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The Blue Mountains, Australia - 24th November 2007
By: becka_kate
Today Bec decided to take us to see the Blue Mountains. You know how much I like going up mountains 'to see what I can see'? So I was pretty excited! I was told that the Blue Mountains are pretty spectacular for sight seeing, what with The Three Sisters, the beautiful valleys and the rain forest, so I just couldn't wait to get in the car and get on our way.
We had to make one stop though. It was Election Day today so we had to go to the local polling booth first to vote for a new federal government. I can't tell you who Bec voted for, but let's just say she wasn't happy with the incumbent!
After she'd waited in a very long queue in sprinkling rain we set off. The weather got a little bit better as we made our way up the expressway and we were pretty happy about that. It hadn't looked too hopeful there for a while. Then, as we got closer and closer to the Mountains I started to get a bit concerned. There were lots of clouds and it started to sprinkle. Not enough for wind screen wipers..... then, horror!! The further up the mountain we got, the mistier it got and it became harder and harder to see anything. By the time we got to our destination, Echo Point where we would see the famous Three Sisters, just look at what we saw:
Nothing!!!! The cloud cover was that dense that Bec was joking that never mind getting lost, she better be careful not to drive of the cliff!
Here is a link to an image of what we should have seen: The Three Sisters
After that disappointment I wasn't sure I wanted to keep investigating the area, but I was told I couldn't give up, so we drove for a little bit more with the hopes the cloud might lift a bit later and we could come back.
Next we found Hilda's Lookout. The view was still pretty shocking and we got a bit damp. I suppose that makes sense seeing as we were standing in a cloud!
Our next stop was at Scenic World. Scenic World is the home of the Scenic Railway (which is the steepest incline Railway in the world), the Scenic Cable Car and the Scenic Skyway that either carry you down into the Jamison Valley or across it. Once again this poor bear must report that he went up the mountain and saw next to nothing!
The website says this is what I should have seen: Scenic World photos which all looks very beautiful, wouldn't you agree?
This is what I saw:
This is the cable car - we rode down into the valley. The Scenic Cable Car is the steepest aerial cable car in Australia! It takes you on a 545 metre ride into (or out of) the World Heritage Listed rain forest of the Jamison Valley.
Once we rode the Cable Car down into the valley, things improved slightly. It was very beautiful on the bottom of the rain forest.
Sadly they didn't have a Russian welcome sign. Good thing I'm a multi-lingual bear!!
I thought this was a very good question for today!
And here I am in the beautiful rain forest. Isn't it amazing??
This is outside the Scenic World exit:
These represent the legend behind the Three Sisters rock formation that we wanted to see from Echo Point.
This is the legend:
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Long ago in the Blue Mountains there lived three little Aboriginal sisters. They were Meenhi, Wimlah and Gunnedoo, whose Witch Doctor father was called Tyawan.
Only one creature was feared by all – the Bunyip who lived in a deep hole. When Tyawan had to pass the hole, he would leave his daughters safely on the cliff behind a rocky wall. One day, waving goodbye to his daughters, he descended the cliff steps. On top of the cliff a big centipede suddenly appeared and frightened Meehni, who threw a stone at it. The stone rolled over the cliff and crashed into the valley.
Birds, animals and fairies stopped till as the rocks behind the three sisters split open, leaving them on a thin ledge.
The Three Sisters
The angry Bunyip emerged to see the terrified sisters. In the valley, Tyawan saw the Bunyip close to his daughters, so he pointed his magic bone at the girls and turned them to stone. The Bunyip then chased Tyawan, who found himself trapped, so he changed himself into a Lyre Bird. Everyone was safe, but Tyawan had dropped his magic bone. After the Bunyip had gone, Tyawan searched and searched for his bone – and he is still searching.
The Three Sisters stand silently watching him from their ledge, hoping he will find the bone to turn them back to Aboriginal girls.
As you look at the Three Sisters, you can hear Tyawan – the Lyre Bird – calling his daughters as his search for the lost bone continues.
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Before heading home we checked out Echo Point one more time, but if anything visibility was worse!
Oh well, the bear in the song only got to see the other side of the mountain, so I guess I can't complain too much!
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Posted Nov 24, 2007, 9:37 am
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Alpnach , Switzerland - 5th January 2008
By: annbear
Hello!!
Here I am in Switzerland, a bit chilly after Australia but I´m sure I´ll soon warm up!!
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Posted Jan 5, 2008, 12:15 pm
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Alpnach, Switzerland - 31st January 2008
By: annbear
Hello,
So here I am giving Annbear a postcard of Australia to add to her postcrossing collection. If you like getting nice cards, try out www.postcrossing.com. It´s cool!
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Posted Jan 31, 2008, 12:06 pm
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Alpnach, Switzerland - 3rd February 2008
By: annbear
Well I´m settling in nicely and thought I would check out the local area - view from the balcony, that sort of thing. Very nice!! I like it here but I want to get closer to those mountains
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Posted Feb 3, 2008, 2:55 pm
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Saas Fee, Switzerland - 4th March 2008
By: annbear
I was invited along on Annbear´s birthday skiing trip which was very exciting. Mountains are great!
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Posted Mar 4, 2008, 9:55 am
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Saas Fee, Switzerland - 4th March 2008
By: annbear
We had such an exhausting day whizzing down black runs and having fun that I decided to have an early night. It´s tiring all this travelling you know!
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Posted Mar 4, 2008, 9:58 am
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Saas Fee, Switzerland - 4th March 2008
By: annbear
But when I woke up, someone else was in my bed!!!
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Posted Mar 4, 2008, 10:42 pm
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Saas Fee, Switzerland - 4th March 2008
By: annbear
This was the view in the morning - pretty impressive I think you´ll agree!!
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Posted Mar 4, 2008, 10:44 pm
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Zheleznodorozhny, Russia - 4th April 2008
By: kristl
Can you imagine??
When I got out of my envy I saw Kristl smiling at me and understand that I'm ... HOME!
That was a surprise!! I thought I was travelling to Scotland
But I'm happy to spend a week at home where I haven't been for a haft of year
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Posted Apr 8, 2008, 5:34 pm
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