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Published: January 23rd 2009
Fattest pigeon ever seen
No other reason he is here...just fattest pigeon I have ever seen!3/1/09 = Goodbye Sydney...Hello Blue Mountains.
Alarm sounded at 6:10. Slid out of bed and into outfit laid out night before, which just so happens to be same outfit wore yesterday anyway = v.conveniant, except underwear that is...that would not be cool! Rolled up sheets in one quick manouver, zipped bag tight and slipped out of room (still trying to be stealth here...in case you didn't guess). Had to go back into room to collect other bits, like extra bag and cups, and someone was stirring in room; slipped into shadows so they didn't see me, then left room for last time. Hurried down corridor to post key and cups for Hat (so she could get deposits back), then walked swiftly out of hostel like someone who had never stayed there. All done by 6:30am and even got a wash in there too! Wow...I may be the next 007. Stealthness ended there though, bumbled into corner shop with all bags hanging round neck and collapsed in front of a computer to try and catch up on blog, which was ridiculously behind and still is = one bad thing about christmas and new year, but you can't put a price on
fun. Sat on computer typing away until Hat came down at 8, which had been our arrangement from night before. She checked out, got both our deposits back and then we went on our merry little way, both of us shattered and not interested in the 20min walk we had to do with all of our bags!
Had to trek to Kings Cross train station (rucksack = pain....suitcase on wheels = a dream!) to get a train to central ydney and then another train to Blue Mountains. Really looking forward to getting to mountains an chilling out....had already re-named it the Yoga Retreat. Before getting train to mountains, went into greyhound shop to ask about coach tickets. Guy on counter told us that all coaches were really full because everyone trying to escape Sydney after new year, so would have to book quickly if wanted to get out. Tickets were cheaper with a YHA card, so purchased one of them (which managed to get cheaper because lady presumed I was 23 after Hat said she was 23...brilliant!) and then got greyhound ticket to take us all way from Sydney to Airlie Beach: $260. Provisionally booked first stop on ticket
Great Blue Mountains
Not Blue, but still lovely. as Coffs Harbour, as hadn't found anywhere to stay in Port Macquarie yet, but knew could always change it later. Minr detail missed out here in that before purchased tickets, got a fry up from cafe next door. Full english breakfast went down a treat and was really nice to chill, until Hat tried to sneak a free coffee and nearly got us kicked out....tut tut!
Went to catch train to Blue Mountains then, feeling lot better that had sorted some transport out and would not be stuck in Sydney, although did still have to sort out accomodation. Train to Blue mountains took a few hours; chatted for a while, listened to music for a while and best of all, had a snooze for a while 😊. When got off train, did short walk to hostel (although actually did double distance needed to because walkedweong way!), not at all looking forward to staying there because owned by same man as Boomerangs was. Pleasant suprise when arrived. Had loevely big lobby like a hotel, lot cleaner and felt lot calmer....yeh....yoga retreat! an didn't have a key for us at first, but by time plonked bags doan and got settled in
room, he had one made. Didn't really know much about Blue Mountains (apart from mountain part that is) so went to get some info about things could do and see in area. Asked about walks and the cave trip to Jenolan Caves and were also really interested in the abseiling and canyonning that they did. Didn't have enough time to do everything, so while ruminating on it all, had a walk down to Three Sisters viewpoint. Had to walk through town to get there and was such a cute town. Never seen as many cafes and book shops all in one area. Really is the place of the Yoga Retreat. Looked in a few shops, but then carried on journey.
Walk to Three Sisters was a lot longer than originally thought and not really enjoyable because we were both so shattered. Discovered an ice cream shop en route though, which definitely eased the pain and kept us going a little longer. Also made some decisions about what were going to do. Decided to do a day trip round Jenolan Caves and a day at mountains because they = 2 things that can't do anywhere else. Hopefully will be able
to do canyonning in New Zealand (had never heard of it before, but sounds really good). Arriving at viewpoint made pain of walk worthwhile. Was a funny arrival, because wlked to end of a normal, residential street and all of a suddedn mountains were there. Mountains looked amazing. Was a cold day and a haze of fog had settled across mountains; looked quite eeire and magical. Three Sisters were really good too. Can see why they are listed. Loads of walks can do around mountains, but neither of us could face them...couldn't even face walk home. Forced ourselves though, because needed to go to supermarket too. V.arduous journey and literally painful on feet. Flippers = not good for long distance walking!
