Dancing in the Park Anangu style

Thursday, June 19:

Our final day at Yulara so we spent the morning in Town Park watching the spear and boomerang throwing, joined in the bush yarns about Aboriginal life and after lunch in one of the cafes, we spent half an hour listening to didgeridoo playing by experts and those men willing to have a go.

After lunch in the café run by trainees, we went back to the van for a couple of hours before heading back to Town Park for the Wakagetti Cultural Dancers hour long performance. Each piece was explained and its significance highlighted. They were quick to get people involved and the young lads were quick to drag up their dads to do the kangaroo dance.

Then it was the ladies turn. I bravely stood up and joined a group of others. We were given a two minute lesson from one of the dancers and then left to do the emu dance. It looked easier than it was but it was still fun.

Afterwards Wal took a photo of me with the four dancers.

We decided we should call about booking in at Alice Springs but discovered the Beanie Festival was on and it was hard to get a site. After a couple of calls, we booked into the Wanngardi Park 5kms out of Alice for a week – stay 7 pay for 6.

Wakagetti Cutural Dancers in action at Town Park, Yulara Resort, Uluru.

Wakagetti Cutural Dancers as kangaroos at Town Park, Yulara Resort, Uluru.

Sue and other ladies  doing the  Emu Dance at Town Park. If you didn't guess I'm the one hiding under my hat!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sue with the four dancers after their performance.

A day at Kata Tjuta (the Olgas)

Wednesday, June 18:

Cut lunch and Thermos in the back and we headed west 50kms to Kata Tjuta or The Olgas. A totally different formation it is made up of 36 domes of varying sizes and shapes. There are two major walks and we did the first stage to the first look out. It was tough going as the track climbed across loose rocks. At the base of the main dome small pools of water remain and this was the main water supply for the Aborigines throughout the years. The women would travel the 40kms from Uluru to collect water for the tribe.

After lunch we visited another couple of viewing spots but it is so hard to get Kata Tjuta into one shot even with a wide angle lens.

 I found it a little disappointing there was not any real interpretation at the site as there is with Uluru and these are just as significant to the Aborigines.

However we did find the upside down plant and a couple of butterflies were very obliging.

 

The Lkulyukulyu or  the Upside Down Plant leptosema chambersii fabaceae.

A butterfly in one of the bushes at Kata Tjuta or the Olgas.

Bush shelters like this are found throughout Uluru andKata Tjuta or the Olgas.

Wal takes time out from our walks at Kata Tjuta or the Olgas.

Some of the 36 domes of Kata Tjuta or the Olgas.

A day at the Rock - Uluru

Tuesday, June 17:

We set aside the day to go to Uluru and spend the day there before returning at sunset.

The three-day pass cost us $25 each but again was worth it as the place is pristine despite the thousands of visitors and buses every day. We did the Marla walk which was took us double the allocated 1.5hrs for the 2k return walk as there was so much good interpretive signage on plants, the stories of the creation of Uluru, the way of life of the Anunga tribe and the plants.

After eating our cut lunch we headed into the cultural centre at the park which is run as an Aboriginal  co-operative. Everything on sale from woomeras, boomerangs, rubbing sticks etc.,  all made by the local tribes. I found a beautiful painting – water colour on fabric – which is now safely tucked away in its own special cylinder ready from framing when I get home.  The cultural centre carries the work of 800 indigenous artists from three local tribal groups.

The wind was cold and blustery so the walk to the top was closed. One look at it was enough to turn me of it – it is so steep – the Anangu don’t want people climbing it but tolerate it as it has been done for so many years.

I figure if you want to see the view from the top high a helicopter and do it but to me it takes some of the charm away.

Sunset at Uluru has to be one of my best moments – it was cold but minute by minute the rock changed colour from bright red to dark rich red and seemed to glow just before the sun disappeared. Some tourists took nibbles and champagne and sat around their table enjoying themselves which we sat huddled in our camp chairs just spellbound. I have included a couple of images but they don't seem to do justice to what we saw.

Dinner was late as it was 8pm before we got back to the van.

The route up to the top of Uluru. It was closed the day we were there due to the strong winds.

Wal standing in the old men's cave along the Mala Walk.

Sunset at Uluru.

Sunset at Uluru.

Sun all but gone from Uluru.

At Uluru

 Monday, June 16

This was one of the shortest drives for ages – only a 100kms or so. The resort is an amazing set up. All the land around – 1000s of acres was given back to the Northern Land council for the Anangu Aborigines. Working together the NT Parks Dept and the Aborigines operate Uluru and Kata Tjuta while Voyagers operate the resort which has a town square, shops, four hotels, restaurants, cafes, caravan park, hospital, Police Station and fire services all set in magnificent native gardens and hard to see when you drive around.

Every day there are activities in town Park such as spear and boomerang throwing (no start from the Thompsons), bush yarns, didgeridoo playing and dance. At the daily market artists sit and paint and you can buy their work.

The resort and park employs 800 people of which 250 are Aborigines with a target of 50 per cent in 2018. Training is important, particularly in hospitality. It is an amazing place in the middle of nowhere offering 5 star facilities – we’re glad we stayed as it has taken us the full four days to see everything.

We saw on the news that an English tourist plunged to her death at nearby Kings Canyon. Every care has to be taken around here.

Mt Connor which is on the Curtin Springs Station.

Rosa and The Palace from the lookout above the Yulara Caravan Park. We don't often see the van from above.

Over the border

Sunday, June 15:

At last we were getting somewhere and felt a great sense of achievement when we crossed the South Australian/Northern Territory border.

Drove another 100kms north then turned west towards Uluru and Kata Tjuta (Ayres Rock and The Olgas). After another 200kms we pulled into Curtin Springs which is a working cattle station with a free camp area plus 8 powered sites, cabins etc.

We were planning to stay a couple of nights but stayed only one as it was dusty and the facilities were very old and tired.

As we had no mobile phone coverage etc Wal used one of the three Telstra phone boxes to ring Yulara Resort at Uluru to book for a couple of nights. The cost was $24 a person ie $48 a night but the girl did say pay for three and stay four so Wal took the deal.

Wal has a foot in both states.

Wal in the Northern Territory ... just.