(Above: Perth city skyline, images by me)
The most isolated city in the world;
Also the most misunderstood Australian capital (in my opinion). Yet there is so much more to it if you try hard enough to find whatever it is that keeps the people within it, sane enough to continue living in isolation.
In a bid to help people understand my former home, I’ll provide some insight to what I believe keeps the people of Perth, within its (desolate) confines…
…You see, Perth is a bit of a grey area if you ask me. Nobody really knows what to expect of it when they enter it. Everyone has this pre-conceived notion about the place i.e. “Oh it’s bloody boring, there’s nothing there”. In all fairness, if you were to compare it with the likes of Sydney and Melbourne, then yeah…There is nothing in Perth. However, compare it with the likes of Tasmania and Radelaide (Adelaide), then I’d expect for you to give the city a little more credit. I’ve been to Adelaide. It isn’t on my list of most loved cities. I thought Perth was small until I was flown to Adelaide for a week (to work).
Look, the way I see it is that you shouldn’t go to Perth with the expectation that you’ll see interesting bars and clusters of architectural brilliance sprawled about the CBD. Individuality and fashion forwardness isn’t the norm there. It is a little baron and most people are very much “behind the times”…
…But hey, don’t let that deter you from exploring the place. WA as a whole, has some really nice beaches. Bitches love beaches. I have also heard several individuals claim that Perth has some really hot women (don’t ask for my opinion on that matter, you won’t get a positive one). Oh and how could I forget the weather?. The weather is more or less, lovely. Too hot for me, but lovely none the less (mostly sunny).
In all seriousness though, there is a lot more to Perth than its weather and beaches and (apparently) attractive women. You need to dig a little deeper to find out what keeps the kids of Perth so entertained. What’s the youth to do if there aren’t many places to go, things to do?. Well, they create their own fun…Please read on.
Ignore all the bogans, the uh “colourfully charactered” natives, the small mindedness and the still very much alive and large scale homophobia…There are some really amazing people doing some really amazing things in Perth that make it worth staying.
There is a new breed of youth about the city. They’re all banding together like one big, happy family. These kids are the lovers of art, real music and dance. They don’t judge, they’re reasonably stylish and “steezed” out. They’re super friendly, too. Talented, art loving, aesthetically pleasing, smooth moving Perth residents…
…I’ll leave it at that and allow you to experience the culture these kids have created. I’ll give you some clues: You may find them at the 189 arcade on William Street in Northbridge (next to Jus Bugers). You may find them at The Bird. You may find them at The Manor in Leederville. You may find them at the Cipher Dance Acadamy in Willeton. You may also even find them at WA’s newest place to chill, the Grey Door Gallery in Claremont. So go forth!…Find them and see for yourself why I almost didn’t leave Perth for Melbourne. And for the sake of name dropping and recognising the most successful thing lingering about…Please visit www.gfted.com and peruse through the phenomenon that has been simmering for the last few years and is now blooming like a teenage boy’s balls dropping for the first time.
That’s it from me. I’ll talk more senseless crap another day.
Sincerely,
P
(via perthstreetlife)
