17th Nov - Watch Sunrise over Uluru, travel back to Alice Springs

Up at 4.30 again to get ready and pick up Kim at 4.50 at her hostel. Drove to the sunrise spot to view the sunrise over Uluru. We were there about 30mins before sunrise (5.51am). It was cold as there was not a cloud in the sky. It is lovely to see so many stars.

There were several hundred people there again (maybe even 1000). There are 2 areas - one for coaches and the other for cars. We walked to a part closer to the rock but not so high up to get away from the crowds. There were several hundred people all at the viewing gallery. I found it funny how many flashes there were coming from there! The rock was a few miles away and flash works only up to 12m away..... Seeing all of the people was an event in itself. Hundreds of people all getting up at 4 to go and take photos of a rock in the middle of Australia lighting up. However, having seen how amazing the rock is up close I can understand it far more. The rock is nowhere near as impressive from a distance unless you have seen it close up and walked round. It really does have something magical about it.

The sunrise was much better this morning than yesterday. The rock did light up with the sunrise but nowhere near as bight as last night. The land around the rock was much brighter than last night and so there was not as striking a contrast.

We went round the cultural centre for an hour or so and learnt about the Aboriginal Culture and the geology of the rock etc. We also saw some pictures of snakes around the area and can now name the ones we have seen. :-)

Packed up the tent etc and got on the road for 10. Kim drove the first bit and I had a nap. When I was driving, I asked Kim to read in an Irsih accent rather than Canadian as I found it easier to translate when she was reading out about the geology of the area to me from a guide book. We did the video diary for the past week and Kim said everything in an Irish accent. It will be very funny when I come to listen to it in 10 years from now....
We decided to go out in Alice Springs tonight with Kim talking in an Irish accent and see if anyone could tell. She said that she would only do it if there were no Irish people in the bar. It turned out that both of the other 2 girls in the dorm in the hostel that we were staying in were from Ireland - so that put a stop to that! :-(

I did a bit of shopping for things in Alice Springs and then failed to get on the net at McCafe. Cooked left overs for dinner and had an early night. No sleep has now caught up with me - must sleep now.....

Awesome week in the Red Center of Australia!