The birthday 'week' ends...

A rude awakening with alarm going off at 2:50am and the working week begins again. Another day at work, home for lunch and a quick nap before Alison arrived to say happy birthday with the most fabulous gift - two framed photos for above the piano.

Absolutely perfect!

Stubbs arrived too...

..and we had coffee/tea and cake!

Then to mum's for a birthday dinner with Leonie and Sean and Megan. Delicious stuffed mushrooms and veggies and lots of chat and laughter. Lots of laughter!

And of course the photos were totally glamorous...

And from mum - the most amazing gift - two books of my travel blog that alison had worked on. They are so fantastic!!!

 

And so the birthday week is over and now I'm old!!

The day after...

Up early and out to the sunrise, stopping off at the sunset viewing place for this...

See the moon just below this...

And to the sunrise viewing spot again...

Around the rock again to the Mala Walk - the spot where you can climb, if you choose to disrespect the Anangu people. Today there were people climbing - looking like ants. Can't understand how they can walk past the "please respect our tradition and don't climb" sign and just head on up.

At the end of the handrail thing coming down was a couple and she was having major issues with actually coming down and ended up having to basically sit and scoot down. Made me laugh.

She's up there, on the ground behind her hubby, top group of people. Woman in orange top towards the bottom was an elderly lady who just gunned it up!

Back to the resort, fill up the car now - after finding the petrol release! Then toastie and a coffee before a look on a shop I somehow managed to miss until today before heading back to pack up.

To clarify the walks I did - Sunday was the Kuniya Walk to the Mutitjulu Waterhole.

Monday morning's walk was the Mala Walk to Kantju Gorge

And this morning's stop was at Kiniya Piti.

The sunrise viewing spot is called Talinguru Nyakunytjaku.

The sunset viewing spot is called Car Sunset!

There was obviously a wide variety of tourists -

The English were unobtrusive and grateful if you offered to take their photo together but wouldn't ask. 

The Canadian was heard exclaiming loudly, "gosh darn, would you look at that!!"

The Japanese all make the V for victory sign when having their photos taken.

The Americans you can spot before they open their mouths, for some reason. I saw one couple walking around twice today and I'm wondering if he'll be made to pay later today when she realises she was out and about with three curlers still in her hair that he hadn't drawn attention to.

Check out and then back to the airport - cute little airport that it is. On the radio on the way was an amateur theatre company being interviewed about needing front of house staff to volunteer. On the general radio program! Flight - horrid that it is - and back home to Melbourne.

 Onto the shuttle to the car park, into the car and head back into town. I'm meeting work people for a vegan barbecue - sounds odd but is delicious!! There's no point trying to get home as it is 5:00 so I head to the zoo hoping their closing time is at 6:00 and I can spend a hour there but no go a it's 5:00. Do head down to a park just up from Sydney road and sit enjoying the mid afternoon, watching the dogs.

Up to the pub to have a coffee while waiting. Then Michelle, Kate and Goldie arrive and we feast. Then home to a happy cat and bed.

The day of...

ENot sure what I was thinking last night when I set the alarm for 5:30 considering the sunrise was at 6:07 and it's at least a 15-minute drive away. Thankfully I woke at 5ish and realised I needed to get going! So up and out and off to the rock. 

People had said it was really cold at this time of day and to take a jacket. And there were people with three layers on. Jacket - not necessary!

It is amazing in the morning light, seeing the change of colours over it. My camera doesn't quite capture it - there's something about the stillness of the air and the magic of it.

Pretty spectacular and a perfect way to start a birthday!

Next, drove around to where the climb is and walked along to the Kuntga Gorge. (Fairly certain I've got that name wrong and can't find it on any of my bits and pieces here). It's quite a fabulous walk and just what I was after.

I managed to get in and out before the massive influx of people came through, thankfully.

This was the road I had just come down and was leaving...

Back to the hotel to open cards and read birthday messages. Then down to the lovely cafe for breakfast but it was $36 for a standard buffet!! So I stuck with a banana and blueberry muffin and just got a coffee. 

The resort is lovely. Back to the Town Square for a proper look in all the shops - not surprisingly, very touristy. Then over the road to one of the lookout spots. Randomly, there was a European couple wandering along the path looking for the Peeanere Hotel. Luckily for them I had a map with me and could point them in the direction of the Pioneer Hotel. Very random.

Up to the lookout which overlooks the whole resort and Uluru. Not the glamping spot where Kate and Wills stayed that costs $1,800 A NIGHT! That is hidden from the common pleb. In keeping with everything here - you can't look through the telescope without paying for it. So I didn't see through the telescope! 

Next on the agenda - I do love that I've gone straight back into 'travel mode' - planning the day with just me and what I want to do in mind and loving it - a drive around the resort, past the camp ground, then the doctors, fire department, police station, and then through to the camel rides. Great place with a camel train strolling along the road, great general store and a baby.

I didn't go for a ride. I rode a camel around the pyramids of Giza in Egypt and want to leave that as the only time to ride a camel. They also have a platform at the height of the saddles so you don't have that fabulous lift up and setting down that you get when a camel goes down on its knees like a rollercoaster.

