Tuesday, January 7, 2014

Australia Day 11-- Uluru (Ayers Rock)

Woke up at 530. Jason was awake as I quickly got ready to start the twenty minute walk to the casino to be picked up for my emu run day trip to Uluru. He offered to drive me which I could not pass up. Waited about 10 minutes before the bus pulled up and mic and mark the tour guides picked us up and off we went. Two hours to mount ebenezer a small little gas station with toilets. Ordered a egg bacon and cheese breakfast and enjoyed it outside. Watched a movie on the sacred Uluru and it's history. Alia learned about the desert oaks who have roots starlight down to the water table. Mature ones look like normal oaks whereas juvenile ones haven't reaches water yet and are all furry.
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Another two hours before we arrived to kuta uta. Walked into a gulch for 50 minutes before heading to Uluru. It is about 96 degrees here (and I am not complaining as it is the coldest day in twenty years back in Minnesota). Next we stopped at the Uluru hotel complete with souvenir gift shop where I picked up a hand painted boomerang and a fridge magnet for Chrissi o. Per her request. Checked my email and headed back in the bus with a diet coke to Ayers Rock. Also received lunch here. A ham sandwich with Tomato cucumber lettuce and butter. Mmmmm. About another hour we arrived and stopped at the cultural center. Aboriginal paintings are going for about 300$ there. Then we went to the first base hike. It was a 1k hike in the dead of the sunlight.

Stopped at a kitchen where the aboriginals used to grind up fruits and nuts. As well as a watering hole. Ended this trek at an 80 km waterfall (which obviously was not flowing). Then back on the bus. At this point I had already finished 2 liters of water. (No kidney stones for me this trip..... Knock on wood). Back on the coach bus. Next we continued the drive around the base learning about the different aboriginal folklore of the rock. Climbing is not allowed as it is very dangerous and damages the sacred rock. Next stop was another hike this time in the shade to the hunting teaching caves and a second water hole. Back in the bus and off to sunset peak.

Aboriginal women come and sell official paintings for rather inexpensive and the sucker I am purchased two for 50$. Hopedully I'll find somewhere in my house to put them.

Everyone had a chair and mic and mark made bratwurst dinner complete with potatoe and Lettuce salad and sparkling white wine. Met Theresa and Ariana. Theresa is from Munich germany (don't worry, I'll be staying with we for Oktoberfest if all works out) and Ariana is from melbourne moving to Darwin in the air force. Great girls. We had some good conversation as we watched te rock turn red with the sunset.



Immediately after sunset (like I am talking 30 seconds past the minute) we boarded the bus to start our five hour ride back to Alice springs.
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Hit a kangaroo on the way home. Thing jumped outta no where. Then back to the casino where Jason picked me up.

Off to the watering hike in the morning and off to cairns at 5pm. Found a host.
Sent from my iPhone

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