Australia, Katoomba & Orange

“An immense gulf is unexpectedly seen through the trees… this kind of view was to me quite novel and extremely magnificent.”
The Voyage Of The Beagle 1836
Charles Darwin

The Blue Mountains were named so because they appear blue. A sort of haze hangs over them that refracts the light. Katoomba is on a plateau and a valley falls away from it of enormous scale. A fire burned here a month ago around the many trails in the national park that burned right up to the town side. Another fire was set two weeks ago in a different part of the Blue Mountains, hence it is thought it is arson. Today we walked through the trails and saw immense waterfalls and a man, pictured here, played his didgeridoo.

It is apparent to me that the aboriginal presence and heritage is barely invisible, minimally incorporated into the signage and presentations. It would very much enrich the experience if there was more inclusiveness. I am working on the hopeful theory that this most ancient culture is able to keep its secrets intact and that it could likely survive long into the future. Much in this landscape is sacred to the aboriginal peoples. Pictured here are three rocks called The Three Sisters and the story goes in aboriginal lore that they were transformed into rock and the medicine man who did it died unexpectedly and was unable to transform them back. There seems to be a connection to the Pleiades in the lore but how that is related was not clear to me. This area is a popular tourist destination and historically it was a holiday retreat for the rich and fashionable. There are buildings here that we have been admiring that carry the grandeur of the Victorian era in their architecture.
You may want to know that KD Lang did a knock-your-socks-off permormance in Sydney and got a standing ovation for Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” and many other ovations besides. We attended an outdoor sculpture show beside the sea in Bondi, with installation pieces that interplayed with the ocean environment with sculptures represented by an international community that went on for some kilometers. We are now staying with friends of Sarah’s in Orange, which is inland. It is absolutely charming here in an “Out Of Africa” kind of a way. Yesterday we had a picnic. I was enchanted. In addition to their home they have purchased an Anglican Church and they have converted it into a country retreat. The building is made of stone and was built in 1875. It was an adorable and amazing space. Now I want one. The Australians continue to amaze me with how hospitable and kind they are. Sadly my time for parting with Sarah, a great friend, is drawing near.