Sunrise...Sunset

Seeing the sunrise over Uluru was very special.  First of all, the temperature was actually bearable at 5am.  Ryan, our Aussie guide, set up a lovely breakfast complete with brewed coffee, cereal, banana bread and fruit. 



Accompanying us was a single woman from Orange County and a delightful young couple from Sydney with their 8 year old little boy and 6 year old little girl.  The little boy learned about Uluru in school so the family decided to enhance this with a trip to see the real thing.
Ryan did not disappoint with his sketches in the red dirt to explain how 35,000 years ago Uluru was born and how it has weathered.  
We hiked close enough to touch this massive mountain, to see the etchings and hear their accompanying folklore; to see the various plants and trees and hear how they were used for food and medicine.

This parkland belongs to the Aboriginal people and the Aussie government leases it.  These indigenous people have maintained certain parts for themselves where they continue their customs and their many languages or dialects.  We learned yesterday that there are areas that are forbidden even to the rangers.

We knew this was going to seem like the never ending day and so some relaxing was certainly in store.  Believe it or not, we donned our bathing suits and braved the 112 degree afternoon.  What a sight we were in bathing suits and our netted hats!  Of course, we stayed in the shade on extra large comfy couch like chairs.  The pool was delicious and we cooled off even further with our wet suits.

A nap and shower led us to our next excursion...Uluru at sunset.
Entering the park again, we were met with an alfresco cocktail hour, complete with sparkling wine and appetizers.  A couple from Walnut Creek whom we met in Sydney were there ahead of us as they had taken a camel ride 😳.  Oh, I didn’t mention the camels?  It was a shocker to learn that in 1832 camels were shipped here to help construct something or other.  Camels do what most species to, and that’s multiply, so now there are almost a million of them roaming around.  Did you even imagine camels in the Outback??? They are not welcome creatures as you know how much water they consume; not to mention, they eat up the flora.  The Outback is a semi arid region and so water is naturally a precious commodity for the rest of the wildlife.
I cannot think of a worse way of spending an hour in 112 degrees riding a came, with flies swarming all over me.  To each his own.

After the cocktails we are led to, literally, a buffet dinner under the stars.  An astronomer type with a long laser pointer showed various constellations.  Honestly, how do they know all this??  I just see stars.

As dinner was winding down, the light display began and we were led down to a huge expanse of the Field of Light art installation....colored lights from 50,000 glass spheres.  We walk amid this field which has been solar powered and it is quite magical with Uluru as the backdrop.

Off to Cairns tomorrow.  We are hoping to be able to snorkel the Great Barrier Reef but rains are predicted.  I have my Dramamine for the 8 hour boat ride...