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Mon 3rd September 2007
Posted souveniers. Went to the National Art Gallery and Museum. This was free which was a bonus. Saw Aboriginal art, ship, saw an exhibition on Cyclone Tracy that destroyed Darwin. Was quite interesting. Tehn went to the Fanney Bay Gaol which was interesting and two men were actually hung here for killing a taxi man. Got the bus back and stayed in the Melaluka hostel bar as it was ladies night. There was an auction for men well boys. Sarah, Hazel and Anna persuaded me to buy Richard who was a 19 teen year old who came travelling because he was stressed at KFC. He wanted to be team leader and kept missing out to other people. He was very sweet and funny but I allowed him to go and get pissed as he was from the Black Country and his accent started to annoy me.
Tues 4th September
Lay by the pool, lay by the pool and went to the Vic for a free tea.
Weds 5th September
Got up not too early and walked across the road to get the shuttle to the Ghan. Things are so simple in Australia. met a girl called Sindy who was staying at the same hostel as us and going ont he same tour. Arrived a tthe Ghan and becmae very excited it was like something out of the movies or like you see on Michael Palins trips across the world. Booked our helicoptor flight and boarded the train. So much better than the Greyhound. Showers, cafe, shop and lots of room. Slept most of the way to Katherine but woke up to watch "night in the museum" with Ben Stiller.
Arrived in Katherine and drove about 40 minutes through Katherine to the National Park. Went to the Cultural centre and learnt about the Aboriginee people had been given the national park back and were training to be Rangers or tour guides. This wasa good to see as the impression of the Aboriginees in Katherine was a negative one. Then we got picked up and taken to the helicoptor pad. Sarah and I decided to split up so we could go in the front of the helicoptor I was first up. It was sooo much fun flying over Katherine Gorge glad we did it this way as we were gorge walked out. We had a 20 minute helicoptor flight and paid $72. In the brochure it said $162. So we are not sure whether we were wrongly charge but a helicoptor flight for 28 quid happy days. Got back on the Ghan train at about 6:00 we set off slept for a bit longer. Then went to have tea in the cafe with the 80's decor and seats like in Happy Days. Sarah taught me some card games it was a lot of fun. Then we went to watch a film in the lounge. Australians are so funny and friendly sat and watched " The Devil weard Prada". A but surreal. Went to bed at about 10:30 and managed to get 2 seats so was able to spread out slept in my sleeping bag liner as stupidly the sleeping bag was in the hold. With a towels for a pillow and my wholly hat kept me warm. Had broken sleep but was an experience travelling across the desert. Was woke up by the train manager and picked up by Annies place mini bus. Arrived in Alice Springs thinking I was going to sleep instread Sarah said "I've got loads of leaflets there is lots to do". So we went to town and then walked to the Telegraph centre. This was actually very interesting and made me realise how far Australia has come in less than 150 years. Pretty amazing stuff. The station was set up a bit like Styal mill is with people dressed up in the different jobs. However the telegraph master did more or less everything. Blacksmith, Nurse, Carpenter, Father, Surgeon. Oour tour guide was very informative. There was also a display on the "stolen children'. The telegraph station was turned into a childrens home for "half caste" children.
Although I knew the Aboriginees were treated badly and land was taken from them I didn't realise what the government did. So all the men that moved from Europe to make money had no women to entertain them so many had relationships with Aboriginee women and families were created. Unfortunately when these men left to follow the work these families were left. Some of the women could not cope and the childrenw ere sufffering because they had been rejected by their community. However this was not the case across all of Australia but the governemnt thought that these children would benefit from being brought up in a European way. So thousands of children were taken from mothers. How horrendous!!! Surely people had some intelligence take the children who were being neglected but not the ones that were loved. And people wonder why some Aboriginees have become addicted to Alcohol and drugs. It was interesting as one of the tour guides was mixed race and had been brought to the childrens centre and pointed himself out on the photo. He had enjoyed himself and knows that his mother remarried and had 8 other children who all died at 35 or below. He was a retired engineer who lived in Sydney. So he was grateful and had met his Mum about 20 years ago but she had no idea who he was and does not remember giving birth to him. Its just unreal.
Got back to the hostel and had tea for $10. Then we we went to town to watch some films that are projected onto a wall and are short documentraies. It was quite interesting and showed about Aboriginal artist who were given the opportunity to go to college and earn their own money. Then bed.
Friday 7th Spetember 2007- Reptile centre, Museum, Quad Biking, Didgeridoo show
Had a lie in and went to the reptile centre. Reptile centre was really interesting held various different lizards, igunans and listened to a talk about the animals. Saw various snales and a crocodile that had been captured from Darwin. This was interesting but similar to the Crocodile centre in Broome regarding information. We then rushed to the Flying Doctors museum for lunch so did our bit for the community. The flying Doctors centre did give a history of the flying Doctors and the workMr Flynn did but it was more a publicity campaighn asking for donations.
