Ochre Pits

Here I am in Alice Springs (also known as 'The Alice'). It is very hot but dry. As a result I am hardly sweating at 39ºC while I am dripping in water in Singapore when it not even 26ºC. The walks amongst the MacDonnell ranges are absolutely soothing . It is pure silence except from the wind and a few insects and birds. The smells are particularly fantastic. Gum trees, barks and dry woods. I also made it to the Ochre Pits which are no longer used but that have been of importance to the Aboriginal communities when they were trading the Ochre whith other communities. They consist in several layers of multi-coloured, layered rock that were traditionally used by Australian Aborigines in ceremonies and in painting. They are considered some of the choicest ochre and are soft to touch, vivid, with a slight sheen to it. The colours are truly amazing when seen for real, especially the golden and yellow ochres.