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Published: February 6th 2006
As part of our Round-the-World ticket, we were given a couple of 'free' internal flights within Australia. So we decided to fly to this Big Red Rock in the middle of nowhere. Sometimes known as Ayers Rock, sometimes known as Uluru (oo-la-roo) it really is quite extraordinary.
The Rock itself is much bigger than I imagined. Nige has been here before, and we've all seen pictures of it, but it is very very big. Climbing the rock is now frowned upon and the local Aborigines (Anagu) ask you not to do it, although Nige walked up it eleven years ago. Instead we walked around some of the base which was great.
Down the road are a group of smaller, but equally impressive group of rocks, The Olgas (Kata Tjuta meaning 'many heads'). In extreme heat, and with a million flies trying to fly in to our eyes, mouth, nose & ears, we walked through two of the 'many heads' which makes you realise quite how BIG they are!
The most amazing thing though, is the fact that every day hundreds, possible thousands of people come to look at a big rock in the middle of nowhere. It's a
5 hour drive from Alice Springs and that is the nearest town which is also in the middle of nowhere. We watched the sunset, and the colours changing, which was very beautiful. We also got up REALLY early to watch sunrise, and the colours changing in reverse! Drove our little hire car down at 0530 to the rock only to join about 6 large coaches, 10 little buses and 20 cars, all looking at a very big red rock. But, it is a big rock, after all. Good to look at. Marvel at the rock that is so red and changes colour at sunrise and sunset. There's a whole resort and an airport with up to 1200 people working there, ALL BECAUSE OF THE BIG ROCK. Something to think about. Hope you enjoy all the nice pictures though!
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Lena
non-member comment
You are being so good with the blog !!