if you r comming from a busy life style you will never get use to it…
i am currently overseas living and working in europe. i like living overseas its cool to meet new people and experience different cultures but theres not a day that goes by taht i would ever not call perth home. ill always go back.
Perth has many good points, but there are a number of problems, some of which are growing. Housing affordability and creaking infrastructure are the critical ones at the moment, especially as the population is growing very fast as people move to try and take advantage of the boom. Another disturbing trend for me is also the growing inequality; for those benefiting from the boom, these are good times, but low income earners, pensioners, and those in non-mining sector jobs are certainly feeling the pinch from rising costs and inflation.
I’m French and I arrived in Melbourne 1,5 years ago. I moveD to Perth 3 months ago. I don’t really know how people manage several things:
- all the city is closed at 5pm! we can’t buy anything. It opens at 9am.
- there are not enough shopping centers.
- The markets opened at 9h. Too late. At 10h, it’s already overcrowded.
- Moreover, the different suburbs don’t have a street with some shops. If there are … they close early.
- we think we loose too much time on road and transports to find everything. I agree with the fact that Perth doesn’t have enough services. The population grows fast. The services have to follow this increase.
- I think the house prices are crazy.
- the prices of food and products are more expensive than in Melbourne.
Honestly I’m disappointed. People in Melbourne described Perth like a paradise. I agree for the landscapes and the beaches, the weather, the colors everywhere. But life is more complicated. I like Melbourne because it’s a bit like Europe without the disadvantages. Eventually, I really love Perth for Holidays! It’s amazing.
Ooooo… I left because I’m an IDIOT. 
But I’m working on moving back, especially after having a 9-month winter (snow on the ground, below freezing) last year in the mountains in Canada. Perth’s food, the beaches, the weather are so amazing. Lots of people leave and then come back. Perth is only boring for 20-somethings compared to places like Sydney and Melbourne, it’s not dull in the slightest compared to my home town! It’s really expensive though…
[i am not liable for any spelling mistakes that the authors above made. peeps, as i said, it is all (1:1) quoted! :–p]
Well, we will see how Perth will be four years later since we have lived there.
I know for sure that I loved Perth much more than Sydney or Melbourne in terms of climate, people, living costs, (sourrounding) nature, and the general (daily) lifestyle. I also loved the very laid-back feeling of life. It really calmes you (me) down. *wink-wink*
Thank you
Danke für eure Anteilnahme und eure lieben Zeilen in den Kommentaren als auch via Emails. Ich habe zweifach gelesen, dass mein Australien posting mit Tränen in den Augen, bzw. heulend gelesen wurde… 
das hat mich echt sehr berührt und gerührt!
Es hiess z.B.
vielen Dank für das schöne Bildertagebuch!!! Ich habe beim Lesen echt angefangen zu heulen, weil ich die Bilder so beeindruckend fand und ich mich gleichzeitg so für euch gefreut habe, dass ihr eure Zukunft dort verbringen werdet!
und auch hier:
To be very honest, I got tears in my eyes when reading your stories and looking at the amazing pics!
Hach ja, hätte ich diese beiden lieben Personen jetzt hier vor mir, würde ich bestimmt mitweinen. Ich freue mich, dass ihr euch so mit uns freut! 
Mir liegt es jetzt auf der Zunge zu sagen: “ich liebe es, wenn (m)ein Plan funktionert.” denn bisher läuft alles was die Auswanderung nach Australien angeht allerbest. Naja, sagen wir, der Anfang ist geschafft, das Visum ist als Einreisevoraussetzung vorhanden, nun heisst es natürlich auch in down under gut unterzukommen. Vor allem für mich heisst es schnell einen Job zu finden.
Ich werde euch hier in meinem blog auf dem Laufenden halten.
Bis zu einem klaren Ergebnis durch meine “welche sprache, deutsch o. englisch”-Umfrage (siehe rechts) werde ich wohl noch jeweils in zwei Sprachen schreiben. Also, falls ihr eure Stimme noch nicht abgegeben habt, könnt ihr gerne noch mit abstimmen. Na los!
Wer übrigens am Ball bleiben möchte, wenn ich hier was schreibe, und nicht ständig auf mein Blog surft, kann sich auch gern bei meiner Email Benachrichtigung eintragen. Dann bekommt ihr den Hinweis über neue Posts bequem per Email. Schaut dafür hier: Blogeinträge abonnieren via Email
Oder ihr abboniert mich via feed reader (google, bloglines, yahoo, usw.)
Oder halt einfach nur STRG + D drücken. 
