Bit of a Blog : Solstice : Auckland – Fremantle – Sydney : February 14th 2016

[NorbertsNiece]

 

From where I will be viewing sunset tomorrow

 

 

 

 

 

[NorbertsNiece]

 

 

 

 

 

Edited March 28, 2016 by NorbertsNiece

[NorbertsNiece]

Back at the resort..... another accommodation option

 

 

 

 

 

 

[NorbertsNiece]

 

Crocodile.....

 

 

BBQ area

 

 

 

[NorbertsNiece]

 

 

They have a camel farm..... there are over 1m camels in Australia.....

 

 

A take away restaurant

 

 

 

[I'm from Oz]

My first glimpse of Uluru

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This, in the wardrobe, has me a bit perturbed

 

 

 

 

You missed the excitement of visitors on the coach journey from Alice Springs to Uluru!

 

There is another 'rock' which is called Mt Connor. It is a no go area as it has different spiritual connections with the dead. It looks very similar but is more flat topped.

 

However, it is seen very clearly en route to Uluru and everyone gets excited!

 

I hope it was explained to you about how the earth uplifted the rock so it is in fact sitting on its side, which is why there are such wonderful erosion patterns.

 

I laughed when I saw your photo of the can of Mortein. It's a staple in Australian households :D. Cockroaches are a way of life for us, like it or not. Nothing to do with how clean or otherwise your home is either.

[I'm from Oz]

I loved all your photos taken inside the Opera House. Isn't the purple simply gorgeous. Your photo inside the concert hall was superb. I have heard that organ played; the sound reverberates right through you on the low notes.

 

The photos made me realise that, although I attend the SOH for various events (off to the theatre again in a couple of weeks), I have not done a tour. May have to put that on the agenda.

 

We are so privileged to have, what has become, such an iconic venue in such a location. Were you told that the building was also partly publicly funded? We all religiously bought our Opera House Lottery tickets. I also remember very clearly the opening ceremony when the Queen almost lost her hat it was so windy. The Harbour was beautiful and the streamers coming down from the sails looked gorgeous.

 

So long ago. So much has changed in this city. Perhaps it was the building of the Opera House which helped us 'come of age' as it was still really a backwater back in 1973.

 

Sorry we could not see Manly properly - best laid plans etc. :)

 

Have enjoyed travelling with you 'again'.

[MicCanberra]

Thanks for all the wonderful pictures.:D

[NorbertsNiece]

Was so tired last night forgot to press send on this.....

 

 

There is a lookout in the centre of the resort

 

 

 

 

 

[NorbertsNiece]

 

 

 

 

 

[NorbertsNiece]

 

 

 

 

 

[NorbertsNiece]

 

 

 

The shame about watching the sunset with others is the lack of respect for silence..... Whilst my eyes became accustomed to the dark getting back to the resort was a little challenging as there was no path and I had to negotiate the bush.

 

More Town Square dining

 

 

 

[I'm from Oz]

Was so tired last night forgot to press send on this.....

 

 

There is a lookout in the centre of the resort

 

 

 

 

 

Both times I've stayed at Uluru I've been in the camp ground. The first time was about a year after Azaria Chamberlain disappeared. No dingoes around and Ulara was just being mapped out!

 

The second time everything had changed dramatically. Ulara was in full swing and Longitude 131 had been built. However, adjacent to the campground was a lookout where we went up with champagne cheeses etc. for the sunset.

 

It's only a small rise with a sort of chain link and post affair around the perimeter. Is that the one you are talking about Linda? The first time I went Sunset Strip was the only place available to watch the sunset and it got so crowded, we were pleased to have somewhere smaller.

 

The black and white bird, in case you are interested is a Magpie Lark - male, because of the black throat. Quite common throughout Australia.

[NorbertsNiece]

 

LLB Valerie!!!

 

 

 

 

Desert Gardens Hotel Reception area..... what I really appreciated is thatwhilst they sell bottled water they are happy to refill the bottles with really cold tap water.

 

 

[NorbertsNiece]

 

 

Both times I've stayed at Uluru I've been in the camp ground. The first time was about a year after Azaria Chamberlain disappeared. No dingoes around and Ulara was just being mapped out!

 

The second time everything had changed dramatically. Ulara was in full swing and Longitude 131 had been built. However' date=' adjacent to the campground was a lookout where we went up with champagne cheeses etc. for the sunset.

 

It's only a small rise with a sort of chain link and post affair around the perimeter. Is that the one you are talking about Linda? The first time I went Sunset Strip was the only place available to watch the sunset and it got so crowded, we were pleased to have somewhere smaller.

 

The black and white bird, in case you are interested is a Magpie Lark - male, because of the black throat. Quite common throughout Australia.[/quote']

 

The Campground has its own lookout..... the one I was at is right in the middle. For those still with us here's the website for Longitude 131

[NorbertsNiece]

Very early start this morning. Tour to watch the sunrise and visit the Cultural Centre. They offer a packed breakfast.

 

 

 

For the different excursions they insist that you bring specific quantities of water with for rehydration. All the tour buses have barrels of water on board too. This is a 1 litre requirement..... Uluru base walk requires 3 litres to be carried.

 

We are headed into the National Park. There is a requirement to purchase a park access ticket $25 for 3 days and we stop at a control barrier for these to be checked. In our instance we just wave the passes at the window. More about the park, its history and culture is here

 

Tea, coffee, hot chocolate and snacks are provided at the viewing car park

 

 

The red lights lead to the toilets and the green to the viewing platfrom..... i head straight off hoping to get there before others to explore some silence.

 

 

 

[NorbertsNiece]

My pictures of the rock itself are quite poor unfortunately. The actuality of seeing it wake up was quite breathtaking

 

 

 

 

 

There are different levels to view from

 

 

[NorbertsNiece]

 

 

 

The moonlight makes it appear lighter than it actually was

 

 

 

[NorbertsNiece]

I managed without a fly net but to be honest I envied him his.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[NorbertsNiece]

 

 

 

There are no long stretches of straight road out here..... the dunes have shaped the land and the roads follow their outline

 

 

 

Edited March 29, 2016 by NorbertsNiece

[NorbertsNiece]

 

 

 

 

 

There is a stretch of road where we may not take photographs. Out of respect for the cultural significance of the site, where the Anangu people have founded their beliefs, we are requested to down cameras for a stratch of road.

 

[NorbertsNiece]

Our guide looks 14, is 22, and is enthused with love for this job and the 'office' in which he works.

 

 

 

He describes, in some detail, the geology behind the region.....

 

 

 

 

[NorbertsNiece]

 

 

 

 

 

[NorbertsNiece]

 

A water hole

 

 

 

 

 

[NorbertsNiece]