Rain...in the desert?

Bright and early I was picked up by Emu Run Tours and made the four hour trip to Uluru (Ayres Rock). Although the journey is four hours (during which you pass virtually nothing) all you make is two right hand turns! That's the directions from Alice! "Straight out of town, turn right then right again". Crazy stuff!A bit bleary eyed we made it to the National Park and first visited the Olgars which are actually more sacred to the Aboriginals and so there are fewer walks and stories known. Still we did a short walk into the the 'valley of the winds' and heard the rough story of it's creation. (naughty worriers dug their own graves and were buried in the ground to the necks, which explains the 36domes.)Next we headed to the Cultural Centre that has won so many awards you are banned from taking any photos of it and can even get chucked out by the rangers if you argue! Anyway....it was quite interesting and offered lots of info about Aboriginal culture. There was also a 'Sorry Book' which is full to the brim with letters from people who took home parts of the rock or surrounding earth and believe that they have since had terrible bad luck. the aboriginals believe that if part of the sacred area is removed then you will be cursed. These people do too and it was enough to convince me not to leave my Mt Everest stone there and pick up and new one!After the cultural centre we drove around the rock stopping to do walks and hearing all the various stories and tales of the rock and the imperfections on it. there are even caves at the bases of the rock that were created by the inland seas! This was when we were also caught in the first downpour of the day. This was proper rain! Hard and painful on the skin especially when I was trying to run into it and the wind to get back to the bus. Ah well it's all fun. The downpour wasn't quite enough to get the waterfalls started as it didn't last long, it went as quickly as it came! Our guides for the day Leo (a Pom!!) and Mic were great they seemed to know so much! After finishing our tour around the rock we headed to the sunset area where we just about had our BBQ before the heavens opened again. Not quite a traditional Uluru Sunset, with rain and lightning! Bur it was now enough for the waterfalls to start which was a treat that very few get to see. Once the sun was set 1/2 the group headed back to Alice and the other 1/2 (including me) headed to the Mt. Ebeneser Roadhouse for the night. the Motel was really comfy and I even had my own room! Luxury! Next day I got a lie in till 8am! Whoop! Before being picked up by the bus to head to Kings Canyon. Once there I completed the 6Km rim trek including 'heart attack hill'. The views were amazing! right in the Canyon there is a water pool which is linked to others around the area with springs which means that there is water all year round If there has been a good rain swimming is aloud (not sure I'd go in if the water has been stagnant for a while!That night I headed back to Alice after a fish and chips supper (I ate all my fish!) I got approximately 4 hours sleep before being picked up by Groovy Grape to head south! I was with a real mixed group on this bus, French, Dutch, German, Canadian, Irish, English and Japanese! We stopped over night a Coober Peedy. Coober Peedy (Which mean 'White men underground' in the local Aboriginal language) is an opal mining town. The population (all of 3000) live in Dugouts cut into the rock. Our dorm was even a dugout so I spent the night underground! We had a tour of a furnished dugout and some old mines before enjoying pizza at the local pizza bar. Before bed we also headed to the world only underground bar (not quite sure that's right but it was fun all the same). Next morning we left at 6am and headed south to Adelaide. We stopped for lunch at Port Augusta which had a river and grass! Quite a site after travelling through the desert for the last week! once in Adelaide I settled into my dorm at BackPak Oz which feels like an old Pub. I love it, possibly the comfiest bed I've had in ages! Last night I headed out with a few guys from the bus. Almost felt like home because we went to an Irish Bar. Vodka, Lemonade and Lime for me (Ladies night so it was free! Even better!)I'm up surprisingly early today so I've put and loads of washing on and am ready to explore the city (and the shops, proper shops!) I am going to be going to the Melbourne Cup on the 6th of November (the Aussie Ascot) with Nitya (Who used to lived round the back of us when I was little -Hollyhock or Hyacinth-could never remember which was which!) so I need to get me a frock! A girl has to shop!I'm having a great time on my own so far. So glad I did it (but I am missing some of my truck friends, can't wait to catch up with them in Sydney for a big knees up!)Lots of love Nicole xxxx