An Alphabetical Stroll Through Bali and Australia- S is for: Saying Goodbye to Uluru (1/24)

[missjackiemcg]

I love the advice to look behind you, where others aren't necessarily looking. Makes me think of the WDW advice to always look up! I do enjoy seeing the unexpected when you may be focused or distracted by something else entirely.

My low fuel light came on and I thought to myself, it’s all okay. Plenty of gas to get back to town…

Oh no....foreshadowing...

So, so stupid. I turned off the AC, putted at 40 mph, and held my breath.

GULP! I was so hoping that this wasn't going to come into play!!!

$200!!!!

Yikes. Terrifying price tag, but so much better than being stranded somewhere in the Outback with an even more costly issue of getting help and getting the car back, etc! Glad you had someone watching over you!!

 

[Steppesister]

S is for: Saying Goodbye to Uluru​

Miraculously being saved from a very hot, unintentional and horrible walk in the Outback, Anara and I packed up our luggage and aimed the now-full car towards the Uluru-Kata Tjuta Cultural Center. It would be our last activity in the Park before heading back to Alice Springs and ending our visit in the Red Center.

By then, it was crazy hot; the dry air made walking around outside almost painful. Luckily, much of the museum’s content is indoors and the remainder in the shade. This free cultural center is included with your park entry fee (about $25/pp for 3 days) and features talks by native people, park rangers, exhibits, a café, and shops that sell authentic arts and crafts made by Aboriginal People.

As you enter the museum building just after the welcome sign there are prominent messages asking you NOT to photograph or video so this chapter will be really sparse on pictures to share. But I can add some thoughts and impressions of what we experienced.

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Here is the welcome sign that I was able to video before entering:

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The exhibits are really well done. There is a lot of focus on bush plants that are used for food, building material, medicine, etc… Not surprisingly, plants are also used for art and music.

One of our favorite things was a short film we watched that had really old footage from decades ago of Aboriginal life and people with narration of what we were seeing. Not much has changed in their way of life including the kids looking for and gathering a favorite treat- witchetty grubs. That’d be a hard pass for me personally, but then again, caviar would probably be the same for our Anangu friends. We also learned a bit more in depth about the land being officially handed back to the original inhabitants in 1985. However, “On 26 October 1985, the Australian government returned ownership of Uluru to the local Pitjantjatjara people, with a condition that the Aṉangu would lease it back to the National Parks and Wildlife agency for 99 years and that it would be jointly managed.” – Wiki

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uluru

The Wiki article is actually really great at explaining more of the history of the area and its recent politics and management. In a nutshell, the Australian Parks system has leased the land back for 99 years from 1985 and they are slowly transitioning management of the land to the Anangu but admit a co-management situation has been very successful. Both sides, according to the rangers that gave that talk, are learning from each other about how to protect and manage the land and its resources.

As I mentioned, video and photos were not allowed, but I did take the liberty to take some audio of some music playing as part of one of the exhibits. My phone was only filming the side of my leg, I promise!!! I know that should you be interested you can find oodles of Anangu singing or digeridoo online so if you want more, you’ll have to do that. Oddly, there was no digeridoo music or even any mention of it in the Center.

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We browsed the exhibits from 10:00 until about 11:30. After we took our time with seeing what was there inside the main building, we parted ways for a bit. I went to the shops to see what Aboriginal Art was available. One goal of visiting this area was to buy some art, specifically a "dot" painting done by a local artist. It is so absolutely unique to this place in the world, and I wanted something to add to my Asia-Australia Trip wall collage. Remember, I had a Balinese mask, some Philippine and Balinese currency, and a few other trinkets that will look nice as a grouping.

It took me quite some time to browse through the dozens and dozens of paintings of all sizes, almost all of which are done in the “newer” traditional method of acrylics on canvas. This was made popular in the 1970’s and before that was done on bark or rock using the unmistakable technique of dot painting. The curator was absolutely FULL of wonderful information and helped me learn about what I was looking at. Each painting tells a story or is inspired by the land or societal interactions.

Here are some informational handouts I got with the art that I purchased:

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And now…. For the art itself. 2 pieces each about 10” x 24”. I can’t WAIT to be able to finally get them framed!!!

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You might be asking what the meaning is behind these pieces. I’m glad you asked! Here is the information that I was given about them as well. They are 100% authentic in every way and one of the pieces was done by the very artist that was commissioned to do a piece for the first Aboriginal art featured on the livery of a Qantas aircraft. Here is her story as told on Wiki:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rene_Kulitja

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Williamson is the daughter of another legendary Anangu artist Ruby Williamson.

I am so blessed to have had the opportunity to buy these and now enjoy them every day. I just love them and they fulfilled a big dream of my time in Central Australia. (Aside from seeing the inspiration of nature behind the art itself.)

(That is some force of Nature!)​

With my purchases carefully rolled with tissue paper protecting the painted surface, I went out to find Anara. It’s quite a small campus so we quickly hooked back up and decided to get Anara some lunch before the very long road trip back to Alice Springs. The hot dish featured that day was lasagna, so she got that. It sure looked good!

It was HUGE.

But she was hungry.

She ate it all.

I wouldn’t have refused a few bites.

You’re welcome for lunch, Kiddo.


I got a latte which was absolutely amazing and really hit the spot. It’d been quite a few days since I’d had a real coffee so I was pretty happy!

At 1:00, we were on the road and settled in for the 4 ½-5 hour trek back. We had one potty stop at Erldudna/Ghan about halfway back but otherwise filled our time with listening to Anara’s audiobook which I was thoroughly enjoying! Sadly, we also saw not one, but two, camels that were roadkill victims. It sure helped us understand the reason that trucks and cars alike all have “Roo bars” on them. Although, a camel vs. passenger car, roo bar or not, is likely gonna be ugly.

