Respect

The Anangu/Mutitjulu people who have lived, managed and respected the area around Uluru and Kata Tjuta for 20,000+ years don't climb the Rock. It's part of their law and spiritual beliefs. They would prefer you do not climb as they also feel responsible for everyone doing so. Every year people die or get injured when climbing, and when you stand before the Rock you can understand why this happens. We saw so many visitors arrive and go straight to the climb. Had they considered what the Anangu feel? Had they then just discounted that? This is one aspect of tourism in this region that gets to me. People just come and take take take.

The view must be awesome from up there at the top of Uluru as there are several other ranges and rocky outcrops in all directions in the distance, and I get the concept "it's there so I must climb it"- to a point - but out of full respect for the law we just couldn't and wouldn't do it. We had a picnic break 1/2 way through the base walk and we sat in the shade at the very edge where the rock meets the sand and the rock was so lovely and cold and just simply peaceful. We didn't see anyone else during that break except for a group of young aboriginal kids, gorgeous looking kids, who were visiting for the 1st time from Western Australia. They were carrying no water or food, were barefoot and looked like they had all the energy in the world. They even had a football with them and were passing it around and kicking it against the rock - and all of this just made me smile. They asked if we'd climbed the rock and of course we said NO, and they said "it's no good, very danger". And that sums it up really without any pretence.