Alice and Uluru (with flu)

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Arrived in Alice Springs to thunderstorms and river flooding which hasn't happened for 16 years ! Roads closed as under water. ( Not my fault - honest!). Have great pictures of Aborigine children playing in the brown water. Don't know why they weren't at school. Alice is weird place , there is an uneasiness about it which makes a tourist feel uncomfortable. There are groups of disconnected Aborigines wandering around or sitting in groups on the grass. Bit of a probelm with alcohol too. Whites don't talk to them except for a few tourists as there is sometimes 'artwork' to buy. I chatted to an old couple by the river who were eating cold tinned spaghetti off newspaper for breakfast. They had had their blanket stolen and were going to Melbourne. Alice is just a stop over for Uluru really and it is named after a woman who had never even been. I have lots of trivia ! I went to Flying Dr office for a look - that's really interesting - not gov funded but a charity. And to see the School of the Air - now very hi-tech as computers are used. What a great job - one lesson a day ! I could do that!! Staying in a cute hostel and am sleeping in a caravan painted with landscapes this time round.
Now Uluru (Ayers Rock) is a different experience altogether. Went on 3 day camping trip ( will I never learn!) with a viral flu developing with several young Germans,( so noisy) a french couple ( had to speak french a lot and interpret) and a variety of other nationalities. The sunset viewing was very hectic - people on picnic chairs drinking wine and champagne and was cloudy so not great. Sunrise viewing better as I found a quiet spot to pray for the Aborigine homelands to be returned to them. It is both exciting to see ( especially for the first time - bit like Blackpool Tower- family reference here!) and weird as if it has been positioned there by an alien civilisation. Bill Bryson says it is as if there is DNA in us that is connected to Uluru so we all know it. I know what he means. I walked all around the base of it (9.7km) and there is so much to see and absorb. A great experience! But not the camping and cooking !!
Downing medicine and packing my bags yet again to make them weigh less ready to fly to Perth tomorrow to hit beaches and hopefully swim with dolphins............hooray!!!!!!!

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Photos

Uluru
Sunset without the champagne!

Water everywhere!
Must have been the rain dance I did

Kangaroos
Yes have seen roos ..these are orphans who are then put back into the wild