Even though I'm having a minor problem with my teeth and loads of problems with my car I'm still enjoying Perth more than the last time. And it's definitely not the weather that has improved since my last stay - it's even colder now then three weeks ago. I think the main difference is the hostel I'm staying in.

The amazing thing is that whereas my last stay in Perth was a rather expensive one, this time around me staying here is quite cheap. First of all the "Backpackers International" where I'm staying this time is slightly cheaper the the "Underground" - 15 AUD/night in a six-share as opposed to 22 AUD in the Underground. The other, and more significant, thing is however that the folks at the International are not constantly trying to milk you for money the way the people at the Underground are.

How to get all the good stuff for free!

Here is one example: At the Underground you can buy tickets to go to the Deen or the Black Betty and in return you'll get as much beer as you want. Considering that these tickets cost up to 30 AUD there has to be a substantial cover charge and you need to drink a lot of beer for this to make sense.

Imagine my surprise when the people at the International said that they'd take us to the Deen for free beer. Apparently the hostels get a certain contingent of free beer if they bring their hostellers to the club. In the Deen we got a bartab of 75 AUD and in the Betty it was 100 AUD. Of course they hope that you'll stay longer and spend more money, but I managed to get three or four beers (they are pretty small here, you know) out of the tab. Yesterday I bought one extra pitcher, so all in all the night cost me 7 AUD as opposed to 20 if I had come with the people from the Underground. In the Black Betty they even have free food (overcooked pasta) so that this was a really cheap night! Goodonya International!

Should auld acquaintance be forgot...

Another good thing about returning to Perth is that I get to see a lot of people again, who were already here last time. It's really someting different if you go to a pub and see some people there you know. To my great surprise I even met one of the girls from Kalgoorlie here again (she is the one in the grey sweater) who had come down to Perth to relax for a few days. It's a pretty small world - even though it's a pretty big continent.