The enormous monolith and World Heritage Site of Uluru, also known as Ayers Rock, fascinates and inspires people from around the world with its glowing presence at sunrise and sunset. The Uluru and Kata Tjuta you see today are the remains of erosion that began around 500 million years ago. Both formations are but visible tips of enormous slabs of rock that extend as far as six kilometres into the ground.
Archaeological work suggests that Aboriginal people have lived in the area for at least 22,000 years. The Anangu people are Uluru's traditional custodians but until recently, the famous monolith was known as Ayers Rock, named after former premier Sir Henry Ayers by European explorer William Gosse, who first sighted the rock in 1873. Uluru was returned to the care and ownership of the Anangu in 1985 and they now jointly manage the national park with Parks Australia.
Due to its sacred history, it is important as a responsible traveller to consider the local history, people and customs of Ayers Rock.
You can help support the Uluru-Kata Tjuta region and the rich indigenous culture whilst learning about the area from an Aboriginal perspective, by visiting Uluru-Kata Tjuta Cultural Centre, buying local art or joining a tour with a local Aboriginal guide.
The main travel tip is that the Anangu people prefer visitors don't climb Uluru because it's a sacred site. So nowadays many visitors choose to do the 9.4 km Uluru base walk instead and I strongly recommend the full walk, as it really is a wonderful place to visit and spend time. The Ayers Rock walk is divided into sections, or visitors can choose to walk the entire circumference. It begins at the base of the climb and three to four hours should be allowed to complete it.
The unsealed Mereenie Loop is recognised as one the greatest desert drives in Australia. Connecting Alice Springs with Watarrka National Park and Uluru-Kata Tjuta via a stretch of dirt track that ploughs through the West MacDonnell Ranges, it's an interesting alternative to the Explorer's Way. Final tip, Australia can throw up tough travel conditions at times and to use a local travel expert or travel operator is always recommended.
| ©2009 Colin B Richards. All rights reserved. |
There I was, sitting in my office, gazing through the window at the falling snow, daydreaming of warmer days. Ever so slowly, an idea began to take form.
Why not leave the cold, dreary winter behind, and head for warmer climes. But where would I go? The southern hemisphere seemed a good option, but I immediately realized that I had to narrow it down a bit, or I might have a problem getting an airplane ticket. A quick internet airline check and I reached a brilliant decision.
I called my wife and told her to pack us a couple of bags and
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In 2004, I completed two Inuit art buying trips to Iqaluit
(formerly Frobisher Bay), the capital of Nunavut, Canada's newest
territory. For both trips, I flew out of Ottawa on Canadian North
airlines. The other airline that services Nunavut is First Air.
Only the last half of the jets was allocated for passengers as
the entire first half was for cargo. Being so remote, Canadian
Arctic Inuit communities pretty well have to have everything
shipped up there by plane or by boat during the summers since
there are no roads connecting to the rest of Canada or even
between each Nunavut community. The Arctic landscape from the air
was desolate,
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Walking takes me around the great cities of the world in style, and it saves me a lot of money as well. Consider London. There you can walk and be guided at the same time.
When I was young and ran a publishing company in London my offices were in Barnard's Inn. This is where Mr Pocket lived in 'Great Expectations'. Around the corner was a group of buildings which had survived the Great Fire of London.
I mention this not to boast, but to show that in London you cannot
avoid history as long as you walk. Almost anywhere you care to stand
you are near
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The author only once experienced the Hajj at "first hand" so to speak, although as a non-Muslim he was not allowed to enter Mecca.
The occasion was the early 1990s when doing some work for a Saudia Airlines related to the catering requirements for, on that occasion, some 1.75 million hajji, as the pilgrims are called.
My journey to Saudi Arabia was circuitous for business purposes – UK to Turkey - Istanbul, then to Ankara, then back to Istanbul before finally taking a flight to Jeddah on Saudia.""I was the only non-Hajji on board (I think) and my recollection is that it
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It's amazing how a person's adventurous spirit gets a wake up call by simply watching a Tarzan re-run.
"Hey," I thought. "I'm due for a holiday. I've always wanted to visit Africa. What about an African Safari?" What about it indeed!
So I rang my local travel centre and posed the question..."What do you have in the way of African Safaris?" The chirpy voice on the other end of the line immediately responded. "Sir, you've certainly come to the right place. What type of safari are you interested in?"
Pausing for a moment just a little confused by her question I replied.
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