Kata Tjuta or Me and the Olgas

We already clarified the early rising here - today was the same: at 05:00 I got out of bed, got ready for the hike (shower, apply SPF 30, reapply with SPF 50 on my face and neck), picked up breakfast and off I went, hoping to catch the sunrise at Uluru and Kata Tjuta.

I had this idea until I saw an Aboriginal hitchhiker on the roadside near Ayers Rock Resort, who, as it turned out (after I picked her up), had been working the night shift and wanted to go home to the community (wherever it may be: that was my destination).

So, I drove along Uluru at sunrise (pink clouds over Uluru...!) until I reached the community (access for tourists prohibited - I was allowed to drive up to the main road, but no further, my hitchhiker explained and proudly bid me farewell, saying 'this is where we live' (almost at the foot of Uluru).

I then drove halfway back to make my way to Kata Tjuta. First, I took some photos at the lookout point, then had breakfast in the car (cereal, banana bread, orange juice), and continued on to the Valley of the Winds.

There were three hiking options there: 1 km to the first lookout point, 5.4 km to the second lookout point, and a 7.4 km circuit hike. I thought: let's start and before I knew it, I had already reached the first lookout point. It was going well, so I continued to the second lookout point (rocky path, stone steps, across rocks and briefly along a creek and through a plain), which had such a wonderful view that the effort to get there was totally worth it. By now, the morning temperature of 26 degrees had turned into around 30 degrees, and I had already consumed 1.5 liters of the 2.5 liters I brought along. The view up there was so beautiful, and the sun was scorching so much that I imagined that my hike to the second lookout point was a circuit hike and prepared myself for the descent (down the rocks, even more rubble, and then a wonderful green depression with even more Olgas around me).

Do you see the mistake already? I only realized it later when my bladder made itself noticeable, my shirt stuck to my back, I rolled the insect repellent roller over my face for the umpteenth time to ward off the annoying flies (with the stupid net in front of my face, it's hard to see), my legs started to feel heavy, and the next sign said 2.4 km to the parking lot instead of 1.6 km. So I unintentionally took the long route. It was great and satisfying, especially after I reached the only public toilets at the Olgas by car...!

In the meantime, Ursula had slept in, had a big breakfast, went shopping at the supermarket and post office, and wrote in her diary when I returned at half past eleven.

In the late afternoon, we drove around Uluru by car (Ursula doesn't dare to hike around the rock), enjoyed the amazing views, and decided to take a short walk to the waterhole tomorrow.

Since it fit just perfectly into our schedule and the weather was great today, we drove to Uluru for the sunset - just in time (we had dinner beforehand). Instead of immediately taking a photo with the camera, I went back to the car to get my phone because I wanted to share it with you. You can already guess what happened: with the phone in my hand and the camera app open, the sun set without a snapshot - what a dummy I am!

Tonight, we went on a tour (booked, as individual entry is not allowed) to the Field of Lights, an art installation (50,000 lights that change colors and create a beautiful light carpet, solar-powered, recyclable, and sustainable) in the desert by Bruce Munro. A spectacular end to the day!