Arriving at supermarket was really nice. Went all out and decided to make a chicken curry for tea; theres only so much pasta a person can eat! Leaving supermarket was not nice. Big, steep hill to get home and nearly finished us both off. By time got back to hostel, looked like we had run 3 marathons back to back. Only thing that kept us alive, was thought of lovely chicken curry...wow...been a long time since I've had
The Sisters and us ruining it
Well not so much Hat...but I look shocking. chicken! Got straight in queue to make dinner (kitchen not good here - 1 hob area for alot of people). Cooking was a v.stressful affair, involving a few elbows and a bit of ducking and diving into small gaps (which at my height, is a bit of forte!) But the finished result made all the stress worthwhile. Tasted like the best meal of my life. Sat like beach whales on sofa for a while, but were so tired, couldn't even face watching TV. Went straight up to bed and straight to sleep. Was so quiet and peaceful in rooms and swear I could hear calming of birds singing even though it was night time. Really is the perfect retreat here after mayhem of Sydney!
4/1/09 = The Jenolan Caves
*WARNING: Get ready for lots of cave pictures*
Got up at 8, ready to do cave trip at 9:30. Showered, dressed, breakfasted and made our packed lunches (Hat big into packed lunches...especially bread...can see that stone sliding back on already!) Then went to shop to pay for trip and got on coach 10mins later. Had decided to see just 1 cave = Lucas Cave. Lady in shop
had told us that one cave in a day was enough - good advice! Was a 2hr journey to caves with a rather odd coach driver who gave some....interesting...commentry. Decided to listen to music instead. Cool that on way, we got to stop at some mountain waterfalls. Shame that weather had been so dry that waterfalls were more like a trickle, although that was kind of interesting to see too. Got to caves at 11:15 and hurried off for our tour that started at 11:30. Was a really big group of us and Hat wanted to go at back so weren't rushed around, so we did.
Caves were pretty amazing. Never been down a proper cave before and was really interesting and actually beautiful in it's own wierd way. Learnt difference between stalagtites and stalagmites (although didn't learn spelling) and saw some amazing examples of both. Cave had been shaped and formed into some awesome shapes and was a brilliant experience to walk through. Special lighting had been put in to add to effect and one chamber was particularaly good. Had different types and colours of lights that lit up each part of cave in turn and all this
was done to music. Guide told us that this particular chamber was used for weddings, church services and even concerts. Pretty cool. She also told us about original discovery of caves, which involved people riding on potatoe sacks down mountain fronts, holding candles in mouths and aiming for gaps they could see in mounatin... beautiful cave, but not sure I'd do that for it! Amazingly, no-one died in process!
Saw some really good things from there on in. Saw the formation process of stalagtites, with water dripping through roof of cave, mixing with the limestone and dripping to form new crystals (not of the jewellery variety). The new crystals were really sparkly and shiny and looked beautiful. Also saw stalagtites that were shaped to look like things, inlcuding some church organs and a pair of curtains, then stalagmites that looked like a rhino and a jellyfish. Tour finished at 1pm and lady from shop was right, we were all caved out. Some people rushed straight into next cave tour whereas we went off to eat our lunch (got to use a cool tiolet that was built into cave). Were staying at caves until 3:30 = when next cave tour
ended, so went to sit next to lake and eat our lunch. Just trying to find a good spot when a big lizard ran out in front of us. Jumped a mile. Read sign next to lake and said that lizards (=water dragons) and snakes were common round lake...soon stopped us searching and headed straight back to first spot we had found. Sat on bench overlooking lake, but spent more time looking over shoulder for snakes!
Lake was beautiful; v.clear water. Supposed to be porpoises living in it, but didn't manage to see any. Had our sandwiches, then were big, brave girls and went for a walk round lake! Kept eyes on ground mind! Was a nice walk and finished up back in entrance of cave again. Went for a look round shops in remaining time, resisted temptation of ice cream (well done me😊 ), then made a couple of phone calls to book some accomodation for new few days. Were really lucky that managed to find places to stay in Port Macquarie and Coffs Harbour = 2 places had wanted to stop off in. Was 3:15 then and time to get back on bs for journey home. Read
paper and listened to music all the way; didn't even have a nap. Got back into Katoomba at 5:30, went to supermarket and got healthy ingrediants for a healthy vegetable stir fry (+sandwich things for tomorrow...ha!). Walked up killer hill back to hostel, got comfy clothes on and were ready to chill out in Yoga Retreat again. Made our dinner (bit stressful again) and was really suprised at how much enjoyed just rice and veg...maybe could be a vegetarian afterall.....oh no....let's not be too rash! Played a few cards after dinner, had a cup of tea (lovely...just missing a biscuit), sorted greyhound bus change on internet and then headed up to bed. Love you Yoga Retreat x
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Shaun
non-member comment
Great! I'm loving all the updates in the last few days. I've read so much of your posts that I find myself starting to talk very 'English' for a few minutes after! Thanks for the fun!