day 4

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Morning!
So today we woke up at 3:30 to go to the Desert awakenings tour
We left the hotel at 4;30 and headed out to Uluru (Ayers Rock) sunrise tour, we were taken to a place high up above the sand dunes about 25km from Uluru so we could see the sun come up alongside uluru. It was very spectacular!
We were then taken into the national park to a much closer viewing point to see Uluru in all it's glory, and quite magnificient it is too!
We were then taken down into the site/base of uluru and got to touch it, which was something i didnt think we would be allowed to do! if you tap it, it acually sounds hollow, this is due to the expansion and contraction in the heat and cool.
We were shown the different caves inhabited by 'granny' on the ground floor and then also by the 'family' each show there own cave paintings. the picture shows the paintings from the family cave - the circles show a place or 'Ngura' which would be a camp rockhole waterhole or sacred site. the large bold C shape would represent the python woman Kuninya (NTS who is also curled up the the rock, as is Liru). We were told stories of the Mala people, Lungkata the lizard man, and the story of Kuniya, i don't now if you google them they may come up.
We were then taken to the Mutitjulu watering hole which unsurprisingly was dry! after all the stories we went for a drive around the base of Uluru (9.5km) to the Uluru culteral centre and saw the aborigine ladies painting yay! didn't get a go though! boo!
After speaking to an Aussie Sheila, who had asked us where we are going next, and recommended a couple of things, we are using our little bit of time between trips to check out her recommendations and Making our plans for the next leg!
We then got showered and changed to go to 'sounds of silence' dinner (sorry no pix as all on proper camera) which is at a lookout point of Uluru and Katatjuna where we watched the sun set with a live didgeridoo player which was cool!
We were then taken down the sand dune to our dinner tables where we sat with 4 other couples, (excuse not remembering half their names!!) George and Heidi (older couple (75+) from Zurich, a gay couple Peter and his partner from London and Sardinia (turned out it was Peters 40th bday!!) A couple about our age Laura and her boyfriend from Canada and Melbourne! John (originally from Cheshire) and his wife from Sydney who were there to celebrate their 49th Anniversary and then us!
So quite a mixture!
We were treated to a small dance by 3 aborigines (think crocodile Dundee 1 when Sue isn't allowed to go with him but sneaks in anyway!) that was fab - we then had pictures taken with them!
We had an amazing dinner, a pumpkin ravioli with beef broth (wasn't too keen on that) but the main buffet was lovely, nice mixed salad and dressings potato salad and roast potatoes and veg... with bbq'd kangeroo, lemon and thyme chicken, barramundi, and Lamb cutlets!
We were then plunged into darkness (bad timing that the hubster went to the bathroom at this point! Teehee!) for a lesson is astronomy - we were shown various things, the "stars" Capricorn - Taurus, Orions belt and a few others. The southern cross was not yet 'up' and the milky was was hiding on the horizon apparently!
We then had dessert buffet which was (for me) chocolate brownie, (I know shocker right!!) lime and macadamia cheesecake and apple and quandong crumble YUMMERS!!!
We were then sadly put back on the bus back to our hotels, some of us a little more worse for wear than others after a truly wonderful evening!
We will be flying to Cairns at 3ish so leaving here around 1! To start the next part of our adventure! It's now 6am Friday for me and bed time for you, so Nunite sleep tight xxx

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Comments

[Julie Sheppard]

Amazing
It all sounds wonderful and amazing. Am loving all the food updates too. Enjoy Cairns and look forward to next update xxx