The "Blue" "Mountains"? (Chuck? Question marks in or out of the quotations?)
The Blue Mountains are neither. Gad, there's a boatload to report today.
The Blue Mountains are yellow sandstone plateaus. They are not mountains as they do not converge to a peak, have a water source or something else (geographers, please). And the Blue? Is due to the Reighly Scattering-- when the light hits the oil from the eucalyptus (hundreds of varieties and other flora that have oils) that dissipates into the atmosphere. If it were water hitting the light it would be.... a rainbow. But, since it's this oil, it refracts into a Blue Hue (I'll behave, verbally).
So, why The "Blue" "Mountains?" (Chuck?) When the English arrived at these lovely plateaus, they looked up and saw that they were high. When they looked at the haze about the really high plateaus, they saw it was blueish. They didn't wait for someone to come along and tell them that Pluto's not really a planet. They just named them the Blue Mountains.
The Blue Mountains are a World Heritage site-- one of 18 in Australia. There are four criteria for becoming a WHS-- and I don't remember what they are. But, the Blue Mountains have 2 criteria. Age.. bio-diversity... (environmental scientists, please). Tim from the Reformer, please have the comments up and running, so people can correct my information!
Okay, haven't YET seen the night sky, but Tim from Tread Lightly says it's bully. From here, we can see 3 (count em, Sam) gallaxies with the naked eye, and about 75% of the Milky Way (fully clothed). Scorpio is visible in the Winter Constellation, and as I am a Scorpio, thats' a good sign. Thank you, God.
Tim from Tread Lightly described a visit with people from Singapore. They were on a night hike, seeing the stars and glow worms. They came to a lookout point, where Tim shut off the flashlights to take a long gaze at the night sky. The Singaporians (linguistics, please) began to freak out, shouting loudly and frantically. Tim asked them what was the issue. The Singaporists explained in anxious English that they could not see anything! They could not see their hands in front of their faces, nor the person next to them. It was non-sensory overload. Apparently, they had-- literally-- never been in the dark before. As everyone in Singapore lives in the mega-city, with constant lights, even at night-- even in the dark of their apartments-- they had never experienced... Dark.
It's this kind of stuff that makes me shake my head and drink several martinis. Never experienced.... the Dark?? And, how many millions-- BILLIONS-- of people live in cities? Um... billions? Imagine that. The majority of humans on the planet might very well have never experienced... the Dark. I don't know about you, but that is pretty ***king bizarre. But, then, I live on a Class 4 road in Vermont, so how dare I judge "normal."
I asked where were the Aboriginal sites in the Blue Mountains. Tim stopped and said, "look." It's all Aboriginal. Made me culturally blush-- I fall prey to the stereotype that an Aboriginal site will have sacred campground, rock art, tools intact, and a spiritual glow with subtle messages left only for me. Turns out I'm full of *h**. What tourists (and sorry immigrants who arrived after the aboriginals or who arrived after but are not black and therefore very sorry too) want is a time machine. They want to visit 27,000 years ago, pick up a trinket, shake a hand, and fly back home.
Also, like, did you think about the fact that we have time machines. Airplanes! We just need to expand on the distance, eh Sam?
Tim pointed out another backwardsness of Australia. In autumn in Australia, the leaves remain and the bark falls off the trees. Well, sheds.
The trail I walked today was the Charles Darwin trail. Apparently, Chuck didn't think much of Australia. But, Tim says the expedition was in its fourth year, the crew was homesick and tired, and everyone was ready to get home, so they saw Australia through these weary, defeated eyes.
It's day 6, and I'm beginning to see Australia through well-rested, determined eyes. 4 days in the country were medicinal. Snuffing smushed Eucalyptus and Melaluca branches, hiking miles, strolling along the streets of Katoomba (more than a "dole town"-- kind of Brattleboro-y), listening to this wonky language... I'm beginning to feel right at home.
I'm staying an extra night in the Blue Mountains with Marcea (apparently I am a wonderful house guest), and into Sydney tomorrow. Tomorrow I'm on a bit of a scavenger hunt-- off to find galleries (or even the artist himself) who carry James P. Simon's art. Google him.
Good night. Enjoy the dark (and your wimply little galaxies-- IN YOUR FACE, NORTH AMERICA).
love susie
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