Uluru (Ayer's Rock) Tour

I went to visit Uluru (Ayer's Rock) and King's Canyon this past week. Both of which are absolute marvels. I was with a group called the Rock Tour, there were 17 of us with a guide. I thought in the beginning that it was way too big, but the combination of Germans, Dutch, British, Swede and me the lone Canadian worked out very well. The drive from Alice Springs to King's Canyon - the first stop on our tour - was about 5 hours. On the way we saw a herd of wild camels, they're not native to Australia but were brought here by early settlers and have since thrived in the area. King's canyon was beautiful, we walked for about three hours around different parts of the canyon, had some opportunities to look down into the canyon from the edge. It was pretty freaky. The first night we made camp at a 'bush' camping ground, no toilets - just a bush. We cooked our meal over the fire and it was delicious. We slept in a swag. A swag is an Australian creation, its a canvass bag that zips up with just your face out. It has a small mattress and you put your sleeping bag inside. It was a great way to sleep, with your last sight for the day being the amazing southern night sky.
The next day we drove to Uluru. Uluru is the word that local Aboriginal groups have given Ayer's Rock. We arrived at the Rock at sunset, we set up our rolled up swags in a semi-circle and ate supper while watching the splendor of light setting on Uluru. The changes in colours has the sun set were spectacular. The next morning was an early one, we left our camp site around 5:45am, this time to watch the sunrise on Uluru.... also an amazing sight.
I feel like I experienced the outback in a real authentic way with the sleeping outside, cooking over an open fire and seeing the sun set and rise on this very sacred sight.

Pictures from the Outback

Here is the public Facebook link to some Outback pictures:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=245454&id=763065018&l=d764ef8133

Deep in the Outback

I came to Australia with no plans. I like having the flexibility to decide when Iarrive in a new country. I really intended to go to New Zealand, then I checked out the temperatures for this time of the year. It's COLD there. So, I decided to stay in Australia for my six weeks in the south Pacific. I spent six days in Melbourne, its right in the southern part of Australia, so it was pretty cold there for a few days. I met a guy from Sweden, he suggested going to the outback, Alice Springs and Ayers Rock. I kept thinking... sounds like a plan. So after three long bus rides, each about 12 hours we arrived in Alice Springs. We spent one night in a small town called Cobber Pedy, its a little mining town about 800 from Adelaide and that far again from Alice Springs. Talk about being in the middle of nowhere. I stayed in a hostel that was carved out of stone under ground. Many of the houses in this town are under ground, mostly to get away from the scorching summer temperatures, apparently it gets into the 50's. It was a very unique place. Not much to do but unique nevertheless. We arrived in Alice Springs yesterday. The town is pretty much closed today because of Good Friday. We leave on a three day tour of King's Canyon and Ayers Rock on Sunday. We sleep outside under the stars in 5-10 degrees. BRRR. Should be a lot of fun. Funny thing is I thought Ayer's Rocks was in or very close to Alice Springs, its about a 4-5 hours drive due west. Who knew.

I haven't uploaded many pictures lately, I've been having some trouble with one of my camera chips, I lost all of my pictures from Singapore and Melbourne. I moved onto a new chip. I'll upload some next week of Ayers Rock.

I just finished booking travel tickets home. I arrive in Vancouver on May 27. Hard to believe its time to think about that.

Singapore and Beyond

I just arrived in Melbourne, Australia. I spent the past week in Singapore. I don't know what to say about Singapore. It was very expensive, especially after spending the past few months in India and SE Asia. Singapore itself is a beautiful city, it looks very 'planned' and 'manicured'. I stayed with a friend in the downtown core for the first part of the week. I think Singapore has more malls than any place I have ever been. It certainly would be the dream of a 'shopper'. For me, not so much. I spent the second part of the week with an old university friend from Newfoundland. It was great to meet up again.

I have no idea what is going to happen in the next six weeks. I had first planned to go to New Zealand, but it is very chilly there now and I'm not sure if I want to end my year of traveling in the cold. So I may head north in Australia and find a good beach.