{"id":4806,"date":"2018-02-01T02:58:24","date_gmt":"2018-02-01T10:58:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/?p=4806"},"modified":"2019-07-03T10:50:28","modified_gmt":"2019-07-03T17:50:28","slug":"antipodean-adventures-forest-bathing-in-the-blue-mountains","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/?p=4806","title":{"rendered":"Antipodean Adventures &#8211; &#8220;Forest Bathing&#8221; in the Blue Mountains"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>In 1839, Charles Darwin spent two weeks on the Blue Mountains which are about 100 kilometers west of Sydney. He traveled by boat and then horseback. When he got to this view he wrote:<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-1' class='gallery galleryid-4806 gallery-columns-3 gallery-size-thumbnail'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/leslieval.com\/?attachment_id=4811'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_3078_2-1600x1067-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/leslieval.com\/?attachment_id=4813'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_3011_1-1600x1067-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<div>(Works of Chas. Darwin, vol. 3)<\/div>\n<div>&#8220;<em>An immense gulf is unexpectedly seen through the trees&#8230; This kind view was to me quite novel and extremely magnificent.<\/em>&#8220;<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div>Darwin continues and describes the scene as if it is a bay, but a bay not filled with islands, but with trees.<\/div>\n<div>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_3191-1600x1067.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-4817\" src=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_3191-1600x1067-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_3191-1600x1067-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_3191-1600x1067-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_3191-1600x1067-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_3191-1600x1067.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/div>\n<div>The Blue Mountains seem not to be about mountains so much as about canyons &#8211; huge canyons cut thousands of feet deep through many layers and colors of sandstones. And these canyons are completely filled with vegetation &#8211; tree ferns, eucalyptus, pines and more.<\/div>\n<div>\n<div id='gallery-2' class='gallery galleryid-4806 gallery-columns-3 gallery-size-thumbnail'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon '>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/leslieval.com\/?attachment_id=4831'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\" src=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_3251-1024x1536.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/leslieval.com\/?attachment_id=4830'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_3245-1024x1536-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/leslieval.com\/?attachment_id=4829'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_3008_1-1024x1536-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/leslieval.com\/?attachment_id=4828'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_3051-1024x1536-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/leslieval.com\/?attachment_id=4827'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_3055-1024x1536-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/leslieval.com\/?attachment_id=4826'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_3059-1024x1536-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<div id='gallery-3' class='gallery galleryid-4806 gallery-columns-3 gallery-size-thumbnail'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/leslieval.com\/?attachment_id=4819'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_3070-1344x896-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/leslieval.com\/?attachment_id=4820'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_3143_1-1600x1067-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/leslieval.com\/?attachment_id=4821'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_3250-1344x896-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/leslieval.com\/?attachment_id=4822'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_3146_1-1600x1067-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/leslieval.com\/?attachment_id=4823'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_3289_1-1344x1074-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/leslieval.com\/?attachment_id=4824'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_3080-1344x896-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><a href=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_3022-1024x1536.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-4836\" src=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_3022-1024x1536-200x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_3022-1024x1536-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_3022-1024x1536-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_3022-1024x1536-683x1024.jpg 683w, https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_3022-1024x1536.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\nWhile walking and picnicking on the steep, step-filled bushwalks that necklace these canyons, we have found a calmness and serene beauty that was not present in vibrant Sydney.\u00a0 We are here &#8220;Forest Bathing&#8221; (shinrin-yoku, in Japanese) where serendipitous and ephemeral natural shapes and patterns and sounds appear before us at nearly every turn and view.<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div>Leslie:\u00a0 &#8220;<em>I go out in nature to discover and to be surprised by colors, textures, patterns,<\/em><em>\u00a0sounds and scents<\/em>.&#8221;<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-4' class='gallery galleryid-4806 gallery-columns-3 gallery-size-thumbnail'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/leslieval.com\/?attachment_id=4838'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_3042-1024x1536-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/leslieval.com\/?attachment_id=4837'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_3044-1024x1536-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon '>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/leslieval.com\/?attachment_id=4835'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\" src=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_3035-1024x1536.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n<div>Magpies whistle and cackle, cockatiels squawk loudly and buzzing cicadas are so loud that we hear their buzz coming up from several kilometers in the valleys below.<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div>Expansive overlooks pop out as one finally emerges from the tree ferns and gum trees that shroud the steep tracks that lead us down from the populated escarpment above.\u00a0 \u00a0A 1000&#8242; high waterfall suddenly comes into view.\u00a0\u00a0Looping strands of eucalyptus bark create a visual symphony.\u00a0 Crushed and damp eucalyptus leaves leave a distinctive smell and bring back a summer of long ago in Santa Barbara.<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div><a href=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_3162-1280x853.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-4842\" src=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_3162-1280x853-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_3305-1280x853.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-4844\" src=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_3305-1280x853-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><\/a>Long, long before Darwin, the Australian Aboriginals hunted and gathered in these valleys and sang their reality out of their Dreamtime. Rock shelters still show ancient hand prints, paintings and petroglyphs. It requires another trip to Australia and some cool snorkel-equipped Land Rover to do Aboriginal rock art justice!<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div><a href=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_3183-1024x1536.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-4843\" src=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_3183-1024x1536-200x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_3183-1024x1536-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_3183-1024x1536-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_3183-1024x1536-683x1024.jpg 683w, https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_3183-1024x1536.