Meanwhile - at Uluru.

(web image, ©DJB 2013)

After an epic 2885.5km road trip, Ben's sister and her boyfriend, both keen travellers, have arrived at Uluru (Ayer's Rock) where the temperature is 42°C in the shade and, to quote a recently received SMS, European tourists happily 'crisp themselves' by the hotel pool. According to the updates, it's been quite an adventure travelling the sunbaked highway from Port Augusta to Coober Pedy, a town responsible for 70% of 90% of the world's opal production where people sleep underground as well as work there; and then the long stretch to cross the Northern Territory border, a left turn and a few more hours to the big red rock. They'll spend new year's eve under the stars at Uluru while we spend ours under the compact fluorescents of our kitchen refuge.