Uluru and Kata Thjuta (Ayers Rock and the Olgas)

YES- we were there and it was magnificent! BUT- our camera cord is not working- more later! Promise! you HAVE TO SEE THIS!! :) Less then 2 weeks and we are outta OZ! :)

Hunting is a little different in OZ....

Alice Springs...and on down the road to gorges and more!

Here we are!

At the park, a honeyeater.

O you little Thorny devil, you!

Simpson's Gap ( we feel a little weird taking a picture of Simpson's gap... but we ARE on vacay and he put up a big sign ushering us to it!)

 Ellie's river.

It is unusual to see water this time of year in the red center- but here it is!

An view from the top- see the water below!

Awwww....

From the top!

Around the corner.

This is Ocher- and one of 5 places on earth where it is found- all in OZ. Mixed with water it makes an excellent body and art paint- The Aboriginals have used it that way for thousands of years as a matter of fact! Look in the next picture for the reds, whites and browns as well. This is why, traditionally, Aboriginal art is all in these 4 colors- earthtones for sure!

This entire pit is full of all earth colors- ready to mix with water or animal fat and create a work of art!

We hiked up 300 stairs to get this one! WOW!

For me mum....

Paddy melons- the Arabian camel riders planted these in OZ for their camels to eat and now they are EVERYWHERE! Not so good though, we tried it!Looks like campanella (sp?)

Along the road.

There has not been rain in the dry season in central AU for 150 years--- some of these plants we are getting to see have not bloomed in that long! WOW! A great year to visit OZ! The papers say that scientists are finding fish and plants that they thought were extinct or one's they never knew existed because of the out of season rain.Pur-dy!

The devils marbles....

There they are- the big-bad man's marbles themselves..... thouught you'd never see'um did ya?

And more....

There is a whole field of these rocks that appeer to be totally out of place... there is flat-flat dessert all around and then these..... :) the devils marbles!

Katherine gorge is GORGE-e-ous!

We rented kayaks for the day and paddled down Katherine Gorge in Katherine National Park. We left with great memories and wicked sun burns! We saw all 5 gorges after paddleing and carrying the kayak up and down them all! It was worth seeing all of them! The kayak was due at 4:30 and we got back at 4:31! A full day.....

Sheldon takes the lead! Paddle faster- so much to see!!

The 1st gorge in the morning sun.

We got out for a hike to the falss within the 2nd gorge.

The falls- barely there- but nice scenery!

A break at the 3rd gorge.

The 4th- we were so glad we went through the park by water- such an amazing view from below!

You must pull faster if wer're to make it!

The cliff from below. Cool.

Meggan feeds wildlife (against Sheldons better judgement!)

See how close they got! She likes carrots! Yumm.. There is 5 of them in the darkness there!

Don't tell the ranger..... Shhhhh.

Mum with baby! How Cuuu-uute! :) I HAD to give her something too..... she's with child for gosh sakes!

Fog Dam

We viewed this from the road.... signs said "No walking- large Croc spotted recently!"

a large croc trap that has been set with a dead ferral pig as bait!

Danger!

Pretty swans that come to the tablelands to have babies!

He is happy- he got a fish! yummmm.... he better watch out for that croc though or he will be next in the foodchain!

Much to Sheldons amazement....

...we saw an Asian Water Buffalo. He was so happy!

 Of course he dreams of killing it... but hey- it WAS cool to see a wild one!

Kakadu National Park

Kakadu NP is FULL of treasures.... the landscape is wonderful and the Aboriginal history is grand- mostly you can see this in the rock paintings datingback 50,000 years. Can you believe that? We viewed rock paintings that were painted up to 50,000 years ago..... that is truely breathtaking to see and be a small part of. We both agreed that these were the best displays of art we had ever seen! WOW..... i have TONS of pictures but here are a few for you to enjoy! If you travle to OZ- go to Kakadu! It is amazing!

A turtle- of course Meggans Fav.!

A barrimundi- of course Sheldons fav.!

We really did enjoy looking at the paintings! Can you see them all in the back.... wow!

A mi-mi spirit (creation being) and two hunters.

This man has sore joints... really....see how they are all rounded... he is hurting! Too much hunting!

We saw a rock wallaby- which most people do not see! She also has a joey with her... this is a black rock wallaby which is very rare- a very cool sighting.

A view over the park from the top of the caves where the paintings are.

Another view from the top.

Jim-Jim Falls in Kakadu NP

The largest falls in AU- Jim-Jim falls in Kakadu NP. We hikedin over bolders and rocks but it was worth it! These falls are usually not running in the dry (now) but this year there has been an unprecidented amount of rain in AU (north) so we were able to see them with falls. Usually people travle to them in the wet (USA winter) by plane because you can not hike to them in the wet b/c the road is covered in water. We were lucky to see them....

Just proof that the water was falling!

This is as much of the canyon as i could capture in my photo... but it goes all around where we are standing to take the picture!

Look up!