Today we are off to Ayers Rock!
Aka...Uluru
We plan on staying @
The Ayers Rock Resort in Yulara
As we were nearing there about 40kms away, out of the blue
Mark spotted her.....I saw it first he proudly rubs in!!!
Oh My Goodness!
Mark spotted her.....I saw it first he proudly rubs in!!!
Oh My Goodness!
This was nothing like i ever imagined!!!
As we drove along further we caught more glimpses of her through the bush & scrub.
I am speechless, goosebumps wash over me, as tears well in my eyes!!
WOW!!!
Her colour rich red, her formation so smooth & round & her size well....
She is massive!
Such a magnificent sight!!
What a birthday present!
Thank you my
Husband!
Thank you my
Husband!
No piddly rocks for me i got the biggest rock in the world!
Well my world anyway!
We arrived @ the resort early & had no trouble getting a site.
Once set up we went to the resort shopping centre, this is your typical resort style shopping centre
the usual souvenir shops & lots of Aboriginal art works & wares on offer.
Mark enjoyed a cuppa & a toasted sandwich, while i got down to real business
Browsing the shops!!
Mark enjoyed a cuppa & a toasted sandwich, while i got down to real business
Browsing the shops!!
The flys here are so bad, they are those little annoying bush flys, Anyway, i spotted a jar of rosemary & cedar wood cream on the counter, the guy in the shop said it was
fantastic stuff.....The flys hate it!
fantastic stuff.....The flys hate it!
He went on to tell me that you need to lather it on & re-apply after 45 minutes
Gee whiz, this stuff is dear 20 dollars for about a 30 ml jar!
oh well, we'll give it a go!
We then headed for the info centre to find out what they had on offer
apart from the obvious!
The helicopter flight over the rock took my fancy, but Mark didn't want to do it!
He told me i should go though!
NO WAY!!....... I blurted out!
You have to come with me what if it crashes
we both have to die together!
Me being the scaredy cat at usual!!!
Plus Mark Gregory what would you do if i died & you were left alone?
Well, with that we both burst into laughter & amongst his laughing, i
heard him mutter...Mmm let me count the ways!
Very funny!!!....NOT!
There were plenty of tours on offer, the best would be the one with the
Aboriginal tour guides!!
We decided to do our own thing though!
Off we set now to get up close & personal,
we purchased our park ticket
$25.00 for three days p/p
I suppose 3 days is enough time here to do all the things you would like!
We did a walk around the base for a couple of km's taking in every inch of her beauty!
Fascinated by the many caves, crevices, colours & Aboriginal paintings & the beautiful tall gum trees & gorgeous wild life all adding to her charm.
That represents a leaf, & it looks like one!
Now that i don't know?
I just had to touch her!
We had applied our fly repellent & true to the shop keepers word
it started to run out after 45 minutes to the second nearly!
Once again the flys started to be a pain in the bum!
We were pretty impresssed that it even worked!!
It's good when you get on to a winner!
We did not even attempt to climb up there....
For one reason out of respect, plus all the signs every where asking you not to climb it,
so it just didn't feel like the right thing to do!!
And.....The second reason & more important one!
With our luck we would surely have a heart attack & that would be before we even
reached the guide rope, which is about 100 metres from the bottom!!
So far so good!!
I can do it!!!
Like standing on top of the world!!
Time for lunch!
It was here that Mark asked me to move over a few metres to the right so as to get a better shot!
And that guy in the background heard him say that & said .......I know nothing!!!!
We winded our way back down the Canyon to the car, collapsed in her & headed for home!!!
Wow!!
That was incredible & what a fantastic work out we both had!!!
Back @ home & what a beautiful way to end a perfect unforgettable few days!!!!
Tomorrow will see us in
The Alice!
Cheers till then!
Enjoy!
We then headed for the info centre to find out what they had on offer
apart from the obvious!
The helicopter flight over the rock took my fancy, but Mark didn't want to do it!
He told me i should go though!
