As I write this I'm cosied up in the Blue Mountains YHA hostel in Katoomba. I've spend today on a tour (the first of many, no doubt) through the Blue Mountains National park, to Wentworth Falls, down the Furber steps, and then back up the world's steepest funicular (funny-colour!) railway. It's been up and down, down and up all day -- and given the rain, I've been particularly grateful for my new hiking boots (they're waterproof!). Though they don't look so new anymore, covered in mud as they are.
Up until today I was still bumming around Sydney. I was determined not to worry about what I'd do until I got here and then found myself overwhelmed by choices of things to do and ways to do them. Finally I just had to bite the bullet, and so started off small with this trip to the Blue Mountains. I'm back to Sydney tomorrow, just for the night, before flying out bright and surly Friday morning for Hobart. And once there, I'll figure out how to get to Devonport on the other side of the island so I can take the ferry back to Melbourne. Just because I want to take the boat.
Back in Sydney, I met another lone traveller, Danielle, who happened to be in my dorm, so we wandered around for a couple of days, keeping each other company to the Sydney Aquarium (the dugongs were disappointing, the platypus absurdly cute), and just wandering around the city. After doing so much of that alone, it was nice to have someone to talk with for a little.
The Blue Mountains get their name from the blue haze that hovers over them on sunny days as the eucalyptus oils that the tress let off react with the sunlight. Despite the rain, it was rather lovely, and Katoomba is a cute little town. I met up with two English guys on the tour who were also staying the night, so instead of eating alone, we all went down the pub (in true English style). The following day was sunny and bright, and having a day to wander around, I explored the High Street, which was pretty much that and not much else, watched the parrots in the trees for a while (I'm still not used to flocks of wild parrots flying around), then walked the Prince Henry Cliff Top trail, and actually got to see the Three Sisters, not just their shadowy outlines through the clouds and fog. I made it back to meet my bus back to Sydney just before the rain came back in, and back to Sydney to pack for Tassie tomorrow.
The Blue Mountains get their name from the blue haze that hovers over them on sunny days as the eucalyptus oils that the tress let off react with the sunlight. Despite the rain, it was rather lovely, and Katoomba is a cute little town. I met up with two English guys on the tour who were also staying the night, so instead of eating alone, we all went down the pub (in true English style). The following day was sunny and bright, and having a day to wander around, I explored the High Street, which was pretty much that and not much else, watched the parrots in the trees for a while (I'm still not used to flocks of wild parrots flying around), then walked the Prince Henry Cliff Top trail, and actually got to see the Three Sisters, not just their shadowy outlines through the clouds and fog. I made it back to meet my bus back to Sydney just before the rain came back in, and back to Sydney to pack for Tassie tomorrow.
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| Blue Mountains |
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