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and feelings in the comments and via email. Twice I read that about reading my Australia post with tears in the eyes or while crying heavily…
Thank you very much for the beautiful photo book!!! Honestly I started to cry during reading, because your pictures are very impressive and I also felt very happy for both of you that you can spend your future there!
and also:
To be very honest, I got tears in my eyes when reading your stories and looking at the amazing pics!
Sigh…well…I would probably sniff with you together if you were here with me. I am glad that you share my happiness.
It’s on the tip of my tongue to say: “I love it when a plan comes together.” because so far everything concerning emigration to Australia works out best. Well, let’s say that this is only the beginning, we have the required visa in our pockets, but now it also means to find nice (or lets say affordable) accommodation and especially employment (for me).
I will keep you updated about everything here in my blog.
Until my poll about my question “this blog in English or German language” (see top right column) didn’t bring a clear result I will write my posts bilingual. So, if you haven’t voted yet, please don’t hesitate to do so.
If you want to get a notification when I wrote new posts you can subscribe me via email or you can add my RSS feed to follow me with your rss reader (google, bloglines, yahoo, etc).
Or simply press STRG (or CTRL) + D.
YeahYippeeFlippieYeehaa Australia My Love
Wie einige von euch ja wissen, bin ich ziemlich Australien-vernarrt. Ich wühle immer mal wieder in den alten Fotos und schwelge so dahin und erinnere mich an die grandiose Zeit, die ich hatte. Das war 2004/2005. Ich möchte euch ein wenig dran teilhaben lassen, daher gibt es hier ein kleine “warum ich von Australien, besonders dem Westen Australiens, nicht loskomme”-Liste:
A few of my readers know that I am a heavy Australian-lover. I often like to look through my old photos, which makes me reminisce on the great time I had. That was 2004/2005. Now I want to share this feeling with you and show you some good old memories in a “why I cannot get Australia out of my head” list.
Der Westen war das richtige typische Australien für mich, weil:
The West was the REAL Australia for me, because:
The Australia where trees weren’t part of a ‘landscaping design’. Where the only things colouring the water were fish. Where it was harder to find a noisy spot than a quiet one.
WARUM ich Australien so liebe? Hier meine Erklärung in Bildern ausgedrückt:
WHY am I so in love with Australia? Here comes my explanation with images:
Nathan und ich haben uns im wunderschönen DownUnder kennen gelernt. Wir sahen uns das erste Mal an der Uni in Perth wo wir beide 2004 studierten.
Nathan and I met each other first time in the beautiful land “down under”. We met at the uni in Perth where we both studied in 2004.
Ich habe erkannt, dass man auch sein Geld auch oben-ohne am Automaten ziehen kann und es keinen stört…die (West-) Australier sind ein sehr entspanntes Volk. (wer ist eigentlich der Typ auf dem Foto? *g*)
I learned that nobody cares if you use the ATM downtown topless…the (western) Aussies are very laid-back people. (who is that guy in the pic? *g*)
Ich habe auch ein paar mehr oder weniger seltsame australische Eigenheiten gelernt, zum Beispiel das Kaffee duch den bekannt-beliebten Tim Tam Keks schlürfen.
Also learned some more or less weird (and fun) Australian habits like sucking coffee though the popular “Tim Tam” cookie.
Ich liebe die schöne Westküste…wo man einfach direkt am Strand campen kann und meist sogar den Platz und die Umgebung für sich alleine hat.
I loved the beautiful west coast…where you can camp directly at the beach and mostly without having neighbors.
Ich erfuhr was es heisst in der Hitze ohne Klimanalage im Auto mehrere tausend Kilometer schnurstracks geradeaus zu fahren….dafür aber tolle Landschaften und eine wunderschöne Umgebung kennen zu lernen und es ganz alleine zu geniessen, da man selten Leute trifft. Ich fand es auch klasse, dass sich Autofahrer alle mit nem netten Handgruss grüssen. (Man trifft ja sonst fast niemanden im outback *g*)
Experienced what driving in the (desert) heat without air condition in the car really means, also experienced straight roads for thousands of kilometers…and beautiful changing landscapes…enjoying it only by oneself (and your buddies) because there is hardly anyone else out there. I also like it that every car drivers great each other with a friendly hand sign. (There is not many people to meet in the outback)
Ich habe super nette Leute aus der ganzen Welt kennen gelernt, hier einige aus der Mädelsgang (im folgenden 4 verschiedene Nationen):
Made friends with very nice people from around the world, here some from the girls team (4 different nations in this pic):
Wir kauften uns einen goldenen Van (unser porn-starwagon) und fuhren den langen Weg der Küste hinauf; hier erreichten wir die Tropengrenze:
We bought a van (called porn-starwagon) to drive up the long way up the coast; here we reached the tropics:
Ich habe mich mit anderen (niedlichen) Wesen angefreundet.
