Blue Mountains

Hi crew,

So today was another early day.. Headed out to the Blue Mountains and did a 3 hour and a 1 1/2 hour hike.. now these we not slow gradual inclines and declines.. they were steeeeep.. my knees really love that .. not. There were 901 steps on the second decent and it felt like just as many in the first one (though there wasn't).. and then we took a trolley train up the "steepest train incline in the world"! I bet it was 45 degrees steep or even more!

So the Mountains are not like the Rockies, they are green and full of trees.. there is a rain forest there and lots of waterfalls, but because of the season they are not free flowing, mostly sprays of water. It really was beautiful and if you take out the hikes, very relaxing! A person could spend days there rock climbing, going caverning, horseback riding.. a ton of things.. a good vacation spot.

So the highlight was the views, really all over.. But the Three Sisters was pretty cool and there is an Aboriginal story as to how they were formed. In a nutshell an Aboriginal man was told by his wife to care for the three girls for the day. He wanted to hunt, so he had they go to the ledge of the mountain to play while he went into the valley to hunt. He was a witch doctor with his magical kangaroo bone... so he left the girls to play while he hunted in the valley. The girls were fooling around and accidentally threw a rock over the edge that hit a Yeti like animal... the Yeti got upset and decided they were good prey to eat, so he started climbing the mountain to get them. the father saw this and tried and tried and tried to freeze to Yeti with his witch craft, but it wasn't working, so in a last effort he turned his three daughters into stone... then the Yeti went after him, because the girls were not edible anymore... After a chance and in a last chance effort to save his life he turned himself into a bird. The Yeti left him alone when he escaped through a small hole. When the father went back to find his magic bone to turn everyone back to human, it was gone. Now he searched the valley floor looking for it...

something like that anyway.. I forget the name of the bird..

We had a very good guide, but it was a tiring day.. so I must go pack for I depart Sydney at 6:30 tomorrow morning.. again... ugg...

I will likely be out of touch for a few days, so will write when i can..

Later..

I got some photos on the facebook page.. but will keep trying here on another day, today was unsuccessful as well.. I'll get it eventually..

photos?

I'll just try to do photos here now..

nope not working.. I'll try later..

Scuba Scuba Scuba

So, I survived! There were really a couple of times I thought I was going to breath in and swallow all the ocean water and die, but I had a fantastic instructor and he was very good to let me live! Really, breathing underwater is not natural except for fish and babies, so it was rather an experience I am not too sure I love yet... but they say it gets better and more exciting with each dive.

So some highlights for you.: There originally were three instructors with two students each, but even before we started one instructor hurt his back, so we split into two groups of three.. there was an American (who has been living here for a few months and plans on staying) and four Aussies, all having their own reasons for taking the course. It was an enjoyable group and I did LOVE the small class sizes.. We say a couple of groups with 16 students to one instructor.. and to be honest, if that was my group I don't think I would have come back on the second day... seriously scary.. you know when you are scared to start with and having to just sit and wait for your turn to learn and fell comfortable.

So the first day, we were in the pool for like 3 1/2 hours learning the basics and getting used to the equipment and stuff.. then after lunch we did our first Open Water Dive. It was at Bare Island (which they tell me is where Impossible II was filmed, so I have to believe them.. ) It was interesting and I was thankful we didn't have to do any skill work at that point as I was sooooooo concentrating on breathing under water and getting over that feeling.. It was not a positive pressure situation, so there were moments you didn't have air being forced at you... still getting used to that! So we saw a huge Blue Groper (like seriously 2 1/2 feet big!!), a baby shark, and tons of other fishes and under water things... but seriously I was just trying to breath, so it wasn't too enjoyable. But again, I survived. I think we went like 8 metres deep for 40 minutes.

So today we went out to Cronulla and dove in Oak Park, where they call "the steps"... We did three dives there. All to different depths (8-10 metres) for about 45 minutes each dive. I got to see a sting ray, pretty darn close and another Blue Groper followed us for most of the day.. We had skills to do with each dive and I really concentrated on breathing with my mouth and not my nose and got a lot more comfortable with each dive. I feel much more prepared though to take on the under water world.

As I was swimming with the fishes, it dawned on me that I was also swimming with their feces.. lovely, I say!

So at the end of the day we all passed and got lovely certificates and I will get a fancy certification card to carry around! ( I tired for 20 minutes to upload some photos.. didn't work..)

That was the last two days in a nut shell. Tomorrow I am off to the Blue Mountains and with aching calves and a very tired head I will do a three hour hike in what promises to be some of the most beautiful scenery in the world. Carl (my instructor) promises my head will not explode (going from 10 meters below sea level to 250 meters plus above sea level)! That is a good thing!

Thanks for keeping in touch.. til next time....

checking in

Hey all
Just checking in to say I survived Day one of scuba... I'll post a couple of pictures and write a good entry tomorrow.. Tonight I am tooooo bushed...
BTW- it was a beautiful shiny 25 degree day!

