Exploring Blue Mountains

Date : 15.05.2010

Place: Blue Mountains

At this time of the year winter begins to spread its chillness on Sydney and all around Australia. When the discussion came up of going out for a change the immediate thought was to visit "Blue Mountains" and feel the winter of Australia.

"The Blue Mountains" is densely populated by oil bearing eucalyptus trees.

The atmosphere is filled with finely dispersed droplets of oil, which, in combination with dust particles and water vapour, scatter short-wave length rays of light which are predominantly blue in colour.

In 1788 the Blue Mountains were originally named "Carmarthen Hills" and "Landsdowne Hills" by Governor Phillip, however, it wasn’t long after, that the distinctive blue haze surrounding the area saw the change in name to the Blue Mountains.

On 15th May 2010 hired a Mitsubhishi Outlander and started towards Blue mountains. Four of my colleagues accompanied me.

This place is a about 90 kms from my home ..a short drive of one hour along M4 and Great Western Highway..

Famous spot on these mountains is "The Three Sisters"...a row of three rock hills. The history behind these rocks can be found at http://www.cap.nsw.edu.au/bb_site_intro/specialplaces/special_places_st2/australia/the_three_sisters.htm

We went around on cable way and mine-train.

Visited the now closed coal mines of Blue Mountains.

The best part was lunch - "Hot Channa Masala" on "Cold Blue Mountains".

After lunch and short resting we walked a short trail around the Katoomba falls. The air was so fresh that we felt rejuvenated and the walk provided some movements to the body parts that were static due to zero-exercise IT work.

A copy of the Blue Mountains map.

Later in the evening started back to home..this time me driving the OUTLANDER. The drive was a good experience since it was the first time I was driving a SUV.