The Rock

Already missing one flight to Ayres Rock and almost missing a second I wondered whether it was meant to be, whether this was the path I should take. Obviously it was because three hours later I arrived into Ayres rock looking out of the window and seeing a massive rock in the middle of a sea of red sand was out of this world. Waiting for my tour guide I had a look around the mini resort called Ayres Rock, tiny as Alice Springs is the nearest town there hours bus ride from Ayres Rock.

The time soon came when I met my group for the next couple of days and my guide and so the mini trip around the big rock began. You’d think that the only thing to do would be to see the rock and leave but really there is many different ways you can view the national treasure and everyway different with a certain spiritual feeling. Although I don’t normally like to go on tours, especially when I can speak the language of the country, it’s worth being driven around and taken to places where you might not have gone just for the knowledge which these guys have, teaching you all they know about this natural beauty. But to be honest compared to the openness of the Muori people the Aborigines are really quiet and seclude themselves from the rest of society. Despite the land being owned by the Aborignonies they have allowed a 99 year lease on the sacred place to the Australian government but there are rules. There are only certain places where you can go, and others where you cannot take any pictures as some spots are more important than others. They also hold the right to close off the access to the park in times of celebration, mourning and special ceremonies but most of all they ask you not to climb the rock, although you are allowed it is frowned upon and deemed disrespectful, like not taking your shoes off as you enter a Buddhist temple. Unfortunately, even though I asked many question I didn’t really find out much about the people and their life, they do not share much about their beliefs, even with the guide said very little so I was a little disappointed because even though the Rock is a marvel to see it’s the stories that make it what it is for these people, not just as a geographical fascination like it is for us, so my thirst for information remained unquenched.

Despite the land being owned by the Aborignonies they have allowed a 99 year lease on the sacred place to the Australian government but there are rules.

The first day the temperature reached 38 degrees Celsius, so it was a relief when we stopped off at the viewpoint to see the sunset behind the rock, truly spectacular. We went back to camp for a Barbeque; you’d think I would have had enough of them but nope. We all had tents already erected for us, but we also had the choice to sleep outside in swag bags or in the tpees, and of course the former was what I wanted to do. My Scottish mate who I had met on the bus joined me with a few others, but they soon disappeared when it started to rain. Can you believe it Frances (Scottish girl) and I joked that just when us British arrive it starts to rain, and it hasn’t rained since January. Just our luck, but we stuck it out and it really was quite refreshing.

The next day we were up at 4.30am to see the sun rise, despite being tired beyond belief I still had energy for this, the contrast of the amazing red sand with the orange, redness of the rock and the sun, crazily beautiful.. You can see nothing but desert for miles apart from this big rock. The walk around the rock was soon to follow and because there is nothing to compare the size it is not until you are at the bottom of the rock that you realise just how big it actually is, formed of many little rocks moulded together caused by the tectonic plates pushing together. The scientists can measure the rock 6km below ground level before their equipment fails them (just in case you ever get asked that in a trivial pursuit game).  It was a pretty cloudy day but dry so good weather conditions for a good trek. We were dropped off and made our way around the rock (which is just over 9km). You can see the big holes in the rock and smaller rocks which had fallen scattered on the ground due to weathering. It’s like a puzzle, some of them forming shapes, many looking like lips for some reason. There are paintings on the rock which the elders use to teach their young about the lessons of life, and some different, natural markings which the rocks have fuelled many legends that are still told. It did rain for a bit but being English I coped and to be honest I am pleased that it did because you got to see the colours of the rock changing to a darker brown when the water trickled down the sides. The only problem was my experience wasn’t long enough, because I was starting and finishing at Ayres Rock and not Alice Springs I could only do one night and two days, a shame, but I did it, short and sweet. I was soon to be on my flight back to…………