So we just got back from Uluru. It is also known as Ayer's Rock. We spent the weekend there. As we got off the plane, we had to adjust our watches back a half hour. At Uluru, they have a half time zone difference between them and Brisbane or Sydney. It was weird to know that we were out of sync with the rest of the world.
The tours were nice. The first day we got there we booked our tours with SEIT tours. This was a really good choice because the tours were small and the people were more like us. After booking the tours and getting dinner to go, we walked out to a tall sand dune to watch the sun set and change the colors of Uluru. It was amazing. The sky turned many different colors, from red to orange to purple.
The next day we got up at 5 am to get to Kata Tjuta for sunrise. Seeing the sun come up over Uluru and the seeing the rocks of Kata Tjuta change was really an experience. Seeing nothing around you but these 2 big structures, which change as the sun rises is something else. We then went on to hike Kata Tjuta. The guide explained the local flora and fauna. We saw Euros, which are just smaller than a kangaroo. We saw a wild camel and the local birds. The guide then explained how these massive rocks were formed in the middle of a desert.
After that we headed to dinner. There is a fancy dinner there called 'the Sounds of Silence' in which you watch the sun set with Uluru, have a nice fancy dinner and then listen to a star talk since all the stars are nicely visible if the clouds are minimal. Reading up about it in our guide books and on the Internet, we wanted to go. The only problem we had was that they wanted us to pay an extra $84 for Kayla. We explained that she would not be eating and that she was only 9 1/2 months old, but they said that all kids until the age of 12 pays that rate. We opted for the other 'tour dinner' with AATKings. We went into the national park to the official Uluru sunset location, as opposed to outside the park further away with the fancy dinner. After snacks, wine and the sunset, we went to dinner which as a nice BBQ. They had sides of beef sausage and a kangaroo kabob. After dinner, we gathered around the campfire for a 'surprise' star talk. We guide had a powerful laser pointer and pointed out the major constellations, starting with Alpha and Beta Centauri and the Southern Cross. It was a great talk. At the end, he broke out the marshmallows and we roasted them over the bonfire. Then it was off to sleep.
The next day, we woke up early again to go to Uluru for sunrise. We were right next to the rock as the sun came up and got a real close up view of Uluru as it went through it's color changes. As with the other sunrise hike, SEIT tours provided a nice breakfast. The other tour companies really did not offer a breakfast. We then proceeded to walk the 14 kilometers (8.4 miles) around Uluru. Kayla was in her seated backpack. She got a great view of the whole walk, but fell asleep twice. :) We heard the tales of the local aboriginal people as to why Uluru is shaped the way it is. It is a fascinating culture.
After our Uluru hike, we went back to our room, napped and played with Kayla. We then went out for a nice dinner. Kayla had her first meal at a restaurant. She had fish with a baked potato and a side of vegetables. Quite a little meal for her. She ate it with gusto enjoying the different flavors. For dessert, they came out with a little ice cream for her. It was her first taste of ice cream. I'm pretty sure she's hooked.
The next day was our last. We went out to the camel farm. Kayla and I rode a camel. Yes she has now ridden a camel, an elephant and a kangaroo. (Not to mention all the other animals she has petted and played with.) after the camel ride, we went around the shops and then boarded the bus to the airport.
Overall, it was a wonderful experience.
Speak to you soon,
David
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