Road Tripping: Pioneer Park in St. George, Utah

If you want to get THE best view of St. George, then Pioneer Park is the place to go! It's not much further up the road from where we were in the previous post, and the big rock overlook is easy to spot from anywhere in the city. Such a prominent landmark makes it easy to identify and locate, and if you get lost you could surely ask any local and be pointed the right direction. There's a bit of a trek to get to the viewpoint after parking, but it's nothing terribly arduous so don't worry if you're not in outstanding physical shape. If you can climb some stairs, you'll be okay. If you struggle with a narrow stairwell, then be forewarned, the route to the top of the rock is a roughly defined stairway in stone that could be slippery or a little difficult if you have mobility difficulties or it's just rained. No rain fell on us this day, so we're grateful for that, and we were able to get a photo together near the edge of the large rock thanks to a friendly couple who happened to pop up to take in the view around the time we did. We traded phones and cameras for photos, an even exchange. 

I don't know if you can tell from my body language or not, but I was ready to be away from the edge. Despite working at the Stratosphere tower on the 108th floor for years, I'm not too keen on heights, especially out in the open like this with the wind blowing my hair about. We got our photos and took some for the other duo, then went back to our hike where we were less precariously perched near the edge. There's a lot more to the park than just this big rock look out point, after all! It's a pretty massive park, with 52 acres full of hiking trails and biking paths. We'll definitely have to make a point of it to explore the area more in depth next time we find ourselves out in the area. The colors in the stones remind me of home, Valley of Fire and Red Rock, but all the trees and greenery add a lush contrast to the usual views we get. It's not that Vegas and the nearby areas don't have greenery, any trip out to Mount Charleston to admire the bristlecone pines and aspen will quickly affirm that we, too, can have forests, but these are different. While landscaping choices are going to divert from the traditional Fremont Cottonwoods or Honey mesquite, the fauna is going to be subtly different from what we're used to in our stretch of desert. 

It's always a good idea to try to get a new perspective whenever possible. This was a nice glimpse of the city and we enjoyed our visit. We'll definitely make a trip back out this way at some point in the future, perhaps when we can spend more than a day exploring all that it has to offer. With so many miles of hiking trails, and the nearby nature reserves, there's so much to see and we'll definitely have to plan an overnight van-stay. 

Road Tripping: Overlook hike in St. George, Utah

As I mentioned in my last post, St. George is located in a prime spot for outdoor enthusiasts. Not only are the somewhat mild (by Vegas standards) summer temperatures ideal for getting out and going hiking among any number of outstanding natural rock formations and national parks but the winter brings ample options not-too-far away for going skiing, snowboarding, or otherwise enjoying the outdoors. If you're not keen on snow, never fear! St. George averages only 8 inches of precipitation a year, well below the national average, and the mild winter temps mean it's unlikely you'd have to ever contend with too much snowfall, but if you're pining for the powder you won't have to travel far at all. Brianhead Ski resort is only an hour or so further north on the I-15 and has a ton of options for enjoying the snow, from tubing to ziplines, to disc golf! I have to admit that I've never gone skiing myself, but I know people who go annually as tradition and Brianhead has always been spoken of highly. This time of year, of course, it's not going to have much snow, and you're going to see a lot more mountains that look like this:

I mean, that's not a bad thing, right? That's actually quite pretty. Reminds me of some of the photos of Mars that have been sent back. I think it's absolutely fascinating how the same basic building blocks make the basis for life, the universe, and everything, just in an infinite variety of combinations. A little more heat or a dash more of one element or another and you have something else entirely, like exoplanet Cancri e, whose surface is made of graphite and diamond rather than the water and stones of our home. Nature is pretty cool in that regard. Endlessly creative. I guess you could say life, uh, finds a way. Deserts always provide proof of that statement in the virulent life that crops up despite the harsh environment, plants taking root in the most unlikely of crevices and making a life where they land. It's poetic, of course, which is why countless tomes and sonnets have expounded the merits of nature, and Japanese studies have shown the health benefits of simply strolling among the trees.    

