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Yesterday was a waste. I was in a delicate position and not about to go trapsing around Ayer's Rock with the limited bathroom facilities. With it being sacred land and all I was afraid what might happen if I got ill all over it. I bought some internet time and managed a Genetics assignment. I started feeling better around late afternoon and was finally ready to eat..alot. I opted for a buffet with emu, alligator, roo, and barramundi. Gotta love the wild game! Afterwards, I met up with Anne (one of the ladies in my room) and Leo (one of the tour guides) for a couple of beers.
Today worked out better. I rose at 4:25a to watch the sunrise and climb The Rock. Sunrise was good, but would have been better with fewer people. All the noise and movement was distracting. My driver was from Orlando and had a mix accent like nothing I have ever heard. I got bad news next. It was too windy to climb. Second choice: Do the 9.8 km hike around the base. Again I was amazed at all the contours and change in it. I got past all the people and then got alot of time with just me and the elements - its called bliss! After lunch I did laundry and walked around Yulara, or Ayers Rock Resort. One company owns everything, except the police, fire, bank, grocery store, and post. Though much more upscale, it reminded of the company towns in US mining companies in the mid-1900s. Some things are priced well, but others were 5x what you normally pay.
Storm clouds moved in late afternoon and Briann, another roomate, and I got nervous. On Anne's reccomendation we signed up for Sounds of Silence. Its a semi-private sunset viewing of The Rock, with cham and appies. Then we had a very upscale dinner about a 4 minute drive away from the development of the resort and on the other side of a sand dune. It had the feeling of being much farther away though. The wind was blowing sand everywhere and it was sprinkling a little, but the company was great and I had a blast. We had mother-daughter groups at our table, one from the US and one from Mexico City. Briann is from Florida and I am thinking "I came all the way over here for this. I could have this conversation in Houston." All kidding aside, the company was wonderful. The only downside was that we couldn't see any of the stars. Our table got really good service after an incident though. This lady was abusing the chef and wouldn't listen to his explanation about running out of Burramundi. In alot more words I told her to "get stuffed and quit being rude about things that can't be helped." She went away all puffed up like a blowfish and the chef thanked me.
After dinner we had a couple of drinks and headed for bed. I am going to try and climb The Rock before my flight out tomorrow if the clouds clear.
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