13 March 2000

Decided to stay another day in Perth and do some more sightseeing. So for something completely different took a train into Perth to visit Art Gallery and Museum. Rot began! When we went to buy a train ticket we found the station completely unmanned. No staff at all. No-one to ask about fares, timetables, platforms, where to get off or anything else. Great. Bought a couple of tickets from ticket machine having absolutely no idea if we bought them to the correct destination or whether we'd paid enough. But got there OK. Train trip quite enjoyable. Trains very modern and comfortable.

Rot continued. Found way to Art Gallery. Told by bumptious official we couldn't take camera in and would have to leave it at front desk. Told him we wouldn't leave it and would not go in. He said, Fine. Don't go in. I told him in a loud voice, YER CAN STICK YER ART GALLERY UP YER ... JUMPER, and left. Morons. We have taken the camera into every art gallery we have visited (and I'm sure we've taken it into the Sydney Art Gallery, too) with no problems at all, just a request that flash not be used (which is standard procedure).

Moved on to Museum. No problems taking camera in. But flash not to be used - OK. And no photographs to be taken in a couple of restricted areas - OK. Museum very enjoyable. Had to laugh when curious Lorraine pulled open a display cabinet drawer only to be confronted by a drawerful of animal droppings. Horse droppings, dog, kangaroo, goat. All nicely labelled, too. She couldn't believe it. I loved it.

More rot. Went to go to the toilet at Perth station on way home. They wanted to charge $0.30! Just to go to the toilet! I couldn't believe it. Wouldn't pay. Left.

Looking forward to getting out of this crummy place tomorrow.