Uluru: Australia’s Mythic Monolith

[@StevenKluber]

Also yields +2 Culture, +2 Faith, and +4 Appeal to each adjacent tile.

[@GrxndDxD]

Wow I never put two and two together so that's what I've been spending most of my city production on.

[@lucastaylor6255]

Glad I saw this.

[@typ6896]

Civ!!! 😂

[@mininudoalem7950]

or 2 foood and 6 faith if you play civ 5

[@SilverMe2004]

@@GrxndDxD ? What have you been spending your city production on?

[@muzzaball]

Thanks Simon for not just showing the happy, tourist side of this story - hell you went back 300M years! And thanks for putting forward the Dreamtime Stories as well. As an Australian, I am happy to say that, whilst we can't be held accountable for how our indigenous people were treated previously, we are accountable for our actions going forward. Happily, over the past decades, we have been trying really hard to make some amends for our previous actions. Australians are trying to include the First Australians in all that we do, and hopefully, over time, this will continue to improve the situation of the Aborigines of this great country. We have indigenous people on our TV's, as part of our sporting teams, and even as Politicians. And that great song by The Seeker's "I am Australian" is a fantastic inclusion, recognizing their rich heritage, and the struggles they have endured. We have been here only 230 years - them 50K. Cheers.

[@smeva26]

I went there when I was a kid, out there everything is so flat it’s not funny, there’s no trees and you can’t even see the horizon because the heat turns it to a blur. So seeing Uluru is that much more impactful, and the photos absolutely do not ever do it justice for its size. I don’t recall the sun changing it’s colours but I believe it, one night in the same area I saw the sand glow at sunset, it seemed so supernatural to see so I definitely believe it when they say it glows.

[@ThomasJFoolery]

I don’t think it’s as old as he says it is, I think that’s a structure.

[@smeva26]

@@ThomasJFoolery oh of course, it's the alien's obviously

[@scottedwards6578]

@@smeva26 savage

[@LaylaSwin-hi8tz]

I was there 2 weeks ago. There’s a tonne of trees, just not tall. The tallest ones were probably the height of a double story building. It isn’t that flat either, lots of sand dunes. This was 2 weeks ago as of April 2022 so I assume it’s changed since you went.

[@smeva26]

@@LaylaSwin-hi8tz crazy - yeah last time i went i was 15 i think which was 15 years ago lol

[@sunisbest1234]

As a non-indigenous Australian, having finally got to Uluru years after I planned, I was in absolute awe at the size, but, more than that, the feel of the whole place. This is indeed a very sacred place. My whole being recognised and felt it.

[@sunisbest1234]

@Karl Bush apologies. What would be an acceptable term for you?

[@robertgolding]

@@sunisbest1234 I dunno about you but I was born here(Oz), my parents were born here, their parents were born here and so on, which, to me, would make me indigenous. However, you could say I was of European stock, but in that vein, you would then say the Aboriginals are of Eastern Asian stock too. Really, if you were born here you are indigenous, or, if you want to get really technical, the only indigenous people on the planet are those of central Africa. With all that in mind, Karl is right, 'non-indigenous Australian' is an idiotic term. I have always told people, for nationality, as far as I'm concerned, you are either Australian or you are not. As for race, you are either human or you are not.

[@sunisbest1234]

@@robertgolding I understand what you are saying, and to a point agree. I'm 6th gen here from Europe so see myself and previous generations as Aussie also. My comment was obviously seen as ridiculous. My intent was to explain to someone who isn't Australian my experience at Ulluru. Which was the body of the comment. It is a sacred place to our aboriginal people, and you can feel it.

[@jamieamills87]

@@sunisbest1234 you're an Aussie mate, fair play for the specification about being non indigenous. Never mind Karlen, he's either been having a bad day or he's just a dick.

[@st0rmforce]

It's a simple way to say something more complicate. I knew exactly what you meant, so I don't see what's idiotic about it

[@garymaidman625]

There is a site in Victoria, Australia, fairly close to the city of Melbourne. This site is called Wurdi Youang. It is a group of stones arranged in a certain pattern, so much so that it is called Australia's Stonehenge. It is so old though, at approximately 11000 years old, that it would be more accurate to call Stonehenge England's Wurdi Youang. It is considered to be the oldest astronomical observatory in the world. The travesty is that very very few Australians even know of it's existence.

[@dachande1797]

Thank you, had no idea about this site and its right in my back yard.

[@garymaidman625]

@@dachande1797 I did an ancient history and archaeology degree at uni and I didn't find out about it from the archaeology subjects, even though they touched on Australian archaeological sites, but from an indigenous studies subject I took as an elective. It's a fascinating site though.

[@jacobyakunt4675]

If it's older than Sumerian culture mainstream scientist don't investigate it. Why? It goes against the mainstream narrative of how long we have been civilized and they know weren't cave before the ice age and we have lost more knowledge than we will ever know. And we will likely lose all our knowledge again when civilization collapses again. And in 10,000 years from now the story will repeat itself.

[@australien6611]

Stone circles dont make sense as astronomical calendars. If you wanted to mark the summer and winter solstice you only need 3 rocks not a whole circle. Any circle of rocks will always have 2 rocks pointing to something , doesn't make it work in practice as a calendar

[@garymaidman625]

@@australien6611 henges like Stonehenge are supposed to be astronomical devices.

[@chowie8116]

