After the sun had risen, we went back to the bus for hot chocolate and on to the Cultural Center for breakfast. After breakfast we met up with our guide, Sammy. He spoke entirely in the native aboriginal language. We had a translator even thought Sammy could obviously speak english (he laughed at what we said at times).
We hiked about 2km up to the base of Ulura and stopped every few hundred meters for a talk or a demonstration. Sammy made a campfire (with a lighter), had about 10 smoke breaks, made some glue and showed us how to throw spears!
The 2-part spear chuckers they used were very well designed and could throw a spear a hundred meters easily (although my first attempt went maybe 5).
Sammy also told us the story of the blue lizard man. It was a cool moral story about respect (for each other and the land).
After the tour, Sammy went walk-about (for another smoke break).
Sammy told us that the Anangu people don't want us to climb Uluru for our safety and because climbing Uluru is reserved for a man's initiation ceremony and not for strangers. Back when Uluru was called Ayer's Rock, the aboriginal people couldn't even vote and had no ability to enforce this. Today the Anangu once again control the land around Uluru and look after it and its visitors.
What a great way to end our trip! The middle of Australia is certainly different than the coast! Tomorrow we're off to Sydney and then back home through LA! A few more posts and we'll be done!
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