November 21, 2004

Day Three of Mulgas Adventures Tour: Uluru Sunrise & Base Walk

At about 3h55 my alarm on the mobile phone went on. I set it 5 minutes before eveyone else because I like to have a bit more time in the morning and do not like to be rushed! My neighbour Helena asked how early was it, I told her 4h and she got up and other people started to get up as well. Someone went to wake up Mick as he had requested. I tried getting dressed in the dark inside my rather small swag space (new underwear, new top, the already full of dust pants and sweater). I did it successfully and nothing was inside out or such which was amazing! Then I rolled up my swag. I had planned to take a photo of it but totally forgot. I did my outback toiletry: brush teeth and water on the face. At 4h30 as planned everyone was on the bus and ready to go. At 4h45 we were at the gate waiting to enter the park when it opened at 5h. Then we drove to the sunrise spot at Uluru to watch the sunrise. We were early but the other busses arrived quickly after us and there were a lot of them!! Again, I enjoyed the sunrise at the sunset spot better. Sure there was nice colours on the rock but it was not as spectacular as I had imagined. The guide Mick prepared brekky and the plan was to wait until sunrise was over to have breakfast. He told that to an English woman who joked about getting her food early. But then the 2 French dudes just started eating and then Mick told us not in a good mood that we might as well all have brekky now then. They had ruined the whole plan! Then we went to use the bathroom at the Cultural Centre and after it was time for the Base Walk. The guide let us do that one on our own. I walked most of the way with Cait (from Ireland), Mark & Miranda (from The Netherlands) and Katherine (from Germany). It was enjoyable to be walking at your own pace, talking pics, and the walk was VERY easy, all on flat surface. It was still a lot of kilometers but it did not seem like it, about 9,5km. On the way there were many sacred sites which you are not to photograph or it brings bad luck they say. But I thought one was so awesome and different that I had to snap one photo of it from a distance. It was a narrow part of stone connected at the top and at the bottom to the main rock of Uluru. In the middle you could actually see underneath it and see the other side. It was very neat. Later on the walk we saw Mick the guide arriving from the other direction (where we were walking to) and he was jogging! He had his huge backpack on (with tons of liters of water) and it was very hot! Crazy Mick we all thought! He said he'd meet us back at the bus, gave the keys to Mark and went on to meet up with the rest of the group behind us. Uluru is really wonderful. From pictures it seems like the rock is just a rock without much details. But up close it is filled with craters, lines, different textures and forms in the rock. One of those was the shape of a human skull! It was hard to see it at first and then I thought it was awesome how that really looked like a skull! Back at the bus each of us choose a fruit. I had an orange and Mark helped me by cutting it into quarters which made it easier to eat than peeling the skin off. It was a really enjoyable walk. Then as everyone was back the English woman collected all of our cameras and took our group pictures. One of the French dudes just stayed in the bus and another English girl just took 2-3 photos and then decided to walk away and not be in the rest of the 15 pictures. It was fun taking all these pictures, making each of them a bit special. For example, the Japanese girls liked doing peace signs on their pics (at Uluru, etc) so we all made a peace sign for that one. It was funny. Then it was off for the long way back to Alice Springs. When we stopped in Curtin Springs, I bought a Coke and also used their bathrooms and then we were off again after putting the swags on the other Mulgas bus that was just starting a new trip. Everyone was so clean and well groomed compared to the people on our bus! We all laughed and imagined them in 2 days full of dirt like we were. Then we drove to Mount Connor where we went to a lookout to see a lake and then also later stopped at a roadside picnic area to have lunch. I was getting really annoyed by all the flies! I also offered some kleenex to some girls because there was no more toilet paper left. Good thing I am always prepared and carry my own paper in care...! At about 18h we were back at the hostel. Check-in was very quick since I had paid for my accommodation before going on the tour. I got the same room again, #3, but this time I got a bottom bunk. I was in the room with the English girl, Helena and Katherine as well as another girl who was there on my first night too so I chatted a bit with her while waiting for my turn to use the shower. My clothing was so dirty! I thought I would never get my white sweater to the original colour it was... It would surely have to soak a while back in Sydney! Oh well!