im palawa and traveled all over the main land when i was younger right after i did my walk about. each tribe has slightly different versions of different storys one story i was told was, Long ago in the Dreamtime, Tiddalik, the largest frog ever known, awoke one morning with a huge thirst. He started to drink and drank until there was no fresh water left in the world. Soon creatures everywhere were dying and trees were wilting because of the lack of moisture. All the animals pondered about their terrible plight until a wise old wombat suggested that if Tiddalik could be made to laugh then maybe all the water would flow out of his mouth. This was a good idea the animals agreed. The animals gathered by Tiddalik's resting place and tried for a long time to make him laugh, but it was in vain. The kookaburra told his funniest story, the kangaroo jumped over the emu and the lizard waddled up and down on two legs making his stomach stick out but Tiddalik was not amused. Then when the animals were in despair, Nabunum the eel who was driven from his favourite creek by the drought slid up to the unresponsive frog and began to dance. As the dance got faster Nabunum wriggled and twisted himself into all sorts of knots and shapes to the amusement of Tiddalik. Tiddalik's eyes lit up and burst out laughing. As he laughed the water gushed out from his mouth and flowed away to replenish the lakes, swamps and rivers again. and punishment He was turned into stone and we can visit the site near Wollombi and relive the event. And remember that greed, and neglecting the needs of others, can lead us to suffer in the same way that Tiddalik still does. other versions say he was speared by the hunters ( kangaroos) not made to laugh and others that his punishment was being shrunk down and only came out at night because he was ashamed ( which is why the water-holding frog only comes out when it rains. another version says : Long ago in the dream-time, when the earth was sleeping and nothing grew, lived the rainbow serpent. She travelled far and wide, creating the river banks behind her. Eventually, she came back to the place where she began. On her return, she called out to the frogs "Come out!" The frogs came out, with all of the water in their stomachs. She tickled them, and the water came rushing out, filling the rivers and lakes. Grass and trees began to grow, and so the animals awoke. Each of these animals gathered food with their own tribe, and were happy with the world. Then, the rainbow serpent made laws. She said "If you abide by these laws, I will turn you into humans. If you fail, you will be punished and turned to stone." And so the disobedient became rock, and the obedient became human, each with their own totem of animal. Tribes were decided based on these totems, and these tribes were never to eat their own totem, else there would not be enough food for all. These tribes lived on the Rainbow Serpent's land and knew that nobody should ever thake this land from them.

[@Heffsta02]

As an Anangu, I applaud the effort to say the Indigenous names despite how badly they're butchered haha.

[@alberttruong7310]

glad I came across this video to learn about the great land of this continent.

[@sammarks1011]

Heffsta02 butchered! Hahaha

[@JoshuaMcTackett]

As an Australian I’m amazed with both stories of creation. I always wondered how it came to be (geologically) and it’s on my bucket list to visit to photograph

[@tvsinesperanto7446]

Hey, I've lived my entire life in Oz and I'd do no better. Never been West of Broken Hill.

[@Azzarinne]

@SpruceMoose So you completely missed the first half of that comment, then? The part where OP said they "applaud the effort to say Indigenous names?"

[@mattbarneveld815]

On a visit to Uluru, it was explained to us (by park rangers who are traditional owners) that another reason the Anungu people didn't like tourists climbing Uluru was that, as custodians of the land, they feel a deep and profound responsibility for anyone who dies climbing the monolith which was not an uncommon outcome. Be it from falling, heatstroke or heart attacks from the stress of the climb, many have lost their lives over the years.

[@fay-amieaspen6046]

Yes that should definitely be explained and talked about much more if Eejits want to be disrespectful and climb this beautiful and sacred rock and the same goes for Mount Augustus in Western Australia more than twice the size of Uluru, then they take their lives into their own hands it's very sad that the aboriginal people who live around these gorgeous amazing rocks feel guilt over an accident or death through the ignorant peoples climbing of them. Thanks for commenting on this. You've gathered it's a sore point of mine also.

[@popesyy6385]

and now we are not allowed to actually see it up close and witness it.. the aboriginals have taken it for themself. 3 percent of australian people ( the aboriginal ) now own over 17 percent of land... thats a bit suss. i kind of find it weird with aboriginals australians explanation of creation how not every single person that exists is an aboriginal or ancestor of it so they should have the right to climb it.. unless they don;t actually believe in the stories they tell..

[@zorroaster8895]

@@popesyy6385 except aboriginal people are the original custodians of the land, and everyone else has come and taken it. If these landmarks are of cultural significance to them and don't want people climbing it then so be it. Much the same way that you wouldn't climb the sistine chapel or deface a mosque. Remember climbing a mountain can lead to people leaving their rubbish everywhere, or defacing the land

[@popesyy6385]

@@zorroaster8895 If everyone went back to where their ancestors originally owned land and then claimed it as theirs the world would have an insane problem. Original or not the population is a lot more non aboriginal then aboriginal, Australia is a vast huge area and to say that you own all of it is extremely selfish, especially being one of the smallest population groups... And there is a massive difference between a mosque or the sistine chapel they were built by humans, it isn't a natural structure. I don't think nature should be secluded to only a small percentage of the world, it's just a selfish thing to do imo.

[@elijahausten4073]

@@popesyy6385 why do you think they are such a small population group, because they were slaughtered. They at a minimum deserve to have their cultural wishes about sacred landmarks and locations upheld.

[@lachlanbeagley2975]

This is really well researched, I'd like to see more of Australia and New Zealand's geographical anomalies in the future please!

[@LUREDADDY52]

Not that well researched. Uluru/ type of rock ARKOSE a coarse grained sandstone not the fine sandstone that most Australians know. The aboriginal dates back 60,000 plus years not 50,000. And only if he didn't mispronounce Uluru every time.

[@ghazghkullthraka9714]

New Zealand itself is a geographical anomaly

[@jminogue100]

New Zealand has rocks, big... smaller rocks

[@ny-tylekker4972]

@@LUREDADDY52 who cares its always ppl like u that discredit ppl but no one cares what u think make ur own video after ur research

[@skyeleemarks4088]

@@LUREDADDY52 not researched well at all, but its okay also our government has hid away and covered up pretty much 90% of the truth of what our history is including Uluru and what its true purpose was

[@KristinaSummersportfolio]

So glad I saw this. I visited Uluru/Ayer's Rock in 1991 at age 12 and indeed climbed it. I was amazed by all I saw and even as a child sickened by what people can do, littering, graffiti, etc.. this is part of what led me to become a conservation ecologist... Great video Simon.

[@PokeRetroFan]

So you're part of the problem them..ok

[@lukasnantz2945]

ik its not your fault but it sickens me that white people decided they had the right to climb it in the first place. today it is illegal to clib Uluru

[@MrBadjohn69]

And yet you are one of the people who contributed to the decay of Ayer's Rock. Interesting. As for myself I don't need to see in person a sensitive place in nature to enjoy it. As they say, act locally and think globally.

[@Subtropic9]

​@John Gibbons, she was 12. Get off your high horse

[@MrBadjohn69]

@@Subtropic9 Are you her spokesperson or is she not capable of responding on her own? Please explain.

[@Madnessofmusic]

-Spend time hunting emu -this would be his downfall. Many thousands of years later: -Australian army tries to fight emus -loses Do Australians never learn?

[@gram.]

Loses* Js bro

[@seiyuokamihimura5082]

Emus ate my baby! They gotta pay!

[@saltamas]

An emu ate my baby! 👶🏻

[@angelaphsiao]

Thats why you gotta listen to aboriginal stories! They’ve been there longer than you!

