Dear Joe,
Week eleven, and while you at home deal with the cold I have been taking in the heat of temperatures of up to forty two degrees. I found myself at the centre of Australia and the world’s most famous rock before heading south to Adelaide to meet first cousins I had never met before, staying with my aunt and uncle.
In my last letter I had visited the small town of Alice Springs. Most tourists and visitors that aim to visit Ayers Rock come to visit this destination. I intended on spending two days and one night camping but after I arrived I realised, due to time, that I’d have to end up going for the one day option. This consisted of an early start of 6.30am that took us down the straight roads and into the wilderness of central Australia.
We spent eighteen hours on the 1,200km journey out to Ayers Rock and back again. On the journey we took in the vast countryside on the biggest bus I’d ever seen. The bus came with a fully functional set of bull bars, which after discussing with the bus driver I learnt was regularly used on the open road for dealing animals such as emus and kangaroos. The bus reminded me of a four trailer articulated lorry that runs from city to city and can’t or doesn’t stop for anything.
Before reaching Ayers Rock we visited the Aboriginal culture centre. Here it was great to get an insight into the history and day to day life of the traditional local people and to hear their stories.
They are very quiet people and limit their stories but it’s still hard to believe that less than 250 years ago we started to destroy the longest known tribe. Next we moved onto Ayers Rock and it was here we were taken on numerous walking tours in and around the famous landmark. I was surprised to see that Ayers Rock really is as big as I imagined.
On the tours you get to hear the original Aboriginal stories associated with Ayers Rock. Ayers Rock can be climbed but unfortunately on the day we were there it was too hot. We were informed the rock face was an extra 15 degrees hotter than the already extreme heat we were experiencing. To finish off the evening before the long drive home we were treated to an on-board BBQ and champagne at the sunset lookout point.
Although it was already a little cloudy we still managed to see the rock change colours numerous times.
The next morning I took a long-awaited flight to Adelaide, the home of my uncle Pat and aunt Pauline. I finally got to meet my cousins Joddiann, Sean and PJ, two of which I had never met before.
It was with a slight sense of disbelief that I finally arrived at the house that I had seen in so many pictures and videos through the years. It was nice to finally be there. Over the next few days I spent the time catching up, getting to know everyone and spending time with my cousins.
I also go to experience my first Australian style home BBQ where I got to hear stories from my uncle about his youth with both my parents. I also got to hear stories of how Pat and Pauline were looking for work in the 70s and how he went from welding to block laying to construction work and eventually how they settled down and developed their life and family there.
It was great to get an insight on how life may be if the current climate keeps up and more of us have to emigrate from Ireland.
In Adelaide the winter months are not quite the same as at home. It was strange to see everyone rush around the city in shorts and t-shirts in 30 degrees heat in the months of December and January. To add to the “winter” experience in Adelaide I found it rather odd eating outside, where at home you would be found wrapped up inside.
After a hearty Irish breakfast cooked outside I headed with Pat and Pauline to the local park where we had our dinner with friends and neighbours under the shade of the trees. It was possible to drink a beer and keep it cold with that most excellent Australian invention, the sock-like stubby holder.
It was a sight to see hundreds of people enjoying the weather spending time with friends and loved ones. I was finally introduced to the world of cricket. After a quick intro to the rules I set out pitching and batting all of which proved a bit much for an Irishman on such a day. Cricket was good but you can give me a hurley any day. We eventually grabbed our swimwear and headed to the beach for a swim and a cool down.
Well that’s about it for this time, but next time I will fill you all in on my trip to Sydney.
See you after Kid.
Ciarán O’Connell
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