Travel Stories - Australia

I left Sydney directly by train to the town of Katoomba, the base for a stay in the "Blue Mountains". Actually, I feel very tired after another night bus ride from Byron Bay and I feel asleep in the bus immediately. I walk from the busstop to my hostel in Katoomba and check in in a hostel with a wonderful homely atmosphere. I do some shopping, internet in a cafe and notice what a huge difference in temperature between the coastal strip that I have left from this morning and here in the mountains. The fog is starting to come down and I decide to go back to the hostel. In one of the easy chairs by the fireplace I take my seat and take my book out of my bag. I chat with fellow travelers, we prepare some food together and I go to my bed early as planned.

Because I went to bed so early I also wake up early too. During breakfast I talk with the Dutch couple I met yesterday evening next to the fireplace. After our chat I decide to do my laundry a bit later. I had hoped that the fog would rise but if it has not cleared by midday I decide to go for a walk anyway. It is about 2 to 3 km walk to the end of the village where there is a steep rigde. Here you should have a beautiful view of the cliffs and the green "Jamison" valley in the distance. This is "Echo Point" and even though I do see some mountain peaks in the distance really bright, it will not be totally visible today. Looking over the peaks with the hanging mist as a blanket, I remember reading somewhere that it would take the European settlers about 25 years to get over these mountains. I walk all the way back, take a look at the popular cinema "The Edge" where it's too busy for me and decides to go back to the hostel.