Yosemite national park, first stop (T3 5th)

My Corner,

Time: 11 53
Thing: listening to As Long As You Love Me by Backstreet Boys


After a week in San Francisco, the 3 of us, following a tour group, set off to go around california. Everyone on the tour bus, including driver and tour guide, is asian, and most of them are from mainland. There were around 20 to 30 of us.

That was my first time in a tour group, I had never liked the idea, but thinking that I can't do much in a big country almost alien to me, I had no choice.

Introductions and safety precautions were never missed out, but I paid no attention to the tour guide speaking. Sleep and iPod, that was what accompanied me throughout the journey, till we reached, into the nature.

Yosemite's natural beauty can be found in things big and small, from towering granite cliffs and giant sequoias to diminutive wildflowers. All varied in four areas, High Sierra, Granite Cliffs, Sequoia Groves and Valley. I explored Yosemite's many facets, taking in its many moods, and enjoying its views, sounds and smells.

HIGH SIERRA: Smooth granite domes, craggy peaks, and spacious meadows embody the character of the High Sierra. Hundreds of miles of hiking trails offer adventure, solitude, and inspiration, a real enjoyment to explore this glacially carved landscape and experience ever-changing mountain ecosystems.

GRANITE CLIFFS: The massive cliffs of Yosemite and Hetch Hetchy valleys challenge the body and mind, especially the inquisitive nature of we human beings.

SEQUOIA GROVES: Trees that have an age of over two thousand years, and trunks reaching over 25 feet! As symbols of longevity and strength, the giant sequoias played a major role in the creation of what is now Yosemite Naional Park.

VALLEY: Everything's simply flowing, animals, lifeless rocks, water and more, like going somewhere, always on a nature path. The Merced River flows peacefully through Yosemite Valley. Shrubs and deciduous trees enrich the riverbanks with green ribbons of life.

What attracted me most was the waterfalls, we managed to get very close to one of them. Hundreds of meters away, still walking among many trees, I could already feel droplets of water gently caressing my face, amazing indeed. The pouring sound got more audible and the air felt more moisturised. As last, as I stood in front of the energetic water, my hair, clothes and everything was getting wet faster than ever. But that was no longer a concern, I took in deep breaths, relaxing, even my pores.

I should admit another thing, that a tour guide can be really useful, at least I had no problems with the names of places in my descriptions.





Quotes of the day:

It is by far the grandest of all special temples of Nature I was ever permitted to enter

John Muir

Nature is always lovely, invincible, glad, whatever done and suffered bu her creatures. All scars she heals, whether in rocks, or water or sky or hearts.

John Muir

As long as I live, I'll hear the waterfalls and birds and winds sing. I'll interpret the rocks, learn the language of flood, storm, and the avalanche. I'll acquaint myself with the glaciers and wild gardens, and get as near the heart of world as I can.

John Muir

I only went out for a walk, and finally concluded to stay out til sundown, for going out, I found I was really going in.

John Muir

Joke of the day:

The taiwanese tour guide was trying to tell us how sensative is a bear's nose. He said, "The black bear has good-smelling nose." (zzz...)





Interesting facts:

-All dustbins in Yosemite National Park can only be opened when pulled, not pushed. They were designed to prevent the bears from searching inside the dustbins, for the bears know how to push, but not pull. It was said to be one way to keep wildlife wild.

-On the way to Las Vegas, there is an enormous piece of deserted land, and one road is named"zzyzx", to represent the famous rattle snake of california.


My Corner,

Time: 13 09
Thing: listening to More Than That by Backstreet Boys