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Sally Thomas

Joined December 2016
  • Sally ThomasThe Ghan
    Day7

    Adelaide

    May 27 in Australia

    Adelaide may or may not be prettier than Melbourne. The architecture differs in the colour of the local stone.

    I was lucky enough to be here while the art gallery was hosting an exhibition of French Impressionists and what was fascinating was how close to the pictures we were allowed; you could see the genius of tiny individual brushstrokes of primary colours that blended to your eye as you moved away.

    I also visited the main museum and a museum dedicated to South Australian migration. There is a magical precinct off North Terrace where the university blends into galleries and boutique museums like in London.    Read more

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  • Sally ThomasThe Ghan
    Day6

    The Train

    May 26 in Australia

    The first thing to be said is thank the universe for the upgrade. Having a private loo and space to spread out a bit made a huge difference. If I were the type to spend free time hanging out in the lounge car the single 'cupboard' would have been fine but I am not. As a couple, the twin would have been quite cramped with Rick being 6'.

    The staff on and off train were all amazingly helpful and attentive but not in a forced way. All behaved as if they genuinely wanted to be there.

    Food was amazing. Every meal a new experience cooked and served to perfection either on a moving train or in the middle of nowhere, often with live music and always with wines curated to match.

    The train was 920m long but there was always motorised transport from the far ends if you needed it. Most places that we stopped were on sidings some distance from town, as I said, the middle of nowhere, but we'd get back on dusk to a roaring bonfire and canapes as the sun set.

    A lot of VERY old people. Very few international teavellers, very few young people and about 70% I spoke to were Queenslanders.

    11 out of 10    Read more

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  • Sally ThomasThe Ghan
    Day5

    Coober Pedi

    May 25 in Australia

    Champagne brunch overlooking one of the most unique views in the country at The Breakaways. Tours of mines and underground houses and churches. Lunch today was in a hude disused mine; again sit-down 3 courses and I'm becoming too accustomed to wine with every meal.

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  • Sally ThomasThe Ghan
    Day4

    Alice Springs

    May 24 in Australia

    Well it was extremely unfortunate that yesterday's stopover in Kathrine didn't go ahead due to our delayed departure. Today was sight seeing in the Alice which, being surrounded by craggy, treeless and inhospitable mountains reminded me of Queenstown Tasmania; except for the temperature of course. Lunch off train was still white table cloths and silver service even in the middle of a dessert park.

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  • Sally ThomasChristmas 2016
    Day30

    Bangkok

    January 12, 2017 in Thailand

    I am sad to report that I really didn't take in as much of my private tour this day as, even in business class, I didn't get enough sleep the night before.

    My private guide was charming, knowledgeable and passionate about her heritage and explained the history and purpose of all the many individual buildings within the Grand Palace enclosure.

    Hopefully the guidebooks I brought home will help jog my memory.

    After a month of UK temperatures I found Thailand too hot and muggy even though it was probably about the same as Brissie today. Being ratshit tired didn't help.

    However, please enjoy a few snaps.    Read more

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  • Sally ThomasChristmas 2016
    Day27

    London, the last few days.

    January 9, 2017 in the United Kingdom

    After Essex, most of what I did and where I went were no photo places but here's the report.

    Sunday I spent the entire afternoon in the British Museum with a very distant cousin on my mum's side. Had a ball.

    Monday Jenn and I visited a small 'museum' known as Denis Severs House. Google it as its a bit hard to explain - a sort of living still life art installation which has recreated rooms in the family home of Hugenot silk weavers over various generations and circumstances.

    Monday night we saw the musical Rent which had been on my wish list for 20 years.

    For my last day in London we saw Charles Dickens' house. A residence he occupied for a few years when first married is furnished almost entirely with his actual furniture. We also saw the original, handwritten, first draft of Oliver Twist.

    The last museum I dragged my poor daughter through was The Museum of London which traces the history of the city from before the first humans to the 2012 Olympics.

    I'm composing this in flight en route to Bangkok where the last adventure awaits.    Read more

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  • Sally ThomasChristmas 2016
    Day27

    Essex

    January 9, 2017 in the United Kingdom

    Friday after shopping we cought the train down to my daughter's young man in Chelmsford where they have a charming little cathedral. They shouted me dinner at one of their favourite pubs and it was delicious.

    The next morning we headed to Colchester where, in the garden in front of the police station is the remains of a Roman Christian church.

    The museum housed in the old castle houses some very fine pieces from Roman Britain. The Abbey Gate is pretty much all that remains of St John's Abbey built just after the Normans arrived and destroyed by Henry VIII.

    A lot of Colchester is quite modern, but the Dutch Quarter sees some very well maintained old houses dating back to when QE1 allowed European weavers fleeing religious persecution to settle there in the late 16th century.

    The last picture, of one of these houses, is now a quilt shop!    Read more

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  • Sally ThomasChristmas 2016
    Day23

    Greenwich

    January 5, 2017 in the United Kingdom

    Today was a big day as there is a lot to see here, we didn't get to all of it.

    First up was the Cutty Sark which is almost all original then onto the Royal Naval College.

    The major showpiece here is the Painted Hall which was closed for filming but the chapel was open and breathtaking.

    Next The Queens House, designed by Inigo Jones. No longer a royal residence it houses some major works of art. Displayed are all the iconic portraits of monarchs and military heroes that crop up in every documentary on tv. Very special to see them in person.

    I probably didn't get the most out of the Royal Observatory as I was exhausted by then but I did learn there was an Astronomer Royal called Bidell......

    For the return journey we caught a riverbus rather than back on the rails, which I always enjoy, and gives you a different perspective on the city.    Read more

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  • Sally ThomasChristmas 2016
    Day21

    London Sightseeing

    January 3, 2017 in the United Kingdom

    I started the day at the re-created Globe Theatre. I did the tour because you end up learning more, and while you could see the exhibition, access to the theatre itself was by tour only.

    Our guide was ok, but if I'd waited for the next one she was much more theatrical than my bloke. Oh well.

    Over the Millennium Bridge for a spot of lunch and onto St Paul's where again I went round with a guide who was fabulous this time. Such a shame you can't photograph the inside, but I do get it.

    So amazing. It's all been cleaned since I popped my head in the door back in 1985 and they say it is even more dazzling now than when it was first finished.

    I was lucky enough to be under the dome, in front of the pulpit, when they had afternoon prayers and that was very special too.    Read more

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