After much deliberation with my peeps in Sydney, I flew to Mparntwe (Alice Springs). Mparntwe is the home of the Arrernte. The Arrernte are the original caretakers of Mparntwe. Mparntwe was on my bucket list way before I made my way to Australia. I wanted to fly around Australia, but you know best plans and all. Instead, I flew to Mparntwe and took the Ghan to Adelaide. More about that adventure later. This is a short video of flying over the Outback. I think it looks like the surface of the moon–OK so I have not been to the moon, but this is what I see when I think about the moon.

I found the cutest little place on Airbnb. It is a metal building made into an apartment. So cute! You can take a look at he Airbnb page or look at my photos below. All you need for a place to stay and I love her decor–koala and kangaroo–what could be better in Australia? I figure you are tired of seeing me living in the rainforest.

My favorite part of the places I visited is the Aboriginal art–dot paintings. The paintings are visuals of stories passed through the generations. However, Indigenous People “… inherit the rights to these stories which are passed down through generations within certain skin groups. An Aboriginal artist cannot paint a story that does not belong to them through family.” If you are interested in the history of their art you can find it Artlandish Art Gallery.

You cannot be in this area and not visit the Tjoritja (MacDonnell Ranges). I could see them outside my window. The colors are not like anything you can imagine. My photographs are definitely not doing the colors justice. The Aborigines believe Tjoritja was formed by caterpillars and is part of Dreamtime stories–when they Earth was created. One Dreamtime story tells about “… a local dog named Akngwelye, who fought with an intruder and ripped out their intestines. It is believed that this created many of the natural features of the landscape just west of Alice Springs and that Akngwelye is now embodied in the striking peak of Mount Gillen (AliceSprings.com).” Visitors are asked not to take photographs of Emily and Jennie Gaps because they are sacred. This is so cool.

These pictures are Rungutjirpa (Simpson’s Gap). I saw Black-footed Rock Wallabies!! You can see the babies fighting in one of the pictures. This is a site where several Aboriginal Dreamtime trails meet. They believe it is the home of a group of giant goanna ancestors. This is an important spiritual site.

Then off to Angkerle Atwatye (Standley Chasm), which is owned and operated by the Arrernte people. Angkerle Atwaty means Gap of Water. This is a Dreamtime place for women. It was a place where women could give birth. Men were not allowed in the chasm when women were there performing traditional ceremonies. The area was named Standley Chasm by white settlers because that is the name of the first school teacher of the Arrernte in the area. The area is amazing and my pictures are just not as good as it is in person. First, a quick video of walking to the chasm and then pictures.

At the chasm, you cannot miss which bathroom you should visit. I love these. They are life size.