a long story

we arrived home yesterday afternoon. with many memories. and lots of photos...
there is no possible way to put either the memories or the photos all on in one post ~ so, I will do one a day.. with photos, tales and notes from my journal.. tomorrow will be the Camel Ride

My Pilgrimage to Uluru

tomorrow we fly out for our pilgrimage to Uluru... I cannot begin to tell how excited i am!..

Tuesday
arrive Ayers rock 12.20

that afternoon, we are off on a ride through the desert Camel ride

Wednesday 13th
get up very early to see the Desert come alive: Desert awakening

then in the afternoon, I have a Dot painting workshop with the Aboriginal people.

Thursday 14th
we have hired a car for two days and today we are going to Kata Tjuta [the Olgas] to walk the Valley of wind walk - 7.4klm

Friday 15th
and then today to Uluru by ourselves [walk] 9.4klms
then in the evening:
Sounds of silence dinner

Saturday 16th
Mala walk
a vehicle based tour of the rock and then an Aboriginal Guided Mala Walk. Learn the sensitive story of the Mala (Hare Wallaby) people who lived at Uluru, with their friend the Itjaritjari (marsupial mole). Along the Mala Walk visit the many painted caves of the Mala people, and learn how they lived and prepared for ceremonies at the base of Uluru. Visit sacred Kantju Gorge, a quiet water hole at the base of a dramatic rock face.

this afternoon, I hope to visit the Red Rock spa and indulge myself with an aroma stone therapy massage & pedicure.

Sunday 17th
flying home to Villa Maria - with dreams, memories and connection to this ancient land

every picture tells a story..

I thought I had better tell of our weekend away because before you know it, I will be off on a real walkabout to Uluru & Kata Tjuta,(Kata Joota) [I think making this pilgrimage to Uluru is similar to one going to Glastonbury, Lourdes or Sedona. a very spiritual place I am lead to believe.]

really, not much to tell about our little trip out west. a nice little break.. so a story in pictures follows:

one of the towns we visited was Millthorpe ~ a picturesque, rural village dating back to the 1840's.

lunch was partaken of at a charming little cafe ~ I had the BEST Pea and Ham soup.. made from local Trunkey Creek Ham & organic peas.. I then went shopping and bought myself two pairs of flats for summer. one bright red pair and a taupe and white polka dot pair.

a wander around the town after lunch revealed treasures from the past:

old shops with the original tiles & windows..

a vintage Holden Ute
and tons of old miners cottages..
the next few days were spent in Parkes amid country music fans.. we walked alot and gathered snippets of geranium plants as we walked around local streets. from my journal: an early morning walk past federation homes with plants spilling over the fence and onto the footpath. so many geraniums, old fashion varieties. Joe bent down to break pieces off for me.. which took me back to my Nan saying that there is no better plant than one grown from a cutting from someones garden. if they were taken without permission then even better, [so she said]. I felt like a criminal when I bent down to break a piece off, expecting at any moment, someone to shout out at me...

later that morning, Joe & I were standing watching a country music singer belt out some songs and an old chap wandered up and introduced himself as Tom & welcomed us to his town. he was a 'cockey' he told us [another name for a farmer] and he was 83.... we talked for a bit with me all the time wishing I had the courage to have my photo taken with him..he was a beautiful old soul....

I snapped a quick shot as he walked away

telling Joe of my wish to have my photo taken with Tom, we turned around to ask and he had vanished... "Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it." - was Tom an Angel? I like to think so

and... The Dish