The Outback... No steak house involved.

Who: Myself and the other Canadian Interns (as well as other awesome people I met)
What: Travel and adventure in the Outback.
When: May 6-9, 2010
Where: The Outback (Alice Springs and Ayers Rock/Uluru)
Why: So that I can cross if off my list of places to go.

Well last weekend was quite the trip! I traveled 3 hours by plane to Alice Springs (center of Australia) and then 5 hours on a bus into the Outback. The purpose of the trip, to see a HUGE rock (the largest rock in the world)... called Ayers Rock or Uluru. How did I accomplish this, by going on a 3 day/2 night "Rock Tour" of the Outback. Twenty-one people, including myself, traveled in a bus to the desert, slept in swags and sleeping bags under the stars... no tent and no protection from the dingoes... this is how I experienced the Outback. Seems crazy, but definitely worth doing.

Before our group went and saw Ayers Rock, we saw and hiked through other canyons first. King's Canyon was the first hike that we did as a group. Sounds beautiful I know, but the first part of the hike was UGLY! The first part of the hike was nicknamed "Heart-attack hill", the "hill" was the understatement and heart-attack was not an overstatement. It was tough indeed... but I obviously survived. Once the tough part was over it was a lovely hike through the canyon. We went to a part in the canyon called "The Garden of Eden". In the midst of the red rock was a lush wooded area with plenty of vegetation and also a swimming hole. Even though it is autumn/winter in Australia... the Canadians went for a little swim in the "freezing" water. It was very refreshing, especially after hiking in the sun for 2 hours (with still an hour to go). As you turned each corner, ever picture was nicer than the last.

Next stop: Ayers Rock... the giant rock...