NO WAY!!....... I blurted out!
You have to come with me what if it crashes
we both have to die together!
Me being the scaredy cat at usual!!!
Plus Mark Gregory what would you do if i died & you were left alone?
Well, with that we both burst into laughter & amongst his laughing, i
heard him mutter...Mmm let me count the ways!
Very funny!!!....NOT!
There were plenty of tours on offer, the best would be the one with the
Aboriginal tour guides!!
We decided to do our own thing though!
Off we set now to get up close & personal,
we purchased our park ticket
$25.00 for three days p/p
I suppose 3 days is enough time here to do all the things you would like!
We did a walk around the base for a couple of km's taking in every inch of her beauty!
Fascinated by the many caves, crevices, colours & Aboriginal paintings & the beautiful tall gum trees & gorgeous wild life all adding to her charm.
That represents a leaf, & it looks like one!
Now that i don't know?
I just had to touch her!
it started to run out after 45 minutes to the second nearly!
Once again the flys started to be a pain in the bum!
We were pretty impresssed that it even worked!!
It's good when you get on to a winner!
We did not even attempt to climb up there....
For one reason out of respect, plus all the signs every where asking you not to climb it,
so it just didn't feel like the right thing to do!!
And.....The second reason & more important one!
With our luck we would surely have a heart attack & that would be before we even
reached the guide rope, which is about 100 metres from the bottom!!
She is Steep!!!
We stopped @ the bottom of the climb & spoke to some who attempted it.
One lady was just so happy to have even gone up a little way!
She went on to tell us that the park will close the climb, when the number of climbers
decrease to under 30%.....Apparently they have been trying to close it for years!
Why don't they just close it then, i say????
By now it was about 4.30pm, we decided to head back home,
pack our nibblies & bev's grab our chairs & head back out there
before all the millions of others, so we can get a good spot
for the sunset viewing!
When we booked in to the resort they gave us the times of sunset & sunrise.
Tonight it would all happen @ 6.15
We got our selves a good spot with not too many trees blocking our view!
Here we sat along with every one else waiting & snapping away madly!
The colours subtly change ever so quickly!
Sadly though, as time grew nearer so did the cloud cover & by peak time it was just
not happening!!
not happening!!
That was a bit of a disappointment!
Oh well, we still have sunrise in the morning, sunset tomorrow night & then another
sunrise before we leave the next morning.
So hopefully, we will get to see her in her full glory & also get some spectacular photo's?
Or maybe not?
Which reminds me........
Mark bought me a good Panasonic camera for my birthday 2 years ago it cost nearly $700.00
Well about a month ago it just died, we could not believe it, it just went black, dead!!!
So we replaced the battery & still nothing, anyway to cut a long story short!
I am now using my video camera for still shots & understandably it does not
produce as good quality photos!
Which is sad!!!
I plan on writing to Panasonic, but i feel nothing will be done as it only had a 12 month warranty!
As soon as we get to Alice Springs we will buy another!
Anyway back to our story......
Anyway back to our story......
Next morning 5 am we were up having coffee, ready to head out for the sunrise viewing!
Today sunrise is @ 7.11
It was pitch black, Mark decided to wait in the car where it was warm until
the time drew nearer!
Well not me, i wanted to get the best spot possible!
So freezing as it was, i made my way in the dark around the track
finally i found this great viewing spot with no trees in front & even better..... No people!!!
I turned around & on the hill behind, was this viewing platform with hundreds of people
flashing away madly!!
Wow!
This is good i thought, until along came Husband & the look
on his face was not good???
Oh no not again i thought!
Well....7.11 came, unlike the sun, and once again it just did not happen!
We now decided to go to the cultural centre to warm up, have brecky & then head out to
The Olgas.
Aka.....Kata Tjuta
We did the
Walpa Gorge walk, which is about an hour return & a rated
as a moderate walk
It was good & so amazing are these rock formations!
The weather was windy & cold & even more windier as you got further into the gorge!
the time drew nearer!
