Oh wow, those all sound incredible, although as a fearful flyer, I don't envy you that flight to Greymouth. That must have been terrifying! And what a piece of history your flight to Delhi via Kabul was — no wonder it has remained in your memory.

I love the sound of both of those train trips, though — so wonderfully evocative. And you're not the only one to have that belated realisation about the name 'Nullarbor'. I'm Australian, and I only realised it wasn't an Aboriginal placename but rather Latin about two years ago — and I'm Australian and I can read Latin!