A prerequisite to living in Australia is usually an ardent love of the outdoors and a desire to explore nature, besides, of course, a passion for soccer and cricket. Sydney, being a melting point for international students from all parts of the world, has no dearth of nature lovers.

Travel is particularly high on an agenda for exchange students in Australia. Since a number of my friends would soon be packing their bags and heading home, we decided it was time for a bit of exploration. Even an armchair nature admirer like me has to give in to the call of the wild every once in a while.

So, we planned a day trip to the glorious Blue Mountains, a two-hour train ride from Sydney. Even forecasts of rain did not deter my determined friends.

I tagged along, albeit reluctantly, to rough it out in the mountains on a beautiful Sunday morning 
at a time when I’m usually tucked up in bed. Even when I was in Dubai, it was rather hard for me to set my body clock to wake up for work on Sunday mornings when the other half of the world was enjoying lazy brunches.

Equipped with their backpacks and training shoes, my friends were all set to take on any challenge that morning. We reached Katoomba Town in the Blue Mountains to be welcomed by tranquillity and scenic views. Though Sydney was barely 100 kilometres away, we were sure we had been transported to a world where time had come to a standstill and the town folk were living in a serenity unfamiliar to city dwellers. Used to Sydney’s bustle and agonising waits at traffic lights, the joy of carefree walks, empty roads and nearly non-existent traffic was somewhat novel to us.

Australia is steeped in Aboriginal culture. Folklore and legends are commonplace and visits to most parts of Australia are not devoid of brushes with its rich indigenous history. Katoomba is no different with its fascinating Three Sisters — a set of three rocks that are 3,000 feet above sea level.  Legend has it that three beautiful sisters of the Katoomba tribe fell in love with three brothers, but were forbidden to marry them because of tribal law.

A witch doctor from the tribe turned them into stone to protect them from harm. However,  he was killed in a battle before he could reverse the spell, effectively immortalising them in stone.

Tourists visiting New South Wales, or even Australians itching for a break from the monotony of the city, often get away to the Blue Mountains for bush walking, hiking, cycling, abseiling or other sports. We, of course, were going for something less extreme and instead opted for a scenic forest walk down what was called the Giant Staircase — a name that amused me at first.

I wondered how giant a staircase could be until I found myself walking down almost 1,000 feet on a narrow bunch of steep and slippery steps, which to me looked like a walk down an abyss.

My amusement naturally disappeared when we had to climb the distance all the way back as I huffed and puffed to keep up with my seasoned backpacking friends.

They say nature has a wonderful, soothing effect on the nerves and has a strange way of making humans appreciate the earth better. The lush greenery, the waterfalls, the chirping of unseen birds and the wild shrubs had a similar impact on us as we retraced our steps back to the town, making our effort worth every moment. Far from any exhaustion, the four hour walk left us feeling rejuvenated and content. A sense of exhilaration filled us as we headed to the closest café. Regardless of nature’s effect on the soul, the joy of a cup of hot chocolate and a blueberry muffin is irreplaceable for the urban heart.  

(After writing on a number of issues pertaining to education 
for KT, Preeti Kannan is 
now pursuing her own
 Down Under)