DAY 11 – Wednesday 13 June 2012 Explore Uluru (Ayers Rock)

Trip Meter Reading Start – 2032            Trip Meter Reading Finish – 2092

Total Km Travelled – 60 km
Fuel Costs & Consumption
No filling up today

Comments -  Luke Baker

This morning we did a 10.6 km walk around Ayers Rock; it killed.
I also bought a painting off an aboriginal woman; her name was Dawn Nipper.  I played the didgeridoo in front of lots of people; it sounded like fart (lol); I still did not pick up any chicks yet as I did the praying mantis dance again.  I have enjoyed the aboriginal culture.

Comments – Mum and Dad

The Tarplees’ decided to leave Yulara after exploring the rock and headed for Kings Canyon.  We decided to stay on as we had 4-5 hours of exploring and walking the 10.6 km around Uluru ahead of us; plus (more importantly LOL), tv reception to watch the State of Origin, “Go The Blues”!!!!.
The rock was amazing.  It was more significant after listening to the locals explain the Kuniya and Liru story.  This explained the markings on the rock and the significance of story for the traditional landholders of Anangu. 
In 1985 the title deeds to Uluru and Kata Tjuta were handed back to the Anangu traditional owners who then leased the land to the federal government for 99 years.  Since then they have been working with the Director of National Parks to jointly manage this land. 
The Anangu prefer that people do not climb the rock.  They believe that under Tjukurpa (traditional law) to teach people what behaviour is appropriate (climbing the rock is not one of them)...therefore, as this was their land, we respected this and decided not to climb. 
Name plaques of some of the 35 people that died climbing the rock have been removed.  The Anangu people believe that the memorials keep their spirits around; they believe they have a great responsibility to people who visit the their lands.
We explored the Mutijula Waterhole and took a free guided Mala Walk with one of the Park Rangers.
At Luke’s request, we drove back into Town Square to see who was painting today....Dawn Nipper  started a canvas with a background of red (OMG, this is my  favourite colour!!) and of course it was absolutely beautiful and represented four women gathering food amongst the sand dunes around Uluru....Luke loved it and watched her finish it to the end and bought his  second piece (out of his own money)....Dawn allowed for Luke to have his photo taken with her, as did Christine the previous day..... We pray that these paintings will be worth a fortune in years to come (before we die, that is....LOL).