First, let me just clarify that the above post title only applies to those out there who still think that Perth is nothing but a cluster of tin roof shanties, and that Perthians commute mainly via kangaroo back – you know who you are!. A little context for my Perth readers: it’s absolutely no exaggeration that many people in the Eastern States picture Perth as an overgrown cattle station. In fact, a friend of mine on her first visit was so shocked to see high rises and high ways, she proceeded to text all her Sydney friends about it for the rest of the night. Good publicity.

But I too am guilty of underestimating this beautiful city, even though I grew up here. As you might have noticed, yours truly is a Canberra blogger no longer, and now calls Perth her new home (and has evidently taken to referring to herself in the third person). I don’t know if it was my lack of maturity back then, or that Perth has just grown in the years – probably both – but the city that I only wanted to escape as a kid is definitely not the same as the one I am now returning to.

On the surface, Perth shows all the evidence of a city that has become all grown up and sophisticated. Major redevelopments of metropolitan centres in the past decade has seen the rise of new modern facades everywhere. There are new business and shopping districts which now give Perth’s 2 million population access to consumer activities and foreign brands one used to have to travel for.

But the heart and soul of Perth, as I have come to discover, lies a little bit deeper. It’s in the indie boutiques on the outskirts of the city centre, specialty coffee shops in the suburbs, and the art and culture incubating in the once dingy backstreets and dilapidated carparks. The coolest Euro-esque urban spaces are (and should be) found in places which are only to be stumbled upon by taking a wrong turn. And that’s just how everyone likes it.

Running a muck in Perth with Kurt from Blogger’s Boyfriend this week, he shot these photos of me around King Street, Perth’s high end retail district. But the glittering Chanel and Louis Vuitton shop fronts were no distraction from the eclectic grounds of the Secret Garden cafe which serve as a backdrop for most of these photos. From where I stand, brunch possibilities seem limitless. But despite all this, I still decided to dine at Utopia Square vegetarian restaurant, where so many of my idle adolescent days were spent.

Being still new in town, I figure that galavanting around like a clueless tourist is still allowed. So I guess you are forewarned that there will be more long winded posts like this in the coming weeks.

Baseball Pinstripe Shirt (on sale!) & Snakeskin Look Sneakers – Boohoo.com
Tassel Skirt and Bracelet – Shop Beige Renegade
Tote Bag – Celine (Cabas)
Sunglasses – Cotton On