We leave Cairns and fly onto Uluru ( Ayres Rock) hopefully find some sun here in the desert. As we fly into the middle of this coutry there is nothing below us apart from desert we fly for 2.5hrs eventually you can see Uluru looming up from the skyline got a lovely picture (see photos) As we arrive we jump into hire car and straight off to National Park, This wonder of the world can be seen from almost anywhere. We have just enough time to walk the base 9.4km before sunset.. The heat is bearable BUT THE FLIES ARE NOT!! they are persitant little b*****s and try for every orifice that is available to them. As you walk around you get this humble feeling of spiritual being you have to block out the crowds of people that are doing the same as you. There are several places you can not walk around or take photos as the local aboriginals ask you not too because they still see it as sacred to their god and ancestors for this reason they also ask you not to do the touristy climb but hundreds still do!! We arrive back at car just before sunset, The rock is starting to change colour as the day starts too cool down. We have our perfect photo spot. When the sun has gone along with all the coaches it is so amazingly quiet, we stand and just enjoy the time.. We are now off to our apartment very nice with shared pool. didnt use it because we want to be ealry too bed early to rise. Hey we are up and its only 04:30 we make our way back to park for sunrise there is only one other car YES this is going to be great the sun starts to rise siloueting the trees on the horizon the rock start to change to its warm glowing orange/red against the already blue cloudless sky, by now the coaches have arrived everyone jostling for the perfect shot. We are done we move onto the south side where the many tourist HAVE to climb. Mark is off it takes him 45mins to reach the top me I lay back on a bench in the sunshine and await his return. Back on the ground we are off to the olga's "KATA TJUTA" we manage to walk "The valley of the winds" no sacred sites here, as you enter the middle of the domes. we stop listen there is no sounds at all no wind, no birds. absoloute silence is n't it funny how you have to listen for silence even NO FLIES, The day is getting very hot and Mark has already done 2hrs climb we are off to the resort for some cooling down in the pool and late afternoon zzzzzzzz's been a busy 2 days!! 26th We are off out of here today it has been a wonderful experieince not to be missed. before we leave for the airport we need to do a bit more culture we are off to the Aboriginal centre. here we learn about their ancestors and why the rock is sacred to them. They have a school in the centre for their children not unusual you would think but oh my it certainly is out here they are the forgotten people the adults often work with the rangers in preserving the park and learn social skills. Wonderful place!!!! Next stop Perth