Postcards Travel Album
Uluru-Kata Tjuta
Australian Druid Assembly

Episode 6, Wednesday 20 June, 2001

After the others have rushed off and left me, I can't decide if I'm relieved or annoyed. I grumble to myself a bit, but walk along anyway until I come to Vivienne, who fell behind because she simply couldn't keep up the pace. We dawdle, look at things we've seen once before, chat quietly, walk quietly. Both barefoot. I plan several pointed comments I'm going to make to the others about their attitude. When we finally reach the main carpark, I step forward and say, in complete sincerity and to my complete surprise, "I'm so sorry I couldn't keep up with you - you must have hated waiting so long". Debs would be proud of me. I sit down on the bench with them, and they all get up and go to the car. They're in a hurry to get to the Cultural Centre.

We go, and it is beautiful. Really well designed, in two halves, the first showing how the process of reconciliation is taking shape here tangibly, and the strength of Tjurkurpa - Aboriginal law and culture. Fascinating. I come out of the first half of the building and find the others sitting in the centre. When they see me walk towards them, they get up and go to leave. I say "Finished already?" and they look at me in surprise and say "Yes, aren't you?" They tell me there's nothing worth seeing in the second half, but I look anyway. They just have to wait. I don't expect to be back here, so I'm going to spend my time well. I make a comment in the visitors book about the quality and caring of the place that I've encountered, but can't remember my name to sign it. We all go home, and I wander off alone to watch the sunset. I come back to a great vegetarian dinner, then we sit around and work out details of the solstice ritual for tomorrow, and sing into the night.