Blue Mountain -- Day Seven

December 3, Wednesday
Australian Time: 1612

7th Day

Location: Blue Mountain, New South Wales
Accommodation: Echo Point Villa 2
Cost: $177 per night
Currency (Singapore is to Australia): 1 is to 1

This morning we had to wake up earlier than usual, and needless to say, I was sleeping throughout breakfast. Though I still remember what I ate. Moove Chocolate Milk, orange juice, croissant with butter (de-LI-cious) and a few bites of muffin. The croissant was surprisingly tasty, the taste just right. In fact, for something that was bought from the supermarket (frozen/chilled/whatever), the food tasted awesome! Overall, the meal was cheaper than having breakfast at some random café.

After breakfast, I reluctantly left the place behind, and settled myself once more for an arduous journey that would leave my posterior numb. On the way, we stopped at Mudgee (haha) for lunch at Subway. As always, it tasted great and refreshing. We were sitting outside the restaurant, with the wind howling furiously, so things flew all over the place. We had a great time testing our reflex skills.

I fell asleep for the rest of the ride.

Then, we finally reached Blue Mountain. Nothing blue about it, obviously. But we were in the mountains, so when I stepped out of the car, it was as if the wind was just waiting for the chance to jump at me, and it blew my hair all over my face. The wind was strong and bone chilling, and my hair erector muscles all contracted immediately (homeostasis wastes no time). I hurried into the house in hope of some warmth, but the house was as cold on the outside as it was on the inside. Useless thing you call villas.

In turn I searched in vain for the central heater, and emerged victorious. Maybe there was some use for the house after all.

Anyway, the house was just as beautiful as yesterday’s motel room, if not better. This villa had a more warm feeling, and things were made of wood, so that made it feel more at home and relaxing (wood does that to you). The kitchen was supplied with everything we needed for cooking, oil, salt, pepper, etc, and we could not be happier because previous accommodations did not provide such luxury. Usually they gave us a microwave.

Dinner was sumptuous, including noodles, half a stuffed chicken, and Chinese takeaway (steamed rice [here they call boiled rice], mixed vegetables [once again in a malt-like state] and duck meat). We’ve taken to eat more often at home (or in the motel/villa, whatever), so that the bills would not be so ridiculous.

Everyone helping around the kitchen was fun; mom was, of course, the captain of the ship and was sending out orders while controlling the wheel. Many a times we tripped over one another (imagine four people in a mini kitchen half the size of your regular kitchen) and ended up in fits while trying not to get scalded. It was, despite the peril, fun.

After dinner and bathing, we gathered together on the comfortable double bed and began playing Da Lao Er, all the while laughing and screaming, and generally waking our neighbours (hopefully not). Everyone was in hysterics before going to bed.

The room, with the lights off, was so dark to the point that I couldn’t even see my own fingers (think the Chinese proverb). Even after my eyes adjusted to the dark (I hope), I couldn’t really see much except the window (which had a little light penetrating through). With the serene surroundings, it was difficult to not fall asleep almost instantly.