My group at King's Canyon


The Olgas rock formations


Ayers Rock at sunset


The Olgas from a distance at sunset


Ayers rock at sunrise



I can cross another natural world wonder off my list now, since I have now seen Ayers Rock. I just spent 4 days out in the Red Center, as it is called, checking out rocks and canyons. The first day was spent just driving out there, but the second day we did a hike around King's Canyon, which is quite nice. 6.5km bright and early in the morning, starting with "heart attack hill". Luckily there was a bit of a breeze, so the flies and the heat weren't too bad. Afterwards we heading for Ayers Rock area, and on the way all of a sudden a high-pitched weezing sound came from the bus, and the smell of burning rubber. Turns out there was a broken belt hanging out of the engine. So a few of the guys tried to fix it, but had no luck, so there we were stranded out in the desert. Eventually help arrived, and determined it was only the air conditioning belt, so we sat there for hours just for nothing. Then back in the bus for a very hot and sweaty next couple days!! The temp was around 40C the whole trip, and you can only imagine what it is like in a non air conditioned bus in that heat. Opening the windows only blows hot air in, there is no escaping. So the next day we went for an 8km hike around Kata Tjuta, also called the Olgas, which is a really neat pile of huge rounded rock formations. This was a rather exhausting hike due to the temp. Luckily I had a bag of wine gums to keep me going. It is hard to drink enough water when doing such activities in this heat. That afternoon we checked out the cultural center to learn about the aboriginals and their ties to the Olgas and Ayers Rock. The Olgas are so sacred no one is allowed to climb them. So finally on the last day we got up at 3:40am, yes you read that correctly, to watch the sun rise on Ayers Rock. Sleep deprivation had really started to set in, as we had been getting up at 5am the other mornings in order to do the hikes before the heat of the day. So after watching the rock change colours as the sun rose, we went for our 10km walk around Ayers Rock. I was hoping to climb it, but it was closed due to extreme forcasted temperatures. The Aboriginals prefer that no one climbs it though, since the climb is a sacred walk they do as an initiation into adulthood. There were lots of areas around the rock where photographs are not allowed since they are sacred areas as well. After completing the perimeter walk, We did yet another walk, only a km or 2 checking out some aboriginal art and cultural areas of the rock. So a pretty exhausting 4 days, walking 25km in the desert with flies constantly buzzing around and trying to get in your orifices, all with very little sleep. It was a cool experience, and I really enjoyed seeing all the rock formations and learning about the aboriginals and their ties to the land. A good way to end my vacation. Now I am off to the motherland tomorrow, and should be back on native soil by the 15th. I have one more night in Sydney, and one day in Beijing on the way. I had an awesome time down here, I met a ton of interesting people, and saw a ton of places, and had a ton of fun. I am ready to head home for Christmas though, living in hostels does take its toll of you after a while, and the heat is getting a bit much. Home sweet home for a 60 degree temperature change!