The past weekend was beautiful weatherwise. On Saturday, I visited the Parramatta Market at town square. I was looking for one particular booth and it was not there so I then caught the train to Granville and switched to the Liverpool train. I went to the opp shop looking for another copy of a traveller book Rani had bought for me about a month ago. They were all sold out though. I then moved onto another opp shop called Smith Family Store where I found a beautiful blue Michael Kors shirt for $3, and it actually fit so I was pretty pumped up about that. Then I took some pictures of the graffiti in the Liverpool car park as I made my way to Rivers. This store is sort of like our Vanity Fair stores. They had hundreds of things I wanted...well made clothing and bags at good prices...what more could I ask for? I settled on a duffle bag to replace the Vera Bradley overnighter that I want Demi to have:) No, you are right I didn't need to replace it because at home I have lots of bags but I really liked the pattern, does that count? Those two stores were both ones which were closed when Rani had originally tried to take me weeks ago.
Liverpool Car Park Graffiti
Then I was supposed to meet Rani at the first opp shop I went to but I got a wee bit turned around. Don't worry I found my way, I just went a block too far. Unfortunately by this time she had went to find me. I called to say I was at the shop and she said "No way, I would have passed you"....not if I went the wrong way. Her being deathly ill with a cold, I don't think she found much humor in it...We boarded the train for Parramatta. There was an apartment she wanted to look at. Well per the norm I had never actually walked in the direction we went so that was interesting. It was down what I like to call Car dealer highway as there are probably ten different car dealerships along there. We found the place and it was nice. There were a lot of couples though and I found the realtor to be really rude. We left there with a slightly depressed Rani. We went to the markets again where Rani got a coconut fruit drink to cheer herself up.
We then decided to go back to Liverpool to go in my favorite opp shop. It was a great plan except it involved walking what seemed a million blocks to a shop that had closed one hour earlier! So we then went to Westfields and ate at my favorite restaurant here called Rashay's. I got the Chicken Schnitzel which is really really popular here. It is just chicken coated in breadcrumbs. It was tasty and cheap as always. On the way to the bus stop I found another opp shop!!! They were closing but I managed to get a New Zealand travel book:) We then went to the bus stop where I met Rani's mom. Interesting experience there as I have never been so obviously sized up by someone's parent and not accepted. Rani had mentioned that her mother would rather she had Indian friends and I think she was right.
On Sunday, I got a rather late start as I couldn't commit on what to do. I finally decided on the Blue Mountains. I caught the train in Parramatta which was convenient but not smart. See to get a seat I should have caught it at Central...I wont make that mistake again. It was only a 1.5hour ride to Katoomba. Since this was rather last minute planning, I didn't really know where to go. I only knew I didn't want to pay for a cab or tour bus. So I just followed the swarm of backpackers in front of me with my fingers crossed. It was rather chilly out (no I am not giving the temp because it probably wasn't that cold and Andrea will make fun of me) so I was glad I brought my jacket. I debated for awhile about going to Scenic World as they have really cool rides there like the worlds steepest passenger train but I decided I just wanted to see the free bits for now. I will go back to train later as it is on my list. I wasn't expecting much but once I got close I knew it was going to be good! It was beautiful. My pictures don't do it justice. It really was someplace that is so peaceful and makes you feel so insignificant compared to nature.
Three Sisters
It is very worth the train ride (which round trip was $2.50 because it was Sunday). I walked around for a bit just taking it in. Then I went into the tourist hut to demonstrate how to make a flattened tourist penny:D The walk back wasn't pleasant as it was colder and there were two big hills that I swear were not there when I walked to the Blue Mountains. Also, nothing puts into perspective that I am fat and out of shape than seeing a 70 year grandfather huff it up the hill with his granddaughter on his back...show off! I made it back to the train and had a nice seated ride back to Parramatta! I look forward to going back but not alone, I'm not that amusing. I might add that on the way back (it was dusk) we went by this golf course and there was an animal standing alone...then it hopped...yes a kangaroo!
Below are two different legends from this site explaining the Three Sisters
The Aboriginal dream-time legend has it that three sisters, 'Meehni', 'Wimlah' and Gunnedoo' lived in the Jamison Valley as members of the Katoomba tribe. These beautiful young ladies had fallen in love with three brothers from the Nepean tribe, yet tribal law forbade them to marry. The brothers were not happy to accept this law and so decided to use force to capture the three sisters causing a major tribal battle. As the lives of the three sisters were seriously in danger, a witchdoctor from the Katoomba tribe took it upon himself to turn the three sisters into stone to protect them from any harm. While he had intended to reverse the spell when the battle was over, the witchdoctor himself was killed. As only he could reverse the spell to return the ladies to their former beauty, the sisters remain in their magnificent rock formation as a reminder of this battle for generations to come.
Or
Three sisters, Meenhi, Wimlah and Gunnedoo had a father who was a witch doctor. His name was Tyawan. Long ago there was a Bunyip who lived in a deep hole who was feared by all.
Passing the hole was considered very dangerous, therefore whenever Tyawan had to pass the hole in search for food, he would leave his daughters safely on the cliff behind a rocky wall. One fateful day, Tyawan waved goodbye to his daughters and descended down the cliff steps into the valley.
Meanwhile at the top of the cliff, Meenhi was frightened by a large centipede which suddenly appeared before her. Meenhi took a stone and threw it at the centipede. The stone continued on its journey and rolled over the cliff, crashing into the valley below which angered the Bunyip.
The rocky wall behind Meenhi, Wimlah and Gunnedoo then began to split open and the three sisters were left stranded on a thin ledge at the top of the cliff. All the birds, animals and fairies stopped still as the Bunyip emerged to see the terrified girls.
As the Bunyip began to approach the girls, to protect them from harm, their father Tyawan used his magic bone to turn them into stone. Angered by this, the Bunyip then began to chase Tyawan. Becoming trapped, in order to flee from the Bunyip, Tyawan changed into a magnificent Lyre Bird, yet in the process dropped his magic bone. Tyawan and his three daughters were now safe from the Bunyip. Once the Bunyip had disappeared, Tyawan returned in search of his magic bone, yet this was never to be found.
The Lyre Bird has been searching for this magic bone ever since. Remaining in rock formation, The Three Sisters stand silently overlooking the valley hoping that one day he'll find the bone and turn them back to former selves. When visiting The Three Sisters, if you listen carefully you may be able to hear the Lyre Bird, Tyawan, as he continues his quest for his lost magic bone.
To add to our Aboriginal lesson for today...
Bunyip- A large mythical creature said to lurk in swamps, billabongs, creeks, riverbeds, and waterholes.
I hope everyone had a lovely Mother's Day!
