![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2ZtoeeskcUZFlZBWkxVtDEjXznAKCYMWX2NZj4lhB5MrDRlxXo9HMKGLEjD3jcBIdHpLHgZWiaEgJTi5H0uZ31bjBfXICHtzt5NoWDMy3zSLXkTogQIMNj2uG6-TxioDSzUO_GARG-Zzo/s320/Map+of+Oz.jpg)
We arrived at Planned Destination #2 (Ningaloo Reef on the west coast was #1 and the Great Barrier Reef on the east coast is #3..saving the best for last.) Uluru is at the heart of Australia, in the "Red Center." I love this picture of Uluru (below) because it captured a rainbow in Oz. How cool is that?! A map of L. Frank Baum's Land of Oz from the Wizard of Oz (above) shows how he placed the Wizard's castle in the center. Coincidence? I don't think so.
Wildflowers in the park.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD7mVEn_3j1ma5Et0wRyvAgsKP4VvmldeyTV6y4Iph8LLttoYwpq-qMH3DuJTwBVXr3b__BWSJ9OJKXy11M_kA9bCvH4ZAJSfzzEhy3n2YacSBajW70ITRVgzd39qi2B2-7c6b4iVErfdx/s320/Wiildflowers+in+the+park.jpg)
A full photo of Uluru, the second largest rock in Australia. Three quarters of it lies beneath the ground like an iceberg lies mostly under the water's surface.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT03Oke4bb97TFIwaVaeSD4quv3PZ1Xl_toS7RNCvgGWSTckh8WYPAkxDo3I9kOrlinNSbIW-1YgZnwj7gbiXZzAoI46gjXmWUTsSDZtqvEE1ae2I_2Ra5HtwiC1XeR1uGZ9yZ9_Dn69PZ/s320/Uluru+at+dusk.jpg)
The controversial choice to allow hikers to climb the rock is explained in the book. All I can say is I chose to stay on the ground. Climbing looked like way too much work.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Ss2CWj1nNChO-Bj5wf22kJI_X_F24nxheMBG-vwMXeb0jNdkWyQGb0s19O0QU4g0W0B0imDBIo3PtSE7DlLfBAx27pK3rxbsrz-UYjOGeKWdi4QN-_DygtHN8dcZXK0nDOd0R9cjSVoD/s320/Climbing+Uluru.jpg)
Below is Kata Tjuta, another sacred site of the Aborigines.
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All photos, except for the climbing one, are from the trip. To read the full story go to: http://www.jennifermonahan.com/