Our first stop was at the Neppean river where we had tea and biscuits (formerly a colony of England, they are big on teatime here as well). The park around it made for a very pleasant stroll.
HHWWPSSP (holding hands while walking pa-sway-sway pa) baduy!
For our second stop, we explore a bit into the forest where we have our first kangaroo sighting. The kangaroos are a bit stand-offish hahahaha - they turn their backs to us while we scramble to take photos.
We go into a village where we are shown an Aboriginal engraving of a kangaroo that is nearly 200 years old - Manash says it was the Aboriginal way of indicating that there were kangaroos that could be hunted in the region nearby.
Incidentally, the word kangaroo means "I don't know" or "I don't understand you" in the Aboriginal language. There was a bit of confusion between the British linguists and the Aborigines were exchanging terms. He would point to the kangaroo asking "What's that?" and the native would say "Kangaroo" to indicate that he didn't know. I should try that in school sometime: "Miss Lee, what do you mean by Negotiable Instrument?" Me: "Kangaroo". hihihihihihihi.
our tour guide Manash
For our next stop we visit the King's Tableland - a lookout point in the Blue Mountain area that acts sort of like a book of our earth's geological history. In fact, the entirety of the Blue Mountains are not really mountains but plateaus showing a cross section of the earth's plates piled one on top of the other. Like rings inside a tree trunk, you could literally see how old our earth is by counting the lines running along the edges of the plateaus. What's amazing is, for some people this lookout is literally in their backyard. It is about a 3 minute walk from the residential area and residents can actually stop here to sit and think whenever they need quiet time.
Imagine having this view from your backyard everyday
Manash talks to us about the earth's history
Next, we visit Wentworth falls (we travel down some 500 steps to a good lookout point - so not worth it! I'm not fit!!!). After 2 puffs of asthma medication before and after the trek back up to the bus, here is the best photo that I was able to take. Hay.
During the trek up Manash managed to squeeze in botany lessons which i tuned out - i was panting too much me thinks.
but look at this cool grass tree! literally a tree of grass hehehe
For lunch, we went to this picturesque village called Leura - a charming small-town village in Katoomba. Also known as the garden village, its residents pride themselves on a variety of gardens (I wish I had photos but the bus was moving too fast) and quaint small shops.
cute dogs in Leura
rows and rows of small shops
We then went to Scenic World for a closer view of the gorge (this is similar to America's Grand Canyons) aboard a cable car, and then after on the Scenic Railway (the world's steepest rail ride - It was almost vertical!) Couldn't take photos as I was clutching for dear life.
views from the cable car
the scenic rail as it arrives
the famous 3 sisters (named so after an Aboriginal story where a father turns his 3 daughters into rocks to protect them from a witch doctor)
my mom was hilarious - she kept asking us when we would meet the 3 sisters because she wanted to talk to them. she had no idea they were rock formations hehehehe.
On our way back, we pass by the Sydney Olympic park, constructed to host the 2000 Sydney Olympics
and then we took a ferry ride to Circular Quay where we had the greatest views. I allowed myself to freeze outside to be able to take these pretty pictures.
our ferry
views from the front - Titanic moment, anyone?
on a side note, I made friends with this Chilean/French dude. I wish I had a photo, as he was somewhat cute. But I think he looked a bit like this guy:
hihihi. interesting.
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