Kiama Town (Kiama), Kiama Visitor's Center (Glenbrook), and Great Western Highway (Lawson)

Part 2 : Read here for Kiama Big Blowhole, Little Blowhole Reserve, Centro Woolworths and Kiama Ocean View Motor Inn (Kiama)

Part 4 : Read here for Sydney Town, Bondi Beach, and Randwick Lodge (Sydney)

~ Part 3 ~

It was 3AM. Hubby woke up and flicked one of the curtains, to look where the sound came from.

“What is it all about?” I rubbed my eyes.

“WINDSTROM!” He shouted.

Note: Windstorm is a bad weather when there is a lot of wind but no rain.

“Huhhh?” I quickly jumped off the bed and had an immediate inspection on the situation. I almost had my eyeballs out, looking at the super strong wind that could bend a tree 45 degrees! Ya Allah, we were so closed, just few meters from the beach, please safe us from any tornado, typhoon, tsunami or what not!

We continued sleeping in vigilance mode. Yeah, we need to sleep, nonetheless, for we need strength and energy to drive to Blue Mountains.

Note : Take a good rest before you drive. It helps.

Few hours later, we woke up and got ourselves ready to check out. The wind still blew strongly, followed by drizzling rain that come and go. Crosswind, headwind, every types of wind were present at the moment. We had to run to the reception, to avoid from being blown away. Maklum la, ringan!

After a smooth checked-out, the reception told us an interesting fact.

“Ya know, this would be the perfect time for you to experience the Blowholes. Especially the Big one.” And he winked his eyes.

We both looked at each other and said, “Ya, why not.” Without knowing the consequences!

Hubby then drove out from the hotel and headed to the Big Blowhole. Soon we began driving, we started to feel something creepy! Our tiny Hyundai Getz was almost blown away! Scary ok! (Masa ni rasa macam nak keraskan bontot kasi keta berat skit.)

Slowly, we approached the parking area, where Big Blowhole is located exactly right in front of us. The only thing that separated us was the parking ring. WE WERE SUPER, DUPER, CLOSED!

We hardly saw anything outside, since it was really misty and foggy. We could hardly saw any car, in fact. The beach was on the left, we can clearly heard waves slamming the rocks. (Macam lagu Alleycats, hadiran ombak menghempas panteiiiiiii…) I switched on my camera and turned to video mode. We waited for the right moment, to capture the spray.

And suddenly, “KEDEBUSHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!”

A BIG SPLASH OF WATER SLAMMED THE WINDSCREEN! THE CAR WAS ROCKING! AND WE WERE SHOUTING “OO MAK HANG!!! BODOOOOOH BODOHHHHH!!!”

TERKEJUT OK!

 

And not long after, another splash came by!

“KEDEBUSHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!” It was from the beach side. Nothing came out from our mouth than OMG, OMG, OMG.

“Ok, I think we have to make a move. Or…we’ll be swipe away.”

“HOI! Don’t say that!” I lepuk hubby.

Note : Experience Blowholes during strong wind IS RECOMMENDED. At your own risk, please.

 

The car was still rocking left and right, especially when the wind blew across the direction that we were moving. We drove as careful as we can, further out from the Blowhole area. We passed by the Kiama Post Office, and headed to Princess Highway.

Our printed Google map showed Blue Mountains was 173KM away, and approaching Picton Road, the weather changed. Using this “country” trail, surrounded with tall trees, small road, no lights, I prayed for not seeing any bigfoot or sasquatch crossing the road. Hahaha!

Scary la jugak sebak kereta tak banyak. The road then merged into Hume Highway, then Sydney Motorway. It was still raining, when we finally reached Glenbrook, where Kiama Visitor’s Center is located.

Note : Basically, this center provides all-you-need-to-know-about Blue Mountain. Stop here to know it all and grab some souvenirs for yourself.

Know it all, huh? Wait. I spill the bean!

In the rain, we ran out from the car and walked into the visitor center. Bundles of brochures, pamphlets, maps, souvenirs (FMs, stickers, t-shirts, mugs, coasters, postcards, etc), you name it, you can get it there. As usual, I bought few fridge magnets lah kan.

There were other tourists as well, asking the shop assistants on the weather and how to get to Blue Mountains. We kind off ignored them at the first place, but joined to hear the quick briefing, later. But there was nothing absurd.

So we continued driving to Lawson, approximately 27KM away from Glenbrook, 14KM away from Katoomba. Before us, we saw more and more vehicles queuing on the road. From a distance, we saw red and white construction cones in between. I thought, it was just a minor road construction and we were still allowed to go through.

But half and hour had past! All cars were still on the road, not moving even an inch away. Aku resah! We were just 20 minutes away of Blue Mountains! I then zoomed in my camera and saw a police officer, talking to few drivers. Few cars turned back to the opposite way.

“Huh sudah, kenapa?”

Then we saw…

“Is that………………SNOW???” Aku nganga.

“Haah la! But…snow in Spring???” Hubby was pretty sure that he did not wrongly check the weather.

“YOU MEAN…IT IS SNOWING UP THERE? IN BLUE MOUNTAIN??” I confused.

“Guess so…” Hubby contemplated, tried to think of the alternatives.

More and more vehicles switched off their engine. On my left, there was a yellow school bus, with the driver smiled at me. Before it, there was one super cool car, ejecting its roof. “WHOA…”

I turned to the bus driver, and asked him “What’s going on up there?”

“Heavy snow. They have to close the road, and I heard it was closed since 3AM. The locals are asking the authority to open it up. I guess, another 3-5 hours, perhaps.”

Like, what??? Gile ape! AND KIAMA VISITOR’S CENTER DIDN’T EVEN WARN OR INFORM US!

And he continued “I have no choice but to wait. I need to pick up kids at Blackheath. Well, no one expect this, even the locals. Snow in Spring, huh?”

Hubby raised his eyebrows, confirming the issue. After wasted an hour moving nowhere, hubby persuaded me to cancel the plan. I mean, the whole Blue Mountains plan with 9 SERENE LOOKOUTS, will be dumped straight into the dustbin? 

"You must be kidding!" We had massive argument whether to proceed or return. Hubby told me that we can plan another visit next time, but for me, "I don’t want to repeat the same place, twice!"

Hubby remained silent.

“What happen to Wentworth Falls, Sublime, Gordon, Kiah, Echo, Evans, Govetts, Hassans, Bellbird, and Baltzer Lookout the hanging rock???” I threw the Tour Cookbook down the legroom.

Note : These lookouts are must place to visit. It offers serene panorama especially for nature lovers.

Hubby still, remained silent. Nak makan penampo agaknyer bini dia nih...

 

Hubby said nothing but turned back, waving crazily to those queuing vehicles, and wish them GOODLUCK! The queue was nearly 2KM and yet, no one knew what had happened up there. The whether then changed drastically, from bad to clearer sky. Pfft!

"OK, I MARAH NI. MARAH SANGAT! WHY DON'T WE JUST GO? DAH SAMPAI PUN KAN? TAKKAN NAK BURN HOTEL KAT KATOOMBA TU? AND WHAT'S THE POINT OF RENTING THIS CAR, IF WE DON'T GO TO BLUE MOUNTAIN??" I shouted and slammed the dashboard.

"DO YOU WANT TO GET STRANDED UP THERE, IN THICK SNOW, NOT KNOWING WHEN WE CAN GO UP AND WHEN WE CAN COME DOWN? IF, AND ONLY IF, WE CAN COME DOWN THE NEXT DAY LAH!" 

Terasa virtually ditunjal-tunjal dahi ini. Bini pun terdiam kaku. Terpaksa tido basement malam ni...sob sob!