Eco shark barrier.. for or against!

Shark nets/barriers have always been a bit controversial in Australia, particularly here in WA for some reason.. the argument being that it is we humans that invade the shark's territory. I was surprised when arriving at Hillarys Boat Harbour on Wednesday to catch up with visiting bloggers from Germany and fellow Perth blogger Sami, to see that the Sorrento beach Eco Shark Barrier was in place..Above, the barrier is attached at the harbour wall and stretches approx 250mt out and 400mt along to the first groyne, you may have to pull the image in to see where the barrier curves to meet the groyne on Sorrento beach below..

Sorrento Beach's long stretches of white sand adjoining the many attractions of the boat harbour, home to the Sorrento Surf Life Saving Club, practicing first-aid below, make it a tres popular spot for locals and tourists thus making the necessity, and the cost of the barrier viable. So here's the thing, the oceans cover roughly 70% of the earths surface, surely pinching a 'minuscule by comparison' bit here or there to ensure safety can't be all that bad.. what do you think? Happy Friday, take care and stay safe...

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Blue steel..

As skyscrapers go I don't hate this one! The 40 storey Exchange Plaza, headquarters of the Australian Securities Exchange is a 146mt steel frame clad in unique blue glass which is the perfect foil for reflections.. cloud reflections on the river side and fellow skyscraper reflections on the terrace side. I like to shoot it looming skywards surrounded and softened by the trees in Stirling Gardens on the corner of Barrack St and St. Georges Terrace. It looks amazing in the evening as the sun goes down and I will add that to my list of shots to take, that list is getting longer by the day :) How can it be Thursday (for me) already, where did the week go! Take care and stay safe...

Fremantle Prison Gatehouse.. Step inside and do time!

The Gatehouse built in 1855 by convicts.. for convicts, using local limestone, the clock imported from England, is the entry point for visitors to Fremantle Prison, the only built World Heritage Site in WA. The prison, initially for convicts transported from Britain, blimey what a shock the heat and terrain would have been for them, looks exactly like it did, below, when it was built. Restoration of the Gatehouse in 2005 to preserve the original stone facade, removing non-original rendering looks amazing.The facility closed as a prison in 1991 and is now one of WA's most fascinating and significant cultural attractions..

Fremantle Prison was WA's only lawful place of executions between 1888- 1984, the first in 1889 and the last, Eric Cooke nicknamed 'the night caller', on 26th October 1964. I can tell you from personal experience the 'gallows room' on a Torchlight Tour tour of the prison makes the hairs on the back of the neck stand right up! On a lighter note :) there were still a few convicts hangin' around looking a bit sad...

There were escapes from Fremantle Prison over the years, non so colourful as that of Moondyne Joe who escaped multiple times. After his last re-capture he was put under strict watch, the then governor John Hampton, so confident that MJ wouldn't be able to escape again announced that if he did he would be pardoned.. well he did and he was :) Not so these furry desperadoes below, well not until a visitor to the prison gift shop shows pity and takes them home! Happy Wednesday, take care and stay safe...

Brown eyed girl...

Thanks for all the good wishes re my chopped finger tip yesterday.. slightly smaller dressing today making it easier to type. Not sure if my fingerprint will ever be the same :) apart from that it's all good. The exotic beauty above is part of a mural painted on the wall of the Joondalup Railway and Bus Station as part of the Public Transport Authority Urban Art Project.  The project, using a group of recognized Perth aerosol artists is 'a bid to tackle the multi-million dollar costs of cleaning up vandalism each year'. It seems to be working! Made up of many discombobulated images it was those brown hypnotic eyes that captured my lens. Hope your week is off to a good start, happy Tuesday, take care and stay safe... 

Click here to see more Monday Murals from around the world.. 

Churches and mishaps!

This is one of my favourite views of Trinity Uniting Church in the city. The windows even from the outside are gorgeous, imagine how fabulous they are looking out from inside.. If it's possible the next time I'm in the city I will see if I can get that shot for you! Not too much typing tonight.. in the battle of me v my jungle garden yesterday the score was me 0 garden 1.. I chopped a wee bit off the top of my finger while trimming a hedge.. I know right, idiot moi! Hope your weekend is a little less brutal :) happy Sunday, take care and stay safe...

L'amore è un mosaico culturale..

Multiculturalism.. 'the existence of multiple cultural traditions within a single country'.. something to which the world should aspire. The Fo Guang Shan Temple of WA in Maylands is one of several Buddhist temples around Perth. A temple devoted to love and kindness reflected in the window of an Italian pizzeria devoted to delizioso nosh.. how could the world not be a happier place :) Check out the reviews here for Amore Mio, it's not often an eatery gets 100% excellent reviews, there's usually always that one person who is never going to be happy :) Bon weekend, take care and stay safe...

Visit James to see more Weekend Reflections from around the world...

     

City Beach Surf Life Saving Club..

Modern architecture can sometimes be less than aesthetically pleasing to the eye, especially if out of character for its situation. The new state of the art City Beach Surf Life Saving Club (click to see the whole building) definitely does not fall into this category.  It is long, low and sleek and looks very much at home on the edge of the wide expanse of white sandy beach. Surf life saving is vital along Australian beaches and the new surf club here provides space for Surf Club operations, functions and training..

Not sure if it was part of the architect's plan or nature doing it's thing but as we walked here alongside the building it seemed as if the sound of the waves crashing on the beach was blowning up and bouncing off the curve of the wall.. très agréable.

If you look to the centre of the shot above you'll see the lookout point and picnic area atop the surf club and below the view along the beach from there. Just for interest if you have a look here you will see the 1920's version of the surf club, couldn't possibly be more different if it tried! Happy Friday, take care and stay safe..