Met some other (cute) friends.
In Byron Bay (Ostküste) bin ich das erste Mal gesurft, dies sind unsere Surfbretter und der legendäre Strand:
I did my first surf in Byron Bay (east coast), here are our surf boards and the popular beach:
Ich habe mich daran gewöhnt, dass knackige Surfertypen zum Alltagsbild gehören und dass die australische Mode manchmal etwas seltsam anders ist…schaut auf die Schuhe!
Got used that hot surfer guys are running around with their surf boards everywhere in town, also learned that the Australian fashion is sometimes weird different…check out his shoes!
Ich habe mich auch an die vielen Känguruhs gewöhnt und schloss sie in mein Herz (obwohl sie mich wohl nicht so sehr mochten).
I got used to the many Roo’s out there and loved them (although I think they didn’t like me that much).
Ich habe nie zuvor so viele Muscheln auf einem Haufen gesehen und zwar als Strand aus Muscheln statt aus Sand, unglaublich faszinierend:
I’ve never seen a beach with little millions of shells instead of sand, so beautiful:
Ich bin mit meinem Liebsten (hier auch Tarzan oder Moglimann) viel gewandert und geklettert, um die schönsten Ecken zu sehen…Natürliche Swimmingpoole, in Wasserfällen planschen, weit weg von Zivilisation…wo es keinen Empfang fürs Handy gibt und wo man noch seine Gedanken mit Füller in sein leder-handgebundenes Tagebuch schreibt…
Hiked with my loved one, as known as Tarzan or Mogli, in gorgeous surroundings, swam in beautiful natural pools and showered in waterfalls, being far away from people…where there is no mobile phone reception and where you write your travel diary and your thoughts in handmade leather books…
Sogar im Nirgendwo tauchen grandiose Naturschauspiele auf, wie z.B. diese seltsamen Gesteine namens Pinnacles:
Even in the middle of nowhere there is always something to discover, like the Pinnacles, these weird rocks in the desert:
Ich habe die witzigsten Insekten gesehen, wie unter anderem diesen farbenfrohen Freund hier:
Met the coolest and never seen insects, like this colorful guy here:
Das ist im Winter am Cottesloer Strand:
This is in winter time at Cottesloe beach:
Ich habe dem Klima (und den Fliegen!!!) stand gehalten, bin soviele Kilometer wie mein ganzes Leben nicht gelaufen, und habe sogar “gefährliche” Viren-Getränke unbeschadet überlebt:
I withstood the climate (and the flies!!!), walked as many miles as not in my whole life, and even survived “dangerous” virus-drinks:
Ich besuchte die Westküste nach Erstumrundung des Kontinents sogar nochmal, weil ich meinem Besuch (meiner Freundin) das wahre Australien zeigen wollte:
I visited the west coast again after I surrounded the continent, because I wanted to show my friend from Germany the real Australia:
Ich habe die schönsten Strände gesehen und hatte sie meistens für mich ganz allein:
Enjoyed the most beautiful beaches I have ever seen, mostly having the whole experience only shared with my friends:
Ich könnte die Liste ewig fortführen.
Es gibt wirklich nichts was mir nicht gefallen hat. Ich liebe dieses Land. Seit ich dort war, hat sich mein Leben verändert. Ich sehe meine Umwelt mit anderen Augen. Der kulturelle Mix und das friedliche und harmonische Miteinander in Australien hat es mir besonders angetan.
I could go on and on with this list.
There is really nothing that I didn’t like. I love the country. Since I was there I changed in many ways. I look at nature in a different way. I especially loved the Australian cultural mix and the friendly and openly contact with one another.
Hier noch eine treffende Beschreibung für den Westen:
Here a good description for the west:
You feel like you are at the end of the earth…that’s because you are.
Ich mag dieses Ende der Welt.
I love this end of the world.
Liebes wunderhübsches Australien, nun rate mal was jetzt passiert…
Dear beautiful Australia, guess what happens now…
missyCola moves back to Australia!!!!!!!!
