BETWEEN ALICE SPRINGS AND THE ROCK IT'S OUTBACK TIME

The Contiki experience is one to remember. Forget those tame trips, it's an adventure that is meant for travel enthusiasts. People travel from every corner of the world to experience one of the most fascinating journeys the continent of Australia has to offer.

This is my story, a day by day account of the journey that took me to the center of Australia for a week of good times and some of the most remarkable views I've seen around the world.

SETTING OUT FROM ALICE SPRINGS
The first day of the tour starts out early, 9a.m. (according to our itinerary) at the Vista Hotel in Alice Springs, a small town in the middle of Australia. Surrounded by huge hills and desert it's almost unimaginable how hot it must be for people who live there in the summer. I find myself 'feeling the heat' in the Australian winter, which sometimes reaches 25 degrees C in the afternoon. Still the climate is enviably appealing to someone like myself who is used to much colder wintry weather. My flight from Sydney came in early so I am among the early birds waiting at the hotel for the others in the group. There we were, some 40 of us with our luggage in tow casually introducing ourselves once we figure out that we are all there for the same tour.

By 8:55am we're assembled out front as our coach approaches. Out comes two big men, Bear (his real name is Andrew, but if you saw him, you'd better call him Bear) our driver and Andy (the tour operator in training). Next we meet Gabrielle, our tour guide. Dwarfed by the two big men, Gab looks like a mouse, a very petite, smiling, mouse. She keeps us on schedule, especially when it comes to mealtime. In other words, she becomes our den mother and resident DJ. Our "morning song" is the world famous and very appropriate, Down Under by Men At Work. That song will echo in my mind for the rest of my life. By the end of the trip you will know all the words and you will be singing it on the way home. Getting back to the journey, we are taken to Anzac Hill (a memorial site for the Australian and New Zealand soldiers). Another place of note in Alice Springs is the Alice Springs Telegraph Station. Established by European settlers, the site was used to relay messages from Darwin to Adelaide. It has been restored so there is an accurate portrayal of life back in the 1870's. There are numerous buildings to see and a beautiful water hole is just a short walk away. From the Telegraph Station we head off to the Ross River Homestead. Rows of tiny cottages outline the landscape and as I look around I could see the Western MacDonnell Ranges within walking distance. Some of the group would opt to rest after lunch, however, the more adventurous individuals decide to pack a water bottle and head out for a little exploration via camel or by foot. Since I am not a fan of big animals, I take the two-legged route instead.

The scenic walk around the Ross River Homestead is where I would meet my buddy for the trip, Diego Miele. An Italian with flaming red hair (what are the chances?) Diego and I took to the trail out of sheer curiosity, eventually stumbling upon some of the most interesting land formations either of us have ever seen before. It's worth the trek of 5km if you care to walk for about an hour.

We make it back just in time for the demonstration of boomerang throwing and whip cracking at the homestead by one of the seasoned professionals (these guys leave tourists in awe all year long). It all seems so easy, but it's not so simple when you attempt the feat in front of a crowd of people you are just getting to know.

Quite of few of us end up with red faces in the group, but it's a lot of fun. Then it's time for a little snack of damper (soda bread cooked in a camp oven over an open flame) and billy tea (tea boiled in a tin can with a handle). And so the bonding begins as the group gets ready for chow time.

Dinner is always a generous feast in the outback, huge amounts of tender steak, meat pies, pasties and salads, vegetables and dessert are put on display for our watering mouths and growling stomachs. A king's feast is had by all and by the looks on the faces of everyone, it's a huge success. Drinks at the bar caps off the night. That's where most people get to know one of the most popular things on the trip, beer! The beer of choice is Victoria Bitter, fondly known as VB. The beer flows like water and before we know it, we're ready to retire - my first day and I am eagerly anticipating the start of the next day.

STARTING DAY TWO WITH THE ABORIGINAL BUSHTUCKER TOUR
I never quite realized how early 6 a.m. can be. It's not too often that I surface before the sun.. On this day, I awaken, much to my dismay, before the sun comes up. Half asleep I drag myself to breakfast, and it's time to set off to the blaring sound of Down Under, by Men at Work. Now I'm fully alert, raring to start what turns out to be one of the most interesting days of the trip.

The "Aboriginal Bushtucker Tour" is an optional activity, however, it's not to be missed. It's an opportunity of a lifetime - you may never get this close to the Aborigines again. It's an eye-opener for me, a venture into a world that I may never understand. The 3-hour tour takes you through the history of the Aboriginal people in Australia and the culture that remains to this day.

It's with Mark that we enter into the world of the Aboriginal people, a white man who embraces the culture with such passion that it leaves an everlasting impression on me, and I am sure, most of those in my group. Questions about family structure to the common misconceptions that tourists make upon seeing aboriginal people are common.

There is no learning without trying if you are on the Bushtucker tour. Why miss the opportunity to try all the culinary masterpieces the aboriginal culture had to offer? Grubs, honey ants and kangaroo tail. You read right, kangaroo tail (which I have to say is very tasty). After learning about their history and cuisine, it's time to move on to the artwork. Aboriginal artwork is displayed around the world and is seen as unique and beautiful. I stand mesmerized, observing the creation of masterpieces (no photographs are allowed). Each piece tells a story and each was fantastic, visually and artistically. As a brilliant sendoff for the group, the Aborigines took us through one of their most sacred acts, the dreamtime tapestry. The tapestry tells a story, in music and dance. The display takes my breath away as I watch. The day continues and we are off for lunch at Todd Mall (the only mall in Alice Springs, you'll get to know it very well, trust me).

In the afternoon the gang takes off for Simpson's Gap. Not The Gap. Not anything to do with The Simpsons, but Simpson's Gap. The rock formation makes it a classic background for a group photo, a great shot of newfound friends.