No, we are not a Middle Eastern family.  My mother is simply trying to protect herself from the chilly winds at Cape Leewen.

We had decided to travel to Perth for a family holiday despite having been there before (and being acutely aware of how boring it was as a destination), because of the short flying time (unfortunately the flight there was only barely tolerable) and because Perth would be warm — my mother cannot tolerate cold weather.

What we did not expect was chilly weather in the middle of summer.

My mother’s comment about the weather is as memorable as her above burqua-like pose — "if you ever want to (im)migrate here don’t bring me along.  I would rather die in Singapore".

We didn’t get to see (or for that matter, taste) much of the vineyards at Margaret River, thanks in no small part to the fact that everything closes at 5 pm.

This conversation, just outside the entrance to the Jewel Cave at Margaret River, is one which I will not easily forget.

Jed : Daddy, I need to pee-pee.

Me : Jed, is this really urgent ?  You’ll have to hold on for a while because we are about to go into the cave.

Grandma : (Pointing at some vegetation)  Jed.  Why don’t you just pee here ?

Absolutely horrified that we might enter Australian history as the awful Singaporean tourist family responsible for accelerating the erosion and collapse of several stalactite pillars in the Jewel Cave, I warned Jed against unleashing liquid destruction on the site.  I also watched watched him very carefully throughout the rest of the walk through the cave.