Uluru - Rockin in the Outback!

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Wowee. We're driving along through the flat flat desert and then it's sort of like bam! All of a sudden there's this huge giant beautiful rock in front of you. Uluru is the Aboriginal name for the rock that is also known as "Ayers Rock". Uluru is sacred to the Aboriginal people and is one of the most recognisable landmarks in Australia. People travel from across the globe to visit it. At one time you could climb it, and you still can if you really want to, but the Aboriginal people ask that you don't.

So instead we did the beautiful 11km hike all around the base of the rock. There were many locations that were deemed especially sacred and there were signs asking that you refrain from taking photos, so we opted to not take any at all (except from far). Unfortunately while we were there we did witness one guy climb Uluru. With so many other things to climb in this world, it seems really incomprehensible to me that a person would go through with the climb disregarding the wishes and beliefs of a people who continue to suffer from so many tragedies and injustices. We both hope he has an Aboriginal curse on him now.

On another note, it is believed that those who take rocks from the formation will be cursed and suffer misfortune. There was a very thick book in the information centre, that was filled with letters from people across the globe claiming that they had been experiencing terrible misfortunes in their lives, ever since taking a rock. In the letters they were apologizing for stealing from Uluru and mailing back the rocks they took and asking that the national park staff please put the rocks back in the hopes that their lives would take a turn for the better.

Very interesting. We definitely didn't take any rocks.

Scroll down for more pictures!

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Photos

Uluru
On 26 October 1985, the Australian government returned ownership of Uluru to the local Pitjantjatjara Aborigines, with one of the conditions being that the Aṉangu would lease it back to the National Parks and Wildlife agency for 99 years and that it would be jointly managed.

Snack time!
A snack before the gorgeous hike around the base of Uluru.

Warming up!
It's so funny to think that only a few days ago we were baking hot in Darwin. Winter in the desert is c-c-c-cold!

Cork board fears
Australian cork boards: garage sales and things that can kill you. Click photo to enlarge.

Group of emus!
Driving down the highway, we saw seven emus hanging out. Click on the picture to enlarge.