The Big Red
Rock - Uluru legend is as old as
Australia itself and people from all over the planet journey to the Land Down Unda
for this spiritual experience. It is the
home of Australia’s Indigenous people and highly regarded by them as the mother
of creation. Our tour began in Alice Springs
where we were collected from our hotel in an Outback Purpose Built 4 WD
Mitsubishi 16 seater.
We drove to
Ulura stopping along the way at a camel breeding farm.
We enjoyed
meeting the rest of the gang…a collection of Americans, Europeans and us
Canadians. We particularly enjoyed
meeting Pete and Anne from Seattle. Pic of Pet and Anne
The road
less traveled was a wee bit bouncy but we were all in good moods and enjoying
the ride. Pic of bouncy ride
After settling into our remote private camp
complete with comfortable Safari tents with beds and a campfire meal prepared
by our very own chef.
As darkness fell
and Uluru was thrown into silhouette we strolled thru the Field of Light
The next morning
we drove to the Big Red Rock and spent the day doing a walk about. Climbing the rock is now taboo, and although
the old trails still exist we were encouraged by Sara (our guide) to respect the Aboriginal wishes
and not make the climb. As we made our
way around the base of the Rock we enjoyed the many carvings and stories
available to be seen and heard by the local artisans.
We spent the
next day at the Valley of the winds (Kata Tjuta) to explore the domes of which
there are 36 in total. The next day on
to Kings Canyon (Watarrka) for a mind blowing 6 km walk thru the towering
walls, crevices and plateaus. This is
where we found the lost city and the tranquil Garden of Eden.
We enjoyed stopping at the Ellery Creek Big
Hole, one of the most picturesque swimming and walking spots in the West
MacDonell ranges.
Our final day we spent
camping under the stars and sleeping in traditional outback Swags (an all
weather outdoor cocoon)…it was fun till the rain started.
Our final tour guide Lyola was representative
of her family who had lived on section of land for as long as time was
recorded.
She was very helpful in explaining the
aboriginal history and the complex society that make up the indigenous peoples
of Australia.
The natural
scenic view of the outback, Uluru and the surrounding countryside was
breathtaking. We spent 5 days in the
outback, hiking, swimming, climbing, and learning the ways of the original
civilization of this vast continent. We learned
a respect for the ‘old ways' and the 'Spiritual Depth' of the Big Red Rock.
It was a memorable time and more
importantly for yours truly…we ticked one more item off of Kaija’s bucket list.
And that’s a Good Thing!
