In the Mountains

On December 30^th we visited the Sydney Olympic Park and the Blue Mountains.  The Sydney Olympic Park was fun to see and I found it interesting to hear how they are still utilizing all of the facilities.   Later in the morning, we got on a bus to go to the Blue Mountains (about 1.5 hours from Sydney).  The site was amazing! 

According to Wikipedia, the Blue Mountains were originally inhabited by the Gundungurra people.  After European settlers arrived in Australia, they learned of two of the Aboriginals’ routes across the mountains.  This discovery allowed the settlers to cross through the mountains and explore the land on the other side.  The mountain range was named because of the blue haze that sometimes covers the mountains. 

When we arrived in the nearby town of Katoomba, we watched a short IMAX movie called, “The Edge.”  Then we did a hike down the mountains, which took a lot longer than we expected.  It was mostly descending stairs, many of which were very uneven and jagged.  Along the path we encountered many tourists.  People from all nationalities and age groups were taking in all of the spectacular views. 

I made numerous observations throughout the hike.   There were many different types of trees and plants, including Australia’s national flower and some of the highest trees I have ever seen.  Also, the forest was filled with the noises of the kookaburra, the bell-bird, and the sound of rushing water.  As the sound of the water came nearer, I saw my first waterfall!  It was so pretty and extremely calming after our long hike.

The Blue Mountains are a great tourist site, because of the diverse activities that are available.  People could simply stand at the upper deck and take pictures of the scenic views, or if they were more adventurous could go down and explore.  Many different trails are open, so people can choose to get some exercise while exploring the site.   Also, a train was available to get from top to bottom, for children and others who would rather not walk down the large flights of stairs.  Since the Blue Mountains are only about an hour and a half away from Sydney, they should be highly promoted so that tourists visiting Sydney can experience another attraction.   

Our program guide, Russ, told us many different facts throughout the hike.  I learned about the erosion of the mountains and the coal mining that took place there years ago.  This visit tied into the second objective of the course which was to understand Australia’s place in the global economy through its history and settlement.