Travel Memories: Blue Mountains trip (5 photos)

One of the best trips I have been on in Australia is to the Blue Mountains near Sydney. A few years ago I went there with two close friends over the Easter break (another was supposed to come but got sick and had to pull out). The reason I have such good memories of the trip was not because we had really nice accommodation (it was a rundown backpackers' motel) or fantastic meals (they were average) but because I felt it gave me the chance to just relax and be myself with friends who understand me and accept me. For example, they did not complain when I saw a secondhand bookstore named Green Gables and wanted to stop and browse for a long time because I love old books and Anne of Green Gables is one of my favourites. My friends teased me for how much I was wearing though! It was very cold that weekend.

The scenery was amazing and the Blue Mountains is a World Heritage site because of its cultural significance, essential ecosystem services, biodiversity and wide eucalypts habitats. The trees emit a fine mist of eucalyptus oil that make the mountains look blue under the sun.

Besides going to see the Three Sisters rock formations, we did a 4 hour hike to see many waterfalls and because I was carrying my DSLR, I stopped many times along the way to take photos. My friends said they would go ahead of me and soon I couldn't see them. I was getting very tired and didn't know how long it would take to finish the trail. As I was huffing and puffing a woman who was coming in the other direction said, you are almost there! That was the best news I heard that day. Eventually I was rewarded with a cupcake that had a smiley face on it for making it back.

(Beautiful crimson rosella)