alice springz

So ive been here in alice springs (and area) since friday. after i got off the plane i caught a shuttle to 'annies place' a converted motel - its quite nice. the room i got had a/c a tv and an ensuite bathroom which was good. the bar/restaurant here also offers $5 backpacker meals so i had some veg lasagne for dinner. very yum. got up early the next day to catch my coach bus for my tour to uluru (ayers rock), kings canyon and kata tjuta (the olgas) for a 3 day/2 night camp trip. it was very good - learned alot from our pommy (english) tourguide about sacred sights and the abos (aboriginal people). Its very interesting, the abos here have VERY dark skin but the young ones have blonde hair. almost as blonde as mine was when i was a baby (like brooke's hair christine) it looks so different. but when they get older it gets dark, almost black. the abos in the area also dig up bugs called wichitygrubs. we went digging for some with no luck. maybe next time i can eat a big marshmellow looking thing....maybe not. there are also millions and millions of flies that will NOT leave you alone. not so bad in alice springs but in the outback it was terrible! i asked our tour guide, Ash why they kept flying around and landing on my face and in my nose and ears and all over. he said it was because the flies thought i might die soon and begin decomposing and then they could eat....greedy bastards.

In 3 days i walked 24km - up and down red rock and through canyons and dipped in canyon creeks. it was all too beautiful. except my camera crapped out on me ( i need new rechargable batteries) so my memories will be from postcards.

during sunset at uluru (another one of natures greatest wonders of the world!) there is a 'sunset area' where everyone goes (about 1500 people a night!)to watch the rock change from bright orange to a deep purple. its beautiful and all the rich american folk sit out with their champagne and free peanuts and watch the sunset. i attempted to get myself a free glass of something but the server boys could see through my charm i guess.

at night we slept in 'swaggs' which are like canvas bags for people. you stuff your sleeping bag and yourself in there and zip it up and sleep under the stars. it was fantastic. so beautiful especially the first night we slept on a cattle ranch (one bigger then belgium!) with no electricity just the stars above us and a campfire. no one had any campfire ghost stories to tell so that kind of sucked.

on the way back to alice springs our tour guide pointed out lots of wild camels (yep they have wild camels here) and some dead cows and stuff by the side of the road. he also managed to spot a 'thorny devil' - a lizard with thorns sticking out of him all over theplace. he caught him and showed us it was pretty neat

we also stopped at a camel ranch. some people rode the camel, i played with their pet dingo the whole time.

but it was a great trip. im starting to get a bit sick of the camping thing. I head to adelaide on thursday and one of my roomates here in annies place (the room i got this time around wasnt so nice. no ensuite bathroom and less room) told me about a great ocean road tour where you spend the night in an almost luxery hotel. only $190 so i thought that sounded good. hopefully i can get details from her about it.

otherwise all is good. im in serious need of uploading photos i know, i'll get around to it. i also have great barrier reef photos so stay posted!

much loving from me to u

alia