Heading west to the Indian Ocean, we come to one of the many beaches along the west coast, Cottesloe Beach. This picture was taken in winter incidentally, as you can see from the deserted nature of the sand and water. In summer this beach would be knee deep in tanned, scantily clad maidens, surfies, fat Greek men with hairy backs, and huge man eating sharks. Oops -- I wasn't supposed to mention those.
This imposing edifice is not a historical building and once the home of Colonel Egbert "Gouty" Carruthers-Smythe, former State Governor, big game hunter and relentless pursuer of fresh-bottomed boy scouts. No, it is an entirely new addition to Cottesloe Beach — the Indiana Teahouse. Decorated in a rather fetching colonial oriental style it offers fine food, wine and stunning views of the Indian Ocean. Just the place to watch the sun go down after a hard day's frolicking amidst sun, sand and surf.
Just over the road is the Cottesloe Beach Hotel, where you can avail yourself of a traditional West Australian "middie" (10 ounce glass) of the local Swan beer (which is incidentally owned by Lion Breweries of New Zealand) and numerous other ales of your fancy. A real bugger of a place to knock back a cold one if you hate brilliant sunshine, sparkling blue sea and flocks of tanned bikini-clad nymphets. Yes, it's a dirty job, but someone has to do it.
Sit in the sunshine watching the sun sink over the Indian Ocean, with a beer in hand and not a care in the world. Yes, it's hell, isn't it, sheer hell? OK so the photography's not that great -- what do you want at this price? Besides, the really short mini-skirt worn by girl in the middle kept riding up and what with the effects of the Tooheys Old and everything, well, what can I say. I had trouble keeping my hands steady.
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