March 8 – Alice Springs

March 8, 2016 – Alice Springs, Northern Territory, Australia
Ten of us started the day you going to the Desert Park. This is an area where you can see and learn about local bush plants and animals. We had a guide whose father is of Scottish ancestry and her mother is an aboriginal. She knew a lot about the aboriginals and how they used many of the plants and animals to survive. It was a fascinating experience. There were many birds and animals I had not seen before so as you’ll see I am attaching many pictures.
At 11:45am we finished the park and, along with the rest of the group, we went to a R.S.L. club for lunch. This is the Australian equivalent to our VFW. Troy taught us a gambling game with coins that is only legal to play once a year.
After lunch we visited Purple House which has provides dialysis for indigenous peoples. Renal disease due to diabetes and poor diet is very common among the indigenous.
Last up for today was visiting the School of the Air which since 1951 has provided schooling to children in remote areas. We watched a short film and then got to watch him a teacher working with a class. The area they cover is over 1.3 million sq. km. (521,000 sq. miles).
Tonight is our barbecue and tomorrow we travel by bus for 8 hours to get to Uluru (Ayers Rock). I am not sure what the wifi situation is there but I’ll try to blog.

Sorry but I don’t know the names of the birds. I was too busy taking pictures!