After waking early at the Ayers Rock Resort we both headed to the park lookout to watch the sunrise on Uluru. The dramatic colours in the sky before the sun popped over the horizon were gorgeous - vivid oranges and reds. And for a while we were lucky enough to be the only two at the lookout, may have had something to do with my eagerness to get there!
After a leisurely breakfast and packing a picnic lunch we headed off to hear a rangers talk at Mala Walk along the base of Uluru, where walkers going onto the rock depart from. I was so surprised by the amount of foliage and small trees around Uluru. Most of the time we were under a sparse but none the less there, canopy of leaves, especially when wandered into Kantju Gorge. The wattles were flowering as well as plants I'd never seen before. There were caves and paintings to look at along the way and I loved hearing how the elders passed stories on to others and how they can only tell the story of the place they are in. If you want to hear a story from another spot, walk there, be there and then you are ready to hear.
We'd planned to bike ride around the base but neither of us felt the need or urge to do that so we opted to drive around Uluru and make our way to Kata Tjuta, where we would have our picnic lunch. So we sat and nibbled with a great deal more silence around us as we looked toward the face of Kata Tjuna near the entrance to Walpa Gorge, our first stop after lunch. Now let me warn you, this is where the fun comes in, and I'm smiling as I recall it.
Now many a person has had the chance to see the beauty of the gorge, but only one has been privileged to hear Will's commentary! This rock here is local to this region, you won't find rocks with blue arrows on them in any other part of Australia, this rock face here is actually the Giants Rock climbing wall, please note the built in hand and foot holds, oops must turn around now only old men with walking sticks or skiers can continue ... Who would have thought blue markers and warning signs could be viewed so differently.
And as we wandered back down, tiredly, from our walk to Karinga Lookout at the Valley of the Winds our attention was caught by a group of foreign speaking tourists (as they overtook us) Firstly what caught my attention was their laughter, I didn't have any idea what they were saying but they were so filled with joy. Secondly I chuckled that their guides name was Ken - he didn't look like a Ken. Thirdly, and Will noted this immediately, was how strong a young mother was as she carried her son down the hill. He appeared to have Downs Syndrome, yet before this became apparent what was noticeabe was how much joy he was bringing to his group. Every now and then he could be coaxed to walk and all the group around him cheered and clapped and encouraged him. Their bus driver had obviously become concerned and had walked to meet them. His akubra hat was quickly offered to shelter the mum, but son quickly whipped it off her to use as a "I'll throw, you catch" kind of game. So the driver then turned it into a game of peak a boo. The iconic Aussie hat being used to make a child smile - just gorgeous. And as I thought just how lucky we were to be allowed a peak into someone else's life and happiness dear Will turned to me and said "Jees, they are so happy doesn't it make you sick" to which I burst out laughing!
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