I'M GOING OUTBACK!

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July 13th.

Francine drops me off at the train station and walks me in making sure that I am getting on the right platform. To make my way into Sydney and the Domestic airport. She directs me to the right but I really need to go left and wrote down the connecting platform as 22 but really 23. See why we are so good together when we travel. No matter what, we always get where we need to go. Francine is so waiting for the Amazing Race to allow pairs from different countries to compete. She is going to submit us. LOL wouldn't that be something.

On the ride in to the city, I looked over my present from Francine. A small book on the Aussie slang. My sister Cindy actually got me one at home to study. But this one is pocket size. It's funny how things are interpreted differently and have various meanings. For instances the first entry -ABC- means Australian Broadcasting Company or Aunty. ( Aunty must have a big mouth), or AC DC – means bisexual, This should be easy AFL – Australian Football League, but what about this one APC – means hand wash, arms pits and crotch. Well that's just the beginning!!

The flight to Alice Springs is about 3 hours and only a half hour time difference from Sydney . I take a shuttle to my lodging the Heavitree campground and hotel and hostel. Alice Springs is a very small town but very expensive. So when looking on line I just tried to find something available and reasonable. This place has rooms over $100 a night but I book in a 4 bed dorm room for $25 a night. The room is actually a 6 bed dorm but I am the only occupant for the night. It's a little on the old side, but it appears to be clean. The room is freezing, I finally figured out that the window air con unit is also a heater and I crank it up and the room is warm enough for me to take off 2 layers of clothing. When I noticed a large beetle walking across the carpet I quickly tramp on it and take the toilet to get rid of it. I take a quick look for friends or family members and don't see any. However I find a can of bug spray in the closet. I am only here for the night then off to discover the wonders of the outback.

The shuttle to town is only every 2 hours and the the last one is at 4:15 and I just missed the 2:00. I have no choice but to walk the 4 kilometers to town now then ride the last shuttle back to the campground. I was told the walking to town would be safe during the day but not after dark. As I walk I can see why, low income housing all along this road and mostly aborigines. I'm not sure of the relationship between them and the whites. However I do hear similar traits from those in the Middle East and that is the discussions between them are loud and full of emotion. I thought they were engaged in heated arguments but realized they were just talking. The town is small and lots of souvenir and art galleries. I guess I was anticipating more of a Crocodile Dundee type of town, like the Old Wild West. But when you see a Target and a K-Mart it just blows the image of the wilderness town.

The neatest thing to do today is wait for sunset and see the rock wallabies come down from the rocks right near my room for feeding time. The hotel sells food pellets and the wallabies come every day to be fed and will eat right out of your hands. They are so cute and 2 are mothers with little ones in their pouch. Just too precious.

I walk over to the tavern on site for a $10.00 Special Lasagna,a side salad and a soda.

A good day in Alice Springs!

July 14th

This morning is spent driving to Uluru Rock which is iconic of Australian Outback. It is a large sandstone rock formation in the southern part of the Northern Territory, central Australia. It lies 335 km (208 mi) south west of Alice Springs and is 348 m (1,142 ft) high. About 5-7 kilometers are below the ground. The red color is from the oxidation of the high iron content in the sandstone. However, because of the heavy rains of late, the rust has been washed off the rock and the brilliant red color that it is known for is slightly But that doesn't take any of the awe factor from this world heritage site and the most recognized picture of Central Austraila.

The climb up is allowed when weather condition allow it. But today the wet rock is closed for climbing. I am not even tempeted to climb this rock, just too dangerous. One you slide there is nothing stopping you.

The most spectacular site is sunset but again the weather is a factor and there is no sun in the sky for the last 2 days. But the Australian wine is very good and the fresh veggies are amazing.

Back to the campsite and a great dinner of Steak and potato salad plus a lot more!

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