Day 5 Night 5 Desert Tour

Today is pancake and banana day we wake up bring and early to see the sunrise peak up next to Uluru while we sip coffee and eat yummy food. First we head towards Kata Tjuta (The Olgas), valley of the wind. And was it ever windy! 

The Cheshire cat.

Now we head towards the base of Uluru. The beating heart of Australia. We are going to learn about some history, politics and culture while we are here. Then we walk the base. Today we are running a little late so we walk a part of the walk today, and a little tomorrow. 

Uluru (Ayers rock) Is the biggest monolith in the world. It is a singular rock. There is so much history and culture surrounding Uluru. For example, in the beginning Chantal and I wanted to climb Uluru. We learned through reading and talking to the locals that it is very disrespectful to the Aboriginals to climb the rock.

Tom gives us a history lesson and tells us some stories surrounding Uluru that the Aborignals have told in order to keep their morals and culture alive. The base walk gives you an understanding of the size, shaped, structure and spirituality of this place. Uluru itself is stunning. Although it was very hot on this day, and we had to hide in the shade for most of the stories told. Aboriginal stories of the Rainbow serpent, ceremonial traditions, and education are illustrated along the way. Tom shared some of the history and culture surrounding Uluru. Most Aboriginal stories told are simplifications of their beliefs.  In fact, many of their stories are like fables invented for children to keep them out of harms way. Aboriginal drawings were used to educate their children. Young men were made to stand alone, without speaking for days as a test of their maturity, before their walkabout across the desert begins.

My understanding is; a womans role was to bear and nurture children, protect the men from snakes, collect bush tucker and educate the girls and a mans role was to protect their skin colour, hunt and make men out of boys. The communities also had various leaders; administrators, medicine men etc. They are a nomadic culture, though this seems to have been all but lost in recent times.

I have learned a lot on this journey, some I cannot write over the internet out of respect to the Aboriginals. I might not remember every detail that I've heard, but I will always remember the feeling that Uluru gave me.