Yesterday we returned the camper van with plans to fly to Uluru. There had been a cyclone in Darwin the previous evening so flights were backed up and our flight canceled. We got a flight out to Alice Springs then on to Uluru. We had a 6:20 tour and were quite sure we would miss it and arrived at 6:30 and they were waiting for about 10 of us.
Sounds of Silence Tour: They took us to a sand dune between Uluru and Kata Tjuta where we had champagne and canapés to watch the sunset. It is pretty amazing to be standing in front of Ayers Rock! We then had an authentic Australian buffet with barramundi, kangaroo and crocodile. We listened to the sounds of the Didgeridoo which is the musical instrument of the Aboriginal people. It is a long hollowed wooden instrument. After dinner there was a Star Talker who explained stars in the southern hemisphere. Unfortunately it was pretty cloudy so we could not get the full impact. The evening was a great experience and so glad we didn't miss it!
Today we toured Kata Tjutu/Olgas. These are amazing rock formations. There is very limited access to the Olgas due to Aboriginal beliefs and guides are not even allowed to discuss cultural beliefs while at the site. We were able to get up close at one point as we took a hike at the Walpa Gorge. There had been a shower shortly before we arrived which cooled the temp and it was quite comfortable. This area is much more green than we expected and the guide said this is an unusual year. The temp earlier in the day was 98 degrees with low humidity. We spotted camels and got some good photos. It just amazes me that we are here in the outback.