I will start this blog by admitting that I was absolutely terrified of doing my trip across the Australian outback.

As time went on and my trip got closer, I began to fear that I was bound to encounter a dangerous snake and/or spider that would send me running a mile. I had no idea what I would do if such an encounter happened or if the worst happened and I was bitten by something. I became more and more reluctant to leave the lovely Sydney with its high rise buildings and beaches and even felt like just getting on a Greyhound bus from Alice Springs to Darwin to make the time go faster.

Now here is my second admission of the blog: I was an idiot! As I sit writing this on my last day in Australia, I have not seen any snakes or spiders that would do me harm (touch wood!) and I really enjoyed my time in the outback.

Just like when I was in America, it is strange to think that you can go from a big city with a population of millions to huge open spaces of land with a whole lot of sun and heat bearing down on it. The thirty five degree heat was like a slap to the face when I came off the plane in Alice Springs and everywhere you looked you would see red land staring back at you with no stunning architecture to aesthetically sooth the eye. But this is the outback for you, I am glad that I experienced it as I have now seen two very different sides of Australia. I went from seeing man made wonders like the Sydney Opera House to the natural wonders of Uluru and Kings Canyon and swimming in pools at Edith Falls. I can't imagine swimming in any natural pools at home - that may be down to living near a dirty canal.

Uluru during sunset was the stunning sight of the outback. Never again will I stand with a tour group drinking wine and munching on a few snacks watching the sun change the colours of something of such cultural significance. The Aboriginals have many different stories about the rock and it's features which have morals to them just like the stories we would tell children at home to teach them morals.

As I have now mentioned the Aboriginals, I must now discuss a sight that I did not like seeing whilst in the Northern Territory. I saw so many Aboriginal people just sitting in dirty clothes on the streets drinking alcohol and I learned that this is pretty much what they do all of the time. After being in New Zealand and seeing the integration of the Maori and Kiwi culture, it saddens me to see that the same hasn't happened in Australia. I doubt it ever will.

I can not and will not point the blame at anyone or anything as I don't know the full story about why things are the way they are but to see any human being reduced to such a life is never pleasant.

These sights did make me feel uncomfortable but this was part of seeing the two sides to Australia that I have seen. Whilst in Sydney I couldn't have imagined seeing this but it has helped me learn to appreciate what I have at home. I think that we are all guilty of wanting more, completely forgetting that we already have a lot more than others. When I am complaining about how much I want a dress from TopShop, I really should consider that someone else in the world just wants something to eat or somewhere to sleep for the night.

I won't linger on the subject any longer. Despite what I have already discussed, I loved the experience of 'roughing' it in the outback and seeing how different life is here to life in New South Wales. My only regret is that I didn't spend more time in Australia to see cities like Melbourne and Adelaide, especially after meeting such great people from different parts of Oz when I was in NZ. I would love to see more of the East coast and actually get the opportunity to surf an Australian wave (thanks a lot toe!)

As I depart Australia for what I hope is a very chilled out week in Bali, I am sad to leave a country that I have wanted to visit for so long and not seen so much more of it. Hopefully I will be back here in the future to enjoy more of it and reunite with the great friends I have made here.

Until then, goodbye Australia and thanks for the memories.