27 February, 2009

Kata Tjuta

Photo from my flickr account


The first day of the Uluru tour I went on, we stopped at King's Canyon (that's the one with the pythons!). The second day, we went walking at Kata Tjuta. In the Ananu language (the Indigenous people of the area) the name means "many mounds". It's a GINORMOUS rock foundation, which perfectly lives up to its name. Like the more famous rock, it dates back to the time when much of Australia was under water.

We went on a ~8 km walk up, through, and around some of the area. It was blazingly hot, even though it was morning--due to extreme temperatures, the trail was closed from 11AM! By the end of the walk, I was totally dead! And it was still only 11 in the morning!

25 February, 2009

Reserved

Photo from my flickr account

I was fascinated by reserved places in the Alice Springs Cemetary. I've never seen notices like that before! I wonder who's got that spot in mind.

07 February, 2009

Peeing Under the Stars, and Other Outback Highlights

Back to my old tricks, I packed two novels for a five-day trip, three days of which were a camping tour. Then, on the first day, pretty much as soon as I arrived in Alice Springs, I went out and bought another novel. (Home, by Larissa Behrendt, which I strongly recommend!) However, I sped through the new novel and am also almost finished one of the original two, so the third one may come in handy on the plane back to Sydney tomorrow. I guess I'm not that silly after all... and at least I didn't drag a Curious George doll all over the outback (strange things are done under the hot sun...)

Anyway, enough about books--a couple of top moments from my trip from Alice to Uluru (Ayre's Rock) and back, before I forget them! 1234978534631123 zillion photos coming up in a couple of weeks.

1. I saw a goanna, petted a dingo, and rode a camel.
2. I walked through a canyon where pythons are known to live! If that isn't conquering your fears, what is? (If I were less honest, dear reader, I wouldn't mention that I didn't know there were pythons in the canyon until after walking all the way into it.)
3. I didn't see any pythons in the canyon. YES! Actually, I didn't see any of the other many species of highly dangerous snakes I shared territory with. SUCCESS, I AM ALIVE!
4. I slept out under the stars for the first time.
5. I walked 7k in 42 degree heat yesterday, and 8k before 9:30AM this morning. I saw some really beautiful country for my trouble.
6. While dropping my trousers to pee in the bush, I saw a shooting star.

It was a good trip!

04 February, 2009

Alice Springs

HOLY SHIT IT'S HOT HERE

02 February, 2009

Kirribilli House

Photo from my flickr account

Kirribilli House is the official residence of the Australian Prime Minister. It's a pretty nice place--harbourside, little bit of private shore, nice little park...

Looks pretty big. I wonder if they've ever considered renting out the basement apartment to visiting Canadians? You know, as a gesture of international friendship?