The magical, mysterious longest one day tour in the world

Yesterday, we took a one day tour to Uluru.  The drivers informed us that it is the longest one day tour in the world.  We would be travelling and exploring for 18 hours and covering nearly 1100 kms.

I was amazed at the majestic beauty of the desert.  For those who know me, this might seem strange.  I get up to the bedrock of Muskoka and I feel lost, alone and depressed.  But here I was with 100 kms. or more between houses and loving it.  The scenery was stunning- red soil, buffalo grass from Africa covering the ground, and smallish trees all over.  Even though this area receives little rain, it sits on a huge aquifer so water exists underneath the ground.

Finally at about 1130, we caught our first glimpse of Uluru, or Ayer's Rock as the first European's called it.  It was so alone, standing out by itself in the midst of flat desert.  Although it is not overly high, due to being situated on a flat plain, you can see it from kilometres away.

As we approached the rock, we came to hear of it's importance to the Aborigine people.  It figures greatly in their creation stories (formerly known as the Dream Time).  Certain caves in Uluru figure prominently in their Creation Story.  What is even more amazing, the Aborigine people we were told are humanity's oldest culture dating some 22,000 years.  This culture remained undisturbed until 1788 when Captain Cook brought European culture to this continent.

Much of Uluru is considered sacred by the first peoples here.  Some parts we were told not to photograph- we respected these wishes.  Still hobbling from my burnt feet, climbing was not an option.  But even if we could climb, the rock, we would not in deference to the wishes of the first people.  The stories of Creation have been passed down through pictographs.  Here is a drawing in the sand made fresh the day we visited by one of the First people women.

Some shots of the caves and around the rock

How big is the rock?  The pathway around the rock is over 9 kms. around.  Definitely this is no tiny pebble.

After touring around the rock most of the day we went to the bus viewing area where we had a lovely barby and to watch the sunset of the rocks.  The barby had champagne, salads and dingo dongers (hot dogs).  After we had finished eating First Peoples women approached us and sold their art work.  Here is one piece we bought

Then it was off to the main attraction, watching the changing of colours on Uluru as the sunset.  It was truly magical.

Then at 720 it was back on to the bus for the five hour trip back to Alice.

Truly it was a holy experience.  Uluru is the first place in history where people spoke of gods and spirits.  It is the birthplace of all religious thought.  I felt truly blessed by my day there.  It is indeed a sacred place.