Queue up at Yulara to get in, queue up for a shower, queue up for the washing machine. There are hordes of people here, who love to drive up and down the road next to our tent all day long. At 5.30am the engines start up. The helicopters fly overhead for dusk flights when the rock lights up red, and during the day.
If you like your national parks wall to wall with people, Uluru is for you. To escape the rush, go anywhere besides where you climb it, or to the sunset car park, that's it.
Spinifex pidgeons mean that there is water not too far away, as we learnt in the Desert Park.
Went to the gorge on the far side. The rock juts straight up nearly, like a massive cathedral. The gorge jumps left and right down to a waterhole. There is lush vegetation, and a lot of trees around.
Uluru at sunset.
Schoolwork eating into real time.
The local Anangu rangers do a tour to explain their culture and Djukurpa (the R's are rolled like we're in Italy). Djukurpa is the law, the legends, the history, how to live, collect food, the traditional education system I suppose. It takes decades to accumulate the knowledge. Elders are very respected. He did mention diabetes means the elderly don't live as long any more.
They've had the second European culture only for about 50 years. Not many visitors or interest in the desert before then.
Did a walk along the rock a bit.
On the gorge on the far side.
Following day, the 10am walk with the ranger, about Djukurpa, the culture, how to live, some stories.
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