I started my city walk-about by visiting the excellent Western Australian Museum (just north of Perth train station). Established in 1891, the museum explores a wide variety of subjects under Western Australia's history and environment, including dinosaurs, aborigines, animals, meteorites and marine life. The "Katta Djinoong - The Stolen Generation" exhibition will deserve special mentioning here. The exhibition details the history of the Aborigines (or the Indigenous people) in Western Australia. By offering an opportunity for their voices to be heard and for them to talk about their culture and heritage, the ultimate objective is to create a greater understanding and insight into their lives and aspirations. Touching on a topic which was considered as taboo not so long ago, it tries to shed light on some of the racial policies that was embarked on them. The exhibition ended with stories of forgiveness and reconciliation which had pretty touched me.

One would just need to walk a few blocks up north (from the museum) to feel a difference. Northbridge, Perth's very own Chinatown (during the day), is just the place to get my Chinese food fix. I was advised by friends not to hang out here at night as it could get unnecessarily rowdy. But well, I never got a chance anyway (my flight was leaving at 9.30pm).

My next stop was to visit Kings Park; a 4-km-square piece of land offering the best views of the city and the Swan River regardless of day or night. Covered with well-tended greenery, nice jogging tracks and a Commonwealth War Memorial, it is simply the city's pride and joy.

Just before I made my way to the airport (via the Perth Airport City Shuttle, A$20/S$26 per person, bookings only), I did my last minute shopping along Murray Street Mall. The city somehow reminded me of my travels in New York or San Francisco. Perhaps it was due to the cosmopolitan feel of the city; I saw a large number of Asians in downtown. But my stay was really too short here to create any stereotypes.

As I was waiting for my flight in the airport, I thought about the ONE teaching which I could take away from the retreat. As retreat coordinator, I should had been more emotionally stable when reacting to the various feedback (or complaints) participants would have. In a specific case, I really felt helpless for not being able to do anything about it and somehow I was affected. Finally decided to consult Ajahn Brahm and he simply advised what Ajahn Chah (his teacher) always reminded him.

"One should always reflect on oneself for 95% (Minimum) of the time. Put no more than 5% of the reflection on the others."