Kalgoorlie Hotels
Charmedlife's travel blogs:
|
|
  | |  |
The Famed India Pacific Rail Journey
Entry 29 of 57 | show all | print this entry |
|
A three plus day journey by train, across one of the straightest and most barren stretches of land on earth. To help pass the time I read Bill Bryson's "Down Under", and laugh out loud in agreement with him that the music on this train is definitely "songs I hoped I'd never hear again." I look through the windows at the great Nullabor Plain, sandy and inhospitable, yet still able to see lonely kangaroos and the occasional camel, and even sometimes, humans. We stop twice on the journey, once in Kalgoorlie, known for gold mining and its huge superpit mines, and then in a town called Cook, where there are only 7 permanent residents and they proudly display a sign "The Middle of Nowhere". It absolutely is. On the day the train rides through, I can look down the rails for miles and miles, only to see the waves of heat rising off the tracks. This is desolate, not to mention hot as hell. I travelled this path in the heat of Australia's blazing summer, and it had to have been at least 52 degrees celcius, which I'd experienced in the Pilbarra but out here there is no cover whatsoever. Put it this way, when I got off the train to look around, birds had dropped dead from the heat. While we did pass gum trees while coming out of Perth on the way to Kalgoorlie, across the Nullabor they were few and far between. Even so, when the sun sets on this barren landscape, it was gorgeous, showcasing a canvas of color with oranges, reds, pinks and purples streaking across the unbelievably blue sky. With this show to capture my attention, I don't even realize the long days on the train, and pretty soon we roll into Adelaide station. I must admit a sense of accomplishment after this journey, and decide that those who crossed on foot while exploring this country were extremely courageous, never mind downright mad.
More thumbnails ...
|
|
If you like this entry, search for other entries by charmedlife, from Australia or try a new search. |
| |
Back to Entry - Back to Home
|
30 votes 
This is a top pick!
