Update #23. Blue Mountains/Scenic World/Blackheath

We were at Scenic World when the door opened.  Scenic World features 3 different rides down & over the mountains...the quickest way to "see it all."  Our first ride was in a skyway car that glided 270m between cliff tops above the Jamison Valley.  What a view...it would have been if we weren't in a thick cloud...so glad we got there so early!  Not to be discouraged, we climbed aboard the railway which at a 52 degree incline quickly had us down to the bottom.  There we walked the boardwalks that twisted & turned through the ancient forest while signs told us what we were seeing. So many different types of trees & evidence of past natural & manmade influence on their growth.   For 15 years this area was mined for coal...which is how the whole Scenic World vision began...on the coal bin tracks.  We took a cableway up 545m back to the base for lunch.  Now with a clear sky, we got back on the skyway car and this time the valley way, way, way below was crystal clear!  Back in our car, we headed for Blackheath...still in the Blue Mountains and still loving the various hues of blue that covers this entire area.  Rog and I toured the Blue Ridge Mountains in USA on our honeymoon (spending a whole lot less) so memories are popping up.  The blue here is much more pronounced because the oil that the Eucalyptus tree gives off. We spent about 10 hours today traveling the backroads pulling off often and searching for animals & we found them:  lyre birds, 3-4' iguana like creature, cockatoo, kookaburras and lots of hopping, happy kangaroos!!  What a riot to watch them!  We drove from the top of cliffs to the valleys below where the land was pastured & only a few towns...on curvy, narrow, and steep roads...sometimes feet away from the edge of cliffs.   Rog drove slowwwwly and carefullllly....and I just got to enjoy it!!  

Update #22. Katoomba/ Blue Mountains/Aboriginal Centre

Woke up early to get take in the morning views of the vast and breathtaking Blue Mountains...the vertical sandstone cliffs reaching the sky and the endless valley crowded with vegetation, rainforest area and the largest eucalyptus tree forest in the world...so many Gum Trees (their nickname)....no wonder the koala & kookaburra...and now us...love it here!!    And truly blue!  Slowly driving the Blue Mountain Drive , we stopped at every pull over to be awed over and over.  In the heat of the day, we went to the Waradah Aboriginal Centre. Members of the Gundungarra group performed for us beginning with their smoking ceremony.  A brief history of the area, introduction of some of the many groups & their languages as well as an explanation of their body paintings gave us a good background making the skits/dances much more meaningful.  A reenactment of the story told of how the didgeridoo was found was especially interesting...the sounds he could make to imitate animals & nature were great.  History:  At one time, most of Australia was home to about 250 family clans...each with their own language & customs.  For over 20,000 years (some think 30,000) they lived peacefully together.  No you or me...only us.  No mine or yours...only ours.  And the bush was cared for and was relatively  in pristine condition.  When the Europeans arrived about 200 years ago, things changed drastically and quickly...the ways of the Aboriginals ended as their land was taken away.  Sadly the same story repeated in so much of our world.  The good news is a revival of their culture and a recognition of their rights...and the Aborigines are showcasing their culture and making $$ doing it!  We wandered around some more before ending the day watching the sun set...in the SW...over the Blue Mountains...the blues, yellows, oranges, pinks painting a masterpiece before our eyes. 

Update #21 Featherdale Wildlife Park

We left the big town of Sydney behind...and headed to the country...in a rental car...driving on the "wrong side"...and Rog with white knuckles!!  First stop was the Featherdale Wildlife Park--home to lots of Australian native animals.  The park is uniquely designed so many of the animals can roam as they please with certain areas marked Animal Refuge area.  So we got up close and personal with the koalas,  kangaroos, wallabies and lots of birds & ducks.  Other animals were caged in very natural settings:  squirrel bats, emu, echidna, blue penguins, dingo, Tasmanian Devil, wombats, lyre birds, kookaburras, many species of cockatoos & owls & parrots...and lots more.  The staff was busy feeding the animals, giving them meds, and lots of TLC.  They obviously loved their jobs!  We spent most the day being entertained by all the animals' antics.  Finally around 5, we went looking for Katoomba and our beds for the night.