Hello again! Been very busy since I last wrote!

After australia day in sydney I headed back to adelaide to start a tour right into the outback. It took us up into the northern territory, a lot of time on the bus because we had so far to go and there isn't much in between apart from miles and miles and miles of desert! We stayed over night in a place called coober pedy, which is a big opal mining place where they live in 'dug outs' (houses dug into the rocks and under ground) our hostel was one of them and it was pretty cool!

From there we drove to 'Alice Springs' which was very very quiet! We went to a bar to watch Murray play and lose in the final - but he gave it a damn good try I thought! We were up very early the next morning to start our tour into the 'red centre'

Our first stop was 'kings canyon' where we had a 3 and half hour hike in 40degree heat around the beautiful red mountains. Gorgeous scenery all around us and a nice waterhole to cool down and have a swim half way! The views were well worth the hike as we reached the canyon and saw the sheer drop of the cliff face before us - a bit scary but very cool! That night we headed to camp in the middle of nowhere - literally, where we set up swags and a huge campfire. I started to feel ill though and had heatstroke - boo! So I was sick and steve put me into my swag and I had to try sleep it off, while he went and drank goon with some welsh boys! (he looked after me first though so its ok)

Next morning I felt alright again which was good because we had another big hike! This time to 'kata tjuta' or 'The Olgas' which was an easier walk than the canyon so I was relieved! The aboriginal people believe the olgas are giants heads - which they kind of look like I guess - they were awesome anyway, again beautiful views all around! And Jason (the guide) showed us how the aboriginals make the paint they use for painting their bodies and cave paintings, by crushing different sorts of rocks and adding lizard blood! He used water which worked too - was cool! Later we were taken to a cultural centre near Ayers Rock. There were so many signs asking not to climb ayers rock and how it makes them really sad, its a really sacred place for them and kinda like walking into a buddhist temple in a bikini or something - you just don't do it! I can't believe the government allow people to climb it - firstly its pretty bloody steep and doesn't look at all safe - people have died climbing it! But mostly I think its just unfair to the aboriginal people, so please don't do it! Ok I've had my little rant.

That night we saw the sunset over Uluru (ayers rock) which was pretty cool as it made the rock change colours, slowly it went from orange to brown to red! I didn't know it did that!

Next morning was really really early - up at 4:30am to see the sunrise at uluru! It was actually cold at that time and I had to wear mine and steves hoodies! It took a while but eventually the sun came up just beside it and looked pretty awesome :) Then we had a 10km walk around the base of uluru, It looks very impressive close up, I think it was my favorite bit! :) Made me feel very small standing at the base and looking up at it, glad I got to see it!

So far I haven't mentioned that there are millions of flies everywhere around here - I hate them!!! If anyone ever goes there - buy a fly net - at least they cant get up your nose and in your eyes with that on!

On the way back to alice springs we stopped at a petrol station and there was a man with a joey (baby kangaroo) in a shopping bag!! it was so sweet!! I stroked it and some other guys held it but it looked like a bit of a handful so I didn't hold it in case I dropped it or something - which I would have beacuse I am so clumsy! We also stopped at a camel farm where I stroked and fed some camels, they're funny looking things!!