We got up at 3am to catch a 6am flight, first from Adelaide to Sydney, then west again to Ayers Rock, known to the indigenous as Uluru. Our guide spent a couple years here doing tours, so that he knows many of the aboriginal stories. While our luggage was being delivered to our rooms, Jesse, our driver, took us to a place where we could walk back a path and actually touch the rock. The flies drive you nuts, and alas, it was 105 degrees. I can't remember a lot of the stories. The indigenous have been for thousands of years very imaginative relative to the stories they make up about the Uluru features. It is a very sacred site.There are men-only stories, women-only stories, and stories for all, which is what Wayne was sharing. There is a side where photos are not allowed. I asked about climbing it, and there used to be a chain installed in one area where folks could climb. It is VERY treacherous. The chain is gone, climbing is no longer allowed, but you can see where many footprints scaled the mountain. The land around Uluru is red from iron (even redder than Oklahoma).
After a brief respite in our lovely hotel room, we headed back out to Uluru to see it lit up at sunset. We had assorted snacks and champagne, coincidentally celebrating the birthday of one of our group. The colors of Uluru changed as the sun went down from brown to orange-red to purple, as shown in the photo below.
I am extremely fond of air conditioning!!!
Leta
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| The teaching cave, where grandfathers taught their grandsons |
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| Note the lion head shape on the left |
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| Sunset colors on very sacred ground |
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| Words to live by, from the women's restroom |
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