[@lucyluu02]

The emu war was like 2 hunters vs 1000’s of emus

[@mutualbeard]

It is truly the heart of Australia and a sacred place. No photo has ever fully captured it's beauty.

[@robertjenkins7180]

As an Indigenous Australian . I gotta say beautifully presented . Absolutely. Thanks for this one .

[@humancattoy7767]

Australia has some of the most spectacular and majestic locations.

[@gonefishing167]

Our spiders, snakes, crocodiles and sharks are pretty good also 🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺

[@AK-ULTRA]

Theres honestly fuck all there lmao

[@NotSilasPipson]

I can totally attest to Simon’s opening statement. I was lucky enough to visit during a really dead tourist season, and watching the sunrise from the paths around Uluru and Kata Tjuta was one of the single most surreal experiences of my life. The energy in that air is absolutely palpable, and though I’m not religious (nor am I indigenous), I could tell that something more was there.

[@mattbarneveld815]

My experience also (and I'm also not spiritual nor Indigenous).

[@simonzai7386]

Perception caused by human expectations from human historical perspectives

[@arthurballs9632]

Such twaddle

[@danielwebb9868]

Is any other Aussie here cringing everytime he says "Uluru". No offence, love your vids

[@negativeindustrial]

Daniel Webb Your names for everything didn’t need to be so very strange, did they?

[@xfan420bush9]

@@negativeindustrial Racist much?

[@sophielyon9372]

@@xfan420bush9 calm down... I think just a general fun thing that we are known for very individual indigenous names and also our slang. We are proud of it and light heartedly laugh when foreigners struggle to promise things but genuinely attempt to 😊

[@bretta1042]

Where is the emphasis?

[@sophielyon9372]

@@bretta1042 oo- la - ru or oo -laa--ru. Ul-lu- ru with same inflections as below (not Simon's) if your old school South Aussie accent) depending on how broad your accent is. Upwards inflection on 1st and 3rd syllables. Downwards inflection on the la. Emphasis 1st syllable.

[@callabeth258]

Any other Aussies correcting Simon every time he says uleweru instead of oo-la-roo?

[@FunkyFae57]

I couldn't help it, my daughter thought Id gone bonkers shouting Oo lah roo every time he said it lol! Super interesting video though😁

[@Luubelaar]

He got it right the first time, and then butchered it ever after. WTF??

[@theghostofthomasjenkins9643]

no offense, but to the rest of us english speakers, aussies tend to butcher pretty much the entire language. i think you can let him slide.

[@callabeth258]

@@theghostofthomasjenkins9643 except it’s not English it’s from the indigenous language of the surrounding area

[@theghostofthomasjenkins9643]

@@callabeth258 australians speak english, or so they want us to believe.

[@biscuitbee2339]

I’ve always found it difficult to imagine the amount of time ago that prehistoric dinosaurs roamed, the fact that this was here before is absolutely amazing.

[@casmaireelily2496]

i first noticed uluru when i read a kid's magazine we used to buy weekly---more than a decade ago. i fell in love instantly and until this day it's still my most prized travel dream to see it with my own two eyes someday. so majestic and beautiful.

[@Markus_Andrew]

As Simon says, most of Uluru is underground and is estimated to be 5-6 kilometers in length. What he didn't mention was that the underground part is shaped roughly like a shallow "U". What you see above ground is just one end of that U. It goes down then bends back up, with the other end just below ground level a few kilometers away. It's immense.

[@moendopi5430]

Another great video as usual. One thing I want to point out, and this is a mistake I made early on in my geology education. Just because a rock mass has a given age does not mean that it has been exposed on the surface for that amount of time. The sandy sediments that Uluru is formed of may be 300 Ma, and likely they compacted soon after, but it certainly hasn't been exposed on the surface for that long. It would have easily been eroded and away and become something else by now if that were the case. As for the human timescale, I can certainly believe that the first humans to arrive on Australia found Uluru, and it probably look similar to what is looks like today.

[@moodyriver6673]

“And it’s raining on the rock. What an almighty sight to see! And I’m wishing on a postcard, That you were here with me”.

[@luketickner8493]

yeah johnny boy

[@outbackswagging1269]

And Albert Namatjira has painted all the scenes, And a shower has changed the lustre of our land

[@kimsim4647]

Solid rock, standing on sacred ground, living on borrowed time and the winds of change are blowing down the line.

[@EarlJohn61]

"There's a rainbow over the rock; And the Sun has started shinin'. I just saw a flock of cockatoos fly by; And I see a silver lining"

[@seaztheday4418]

I highly recommend a similar formation with similar levels of reverence and history; Wilpena Pound, known to the locals as Ikara. When I visited, one of the blokes working there identified himself as a member of the traditional owners, the Adnyamathanha or ‘Rock People’. He explained the story behind the formation of the Pound, how the two giant serpents carved out the ABC and Flinders Ranges that lead to the bowl-shaped formation of the Pound where the male and female snakes came to rest, head-to-tail in a loop. It’s also a geologically fascinating area with exposed portions of incredibly ancient rock that broke off and made the ground an incredible rainbow patchwork of differently coloured pieces of slate and similar rock

[@michaelhusada]

I found this on auto play listening/watching your videos. I really love how you made this with a great sensitivity towards the traditional owners of the land. Really well done, Simon! Thank you.

[@BeeMcDee]

I grew up a few hours from Uluru. I’ve been there probably 7 times. And yet, every time I go there it feels like that scene in Neverending Story where an asteroid floats out of the way and there’s the Ivory Tower. You drive around a small bend on a sand dune, and suddenly there it is. It’s easy to get to these days - a huge resort town and an international airport. Sadly, many people visiting from overseas don’t have a concept of how far apart everything is. Some tourists underestimate the climate and the environment and find themselves in strife. Australia has its problems, but you’d have to be pretty numb not to be touched by that place, its vastness and its quietness. I most love the red sand dunes and the desert oaks. I can just imagine how it must have been with the indigenous people meeting there, swapping information and hunting. It’s definitely far from a dead wilderness.

[@foxtailedcritter]

Only my fellow Aussies will understand this. But remember when Pauline Hanson got stuck up there? Ahahaaa

[@romb4649]

.... for those who don't, "please explain" ... 😂😂😂

[@ralsharp6013]

So funny. She totally deserved a better pair of sneakers and a flick under the chin with some knuckle busters for that one 😂😂 Hey do you remember the Pauline pantsdown parody?

