MagnoliaGypsy: CAN’T BELIEVE IT TOOK ME THIS LONG? NOT HAVING A BAR OF IT? --- DAY 24

This room was a tad bit warm last night and the bed spread gave me a rash (well, not really, but it’s like those polyester shirts we had for our sororities in college, just the idea gives you a rash). I will give them this - the shower head in the garden tub had great water pressure, but standing in a trough was strange. I looked up another local hotel -- the Lilianfels - and they had a cheaper deal online. Can we say, change rooms asap.

Called and made sure it was ok to check out early :) Then made arrangements for the other hotel. If I am paying a nice price, I want a nice hotel. From three bags to five, I now have a backpack and an overnight bag - and a computer bag too. I will be able to leave the big bag in the car.

In the lovely (but dark) dining room, I had a not so lovely continental breakfast. I think the darkness made the meal feel dreary (a little sunlight might have helped) the cereal and fruit were good. Checked out and wandered around the hotel taking photos. It is a lovely place but the rooms could use updating and the whole place a little brightening up. The guys at the front desk kept asking me questions about New Orleans and Mardi Gras. They were very intrigued as the Sydney Mardi Gras is a lot different.

I made it out in time for the express trolley to Scenic World. I started out on the Skyway, which is a Gondola of glass sides and a glass floor, oh yeah, it travels over 1000 feet in the air, with great views of the Katoomba Falls. I think and hope I have beat the crowd.

The end of the Skyway, you are at the top of the Scenic World area. There are excellent views of the Three Sisters (a rock formation here in the Jamison Valley), the Orphan Rock (their staircase is falling down and closed), and the rest of the Jamison Valley -- looks like a carpet of green..

Scenic World is an old coal mine. The coal mine was the main industry in Katoomba for quite a while. I was told that so many hikers tired out around this location and asked for rides in the empty coal cars, that the coal mine owner started charging and a business was born. He sold the place and the new owners just added and added to it and developed the Skyway gondola, the steepest funicular coal car train, and the Cableway gondola. There is a rainforest boardwalk with a few shelter sheds to escape the rain.

I checked out the top base -- gift shop, a couple of restaurants and toilets. Then I took the funicular down to the bottom. The ride was fun, but a tad bit short. You sit slanted back, with your feet positioned like you are standing up. There was a cage around the whole train except for on the side where you get in. There is only a small chain that is lifted up beside you. Warning signs are there so small children don’t sit on the ends (no one even came by to check and make sure children were not on the edge, only here).

At the base, I headed off into the National Forest Walk to see the Katoomba Falls. I ran into a Canadian who gave me directions, it’s comforting to hear another North American accent. At the base of the falls you have a partial view. Katoomba is a Native word for sparkling falling water. The falls were not that fast but the path was very muddy to get out there.

When I got back to the bottom of Scenic World, the Canadian was there and we visited for awhile. He is here for a month also, but driving -- I told him my favorite parts. I think seeing more different parts and traveling as hard as I have allowed me to cover more ground that he will. But if/when I come back, I would pick areas and spend more time and then fly. There are only a few areas I have missed, but many memorable sites I haven’t seen. But I am very happy with what I have seen and done.

Saw some interesting things on the rainforest walk. I was down there and realized I couldn’t find my ticket to get back up the Cableway. I dug around in my purse (bad idea) in front of the miner’s shed. As I am wandering around, I realize there are so many more people--- the tour groups have arrived.

While waiting for the Cableway, I ran into a nice Indian couple. We visited while waiting on the car to come back. They wanted to take a picture with me, what’s up with that? This is the third time that has happened, it’s not like I am the only person who talks to strangers and is nice to them. I am in Australia for goodness sake everyone is nice and friendly here.

When I got to the top, I went to the revolving restaurant. (Allegedly, one of the oldest in Australia.) I sweetly asked if they had any seats, I cannot describe the number of tourists who had tables. They had three buses of Isuzu people (to me this would be a nightmare vacation to go off with that many people). No tables right then, but she said, come back in thirty minutes. Hum, being nice does work. Went to the movie and saw what this area had to offer.

Perfect timing for coming back to the restaurant,it was an all you could eat buffet. It was good food. I got the prime table for a view. And my table didn’t rotate.

Waited on the trolley outside. My driver this time was very talkative and very nice to the people who got on. He especially went out of his way to help the ones that didn’t speak English. I was very impressed. I like it when people enjoy their jobs and are good at them.

Got back to the Carrington Hotel and moved my car and me to Lilianfels. Sweet!! Now this is more my speed of a hotel. I am sorry, but I have become very pampered. At one time, I was very happy hiking (with a 30 pound pack on your back) miles to a hostel or one star hotel and walking down the hall to a bathroom. And yes, I know that beats sleeping on a train or a bench in a faraway land. And it was fun in a camper van/ice cream truck in Southern France, but the mosquitoes in the Italian water park did me in. Both of those times, I had great travel buddies and you can rough it when you have someone special with you. But I am on my own on this trip and I work, so yes I don’t mind paying for a little luxury now and then. You only live once, why spend it in a junky hotel if you don’t have to.

Rode around town and found a Coles, one of their grocery stores, and a Kmart (yes, they have infiltrated here too). Got some supplies for the road trip, bread, fruit, and water. Ran to the bank for a cash infusion and met a nice man on the street ---

Went back to Echo Point to see the sunset over the Jamison Valley. A great panoramic view and other sites to see there. I love this Wicked Camper group (they must be blokes who sit around and get pissed and think up this stuff).

Got back to the hotel and needed to change my plans due to my tour timing tomorrow. Realized I had lost my Aussie Cell phone.

So today, I was not having a bar of the junky hotel room and I can’t believe it took me this long to loose my cell phone.

Thankfully only a few days left on the trip. I guess I can wing it from here with what I have. C’est la vie, it’s not the only thing I have lost on this trip. And I can promise you the other thing I lost was much more dear to me than a Nokia cell phone. :( Sometimes the best things in life aren't things at all.

Oh well, have to harden up/man up, tomorrow is another day, as my daily mantra comes into focus. Also the internet at this fancy hotel is down. I sweet talked the very helpful staff into letting me use their computers for certain immediate work needs. They gave me international faxes and printing for free.

Extra pics from today: