Uluru - up close

'To climb or not to climb'

Now we come to decision time....to climb or not to climb.  I was clearly in the 'not climb' basket as I had heard it was culturally insensitive to climb the rock. We discussed this with many locals and believe we found out the real story. Uluru is on the land of the Pitjantjatjara tribe.  Being in such a arid, remote location, Uluru is not traditionally used for living but for ceremonies after someone has died, to release their spirit.  Only the men climb the rock to participate in this ceremony.  We found out that the Pitjantjatjara tribe don't mind you climbing the rock, they just don't want you dyeing on it!  Some 40 people have died whilst climbing Uluru (and an unknown number back in hotel rooms due to heat exertion and heart attacks) and the Pitjanjatjara tribe believe their spirits are forever stuck on Uluru, clogging up their ceremonial site.  So it is said the government has made a request for you to not climb, to stop so many people dyeing...and presumably to cover their hides re law suits!

So with Nick, Bells and Toli all pleading me to climb I made the decision to climb and we made a firm commitment to each other NOT to die!

Toli climbed with me as we hightailed it due to a need for the loo.

We passed Nick and Bells on the way back down

The top landmark..we thought from a distance it was a portaloo...call it a mirage!

Before we climbed Uluru we did parts of the base walk.  Bells worked out how to carry the dish on her head....makes for a good posture I'd say.

                               

Some beautiful rock art work

Such pretty flowers

The infamous brain