Ja, ich gehe nach Australien zurück. Seit langem geplant und endlich so weit, dass ich sagen kann: ICH GEHE! Das Visum habe ich schon in der Tasche, der Flug muss noch gebucht werden. Meine letzten Wochen in Deutschland sind gezählt, noch kann ich euch aber noch kein festes Datum nennen.
Yes, I go back to Australia. Since a long time it is planned and finally everything is set and I can say: I GO! I already have my visa, but I still need to book my flight. My last weeks in Germany are counted. Nevertheless I don’t have a clear date yet.
Hier sehr ihr schon mal ne Vorschau, wo es mich hin verschlägt (für die, die die Gegend noch nicht kennen):
Here you see a preview where I will be soon (for those who don’t know the region):
Ach ja, ich gehe natürlich nicht alleine, sondern nur so:
Oh, and of course I don’t go alone, but only like this:
Nathan fliegt schon in elf Tagen (am 4.2.). Ich komme dann im März hoffentlich.
Nathan already flies in eleven days (on Feb 4th). I will hopefully go down in March.
IF ANYONE FROM THE GUYS STILL LIVING IN AND AROUND PERTH KNOWS A PLACE FOR US TO STAY PLEASE SEND NATHAN OR ME AN EMAIL OR LET ME KNOW HERE IN THE COMMENTS.
We are looking for a 1 or 2 bedroom flat or a house to rent in or close to the Mt.Lawley area.
P.S.:
Thanks for reading this long post!
Now you know why I am so busy since quite a few months, why I try to ged rid of all my stuff, why I didn’t have much time for blogging in the past…
@Sabine: nun ist es raus. Hast Du es nicht eh geahnt, gewusst? Tut mir leid, dass ich Dich (u.viele andere) so lange immer wieder vertröstet habe, aber bevor nichts sicher war, wollte ich noch nichts darüber sagen.
@Mau: wir haben uns knapp gegen Sydney entschieden, aber trotzdem kann man sich natürlich super gern besuchen fliegen (juchhu) und wolltet ihr nicht eh mal den Westen kennen lernen nachdem es Deinen Eltis da so gut gefallen hat? Also, ich hoffe euer nächster Urlaub geht to the amazing west coast!
@NateyHon: ILY* and cannot await being together again soon to enjoy our new life in down under. In freudiger Erwartung, Dein Cola Fräulein.
So, jetzt dürft ihr gerne meine grenzenlose Freude teilen und mich mit eventuell noch auftretenen Fragen löchern. Ich geh jetzt erstmal schlafen, denn morgen (vielmehr heute in ein paar Stunnden) ist ein langer Arbeitstag und ich freue mich schon darauf eure Kommentare zu lesen.
Now you can share my terrific happiness and ask me all the questions you might possibly still have. Finally I will go to bed now. Tomorrow, ehm I mean today in a few hours, I have a long day at work and I am looking forward to reading your comments.
Update#1:
Visa conditions |Permission to work
Students and their family members do not automatically have permission to work in Australia.
They can only apply for permission to work after they arrive in Australia and the student has commenced their course of study.
Students granted a student visa with permission to work are limited to 20 hours work per week while their course is in session. They may work full-time during formal holiday periods.
Family members’ permission to work
Family members of students who have commenced a Masters or Doctorate degree may apply for unrestricted permission to work.
Family members of all other overseas students may apply to work up to 20 hours per week.
New image-popUP plugin
Ich habe mir ein neues plugin installiert, um hier im Blog meine Bilder als pop-up oeffnen zu lassen. Vorher hatte ich ja das zap_imgpop, nun teste ich mal den thumbnail viewer, der aehnlich wie lightbox die Bilder oeffnet, jedoch angeblich schneller laden soll. Ausserdem ist das script etwas schlanker als das zap_imgpop.
Taeusche ich mich oder oeffnen sich die Bilder jetzt etwas schneller als zuvor? Na, ihr koennt mir ja mal Bescheid geben, ob ihr ne Veraenderung feststellt.
I installed a new plugin that opens the images in my blog as a pop-up. Before I used the zap_imgpop. Now I am testing the thumbnail-viewer, which opens the images in a similar way like lightbox, but as said faster. Besides the thumbnail-viewer script is a little bit smaller in size.
In my opinion the images open up a little bit faster now, what do you think? Well, you can let me know if it makes a (speed) difference to you, if you like. Thanks!
Test pic
My sweet little crystal ball…
Anja, Your love life heats up all of a sudden, with unexpected romantic opportunities flying fast and furious. You and your partner are filled with energy and enthusiasm right now. You may be thinking about a more formal or secure relationship soon.
Today’s horoscope. Hehehe… 