-T-h-e--F-o-o-d--W-e--A-t-e-
B=Breakfast
L=Lunch
D=Dinner
1st Day: L=Sandwiches pre-made, I had tomatoe and chutney, it was alright. D=Crackers and dip. Pasta with tomatoes and cheese + vegetables including brocoli, coliflower, green pepper, zucchini, carrots, sweet potatoe, cabbage, etc. + minced meat with oinions.
2nd day: B=Plain bread or raisin bread, jam, peanut butter and fruit salad (also available tea or coffee). L=Sandwiches we made using a variety of things: sausage meat, cheese, tomatoes, cucumber, tortilla or normal bread, tuna, mayonaise, corn, beet, etc. D=Spagetti like pasta with yellow flavor + vegetables including brocoli, coliflower, green pepper, zucchini, carrots, sweet potatoe, cabbage, etc. + minced chicken and oinions.
3rd day: B=Plain bread or raisin bread, jam, peanut butter and fruit salad (also available tea or coffee and hot chocolate). L=Sandwiches we made using a variety of things: sausage meat, cheese, tomatoes, cucumber, tortilla or normal bread, tuna, mayonaise, corn, beet, etc. Snack=Crackers and dip.
Also available in the bus was a box with tons of fruit (apples and oranges) and a big fountain of water.
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At the hostel, the English woman was the first to shower. Then Katherine said she'd be very quick so I let her go first. She was indeed very quick, about 5 minutes! During that time I cleaned the red dust off my black shoes. Then it was my turn! I took my time, really enjoying it. After that, I went to use the Internet (2$) and Helena showered. Helena, Katherine and I then joined the English woman at the Annie's place pub/resto and I had a Toohey's Extra Dry (5$). Others started to arrive (Paul, Paul, Mark, Miranda, English couple...) and then Mick at about 20h, the time we had planned for dinner all together. We all got a big surprised when Mick arrived, beard less, mustache less and only one little bit of facial hair under his lip on the chin. He looked very different, much younger! It was shocking and funny. Then we went to the table which was reserved for "Mick's Mulgas family". That was so sweet! Everyone came for dinner except the 2 French dudes, something I had predicted...! I ordered Fish & Chips for 5$ it was a great meal and very tasty for the price! With dinner I also got a 2,50$ Coke. At dinner I got to know some people from the tour that I did not really chat with a lot including Sonja and Julia. It was nice. Miranda also showed us all her jewelry! It was very nice!! The firsts to leave were the Japanese girls, then Miranda, Katherine and I. I was tired and wanted to go to bed a while ago but did not want to be the first to leave...! Back at the room I could not sleep so I went outside and phoned my mom. At about 23h I was in bed and sleeping.

November 22, 2004

Last Morning in Alice Springs and the Trip Back to Sydney

This morning I was awake at 5h30 when the girl sleeping above me in the bunk bed got up. She was leaving early to go biking. I tried to sleep again but could not so I got up. I took my Nutella and my mobile to the kitchen area and got a phonecall from my boyfriend. After I was done, the cycling girl came to me and asked if I was speaking Dutch. I said yea... And she said she was from Belgium and Dutch was her first language. We talked a bit but her accent was very strong and it made it difficult for me to understand but I was still able to have aconversation. After that I made some toast with my Nutella and then after getting dressed, from 7h45 to 9h45 I went to the city for a final walk around. I bought stamps at the post office and mailed a few postcards. Then I wanted to buy an extra painting from the same Aboriginal Art Gallery but it was not opening until 9h30! I walked around visiting other galleries/souvenir shops but did not find anything as nice as in that other gallery. I would have to be quick because check out was at 10h. I went in at 9h30 exactly as she opened the door. She seemed surprised that I was coming in so early and knew exactly where what I wanted was. I bought a painting (14$) and a book (9,90$) and then quickly walked back to the hostel which was 15 minutes away. I quickly packed the rest of my things and then at 10h05 I had checked out. Then I used the net for 20 minutes (1.05$) and I helped Katherine finding her swiss army knife which she realized she had lost/misplaced. We both got the Annie's Place shuttle bus (5$) to the airport at 10h45. I went to the Qantas check in desk and saw the long queue at Virgin Blue (poor Katherine was flying with them!) After 2 minutes I had checked in and was ready to fly... The flight went quickly. I watched King Arthur movie and had a sandwich and apple and Coke but it was not nearly enough food as I was starving! At the airport I had to wait forever to get my bag. It seems the same bags went 6-7 times on the caroussel round before new ones were put on including mine. I called Andy and within a minute he was there in front of the terminal to drive me back home! I was very happy about that, much easier than public transport. At home, I did some laundry, put my photos on the computer, had dinner, showered, packed and watched Survivor recording at about 22h and then went to bed.

