11 November t/m 8 December 1998
Friday 20 November 1998
At nine am local time we arrive at the Alice Springs railway station (we had to put the clock back an hour). We are met by Rick of Toddy's, the resort we will be staying at. The "resort" is fairly simple, yet modest. Erik takes a rest first. Around 11.30 we go out to explore downtown Alice. Alice is not a big town: it has only 20.000 inhabitants and is the only settlement of significance within a 1000 km radius. It was founded as relay station for the telegraph link between Darwin and Adelaide. The streets are filled with tourists and Aboriginals hanging about. There are many tour organisers and shops, selling Aboriginal art and souvenirs. We take a snack and buy T-shirts and a boomerang. In the afternoon we take a dive in the municipal swimming pool, where we are soon crowded out by the local swimming club.
At night we eat at the Overlander Steak House and enjoy Kangaroo Mignon and Kangaroo Fillet, washed down with Ozzie wine.
Saturday, 21 November 1998
Today we have an early start again, because we will be picked up at 7:30 for our three day tour to Ayer's Rock, the Olgas and King's Canyon with Sahara Outback Tours . We are traveling in a midsize bus (22 passengers) with an international party: Danes, British, Germans and Dutch. Our guide, Daniel, is an All Australian guy, who conducts the tour with a firm hand and a smile.
We travel through the empty desert for hours on, to our standards at least, practically deserted roads. After some stops along the way, we arrive at our camp around noon. The tents are set up permanently and are equipped with camping beds. The camping ground is well equipped with showers, toilets and a swimming pool. Lunch is put on the table in no time. We hurry up eating it, because our expedition has to move on. We do suffer some delay as Daniel has to pick up another two passengers from Ayer's Rock airport. When that's done, it's time to head for the Olgas, or Katja Tjuta, as the Aboriginals call it.
Unfortunately we can only walk to the first look out, because the temperature has risen beyond 36 degrees. The track further up has been closed. We take lots of photos (many Kodak moments) and continue to Ayer's Rock, some fifty km further down the road (a negligible distance around these parts). The climb of the "Rock", as it is popularly referred to (Aboriginals call it Uluru), has been closed too, but this afternoon we take a look at some rock paintings. Daniel tells us a number of "Dreamtime" stories, with which the Aboriginals try to explain features of the scenery. These stories go past me a bit, quite honestly. They are so far removed from me, that it is hard to relate to them in any way.
Then it's time to have a look at sunset at Ayer's Rock. At the ideal viewing point it is very crowded. Some tour organisers have taken deck chairs and champagne with them. Daniel too, has wine and "chips and dips" with him, so that we can enjoy the scene under optimal conditions and in good spirit. During sunset, the Rock constantly changes colour. A bit peckish we return to our camp, where dinner is on the table before you know it.
We go to be early. Early start tomorrow.
Sunday, 22 November 1998
It's only four o'clock in the morning (or
at night if you prefer) and we are
already up and getting
ready. In about 90 minutes the sun will rise
and we're
not going to miss that. At five we are in the bus to the Sunrise spot.
First the
climbers among us are dropped at the foot of the climb. Then we drive
on to the
look out. Again it is very busy and the sun plays wonders with the
Rock.
After that we start our walk around the Rock. (we don't climb the Rock
out of
respect for the Aboriginals religious feelings). A good walk of about 9
km.
Around 7:45 were are back where we started. Next on the programme is a
visit to
the Aboriginal Cultural Centre. A must. The Aboriginals hope to spread
some
understanding for their culture among the tourists, most of whom just
get here
for climbing the Rock.
We are on our way to King's Canyon. Another long drive of some three and a half hours. The camp is a lot simpler than the one at Ayer's Rock. Six showers and toilets for 45 people. If you want a hot shower you have to heat the boiler yourself with firewood. Well... the water is already warm enough as it is. Dinner is roast chicken and a stew. The wood for the "Barbie" (= barbecue) has been collected by ourselves in the wild.
We go to bed early. At 8:30 pm we hit the sack, because tomorrow...
Monday, 23 November 1998
We get up at four
again. This time not to watch a sunrise, but to walk
through King's Canyon before it gets too hot. At King's Canyon we start
off with
a steep climb, after which we're being rewarded with a tremendous view.
Some
scenes of the movie "Priscilla, Queen of the Desert" were shot here.
They had preferred to shoot at Ayer's Rock, but the Aboriginals did not
like
that idea too much. We walk about six km in all and end up at a pool in
which we
take a dive. The water is lovely, especially after the strenuous climb
and
descent. After our swim we have to climb all the way up again, out of
the Canyon
and then back down again towards the bus. We take a different route and
enjoy
the breath taking views and watch our step carefully. Back at the bus,
time is
half past eight and bus is no longer the only one in the car park. It's
become
quite hot already. We go back to our camp where we have lunch at 11am
(!), grab
our things and get going for Alice Springs. The drive takes another
five hours,
with a Road House every 2 or 300 km or so. On the way back we see two
"Road
Trains". 
These are
lorries with three or four trailers. Alas, we are not
quick enough to get a picture of either of them. One of our Danish
companions
has sat with his camera on his lap for five hours and caught them both.
At 4:30pm we get back at Toddy's. At night we eat at a Swiss/Indian restaurant. Not your everyday combination.
Tuesday, 24 November 1998
Today we take it easy. We cannot get up late, because our rhythm dictates rising early. We do our laundry. The washing takes only 15 minutes. The tumble drier is less quick. Only after its third spin we are able to pack our things again. We go into town once more. We do some e-mailing to our home front and learn, with great pleasure, from a football website that Feyenoord still has a comfortable lead over all of its rivals (especially Ajax and PSV) in the Dutch premier league. After lunch we visit the Royal Flying Doctor Service. We take a short tour and spend a fortune in the gift shop. This will keep the Doctors airborne for quite some time. Later in the afternoon Rick drives us to the airport from where we fly to Cairns at 17:50. We arrive there two and a half hours later (plus 30 minutes time difference). A rental car is waiting for us (a Daewoo Laganza). We drive it to the McCleod Street YHA hostel. Our room is small, but clean. We have a "VB" (= Victoria Bitter) at the pub 'round the corner and go to bed early.