On Friday afternoon I caught a short flight over to Sydney to begin my new adventure. I had two nights in Sydney, staying in the Wake Up hostel near Chinatown and the city's centre. Because Mummy and Em were flying out to Sydney in just over a fortnight, I didn't do any of the tourist attractions that the city has to offer apart from taking a couple of walks up the main street, George Street. Sydney, on first impressions, struck me as having all the hallmarks of a typical international city - very distinct monumental structures, very busy shopping streets, and a multicultural undercurrent that ran throughout. Early on Sunday morning I returned to Sydney airport to catch my flight to Alice Springs. Alice Springs is a very popular tourist destination in the middle of the outback. However, there is actually a lot to the town itself apart from the various "local" characters that hang around the streets. I was staying in the Haven Backpackers from where I was to start my tour the next morning so, after shopping for some essentials, I got an early night in preparation for the next two weeks.