title The Red Centre: Yulara and Uluru, Northern Territories, Australia - 8th October 2004 intro Following Melbourne, and a day in Sydney, it's off to the middle of the desert for a scope at Uluru and a stay at the Ayer's Rock Resort backpack digs - the Outback Pioneer. The whole trip was a bit of a last-minute thing: the Australia trip was primarily for work, but there are a few days extra were tacked on the end for holidays. However, local mate Trotsky had people around until Tuesday, so something else needed to be done for a few days. And so a quick trip to the Flight Centre on Circular Quay in Sydney led to a trip to the Red Centre, especially after it was discovered that the resort at Ayer's Rock had dorms and wasn't too expensive. The flight was fairly empty too, so it gave a chance to bagsy a seat on the emergency door row. The hostel prove to be comfortable enough, and is well equipped with a shared kitchen, plus a bar with some live music. On the first whole day, a car is hired, enabling a bit more of a wider roam around, which is followed by a helicopter flight around Uluru and Kata Tjuta. Prior to walking around Uluru itself, there's the chance to learn a bit about the local Anangu people and their culture, or Tjukurpa. img_0398 The path leading to an Uluru lookout img_0399 A self-timer shot of Nosher's gnarly legs img_0406 The first close-up of the rock itself img_0409 A selfie with Uluru img_0411 The verandah outside Nosher's dorm room img_0414 Nosher in the sunset img_0423 Eucalyptus tree img_0429 A starry sky over the Ayer's Rock Resort img_0432 Miles of road with almost no traffic img_0434 More lonely trees img_0435 Kata Tjuta - many heads img_0437 Nosher's hired car img_0441 Kata Tjuta in the background (formerly The Olgas) img_0447 On the boardwalk, where it's about 38°C img_0448 The entrance to Kata Tjuta img_0456 The Docker River Road - 800km of dirt track img_0458 Kata Tjuta img_0459 There's no o petrol for 815 kilometres (509 miles) img_0460 A quality cliché road sign img_0464 Curious holes in Uluru img_0475 A bite from the Woma Python img_0481 A stop near the Anangu Women's sacred Woma site img_0482 A burnt tree img_0490 Vertically-stacked sandstone img_0495 A respite from the heat and sun img_0503 Uluru in the sunset img_0504 Bikers watch the sunset img_0506 A photo in front of Uluru img_0508 A flash of deep orange img_0518 Uluru briefly flashes purple as the sun sets img_0519 There's some music at the backpacker's resort bar img_0525 At the bar of the Outback Pioneer hostel img_0461 The well-equipped resident's kitchens img_0531 There's a moth the size of a bird in the dorm img_0536 The Outback Pioneer Lodge img_0538 Time for a flight around Uluru and Kata Tjuta img_0539 The pilot comes around img_0550 The many heads of Kata Tjuta img_0559 The pilot is an ex-Rozzer from Oxford img_0560 Uluru from the air img_0567 A view of Yulara img_0569 The shadow of the helicopter on spinifex img_0570 Back on the ground img_0572 A windsock and a pile of barrels