[@rivertam7827]

She gave her Depends a run for their money that day 🤣🤣🤣

[@HackedUpForBarbeque]

@@ralsharp6013 "Why can't my blood be coloured white? I've asked cosmetic doctors 'coloured blood is just not right'.

[@aq5426]

Oh shit, I'm American and *I* remember that.

[@faruenesperanto4805]

I don't know how you do it Simon. But you have the most incredible knack for mispronouncing names. You said Uluru correctly the first time around, then every time since was wrong... Plus Ayres Rock and Kata Tjuta! Additionally, I should note this was a brilliant video, an excellent historic retelling, and I like the retelling of the Dreamtime stories you added in.

[@Darryl_Frost]

Thankyou, I really enjoyed that vid, as an Australian I appreciate your completeness and recognising the indigenous people. I see some pushback against "it was the spark that lit a thousand bushfires' with people saying 'too soon'. Australian people would not think of 'too soon' bushfires are a way of life here, they happen every year and it is also an indigenous peoples method of living. I don't think people here will be upset or disturbed at all by that comment in Australia, it's just a thing that happens here in Aussie 'all' the time. Please do more Australian geology..

[@SilverMe2004]

21 deaths and climbing. WTF is your definition of 'too soon'?

[@Darryl_Frost]

@@SilverMe2004 There is no 'too soon' for this, we just don't get triggered just by someone mentioning freaking bushfires. It's just something that happens here, it's sad, but someone mentioning a bushfire does not make it any worse or better. So my definition of 'too soon' is 'so what!'.. Apart from that nothing burger, In my opinion this was one of THE most thoughtful and respectful video regarding Uluru and the people who live there that I have probably ever seen. What I find more offensive is freaking 'thoughts and prays' and asking god for help. That triggers us far more.

[@KaiHarper89]

@@SilverMe2004, I'm going to assume you aren't an Aussie - and if so, I'm perplexed at your outrage. While it's true that this bushfire season has been the worst in memory, we have bushfires *every single year*, for months on end. What Simon said was fine, and obviously wasn't intended in bad taste.

[@SilverMe2004]

@@KaiHarper89 so you think that the criticism of Scott Morrison is unjustified? Its just another fire season

[@SilverMe2004]

@@KaiHarper89 so taking holidays is too much but joking about it is fine?

[@drscopeify]

It reminds me a bit of DEVILS tower in Wyoming just in how it stands out in the environment around it! Sure, Devils tower might have been the inside of an old volcano or something like that, no one seems to be 100% sure but it just stands out in an otherwise pretty uneventful area just like Uluru, I can easily see why it became so central to the local natives. Fascinating bit of history.

[@woodscommaelle4401]

It’s widely accepted that Indigenous Australians have been here for at least 60,000 years, and some scholars believe potentially as many as 80,000 years

[@ralsharp6013]

Yes..

[@ralsharp6013]

Unsure if carbon dating is correct.... But i agree they are original people from this land

[@samx2429]

To have songs to navigate and find water I could believe it. Just a few of the things I've learned about are pretty amazing.

[@matthewleonardi247]

So I was reading up on wolfe Creek crater in WA and there are a couple of stories associated with it, one being that the rainbow serpent exited the earth from that spot and formed sturt Creek etc The story that peaked my interest was that the crescent moon and a star crossed paths and the star fell to earth. Which sounds to me that a meteor or asteroid that came from the direction of the moon and impacted there. For this particular story I'd think that someone would have had to witness the impact, The crater is 150,000 years old. I'm not saying that aboriginal people have been here for that long but who knows could be merely coincidence or this particular tribe had a great understanding of the cosmos for their time.

[@ralsharp6013]

@@matthewleonardi247 they were better astronomers than we could even imagine.. That's really interesting about the asteroid/star and the crater in Western Australia

[@moosehanson8899]

Try asking an Aussie on how to say Uluru, Oo-loo-roo

[@moosehanson8899]

@Mycel Kanga-roo or just a roo

[@jamesdean0885]

I cringed a little every time he said the name. Haha

[@ithinkurf]

Oo-la-roo

[@2157AF]

Why does Simon keep saying Err-Lerr-Roo?

[@stuskivens4295]

They would say Ayres Rock

[@anikajain571]

PPS. L♥️VE that you mentioned our beloved but feared Dropbears 🤣

[@J0hnnieP]

I mean... WHO hasn't seen a picture of this rock, it absolutely beautiful but I knew NOTHING of the history about it until today...

[@phil-anthrophist3960]

Most people don't know the history of it,, either geological or Anangu stories,, I went out there in 2013,, it's funny because you see the thing when the plane comes in to land,, and it looks just like a big red rock,, it's not until you're literally right next to it that you realise it's anything but a big red rock,, it actually looks like trillions upon trillions of red pancakes have been piled on top of each other,, it's not smooth at all,, which has lead to the nick name "the cheese grater" cos if you slide down that your skin is pealed off

[@catheydaniel6952]

I was at Ulluru 3 weeks ago. A truly incredible sight. Spiritually fulfilling. Just leaves you in awe. I thought it was beautiful.

[@Scooot1972]

Dreamt of going there to climb it all my life. I finally went in 1999 for my honeymoon and did the trip to climb the rock. The guide was was an aboriginal man and said you can climb it but we find it disrespectful because of all the reasons simon mentioned. I walked around the bottom, stood in awe of the rock and watched every single person on our coach climb it. Our guide thanked me and my ex-wife for being respectful. It was hard to not climb it but instead we went up in a helicopter and flew round it. If you travel, be respectful!!! No matter where you go...

[@warwicklewis8735]

In my culture it is just a rock. It was called Ayers rock in respect to the man who first explored the area. I think it is disrespectful to claim ownership of a natural formation. Also disrespectful to expect other people to conform to your own superstitious primitive belief. No one had a problem with people climbing it up until the left wing shit stirrers started encouraging a culture of victimhood and entitlement. Sabotaging a national tourist industry worth billions over a defunked spiritual mythology that no one believes in anymore. Nothing but sour grapes and spite.

[@Scooot1972]

@@warwicklewis8735 sorry but I don't agree. I wouldn't want people being aloud to climb all over stone henge again, and I'm no druid. Whether as you say its just a rock or not is a moot point. To the aboriginal people its more than that. Its where their go to have babies, boyz go to become men and so much more.

[@warwicklewis8735]

@@Scooot1972 Stonehenge was built by people....it is not a naturally occurring geological feature. No one stopped people from climbing Stonehenge by claiming it held deep spiritual connections to their people. The only reason people were stopped from climbing it was because there was actual damage being done. The site remains the property of the public not a small self interested enclave of self entitled traditional owners.

