Life in Australia!!

Nick and I are certainly enjoying being back in Australia!! Who would have thought we'd be back so soon after our last trip. This time we started off in Perth but sadly could not stay since we had to get to our booked tour in Alice Springs by the 6th of December. (We'll be back to Perth one day - we hope!!) The 3 day tour of Uluru-Kings Canyon was amazing!! We started off at 5:45 a.m. and Steve - our wonderful guide - gave us a warm welcome!! We hopped into the cool (literally since it was already quite hot) vehicle and picked up the rest of the group. The over 400 kilometre drive to Uluru was a wet one since we managed to the 1% of the visiting population to Uluru that gets to see a rainstorm in the desert!! Thus the music "it's raining on the rock played about throughout the drive" - compliments of Steve!! Steve's enthusiasm for the wet weather actually got the rest of us excited too!! The drive was unique at times since the road was covered with water and Steve drove us through it like a pro!! I was a bit apprehensive at times but all was fine!! Our first day consisted of a stop at the camel farm, Uluru and all its bits and then finally ending up at the campsite for night. Uluru was a site to behold and we walked around most of it. We were very lucky as the rain occurred before and after but not during our walk. The culture centre was also very informative and Nick and I wished we could have stayed longer to check it all out more thoroughly. After this, we headed to watch the sunset on the rock with champagne and nibblies - quite a nice way to end the day!! The campsite had a permanent cook shelter available and we set to work on dinner straight away. Luckily it was part of a larger campsite so shower facilities and all were available. The night was not as clear as we would have liked and thus tarps were put up to ensure some shelter from the rain that was sure to appear. AND - sure enough - at 2am - the rains came!! A small tsunami appeared out of nowhere and pretty much soaked the campers under the permament shelter. Nick and I and another couple, Andy and Michelle from Nottingham, UK (great mates!!) were under the other tarp and got wet too but not nearly as bad as the others. In fact, Nick slept through the entire thing!! After this, 4am came very quickly - the time Steve awoke us to get ready for the sunrise. We departed the campsite leaving our wet swags (a large canvas type bag that zips up both sides and has a flap that closes at the top (the better to keep snakes and spiders out of I guess) ) and sleeping bags behind - hoping they may dry in the time of our return.



The sunrise was beautiful - but I think most of us enjoyed the wonderful coffee and tea to wake us up!! After this, we went on a hike and Steve told us about the geological history of the area (plate tectonics, geologic eras, folding, faulting - all that juicy geo stuff that I love!!) so needless to say - it was a wonderful day for me!! The views were magnificient - beyond description - which I know sounds corny but it is true! That afternoon - we had lunch and dried out our swags - even managed a quick dip in the pool that was required with the hot outback sun beaming down at us in full force!! The rest of the afternoon consisted of driving to Kings Canyon - around few hundred kilometres - things are not that close together in the outback!! But on this drive - I actually saw a wild camel just walking about in the bush to the side of the road!! I should mention though that Steve decided that we should have a true Aussie experience so he purchased a kangaroo tail to roast on the fire that evening. The tail was 3 feet long and frozen - he gave it to Nick to hold onto and he put it on top of the water cooler. In the heat of the day - it did not take long for the tail to thaw and thus start to lean over the sides of the water cooler. Yes, what a sight to see!! We arrived at our campsite which was extremely secluded except for the millions of flies that decided to welcome us as we departed the bus. We viewed a beautiful sunset and began dinner on the campfire - veggies, chicken, rice, dampa bread (yummy) and of course the kangaroo tail. Steve first burnt off all of its fur then wrapped it in tin foil and placed it deep into the coals for a few hours!! After dinner we put our swags around the campfire and crawled in - exhausted yet satisfied from a wonderful day - and looked in wonder at the thousands of stars overhead!! In no time, the quiet of the night fell in.



The final day - we woke up to a great Aussie jingle - "Tie me kangaroo down mate"!! It was a nice way to wake up at 5am to see another beautiful sunrise!! Most of us jumped up and got started while others needed a bit of Spice Girls inspiration - yikes!! After breaky and tidying up, we left for Kings Canyon and went on a 3 hour hike through the canyon. Nick enjoyed a cool dip in the Garden of Eden - I dipped in my toes and took pictures!! We also got to take a few Priscilla - Queen of the Desert pics!! Another fantastic day and we were sad to leave the area as we travelled back to Alice Springs. Nick and I certainly picked an excellent tour and were even luckier to have Steve for our guide!! Amazing!!