Heat and flies. these two words sum up my trip. it was miserable but thank goodness for fly nets! that was my savior. i got to alice springs and about broke down in tears as it was so hot, desolate, and boring. i soon met a slovakian girl who convinced me to go on an afternoon tour with 3 people total (exciting happening place!) of standley chasm and simpson gap. both very nice scenery amid the swatting of flies. did get to see a wild euro tho...a kangaroo more or less. up early the next morning to head out to Uluru...was a little weary fo my tour group at first but ended up having a blast with them!! was the only one who spoke english as the first language so i was reluctant to get in conversations but so glad i did! our guide was amazing as well! she was just so fun and never a dull moment with her. passed some roadkill of a dead emu, not something you see ever at home! stopped at a camel farm on the way (that also served camel burgers, coincidence???) and got to ride a camel...not very attractive animals...their teeth made me wanna puke! drove past a cattle farm where there were some dead, rotting cows laying in the field, i was so sad. finally got to Uluru after making lunch at the campsite in time for sunset with some champagne and chips and dip! swept in a "swag" both nights under the stars...amazing! until the second night when i was informed there were scorpions lurking in our presence. argh! filled our water bottles with basically boiling hot water and my poor little freakishly small hands were so swollen!!! up early every morning this tour (im talking before 6) to do the hiking since the heat was so intense...the walk around Uluru was kind of boring...the rock does not change really in the 2.5 hour circle hike around the base...could have chosen to climb it but seeing as the Aboriginies dont like you to as its sacred i decided to pass. back on the road to Kings Canyon which was my favorite part of the tour...Australia's version of the Grand Canyon! got to see so many amazing sites and wildlife here...pics to come! got back to Alice Springs after rocking out to some tunes from all over the world with the group...had a meal together and went to a wild west saloon which was such a classic night out! so glad we got to get together one last time before all going our separate ways!