cliff - [+ BALD and BEAUTIFUL +]

Last Day in Sydney. Pepagi lepas breakfast kitaorang dah berangkat ke BM. Around 2hrs journey, sempat arr melelapkan mata seketika, huhu.

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The Blue Mountains of New South Wales, Australia, are found approximately 48 kilometres west of Sydney. They are a range of sandstone geological structures that reach to at least 1,190 metres AHD (in the Lithgow area). The Blue Mountains are not as the name suggests a range of mountains but rather a plateau with rugged eroded gorges of up to 760 metres depth. A large part of the Blue Mountains is incorporated in the Greater Blue Mountains Area World Heritage Site and its constituent seven national parks and a conservation reserve.

The mountains were originally named by Arthur Phillip in 1788 as the Carmarthen Hills for the northern section near Sydney, and the Lansdowne Hills for the southern, however Blue Mountains quickly became preferred as the popular name. Although known by Indigenous Australians for thousands of years, the Blue Mountains were thought to be impenetrable by the early white settlers of Sydney, and were not crossed until convicts and other explorers found their way across. The most famous expedition was in 1813, by Blaxland, Wentworth and Lawson. Rather than, like earlier explorers, following the river valleys—only to discover usually that they were terminated by vertical cliffs several hundred metres high—the trio followed the ridges to reach the plateau. This 'first crossing' by Lawson, Blaxland and Wentworth is a common misconception due to various monuments claiming this to be so. Indeed the only geographical reward they received for their efforts was the naming of three hills in the Kanimbla Valley northwest of Mount York. This crossing of the Blue Mountains has traditionally been regarded as a critical step that opened the west of New South Wales to European settlement; however, modern historians point out that until about the time the mountains were first crossed there was still ample land available closer to the coast. The oft-told tale, that the Blue Mountains were a crippling barrier to colonial expansion, is largely myth.

A road crossing the mountains was built in only 27 weeks by William Cox, at the behest of Governor Lachlan Macquarie, using 30 convict labourers and 8 guards and was completed in early 1815.

Our first stop was Echo Point in Katoomba.

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Ka-toom-ba is Aboriginal for "shining falling water" and takes its name from a waterfall that drops into the Jamison Valley below the Harry's Amphitheatre escarpment. Previously, the site was known as William's Chimney and Collett's Swamp. In 1874 the locality was named The Crushers after the name of the railway station that served a nearby quarry. The name Katoomba was adopted in 1877 and the town achieved municipality status in 1889

Katoomba's main industry is tourism based on spectacular mountain scenery. The rock formation known as the Three Sisters, viewable from Echo Point about two kilometres south of the main town, is the most famous feature. Other features of the Jamison Valley visible from Echo Point include Mt Solitary and the rock formation known as the Ruined Castle. A short walk from Echo Point leads to The Giant Stairway which provides access to a number of nature walks through the Valley. Some of these are quite rugged and not recommended for inexperienced walkers. Several of the Jamison Valley tracks including the Stairway itself were closed in recent years due to maintenance, but most have since been re-opened. The section of track between the Ruined Castle and Mt Solitary is not well marked, and recommended only for experienced bushwalkers. Bushwalkers in the area will be much rewarded as the local geography includes extensive areas of dense sub-tropical rainforest, hanging swamps and a series of spectacular waterfalls (albeit with a relatively low water volume).

Other attractions include Scenic World, a tourist complex in the southwest of the town. This site is home to the steepest funicular railway in the world, the Katoomba Scenic Railway, which was originally built to facilitate coal and oil shale mining in the Jamison Valley. Scenic World also offers the Scenic Skyway cable car, which travels over an arm of the Jamison Valley and offers views of Katoomba Falls and Orphan Rock. In 2004 the original Skyway car was replaced by a new car with a liquid crystal panel floor, which abruptly becomes transparent while the car travels. In 1983 construction began at the site on a rollercoaster called the Orphan Rocker; the track was completed, but this attraction has never been opened to the public.