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Before dark we found our next Airbnb- a private house that had extra bedrooms. Our 70-something year old hostess answered the door and seemed a little confused. “Oh! I thought it was just one person!”

I think this was 100% my mistake. I’d booked it before Anara decided to go and for only myself, forgetting to go back and change the number of people.

“No problem” she added quickly! “I will just move you to the double bedroom easy peasy.”

Phew! Crisis averted.

We tossed our stuff in the room, and I put my swimsuit on. There was a small pool in the back, and it felt wonderful to cool off then sit in the warm air and watch the plethora of birds visiting the birdbath and fruit trees in the yard. I only caught a few, but just those few were ones I hadn’t seen yet and could add to my growing long list of birds I’d “collected” on this epic trip!

(Australian Ringneck)


(Southern Whiteface)


(Spotted Bowerbird)​

Eventually, we got hungry and settled on a Korean place that was one of the options I’d put on the list prior to the trip. It turned out to be FANTASTIC! I think it was called Simply Korean, and we shared several dishes: Bibimbap, some dumplings, and a big order of spicy kimchee. I had a glass of wine and Anara pulled something out of the fridge- pop I think of some kind. During dinner we chatted with a German couple sitting next to us who had never had Korean food, so we coached them a bit on popular dishes to order. At some point, we were talking about a particular friend of Anara’s. I was asking how she was and if she’d seen her lately. She hadn’t. I kid you not, about 1 minute later she, Taylor, literally texted Anara! What a crazy coincidence! I was hankering for something a bit sweet and the dessert on the menu was a homemade mixed berry ice cream. YUM!

With full and completely satisfied palates and bellies we drove back to the house and pretty much fell into bed and asleep right away. Another day in the books. And one more yet to come in Australia’s incredible, beautiful Center.

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[pkondz]

Miraculously being saved from a very hot, unintentional and horrible walk in the Outback

And having your car set on fire...

the dry air made walking around outside almost painful.

I'm curious.
You know the saying "At least it's a dry heat"?
How did it compare to a Florida (i.e. humid) heat?

there are prominent messages asking you NOT to photograph or video

Huh. Usually photographs are allowed. Interesting.

One of our favorite things was a short film we watched that had really old footage from decades ago of Aboriginal life and people with narration of what we were seeing.

I think I'd like that too.

witchetty grubs. That’d be a hard pass for me personally, but then again, caviar would probably be the same for our Anangu friends.

Good point.
But... I googled. Those grubs are big!
I'll stick to caviar, thanks.

On 26 October 1985, the Australian government returned ownership of Uluru to the local Pitjantjatjara people, with a condition that the Aṉangu would lease it back to the National Parks and Wildlife agency for 99 years and that it would be jointly managed

Interesting arrangement. But I guess it works for both sides.

Oddly, there was no digeridoo music or even any mention of it in the Center.

Really? That is odd. Unless it's more of a staple from other areas and not central?

One goal of visiting this area was to buy some art, specifically a "dot" painting done by a local artist.

I hadn't heard the term, but have seen (on the internet) some examples.

And now…. For the art itself. 2 pieces each about 10” x 24”. I can’t WAIT to be able to finally get them framed!!!

Glad you're happy with them. I prefer the first of the two pieces.

They are 100% authentic in every way and one of the pieces was done by the very artist that was commissioned to do a piece for the first Aboriginal art featured on the livery of a Qantas aircraft.

Nice!

I just love them and they fulfilled a big dream of my time in Central Australia.

(That is some force of Nature!)

I wonder what caused it? Snow or ice or something else?

The hot dish featured that day was lasagna, so she got that. It sure looked good!

mmmm...

She ate it all.

I wouldn’t have refused a few bites.

Sadly, we also saw not one, but two, camels that were roadkill victims.

Whoa.

Although, a camel vs. passenger car, roo bar or not, is likely gonna be ugly.

I'd think it would be similar to hitting a moose. Super dangerous.

Our 70-something year old hostess answered the door and seemed a little confused. “Oh! I thought it was just one person!”

Uh, oh...

I think this was 100% my mistake. I’d booked it before Anara decided to go and for only myself, forgetting to go back and change the number of people.

Glad it got sorted.

There was a small pool in the back, and it felt wonderful to cool off

Bet that felt good after that extreme heat!

Eventually, we got hungry and settled on a Korean place that was one of the options I’d put on the list prior to the trip. It turned out to be FANTASTIC!

Great!
mmmm... good food...

Bibimbap

Yum!!

During dinner we chatted with a German couple sitting next to us who had never had Korean food, so we coached them a bit on popular dishes to order.

I'll have to enlist you ladies to give me a primer. I've had very little... almost none... Korean food.

Lovely photo of you both.

 

[Wood Nymph]

I love the artwork that you bought. It must have been hard to just pick two. It sounds like a great day all around.

 

[missjackiemcg]

Oddly, there was no digeridoo music or even any mention of it in the Center.

Well that is odd! I would've expected a bunch. Jimmy had a sound book when he was little with instruments and animals from around the world. He was forever pressing the button for "Listen to Dingo and his Didgeridoo!" I hadn't thought about that in ages, but it came right back as I was reading your update.

2 pieces each about 10” x 24”. I can’t WAIT to be able to finally get them framed!!!

So beautiful! At first I thought they were stretched over a wood frame already and thought, 'how is she going to get those home!?' But I see further down, you were able to roll them. They're just beautiful. I'm sure it was hard to narrow it down!