26/7/12

It was Ghan time again today but before I caught the train at midday I saw Jacques 1, Jacques 2 and Silvi from the tour and Jacques 1 and I played some tunes in the rec room at the hostel which was cool.
He plays in a gypsy spanish style which sounded sweet.

Jacques #1 playing some music on my guitar

The gigs on the Ghan this time around were a lot better and I managed to sell a few cds and met some really nice people including Margaret and Judy from WA.
I didn't realise until the end of the trip that the blinds in my cabin could actually go all the way up so unfortunately the only pics I have from the train have the blind in front (d'oh!).
The lovely people who I performed to said they would send through some of the pics they took of me so if they do that I'll put them up on the blog.

25/7/12

Today it was King's Canyon time.
I came to the Canyon not having any expectations (and actually thinking it may be lame compared to Uluru) but upon relflection, I think it may have been the highlight of the three days.

Case in the Canyon

We went for a walk around the rim where the views were pretty cool.

Rob from the US and the Asian girl whose name I could never remember

*Insert joke about a crevase here*

Mel then pointed out the rare "Pigamy Koala" which was actually a little toy that the tour guides have put in the tree to give them a bit of a giggle when the tourists fall for it.

The rare and endangered pygmy koala

Just when I thought the scenery couldn't get any better we came across a cool little water bit (yes, that's the technical term).

One of my favourite photos so far

Kings canyon...and some dude with a goofy grin

After Kings Canyon we made our way back to Alice via a camel farm and that night went out for dinner and drinks and presented Mel with a bottle of bourbon as a show of thanks for her efforts over the past three days.
Everyone on the tour was nice and easy to get along with, the kids were well behaved and it was a good three days in the red centre - money well spent.

Group photo!

24/7/12

Another early start today to catch the Uluru sunrise.

Uluru at dawn

Sunrise...ahhhhhhh

The Olgas at sunrise

I think the early start was worth it  :)
We spent the morning walking through The Olgas then it was back to Yulara for lunch and a long drive towards Kings Canyon.

Mel telling us about something...

The Olgas

That night we sat around the camp fire and got to know each other a bit better, there was a family from France and Sweden, a dude from Austria, and other people from France, NZ, the US and Australia.
Sleeping in swags again tonight and at some stage I woke to the howling of dingos in the night...without sounding too wanky, it was hauntingly beautful...until they snatched one of the Swedish kids and ate him......joke!