Day 13: Off to the Blue Mountains (Aug 23)

 Early morning train ride from Paramatta to Katoomba for our day excursion to the Blue Mountains. We had to factor in about close to two hours of travelling time from where we stay in Cherrybrook. So having meals to go help to save time - it is a good thing that they allow passengers to eat and drink on the trains.

Our first ride was on a "glass" cable car which had a transparent portion to its floor so that we can test our reaction to heights as we hover closer to the mountain ranges.

Here's the ride down the STEEPEST rail track in the world - once used to transport coal miners. We chose the 64 degree inclined "cliff-hanger" version of the seating arrangement! Yeah!

A chalk-board for visitors' scribblings while waiting for the train.

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Here's how the ride used to look like many years ago!

Here are two modern day coal miners still doing their work.....

The tree in the background is affectionately known as the "Kissing Trees" for obvious reasons!

What we like about the cable car scenic ride is the "transparent nature" where we can see all around us.

 It was good that Wai Bing packed up lunch the day before. Since we were on a tight time schedule, having a pre-packed lunch really save some time and also money.

Eunice has a natural attraction to soft toys or animals wherever she goes!

What brought us around the Blue Mountains area was the "Explorer Hop-On & Hop-Off". After lunch, it was time to head off for the highlight scenic view - The Three Sisters.

So, here are The Three Sisters! 15 years ago, Wai Bing and myself miss out on this clear view due to a foggy day - so, this photo is 15 years late (and two daughters, later!).

Next Stop - The Toy Museum, a mansion that used to belong to a prominent politician (who still have much of the child in him, I guess).

The toys are grouped according to themes - the one below is the Popeye theme. Notice the Game & Watch game in the corner - that certainly brought back a flood of memories for me!

Here's the "beary" welcome chair which greeted us at the entrance!

It was such an irony - the Jews in Germany were well known toy makers and they actually built a lot of the German military toys - not knowing that later on, they became victims of the military campaign. Such irony.

Beyond the toy museum mansion, there was a beautiful garden.

Final stop, before heading back to Katoomba - tea time at The Treasured Teaport Museum

The long train home takes its toll........