So go on, get out there and take in some nature! Do it for your health! Most cities, at least that I'm familiar with out here on the Western side of the US, have ready access to the outdoors, and even our more landlocked neighbors have endless ways to get outdoors. I'm sure our East Coast, Midwestern, Northeastern and Southern friends all have their own amazing outdoor areas to explore during the appropriate times of year, I'm just not as familiar with them. I remember loving Ohio summers as a kid when I'd get to visit, and feeling like I was going to melt into a mosquito-drained mass of goo in the humidity of central Florida during the summers, but there were still so many awesome options for going out and being among nature. Plan accordingly for the seasons and climate of your region, then have at it. The world is a big beautiful place with a lot of stunning, less-seen corners we won't get to take in if we don't make a point of going out there and trying. 

And you never know, you might have a random ice cream truck show up when you're coming back down the mountain or something. 

More photos below~

Korea: Seoul City wall hike part two

After hiking through a beautiful public forest area, I found myself at a security check point. I was asked to present a valid form of photo ID and sign in, as well as fill out some paperwork agreeing to their terms during my visit. While photography was allowed through most areas, there were specific spots throughout the secure area where photography was NOT permitted. I took a photo in an area I thought was safe only to find an attendant approaching me asking to see my camera before asking me to delete the photo... which got a little awkward, as I don't normally delete photos off of my camera while I'm out and about, so I wasn't even sure how to go about doing so and had to figure it out while the attendant stood by waiting. I'm sure they were as unenthusiastic about the situation as I was, so for their sake and your own please pay close attention to the signage indicating which zones are strictly prohibited. It might not make sense, and it doesn't have to...just follow the rules and everything will be fine. The hike itself is well worth any inconvenience the no-photo zones may impose, so I highly recommend taking it. 

Seoul is a bustling and often quite-crowded city, so having the opportunity to escape while still well within the city limits is something I'm extremely grateful for. It has been documented that spending time in nature is beneficial for your health, from lowering stress levels to the exposure to fresh air and exercise involved. I worked up quite an appetite trekking up one hill and down the next, and near the end of the hike my legs felt like jelly as I descended what seemed like an endless procession of stairs. I felt great afterwards, though! Never underestimate the benefits of some endorphins and sunshine. I had been away from home for nearly three months by this point and was missing Antho quite a bit, but it did me no good to waste my time abroad sulking in my little room when I could be out experiencing the beauty South Korea has to offer. It really is a beautiful place and I encourage anyone who's considering going to go for it! When I reached the main summit, the final peak I climbed before returning to the city below, I was offered a slice of fruit from a kind stranger. Now perhaps that might be cause for concern or a time to be wary, but I've found myself the lucky recipient of gestures like this several times now and only ever been grateful for them. After all that hiking, a crisp, sweet slice of apple was wonderful. Thank you, random elderly gentleman, who decided to share his fruit with the foreign girl sitting by herself.

More photos below!

Korea: Seoul City Wall Hike part one

Seoul City wall was originally constructed in 1396 and has been maintained ever since, making it a location with much historic significance. The wall connects four mountains in Seoul, making it a key strategic point for the military from ancient times until even modern day! That's right, it's still an active military zone and upon reaching the end of this post's hike I entered an area that required showing identification and signing in with men in military uniform. This post will be all public areas where photography is freely and openly allowed! To get to the fortress wall, I took Subway line 3 from Hwajeong station to Anguk then exited Anguk station through exit 2. From there it was a short walk to a bus stop, where I caught bus line 2 to the summit. There's a local park you have to walk through to access the wall, but it's a lovely little park! I have to admit I'm a bit jealous of the lucky locals who not only have such a nice park to relax in but also the gorgeous views to take in. Seoul is a city of mountains and valleys, affording many opportunities to take in a good view of the city's beauty and the City Wall makes a great photogenic adventure. 

It's not the easiest of hikes I've ever taken, mainly due to the drastic elevation changes throughout the path. You climb your way to the top of one mountain only to descend halfway then find yourself climbing the next... luckily it was a gorgeous day out, and though I worked up a bit of a sweat it wasn't unpleasant. This is not a hike I would recommend for people with bad knees or who tire easily... once you're into it, your only real option is to walk back out! Be smart and pack some snacks and water so that if you need to take a break and replenish you have supplies on hand... I, of course, only took a small water bottle and no food, because I'm a genius. I made it through alright, though I was certainly grateful to get a beverage and a snack once I returned to the city proper once the hike was all said and done. Chances are good that you'll likely encounter some brightly clad locals out enjoying the hike as well, and some hikers were quite advanced in age during my visit. I certainly couldn't let myself, young and virile as I am, be outdone by a senior citizen, right? You'd be surprised how fast they were! It was obvious that many hikers here take the hobby very seriously, equipped with expensive backpacks, walking sticks and any other supplies they might need. Learn from them and come prepared! If you plan to advance into the controlled areas, be sure to bring identification with you.  

