le blue mountains...

Our third day in Sydney... wake up at 5:45a to be ready to go for a 2-3 hour bus ride into The Blue Mountains. They're called this because the most wide spread species of plant in the forests are the Eucalyptus tree, which creates this blueish haze/tint all throughout the mountains. It's beautiful and although I've never seen the Grand Canyon first hand, many people say that the blue mountains (especially the three sisters which is the rock formation in the picture above) looks like a forested Grand Canyon. I can only imagine... it was vast and gorgeous. Also if you look at the picture, to the right of the third rock formation there's a Magpie flying by. It's a black and white bird that's everywhere in Australia and makes the weirdest sound when it calls. It sounds like a crying baby... they're cute though... moving on!
When we arrived there it was tres cold. Probably around 45 degrees! Luckily I had packed my SWIX cross country skiing spandex (no I'm not a racer in the X-C ski sport... but I had picked them up at a bike swap because they looked like warm running pants, which they are). Those things kept my little legs warm all day. We hiked down to a couple rock faces where this German chick taught us how to abseil (rappel in German). We tried a small cliff out, then a slightly higher one, and finally an even higher one! It exciting to do it with everyone and the high one had an over hang so you had to lower yourself such that your feet were above your head then push off the cliff with your legs and you would fall JUST below the hang... phew! One of the girls got scared and almost hit her head, then let go of the rope... Luckily there was a woman below backing her up.
We then hiked back up and ate lunch. Post lunch some of the group went to a much higher abseil spot while myself and some others took on THE ROCK CLIMBING! I hadn't been in FAR too long... I thoroughly enjoyed myself though. I was surprised at how difficult the climbs were. They were said to be beginners but the second one I did was really difficult... For each of the climb there was an overhang that you had to surpass in order to complete the climb. The first climb I did was not difficult. The beginning overhang wasn't bad and it was sweet because I had to traverse across this TINY section of rock, but the rock face itself was nice. Straight up... the angle didn't incline as you climbed higher, yet it wasn't a slab either. On the other hand, the picture below depicts the beginning of the second climb I did. As one can see... my little nubbins (aka legs) are extremely short. So this climb was ENTIRELY different for me then, let's say, for my friend George who is like 6'2" haha. He stepped onto the rock quite easily (as the overhang started at his knees whereas for me at my chest) and I struggled like a falling squirrel from a tree helplessly trying to grasp on for dear life! My muscles at the angle I was positioned, had to produce mucho more force to get me up past the overhang then I had planned. Fortunately I just said, "screw it" (in my mind of course!) and I decided to jump and hope for a hold... and did I ever get one! It was a great hold that, well, held me well. I continued the climb and it burned that great feeling through my arms that feels almost like home... It's the feeling one gets when they run, race, swim, bike ;) or "just tri" any kind of exercise that challenges their cardiovascular system.
Climbing is a great feeling because it works all the tiny muscles in one's forearm to the max... I wish I had brought my shoes and chalk bag. Speaking of chalk bags, I wouldn't have needed it here. Underneath the climbs, there's a fine dust that comes off the whatever type of rock material the face is composed of and it settles on the ground; it is the perfect consistency to rub into your hands and use as chalk!! Anyways, I believe I'm getting far too excited about rock climbing and may need to move on to the next topic... wait one more thing! We saw, what used to be, one of the most difficult climbs in the world! It was really cool but it was pretty much a flat rock face... no holds and the angle of it was slightly inclined which must have been a hoot of a climb eh?
After a much exhausted bus full of "uni kids" piled off the bus, we all showered up and went out to an Irish pub. I thought it would be a GREAT time, but unfortunately, the Irish absolutely HATE... HATE Americans. They don't care who you are or what your story is... I had one guy in my face saying how Ireland secretly ruled the world... I thought to myself... it doesn't really matter. I ended up peacing out early (which I usually do when we go out drinking). I like to have fun and have a couple beers, dance a bit, etc but only on occasion will I stay out til the wee hours of the night "partying." I just rather do other things I suppose.
Our last night in Sydney consisted of a beautiful harbor cruise dinner! We all dressed up and ate an AMAZING pesto salmon dish with coos coos, broccoli, carrots, and champagne :) I don't know how Study Australia budgets, but we stayed in the NICEST accommodations, had all inclusive meals (not always, but EVERYTHING in Fiji and all dinners), and went to some pretty wonderful places. Sean, who started Study Australia, came with us to Sydney and spent a lot of time with us. He walked us around the city and we had two orientation sessions where he explained the Australian culture and ways, things to be aware of, and much more. It was great to see the entrepreneur of our program be so involved!