The Iconic Blue Mountains

After enduring a stretch of damp & drizzly mornings, we were fortunate that our day to The Blue Mountains turned out to be promisingly sunny so we could extract most of the beautiful weather. The iconic tourist attraction of the scenic world situated on the east of New South Wales, an hour long drive from Sydney is a must-visit.

Before we hopped into the luxury bus that arrived at quarter past 7 in the morning, we were briefed about the day's agenda alongwith a fairly small group of not more than 20 travellers. Our bus driver and tourist escort Mr.Jed welcomed us on board with a beaming smile, a bottle of still water and a bar of real milk chocolate. The tall, athletically built, enthusiastic young man probably in his early forties had a bright clean- shaven face.His broad forehead lined with blond hair shone in the daylight, while he talked fluent English in a sharp Australian accent. As brisk as a flea, he wore a powder blue shirt teamed with a comfortable pair of baggy blue jeans and white sneakers.
Jed's contagious energy filled the coach with uplifting vibes gearing us to stay alert and attentive. Quick- witted, benevolent and eloquent, he commenced with a valid introduction offering necessary guidelines & filling in important details to maiximize the day, making sure nothing goes amiss along our journey to the final destination.

Shortly, we were out of the city limits blanketed by fresh air, surrounded by sights of lush green meadows, attractive flowers oscillating from the branches of trees, sounds of flowing rivers & chirping of the colorful birds that added to the pleasantness of our road trip. Jed invested in educating us about every important landmark that passed by, driving his group smoothly and safely throughout.

Australia, known for its unique flora & fauna, white sand beaches and unique landscapes makes it one of the most sought- after holiday haunts for travel lovers around the world. We were informed that the country down under is home to 1/8th of the variety of birds in the world. Awestruck by nature's creativity we kept our eyes peeled to witness some of the rarest species. A coffee break was much needed before we encountered & fed a large number of Kangaroos, wallabies and wombats. Spending time with the cutest and friendliest Koalas was both a joyful & novel experience. Although assisted, they were compliant about posing for photographs and did not object to us patting them either.Time flew here and we were back to our seats on the passenger vehicle.
It was time to take a halt at Leura village- a pretty little town with interesting cafes & cosy restaurants.
While merrily strolling through the vibrant streets, we felt the distinct character of this place evoking an old world charm making us feel warm and homely. We grabbed the popular batter- fried fish and chips with salad for lunch before we jumped back into the motor bus to proceed.
 
Not very long from then we reached the final part of our excursion. Thrilling rides on the world's steepest train was included in the package offered. Phobic to heights, I still mustered all the courage I could to experience something I may never again. 

'The Three sisters' at The Blue Mountains is nothing short of a magical view. The natural rock formation stands out significantly to take one's breath away. This dramatic scenery encompasses the steep cliffs, eucalyptus forests and small villages dotted with gardens and galleries.
Interestingly, the abounding  eucalyptus trees give a blue haze, hence the name given to these mountains. We spent sometime here until we were directed to head back to the coach.

Apart from this we exchanged information and learned a lot more, making it a wholesome and an eventful day.
The ride back didn't feel exhausting at all because we were taking back with us smiles and fond memories to cherish forever. 






Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Punjab in the❤️of South India

Born to a Punjabi family, I happen to be raised and bred in South India owing to the incidental settlement of my previous generation that originally hailed from Pakistan. After the partition in 1947, my father all of two years of age was brought to this side of the border by his single mother along with his siblings, out of which a few relocated to Madras (now known as Chennai) for reasons better known to them. While some of my paternal uncles and aunts stayed back to settle in the north and grew families in a typical Punjabi environment, we in comparison had an upbringing exposed to South Indian tradition, festivals, food, clothing, language and the like.We were obviously influenced by both our friends and teachers at school besides being surrounded by a South Indian ambience due to our neighbourhood at home. For my mother, who moved from Delhi to Chennai after she married my father, it was rather demanding of her to adapt to such an extreme culture disparity. Initially, more like a f...
Read more

Love never dies, it simply transcends

Image
Not many have a chance to meet their heroes. I am grateful to have known mine. Until now, I lacked the mental capacity to write a eulogy for my adorable brother, Pawandeep Singh Luthra who passed away on the fateful evening of Wednesday, 27th March 2024. Family fondly called him Tinku while friends lovingly called him Singhu. 3 months later still devastated, I wish it was nothing but a dreadful nightmare. He was not only my blood brother but also my first baby, as I warmly held him in my arms a few minutes soon after he was born- an emotion that well up my eyes and a memory that can never fade. I am beyond lucky to be his sister and have had the privilege to do almost everything a mother would to raise her child. The sadness as I express my heartfelt tribute is immeasurable.  I subconsciously await his routine phone calls, eager to share the silliest to the most logical things- perhaps a thrilling episode he may have run into or casually update me about an old friend or discuss a...
Read more

Heaven In India

W ith no vivid memory but for a few pretty pictures with my gorgeous parents that hang casually framed on the wall of our living room- perhaps the only evidence to remind me that I have been to this pl ace when I was two years old. So, realistically this was my first visit to Kashmir in my entire adulthood being on the other side of 50 now. It is said, Seeing is Believing. So is I realised after my vacation, how much truth this statement holds.  Kashmir or Cashmere, situated in the northernmost part of India is known for its abounding valleys, majestic mountain peaks and outstanding natural beauty that comes closest to one's imagination of Paradise. Travelling for me has never been a fetish. I am a quintessential cancerian home bird, mostly confined to comfort in the coziness of my space but a holiday to any destination with family is certainly a thing to do!!  Whenever we do chance upon a family holiday plan, I spring at the offer mainly because it gives us quality time toget...
Read more