Uluru/Ayers Rock

Coming into Uluru, our first impressions of the Rock were "Awesome".   It has a special effect on you when you see it up close and personal for the first time.  We camped at the Ayers Rock Campground and once set up, headed out to the Rock.    The must dos for photos etc. are the sunset and  then the sunrise over the rock. Loaded up with chairs,tables,happy hour food & drink.  We had been warned to rug up and so glad we did.  Beanies, scarves, gloves & heavy coats.   It was crazy to see people everywhere, from all over the world, here just to see A ROCK.   Must admit, it was a pretty good show, the sunset put on for us.   The next morning, in the darkness Rick and I rugged up and headed out around to the opposite side of the Rock to watch the sunrise. Helen & Eric, opted for a sleep-in.  Huge bus loads of people here.  Took cofee with us this time.   It was so cold here that we carved our names in the ice of the viewing platform handrails.   Bumped into some caravan  friends and so took lots of photos of us all out there in the early dawn.   Once that "show" was over, we warmed up back at the bus and then headed back out (its 20km from the Campground) to the Rock.  Visited the Aboriginal Cultural Centre to read and understand the spirit of this place.   This time we did some walks around the base of the Rock.   It was truly magic.  Came upon waterholes, rock paintings, beautiful rock formations etc.   Can only imagine what this place must have meant to the Aboriginal people before the white man arrived.   Wasnt interested in attempting to climb the rock and it was closed for that, the two days we were there, anyway.   It looked like a crazy thing to do.   The visit to Ayers Rock, for us, was the highlight so far.   We just had such a memorable time there.
Then it was off to the Olgas, a 60km trip away, we did a big walk thru one of the Gorges, and then settled down for sunset.   We had a group of backpackers, german/dutch/french nearby.  They were so funny as they posed for pictures, one getting part naked, after much urging from all of us..  We were all having such a good time, almost missed the actual sunset.  Really nice bunch of travellers.