Uluru, Australia

I had scrambled up the red monolith as sunset approached. I moved as fast as I could over the rust colored rock but had no idea how far I had to go. The high point was nearly a mile from the crest and the uneven up and down took longer than expected. I reached the highest knob and sat as the sun began to set on the barren burnt earth creating shafts of light that streaked to the ground. The sky turned a soft pastel blue to pink behind the distant round mounds of the Olgas. A small oasis of sand and shrubs encircled me, life growing on solid red rock-an ancient and revered place. I sat alone as the light faded. (I know now that it is frowned upon to climb the monolith, but I did do it with reverence.) Uluru