Beep, beep, beep, a harsh way up call, compared to our current daily morning routine of being gently roused by the rising sun. However, today needed to be awake before the sun because we wanted to see it from a very special place. Our campsite was about 80km east of the National Park so it was a very careful drive in the dark as we made our way towards the world heritage site. More and more cars joined us as we approached to buy our tickets then we all wove, a train of red brake lights, through the park’s winding roads, racing the sun as the sky grew lighter and brighter. At the designated sunrise viewpoint we all stood, shivering, with our cameras poised to capture the perfectly-lit shot of Uluru, hopefully with no ones head in it!
This visit to the world’s largest monolith is not about the climb. We did not climb. It is an experience to see and to listen and to learn.
In 1985 this land was handed back to the Anangu people. It is more than just a very big rock to them. It holds many of their stories about creation and laws for how to live happily, they call this Tjukupa and it’s the foundation of their culture. This is why they ask people not to climb this sacred creation and why it is very disrespectful and shameful of all those who do climb the rock. There is much to experience during the base walk of the rock and much to learn.
Tjukuritja is the physical evidence of Tjukurpa. Along the walk there are signs pointing to markings or shapes and caves in the rock and the stories or law that the Anangu people learn from this, and what we too could be blessed by learning from if only we would stop, listen, and see.
The Anangu people believe that knowledge should be earned and that with knowledge comes responsibility. An interesting concept in out “just Google it” culture. There were many places along the 11km base walk where there was a ‘no photo’ request this is partly because these areas held sacred importance to the Anangu and also because there are certain sights that must be experienced in person - not, for example, on instagram.
It was a long way round Uluru and by the time we got back our shoes and legs were rather red from the sand, there was time for lunch and an ice cream before driving over to secure a good spot for the sunset so we could witness the colour of Uluru changing as the sun went down.
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