Day 2 - Sydney

Today was a rather non-interesting day, but still was enjoyable.. I jumped on a hop on hop off City bus at about 11:00 AM and hopped off at the Maritime museum at 11:20 AM... then toured around there looking at the history of Sydney and Australia and for different ships- a destroyer, a submarine, a replica of the Endeavor (Captain Cook's ship) and a tall ship.. each were neat in their own way... the only issue is that this took me until 3:30 PM and I missed the opportunity to tour the Sydney Opera house... on my next way through I guess. I am actually going to see if I can catch a show there.. that would be neat!

So after I hopped back on the bus I cruised around touring the rest of the City and down to Bondi beach until 7:00 PM.. then I grabbed a bite to eat and am now studying for my scuba course tomorrow.. wish me luck!

the weather threatened rain all day, so it was rather muggy, but it stayed away until I was eating, so that was good.. now it seems to have stopped, but it is still windy...

Thanks Claudette and Rick for your comments! I obviously wasn't paying attention before, but see it now.. and funny enough I just about packed exactly what you said.. It is actually my toiletry bag that weighs more than my clothes! BTW- is climbing the Harbour Bridge worth the 150 odd dollars? I could do that when I come back through, if it is..

K people, don't worry about me if you don't hear for the next couple of days.. I have to get up at the ungodly hour of 6 AM (who says that is even allowed on holidays????) to do this scuba course and then a tour to the Blue Mountains on Monday... after that I finally leave Sydney (which really is like any other city with sirens and beggars and tall buildings and such.. I even got to see a guy get arrested and have heard about a hundred different kinds of sirens). I look forward to getting out of here and seeing what else is out there....

Yes Claudette I will be in Brisbane for 3 days. I too have a friend there.. I should call her to see if she will be around.. hmmm...

Take care all. I hope the weather warms for you soon...

OH yeah, Dix, you may love it here... Thai restaurants EVERYWHERE, and BTW- I don't think I have been served by an Australian yet!

I'll try to post a few pics, but it wasn't doing so well on facebook...

I have arrived!

So after an incredibly long day and uncomfortable flight I have made it to Sydney and am enjoying the 28 degree weather and the thrill of wearing shorts. (Thank god I fake and baked, I really don't stick out too much, at least I don't think so!)

So the 4th was a long day. Flew on the same plane as Kirt McLean to Los Angeles! After 3 hours I finally got up the nerve to ask him for his autograph, and he was soooo nice. I think if I wasn't scooting off to San Francisco for lunch he was going to invite me to golf with he and his buddies!! (I can dream!)

The San Fran detour went without a hitch and I even got to leave an hour earlier, but then spent 20 minutes looking for Ed, but It was a lovey lunch with he and his gal and a quick tour of the area (driving past Robin Williams house, who Ed says is just an ordinary guy if you see him in the neighbourhood). SF is as pretty as I remember, though way too much traffic.

The flight to Sydney left late and therefore we arrived late. I waited VERY patiently to see if I could get a window seat and it paid off, thanks God as my original seat was plumb in the middle of the plane, yuck... then I almost had a spare seat next to me which would have been a dream, but some stupid kid HAD to sit by his stupid buddy!

I watched Juno and I am Legend on the plane and did get some rest so that was good.

After arriving in Sydney, there was a conspiracy to not let us leave for hours and make us stand and haul our luggage into long line ups to wait only to be freed just before they start searching my bag (Which was done somewhere along the line, because my Winnie the Pooh lock is gone and my zippers were open... sad ) Anyway after an hour and a half and a $30 cab ride I made it to the hostel, where I was told I couldn't check in until 1:00... so I went and organized my Bus tour (some changes to the itinerary I had from suggestions from the Aussie guy helping me out).. so It is a little different, but I am basically still hitting spots I want to...

I should really touch base with Nigel and Carlene... but right now my brain is numb... and I am seriously thinking about going to the observatory... wouldn't that be neat to see the upside down sky up close and personal!

I spent the day walking down and around the Harbour/ Circular Quay.. then went up to the Sydney Tower for a 360 look of the city and area.... wow... much like the CN tower... and i had major de ja vu so i guess I am where I am supposed to be...

So now I have to run, so I don't have to pay another $2 and there is a band or something at the hostel, so I should check that out and try to be social!

Thank you everyone for your support. I will do my best t keep you up dated!

Goodbye Canada

So this will be my last post from Canada... Leave bright and early tomorrow morning... a long day ahead of me then... 3 hours to LA, then to San Francisco for lunch, then back to LA for the 14.5 hour flight to Sydney! Getting excited.... yup I am!

Got a reminder from the PADI scuba company that my course starts in 4 days, so I hope to God that I don't catch a cold in the next few days. Can't do scuba with a cold... equalization and all.. fingers crossed.

Had a mani and a pedi yesterday to prepare for the nakedness of my feet.. they are now good to go....

That is it for now. catch you all on the other side!

Shari