Australia, The Red centre.

I had an oportunity to take a trip into the Red Centre of Australia.
What an amazing place.

I took these shots out of the window of the plane
It looks like a Martian landscape
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The Rock (uluru) goes through some fantastic colour changes during sunrise and sunset, Truely a site to behold.
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We couldn't go all that way out there and not climb it, could we
Although the indigenous owners of the land try to discourage people from climbing, it is not prohibited, and not for the faint hearted also.


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Your only hand hold is a chain, which you pull yourself up by, A good pair of rubber souled shoes are essential as the rock is quite smooth and can be very slippery, as my wife found out, she was forced to turn back very early on, due to a lack of grip.

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Almost at the top, You can see the Olga's (top left corner) which are about 30kms from Uluru
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At the summit, Whew bl@@dy hard work, Five of us set out and three of us made it to the top.
To date almost 100 people have lost thier lives climbing the rock, and its easy to see why, stray a little left or right of the chain and its a fall all the way to the bottom. ouch
A great view from the top and a chance to catch your breath.
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We also took the oportunity to have a camel ride, My legs were tired anyway
I'm the handsome one on top, the chap underneath is Eddie the Camel
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Great place and highly recommended.

Cracking photos clarky .The one of ayre's(typo) rock at night is ace it's looks like someone plugged it in to an electrical socket

Great pictures mate,

The way the rock changes colour from a muddy brown to a deep red is fantastic.

Regards
PaulM

Excellent photos Clarky, I also love the colour changes as the Sun rises and sets - some glorious deep reds there!

I don't think I'd have done the climb though; a combination of laziness and a poor head for heights would have held me back...

great shots Clarky - wonderful colours!

Yes superb shots love them all

Nice shots Clarky!

Think I told you before about the one-legged German that climbed it the same time as us, didn't I? He was quicker on his crutches than we were without.

Were the camels near Alice Springs? We did a ride a mile or so south of Heavytree Gap, and rode along the Todd River bed. Happy days...

Dan

Thanks Dan,
I reckon it would be easier on one leg, only one leg too get tired instead of two
There was chinese guy climbing up as we were coming down and he was on all fours looking upwards and scurrying up like a crab.

The camels were some distance out of Alice Springs at Curtain Springs.

Fantastic shots, mate!

Love the changing colour shots of Ayers Rock, err should I say Uluru.

Haven't been to it yet, but it is high on my list and your photos don't help quell that desire!

When did you go and what lenses did you take?

I was there last weekend.

I took my 3 ltds 77mm, 43mm, 35mm macro and also my Sigma 10-20mm

Its a fantastic place and this is the best time of year to go. I was last there in 1981 and its certainly a lot more commercialised now.

Wonderful photographs of the rock. What a great series.

Amazing photos and great view from up there!
I won't go this time but NT is fantastic!