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Yulara Village
The Yulara Village belongs to the Uluru National Park and contains a lovely campground where we stayed for 3 days.
We slept in a trailer which was located on a spooky spot at the campground. It was quite a walk to the bathroom.
Sincet it was not dark yet, we went to explore the area. From the campground a trail covered with red sand leads to the center of the tiny village. We looked around and noticed that the entire land was red. Red sand. The terrain is flat, absolutely flat as far as you can see. We stopped by at the Imalung lookout and from there we could see Ayers Rock. It was an amazing view. Ayers Rock lies there in piece, big and strong.....the symbol of Australia, the property of the Aborigines.
We sat on a bench and listened to the voices of the animals and insects.We sat in silence an watched the slowly upcoming sunset. The sun set actually behind us so Ayers Rock started to glow in the most beautiful colors. The Rock was suddenly brightly lit in orange increasing more and more. As we turned around we saw the sun right above the horizon as it was about to disappear. Exactly at this moment the color of the Rock turned into gloomy orange, slowly became golden-red, eventually turned brown, then more and more dark. It was a spectacle. The crickets were chirping and the moon was about to rise as we saw the sky growing darker and darker.
The first stars arose and I felt passion and silence deep inside me.After this beautiful spectacle we went to have dinner and heard the dingos howling from far away.
Later at night we longed to go back to the Imalung-outlook and what I saw there, was the prettiest sky I have ever seen in my whole life. The firmament was stretched out like a huge black blanket above and around us and it seemed to meet the ground. There were stars everywhere and I have never seen such beautiful stars. Never again. Nowhere!
It looked like as God had placed diamonds upon black velvet. Those stars were brilliant and seemed to be close enough to reach out and be touched. It was the first time we saw the Southern Cross.
I felt like a Goddess bathing in jewels. And incredible feeling. Reading this years later I still get the chills.
Uluru
Uluru is the Aboriginal word for what the world knows as Ayers Rock. It was named after Ayer, the Premier of South Australia in the late 1800's. 'Ayers Rock' is protected by a joint agreement between the traditional owners and the European-managed National Park.
The Park, which is known as Uluru National Park and is situated in the central Australian desert region 450 km south of Alice Springs, encompasses the monolith.Friday, April, 15th.
Today we are heading out to see a sun rise at Ayers Rock. It's about 5:30 am and still dark. We stop at the westside of the Rock. It is pretty cold and it's starting to get light. Ayers Rock is dark and slowly turns slightly red. We are waiting. At the moment the sun rises at the horizon the play of colors goes on. The Rock turns into a dazzling orange. The crickets start chirping and it seems like everything is alive again.We are driving to the east side of Ayers Rock to walk about the foothills. There is the so-called climb-point and people are starting to climb up the rock in hordes. We stay down here, cause we think Ayers Rock is something holy and spiritual to the Aborigines. It belongs to them. I'm horrified enough about those many tourists.
So we are looking for the cave-paintings. Exploring the area around Ayers Rock is a magnificence. Although it is so dry out here the flora is splendid and shows a rich green. I could spend all day out here...........have I mentioned that yet?
Here is a little trail that leads to a cave. Wow, we're looking at the paintings and I think they are really impressive. Makes me think what the Aborigines tryed to express there. I let my mind flow and I almost can feel the Aborigines' presence.
Many people may think the Aboriginal tribes are way backwards but I believe they were far ahead of mankind. They neither needed technology nor electricity. They had their natural survival instincts. They didn't know about stress and just lived their lifes the way it was meant to be.
When it was time for them to go they just knew they had served their purpose and went out in the desert to die. Alone and in seclusion. Aborigines lived a fullfilled life.
I wish people would think a little like the Aborigines and would live each day with intensity like it is the last.
Right at this moment at this spiritual Ayers Rock I know I'm going to keep part of that way of thinking inside me forever.
click In each of us there is a spirit that longs to connect with an empty desert sky and here at Uluru there's something very special that draws so many people from all over the world.
Out here, beneath an endless outback sky, you can stop almost anywhere for an hour, a day, or a week. You can sleep beneath the stars. You can follow tracks in the sand all day long, or sit back in long grass and marvel at the intricacies of a flower. You can do all of those things, but most of all you can roam with a sense of total freedom.
In the distance I can see an old man
shaded by a single desert tree.
Some would think he's escaping sunshine,
others may think that he's waiting patiently.
I'm sure he's having lengthy conversations,
squatting there for hours all alone
his bare skin communicating with the sand.
Now he's watching
the twinkle in a dragon lizard's dancing eye,
perhaps lizard and the old forgotten man
are in contact
with the spirit of their Uluru.By Steve Parish
Learn more about the mythos of the Didgeridoo, the Dreamtime and the Songlines of the Aborigines. Read more about the Northern Territory
Kata Tjuta
The 'Olgas', known to the Aborigines as Kata Tjuta, is protected by a joint agreement between the traditional owners and the European-managed National Park.
The Park, which is known as Uluru National Park and is situated in the central Australian desert region 450 km south of Alice Springs, encompasses the monoliths.
click
Saturday, April, 16th.
Today we are going to see the Olga's and one of those beautiful sunsets.
Together with 6 other people we are driving through the outback in a little bus. We're stopping here and there and our tour guide, a really nice lady, explains different plants and tracks of animals in the sand. It's about 5 pm. We still got time till sunset so we take a rest at an outlook where we have a wonderful view to Ayers Rock and the Olga's.
click As soon as we are getting closer to the Olga's I know they are even more impressive than Ayers Rock. I'm sitting in front of the rocks together with my friend, away from the other people. We are very quiet.
Right there a strange, yet familiar feeling rose up inside me. I remembered my childhood and the dreams I had sometimes back then. These dreams were about big round rocks and they caused me fears or maybe I dreamed about rocks when I had fears. I don't know.
But suddenly, looking at the imposingly Olga's I feel nomore fears. I feel like coming home. Warmth flows through my body. A strong charisma is given out of those rocks which deeply influenced me. It is an indescribable feeling...........I feel boundless free, yet taken care of at the same time.
I knew right there and then, this is the
Spirit of Australia When the sun finally set and the Olga's changed into almost unreal looking colors, my friend and I were crying.
There might come sad times in my life, but I will ever think about this evening and will never forget these feelings. (9 years (2003) later I'm sitting here reading this....I'm in a real bad time right now and will remember what I said and felt back then.)
Valley of the winds Feel the wind below
ice-cold on your bare skin.
Feel the stones
sharp beneath your feet.
Feel your tears dry
from a thousand years
with the hot wind west-blown
from another scorching day,
in the valley of domes
where once you could hear small children play.
Stop, look, listen
and you will feel the tears.By Steve Parish