[@Scooot1972]

@@warwicklewis8735 Stone henge is still a spiritual place to druids. Aboriginals are not self entitled, they've been using the rock for millenia and in the space of a few decades Westerners have ruined its habitats and ecosystems wiping out whole species.

[@warwicklewis8735]

@@Scooot1972 the modern druids are a fake. The true druid religion is long forgotten. They had no written language and not much is known about their religion...though they did practice human sacrifice regularly!! Modern druids are just a bunch of new age hippy weirdos practicing a fake version ofbthe ancient religion. The indigenous people seem happy to adapt to the modern welfare system. They hold their hand out for the free money but complain about the tourists that pay for it. No one gets to stay in the past. We all live in today's world. With its good and it's bad.

[@YeeSoest]

This was one where I wasn't sure but gave it a try. And it was one of those I watched to the end and loved every second. Thank you!

[@Madtownbiochem]

YeeSoest Agreed. I was like “a 23 minute video about a rock?!” But, as always, Simon and the geo team delivered.

[@YeeSoest]

Exactly and I thought I was kinda familiar with Uluru so...yeah, I wasn't ^^

[@bernadetteP9999]

Thanks for Australian content. Although you aren't pronouncing it accurately (a little too much emphasis on drawing out a "loo" sound) it is so appreciated that you call it Uluru rather than Ayers Rock which really hasn't been used locally since the 90s. Glad we have finally banned the walking on it. So embarrassing it was allowed for so long. Thanks for the Aussie content again 🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺

[@hex2307]

Silence liberal

[@clarkclements7204]

@@hex2307 the liberals have totally re-written history with many staw-man arguments.

[@remalm3670]

@@clarkclements7204 ... Shhhhhh! She be one of the "WE" if she gets enough people to believe what she's been told to say. Ever been where you've never been. Where one of the locals, tells his mates "Watch this" and follows you around knowing 'you're looking for a loo' and everywhere you're about go; he stops and says "not there Mate, you may be pissing on me Granny" ... Stop and look at the Aboriginals, where do they go. Good old Simon says they're so pure and noble "They don't go" or "They shit all the precious minerals white man uses". Then there is the bit about the trash, does reelize; what tells us the most about our past comes from the trash he supposide learned looks at makes up a story of how it's thought to have been used. And going back to the people crapping on that mountain, do the Aboriginals have a poop patrol every other day, to pick up after the bats, lizzards and Dingos. "Aaahhhhh! Hell, will you look at this will ya? I keep telling the gawd-damn Diggos to go over behind that rock, over there. And not here, this rock is holy ... Hmmm ... wait a minute ... Or was it the one over there? ... You, know. I really don't remember ... 😉 ...

[@KatieB33]

Hex Bug eh? Liberals only care about big business, they don’t give too hoots about the everyday person, let alone the first people!

[@hex2307]

@frankos rooniThe arrogance of the left....

[@AdamRamseythetouchable]

I would love to see more videos like this. Geology is fascinating, and I feel like it would be awesome to see how geology has shaped cultures throughout history.

[@SOSParanormal]

As an Australian, i can say this is well researched and presented. Well done mate!

[@Tarathathe77wookiee]

Proud Aussie here!! I love the stories of the Dream Time. I could listen to them all day!!

[@Benson_aka_devils_advocate_88]

The intro makes you realize we humans have been here for little more than the blink of an eye, historically speaking.

[@user-ee9cz6mc1x]

@rudiger891 as long as your pinky nail lol. Try as long as the thickness of a hair on your arm

[@krymera666x7]

Unless you’re a brain dead creationist.😂😂😂

[@kingfuzzy2]

@@krymera666x7 hi ; )

[@archstanton6102]

@Crystal Dreams Any evidence for hell?

[@jackvella6392]

I heard if the earths existence was in the length of a day, us humans have ‘been around’ for only 3 seconds

[@VoidHalo]

You need to fix your Simon robots, guys. I just came here from Business Blaze and this Simon clearly has a different voice box than the Simon that does that channel.

[@VashGames]

That's what I thought when I watched the Business Blaze vids

[@elizabethtorres3491]

This is his phone voice! 😉🐩🖖

[@thebettschannelever]

I had the amazing privilege to of being working as a landscaper at the resort there throughout 2019 during an historic moment, and truly while looking at Uluru during sunrise and sunset if you'd look away for a split second it would change colour

[@drbosommd]

Good to see Simon acknowledge Drop Bears .

[@shabberto]

Thanks for this video. Very well discussed with respect and delicacy. Love from Australia.

[@RoverT65536]

I shiver at the mention of Drop Bears. Horrid creatures, brrrrrr.

[@TheIdeasGuy]

they’re terrible creatures. They killed three people and eight dogs in my street last year.

[@jjvanpletzen3278]

They like to eat Pommies

[@jotunnomachy2480]

We’ve got a lot of them up in upstate New York

[@mikeyhau]

@@jotunnomachy2480 The drop bears in the US are black drop bears. Our Aussie species is the grey drop bear, a very different animal. Smaller (of course), but even more vicious.

[@elroyfudbucker6806]

The oil in the eucalyptus leaves they eat becomes poisonous in their stomachs. They cough it up & spit it at you. Very nasty way to die.

[@Ruby321123]

So, apparently I'm the first one here who caught that gorgeous "drop bear" reference? 😄 Great job, again, Geographics Team. I really loved it.

[@SmithyInWelly]

Perhaps their story can go on Simon's next YT Channel: Fakegraphics lol

[@docw1819]

Mycel Lucky 🍀 her

[@tommykesh]

Shhh let the tourists find out the hard way

[@kingfuzzy2]

Koala???

[@Ruby321123]

@@kingfuzzy2 A story Australians tell to tourists about carnivorous koalas who drop from the trees & tear your face off. Sometimes it's accompanied by a charm to ward them off, such as "put toothpaste behind your left ear & speak w/ an Australian accent for a week" or something of the sort.

[@KendrickMan]

"Uluru was formed from many somethings all crashing into one another" Nice, I understand plate tectonics now.

[@HeeNo5]

Lived in Yulara for 3 years, so many fond memories of waking up every morning, walking to work and seeing Uluṟu just off in the distance. Also did astronomy talks at the dining sites, both sounds of silence and field of lights. Should never of left that place.

[@gerardacronin334]

I was there a few weeks ago and went to the Fields of Light dinner. The astronomer’s talk was somewhat constrained by the fact that he was waving his laser pointer at a cloudy sky. We just had to take his word for it that he was pointing at the right stars!

