It is dark and cold. Very cold. Crispy air is getting through my clothes so I can feel it on my bones and I wish I have put more layers on.
Our tour guide, young French girl with noticeable accent, is leading us through bushes to the best spot to see one of the greatest natural wonders – sunrise at Uluru. The Sun will be soon rising right behind our back and we can watch Uluru, also known as Ayers Rock, changing colors from very close.
There are no other tours around, just us. We walk in silence because it is too early, but as soon as we reach our destination point, we can feel the excitement in our small group. This is what we woke up for before 5 am! While waiting for the grand spectacle, our tour guide is giving us instructions about sacred sites of Uluru. Anangu people are the original owners of Uluru for over 30 000 years, they believe that Uluru is a living place and it has got great spiritual meaning. There are stories tied up to few particular spots on and around the rock. These spots are the sacred sites and according to Anangu’s traditions and beliefs, you can look at the place only when you are there at that particular moment. Therefore, we should not take pictures of those places so we literally will not be able to see it “at any other place, only there”.
Suddenly, I can feel warmth on my back. The Sun is making its great appearance. The whole surrounding is slowly coming to life. Everyone is breathless, we can only hear a quiet buzz coming from the bushes around us. Uluru is waking up and we are witnesses of how its earthy brown color is turning into the bright orange, then ruby and finishing on beautiful rusty red.
Before coming to Australia I read few travel journals and stories about the land down-under. I came across few opinions that the sunrise at Uluru is over-rated. How possibly could sunrise be overrated? At Uluru or anywhere else? Travelers were describing large groups of people squeezed at small viewing platform trying to get the best picture not even looking at Uluru as it is, only through the camera. This is not anything like that. Our group is small and everyone is appreciating the moment. Sunrise at Ayers rock is an experience that will stay with us forever.
As the Sun is up, the temperature rises and we start our base walk. Although our tour guide does not really “fit the environment”, she is extremely knowledgeable. She sets a slow pace while she tells us all the incredible colorful tales that form the basis of the Aboriginal culture. Aboriginal people believe that the rocks of Uluru and Kata Tjuta were created at the beginning of time – in the Dreamtime, by 10 spirit people, Aboriginal ancestors. Dreamtime represents the essence of aboriginal society, culture, traditions and spirituality. It was the time when ancestors, gods and living mortals came together to learn about the heritage and customs of the Aboriginal people.
According to aboriginal beliefs, the whole world used to be a featureless place until the ancestors of the Anangu people raised and started their journey across the land, forming the features like Uluru and Kata Tjuta that we can see today. These rock formations represent the evidence of their physical presence on Earth. Uluru is a highlight of their natural power and it is considered as one of their most dramatic and inspiring creations.
Uluru remains sacred to many aboriginal tribes that live in the region. They still come to its caves and rock outcroppings to perform rituals and make new rock paintings. Paintings on the walls of this sandstone monolith are very unique. Some of them can be hundred years old and some only hundred days old.
Each side of Uluru has its own creation story with special natural traits and characteristics. When our tour guide is telling us a tale about Liru – poisonous snake, and Kunia – good female snake, I can see where they met and they fought, where Liru died and Kunia rest. It is incredible. Anangu people believe that by simply touching the rocks of sacred sites, they can communicate with dreamtime and the ancestral spirits and receive their blessings. And honestly, as I am standing in a small cave looking at the never-ending flat landscape spreading to the horizon, combining bright red sand and rich green bushes, I believe it too.
Uluru is the spiritual heart of Australia. The country that surrounds it is unlike any other I have ever seen. Battling myself at 5am to leave comfy bed and then struggling in the early cold morning was well worth this extraordinary experience. I would say it was addictive. Because the next day we woke up, put extra clothes on and went to see this great performance again.
The tour we chose for our sunrise base walk is called Seit Outback. I would like to thank them this way for a great job they are doing and amazing experience we got.
If you are looking for more reasons to travel to the Australia’s Red Center, I published an article on We Are Travel Girls, that may give you more inspiration! 🙂 Also don’t forget to check our my travel tips for Uluru and Kata Tjuta…
Have you been to Uluru? Have you forced yourself to wake up for sunrise? What is your experience? Let me know in comment section below.
Cheers,
Hana
