Still Uluru

Mark & Samuel were up early this morning to check out Uluru from the C/Van Park lookout – a bit too cloudy for really good colours (now we are getting v fussy). We took off a bit later in the car with our freshly cooked egg & bacon sandwiches & coffees/juices and took the road out to Uluru again.

This time we took in the Cultural Centre, which is a great organic looking structure, whose layout is based on a serpent shape. We spent a while reading the stories of the place and soaking up the Aboriginal culture.

We then took a guided walk (Mala Walk) about 3kms return, part of the way around the base and saw a “teaching” cave (bit like a blackboard) with examples of paintings used in the teaching of boys to become men. The kids were interested in learning about bush tucker & they took turns balancing a ring which would’ve been woven from human hair, then a wooden bowl on their head, as the local women would’ve done.

Back at Camp, I took the older two off to an Aboriginal art class, where they spent a happy hour painting a boomerang (Samuel) and a canvas (Ella). With some info about symbols traditionally  used, they set to work...and the results were great! Samuel told a whole story he made up using symbols on his.

Next was spear throwing...we all had a go (except Charlie for obvious reasons!). The spears were made from Mulga wood and it was trickier than it looked. Ella finished the session just about spearing a pigeon that was in the wrong place at the wrong time (or the opposite depending on who’s talking..)

A traditional dance performance followed. Mark (somehow?) got front and centre for a “didge off”or “duelling didge” session with some other men in the crowd! Somehow we all managed to get involved in the show (except Charlie again, oops!). Ella and I had to dance like an emu in the women’s dance and Samuel jumped up and was one of three boys, each dancing with one tribe member in a “show off” dance originating from their local tribe – very entertaining!