The magic continues as we go to new adventures in the large island called Australia. In fact, Australia has about 8000 small islands around her coastline making it a great attraction for any beach lover. The most noticable attraction I found fascinating was not the beaches but the people. They are all friendly with a great sence of humor and all seemed to speak a similar dialect. We spent one week in Sydney, one week in Brisbane, back to Sydney to cruise south to Melbourne, Tasmania before heading back to Sydney with a stop at Wollongong. What a trip! I started writing this blog while we travel through calm seas to Wollongong. I put this trip in chronicle order by weeks. This is the first week.
We met two Australian couples on our Hawaiian journey that are now forever connected with us as friends. It is amazing how God works to connect his people. Just a breif encounter to offer a group picture turned into a wonderful friendship. We exchanged emails and planned a meeting in Sydney. A few days later, we found ourselves planning a week end together outside Sydney to the blue mountains to the west and south to Gymea. Before I get ahead of myself, let me share the beautiful sites of Sydney.
We saw “My Fair Lady” at the iconic Sydney Opera House and toured Bondi beach on our first full day. Our second day was a climb up to the equally iconic Harbor Bridge which took about 3 hours but the narrative and scenic view was well worth the climb. Our 3rd day was spent on a ferry to Manly beach. Great place to shop! We finished with more shopping around the Rocks and a nice meal in the sky tower restaurant. The next day we walked more around the Rocks and in Hyde Park, spent a great time at an Asian Noodle Festival finishing our 4th day hanging out. The adventures continue with our new friends.
The Blue Mountains are called blue because of the vast eucalyptus trees that are very toxic and when together in mass, cause the blue affect from a distance. It is amazing how these trees are the Koula staple diet. They will eat 5 kilos or about 10 pounds of its leaves daily. Their digestive system is so complicated and takes most of their energy to break down the toxins. No wander they sleep 20 out of a 24 hour day! Our new friends picked us up on the 5th day in Sydney and drove us to the Hydro Majestic Hotel founded in 1904. It is an Icon of Australia located atop an escarpment in the blue mountains. It was built by a retailing magnate named Mark Foy as a lavish hydropathic establishment for the wealthy and influential of the period. He believed in the miracles of water to cure along with the pure air of the mountains. Interesting to note that the hotel was opened on the 4th of July, 1904. The extravagant sanatorium lost its fashion shortly after construction but the Hydro Majestic Hotel remains a beautiful site to see.
We then went to ride a very steep railroad incline originally for cole mining now for site seeing of the three sister mountains, falls and bush walks. We met up with the second couple later that evening for a wonderful blessed meal.
On our 6th day, we had breakfast and walk around the beach near Gymea and a lovely drive out towards Wollongong to see more beaches and cliffs. People actually hang glide off these cliffs! We had a great picnic along the Hacking river. Did you know that a Kookabura is a very tricky bird? He flew down and took one of our freshly cooked sausages. Cheeky bird!
We left our friends with sadness that we were departing but gladness that we now have new friends forever. May God grant them peace and joy. Thanks for such a great time!
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