After a fairly low-key Christmas in Sydney (family dinner, midnight Mass, going to the beach), it was time to do some sightseeing of the surrounding Sydney area. Recommended by my relatives and in the Lonely Planet guidebook, the Blue Mountains were a sight to see. Though not really ‘mountains’ in the true geographical sense, they were nonetheless worth seeing. I wasn’t too happy with the kitch and guided tours, since I like the off-the-beaten-path kind of adventures. But in my circumstances as an independent and single traveler, booking a seat on a tour was one of the few options I had. Renting my own car would have been cost prohibitive.