Alice Springs & Ayers Rock, Uluru
Alice Springs & Ayers Rock, Uluru
Adelaide to Alice Springs to Ayers Rock (Uluru) and
back to Ayers Rock in one day.
It wasn't what I had planned to do yesterday but that
is what happened. When I arrived in Ulara, town and
area near Uluru (the Rock) I discovered that no rooms
were available at any price: 20 to a room dorms at $30
Aus up to $535 AU for resort rooms. So I got my
airplane ticket changed to fly back to Alice Springs,
at not charge. That is the 5th or 6th flight I have
changed with New Zealand Air and its associated firms
at NO CHARGE at all and was helped each time with
great big smiles on the employees faces along with
great suggestions when I was creating problems for
myself.
Onto a tour size bus off to the Sails Resort ($500+
range) to catch a van to the Rock. Met Maureen (white
name) an aboriginal artist. I spoke with her in the
lobby of the hotel while she was painting,
photographed her (mostly the no photographing is
related to spiritual sites or damn rudeness of
tourists). Then I purchased a beautiful book of
Australian Aboriginal art with Maureen's picture and
she signed it for me.
Off to the rock to walk around as much of the base as
I could in the time left before sunset. Didn't walk
up it. Had no intention of walking up it in respect of
the people.
When I walked around to the point where the human ants
flow up it (slowly up the 45 degree or higher slope)
hanging onto chains I asked a German woman to
photograph me at the base with the ants behind me.
Every inch of the rock is distinctly different. Every
angle adds another dimension. They the ever changing
light adds still another dimension.
Around the base there are several areas where there
are shaded areas with trees. It had rained earlier in
the day capturing 45 or so people on the rock for
awhile because it is too dangerous to try to walk down
or climb in the rain. Rain creates instant waterfalls
all around the rock.
I don't know the dimensions of the rock. One of my
new books will tell me that. I takes realistically
about 3 1/2 hours to steadily walk around it.
It was so very peaceful in the sections where I
walked. No people! Birds. Cool breezes and rain
puddles reflecting the fantastic shapes and color of
the massive rock.
Back to the resort area, about 20 kms from the rock by
van to eat and then off to wait for my plane to Alice
Springs.
"No rooms at the Inn" has proven to be a gift.
I had a great rest last night in hotel. Tremendous
"complete" breakfast and then off on an "Aboriginal"
1/2 day tour this morning to a special site owned and
run by regional tribes.
Dances, digereedoo (spelling), sticks and singing
music. History of the 40,000 years. Tools and
weapons. Boomerang history and throwing. Mine
actually came back 3 times. I had to duck once.
The guides were extremely helpful in sharing
information about their culture from the heart and
mind.
Then I began wandering around tourist shops.
Unfortunately I hate tourist shops most of the time.
They are filled with things that tourists think are
native that are made in Japan, India, Korea and other
nations.
The famous "dots" paintings in acrylic were only
started in the 70s and 80s to help the tribes make
money.
I won't comment on the social challenges here. That
would change my mood.
Now off to enjoy strolling around a town called
"Alice" before I leave to return to Adelaide to catch
my 3+ day train across the width of Australia to
Perth.
Wandering Alan bids you g'day mates
Adelaide to Alice Springs to Ayers Rock (Uluru) and
back to Ayers Rock in one day.
It wasn't what I had planned to do yesterday but that
is what happened. When I arrived in Ulara, town and
area near Uluru (the Rock) I discovered that no rooms
were available at any price: 20 to a room dorms at $30
Aus up to $535 AU for resort rooms. So I got my
airplane ticket changed to fly back to Alice Springs,
at not charge. That is the 5th or 6th flight I have
changed with New Zealand Air and its associated firms
at NO CHARGE at all and was helped each time with
great big smiles on the employees faces along with
great suggestions when I was creating problems for
myself.
Onto a tour size bus off to the Sails Resort ($500+
range) to catch a van to the Rock. Met Maureen (white
name) an aboriginal artist. I spoke with her in the
lobby of the hotel while she was painting,
photographed her (mostly the no photographing is
related to spiritual sites or damn rudeness of
tourists). Then I purchased a beautiful book of
Australian Aboriginal art with Maureen's picture and
she signed it for me.
Off to the rock to walk around as much of the base as
I could in the time left before sunset. Didn't walk
up it. Had no intention of walking up it in respect of
the people.
When I walked around to the point where the human ants
flow up it (slowly up the 45 degree or higher slope)
hanging onto chains I asked a German woman to
photograph me at the base with the ants behind me.
Every inch of the rock is distinctly different. Every
angle adds another dimension. They the ever changing
light adds still another dimension.
Around the base there are several areas where there
are shaded areas with trees. It had rained earlier in
the day capturing 45 or so people on the rock for
awhile because it is too dangerous to try to walk down
or climb in the rain. Rain creates instant waterfalls
all around the rock.
I don't know the dimensions of the rock. One of my
new books will tell me that. I takes realistically
about 3 1/2 hours to steadily walk around it.
It was so very peaceful in the sections where I
walked. No people! Birds. Cool breezes and rain
puddles reflecting the fantastic shapes and color of
the massive rock.
Back to the resort area, about 20 kms from the rock by
van to eat and then off to wait for my plane to Alice
Springs.
"No rooms at the Inn" has proven to be a gift.
I had a great rest last night in hotel. Tremendous
"complete" breakfast and then off on an "Aboriginal"
1/2 day tour this morning to a special site owned and
run by regional tribes.
Dances, digereedoo (spelling), sticks and singing
music. History of the 40,000 years. Tools and
weapons. Boomerang history and throwing. Mine
actually came back 3 times. I had to duck once.
The guides were extremely helpful in sharing
information about their culture from the heart and
mind.
Then I began wandering around tourist shops.
Unfortunately I hate tourist shops most of the time.
They are filled with things that tourists think are
native that are made in Japan, India, Korea and other
nations.
The famous "dots" paintings in acrylic were only
started in the 70s and 80s to help the tribes make
money.
I won't comment on the social challenges here. That
would change my mood.
Now off to enjoy strolling around a town called
"Alice" before I leave to return to Adelaide to catch
my 3+ day train across the width of Australia to
Perth.
Wandering Alan bids you g'day mates
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