On the previous post on my blog, I was updating the stories on Day 1 and Day 2. Then, I would like to continue my stories on Day 3 in Sydney, Australia on 15th September 2018 (Saturday). This day we started our day after breakfast at the hotel around 08:30 am in the morning. The location we visit is the Blue Mountain areas. It is quite far from Sydney city. 

The Blue Mountains is a rugged region west of Sydney in Australia's New South Wales. It is known for dramatic scenery, it encompasses steep cliffs, eucalyptus forests, waterfalls and villages dotted with guesthouses, galleries, and gardens. The Katoomba is a major town in the area, borders Blue Mountains National Park and its bushwalking trails. Echo Point affords the view of the storied Three Sisters sandstone rock formation. 

The most popular transport to the Blue Mountains is by drive like car or minibus like us. The entrance to the Blue Mountains at Glenbrook/Lapstone is only around 50 – 90 minutes drive from Sydney. It is depending on the traffic on that day. 

The first stop is the Echo Point of the Three Sisters Rock. The Three Sisters are an unusual rock formation in the Blue Mountains of New South Wales, Australia, on the north escarpment of the Jamison Valley. They are close to the town of Katoomba and are one of the Blue Mountains' best-known sites, towering above the Jamison Valley. Their names are Meehni (922 m), Wimlah (918 m), and Gunnedoo (906 m).

The commonly told legend of the Three Sisters is that three sisters, Meehni, Wimlah, and Gunnedoo, lived in the Jamison Valley as members of the Katoomba tribe. They fell in love with three men from the neighboring Nepean tribe, but the marriage was forbidden by tribal law. The brothers were not happy to accept this law and so decided to use force to capture the three sisters. A major tribal battle ensued, and the three sisters were turned to stone by an elder to protect them, but he was killed in the fighting and no else could turn them back. This legend is claimed to be an Indigenous Australian Dreamtime legend. The Aboriginal traditional owners, the Gundungurra, have a legend that includes the Sisters rock formation.

It was an interesting story of some legend in Australia, for me to know by visiting this place. It's also such as wonderful place too. The one thing is to learn about the Blue Mountain is by its name. The name Blue Mountains, however, was preferred and is derived from the blue tinge the range takes on when viewed from a distance. The tinge is believed to be caused by Mie scattering which occurs when incoming light with shorter wavelengths is preferentially scattered by particles within the atmosphere imparting a blue-greyish color to any distant objects, including mountains and clouds. Volatile terpenoids emitted in large quantities by the abundant eucalyptus trees in the Blue Mountains may cause Mie scattering and thus the blue haze for which the mountains were named. 

Then, we're moving to the Scenic World. The Scenic World Blue Mountains is a private, family-owned tourist attraction located in Katoomba in the Blue Mountains, New South Wales, and Australia. It is about 100 km west of Sydney. The Scenic World is home to four attractions, which are the Scenic Railway, the Scenic Skyway, the Scenic Cableway and Scenic Walkway a 2.4 km elevated boardwalk through ancient rainforest. Onsite facilities also include free all day parking. The entrance fee for adult is AUD $39.00 (RM 123.05) and child (4-13 years) is AUD $21.00 (RM 66.30). But on that day, the Scenic Cableway is under services so we don't get the chance to experience it. 

The most interesting attraction in this place is the Scenic Railway. The Scenic Railway is an incline railway now used for tourism. The steepest section of track is on an incline of 52 degrees contained within a total distance on 310 meters (1,020 ft). it was originally constructed for a coal and oil shale mining operation in the Jamison Valley in the 1880s, in order to haul the coal and shale from the valley floor up to the escarpment above. From 1928 to 1945 it carried coal during the week and passengers at weekends. The coal mine was closed in 1945 after which it remained as a tourist attraction. 

It is the second time I get the experience to ride the railway after Bukit Bendera, Penang, Malaysia (Penang Hill). But it's most scare railway I have been experienced because of the steepest section of track is on an incline of 52 degrees. Even it's quite scared on the first time to ride it but its turn fun and enjoyable for me. 

After we ride the Scenic Railway, then we were walking along the Scenic Walkway a 2.4 km elevated boardwalk through ancient rainforest. It is a nice jungle tracking and we arrived at the Scenic Cableway. But the Scenic Cableway is close at the moments for the maintenance services so we have to walk back to the Scenic Railway before we have to ride the Scenic Skyway.

After lunch, we just stop by for a few minutes just to take some photos at the Katoomba Town. The Katoomba is the chief town of the City of Blue Mountains in New South Wales, Australia, and the administrative headquarters of Blue Mountains City Council. Katoomba is a base for bush and nature walks in the surrounding Blue Mountains. At the 2016 census, Katoomba had a population of 7,964 people. This town is a small town and also a unique town that keep the value of vintage. Sometimes, I feel like to visiting a small town in the 1800s. 

Then, we're moving to the Sydney Olympic Park by the journey almost takes 90 minutes drive by the minibus from the Katoomba Town. The Sydney Olympic is a large sports and entertainment complex in the West of Sydney. It is also an official suburb of Sydney, commonly known as Olympic Park but officially named Sydney Olympic Park. Sydney Olympic Park is located 16 km west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government areas of the City of Parramatta Council and the Cumberland Council.

The area was redeveloped for the 2000 Olympics. The facilities built continue to be used for sporting, musical, and cultural events, including the Sydney Royal Easter Show, Sydney Festival, Stereosonic, Big Day Out, Soundwave, Sydney 500 and a number of world-class sporting fixtures. The suburb also contains commercial development and extensive parklands. The area was originally part of the suburb of Homebush Bay but was designated a suburb in its own right in 20019. The name Homebush is still used colloquially as a metonym for Stadium Australia as well as the Olympic Park precinct as a whole.

On that day, it has a Final Football Games at the Sydney Olympic Park. Then, we're moving back to our hotel for taking dinner just at the Chinatown of besides our hotel.




After dinner, we're walking around the Sydney Darling Harbour Park and also shopping some souvenir at the mall and Sydney Hard Rock Café. Lucky, it has some event at the park and I get the chance to watch the beautiful fireworks. 

That is all my stories on day 3 of this trip. Just for your information, I have been writing the extra note tip about discovers Sydney and Melbourne, Australia based on my experience during this trip. Feel free to read it. 

Here, the link to the continued stories about the Discovers Sydney & Melbourne, Australia in September 2018 – Day 1, Day 2, Day 4, Day 5, Day 6, Day 7, and Day 8.