ALICE SPRINGS TO AYRES ROCK(ULURU)

I got up very early to join my three day adventure to Ayres rock(ULURU is the name used by the Aboriginals and that is now the official name of Ayres rock.) and the Kings Canyon. I was feeling very nervous because I had opted for sleeping out under the stars in a swag bag, but fellow travellers had been telling all kinds of tales about Dingos hanging around the campsites.

There were twelve of us on the bus. We travelled first to a Camel farm where we had the chance to have a ride on a camel.

I had no particular urge to put my life at risk so early in the morning, so I left it to the younger travellers. I had a lovely cup of coffee and bacon sarnie instead!

Back on the bus we headed off to Ayres rock(Uluru). On these outback trips it seems that they must put loud Country and Western music on inside the bus as soon as they turn the key in the ignition. I HATE COUNTRY AND WESTERN MUSIC. So I have to say that is always one of the low points of the trip.Especially when the track Good'ay Good'ay is played!!!But I just try to concentrate on the views from the bus window and block out the heart rending lyrics from various country and western singers. (That is my little gripe over with!!!)

We stopped off to make our sandwiches for lunch
and then washed up before heading off for the Olgas. I love the way everyone just mucks in on the organised trips. The Olgas are a bizarre collection of huge rounded rocks called Kata Tjuta(meaning many heads) by the Aboriginal community. They are impressive monoliths.

We went for a fantastic walk in the valley between two of the biggest rocks.
Afterwards we stopped to gather firewood from along the road for tonights campfire. Bonnie our guide warned us to look out for SNAKES! She said if the branch moves! do not touch it! I did not need telling twice. Needless to say I spent ages looking at the bits of wood before I even dared to venture near enough to contemplate picking it up. Thankfully the fellas were more gung ho and they collected lots of wood. This was strapped to the trailer behind the bus.
We then joined a group of tourists on a hill overlooking Uluru to watch the sunset. We even had a glass of wine. The posh tours had nibbles as well, so we kept daring each other to go and grab some of their nibbles. It sounds pathetic and it is I suppose, but is kept us amused until the sun rose .Thankfully they saw the funny side as well.

It is just impossible to capture on camera the beauty of the colours that we saw in the sky surrounding the giant rock. I have never seen anything like it in my life. The rock went through so many shades of rusty red and the purples surrounding it had to be seen to be believed. I tried my best to get a good picture. We set up camp nearby and Bonnie cooked us a great veg and chicken stir fry for dinner.
We sat around the fire to eat and drink. (I needed a couple of glasses of wine to calm the nerves.) The prospect of Dingos walking within inches of my swag left me feeling more than a bit nervous. But Bonnie assured me that no one had been hurt in all the time she had been guiding the tours here....but there is always a first!!!

We all chose our swags and laid them out by the fire..I grabbed a spot by Bonnie so that I would feel a bit more secure. I got inside my sleeping bag and the swag bag and settled for the night. I was so taken with the stars overhead that my fears soon subsided. I was very excited to see several shooting stars. I made lots of wishes!! And I managed to sleep well. We got up at five in the morning, it was freezing. We had breakfast and headed off to see the sun rise at Uluru. Once again it did not disappoint.It was a colourful show. But it was very cold!

We were then given the option of climbing the rock or doing a 10km basewalk. Four of the group went up the rock, only two made it to the top and back down though. The Japanese girls found it to steep. I decided to do the 10km basewalk, because it is so sacred to the Aboriginal people, and they do not want people clambering all over it. The walk was really fascinating. There are so many different atmospheric parts of the rock that you only get to experience by being up close. The watering whole for the animals is so tranquil and I just sat there for ages reflecting on life.
We then went to the Aboriginal culture centre to learn more about their way of life and beliefs.I found it very interesting and I could have spent a lot longer there. On our way to the campsite we stopped off at an inland salt lake.
Once more gathered the wood for the camp fire. This time Bonnie's boyfriend, who knew where she usually stops, had left a love note saying how much he loved her under a stone by the roadside...AHHHHHHHHHH.
Our camping area on night two was even more remote than the first night. We lit the fire and Bonnie once again cooked us a great dinner.We sat around the fire chatting.
Everyone suddenly went very quiet and looked over at me because they knew I was very nervous at the prospect of Dingos. I turned round to see what they were looking at. There on the edge of the camp was the first of many dingos I would see that night.
I nearly jumped out of my skin.But to be honest the more I observed them the less afraid I became. They were just curious and looking for food. They were not there to attack us. We settled down in our sleeping bags and swags under the stars. The air was filled with the sound of dingos howling from miles way!! Even Bonnie said she had never heard them quite that bad. Needless to say I remained a little nervous. It was a very cold night and I did not sleep much. I was listening to the dingos walking around the camp. I even stuck my head out and watched one of them for ages on top of our table searching for food. It eventually wandered off into the distance. The next morning we rose at five again and had a hearty breakfast. One of the German guys could not find his shoes. A Dingo had taken them off into the bush. But he was lucky because it had dropped them. Bonnie did warn us to put everything away as they had a history of taking off with people's belongings.
After breakfast we travelled to the Kings Canyon in the Watarrka National Park. It is one of the most spectacular sights.

The walls of Kings Creek raise to a platform with amphitheartre-like views of the towering canyon's rim. We did the 6km walk through the creek. It took us about four hours. The first hill we climbed is called 'heart attack hill', and I soon realised why. But I took it steady managed to get to the top. It was well worth it, we were rewarded with awesome views.


There is an area called the Garden of Eden.It has a series of tranquil pools. I loved it.

After the walk we had lunch and then headed back to Alice springs, a five hour drive. It passed quickly though because I spent most of the time chatting to a lovely Italian couple on the trip called Marco and Frederica. I was able to practise my Italian. They were in a state of shock because when they booked the trip they did not realise they would actually be outside under the stars. They thought they would be in nice warm tents. And they had not got warm enough clothing with them for what they had experienced. But to their credit they kept smiling throughout and just joined in. Even when Bonnie produced the Australian version of spagetti bolognese!!