....it's also very, very hard not to be impressed by Melbourne! My stay here was a little shorter - but no less pleasant. I managed to meet up with my good friend Paul (an avid and honest-to-goodness Melbournian) from last years trip to the American Deep South. Laura and Aaron flew in from Perth for the weekend...it was great to see them and to spend some more time with them again. After many, many years I also got the opportunity to meet up with my lovely cousin...

It's very, very hard not be impressed by Sydney. All of it. That includes the Harbour Bridge; The Sydney (Sky) Tower - twice the height of the bridge and The Blue Mountains (a 2-hour train ride out of Sydney).

Travelled around five hours out of Alice Springs to Kata Tjuta National Park to visit Uluru (Ayers Rock) at the beginning of a four day tour. Visiting 'The Rock', which is central to Aboriginal culture, turned out to be a great start. Witnessing the sun setting on the rock was amazing, watching as it slowly changed colour with a glass of champaign in hand. The following morning, we also saw the sunrise over it but somehow this did not seem quite as dramatic. We a...

...25-hour journey on the Ghan from Darwin - a train 28 carriages and 633 metres long. A bit compact (and expensive) re. accommodation but at least I got a bed...quite comfy... At hotel in Alice Springs - 'The Alice' - it may be slap bang in the middle of Australia...this morning it was a 'chilly' 16C.... The forecast for through the night is an even chillier -1C. At 7pm this evening it was pitch black and bloody freezing. Being picked up at 5.55am tomorrow mor...

Got to Broome... Stayed there in a popular and very crowded backpacker's hostel (what a strange sub-world). Relaxed and enjoyed a look around Broome....a very popular place it seems. On the last night we all went for a sunset camel ride... Great fun! Our camel was called Kadesh but for the duration of the ride I called him Billy-Boy as a tribute to my dad, William who, when he hears of this, will be flattered (I think). From what I've seen so far, spectacular sun...