Cool Blue in the mountains range!

  Katoomba, New South Wales, Australia
Monday, November 3, 2008

Hello,
 
A relaxing 2 hour Train journey from Sydney saw us arrive in the Blue Mountains Area at a place called Katoomba. After a short walk we found our Hostel the Blue Mountains YHA - Oh my God!!!! This place is amazing, it was an old 1930's Guesthouse and to this day has kept all its old charm with a huge ball room, lounging area, reading room with open fire and outdoor area including BBQ. It makes you just want to stay in and do nothing but the Blue Mountains area is renowned for it's beauty so we have as always ventured out to find it.
 

The Reading Room!

The HUGE Ball room, lounging area!

Our first night here saw us go the Edge Maxvision Cinema to see a 40 minute screening of the Edge Movie, the highlight been that it was shown on a 6 storey high screen. This puts the Warner Bros Cinema to shame and it's half the price!!!
 
Unfortunately I have been suffering terrible Jet Lag and as a result have landed myself a terrible cold. So it was time finally after 3 months on the road for some rest and relaxation. So we headed of to the local swimming pool which had a indoor and outdoor heated pool, but also a  sauna and spa..............and so 3 hours later feeling cleansed, re-energised and slightly light headed we left. Your only suppose to stay in the spa for 15 minutes not an hour and a half Oops!!!!! Feeling great we took to the hilly walk of Echo point where we had the amazing views of the Famous Three Sisters. Now they might just look like 3 rocky points but it's the dreamtime story behind them that makes them that bit more fascinating. It is believed that the Kedumba people were losing a battle against the rival Nepean people and so the Kedumba leader feared that his 3 beautiful daughters would be carried off by the enemy and so turned them into stone but he was then tragically killed before he could reverse his spell.

The Famous 3 Sisters before they became Rock!

 

The famous Three Sisters

From here we took the Giant Stairway into the Jamison Valley - 900 steps down which is fine, although my legs were shaking when I got to the bottom but the only way back up is back up all the 900 steps...........WOW!!! I've realised how unfit I truly am!!! But what an amazing experience!!  Half way back up Jamie also managed to pick up a visitor in the form of a leech on his foot - It soon left after experiencing Jamie's foot odour!!!!
 
Our third day took us to Scenic World which gives you more views of the 3 sisters and Jamison Valley but this time we went down the valley in the steepest Railway in the world at a 45 degree angle you have to hold on but its great fun. This railway was used in the 1870's when the men worked down in the mines and used it to transport the coal. The way back up saw us in a cable car which was very relaxing and again gave us some great views of the valley. I opted out of the Skyway which is the Yellow Cable Car in the pictures as the floor opens to a glass bottom across the middle of the valley. I'm still preparing myself for the Bridge Climb.........a bit at a time!!!
 
Right I think that's enough, check the pictures out they are truly stunning. Tomorrow we move onto Manly. A little shipping port on the outside of Sydney for some proper R&R!!
 
Enjoy!! Love Heather and Jamie xx