Mission Australia 2013 - Day 07

Cairns – Ayer’s Rock 

Uluru – Kata Tjuta National Park 

Our families were quite concerned about Uluru since in the pictures it seemed to be a very deserted place and although even when I always am very comfortable without mobile phones, I am sane enough to know their use when I am in trouble. This was the reason that we were actually carrying 2 mobiles – one with me & other with Neha because while discussing with my elder brother we could foresee that at many instances I would need to leave Neha alone with Ayana while I go for grocery or for hotel hunting or to stand in the queue, etc. Uluru was one place where I suspected that our mobile phones might not work.

View of the Barren Red Center from the Plan
Nobody for Miles, oops Kilometers!

First View of the Ayer's Rock
Crew unable to control Crowd taking pictures

View of the Ayer's Rock from Air-Strip

All through the flight to AYQ from CNS, I was really very excited on watching the barren desert down below. Now this was a Qantas Link flight (full-service) and to our pleasant surprise we were soon offered Arhar Dal & Chana with Rice apart from nice yogurt & pickle. Only somebody who has craved for Indian food on foreign land can understand how good that flight would have become for us. As soon as we prepared to land, we could see the Ayer’s Rock and people started shifting seats to get a better picture restlessly in the face of the flight attendant trying to maintain order in a descending flight. It was a tough time for the Ground Crew preventing tourists from clicking pictures on the runway. This Airport looked more like a boutique Bus-Stop with a single air-strip meant for a total of 4 flights in & 4 out during the entire day.

Alighting from Qantas Link

Entire Air-strip can be visualized from the above 2 shots

Ayana's Playfield - Air-Conditioned i.e.

Entire Airport can be visualized from the above 2 shots

The Kind Lady at Thrifty gives Pen & Paper to Ayana

Shhh! Neha shouldn't see this or else I'll have to check out!
This is the Lizard I first saw on TV 20 yrs back on National Geographic.
This Lizard is able to walk on hot soil by keeping 2 feet in the air at a time.

Shared Kitchen at Outback Pioneer Lodge

While doing the research, at the last moment, I had fortunately decided against the AAT Kings tour & rather decided to rent a Car. As per telephone discussion the previous day from Cairns, I took a black Nissan Pulsar from Thrifty and the old lady was kind enough to keep aside a baby-seat with a GPS (which I later regretted to spend AUD 150 on because the directions were quite simple in the area – I couldn’t have got lost there unless I wanted to). Checking-in the Outdoor Pioneer was smooth due to the booking and on top of that, we got an upgrade to a Private Bathroom Room – the kitchen was still shared – a concept we really enjoyed together.

Entry of the Uluru - Kata Tjuta National Park 

Two Ways - We took the Right turn

Selfie with a Scottish Hiker

Walpa Gorge

With French Couple

Neha at the Wheel 

From Kata Tjuta to Uluru

As soon as I could, I pushed my family out for cooking our Lunch & packed up with lots of water for our half day ahead. We decided to visit the Kata Tjuta first where upon parking in the lot, I decided that Neha & Ayana stay inside the car with the A/C on while I go about trotting through the Valley of the Winds. While returning towards Parking, I was accompanied by a French Couple (from Bordeaux) who were road-tripping down under. What attracted Neha to them was the Caravan they were traveling in. We clicked pictures with them never knowing we would bump into them in Melbourne right at the end of our trip. At the end when we proceeded towards the Ayer’s Rock, I decided to give the wheel to Neha for sometime – the road was really empty & the chance was really rare that a cop could pull us over. Of course she enjoyed the drive & I captured her on video so she could boast it later.

Complete Family (with the Stroller) at the Uluru

Uluru Dining (as advertised) has a million more flies than Delhi parks

Finally, the Uluru Sunset Shot

Absolutely Red Soil - Blood Red!

Classic Sunset Shot in my Cam! 

I'd never know how such a small baby could cope up with this trip!

Ayana sleeps after going through the Uluru Day Tours Brochure

Ayana enjoys the after dinner Outdoor Rock Show

Driving & Clicking around the Ayer’s Rock was fun & really exhilarating for me because deep down that the reason for an AUS trip was my childhood fantasy with the Uluru. My dream had come true. Nobody could understand my feelings – not even Neha. We visited the Information Center & read about how the aboriginal people. All the time, all the places, I was always left wondering – how adventurous are Caucasians! They can be found at all the places. As we parked into the Sunset Viewing Area, Neha kept asking me how the rock could change colors to which I kept replying – it was to see not talk. As the sun dropped, it surely changed colors and everybody jostled in the crowd to find a clean picture frame without anybody else.

Our mobile phones were, of course, working & as decided earlier, we left well before dark due to safety. The evening ended at the common kitchen where we cooked our veggie curry and enjoyed the outdoor rock show before retiring to our room to rest for another “flight-ful” day. Tomorrow we fly into Sydney!