Back to the resort and Town Square to get some lunch. Had a lovely chat with the waiter - all about living and working up here. Very interesting. He said he's working to save for a trip to Darwin in a year or so for his mum's 50th. I said it was my 50th today and he was very excited. Gave me a virtual hug - which is the best kind! Lovely.

Back to my room as it's now really hot and I'm going to hibernate for a while. Knock at the door - can I call the motorbike place. This is a bit concerning. He's not there when I call so have to wait - and I'm now imagining that it's been cancelled. Finally get through and he is worried that it's just on 40 degrees and did I want to go a bit later. Fine by me. So now I can get a nap in too. Here's my birthday corner - complete with Facebook messages and texts - which can't be seen, but anyway...

Quick coffee and then down to the foyer to wait for Jason. And I'm a bit nervous - never been on a bike. Right on time, here he is. A few grounds rules, put on the helmet and we're off. It takes a few moments to get used to it and it's fantastic! Out to Kata Tjuta first - it's quite a way away and fabulous. It takes a while to not feel like I'm going to fall off and to go around bends without clenching. 

We stop and go up to the viewing point - massive and impressive.

Then back onto the bike and up to Uluru. So very cool. The colours are amazing. This all took over an hour but of course I wasn't taking photos - so what was a long and fabulous journey remains a memory.

Around to the far side for another photo op... And then to the sunset viewing.

Don't I look natural!!!!

Now I'm comfortable to hold on with one hand and take photos.

Here's a shadow I never thought I'd make...

Don't mind if I do...!

And a selection of the adventure...

Sooooo much fun and I'm so very glad this idea came to me!

Back at the hotel and into the pool - and I had it all to myself. So lovely in the dusk, lapping the pool under the ghost gums with the stars shining. Lovely!

And finally, into the restaurant for a nice birthday dinner. And, coz I do like a food photo - here is my mushroom roulade, which was amazingly good.

Back to the room to finish this and day is done!

The day before - Uluru.

Unsurprisingly was up before the alarm - about 4:30. With a cuddly cat snuggled up, she can sense something's up! So up and sorted - finish packing (such as it is), fresh linen, coffee, all that stuff.

Head out to the airport and it's nice and quiet on the road. I'm parking at the airport for three days/two nights and it's about the same as I'd pay to park at the Arts Centre for two hours to see a show!! And so I don't forget...

That's where my car is.

It's funny how you don't notice things till you need them or are on them - like the shuttle bus stop at the airport. Never noticed it before even though it's a massive big orange stop. And now I will see it forever. 

Into the airport and get an egg and cheese muffin thing - I seem to associate this type of 'food' with  airports. Onto the plane, hate it, and down. Down the stairs and here we are!

I had tossed up between getting a car or taking the shuttle and express bus thing and ended up getting a car - it means I am free to come and go as I please and it worked out pretty much the same. So I get the little Pulsar (I think) and head towards Ayers Rock Resort. First glimpse of the rock was very exciting! 

Into the resort itself, park the car and make it into the foyer for Desert Gardens Hotel minutes before a bus pulls up full of tourists. It's only midday and the room is not ready yet so I wander over to the Resort Town Square to have a look around, grab a sandwich, look at the market and then wander back. And the room is ready now - hoorah! Lovely grounds.

So into room 290 and get settled. Then back to the town square to get some fruit and water, stopping to look at the artist in residence on the way - he was painting Victorian scenes, oddly. Said he needed a break from all the red.

As it's now 3-ish, I'm heading to the rock, hoping the heat of midday has calmed a bit. It's magnificent driving up to the rock...

Into the cultural centre for a look around, then around to the waterhole walk - swatting hundreds of flies along the way. The netting head things they sell at the shop are looking pretty good about now. This whole walk is pretty impressive.

Then back into the car and around the rest of the way. There's no one around and it feels a bit like Wolf Creek - out in the middle of nowhere - particularly when a ute turns out behind me and follows for a way. Around to the 'front' where the walkway thing is for those who go against the wishes of the Anangu people and climb. Even if it wasn't against their wishes, can't see myself doing that anyway...!

Back to the hotel to have a swim - coz it's HOT.

This is the view from my room. I'm sure they sell it as 'rock view' coz behind the trees is the rock - you can see it live, probably not in a photo.

Just looks like a stack of trees.

Went to reception as advised to organise a jacket and helmet. I had discussed hats with mum and wondering if I'd need to tie it on - I realised later that I don't need a hat that ties on - I'll be wearing a helmet! Found out - to my delight - that I don't have to wear a jacket or thick long pants - light ones will do. Coz it will be hot!!!

Up to my room to work out that this blog is working again - I think, hope I haven't jinxed it. Then head back to the rock for the sunset. Gorgeous! Just out off by the two people who felt the need to fly their drones around, thus wrecking the photos - coz they were in most of them, and wrecking the ambience - it was lovely and peaceful with cicadas chirping, the silence of the desert and then the incessant whir of the drones - so hideous and selfish.

Back for a burger and bed. Ready for tomorrow...!