1st Blue Mountians Trip - Caving

I've wanted to go the Blue Mountains so i did :) instead of waiting for someone I decided to venture out. It is a 2 hour train ride - i talked to some friends that mentioned the Jenolan Caves. I booked an adventure cave not really knowing what that entailed. The train stops in the quaint town of Katumba and the tour bus continue to the caves for another almost 2 hours.

I went on the Plughole tour - cave map on the left. After seeing some intense pics in the office I got a bit panic about what I was in for.

Cave Entrance:


Serious gear - feeling pretty legit. Had to abseil down a 30 ft Cliff - with a 5 second showing of what that means, I happened to be first in line.

I did it! Traversed that cliff - like what.



That hole my head is sticking through for the picture is the same one my body has to come thru...

It is not "yield" but "give way"

Echo Point is where the famous 3 sisters are - great place, very peaceful with lots of hiking trails around.

Poetic moment/time out:

Past and present so many people have been in places we are now - in the midst and oceans their presence is there but not always recognized. The wind and waves looks the same but its always different. All bringing individual "peace".

It was amazing to finally be here - I remember seeing Jimmy W's and Kai pics from this place and now I am here!

Walking around here was relaxing - i remembered how much I like the mountains - very Natchez -esk. I found this lovely butterfly that posed for me - had a moment here. I was prepping for a huge presentation Monday morning and for anyone that knows me I dont have the confidence in this arena. 4 hour preso - well I was glad to be here on Sunday (after working all day friday night and Saturday) - got my mind off of it. BTW i rocked it :)

They say the Southern Hemisphere has bluer skies than the northern - I'd say it is pretty blue huh!

The blue mountains get the name from the Eucalyptus Tree(lots of varieties of these one is the Gum trees shown on the left) - they give off a oil in the heat that radiates and appears as a blue haze. Same tree leaves the Koala eat and get high (and no it doesnt have the same effect on humans - rather deadly).










I love rock hunting - hobby that I dont necessary think sounds as cool as it is fun...for me. Found this heart shaped one, especially cool right after valentines day

Hiked a few to this falls - I didnt realize until my next trip this was the cascades to the actual falls.

Kookaburra Bird - very cute and nice song. I love all the birds here - I will upload some videos and more pics from another Blue Mountains trip. So alive here.

Bondi to Bronte - Emilys last night

Met Emily on Bondi beach - her last night :( I had sooo much fun while she was here - lots more posts to come soon with lots of pics showing ALL the fun we had! We chilled on the beach and then did the Bondi to Bronte walk...chatted and had a relaxing evening.

Check it out Pac Ave in Australia - I thought I was home for a minute....

Beautiful night - the clouds were amazing - check out all the photos below:

Did a little rock climbing along the way ;)

Left is actually the Moon - looks like the sun but it was amazing, a picture just can not capture the moment sometimes! Oh and below - it is hard to see but there is a guy on a skate board mid way up - catching some air. There was some kind of professional skate board thing going on, was pretty fun to watch.

Happy Bday Jodes!!

Jodies birthday!! Went to dinner - my first hot pot experience. There is a big bowl of boiling water in which you put veggies and meat...makes a soupy type meal. It was pretty good.

After dinner I took Emily out to the Cross - get a feel for the Sydney night life. Unfortunately Hugos was closed so we went to a chill bar across the street - was like an old house on the inside and there was an art showing going on (almost street art). Anyway I must have been sending a vibe out that night as a few guys approached me and it provided for some good entertainment. Ones opening line was "I usually dont do this but when you walked in I felt this something like energy/connection and I had to introduce myself" well I proceed to tell him I was on vacation and leaving tomorrow. He then questioned me about long distant relationship....um yeeeeah no comment. He then before leaving says that he just wanted to be himself and didnt want to open with an poetic cheesy lines - buddy you did exactly that. Anywho not 5 minutes later another classy boy does a very similar thing - he went to get a drink and we totally bounced on him. We continued to another funky bar. Which did have lots of decent aussie boys :) it was a Bux night (a bachelor party) going on with lots of Hot Boys - "baby you got what I want" (Jackie will get that comment)....but we had fun. I totally set Emily up for her much needed Aussie pash (kiss) ...bait, hook and left to reel in...

The Great Barrier Reef!!!

We got up nice and early to get out to the Great Barrier Reef, it is so amazing to get these kinds of opportunities...i mean the reef is something I've watch on the Discovery Channel or just talked about but never did I imagine one day being here!! I was stoked.

It was 1.5 hour or so tour bus ride out to Port Douglas, it was a beautiful coastal drive with local a guide telling us about the area. We choose to go out on a more intimate trip on a large sail boat. Several of the options included large groups (close to 100) that takes hours to even get out to the reef which takes away from the time in the water.

We went to the Lower Isle - small island seen in pic below. Since it was the rainy season in Northern then Australia it was a bit cloudy and rainy but we choose to enjoy every moment....it was a bummer but still an amazing day. The colors and the clarity of the water were effected by the weather as you can get a feel for in the pictures. I was on sensory over load there was just so much to look at, so many different kinds of fish, clams, reef plants, true beauty. It was a little scary given that only a few months ago it was my first time really being in the Ocean - I mean I've ran in it few time at different beaches but not really swam and here I am in Australia about to spend a day in it.

Emily and I are hot in our lycra suits huh ;) not only is it rainy season but Jelly season too... this is complete protection which provided an extra layer of security. There was not a ton of discussion about where to snorkel but Emily and I went right over the reef and it got really claustrophobic at one point.

After lunch we got back into the water and figured out where we should be at. There was talk of a 5-8 foot reef shark, which is always intimidating....at one point I thought I saw it but choose to go the other way when I started hyperventaling, not good underwater :) nahhh it was all good. We were only in the water just over 2 hours - I wanted more....I was the last one out.

Emily actually saw the shark when I showering after getting out the water - sooo glad not to have seen that in the water! Despite the fact reef sharks dont bit - I was just not ready for that kind of sea life....still adjusting to fish and sea turtles

Picture of the beach shows how shallow it gets - that is the reef. The other picture below is from under the Hut on the beach, a little charter boat was traveling from the Sail Boat to the beach all day.

After we got back from the long day at the reef, I got an amazing massage, this women was very in touch with the aboriginal techniques, with the water falls and perret outside I was completely relaxed....pic below is me afterwards with the spa behind.

I am all about seeing wild life - which in Australia include lizards...or geckos...whatever tomato/tomaato. Emily and I ducked into a bar to get out of the terenchail rains, which did not let up....

We had to buck up and take on the water without an umbrella - we add dinner at our hotel. YUM! another divine meal....everything was closed again by 9pm, so we called in a early night and relaxed in the room.








The last day gave us some sunshine! It was hot and perfect. We got up early and hit the pool. We spend the day in the pool, taking in the beach, having a few cocktails before getting on the plane. I am getting better at flying - I still had to have several "doubles"...a bit of a freak out on the take off - it was pouring rain, the airplane was like taking off in a river...scerd!

Now this is a lizard - right by the pool. Very cool.







All of our stuff took over the pool that day - no one around, just took in a little pool side Jack Johnson, drink specials and worked on that tan - or should I say burn ;)

Did a walk on the beach looking for shells - My Family will appreciate this as it is one way to reflect for my Nannie. I had a good chat with her.

More wild life below - neon green grasshopper.

GOOD BYE Cairnes and the perfect holiday!