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/a>What is it that makes the sound of the didgeridoo so\u00a0haunting?\u00a0 Played well, as in the Aboriginal show, &#8220;Waradah&#8221; in the town of Katoomba,\u00a0it can imitate a hopping kangaroo, a barking dingo, or a singing\u00a0kookaburra.\u00a0 Performers shared their artwork and unique Dreamtime stories through their fast-paced dances.<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div><a href=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_3186-1280x853.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-4841\" src=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_3186-1280x853-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><\/a>It was a fine educational show, but where were the hundreds of tourists who rushed past us to the Three Sisters Overlook to take their selfie photographs and then return to their polluting tour busses?\u00a0 No time for bushwalking or nature-bathing for them&#8230;..<\/div>\n<div>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_3177-1280x853.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-4840\" src=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_3177-1280x853-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_3177-1280x853-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_3177-1280x853-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_3177-1280x853-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_3177-1280x853.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/div>\n<div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Photo-editing_Cloud20180130-1600x1610.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-4857\" src=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Photo-editing_Cloud20180130-1600x1610-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Photo-editing_Cloud20180130-1600x1610-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Photo-editing_Cloud20180130-1600x1610-298x300.jpg 298w, https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Photo-editing_Cloud20180130-1600x1610-768x773.jpg 768w, https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Photo-editing_Cloud20180130-1600x1610-1018x1024.jpg 1018w, https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Photo-editing_Cloud20180130-1600x1610.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>Darwin writes (1839) that kangaroos will soon be extirpated from Australia. He postulates this after a failed kangaroo hunting trip in the Megalong Valley where he learned that settlers with greyhounds were devilishly effective at killing roos. He mentions that Aboriginals kept trying to borrow these dogs.<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-5' class='gallery galleryid-4806 gallery-columns-3 gallery-size-thumbnail'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/leslieval.com\/?attachment_id=4855'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_3092_1_1-1600x1036-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p>Here, almost 200 years later, we did find kangaroos in the early morning in this verdant valley. They were in open fields, but they were very wary animals, hopping away as soon as our car door opened. So, Darwin&#8217;s forecast was wrong and Australian protections have kept this delightful and unique species alive.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<div>Val :\u00a0 &#8220;<em>A kangaroo (or wallaby) in the wild is worth ten roos in the zoos<\/em>.&#8221;<\/div>\n<div>\n<div id='gallery-6' class='gallery galleryid-4806 gallery-columns-3 gallery-size-thumbnail'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/leslieval.com\/?attachment_id=4858'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_3440-1600x1067-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/leslieval.com\/?attachment_id=4856'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_3092_1-1600x1067-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/leslieval.com\/?attachment_id=4859'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_3520_1-1600x1031-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/leslieval.com\/?attachment_id=4860'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_3438_1-1600x1219-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/leslieval.com\/?attachment_id=4861'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_3493-1600x1067-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/leslieval.com\/?attachment_id=4862'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_3408-1600x1067-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><a href=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_3351-1024x1536.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-4863\" src=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_3351-1024x1536-200x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_3351-1024x1536-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_3351-1024x1536-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_3351-1024x1536-683x1024.jpg 683w, https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_3351-1024x1536.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/a>We are approaching the end of our 3 weeks bounding around parts of Australia and a heavy fog has descended on the Blue Mountains. So, we have decided to drive through this pea-soup down off the escarpment and tour the Jenolan Caves &#8211; one of the largest cave systems in one of the world&#8217;s oldest limestone deposits.\u00a0 To the left and below are a few photos of the chambers we visited.<\/div>\n<div>\n<div id='gallery-7' class='gallery galleryid-4806 gallery-columns-3 gallery-size-thumbnail'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/leslieval.com\/?attachment_id=4868'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_3340-1024x1536-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/leslieval.com\/?attachment_id=4867'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_3353-1024x1536-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon '>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/leslieval.com\/?attachment_id=4866'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\" src=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_3357-1024x1536.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/leslieval.com\/?attachment_id=4865'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_3334-1024x1536-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/leslieval.com\/?attachment_id=4864'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_3346-1024x1536-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Tomorrow we return to Sydney and then fly backwards across the International Dateline after a fine week driving our rental car on the wrong side of the road. We have stayed in medium-priced places (about $100 US per night) and finding them often upon the recommendation of the guests and lodge-keepers at the previous night&#8217;s spot.\u00a0 We will remember Australians as wonderfully open and friendly people with admirable conservation ethics which lead to protecting vast areas of land such as the lovely Blue Mountains National Park.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In 1839, Charles Darwin spent two weeks on the Blue Mountains which are about 100 kilometers west of Sydney. He traveled by boat and then horseback. When he got to this view he wrote: (Works of Chas. Darwin, vol. 3) &#8220;An immense gulf is unexpectedly seen through the trees&#8230; This kind view was to me [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4879,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[33],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4806","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-australia","entry","has-media"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4806","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4806"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4806\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4894,"href":"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4806\/revisions\/4894"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/4879"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4806"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4806"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4806"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}