Now these photos might take a bit longer to load in your browser than the other ones I've used, but I don't want to spoil them too much by compressing them any further, so you'll have to be a bit patient, ok...

Now while this one is loading...
Oh!! here it comes... now that wasn't too bad now, was it?   

There it is...  Ayers Rock from a distance of about 30 miles. 

I don't recall it being green like this when I was there: think pure red and you'll have more of an idea what I have in mind.  Funny what tricks your memory plays!  It must be all those miles and miles of red dust I drove through to get there.  Now this flying thing is another matter.. beautiful blue sky, fluffy white clouds dotted about... which reminds me.. I better get back to telling you about the photo! 

The white patches in the foreground are Yulara, the fancy resort centre designed by some unadventurous souls who are only interested in providing for creature comforts!  We don't compromise our standards and go to the motel level accommodation, but we have to make a concession and stay in the van park there because laws about camping out are pretty strict around these parts.  Which is why I made the cryptic comment in an earlier chapter about "... it was unavoidable, officer...", when I mentioned we stayed overnight at the Olgas. 

Uluru National Park incorporates both Ayers Rock and the Olgas and is strictly out of bounds/off-limit/inaccessible to the public after dark. 
In fact I can't believe I'm telling you this! I'll probably get a knock on the door soon from the federal police... 

"Tell me, madam, is it true that you spent a night camping in a restricted area near Kata Tjuta in December of 1984?"
"Yes, but..."
"Hmmm.. well let it go just this once - we have orders from the top to be kind to koalas because they've had such a hard time with relocation lately... but don't let us catch you doing it again, ok?" 
"I wouldn't dream of it officer!  Thankyou!"