Steve On Broadway (SOB)

Theatre Under The Stars

Theatre Under The Stars

Two days ago, I arrived smack dab in the middle of the Australian continent in the Northern Territory community of Ayers Rock. But this international tourism mecca is also one of the most sacred places for Australian’s indigenous population thanks to the gorgeous focal point now known by its Aboriginal name Uluru.

To say coming to the Aussie Red Centre is a religious experience is an understatement. For the past couple days, I’ve had opportunities to get up close and personal -- in a very respectful manner, of course -- with Uluru. In fact, just last evening, I returned from an amazing viewing of the setting sun against this most majestic mountain.

The photo I took doesn't even begin to do it justice as my personal experience was truly indescribable. Dense cloud cover gave way to what surely ranks as the most beautiful sunset I’ve ever seen, and it turned the rock, which is taller than the Eiffel Tower, from a deep red to an orange glow. It was absolutely breathtaking.

Two nights ago, I attended “Sounds of Silence,” a spiritual experience if ever there was one. Seventy or so guests of Uluru’s nearby resorts at Yulara boarded two buses for a drive out on a red dirt road to a remote area where we could watch the sun set over both Uluru and the even larger Kata Tjuta (a/k/a the "Olgas," another spectacular rock/mountain formation about 35 miles to Uluru's west.

We dined on unique Aussie fare under a clear sky of almost nothing but starlight. Once the meal concluded, we enjoyed the evening's true highlight when we were taken on a magical tour of the nightsky by a guide who pointed out one constellation after another. Among them are thousands of stars that are only visible from the Southern Hemisphere. We could also make out Jupiter, as well as the enormous expanse of the Milky Way itself.

Given the cloud cover the following evening, we realized how incredibly fortunate we were to view a clear sky and truly enjoy the sounds of silence in the Aussie outback. It's an experience I won't soon forget and would heartily recommend.

This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).

Labels: Australia, Ayers Rock, Special Messages, Travels, Uluru

posted by Steve On Broadway (SOB) @ Wednesday, July 30, 2008