Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Day 292: Uluru - Ayers Rock

The ride through the Outback looked like this the whole weekend


The loneliest gas station

Uluru
 Today we left Alice Springs at 6:15am.


Left on a small bus with a group of people we'd get to know along the way.
Kissed our asses and civilization goodbye!
Prayed our Ipod and Camera batteries would last at least three more days.

"Goin' places that I've never been.
Seein' things that I may never see again

And I can't wait to get on the road again.
On the road again -
Like a band of gypsies we go down the highway
We're the best of friends.
Insisting that the world keep turning our way

And our way
is on the road again."
                         ~ Willie Nelson

We would be meeting our friends from Melbourne, in Yulara. They decided to fly further into the Outback to avoid the agony of the first 500km in the bus. Jen and Adam boarded the bus shortly before our hike around Uluru. Long pants, tee-shirt, and shirt with long sleeves. I started to sweat as soon as I saw them. But, they must have gotten the note about your skin burning up and falling off, so I don't blame em'. 



Quick Facts:
Uluru is the Aboriginal name for this site. On 19 July 1873, the surveyor William Gosse sighted the landmark and named it Ayers Rock in honour of the then Chief Secretary of South Australia, Sir Henry Ayers. Since then, both names have been used. The sandstone formation stands 348 m (1,142 ft) high (rising 863 m/2,831 ft above sea level), with most of its bulk lying underground, and has a total circumference of 9.4 km (5.8 mi). 


Brief History:
This site has major cultural significance to the Agnanu Aboriginal Tribe. So much so that certain areas of the rock and surrounding area cannot be photographed/filmed. This is so serious to their people, that if one of them sees a prohibited picture of one of these sacred areas, they must tell theirs elders, who are then served penalties as severe as DEATH! Also don't be an asshole and climb the rock. Its disrespectful to the Aboriginals and not condoned. The path to climb was installed by station owners trying to increase tourism in the area. However the original path up the rock was significant in that it was a  part of that men's maturation/becoming a man ritual. 


The Australian government held the rights to the land until 1985, when the local Aboriginals semi-successfully won their lands back. Only for the Australian government to stipulate a 99 year lease back. However, the Agnanu have remained in control of the lands. During the time that land had been taken away the watering holes became contaminated, bush fires ravaged vegetation and wildlife. Once the local people regained control, they reclaimed nearly all that was lost. Awesome! 

Sunset during dinner in Uluru

Sunrise over Uluru the next morning

2 comments:

  1. So AWESOME! In my reading about Uluru I've found that people have tried to climb it and have died in the process (falls, etc). "DO NOT CLIMB." What's so hard to understand about that?

    -leash

    ReplyDelete
  2. that sunset picture is one of the most beautiful i have ever seen!!! and the sunrise is beautiful too! literally breathtaking!!!

    thanks for the history information too. I love hearing the story of places and that its magnificence was brought back!

    ReplyDelete