Went back to the hostel and was picked up by our friendly guide who drove us 15 minutes out of Alice to Undoolya cattle station. We were showed how to use the bikes and basically set off. I had an amzing time so much fun. At various points we got off the bikes and were given talks on how the Cattle is herded up and the history of the farm. The Undoolya cattle station is one of the oldest in NT and I'm thinking the richest. I was nearly enquiring whether this family had any sons but only daughters so far( Just joking Gareth). The biking was beautiful as we giot to see the MacDonnell Ranges. Really enjoyed the Quad biking even if my arms were aching by the end and I had litterlaly eaten dust.
Got back to the hostel quickly changed and went to town to watch "sounds of star light theatre." Actually really enjoyed the show which was presented by a white guy called Andrew Langford. I wasn't expecting much but he is apparantly an internationally acclaimed didgeridoo player. The show was accompanied with his stories of when he was living in the outback with Aboriginees. The show also had two drummers and beautiful photos and lighting that related to the music. The show took place in the back of a shop and if you walked down the road you would hardly know it existed. Then the audience got to join in and thankfuly I got a shaker not a drum as rhytham is not something I have. Came home and packed for Uluru. So a pretty full and fun day which was brill with a 5:00am get up.
Saturday 8thSeptember
Real Australia- 3 days Ayers Rock, Olgas and Kings Canyon
We left Annies Place at 6am and took the rather long journey to Kings Canyon. Everyone got introduced and we all slept very socialable. Two girls from our room Laura and were on a tour which was nice. Arrived and started the climb up KIngs Canyon. Started off with a heart attack hill well thats its nickname struggled slightly the Ashtma you see but it was fine. The stops for photos helped. Our guide was really good pretty knowledgable but quite a typical Ozzy bloke making a joke and laughing after it, even when no one else did. The walk was pretty amazing and apparently Kings Cnayon is the biggest in the world because the Grand Canyon is not even a Canyon. I did know why is wasn't but I'm writing this diary sat in Airley beach so my knowledge has gone. Drove to the campsite and was pleased to hear that 3.00am toilet runs with a torch were the process.
Sunday 9th September
Got us bright and early and went to the Olgas (Kate Tjuta). Went on a walk through the Valley of the Winds which gave me ear ache but enjoyed the 7.5 km hike. Stopped for lunch at the Yuluru caravan site and got to shower yeah. After luch did a base walk of the rock and heard some of the stories also went to the cultural centre. Had tea and watched the Sunset over Uluru really beautiful evening and the group had started to really bond. Drove to "camp site" and played the juice carton game. Where people had to reach down and get the milk carton with their mouth. Very funny! I went to sleep early which is quite difficult when your in a circle with 18 others in swags but I was pretty knackered.
Monday 10th September - Uluru
Got up very early to see the Sun rise over Uluru in my opinion not worth it but I can say I've done it. Ate toast with Nutella which made things slightly better but not much. Once it warmed up things got better. No one could climb the Rock which I was secretly glad about it as the Indigenous people really do not want you to. I was considering until I went to the cultural centre and realised that they really do NOT want people to climb it. We walked around the base. I know it sounds cheesy but it is a really spiritual place which I didn't think it would be. People say its so special and before I went I was kinda like its a rock! All in all really enjoyed the trip and the people we were with with really cool.
For photo use-Sarah, me, Laura, Emma Teresa, Ross, Siobhan, Owen, Edel, Dave,Mikko, Lily,Mauri,Kay, Kirsten, Sindy and our guide Mick.
Got back to Annies and had our meal a few drinks but went to bed fairly early which I'm glad about as some people ended up going back to the guides bus which is where he lives. Aussies are mad!
Tuesday 11th September
I was really glad we had a lie in and were not flying I was pretty knackered and had a nice day. We went to the baby Kangaroo centre which was really enjoyable and interesting. Again ran by a mad ozzy bloke who lives in the outback and has no electricity so he can run the roo centre. Spent about 1.5 hours and then went to lie by the pool. Pretty chilled day and got to watch "when life begins" and another British programme about a girl in a coma followed by an American Drama. Not watched telly in so long. Its the small things isn't it.
Weds 12th September 2007
Cairns
Said a farewell to Sarah as she was going back to the Gold Coast. It was actually quite horrible but knew that Cairns was a party place so hoped and prayed I would be fine. Flew to Cairns and arrived at about 5:00pm. Checked into Caravellas and met John from Wigan and Nathan from the U S of A my room mates. Arranged to meet Hazel and went to the Wool shed with Mauri (Twainese girl from Alice). Now this was meant to be chilled night unfortunately it went slightly wrong and we got drunk on goon and watched fish being raced. I think I'm going to like Cairns!!!
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