There were mixed reviews from our travel companions about our visit to Ayers Rock, known to the locals as “Uluru”. However, we liked our short stay there; mind you, we reckon you wouldn’t want to spend more than a day or two there, although our 5-star accommodations were most enjoyable and hardly roughing it.

Ayers rock was impressive. No picture can show the magnificence of the size and colours of the rock. It is 343 meters high with aboriginal sacred caves.

What we found most fascinating was the “Sounds of Silence” dinner – a truly magical experience. We were transported by bus to the ‘SOS’ site just before sunset where we quaffed champagne cocktails and were serenaded by musicians playing a didgeridoo and music sticks. We were then escorted to an open area that was set up with tables covered in fine white linens, wine glasses and silverware and were served dinner, literally under the stars. As the stars came out we supped on a buffet of vegetables, salads and various meats - including kangaroo… but Deborah passed on the dish as she couldn’t bear the thought of eating ‘Skippy’ or one of his relatives.

Finally, when the stars were truly aligned, the lights from the buffet hot table were doused and a man, who held two extraordinary high-beam torches, pointed out the various star combinations as he described their celestial meaning and position in the sky. (Deborah was informed of this later by Chuck because she konked out from fatigue and not booze, btw, on the table. Or so she says.)

Now as Chuck’s many fans are aware, he is the ‘guru’ of marketing and Deborah has been known to dabble in marketing, too, but folks, the promoters of Ayers Rock and the Olgas (another rock formation nearby) have got it all over Chuck and Deborah…why, you ask? Because they were able to get a whole bunch of us (Chuck and Deborah included) to get up at 5 in the morning, board a bus and head out to the rock to look at the sunrise. This turned out to be much ado about nothing…not much to see but we did get to keep the nifty knapsacks that carried our boxed breakfast. The knapsacks have come in handy: Chuck is using his to transport his Panasonic laptop (the one we’re using to tap out our blog). Deborah is using hers to provide for more ‘shopping item’ space.