Friday 15th of July
Blackheath Mount Tomah - Windsor - Cathai
I left not to early, saying goodbye was not easy for me, but travelling is saying good day and good bye. Taking the back road to Mt. Victoria, Bell and then the Botanical Garden on Mt. Tomah. I had one nice guided tour and a light lunch in the restaurant with a great view over the valley.
No pictures, because no sunlight.
I made my way to Windsor, found some food shopping there and then I drove out to the piece of land where Rowan lives with his parents in a community.
It's a 120 year old shag with rough hacked iron bark timber. Open Fireplace, ancient too.
Some alpacas, ducks, 5 dogs ...

This is simple, it's just me

Thursday, 14th of July 2011
Blackheath - Wentworth Falls - walking
Today I take it easy, walking slowly because I am a little sour from my previous hikes up and down the sandstone cliffs here in the Blue Mountains.
So I made my way to Wentworth Falls by car on a busy street. I missed the exit three times, but finally I found the right one.
On my way down the cliffs I met a young German student, Swen and we where chatting all along the gorgeous National Pass trail until I descended to the Wentworth pass which was filled with really steep steel ladders and stairs. So I spend my lunch at Wentworth Falls base and made some great shots, even so there is not much sun down this southern walls. Back to the way up, I decided to do the National Pass again, this time looking and no "bla bla bla" and walking back the Under Cliff Pass. Great decision!
Nice recommendation of some people, to be here.
Back to Conversation Hut, I had a nice tea and one cake.
The evening I spend on the computer, picture downloading and checking, emailing, couch-surfing request ...
And I do not forget to mention my hosting family, which made a good tasting dinner and some conversation as well, not going into details, which are private.

Mount Solitare panorama view

Wednesday 13th of July 2011
Blackheath - hiking from Katoomba to Ruined Castle
I drove to Katoomba and left my car in the parking house at the Scenic World and walked down the cliff to the base of the Scenic railway.
I followed the pass to the Golden stairs and continued to the Ruined Castle. Nice lookout there. My way back was supported by a nice Australian I met on the stairs back to the dirt-road. Thanks.

Driving through the mountians in rain

13th of July 2011
Live long and healthy, here are some basic rules which may help:

Your body use it !!

  • do some sports
  • do walk
  • do dance
  • do work
  • what ever, just do it.

Comment: (Stop sitting around all the time. Stop doing everything by car.)

listen to your body:
When you are hungry, eat.
When you are thirsty: drink.
When you feel sleepy, go to bed.
When you need a toilet, go to the rest room.
When you what to dance, dance.

Your brain !! USE IT !!

Mind your thoughts
Watch what you are thinking

Comment: any problems? make a therapy, no kidding, it can help!

Basic rules
are made to stick to them, which means, break em from time to time.

good sleep
good food
good friends

What is "good sleep" ?
Good sleep is enough sleep.
It is wise to sleep at night, when it is dark.
Have a short - 15 to 30 Min - nap when ever you can, especially in the afternoon.
Sleep with somebody else 🙂 when ever you can.
If you can not sleep: watch your mind ( see below: "mind")

What is "good food" ?
Good food means never eat too much.
Good food is fresh food.
Eat vegetables, try organic if you can afford it, eat saisional crops.
Eat at least once a day something raw like salad or fruits.
Eat breakfast and lunch and dinner and have more food intakes daily and always eat a little bit.
Eat until you are full.
When your are eating do nothing else, watch and enjoy yourself eating.

other people
do not mind other people
try to live as a couple
listen to other people
make contact and stay in contact
meet people
share your meals

Practise:
every morning: some gymnastics
every day: at least some walking, 30 Minutes are enough ( every day!)
every week: dancing or swimming or acting or (at least one of these 🙂
every month: something new! A new movie, a new friend, a new place, a new idea, a new start, what ever, just tray something new.

If it helps, do more, like prayer or anything which helps you.
writing a dairy
phoning with other people.