More photos after the cut!

Vegas: Valley of Fire part 2

Valley of Fire is massive; the kind of expansive that would make an agoraphobic clutch up their hands and shriek in abject recoiling panic. 40,000 acres is a lot of land, and there's a lot of sand, stone and sky occupying that grand space. We spent the majority of our day here and still didn't see a fraction of everything there is to find or photograph. Every step we took was temporarily recorded in the sand, only to be blown away with the next strong gusts as we dipped our toes in the ocean of desert. The same was true for all sorts of life- we found a complicated tapestry of prints scattered among the bushes, a rich story of the creatures making this harsh environment their home. Even with all the tourist traffic and human footfall entering the area the local inhabitants seem to be doing quite well if the scattered piles of scat and abundant variety of tracks were any indication. Given the ephemeral nature of prints in sand and the frequent gusts we can get out here, we can only presuppose that the prints we witnessed during our trek were fairly fresh, maybe not within the hour but likely sometime in the same day or the night prior.  This is in contrast to the petroglyphs and ancient artefacts of prehistoric civilisations and species that also abound throughout the valley. History lingers while life invariably goes on, legends of the past looming on stone faces above a web of interspecies interaction. I doubt the rabbits care much for our stories, but who knows? Maybe they see human prints in their sandy home and contemplate their origins, coming up with their own tales of mysterious bipedal giants who occasionally stumble through.

More photos after the cut...

Calico Basin Hike

Just outside of Las Vegas lies countless, nearly endless expanses of desert, rock formations and mountain ranges. Some mountains are capped with forest and get snow during the colder months, others get a sparse coating of desert shrubbery allowing the mineral filled rock below to shine. There's no mystery as to why our Red Rock National Recreation Area has earned it's name- the rocks are resplendent and come in shades of red, purple, beige and more. Wild burros, mountain lions, big horn sheep and rattle snakes proliferate the area, though they generally tend to be too shy to be spotted with any frequency. 

Given our proximity to great swaths of nature, hiking (and skiing!) are popular activities. I've been a fan of hiking for quite some time, having even been in a public hiking club during my junior year of high school. As such, whenever I get the opportunity to venture out into the great outdoors, I'm generally pretty quick to take it. On this particular day, my friend Julie and I had made plans to go for an adventure together. 

We met up early and after psyching ourselves up for the journey at her apartment, we packed up the car and headed out! It was a beautiful day for the excursion, early enough in the year that the sweltering summer heat had yet to fully settle in but warm enough to be comfortable. 

Have you ever ventured beyond the city limits of Las Vegas? One of the best parts of living in the city is how much nature is actually available and accessible just beyond it's limits. Lake mead is about 45 minutes one way, with aquatic recreation available, while Mount Charleston offers snow sports during the winter months and camping among the trees. Today, we went to Calico Basin!

More photos after the cut!

Hong Kong Day 4- Lamma Island part 2

The next step of my journey, once I climbed down from the mystery trail, took me towards Sok Kwu Wan (Rainbow Bay), the other small village on the island. On the way there, though, I stopped along several points of interest, including Lo So Shing beach, pictured above, which was surprisingly devoid of people. I passed the Kamikaze Caves, as well, a grim reminder of the small island's role during WWII. These caves provided a strategic hideaway for Kamikaze soldiers, who could use high speed boats in suicide missions against Allied shipping boats during the conflict. Luckily, the island is far more peaceful now with relaxed locals and happy tourists providing the majority of the foot traffic. While there are no cars on the island, I did see many surf boards, especially near LoSo beach, so I imagine it makes a popular surf spot during the appropriate seasons.

