Uluru: The Forbidden Rock

Look what we were reduced to!!!
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Last weekend Michael and I headed for Uluru, or Ayers Rock, as it is more commonly referred to.  It's located pretty much smack dab in the middle of the country - in the desert - well in the outback.  Man was it hot!  My friend Sarah always uses the expression "it's hotter than a snake's ass in a wagon rut around here" and I think it definitely applies to this situation.  The temperature that weekend was 40 degrees "in the shade".  I find this quite hilarious because in the desert there is no shade.  Trust me - we looked!   Anyway, the amazing thing about Ayers Rock (besides being the world's biggest monolith), and what attracts all the attention, is the fact that it never looks the same no matter how many times you see it.  This is due to the changing nature of the sky.  This means that the best times to see the rock are at sunrise and at sunset.  Now, personally I have no problem with sunset - it is absolutely gorgeous I do agree, but sunrise well - unfortunately that is real early!!!  To see sunrise meant that on a Saturday and a Sunday morning Michael and I had to get up at 3:00 am Perth time - what we are used to.  Needless to say we spent most of the weekend in a sort of comatose state!  We did get to see an absolutely amazing presentation of God's work however.  It was so beautiful watching the sun rise and set over that rock.  The colours of it are incredible - red rock like I have never seen before.  Take a look at the additional pictures.  I put in the "Changing Colours of Uluru".  It's amazing how different it can look!

The many colours of Uluru - Brown.
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Now, we also did something that I hope you won't judge us on.  We climbed Uluru.  You see this is a bit taboo.  The rock is actually a sacred site to the Aboriginal people.  They actually compare climbing the rock to entering a mosque during prayer or climbing on a cross.  So, they really recommend that you don't.   They also severely limit your chances by closing the rock if the temperature is over 36 degrees and by not letting anyone up after 8:00 am.  However, we along with several hundred other people, did it anyway.  I found it to be extremely challenging in some areas as there are some very steep portions to the trek.  There were many times when Michael had to talk me through some of my fears so that I could continue on up the hill.  I was literally frozen with fear at one point where I could see nothing but cliff on either side of me but once at the top it was absolutely amazing, views like I have never seen before - and despite our twinges of guilt in the beginning, and fear a couple times throughout, would probably do it again!  Like I said - please don't judge.

Michael and I actually had to wear our shirts over our heads in order to survive!

The many colours of Uluru - Orange.
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We also did a hike through Kata Juta (Olgas) - which means "many heads", the lesser known group of rocks.  It too was amazing - however one thing the guide books don't mention is how absolutely awful the flies are!  A lot of people had the foresight to buy fly nets, but me not wanting to look ridiculous, thought we could grin and bear it.  Well how stupid did I feel when Michael and I actually had to wear our shirts over our heads in order to survive!  We have a picture of this too.  Seriously, how embarassing!  I finally caved in after being driven so crazy that I actually started stomping my feet and bawling my head off.  They were sooooo bad!  Michael didn't even know what to do with me I was in such distress.  Later on that day we purchased two fly nets for $13.00 (suckers - I would have paid $100.00)!  We proudly wore them around for the next 3 days.