Basics:
try to be simple
try to be honest ( At least to yourself)

Grose Valley

Tuesday 12th of July 2011
Hiking around Blackheath
Govetts Leap - Evans Lookout - Grand Canyon - Neates Glen - Govetts Leap - Waterfall and up again
I went up to the Govetts Leap parking lot, got myself some info and a topographical map of the area at the visitors information centre.
I started at the cliff top track to Evans Lookout and descended to the Grand Canyon back up to Neates Glen.
I did the Brea Side walk and back up to Govetts Leap again.
Following Rodriguez Pass to the bottom of the Govetts Leap Brook waterfall and back up again the dropping wet vertical cliff walls, awesome!

Burrendong Lake panorama view

Monday 11th of July
Dubbo - Wellington Caves - Burrendong Arboretum - Blackheath
Early up in the morning quick shower and laundry, same breakfast as always.
Hitting the bus for my co-couch-surfer at nine and off I went from Dubbo. Heading to Wellington accidental following the street signs to: Wellington Caves & Phosphate Mine

The complex comprises two show caves; The Cathedral Cave , The Garden Cave, and a series of smaller caves. These include the recently rediscovered Water Cave and the challenging River Cave, which are open to only the most experienced cave diving enthusiasts. The complex also includes The Phosphate Mine.

The cave is really worthwhile visiting, much bigger than Rose Margaret Cave in Victoria. Maybe I visit the Jenolan Cave as well, being here.
After that I followed the scenic route and found:
Burrendong Botanic Garden & Arboretum

Burrendong Botanic Garden and Arboretum was established in 1964 and covers approximately 167 ha. It is dedicated to the preservation and conservation of Australia's unique and incredibly diverse flora.

There's more to Burrendong Botanic Garden and Arboretum than just plants on show! Here you will experience Australian flora like never before!

It got almost dark before I hit Blackheath and I checked my host and found out, that I missed to confirm my arrival! Lost, no address, nowhere to stay, I send my confirmation, but too late.
I just went into 'The Gardeners Inn'
and had a tea and some dinner, quite good, but costly. Very noisy and chilly with all these holiday tourists. I got a sofa seat later in front of the fire place and then everything was ok!

Sunday 10th of July
Dubbo - Macquarie River walk - Malaysian dinner
It took us a while to get out of bed on a Sunday, relaxed breakfast, doing the laundry, she called her friend, we waited a little bit, made it to her place, picked her up and down to the Macquarie River. We did a short walk along the river banks which in fact was quite scenic. The Malaysian lady told us facts and stories most of the time: funny. After lunch time we went to the station to fetch the other couch-surfer, who arrived by bus. All joined together we walked through the park to the Dubbo Regional Gallery - WESTERN PLAINS CULTURAL CENTRE.

"ARTEXPRESS is an annual exhibition of exemplary artworks created by students for the Higher School Certificate. The works represent a broad range for subject matter, approaches, styles and media and reflect the high quality of Bisual Arts education in New South Wales."

Thereafter we went shopping for Malaysian food. She cooked a very well tasting meal, Malaysian style. I had to do the dishes 🙂
Nice chatting and telling each other personal experiences, travel places and funny stories.

Zoo from inside point of view

Saturday 9th of July 2011
Dubbo - Taronga Western Plains Zoo
I spend some time in the Dubbo Taronga Western Plains Zoo. See the photos.
Being invited for dinner with artist Fishdog and his wife, delicious food and self-made cake as desert, thank you so much.

Category description

Das Jahr althochdeutsch jar, lateinisch annus ist eine Zeitdauer, die je nach Definition eine unterschiedliche Länge hat:

  • Im astronomischen Sinne ist ein Jahr die Zeitspanne eines vollständigen Umlaufs eines Himmelsobjekts um einen Stern. Im engeren Sinne ist das Erdenjahr als die Dauer des Erd-Umlaufs um die Sonne gemeint. Dabei wird zwischen siderischem Jahr, tropischem Jahr und anomalistischem Jahr unterschieden, die mit geringen gegenseitigen Abweichungen alle etwa 365¼ Tage dauern.
  • Das bürgerliche Jahr oder Kalenderjahr beruht auf dem tropischen Jahr. Es dauert entweder 365 Tage Gemeinjahr oder 366 Tage Schaltjahr. Im Alltag versteht man unter dem Begriff „Jahr“ die jeweilige Zeit vom 1. Januar bis 31. Dezember.