Perth is the world's most isolated city (i.e. it's further away from any other city than well, any other city on the planet) and this (for some) unfortunately fosters some of the western world's most 'isolationist' thinking.

Sadly, the most bigoted major city in Australia, it's often the first choice for English and Scots of a 'particularly narrow mindset' if you know what I mean, who are looking for somewhere to retire. Perth folk (yes, sure there are ALWAYS exceptions) often don't seem to like ANYONE, but they seem to have a particular problem with Aborigines and Asians (not the Indians, Pakistanis etc. that Brits incorrectly call Asians, but the Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese, etc. - whom Brits often offensively refer to as Orientals).

Perth is not the city with the 'pioneer spirit' that most Brits seem to imagine. It's not the last great frontier, it's actually Australia's most conservative (culturally and politically) city whilst also being the home-town of our most notorious white-collar criminals!

I recommend stearing well clear of Perth but if you simply HAVE to visit Western Australia, then go to Fremantle, Margaret River, Busselton etc. instead. Then kick yourself repeatedly while booking a flight to Sydney, Adelaide or Melbourne, cities where you'll find the REAL Australia.

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Paying for "free things" is an unfortunate habit in many restaurants in The Czech Republic, but it's still practiced today. Here's how it works, you walk into a restaurant, a small band is playing, the waiter puts a basket of bread on the table, followed by a tray of condiments. Itr all sounds good doesn't it? Well wait until you get the bill. On top of the food & drink, it's not uncommon to find you've been charged extra (a LOT extra) for: the bread, the band (even if you got there late and the band was packing up), a "late session" or "Weekend" surcharge and even the tray of condiments (no seriously!). SO never assume ANYTHING is free, check the menu for extra charges and ALWAYS talk to your waiter. If you don't want to pay for a basket of bread or tomato sauce, just say "No thanks". One final tip. Be considerate and learn some basic Czech.

Sadly, all over Prague.

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You'll have an entirely different experience (and could save some money) if you learn some Czech before going. The Czechs are friendly, but are also wary and stand-offish and many have a particular dislike of English, American & German tourists. * Why? Well the English have an unfortunate reputation for boozy stag & hen parties, Americans are regarded as loud, culturally ignorant and "taking over" their city and the poor Germans get a bad rap due to their shared history and the fact that some (only some) have a nasty habit of insisting on speaking German to Czechs. (Many Czechs speak perfect German, but often don't like to.) Even if you merely learn to say hello, goodbye, thank-you and please, your experience of Prague will be profoundly different. These simple courtesies (and the Czechs are BIG on manners) will often save you money, get you better service and could even get you a table in a restaurant which would normally be 'full'. You'll also engage more with the people of Prague, who are the true cultural treasures of my favourite city on the planet. So how do I learn? If you don't want to go to lessons, at the very least buy the "Rough Guide Czech Phrase Book" it was the absolute best thing I bought before heading to Prague. * (They love, love, LOVE the Irish though, whom they see as kindred spirits: a proud intellectual history, home of novelists and playwrights and a struggling people who shook off the chains of oppression & tyranny to become a republic)

all over Prague

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