Cairns to Alice Springs

On May 14th we boarded a plan and flew from Cairns to Alice Springs.

This was an extreme change in climate: from the rainforest region around Cairns to the near desert region around Alice Springs. . Because this is fall in Australia, the weather has not been that hot around Alice Springs: High during the day of 70 – 85 F with lows at night of about 43 – 55 F.

Didgeridoo

We stayed at Toddy’s which has a restaurant that often has entertainment in the evening.

We were lucky enough that a very talented aborigine was playing didgeridoo that evening.

He invited several of our students on stage to learn to play. . The aptitude to play a didgeridoo varies from person to person, but all those who are working on it are making progress.

Termite Nest

We visited the Museum of the Desert – just outside of Alice Springs. (This museum is very similar to the one in Palm Springs, California.)

One of the exhibits was a termite nest. In some areas of the desert region you see 10s to a hundred of these termite nests per acre. For that reason, many of the electric and telephone poles are made out of metal in the desert region. Wooden poles are quickly eaten.

Panther Skink

A Panther Skink is one of the animals which inhabit the desert regions.

Birds in Flight show (a)

This museum also had a very nice birds in flight show. The purpose of this photo is to show that our students are still alive and doing well. (More in next picture.)

Birds in Flight show (b)

More students pictured. (Although only 23 are in the pictures – all 24 are doing well.)

Use of a Tool

This bird uses a tool !

Emu eggs are too hard for the bird to peck open, so it picks up a rock and uses it to break open the egg ! . (Bird brains are not helpless. )

Alice Springs Telegraph Station

Although we visited the Royal Flying Doctor Service and the School of the Air – our visit to the telegraph station was especially interesting to me.

The telegraph station was build in 1871-1872 and was used for communications until 1932.

Tour guide

Our guide explained the construction and use of the telegraph station and then went on to explain its function from 1932 – 1942.

The Bungalow

The telegraph station was converted for use as a place to education “Half-Caste” children – children who were of mixed race: aborigine and white. (1932 – 1942)

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These children were removed from their aboriginal mothers and institutionalized in an attempt to educate them away from their traditional ways.

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This practice was extremely cruel to these families. An excellent documentary movie is “Rabbit Proof Fence”. . . .

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Our tour guide’s mother was one of these children and was pictured in some of the displays inside one of the building at the telegraph station site.

Having this explanation of the history of this location was very moving to use who were familiar with this history.

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Information on the Movie: Rabbit Proof Fence is given here:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0252444/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rabbit-Proof_Fence_(film)

It is highly recommended that you rent it if you are interested.

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If you're interested in how the government is apologizing for the previous policy, here are speaches given in Feburary by the leaders of the 2 parties:

http://www.aph.gov.au/house/Rudd_Speech.pdf

http://www.aph.gov.au/house/Nelson_speech.pdf

ANZAC Hill

Alice Springs has its own ANZAC memorial located on a hill on the North edge of the city.

Australian National Flag

Not surprising that the memorial has a Australian Flag, but it also has a Northern Territory flag -- see next post:

Northern Territory Flag

View from ANZAC Hill

The view of the small city of Alice Springs (population about 27,000) is great. The surrounding countryside reminds me of Palm Springs, California – although Palm Springs is a much larger community. . The small size of Alice Springs feels much more comfortable. . The atmosphere is much more laid-back and the traffic is much less burdensome.

May 16 - 18: , trip with The Rock Tour grou

We had a great 3 day adventure with The Rock Tour people: guides Dom and Craig.

They are highly recommended !

Here is where to contact them: http://www.therocktour.com.au/

May 16 thur May 18 we visited:
King's Canyon
Kata Tjuta (Oglas)
Uluru (Ayer's Rock)

But, to repeat: Dom and Craig are great tour guides. Request their help at The Rock Tour if you plan to make a visit to central Australia.

Trip to King’s Canyon

The climb

Here is where we climbed to the top of the canyon.

A wonderful route

Most of the group walked about 4 miles around the top of the canyon.

Can you see them?

Some members of the group can be seen in the “low spot” on the cliff wall. (I don’t know if the blog will have enough resolution for you to see them. You might have to download the picture and enlarge it.)

Wild Dingo (b)

Dingoes are a wild strain of dogs which were brought to Australia thousands of years ago.

Poison for the Dingoes

Dingoes are protected animals in many parts of Australia including inside the national parks. On the other hand, just outside the national park there are ranches. In these areas they are viewed as unwanted predators. Ranchers put out poison to kill the Dingoes that come into their areas.

Petting a Dingo

A few days later, we were at a “Road House” (a combination gas station, store etc.), there was a pet dingo. It was very tame because it was raised from a pup.

Kata Tjuta

We next went to large set of rock formations: Kata Tjuta (Formerly known as the Oglas)

The heads

These formations were envisioned as being heads by the aborigines.

The trail took us between the heads

The view

We again had a significant climb, but the view made it worth it.

Dom giving a lecture

Dom gave detailed information about Kata Tjuta.

Formation of Uluru and Kata Tjuta

We arrived at Uluru

Uluru

This rock has been known as Uluru to the aborigines for thousands of years.
It was known as Ayer’s Rock for only about 100 years.
The name Uluru is now again being primarily used.
The path around the rock is nearly 6 miles long.

Records of the past

In places Uluru is inscribed with symbols with cultural and religious meaning.

Parts of “the rock” could be used for shelter

Moon over Uluru (a)

We were delighted to see the moon rise over Uluru in the late afternoon.

Moon over Uluru (b)

This was a “12 day old moon”: a waxing Gibbous.

Bush food

Dom had purchased a kangaroo tail. He showed us in detail how it was traditionally prepared, cooked, and eaten.

Inspecting the tail (a)

The reaction of students to inspecting the tail varied.

Inspecting the tail (b)

Inspecting the tail (c)

Inspecting the tail (d)

Must remove the hair

Before the tail can be cooked, the hair must be removed. The traditional way is to burn it off in a fire. After through investigation, we can report that the smell of burning kangaroo hair is the same as burning hair of most mammals.

Scraping off the hair

The partly burned hair is then scrapped off using the blunt side of a knife.

Scraping off the hair (b)

I did it too. (The students wanted to make sure I put this one on the blog.)

Cooking the tail (a)

To cook the tail, it is covered with coals.

Cooking the tail (b)

More than one way to skin a Kangaroo?

Before the meat of the tail could be eaten, the skin had to be removed.

The meat was removed.

Sampling the tail (a)

Sampling the tail

Some students showed more enthusiasm than others.

Bookmark

This is a bookmark which might be used for a future post.

Remains of the tail

This shows the vertebrae of the tail etc

No additional training required

Students showed their resourcefulness in cooking the available food.

Those who climb Uluru

Here is the place where people climb Uluru (for only about 100 years it was know as Ayer’s Rock) We did not for several reasons including issues about safety, and the traditional owners view it as sacred.