Originally posted by RJHinds
Those cave painting may be old, but don't let them fool you into believing they are more than about 6,000 years old. They just want to get more money out of you. Ha ha. π
I did not pay one cent.
Also , I had the privilige of meeting bona fide aboriginals that were direct decedents of the tribes that have lived there time immemorial.
Obviously they hadn't live there for ever, nor did they tell me how long they had been there. They seemed to be not interested in those things. Instead they were into telling stories and also drawing me some pictures.
The turn off from the main highway to Ayers Rock is about 200 or so km's before Alice Springs-the main town around there (except for the odd fuel/beer station) for ages. I got out at 3pm and hoped I would get a lift to Ayers Rock (another 200 or so km's) in time to pitch a tent. 2 cars pulled up and they looked like they were already filled with people but the first cars driver insisted I get in as the other lads shoved across (5 people in the back seat). 5kms ahead we saw another hitcher who turned out to be an old female classmate. They said that she can sit on my lap and that our bags would just be put on top of us.
It was pretty smelly. Cheap wine and ...petrol!!
Well weren't me and my class mate happy to see each other. I think she appreciated a certain level of security when she was getting into a car with a bunch of wino's.
After about another 20kms or so we stopped again.
The guy from the back of the other car (the car in front of us) was wearing a traditional kangaroo skin 'cape' (or whatever). He took me aside for a sec while the girl talked with the others.
"What ya doin here mate? " he said.
"I'm a tourist".
Got any money?" he asked politely.
"No. I usually go busking but I lost my guitar."
He looked me up and down a bit more and then said - "you should have money when you come here". then he smiled a friendly smile.
"This is my wife""- a pregnant lady had the back seat of the other car all to herself.Her "husband" sat in the front with another driver up there as well. So 3 people in one car (3 1/2 if you count the unborn), and 10 eventually in the other one.
Everyone was cool.I had a bit of leaf which they devoured in 2 minutes.
They told me some stories, but the vibes I got from that 200 km or so trip was just so powerful.
Everynow and then some guy up the front would yell to the guy in the back to not "sniff petrol". Really forcefully.
Finally we had to get out. We were still about 5 kms from the rock, but thats the closest they could take us.
True story. Any questions?