Australia 2013 - Sat 2 March to Mon 4 March

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On Saturday we flew from Sydney to Uluru (Ayers Rock in old money).

Stayed at the Desert Gardens hotel in the Uluru resort - only four choices of accomodation type here all owned by the same group.

On Saturday evening we watched the sun set over Uluru. There are several aboriginal creation stories, the geological story being of a sandstone formation that rose up around 400 million years ago. Uluru is in a line with Mount Conner on one side and the Olgas on the other, all forming at the same time along the same ridge. Uluru is only 350 meters above ground, and 6 kilometers below ground like an iceberg.

On Sunday we visited the Olgas, which are of the same rock formation as Uluru, but their erosion has left them looking like lots of domes. The aboriganal name for them means many heads.

Both Uluru and the Olgas are sacred to the aboriginees, the Olgas are especially sacred, and the aboriginees have not shared their creation story outside of their culture.

On Monday morning we did a sunrise scenic flight over Uluru and the Olgas, it was lovely. Then after breakfast we walked the base of Uluru for as much as we could in the heat. It's really hot here, and we have got mosquito head nets as the flies are incessant.

Next stop Kings Canyon.

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Photos

Uluru (Ayers Rock)
First sight on way from airport

Mount Conner
Sunrise scenic flight

Sunrise on Uluru
From the air on scenic flight

Uluru
Can see some small pools of water on top from recent rain fall

The Olgas
from the air

The Olgas
still in the air

Post Scenic Flight
a lady driver

Uluru
at the base

Uluru
on base walk

Uluru
base walk

Water hole at base of Uluru
..Derek complete with head net

Clever minor bird
At the hotel these birds were pinching satchets of sugar - they knew to avoid the salt and pepper!