Our second stop in the blue mountains was the Jenolan Caves. Ten caves are currently accessible to the public and we choose to go on "The Temple of Baal" tour.
Though the features in this cave are actually named after a biblical story, we decided to rename them. Instead of "The Temple of Baal", we're calling it "The Temple of Baal's Dragon".
Baal is a demon and generally a cruel an horrible incarnation. His pet dragon, however, though ravenously hungry, is also kinda cute.
Baal's dragon has a pretty typical MO. He likes eating people (especially tourists), and sometimes brings a snack home to his cave. Like most dragons, he slobbers hideously, especially after eating.
The Dragon Slobber
One morning the dragon brought home a beautiful woman. (He'd already eaten her fat tasty friends and only a few skinny German tourists were left.) The woman attempting to befriend the dragon, scratched him under his chin which the dragon liked so much his tail thumped. After a while he fell asleep, content. Sadly while the woman was trying to escape the dragon drooled all over her and she suffocated.
The one-time hot girlfriend.
Another time he captured a drunk Aussie that had fallen asleep. Though Baal's Dragon thought the Aussie's snoring was comforting, he ate him anyways, and all that's left is his beer bottle.
Bottle covered in slobber.
Occasionally Baal's Dragon would accidentally let loose some fiery breath in his cave. Where it was hottest, the fire would change the drool from it's normal orangy froth to a brilliant white blue.
Outside the caves there are also a few treks you can take to visit other features. This is the Great Nettle Hall, a meeting place for all the dragons. Though a few dragons break the rules, generally there isn't any eating allowed in the hall.
The drool-less great nettle hall.
You can also view the Arch of Challenge. Dragons hone their skills flying though the arch and scoring points tossing tourists through it. (They always eat their snacks afterwards though. It would be wasteful otherwise.)
Arch of Challenge.
So spectacular are the caves, that despite the dragons, people still come to visit. There is even a road built right through part of the caves. Tourists call this the Grand Arch, but the dragons call it the Tourist Trap. (Adjacent is the building that hosts the store, cafe and ticket office).
If we had more time I would have visited some of the other caves. Pictures don't do them justice.
-E
