Riding the Indian Pacific

I have finally arrived in Perth! The train journey from Adelaide took 38 hours. Long hours, yes, but also amazing hours. Because I had the cheapest option available, 'sleep' was to be had in a sleeper seat. Anyone who's ever travelled long distance knows that suddenly, the meaning of sleep changes. It becomes this drowsy, half-awake state of being in which you are aware of everything (including the growing pain in neck and back), but can't really do anything any more. Luckily there was also a lounge car, with full-length, soft seats all around. So we (me and a couple other backpackers I met in Adelaide) made a Backpacker's Corner and spent practically the entire trip there. I think I've been in my designated seat for two hours, at most. Of course we weren't allowed to sleep in the lounge car (because actual sleep costs $250 extra), but we did anyway. We were woken up twice on the second night, but it was still infinitely better than following the rules in the sleeper seat.

The trip itself was very good, one of the best things I've done in Australia. The Nullarbor Plain, which is what we crossed, is a whole lot of nothing. It's got the typical red earth you see when you think about Australia, combined with just a few hardy scrubs. It's hard to imagine anything living on the plain, but it is home to the occasional animal. The Plain is an area... oh, I think it would be roughly twice the size of Germany, and there are practically no people. It made me realize what a vast country Australia really is. How infinitely, insanely and utterly huge.
I just said 'practically no people', because we stopped at a ghost town called Cook, with a population of 40. There used to be a school and a hospital, but it's practically deserted now. These people truly live in the middle of nowhere. I don't think I could do it, but hey, if it works for them, who am I to tell them to go live in a city?

So I arrived in Perth early yesterday morning. I haven't seen much of the city since then, but I already like it a lot. In fact, I think it's going after Melbourne for Best City in Australia. I'm here for at least a week, but I'm going after a job. If that works out, I'll spend a couple weeks here. I plan on going to Fremantle and Rottnest Island at the very least, but who knows what else I'll get to do and see here? I might also go camping and hiking in one of WA's national parks, but that's definitely for later. First, a shower and a meal would do me just fine!

Pictures and a new video have been uploaded.