Day 14: Casual Day to Central Coast (Aug 24)

After a hectic "tourist-type" day yesterday, today is a refreshing change as we take personal time off for casual fellowship with Desmond, Eudora and Yannis. We headed towards Central Coast - about 90 minutes away from Cherrybrook. Here we are setting up our "camp" at Avoca Beach. The weather was much warmer than we thought!

Where there is water, there is fun (for the kids....)

My latte partner in Sydney....

After spending some time cleaning up after the wet stint on Avoca Beach, we headed off to The Entrance where the highlight was the daily 3.00pm feeding of the pelicans - it is amazing to see them gathering waiting for their feed. Guess, we might as well eat while waiting...

 

Although the pelicans are huge, watch the graceful landing ...

Though nearing the end of the day, the kids still have bounding energy!

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.

\

 
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........

Day 10: Snow Ecstasy on Mt Buller (Aug 20)

We woke up at about 3.30am today in order to be in time for our eagerly awaited one-day excursion to Mount Buller for the girls' first snow experience! A 3-hour drive from the city and here's a series of progressive snapshot of our journey up the mountain. As the snow got thicker the girls' anticipation grew higher - plus Chee Meng's family was with us as well, so double the fun!

Spent close to an hour at the equipment rental center - getting all dressed up - boots and waterproof pants are a must if you want to thoroughly enjoy yourself in the snow.

From then onward, it was about waddling, fighting and swimming in the snow.....yeah!

We had unlimited rides on the snow chair lift - up to the cafe - play and lunch before heading to the Toboggan Park.

 

 Wow.... Here's where the Toboggan Fun begin!

 Looks like Eliza does not even need a toboggan to have real fun :-)

 

 After a while, we discovered a tougher challenge - climbing further up for a more "shiok" slide....

Eunice made it to the top after much perseverance and tenacity. Well done!

 
My joyride down - really felt like a little child all over again!

 Eliza still mesmerized by the surreal nature of the white environment ....

 

The day passed by so quickly ... we played right up to the brim of the allocated time before we reluctantly got up to the bus to head home .... how we wish this dream would go on!

Warm meal at the Supper Inn, Chinatown to ease the evening down.