We were up early the next morning, trying to catch Kata Tjuta (formerly known as the Olgas) at sunrise. But again, the elements conspired against us. Rain during the night meant that the cloud cover was substantial at dawn, but this time it actually made for a spectacular sunrise over Uluru, which was 30km distant.
My first glimpse of Uluru.
It was a strange seeing something so iconic: so familiar and yet not because I have never seen it in context. In pictures, I saw the red rock, but in reality there was also the red sand, desert oaks, spinifex and bloodwood.
Of course, being there in person also means that I saw the true reality of the rock: that it is a high profile tourist destination with a cultural centre, souvenir shops, and climb.
At the end of the day we gathered to watch the sunset. Unfortunately the sun was obscured by clouds, hence the muted colours. Well, you can’t have everything.
Static and Silence 