Perth--The City of Light

There are heavens on earth, but Paradise is Perth. For sinners, there are places of untold fun and joy.



Perth became famous as The City of Light after residents switched on their home and streetlights to “welcome" US astronaut John Glenn as he passed over the city in the space shuttle Friendship in 1962. The act was repeated when Glenn passed over the city in another space shuttle in 1998. Perth is rated as the eighth most livable city in the world.



It is not easy to pick a tourist destination in this age of slick packaging and hard sell. Serious travelers should do a bit of research to pick the right place. For instance, a cricket lover’s dream destination ought to be Perth because on of the greatest wicketkeeper-batsman of this game, Adam Gilchrist, was born here. If cricket is not your cup of tea, you may find a handful of other reasons for ticking the capital of Western Australia on your tour calendar.



To the fashion savvy, Aurelio Costarella may provide an excuse for visiting Perth. He gained international praise in 2007 when he listed Costarella Design Limited on the Australian Stock Exchange. That single act of daring turned the Costarella label into a regular feature at New York Fashion Week.



Health professionals may be tempted to visit Perth for the simple pleasure of familiarizing themselves with the path breaking work of Prof Barry Marshall and Dr Robin Warren. The Marshall Center, founded in 2007, sees a steady flow of medical professionals interested in studying infectious diseases research and epidemiology.



Who would not mind traveling all the way to Perth if they happen to be part of the Heath Ledger fan club? He died young at the age of 28. He will forever be remembered for blockbusters like 10 Things I Hate About You, The Patriot, Monster’s Ball, A Knight’s Tale and Broke-back Mountain.



Megan Gale may provide a glamorous reason for visiting Perth. She was described as Italy’s hottest star since Sophia Loren. In 2003, this heart stopper was appointed by the Australian Tourist Commission as the Face of Australia in Italy.



Lovebirds and those who love to be close to nature can spend a quiet evening on the bank of the Swan River. This experience alone may compel them to make Perth their regular travel destination. It is said that on a moonlit night, the shimmering water of the river gives birth to poetry and a million fond memories.



Only fools and fakirs travel without bothering to find out where to spend the night after the sightseeing and merry-making is over. The city has 102 hotels of all classes, 26 hostels and eight bed and breakfast joints for the budget travelers. Travelers can find decent Perth accommodation for as little as $50 per night. For the high-end tourist, the best accommodation costs over $300 a night.



So what’s stopping you?





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For more information about Perth, visit http://www.informationcentres.com.au/perth/