Sunday, February 13, 2011

Once Upon A Time in the Land Down Under

The majestic Three Sisters of the Blue Mountains have been immortalised in many works of art.

Long ago in the Blue Mountains, three Aboriginal sisters - Meenhi, Wimlah and Gunnedoo - lived with their father, a witch doctor named Tyawan.
There also lived one creature feared by all - he was the Bunyip. Tyawan who knew where he lived would leave his daughters high on the cliff behind a rocky wall where they would be safe while he would collect food.
One day, waving goodbye to his daughters, he descended the cliff. On the top of the cliff, a big centipede suddenly appeared and frightened Meenhi. She picked up a stone and threw at him. The stone rolled away over the cliff and crashed into the valley below. The rocks behind the three sisters split open, leaving the sisters on a thin ledge.
There was a deep rumble from below and the angry Bunyip emerged from his sleep. He looked up to see who had rudely awakened him and there, perched on the thin ledge he saw the sisters cowering in fear. Furiously he lurched towards them.
In the valley, Tyawan heard the cry and looked up to see that the Bunyip had almost reached his daughters. Frantically the witch doctor pointed his magic bone at the girls and turned them into stone. They would be safe there until the Bunyip was gone and then Tyawan would return them to their former selves.
The Bunyip became angrier when he saw what had happened and he turned on Tyawan and began to chase him. Running away, Tyawan found himself trapped against a rock which he could neither climb nor go around. He quickly changed into a lyrebird and disappeared into a small cave. Everyone was safe but Tyawan has dropped his magic bone. The Bunyip returned angrily to his hole.
Tyawan crept out of the cave and searched for the bone, still seeking it today while the Three Sisters stand silently waiting, hoping he will find the bone and turn them back to their former selves.
We can see the Three Sisters today from Echo Point and in the valley we can hear Tyawan, the lyrebird, calling them as he searches for the lost bone. The Blue Mountains is just one-hour drive away from Sydney. Anytime is a good time for a visit, unless it's a rainy or foggy day.

They are the tourists' favourite backdrop at Echo Point. 
Angelina's notes: Witch doctors make bad child minders. Anyway, where was the mother? Mama, we haven't been there for ages. purrr....meow!
Brad's 2-cent's worth: What if I go search for the magic bone? If I could return the sisters to their normal selves, I'll marry all three. har har har *evil laughs*

25 comments:

Anonymous said...

Had Tyawan listened to his cat and left the magic bone with her, all these would not have occured. *ish ish*

Cat-from-Sydney said...

Andrea dear,
What do you expect from a man? They never listen! purrrr.....meow!

tireless mom said...

The mother must have ran away and only dared to watch the three daughters from afar after discovering that the husband is a witch. Yg husband opt to be a witch doctor tu apasal? Histerical wife dia!

Cat-from-Sydney said...

Aunty Yatt,
Wah...and so the plot thickens. purrr....meow!

Wan Sharif said...

Ni lagi payah nak percaya.. Ha..ha..

Sandy said...

wooww I went there before but I never knew the story behind it hahaha... what's with these legends ? it seems that centuries ago , people love to turn each others into rocks ! We have plenty of such stories in Indonesia too.

Cat-from-Sydney said...

Ayoh Wang,
Angelina nak jadi penglipur lara lah. purrr...meow!

Cat-from-Sydney said...

Tante Sandy,
I guess it was the easiest way to control the human population. purrr....meow!

Ein Makrai... said...

some info...good.....if not i even tak tahu cerita nie langsung...

Cat-from-Sydney said...

Ein dear,
Now you know. purrrr....meow!

Nana said...

It's a beautiful story. Something people would remember and tell their next generation. Thanks Angie! Now I know...Eh, you are a historian too?

Cat-from-Sydney said...

Aunty Nana,
Am I not Prof Dr Angelina? purrr....meow!

=^..^= said...

The poor sisters... they must have waited for sooooooo long! It's a good thing they have each other for company.

~Slash & Bronzy

Cat-from-Sydney said...

Slash & Bronzy,
Yeah....too long. 70,000 years or something.... don't think Brad would want to marry them at all. har har har *evil laughs*

Al-Manar said...

There is some similarity, if I am not mistaken, to the legedary story of princesses turned to the peaks of Gunung Santubong near Kuching ( now, now, do not excited) in Sarawak. The pictures seem vaguely familiar. Wonder if I had been there - in my dream ?

Cat-from-Sydney said...

Dear Pakcik,
I'll do research on the Santubong princesses later but from what I've heard it's different from the tale of Three Sisters. Hmmm....perhaps you've been dreaming of visiting your friend in Sydney...that's why. purrr....meow!

nurmisnan said...

hey sweety.. nice posting
i never know about gunung biru

mesti pergi sana...

Cat-from-Sydney said...

Aunty Nur,
Ha-ah...Best pi sana. Sejuk!!!! Lepas tu kita pi minum hot choc pulak. purrrr....meow!

i amsterdam said...

It is a sad story (sob sob).. Now now Brad... is that all you men always think about? Huurrummmphh!!

Cat-from-Sydney said...

Mother of Ilham,
I want to turn them back into their former selves. Is that bad? Marrying me is a bonus. har har har *evil laughs*

xoxo
Brad

TK said...

Bila lah I bole posing kat situ...
If I were to make a trip to Sydney I will surely visit the place :) and I'll find Cats In Sydney too hehe

Cat-from-Sydney said...

TK Sensei,
We'll be busy trying to find the magic bone. Have too book us three months in advance. har har har *evil laughs*

~CovertOperations78~ said...

What a sad and creepy story! Tyawan has no sense at all! Why didn't he change his daughters into lyrebirds too so that they could fly away? Silly old thing!

Cat-from-Sydney said...

CO78,
And he even lost the magic bone! Men! purrr....meow!

Sandy said...

lol! Population control ! you're exactly right, we have to control pets' population by spaying and neutering but humans often don't. Hypocrite hoomans -_-