The Hochmuth Adventures 2018 - CAFE - California, Australia, Florida and Europe: Trip to Australia - Day Seven - February 7, 2018 - Sydney to Yulara/Uluru

Today’s journey has us off to Ayers Rock or as the indigenous people say Uluru. We were worried that we might not make our flight as our shuttle driver still hadn’t arrived 25 minutes after the pickup time. With Sydney traffic being what it is we took a cab and got to our gate 10 minutes before boarding. I’ve already been in contact with the company we booked with to receive reimbursement for our taxi ride. It just wasn’t worth waiting any longer and possibly missing our flight. The flight is 3 hours long and as I mentioned earlier it should be 102 degrees today. Quite a change from the -33 when we left NNY. We arrived at noon - there is a 1 1/2 hour time difference between here and Sydney. Right away we were hit with a wall of heat. Our rooms weren’t ready so we explored the museum and stores, booked a sunrise excursion and had lunch on the compound while we waited. After getting our rooms and freshening up we were off to the Sounds of Silence Program. We were driven by bus to a site about 15 minutes from the hotel where we had sparkling wine and canapés on a viewing platform of Uluru and Kata Tjuta. For our canapés we got to try kangaroo and crocodile. We were serenaded by the sounds of a didgeridoo. From there we were escorted down to tables where we had a delicious meal. There was more kangaroo and barramundi, a white fish, which was tasty. There were plenty of different foods and wines from which to choose. Before dessert the lights were all turned off and the star show was magnificent. A star talker pointed out Taurus, Orion and of course the Southern Cross just to name a few. It was breathtaking. We met up with an interesting couple from London whom we chatted with most of the evening and at our table there was a mother and son from Buenas Aires, Argentina. Mom looked so young we at first thought they were a couple. I think she was flattered and I got to use my Spanish a bit. It was a great day and we survived the heat. After the sun went down it felt cooler than the 87 degrees when we finished up back at the hotel.

Views of Voyages Desert Gardens Hotel