Well not me, i wanted to get the best spot possible!
So freezing as it was, i made my way in the dark around the track
finally i found this great viewing spot with no trees in front & even better..... No people!!!
I turned around & on the hill behind, was this viewing platform with hundreds of people
flashing away madly!!
Wow!
This is good i thought, until along came Husband & the look
on his face was not good???
Lot of cloud out there!...You may be lucky, if the sun peeks through??
Well....7.11 came, unlike the sun, and once again it just did not happen!
We now decided to go to the cultural centre to warm up, have brecky & then head out to
Aka.....Kata Tjuta
We did the
Walpa Gorge walk, which is about an hour return & a rated
as a moderate walk
It was good & so amazing are these rock formations!
Once right in the gorge it was beautiful & warm, as we turned & started walking back
Mark noticed some droppings on the ground, & wanted to take them
back down to the bottom of the track & sell it as...
Ancient Rock Wallaby Poo.... Hundred bucks a bag!
To any unsuspecting tourists!
This one comes with it's own inbuilt rocks!!
Hahaha!....We laughed our heads off, i think though this is one of those
you had to be there moments!
you had to be there moments!
You are a funny man
Mark Gregory
I don't think you would make much money though?
Back @ camp & we did not even bother venturing out tonight for the sunset as
clouds covered the sky once again!
Next Morn!
Today we are going on to Kings Canyon
firstly though we are going back out for the sunrise & this time hopefully we get to see
her in all her glory?
Again we headed off @ the same time & i did the same thing, as did Mark!
This time it was suppose to rise @ 7.10
Yep you guessed it!
No money shot today as the sun has gone away!!!
Oh well never mind this was still
a once in a life time experience & we loved every minute!
We left Ayers Rock & arrived @ Kings Creek Station
This is a working station, plus they have lots of activities like quad bike riding, camel rides, helicopter rides, a cafe and
lots & lots of red dirt!!!
It is about 35 kms from Kings Canyon
That arvo we went for a drive out to the Canyon to have a look.
We pulled up in the car park & went & read all the signage!
We chose to do the rim walk which is about 6kms return, the first kilometre apparently the worst!
Signs everywhere read.....Wear sturdy solid shoes, take plenty of water & wear a hat!
Stupid Sharon does not have any solid shoes, only boots, ugg boots, thongs & slippers!
I have sent home that many pairs of shoes that i did not wear!!
Oh well i will have to do it in my Havaianas!...(They are my thongs)
Mark told me to try his Colorados on......
Ha!
I would surely break my ankle in those!
No i will be fine i reassured him!
I am really good in my thongs!
Oh well we will soon see!!
Next morning & off we set, as we started the walk
Mark looked up at the side of this mountain with these rocky steps & said.....OMG don't
tell me that is the beginning of the climb?
Oh boy what a doozy!!!!
This is easy!!!!...
We did get a tad bit puffed out though & blamed it on bloody cigarettes!!
Even though we have given up now for 7 years the damage is done!!
We did really well i think to get up that
long steep 600 step incline!!
We felt even better when the young ones who passed us
(while we had a little rest break)
were puffing also!!
The view from the top was just breathtaking!
Haha!..... Excuse the pun!
So far so good!!
Oh yeah 3 down & 3 to go!!!
I can do it!!!
Like standing on top of the world!!
Time for lunch!
It was here that Mark asked me to move over a few metres to the right so as to get a better shot!!
I am a bit worried about him!!!!!!!!!
And that guy in the background heard him say that & said .......I know nothing!!!!Marks like....Thanks mate i will give you the 50 later!
Wow!!
That was incredible & what a fantastic work out we both had!!!
Tomorrow will see us in
The Alice!
Cheers till then!
Enjoy!
Hey Shaz
ReplyDeleteAll you can say is WOW!!!!!!!!
Glad your Havaianas handled the pressure of the rock climb. Me and the bride couldn't live with ours (he he!!!!)
Safe travels
Cheers and beers
Us