[@kellinquinnscheese]

I now know how the rest of the world feels when Simon mispronounces their words, I cringed a little every time he said Uluru

[@Tob1Kadach1]

It's how we were taught how to say it in School, blame UK schooling

[@TheIdeasGuy]

Actually he said it really well a few times right at the start of the video then changed all of a sudden. I just call it Ayers Rock, bit hard to mispronounce that 🤣 Edit: Simon just said Ayers Rock and somehow he messed that up too lol. Oh well 🤣

[@davidcopplestone6266]

He's butchered a few British names too.

[@aussierose9015]

yeees lol constantly its like when i hear them say emoo instead of emu lol

[@MsLouisez]

I think he said it quite well in the beginning... We say u-la-ru. Typical Aussies not saying things how they are spelled, love from Melbin.

[@todddougherty9492]

I loved that. I can’t believe I loved that. You actually made A ROCK interesting for 20 fuckin minutes!!!!!! My lord what a great job!!!!!!!!!

[@patrickhurst5336]

Todd Dougherty Simon could describe my Grandmother naked, and I’d probably still be transfixed!

[@OsKuukkeli]

To be fair, it's a very interesting rock.

[@ianrobinson8974]

Why the putrid language...grow up!

[@zGJungle]

Geology is always fascinating to me.

[@sagesheahan6732]

Because it is one of the largest single rocks on Earth and is extremely important historically and culturally. It isnt just ANY rock. It's Uluru. :)

[@meagrebones]

That image of Vincent Lingiari and Gough Whitlam always brings a tear to my eye. In a lot of ways we seem to have gone backwards since then.

[@mozismobile]

Standards have changed - common words used to describe Aboriginal Australians have largely dropped from use and a whole heap of legislative improvements have taken place. Back then the Australia Day Protests were not well regarded, for example, but now they seem to be seen even by the most devoted reactionary racists as an unfortunate necessity (unfortunate in the sense that we can't just commit genocide to remove the problem, perhaps). The Uluru Statement would not have been possible in Whitlam's day, regardless of how dishonestly it was received.

[@Yelrebmikkim]

Indigenous Australians still have to put up with a lot. Maybe we will get better, maybe we need to follow NZ's example.

[@robotto6986]

@@Yelrebmikkim What's NZ's example? Just curious since I've no clue

[@Yelrebmikkim]

@@robotto6986 they (I live in Australia so I am only seeing it from across the ditch), but they have made Māori (te reo) an official language, they have a treaty (but that is now controversial for various reasons) and they all do the haka, which is of Māori origins, showing that they're all together. I'm no expert, and I would like to learn more about NZ. Please correct any errors.

[@tchy7246]

Robotto also the Maori already had guns from European traders (& experience in using them from tribal wars), so when the Brits started invading them they gave them a hell of a fight & hence were able to hang on to a lot more of their lands & culture

[@cameronwheatley3793]

a visit to Uluru is on my bucket list, this video makes me want to go even more

[@musicfan8867]

Thanks for this. Learned several tonnes.

[@Locutus]

I think you should have done a Biographics on the Pitjantjatjara, or the Aboriginal people at the same time as this video. It would have been a good tie in for both channels.

[@andrewhallett-patterson9778]

Completely agree. Their culture is deeply spiritual and incredibly interesting but what white man has subjected the traditional owners to is appalling. 👍👍🇦🇺

[@Darkstar4451]

It would be hard with their belief that pictures take the soul, im pretty sure that the aboriginal people descended from the people in those pictures near the end would have a problem with this video

[@Funckybunch]

Locutus _ why???? how they didn’t invent the wheel and are useless 🤷‍♂️

[@Locutus]

@@Funckybunch Hi Mark. I think from a tie in view, it increases the viewership. Ayres Rock and the Aboriginal people are linked. So having a video about Ayres Rock, you should have one about the Aboriginal people.

[@vanyel_etc8695]

@@brapamaldi actually, the aboriginal stories are full of non-binary creatures and trans people. Imagine being that bigoted and still that wrong.

[@ChrisCSunshine]

Rabbit proof fence is a great movie to watch about the removals.

[@WicksyGaming]

Love this video mate, great respect shown!

[@itsthecharlz]

I visited Uluru in March 2017 when people were still allowed to climb it. I found it strange that some people chose to ignore the Anangu people's explicit and openly stated wishes and went up anyway. There's a whole lot of other things to climb just a couple of hours' drive away, just go there instead. And there's also a lot of activities around the site that don't involve going up.

[@johnmason6213]

I visited and climbed in ‘92. It is a memory I will cherish forever. There is powerful energy there. I’m disappointed that it can no longer be climbed but I respect the land claim.

[@tacklecentralfishing1051]

This is such a great channel.

[@SilverMe2004]

11:09 I just want to point out that a vista is a framed view. you do not get a vista on top of a mountain rather its a panorama

[@MuertaRara]

need more Australia related videos! 🥰

[@folkslee9679]

I agree, there is something special about Australia that has always fascinated me, I want to go there so bad some day.

[@sutherlandA1]

Sydney Harbour bridge Sydney Opera house Snowy mountain scheme

[@fay-amieaspen6046]

Should also cover Mount Augustus in Western Australia which is twice the size of Uluru set in a gorgeous national park.

[@gonefishing167]

Thank you Simon, I’m Australian and you described it so well. Loved the ‘drop bears 🐻 ‘. Every Aussie knows how dangerous they are and conscientiously warn the tourists. 🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺

[@andrejdespotovski4788]

I like that you used the sweet sound of didgeridoo!

[@garymaidman625]

An interesting tidbit of information. The didgeridoo was only traditionally used by the peoples of the Top End, including Arnhem Land, Kakadu and the Kimberly. The nation around Uluru would not have traditionally used the didgeridoo. Also, indigenous peoples wouldn't have even called it a didgeridoo.

[@ignitionfrn2223]

1:20 - Chapter 1 - In the beginning 5:05 - Chapter 2 - In the other beginning 8:25 - Chapter 3 - In the penal colony 11:50 - Chapter 4 - The rock 15:15 - Chapter 5 - Everything changes 17:55 - Chapter 6 - The journey to shared ownership

[@mikahjohn2809]

The "thorny devil" is a frickin Australian Pokemon!!

