Vegas: Charleston 01 - drive out to Mount Charleston!

Driving out to Mount Charleston from the city of Las Vegas is a fairly short sojourn of roughly an hour for the vast majority of the mountain. When it comes to finding a change of scenery, though, it's an absolute treat and for such a short distance it's practically like traveling to a foreign planet. For the cost of gas and some time rolling down the freeway, you can escape the asphalt and concrete jungle to frolic among wildflowers and trees, plus the additional elevations let you chill off by about 10-20 degrees Fahrenheit: a much-needed respite from the summer heat of the valley! It's beautiful out there, too. There's a lot of camping available, varying from the power and water necessitating RV setups to boondocking areas, depending on your skills, needs, and equipment. While both Antho and I have done overnight boondocking camps here in the past, most of our visits over the more recent years have been day trips. It's an easy drive from the city, not so far that you really need to worry about extensive preparations but you should absolutely take a big bottle of water and some snacks along, just to be safe. Whether you're going hiking or just hoping to do the scenic loop in your vehicle, it's better to be prepared in the event of an emergency. On top of going camping most weekends with my family as a kid and getting stuck in sand dunes, rock pits, mud, and any other perilous desert surface, I've had the same car for over a decade, and as a result, I've gotten uncomfortably familiar with the variety of ways a car can poop out on you in a time of need. Crap happens, so be prepared. Maybe that timing belt you never thought about decides it's time to let it go, like Elsa in a blizzard, right as you crest a perilous peak. With my old lady, she simply loses engine power and glides to a stop wherever she loses momentum- but maybe your car will go out in a violent paroxysm of mechanical failure when you least expect it. As a responsible human being, we need to plan and prepare for these things to happen when we least want them to because murphy's law insists that's when they must absolutely happen. Such is life. Plan for the worst, hope for the best. But don't let that stop you from hitting the road! There's so much out there to see and enjoy. The world is a big, beautiful place after all. Get out there! 

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.

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!