Saturday 31 August: Uluru Sunrise And Kata Tjuta Walk

 A memorable day for Jeffrey. Lots of photos were taken, but we'll only put up a few (phew!)

 Aboriginal people have lived in the area around Uluru and Kata Tjuta for at least 30,000 years.Anangu Culture has always existed here. The Central Australian landscape (of which Uluru and Kata Tjuta are an important part) is believed to have been created at the beginning of time by Ancestral Beings.Uluru and Kata Tjuta provide physical evidence of feats performed during the creation period. Anangu are the direct descendants of these beings and are responsible for the protection and appropriate management of these ancestral lands. (see https://parksaustralia.gov.au/uluru/discover/history/)

The morning commenced with a 5.30am bus pickup from the campground and the resort hotels and then to the viewing platforms. Although not conducive to a contemplative mood at sunrise, the platforms have stopped chaotic parking along the road and the random scuttling of tourists keen to get a good shot.

Waiting for the sun

The first rays hit Uluru

On one of the viewing platforms

Kata-Tjuta is 50km from Uluru 

Uluru colour changes

After the sunrise, the group travelled to Kata-Tjuta for photos and a walk in Walpa Gorge.  Kata-Tjuta is sacred to Anangu men, but, perhaps in a concession to the realities of tourism and economics, women are also permitted to visit. We were told that this is a highly culturally sensitive area and to avoid revealing any sacred places, Anangu have asked that both sides of the gorge are kept in frame in photos.

Kata-Tjuta

Walpea Gorge

Gayle found some lovely plants at the resort.

Tomorrow is first of three solid days of driving to Port Augusta, to which Chops says, "Great. I love the car air-conditioner".