Saying goodbye to Uluru

It was time to leave the city today and in the morning, i went out to the lookout point get a last look of the view. There were bits of clouds threatening the sky and so it wasnt a good view of Uluru, but it was certainly a beautiful grey sky with the clouds spreading across. It was weird because the sky was clearly divided into two before me, with a blue sunny half, and a grey thunderstorm looking half.



It was pretty windy up there but the fact i had the whole vastness to myself, I felt serenity and tranquility. It was so nice that I lost track of time and before i knew I it, an hour has lapsed and I had to rush for my shuttle to the airport!

Steps leading up to the lookout point.
A distanced view of Uluru from the lookout point.

When the plane took off, I couldnt resist snapping an aerial view of the landscape and the cute fluffy clouds covering bits and pieces of the sky.

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Climbing Valley of the Wind

Today is another power walk pack day. We are going to walk the Valley of the Wind at Kata Tjuta area. Its a moderate 7.4km walk that is estimated to take 3 hours.

On the way there, we saw clouds over shadowing Uluru and it was really pretty. The sky is extremely blue today and I reckon it will be another hot day.

Karu (1st) Lookout is 1.1 km from the carpark. The track to Karingana (2nd) Lookout is challenging but worthwhile. Honestly, if one isnt fit or used to trekking, I really wont recommend this walk due to the at times steep slopes and you are really out there without safety nets or ropes to hold on to. You have to navigate and make sure you step on solid rocks and avoid the loose gravels as much as possible to avoid accidental fall. People have injured themselves before, and some were dehydrated from forgetting to drink water. But when you made it to the stop, it was absolutely worthwhile for me.

Our guide for the day was a really small built girl named Leah, leading the way.

My poor camera dropped off my bag while i was making my way up the slope to the 2nd lookout! Luckily I was in front of the pack and so the people at the back managed to grab hold of it and pass it to me as we reached the top. And phew, the camera was still working after the minor tumble down.....well, better the camera than me down the steep slope! As we made our return trip, i took a pix to rem the spot where my camera fell off this more than 45 degree steep slope...

The walk to 2nd lookout is much tougher than the first. However, the view is much nicer too!


This is the last stretch climb of steps to the 2nd lookout point.


The view from 2nd lookout point


After tacking in all the beauty, it was time to make our way down. We had to rush down and beat the clock. We need to get onto the bus by 6pm so that we wont miss our sunset of Kata Tjuta.

View on way down.

Wanted to rem the sun that shone on us the whole day
Noticed the change in colour of the same spot between 2 different time. First was taken at 3.30pm and the other at 6pm. See how red the sand looked.... amazing

Sunset of Kata Tjuta

After the tiring but statisfying climb up to Valley of the winds, it was time to view the sunset of Kata Tjuta before heading out for our Aussie BBQ for dinner. To be honest, I thought the sunset of K.T has more character than to Uluru. Perhaps it is the differing shapes and sizes of the domes and the shadow plays that gives it the edge..

Our lovely guides of the day Leah and Meagan and preparing our cold drinks and munchies while waiting for the sunset.

The sunset view opposite of K.T. I love the golden orange spread in the sky with tinge of pink hues that envelopes the skyline. While I was taking the shot below, I was thinking of the old Fuji Film TV Advertisement "Wonderful world" and if I have a giffare in the shot, that would complete the ourback wilderness look:) Haa haa.

Kata Tjuta and Walpa Gorge, Uluru Sunset

The bus took us next to Kata Tjuta Dune Viewing Area, which offers a magnificent panoramic view of Kata Tjuta. Even on the way there, the views of the 36 domes were amazing!


Afterwhich, it was another hour walk for the 2.6km of Walpa Gorge. Formerly known as Olga Gorge, Walpa (meaning windy) Gorge is a desert refuge for plants and animals. The rocky track gently rises along a moisture rich gully, passing inconspicuous rare plants and ending at a grove of flourishing spearwood.


The walk sounded easy but it isnt exactly. You could easily see those really unfit people struggling...Some didnt even wear proper walking shoes... how silly.


The ground was slopping at some part and most of all, the hot sun is shining on your back can make it quite unbearable at 3pm and the air is very dry, making it hard to breathe as one sped up the lookout point. The wind at times blows pretty hard and so u need to really pace yourself. I was too focused on my walk up to take much pictures till the final point. Coming down was better and luckily i had my shades to shield me from the glaring sun... I was glad i slap on tons of sunscreen before i started....

After a super packed day of non stop walking and climbing, it was time for us to have another sunset view of Uluru tonight. I can finally rest my feet to view the sunset after 12 hours!

Sunset sequence taken every 10mins or so.

Uluru cave paintings remains

We had only 15mins to 9.30am and I figured we wont make it back to the carpark in time to board the bus unless we run, which I didnt think it was worth the effort.

So instead, I proposed to my husband that we would wait at the Mutitjula Waterhole where it was the designated stop for the bus guide. You will noticed the little hollow that is shaped like a heart on the rock wall (above me)


The good thing about being there before the hoards of tour bus is that we had the place mainly to ourselves and little interruption. So I had the chance of getting the Aboriginal cave paintings at lesiure, listening to the birds singing without interruptions and getting shots of birds with no one to frighten them away!

The entrance to the cave painting had a rock formation shaped like a python doesnt it? Story has it that there was a battle between the python snake Kuniya and the warrior snake Liru that had killed her nephew. So in vengence and anger, Kuniya battled the Liru snake here at this spot. I didnt know why some of the people couldnt see the snake at all... well, its there, you just need some imagination :)
As the bus started its bus tour and headed towards Kata Tjuta formation, the guide pointed out one of the sacred side of Uluru, and doesnt it just look like a human skull formation on the left?

more creation stories

Video clip of birds chirping and Cave painting