Sydney is hot. I think it was 104 today. But walks around dusk are very pleasant. I did some of my first wildlife viewing as well, albeit in the suburbs: Australian magpie, Sulphur-crested cockatoo, Masked lapwig were all easily spotted. Some pretty exotic birds, seen in people’s yards and on footpaths between streets. It’s as if my simple walk was prepping me for the strangeness on this continent. I’m staying in the burbs, but the insects and spiders and birds are fantastic, numerous, and outlandish. It’s like I’m living in a normal house in a normal neighborhood, but it’s flipped upside down. I’m definitely sampling the different pages of the book. And I’m only in the suburbs, I have yet to visit any of Sydney’s iconic sights. But when you’re surrounded by peaceful stillness, you can pick up a lot. It’s all apparent here: it’s a crazy world. How lucky we are. I want to see as much of it as I can.