We really enjoyed The Ghan, it was a great experience, and now we're looking forward to the overnight trains in Vietnam and Canada!
We got to Alice Springs, it was raining but it was still really hot, it felt weird, like being in the shower with your clothes on!
Alice (everyone calls it Alice) didn't look good as we transferred from the train to the hotel, but we were only there for one night, then we were off to Ayres Rock. The hotel was ok, but it did have a fantastic Thai restaurant, mmm, chicken satay, my absolute favourite!
Early pick-up for the coach to Ayres Rock Resort, the driver was also the guide, and a very entertaining chap. The trip took about 4 hours but seemed quicker, as I put my headphones on, and passed the time kangaroo-spotting.
We stopped at a couple of roadhouses (an outback version of a servo.....oh, a servo is a cafe/garage/shop/toilet stop) one of which had an Aboriginal Art and Craft Gallery, which had been set up to provide the indigenous folk with work. The driver, Graeme, told us about when they set it up, they provided the aborigine artists with painting gear, they'd disappear for a while, and 'lose' the canvas (the dingo ate my homework!). Now, they have to pick them all up in a minibus, take them to the gallery, sometimes with family in tow, get them to do a painting, and pay them there and then for the work done, and they buy beers and ice-creams for everyone. It's supposed to instill a work-ethic into a culture in which it doesn't exist. That said, it still doesn't explain why the paintings were so bloody expensive!
We arrived at the hotel, which, judging by the lobby, seemed nice, then we got to room, which was just grim; dirty, tired, old-fashioned, and poorly maintained. The first hotel so far that has been a total let-down.
We had two hours until we were due to go out for the Ayres Rock Sunset trip, so we frantically set about changing our flights and lodgings to avoid Cyclone Yasi. Time well spent, I reckon!
The first trip to the rock was great, you have to go to the Aboriginal Cultural Centre first, to doff your cap to the indigenous trustees of the land (they were all out, again! We came a long way, y'know!), before you can go and see it. But all the fuss is worth it, it's awesome! The sunset itself wasn't great, but walking around the base of the rock was fantastic. I think my suggestion of a hi-tech light-show with lasers and music to augment disappointing sunrises and sunsets makes sense, and the indigenous trustee's of the rock ought to consider it, although Sal's not convinced..