Hi everyone Well we are now in Alice Springs(central Oz) we got here yesterday after our 5 day outback camping safari trip. We had a brilliant trip, i cant even begin to describe what we have seen as ive seen so many beautifull things, but i will try! Firstoff we arrived at Ayres Rock airport and got taken to camp site. There were 14 of us on the trip alltogether 15 including our tour guide Brian. Our first afternoon we went to Ayres Rock, it was such a bizarre thing to see, this HUGE rock in the middle of nowhere, we walked the whole way round which took about 2 hours. There were alot of parts that we couldn't photograph as its sacred to the Aboriginol people. After our walk we went to a viewing place to watch sunset over the rock with a glass of champagne(well plastic cup!) This was beautifull as the whole rock changes colour. That was it for our fist day, we went back to camp and had a bbq, was very nice! The next day that was it for luxurys such as showers, toiets etc as from then we were bush camping. This was somewhere different every night, in the middle of nowhere with noone around but us, Kangaroos,horrible bugs and Dingos! We had to sleep in "swags" which are like rolled up mattresses whic go on the floor, i was very scared of this as i HATED the idea of sleeping outdoors with the snakes, spiders etc but i didn't have much choice! the first night i had my swag zipped right up and my sleeping bag over my head as i was so so scared of things crawling on me, stupid i know. This was impossible to sleep like as it was so hot. I got used to it in the end and din't mind, but i dont think i will do it again! We got up on the next day at 4.40am! to have brekkie, pack up and go watch sunrise over Ayres Rock, this was pretty cool. The rest of the week was spend getting up in the mornings at about 5ish getting packed up then driving to our next destination, every day we did about 8k in walking! this was hard work in this heat, but we did it. I have been to Kings Canyon, valey of the winds, palm Vally, the Olgas. All of which had such amazing views. We have learnt lots about the aboriginol people and how they lived on the plands and hunting, also lots about the history behind them which was so interesting. It was cool bcus on our walks there are water holes you can go swimming in, no crocodiles! this was really cool and refreshing, apart from on our last walk when there was only 7 of us left on the tour and everyone started having a mud fight! we all got coveredin the stuff it was disgusting but very funny, well untill they decided to trow me in that is! we all got covered in the stuff and ny white bikini is now stained black, yuck! i think the highlight of my trip was palm valley which was gorgeous, lots of palm trees in the desert, i cant explain how gorgeous it looked and my pictures dont do it any justice at all. Also one night when we were sat round the campfire cooking our marshmellows with sticks, we had wild horses running around, that was pretty special! Luckily i haven't seen any spiders or snakes yet, hopefully wont! So all in all we had a great trip, we are staying in a hostel in Alice now till Tuesday when we fly to Cairns, staying here is like staying at the Ritz after what we have been through this week! Take care and i will send another card when i can. xxxx p.s the worst bit of the whole week were the flies, everywhere i hated it so much, they are constantly buzzing round your head, yuck!