[@shindari]

"Thorny Devil" is just one of the greatest names ever given an animal. Period. "What are you?" "I'm a Rabbit." "Oh, that's... cool, I guess... wanna know what they call me?" "The... prickly lizard?" "LOL! No, you adorable idiot! They call me the 'Thorny Devil'!" ".... That's.... actually a name that is both badass, and cute... How drunk were they when they named you...?" "Not drunk, mate! Just Australian." "Ah!... Say no more..."

[@gemfyre855]

@@shindari the Latin name is even more badass "Molloch horridus". In reality it's tiny and cute and those spines are pretty soft.

[@romb4649]

It's a pet name, my partner uses for me. Oh, no wait.. it's THORNY, not........ 😂 😉 😂 😎✌🐨 (From VIC, Australia) Actually, it could literally be called the Horny Devil and be accurate. As already pointed out, they're not as prickly as the look. Or 'hard'. OMG.. I'm stuck now, which ever way that gets taken, it was a legitimately innocent 'add on' I probably should've left off!! 🙇🙇🙇 😂

[@barneymiller7894]

We have them in Colorado (USA) as well, but they're called "horny toads" because we're horrible at naming things. As a side note they can squirt blood out of their tear ducts as a defense mechanism 😲

[@KFrost-fx7dt]

No it's not. It's just a lizard. STFU nerd!

[@jessb6587]

Uluru has 3 syllables (U-lu-ru) and Ayers (Airs) Rock.

[@Nano606606]

He said it right the first time and from then on, totally wrong - reminding us once again that the language Australian's speak only closely resembles english.

[@DamienAlba]

Nano606606 that’s strange because Uluru isn’t an English word

[@Nano606606]

@@DamienAlba Touche.

[@shebbs1]

@@Nano606606 True, but closer to English than what comes from the US or New Zealand! 😁

[@Funckybunch]

Jess B - it’s so bad

[@OMJ_the_Show]

Studied abroad and visited Uluru. As a Native American myself, as tempted as I was to climb this majestic monolith, I respected respected The sacred site and admired from below. Still amazing. Also, hike Kings canyon nearby but dear God wear a fly net. I have never been swarmed by so many flies in my life. It was disgusting and when I say these flies covered your body I mean COVERED.

[@tomanycooks]

As a kid I climbed Aires rock. I have photos of myself and my sisters climbing and sitting on top of the beautiful rock

[@flashrobbie]

Best place for some tourists is anywhere that can be cleaned with a fire hose.

[@nikkirobin1994]

Can we have a video on The Giant's Causeway?

[@JayVee53]

Cooling lava doesn't form hexagonal shapes that's for sure

[@benwinter2420]

Medusa/Venus petrified EZ water hexagon electric differentiated coastal waters . . water transmuted into stone by a large thunderbolt . . perhaps

[@joshuavasquez2180]

We know (it has been chemically tested) it’s made of basalt which is a purely volcanic rock, and we have seen basalt form from molten lava, so obviously it’s volcanic rock and can be nothing else.

[@nikkirobin1994]

@@joshuavasquez2180 I like the fable better about kick ass Giant's and massive boots 😂

[@ralsharp6013]

@@JayVee53 I agree. It's not lava. Devil's tower and giant causeway both biological and pre-date the flood of Noah (before God drowned the Giants)

[@MisterAndrewBuckley]

The two who came across the lizard and asked if it had seen their emu, the lizard lied saying no The hunter then says "fcukin he'll a talking lizard" Love the "drop bear" reference.

[@usel1500]

Talking animals are not seen as extraordinary in Dreamtime stories, my understanding is that all animals can talk (within the context of Aboriginal spiritual histories)

[@NautilusMusic]

Simon whistler referencing drop bears in the video? Im impressed Whoever wrote that into the episode gets honourary Australian status and a gold star 🌟

[@davidcarr2649]

It's pure honesty like not denying the existence of drop bears that make me a subscriber to this channel. Anywhere else and you'll get people saying it's a joke Aussies say to poke fun at visiting tourists, or that it's a myth. They might as well be signing people's death certificates in my opinion. I'm ashamed of being an Aussie everytime I catch someone saying their not real and I pull them up everytime! I make sure people know about how to correctly apply Vegemite and tell them to, "LOOK UP AND LIVE!"

[@simonzai7386]

I've watched a lot of your stuff.Had to hold a dripper back at the end of this one.Good on you.x

[@VBEd666]

Uluru is the only place in the world which I have visited where my experience exceeded my expectations. I long for the day when I can revisit the place.

[@ratatataraxia]

I’ll never forget Steve Irwin talking about oooo la roooo

[@Wi-Fi-El]

Fun fact: uluru is where the emus and Australians signed the peace treaty that ended the emu war

[@drbosommd]

We are so lucky the Emus didn't kill us all.

[@maddogmorgan1]

There was no peace treaty only a cease fire the war technically continues. Much like N Korea and S Korea

[@drbosommd]

AOC Fan whoever wins the war writes it's history. The Emus won the war . We had a war with them yet they appear on our coat of arms . Why are they on our coat of arms ? Because we didn't have a choice.

[@filmdesigner]

Oolooroo.... I honestly dont think Ive seen a "foreign" documentary treat the Aboriginal owners with such honesty. Well done. Im a very happy subscriber.

[@TomSavarese1]

Excellent presentation. Thank you for this! I am happy the ancestral people received their sacred place one again.

[@alshirley3444]

It’s Even more beautiful in person. Also near by is stunning valleys, hiking and random camels. The desert Bloodwood tree sap is an antibiotic, anti septic, anticoagulant and the aborigines used it in medicine as well as in hunting because it can numb you.

[@williamjones3664]

I climbed Ayer's Rock with my Mom and older brother and sister when I was 4 years old in 1985. We signed the book at the top. And I don't know if it is true or not but the person at the top told me that I was youngest person to ever physically walk up there at the time. There was a memorial dedicated to the people who had fallen off and died there. Because it was very steep and treacherous to climb. My Mom kept me safe.

[@Ruby321123]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤ Great job, Geographics Team!

[@jahworx]

This is my Go-to channel! Absolutely brilliant 👏

[@th3thrilld3m0n]

Excellent video. I visited Uluru (without climbing) and surrounding areas back in 2017 and it was an absolutely incredible experience and I hope to return one day. The only tweak I'd have is that dingos are actually scavengers, so they likely wouldn't even kill a wallaby. I woke up one night after camping in a swag to find that my shoes had been moved a bit due to dingo activity.

[@EmmaAppleBerry]

Dingoes are dangerous af and becoming even more so. Dont underestimate them. They will fuck you up like majority of other things here if they dont get healthy respect.

