Uluru!
Made it! The bus for this tour is a kind of fanny vehicle. Seems to be an old converted little truck: high steps, cut-in windows, cut-in talk through to the driver/guide. A trailer for the luggage and other stuff. For two hours, we drove down the highway I came yesterday, until Erldunda – teh emu-place. From there it was up to Uluru. Kind of. First, we had to pick up a few more people at the local airport. We dropped our night-stuff at the campingground and for lunch. At the coach grounds, they have neat little compounds with tents, a kitchen, a fire place, all arranged arround a big sanitary building. Not long after we left the place to continue the tour, we could spot a skim Uluru in a far distance. Except for a few photo stops, we started at the cultural information center. Learn, how to respect the culture, the sacred place Uluru is. Taking no picture at certain places is part of the deal. Listen. See. Understand. Learn. Remember. As the basics in Aboriginal cultural are: “We know our history, our stories, traditions and laws by heart. We remember them well.” They are told to the children when they are ready to hear. That is decided by elders, watching the childrens development and behaviour through the day.
There some common rules and laws. And there are female and male laws. Men do not know the female laws, and the other way around.
Though, when an Aboriginal decides to tell you, receive that honour with respect. Listen carefully. It reallt is an honour to be allowed to know. Remember well. Because when you know, you are a custodian, too. You have the duty to acte wisely.
In the information center, some basics are explained. Rules are applied. To everybody.
Some aciant stories are told in a short (childish) version (the original once are way more longer, with more nuances, more layers, more depth. Partly, you find these stories back at Uluru: Marks on the rocks are explained by those stories. With lessons to be learned: behave well, be honest, don’t do unlawfull things, see warning signs, decide smart.
There are also artits at the information center. You can watch how they make their art pieces. If you have enough time, sit down, be patient. They will start to tell you about their art, what to see and understand, about the underlying stories.
Artpieces art storytelling. A lot in Aboriginal culture is story telling. Oral record keeping is so much smarter! How special is it to know 30.000-70.000 years of local, geograhical, topografical, evolutionary history by heart? What does it do to your connection with the place? Having that wisdom, you can’t ignore? Can you imagine?
From the visitor center, we drove over to the waterhole at Uluru. Water. The stream of life. Aboriginals protected it well for 30.000 years. Colonials mest it up within 150 years. Now, for the last 7 years, it slowly recovers. It has pitholes in it, again. Water is so immensly important, certainly in a dessert. This waterhole is right at the foot of the rock, filling up with rain.
At this moment, it was hard to remember that you are in a dessert. Because of all the rain this year, the dessert is green. Even flowering. A lot of camel grass, citron grass etc.
After that, we walked along the base of the rock – climbing is not allowed, not on a sacred rock, according to Aboriginal law. In 2019, via the Handback, this land was given back to the local Aboriginal communities. Since then, all climbing gear is taken of. You still see the scars on the face of the rock. The National Park of Uluru and Kata Tjuta is now rules by Aboriginal laws; together with examened white rangers and the government (which acknowledge the Aboriginals as rightful owner of the land).
During our walk, we saw teaching caves, celebration spots, an elders cave, and marks to be recognised from the aciant stories. It felt very special to recognise signs and teachings from my Dragon Dreaming experience. What a deep connection! One of the ladies in the group, first, was wondering about some we saw, some I could explain a bit because of the Dragon Dreaming. Then, she kept asking. Helping me to remember, thinking, listening deeper to the sounds around us, and inside. Deeply felt the energy of the place. So grateful!
Then, it was time to hit for the sunset spot. Bubbles, chees plate, crackers, juice. Fine conversations. Relax. Feel the peace. Got a new friend!
With the sunset, you shouldn’t waste any time. The ‘show’ is spectular, but is short. You snooze, you loose the moment. What a light! What a colour. To be honest … itr was cloudy all day, I didn;t expect much. And was very, very surprised!
Finally, we went back to the campground, had to choose a tent for the night. And had a brilliant dinner, even put some effort in to learn a bit more abourt each other.
A quick shower. Bedtime. Alarm in the morning will be at 4 AM. We leave at 5.
