Uluru, or Ayer Petra as it was known to the Aboriginal people, was described by the early European explorer, Ernest Giles, as a remarkable stone in 1872. Uluru is the second largest monolith in the world, second only to Mount Augustus, also in Australia! The crater is 7386 feet high, and extends about fifteen hundred feet below the surface of the earth.
Out of respect for the aboriginal spiritual beliefs about Uluru, we didn’t want to take the long and steep monolith journey, but I can assure you, I experienced the extraordinary beauty of Uluru as much as anyone could. Ascending the path of great cultural and spiritual importance is entering the “Dream” path, significant to the Aborigines. Former Prime Minister Bob Hawke handed over management of Uluru and surrounding lands to the Aboriginal owners in 1983, with the promise that Uluru would remain sacred forever. He broke that promise in 1985, granting access to Uluru to any and all tourists who wanted it, on condition that Aboriginal owners accepted title to the lands. Several deaths each year are usually directly attributed to heart attack suffered by the earth at Uluru, but this does not constitute a physical offense. deterring many visitors who still prefer to pollute this sacred space.
The indigenous people of the region believe that there is a giant hollow beneath the ever-changing color of Uluru. In this hollow they think that there is an energy, which they call Tjukurpa, in a dream. The word Tjukurpa is also used to refer to the entire history of an ancestor’s being, from beginning to end. Uluru is ‘inhabited’ by many ancestors, in fact dozens. Tjukurpa of Uluru is told through oral histories, whether the spirit of an ancestor resides there or simply rests in another place. To the aboriginal peoples of Australia, Tjukurpa is located on a physical line, animate (as in winds and rivers) or inanimate (rock cliffs, mountains and caves).
One word of caution learned from experience: don’t leave your digital camera behind. locked vehicle in the sun! I was surprised at how quickly the camera fades. It was a valuable lesson.
Uluru and the surrounding lands have so much to offer the visitor that I decided I needed to allow myself a few days of exploration. The magnificent beauty of the area has been matched by history and it emerges as a monolith of spiritual elegance. Take your time, sit still, and take a quiet look at the Howler.
Desert Gardens Hotel Ayers Rock – make this your base of operations at Uluru! The Deserted Gardens is set in the quiet Spirit Gum forest, in the middle of it all, looking out onto a colorful and changing wilderness. They have a great swimming pool bar called Bunya, which is humongous chicken and ice cold wings; and a restaurant, white gums with superior cuisine and service.
For more accommodation choices, including campgrounds, see http://www.ayersrockresort.com.au, but mostly use the resources on the internet to plan your trip to Uluru, the Land of Dreamtime. My husband and I are going on another trip soon, and all because I wanted to write about my trip. Gee, maybe I’ll write about my trip to Cairns, then. Maybe he’ll get me there too!
Report:
- www.ayersrockresort.com.au a travel resource you don’t want to miss, hotels, trekking, history and religious information
