Uluru

Rick and I didn't sleep very well - it was only 2 degrees overnight and sharing the one sleeping bag on a deflated matress was very cold and uncomfortable. We headed to the Mala car park at the base of Uluru to do the 10am guided ranger talk. The ranger talked about Anangu people and explained Tjukurpa which is the foundation of their culture including rules for behavior and the relationships between people, plants, animals and the physical features of the land. We walked along the base of the rock to various sites - rock art, food preparation area and cooking shelter. We had a look at at Kantju Gorge where there is a semi-permanent water hole. The ranger explained the debate over closing the climb and said it was in the lease agreement for it to be closed by 2019 if not before. We decided to continue on and do the 9km base walk. Cailtin did really well but I think Cooper was still feeling a little less than 100% so was getting piggy backs from Rick as much as he could. Before heading back to Yulara we drove out to the new sunrise viewing area (opened in 2009) for a different perspective. Back at Yulara we went for a stroll around the resort shopping centre and had an ice-cream.