November 23, 2004

Waking Up Early, Again! Drive to Canberra, Drive to Canberra, Saw John Howard's Office and a Nap at ScreenSound

It seems travelling = waking up early. This morning I got up at 5h10 because I was leaving for Melbourne with Andy and his girlfriend on a roadtrip. We are scheduled to return on the 28th. At 6h20 we were leaving, with a little 20 minutes delay. At about 10h we were in Canberra. We stopped at the Information Centre where they found a better hotel for us, the Rex. We went there and got a room with 2 singles and 1 double bed, bathroom and fridge. We then went up to the Mount Ainslie lookout. From there you could really see the symmetry of the city of Canberra. Then we went to the National Gallery so that Larissa could see some exhibitions. Then we drove around the embassies neighbourhood and the Canadian one was not as nice as the others but I still liked seeing it. Then we went to the Parliament where we met Larissa's sister who is a journalist. She brought us inside where normal tourists don't go. We had lunch in the gardens between the main building and the House of Representatives (7,20$, the food was not that great!) and then we got a quick tour inside and walked passed John Howard's office (the Prime Minister of Australia). Then we went to ScreenSound Australia. I was so tired that after visiting the 1984 exhibition I found a comfortable bench-soft-couch and then fell asleep. I took a nap at ScreenSound! Andy woke me up and we went to the next exhibition where I saw a clip of silverchair playing the song Tomorrow live way back many years ago. It was neat. Then at about 17h I went to the supermarket while Andy and Larissa waited in the car. Then we went to the Telstra Tower (3$). It gave a nice view of Lake Burley Griffin. Then we went to the suburb of Kingston to have dinner. I had bread, Coke and pasta bolognese (21$). It was nice but the pasta was way too salty! Then at 20h30 we were back at the hotel and at about 22h I was asleep.

November 24, 2004

Drive to Melbourne and Visiting Beechworth

We got up early but were late leaving but it was worth it because I took advantage of the breakfast buffet. We were on the road to Melbourne a bit passed 8h I think. The first stop of the day was the monument Dog on the Tuckerbox. It was cute. Then we saw a big Ned Kelly (6m high about) but by that time I was listening to music and took my shoes off so Andy took a photo of it for me with my camera. Then we stopped in Holbrook where they had a real submarine standing there in a park. It was the same type of submarine I had visited at the Maritime Museum in Sydney. Then we went to Beechworth where we stopped at the Bakery for lunch. I had a steak and patatoe pie (3,50$) which was nice and for dessert I had an hedgehog (some chocolate thing, 2,60$). The hedgehog was DELICIOUS! Then we went to a candy store where I bought Nerds, apple shoelaces and mushy strawberry candies (5$). We walked a bit in the town and then resumed the drive to Melbourne (scary!). At about 19h we arrived in Melbourne. We checked in at the hotel (North-West of CBD, near Queen Victoria Markets). At 20h30 we went to find a place to eat dinner. We went to a hotel (resto) on the corner near the hotel and I had a nice ceaser salad with chicken (13,50$) and a beer (4$). The salad was good but it had a bit too much bacon in it. Then at the hotel I had a shower, chatted a bit and went to bed.

November 25, 2004

The Great Ocean Road

This morning I was up at 6h. I showered and had breakfast and was ready by 6h45, but had to wait for everyone to be ready and at about 7h15 we left. The first stop was Bells Beach. It is a surf competition spot and it was nice to see although the waves were not big today! Then we went to Point Addis where I looked around. It was very pretty with beach, cliffs, waves. Andy and Larissa stayed behind to talk in the car. Then we went to Aireys Inlet. It had a nice lighthouse. Then we went on and saw many busses parked along the road. We parked too and just then realized it was the famous Great Ocean Road sign! Then we stopped in Lorne for a toilet break and continued on. The road really swirved to follow the coast. We stopped at the Mount Defiance lookout and got nice view of the road and the coast. Then we went on and saw a car parked and two women looking up in a tree. Andy said there was koalas! I quickly went there and saw a big male koala near us and then also a mommy and baby koala higher up on another tree. It was so sweet!