[@th3thrilld3m0n]

@@EmmaAppleBerry nah they are scavengers mostly. Out at night and go through things left by other more preditory animals. Ofc they can be dangerous if provoked, like all animals.

[@michaelreismanchannel1456]

Several years ago I heard about the protests against non-aboriginal people climbing Uluru. I was gratified to hear that the natives finally prevailed.

[@dvspro123]

Geographics video idea: The ISS?

[@jimmymonztarella8562]

I would love to see this beautiful sight for myself one day.

[@archstanton6102]

It is amazing. I went in September and walked around the whole rock at dawn.

[@morantaylor]

I did the 4600KM round trip from Melbourne on October 2019 definitely worth the visit. The rock changes at different times of the day as parts are shadowed depending on the angle of the sun. There are no drop bears at Uluru the native eucalyptus tree they depend on for food doesn't grow there. Some of the new tourist activities are a bit gimmicky - segway tours lol

[@archstanton6102]

@@morantaylor yeah I did the camel tour. The most boring 45 minutes I spent there. Did you visit Kata Jura?

[@shkacatou]

@@morantaylor drop bears are carnivorous, but they do require much taller trees than are available around Uluru for their hunting technique

[@mikeyhau]

@@archstanton6102 You must have walked quickly - it's about 10km around.

[@skylineXpert]

When i introduced this video to my mom, her views changed saying she was enlightened. Personally after 2 days on the lost camel i feel enlightened even more.

[@francisoconnelljr.4790]

Thank you for this video. Two thumbs up. 👍🏼🙂👍🏼

[@ElsieDreamWorld]

Fantastic video, I’ve learned so much! And to think how much damage our so called civilization has done to so many others. It’s so sad and yet at last they have part of their land back. And in face of the terrible fires just apparently extinguished and the colossal loss of so many millions of animals, it’s still more shocking. Thanks for this.

[@xenobob2773]

3:47 Final form, my ass. I expect a Part 2 in 400 million years.

[@craig501]

Hey all,I had a chance 32 years ago to see Ayers rock as it was known. I stopped about 2 kilometer from it and felt strangely sick and I heard many distant voices in a charter(In my head lol). 2 Weeks later i was in an Aboriginal community called "Rabbit flat" and were told a story how everyone that walks on Urulu will lose their spirit to it in the afterlife. Great to see it from a distance 😎

[@MICHELLE-gu2qc]

As an Australian you did a wonderful. Very well presented and very informative

[@tahoeluva]

Great video! Fascinating similarities to Devils Tower in northeastern Wyoming. Held sacred by several Native American tribes who would prefer it left untouched, but an enormous tourist attraction for sightseers and mountain climbers. For now, revenue streams mostly overrule cultural significance. An exception is the month of June when, in compromise, climbing is forbidden and the tribes have access for religious rites.

[@PhantomFilmAustralia]

"The spark which lit a thousand bush fires" isn't the best metaphor to use for Australia at the moment.

[@Lrkjdk]

PhantomFilmAustralia yup. Thanks to arson and the greenies protest of controlled burns and fire breaks

[@PhantomFilmAustralia]

@@Lrkjdk That has been debunked by experts and firefighters alike. Only a small percentage is arson related. The Greens have next to no local council draw anywhere, in Canberra, no parliamentary power, nor any seats in the senate. They are in no position to enforce or implement any legislation. You give Greens too much credit on their effectiveness. I have had boots on the ground and have been out shooting and documenting the fires from both political and local standpoints. It appears you are grossly misinformed.

[@GAZ-TRX]

@@PhantomFilmAustralia Has not been debunked at all, a failure to prevent bushfires doesn't prove that a 40° day can light a fire. Also if the Greens have no power, why are people being fined for clearing the land around their houses so they don't burn down? The only misinformation here is the Greens actual effectiveness when they want something their way. One more thing, just like with Victoria 10 years ago, there will be an inquest to determine the actual cause and it will be proven that no backburning/clearing for over 5 years will cause catastrophic fire conditions, add this with the current El Nino cycle and the current Solar cycle, and you have a firestorm that cannot be stopped.

[@Laudrengen]

@@PhantomFilmAustralia You can't reason with him :P He has his blinders on and his keyboard ready!

[@gordanorangutan7475]

@@Lrkjdk if you really think that youre nothing but a worthless sheep

[@ryanflaherty6900]

Yesss, recognition for the drop bears

[@bigoz1734]

I received a presentation by a traditional landowner about indigenous culture in high school and someone asked why it was wrong to climb Uluru. He explained it really well and succinctly. He said "if you had a million year old Lamborghini passed down in your family full of artifacts and meaning, how would you feel if we started climbing all over it".

[@drkevinsmithFRCPath]

But it isn't a family possession that has been passed down, it is a geological feature formed millions of years ago on public land, before humans existed. It wasn't even considered sacred up until recent years in fact in the 90s when my sister visited they didn't care that people climbed it they encouraged it and said it "was just a rock" just not to graffiti on it. Also the "traditional landowners" claiming that they discovered it 47,000 years ago is suspicious considering that human history isn't even documented that far back.

[@bigoz1734]

@@drkevinsmithFRCPath human history is actually documented well past 47k years in Australia. As far as the indigenous narrative about it, I'm not too sure. But I do know that elders can't stand seeing people climb on it. It's a site of religious significance to them

[@BMrider75]

I spent about 8 days at Uluru and Kata Tjuta (Ayers and Olgas) in the mid 80s, taking my time to breathe in the atmosphere of the area. Spoke at length to a local aboriginal who explained to me the gender importance of different parts of the Rock. And specifically the upper parts and the top was the males only area, and several locations around the base were strictly women only. He said he was more offended by females ascending the Rock breaking that taboo than the general tourism. He called the tourists clambering up the line of the chain "mingma" meaning 'ants' , very apt. I spent more than 5 hours exploring the entire top of Uluru, particularly right at the Eastern end ; the experience was truly wonderful, both scientific observations and emotional contemplating. I was completely on my own after leaving the summit behind. I was well kitted out clothing and boots, water and lunch (unlike some of the numpties there). I descended deeply content. I'm sad that careful and respectful men like myself won't be able to experience that in the future...

[@rakim126]

dude is a straight beast with the knowledge and delivery.

[@Minnastina]

Love ❤️ LOVE ❤️ love every video about our beautiful country Australia!😍🥳👍🇦🇺👋

[@elizabethtorres3491]

That was very interesting. Thank you 🖖🐩