It's hard not to be distracted by the sheer beauty of the area. Vibrant flowers abound and the lush green foliage blankets most of the land. Between all that, the occasional building or beach looms around the corner or peaks out trepidatiously. Other structures stand strong and proud, painted in vibrant shades and holding strong against the elements.The villages are small, though, and not every structure is assiduously maintained. This contrast between vivid flowers and dilapidated buildings, stunning structures and sandy beaches, gives the small island a wealth of sights to discover.

As my hike grew to an end, my tired feet were eager for a rest and my tummy ready for a more substantial meal. Delicious things were in no short supply in the village! I opted for a fried cuttlefish, a fresh prawn (shrimp?), and a razor clam, all freshly scooped out of the tank they had inhabited with their unfortunate friends. The absolute freshness of the foods, eaten behind a plastic tarp serving as a wall/window offering views of the marina as the sea breeze gently wafted by, was perfection with a frosty brew. Friendly servers ensured my belly and my soul were satisfied by the day's endeavours, providing the cap to the evening needed before I darted off to catch one of the last ferries back to Hong Kong.

Hong Kong Day 4- Lamma island part 1

Lamma island is a short ferry ride from Hong Kong pier yet it feels like a completely different world. Once the ferry pulls into dock, you disembark to find a "parking lot" of bicycles awaiting their riders followed by the sight of a charming fishing village- my ferry arrived into Yung Shue Wan, or Banyan Tree Bay. Fresh seafood sits prominently, proudly, in front of the many eateries lining the path. There are actually two villages on the island, one at each end, so my goal was to hike across the length of the entire island to the next village of Sok Kwu Wan, or Rainbow Bay. The mood is markedly more relaxed, more languid, here. 

Families walk hand in hand along the gravel path, marvelling at the seabirds and oceanside vistas, while local kids sword fight among the lush ferns. There are beaches where people splash about and make sand castles- one man was walking around with a loud speaker in his backpack playing upbeat music as he ambled about at the time of my visit. Vibrant tropical flowers creep and burst from unexpected corners, and the style of the homes follows in eclectic colourful suite. Boats and feet are the primary forms of motility among the locals as there are no cars on the island. 

Given the bounty of exceptionally fresh sea creatures hanging around to tempt your taste buds, it was only a matter of time before I opted to stop and sample some. ;) After completing my hike seemed the apropos time for a full meal, as I didn't want to embark on a long hike with a heavy stomach. In Mongkok I had eaten a bowl of beef noodles prior to catching the train to Hong Kong station and walking to Central, or the pier, and this ensured my meal had time to settle. I did stop and sample some egg waffles, though, for a quick snack. 

Midway through the hike I encountered a mysterious smirking stone, with arrows pointing to a barely visible path to the peak of a mountain. This offered me expansive views of the surrounding area in solitude, as I was the only soul brave enough to follow the trail at that moment. It was a wonderful moment in a truly wonderful locale. I could see raising a family or retiring here quite happily someday, if the fortunes allowed.

More photos ahead.

Vegas: Red Rock hike 2014/11/01

Las Vegas, for the uninitiated, is a city seemingly adrift among the vistas of the harsh Mojave desert. While there are several small towns and cities within an hour's drive of the ever-expanding edges of the Vegas cityscape, once you pass those you're pretty much in the wastelands. We're talking the land of infamous Area 51, the Nevada Nuclear test site, Graboids, and Fallout New Vegas. The benefit to all this expanse of unrepentantly rough terrain is that much of it is exquisitely beautiful if you dare brave getting to it. Red Rock Canyon is among these prettiest of places while conveniently close to the city limits and relatively low on the difficulty. You can certainly opt to scramble up challenging rocks and scurry through caves and cracks, but you do so at your own discretion. 

Over 100 photos from beautiful Takao-san Mountain!

If given the opportunity to travel Japan, one should always take advantage of the limitless natural beauty that surrounds the high-tech metropolitan areas. Whether you're visiting Osaka, Kyoto, Tokyo or any other city, nature is never far away. Sometimes it's more raw, more feral, and other times it's a bit more... gentrified. 

Takaosan is a beautiful mountain, with lovely hiking trails and glorious views of the nearby forests and valleys, but it tends to fall into the second category. Relatively close to Tokyo, it's an easy day trip to tackle. I've already covered the experience in detail, this post is all about the photos!