Alice and Uluru, here is the winter...
For the first time, we will not speak about warm weather, This city in the middle of the desert in the center of Australia, is such a really cold place during winter. Alice was not really interesting to visit, not much to see in the center, pretty cold as we already said, and not as dynamic as Darwin. But what we were looking forward was a 3 days tour around Kings Canyon and Uluru. Everywhere in Australia, backpackers’ tour are really popular, but we‘ve always preferred doing the things by ourselves, it was always much easier and cheaper as well. Anyway, before leaving Australia, we wanted to try, that’s why we were there.
Woke up early, 5.00 am, packed the bags, get in the bus and met our 21 news fellows and our wonderful guide Scotty. After 3 hours of road we finely arrived at Kings Canyon where Scotty related about aboriginal history and customs before starting our 4 hours walk into this imposing canyon.
In the afternoon we’re back on the road, getting more and more closer to the Rock and stopped just after the sunset in the middle of nowhere for buch camping. Next morning we woke up early as well and arrived at the Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park. First visit: the Olgas, and a little walk. Later in the day we stopped at the visitor center and after some readings about aboriginals habits we’re going for a walk all around Uluru. Before the sunset we are taken seat on a huge bus stop (where heaps of touristic buses will joined us later) where we will be able to admire the changing colors of Uluru sunset.
Hundred of pictures later we are back in the bus and looking for a place to buch camp again. But tonight nobody wants to sleep and after a good meal and few grilled marshmallows we are back ten years before, playing funny games around the fire. One of them was amusing, we had to grab a paperboard box with our teethes while touching the floor with our feet only.
It’s now time to get into the swag, a freezing night is coming. The last day, we woke up just before dawn, time to go back to our bus stop and watch the sunrise over the Rock.
During our trip we learned a lot about aboriginal culture and above all about a very controversial subject: the climbing of Uluru. The subject of climbing Uluru is controversial. The pamphlets at the Uluru-Kata Tjuta Cultural Centre and on the site explains it clearely: 'The existing Uluru climb is the traditional route taken by ancestral men on their arrival at Uluru. Because this path is of great spiritual significance, Anangu [the traditional Aboriginal owners of Uluru] rarely climb Uluru. Although Anangu have given permission for visitors to climb Uluru, Anangu prefer if you choose to respect the cultural significance of Uluru and do not climb. As well, the traditional owners have a duty to safeguard visitors. Anangu feel great sadness when a person dies or is hurt on their land.'
On our way back we stopped to taste a special aboriginal meal: worm. This night will be much warmer, around good meal at the backpack and above all a lot beer’s jugs.
For the few day before going to Asia, we are back in the Blues Montains, at Bronnie’s house and tonight we will enjoy all together a great “Raclette” at the Katoomba Swiss Cottage !!