www.natashayong.com

Russell Falls
One of the best joy I get from climbing up to the top of a mount or trekking miles into a dense nature reserve is to discover the pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. This treasure is represented in the break of dawn when the horizon is lit by the crack of sunlight or a majestic waterfall. As the waters crashes down from a drop, you cannot help by wonder how far it had traveled to form this spectacle.

Located in eastern boundary of Mt Field National Park, in Tasmania, Australia; lie Russell Falls. They were first named the Browning Falls after the original discoverer, c.1856, but were known as the Russell Falls after 1884, by which time they were already a popular tourist attraction. The Falls Reserve was established to protect them in 1885.


We started the walk through Tall Trees Walk. An easy walk through a mixed forest comprising towering swamp gums, the tallest flowering plant on Earth, and species typical of wet forests and cool temperate rainforests, such as dogwood, musk and myrtle. The tall swamp gums of Mt Field National Park are amongst the tallest trees in Australia.
Towards the falls, the track is framed by stunning tall tree ferns. The falls themselves are impossibly picturesque.


St Columba Falls
St Columba Falls are the tallest falls in Tasmania, a high volume multi tiered waterfall that throws itself 90m down the side of Mt Victoria. Its water cascade over granite ledges, through forests of tree ferns, sassafras and myrtles.
The spectacular St Columba Falls is situated about 30 minutes from St Helens and 12 kilometres from the township of Pyengana. Much of the falls can be viewed from the road and the 20-minute easy return walk.

My first taste of Tasmania's Cradle Mountain was an insanely wet and rough one. While Carl put potatoes to boil and beef to stew, we took a hike down Ronny Creek in search of wildlife. Many hikers start their Overland Track from Ronny Creek Trailhead and hike North to South. It was a fairly simple downhill hike if not for the ridiculous wind and rain. The ponchos were rendered useless and umbrellas were a joke!

Exposed to the wide and wild buttongrass lands, I was walking firm in case the winds pushed me off course. Such weather is common in the west Tasmanian region and considered mild!!! It was an experience to respect how vicious the mountains can be.


Starting our hike downhill


Head South toward the highlands


Wombats and Wallabies can be found within the grassland. I was too engrossed in getting myself out of the rain!

This is as close to Heaven on Earth for me...


Cradle Mountain, the start of the 65-kilometre (40-mile) Overland Track, is the northern end of the 161,000-hectare (397,840-acre) Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, part of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. Tasmania's highest mountain, 1,617-metre (5,305-foot) Mt Ossa, is in this park, just off the Overland Track, while another beautiful national park, the Walls of Jerusalem, abuts its eastern boundary.
The sheer magnificence of Cradle Mountain inspired Austrian-born Gustav Weindorfer to build a chalet of King Billy pine here in 1912 and work tirelessly for a decade to have the area declared a national park "for the people for all time". His dream was realised in 1922, and today a quarter of all visitors to the state travel here to share his vision.


We spent the good part of the morning doing the simple 6km Dove Lake Circuit track, one of Tasmania’s premier walks. The track took us around Dove Lake and beneath the towering spires of Cradle Mountain. The track is boardwalked for much of the way and would take about 2 hours to complete.


Our track was insanely delightful. Starting out with crazy gusts of winds, drizzles of rain during the walk, falling flakes of snow from the summit of the mountain and warm sunshine toward the end.


Standing, looking up to the magnificence of Cradle Mountain

View Natasha Yong's Travel Map in a larger map

Plotting of my Tasmanian Travel in Oct / Nov 2011.
Despite having spent 9 gorgeous and serene days within the lone island, there is much of Tasmania, especially the great reserves that remain to be explored.
It's an awesome place to be one in nature.

"neither death nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nothing already in existence and nothing still to come, nor any power, nor the heights nor the depths, nor any created thing whatever, will be able to come between us and the love of God, known to us in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:38-39)

Update:
Wow! I didn't realize I blogged on the same Bible verse back in 2006 in The LOVE of Christmas!
Amazing how the word stands the test of time... always...

Thinking of loved ones. Doing a Christmas gift list. Pulling hair out thinking of what to buy. Squeezing with the festive crowd and this year braving the thunder storms to get that perfect gift. And than before Christmas - exchanging the gift. The entire process of gift giving at Christmas.

People buy each other gifts in the "spirit of giving" and it makes me wonder about what this "spirit of giving" is really all about. Surely, Christmas presents an opportunity for one to pick up a special gift, letting another know their individual worth. But the world has commercialised Christmas so much that the message behind the "giving" is lost. More often than not, we circum into the materialistic desires of personal wants. The gift is often one we can live without.

I gave this concept of "giving" and "receiving" some thought this Christmas. To different people, there were varying understandings and meanings. Last year, I extended the giving in Charity to the giving in Christmas gifts. Having thought long and hard if I should buy a regular Christmas gift or continue with a life changing gift to someone less fortunate than we are, I caved in to what I believe is the more meaningful and joyful message of Christmas. In line with my personal cause to give the gift of Education. This year, I donated school bags with stationary, a bicycle and sponsored for a child's need for education. What I thought was beautiful gift of "giving" had lead me to also realize that some people thought otherwise. Non-Christian views felt awkward that a gift given wasn't directed for them, while others felt that charity should be done within oneself. I recognize both views and have come to realize that there is no right or wrong when it comes to giving. And equally as important is the joy in receiving and being grateful that you were important enough to be in someone's mind.