Katoomba is well-served by hotels and guest-houses, the oldest and most prominent of which is the Carrington Hotel, established in 1882 and occupying the highest point in town. The nearby village of Leura also features numerous well-appointed hotels and health spas and Medlow Bath boasts the grand Hydro Majestic Hotel, originally built in 1891. The busy town centre, centered on Katoomba Street, features dozens of cafes and restaurants, including the Paragon which dates the early 1900s, as well as a number of second-hand book and antique stores.

I found 2 version of the legend. One is from the Information Center at Echo Point & the other one is from internet (wikipedia)

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The Three Sisters are a famous rock formation in the Blue Mountains of New South Wales, Australia. They are close to the town of Katoomba and are one of the Blue Mountains' most famous sights, towering above the Jamison Valley. Their names are Meehni (922 m), Wimlah (918 m), and Gunnedoo (906 m).

The Sisters were formed by erosion. The soft sandstone of the Blue Mountains is easily eroded over time by wind, rain and rivers, and the cliffs surrounding the Jamison Valley are being slowly broken up. Formations like the Three Sisters are created when water seeps into small cracks in the rock, gradually enlarging them over time to form large indentations. Eventually, the Sisters will be eroded away completely.

The modern day tourism industry has created a legend that says that three sisters fell in love with three men from a neighbouring tribe, but marriage was forbidden by tribal law. Battle ensued, and the sisters were turned to stone by an elder to protect them, but he was killed in the fighting and no one else could turn them back. This legend is falsely claimed to be an Indigenous Australian Dreamtime legend.

From the nearby Echo Point, a bushwalking trail leads to the Three Sisters and down to the valley floor via a set of well-maintained steel steps. The Federal Pass is a trail leading to the base of Katoomba Falls and the Katoomba Scenic Railway.

The Blue Mountains are considered one of the most scenic and beautiful sites in Australia.

Dah abes pusing Echo Point, kitaorg g Scenic World. Kalau ikut plan asalnya, tour group kitaorg akan hiking ke bawah then naik balik ke atas via Scenic Railway. Tapi seperti selalu nya jugak la, mana la aku nak join

Aku plan nak naik semua sekali (Scenic Skyway+Scenic Railway+Scenic Walkway+Scenic cableway) so I separated myself from the group. Lagipon lebih baik try semua sebab tiket dia cuma $28 je kalau termasuk Skyway. Kalau x campur Skyway, harga dia $16 kot kalau x silap.

Sebab mostly semua orang tak nak dah spend money, so cuma kami berempat je kali ni (Me+Huong+Javier+Abd Aziz)

Kalau sayangkan anggota badan, dok dalam train tuh diam2!

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Scenic World

Float on air in the recently unveiled Skyway with its world first Electro-Sceni Glass Floor. Ride the steepest incline Railway in the world down to a lush and hidden valley. Stroll along the Walkway through towering Jurassic rainforest, and refresh both your spirit and soul! Quietly glide out of the valley aboard the Cableway, taking in the breathtaking panorama of the stunning World Heritage Listed Blue Mountains National Park. At Scenic World Blue Mountains enjoy 360° views, taking in the famous Three Sisters, the magnificent Katoomba Falls, Mt Solitary and the near endless vista of the Jamison Valley.

For more information, visit http://www.scenicworld.com.au

1st shoot=semua posing cun2 (kamera Javier), 2nd shoot=Huong kasi tanduk kat Javier (kamera Huong), 3rd shoot=Aku plak tambah tanduk utk Huong (kamera aku).

Gambar ni masa kat Scenic Walking. Nampak tak Three Sisters kat belakang tuh?

p/s: gambar dalam Cableway takde. Giler padat orang dalam tuh, nak snap pon jenuh kena mencelah. Kalau badan kurus macam si Muneera boleh arr nak sempit, kalau dah saiz triple XL macam aku ni... melongo je la tengok