Where in the World: The Open Road
The Inspiration: Envy, as usual; it seems the seven deadly sins (well, at least lust, envy, greed, gluttony, pride in your adventures, and a dose of sloth on the beach; wrath doesn't fit very well, which is a good thing) are all very closely related when it comes travel. This week I've been talking to a friend who is driving through the West, and during a few moments of clear phone signals I've been getting amazing descriptions of the scenery and wildlife. I loved driving through the Southwest when I was there a year and half ago, and I'd love to see it in the fall when it would be perfect for hiking.
I am also a huge fan road trip music; I think there a some really fantastic songs that deserve the setting of the blue sky and great stretches of lonely highway. My friend's road trip has me humming Matt Costa's "The Road" and the Counting Crows' "Omaha" and "Mrs. Potter's Lullaby" ("We drove out to the desert/ just to lie down beneath this bowl of stars.")which are certainly staples for any trek across Nebraska into the mountains. The play list already has a few items, which are expanding exponentially as I write this, so I think I should stop with the distracted writing, and maybe find a map. As long as I watch my mileage, this is a dream that isn't out of reach. =)
Showing posts with label Wildlife. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Wildlife. Show all posts
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Hiking on the Edge
Where in the World: A Rocky Ledge with Great Views; Katoomba Australia would be nice, but Utah could work, too.
The Inspiration: More reminiscing. Two years ago today, B and I had progressed to Australia, and my friends in Sydney took us out to the Blue Mountains to hike for the day.
I believe this was in the area known as the King's Tableland. From here, we went to see The Three Sisters rock formation, and hiked around there. I couldn't get over the fact that there were wild cockatoos in the woods; my friends couldn't believe we were surprised.
It was a fantastic day, and remembering it has me anxious for my next wilderness adventure.
The Inspiration: More reminiscing. Two years ago today, B and I had progressed to Australia, and my friends in Sydney took us out to the Blue Mountains to hike for the day.
I believe this was in the area known as the King's Tableland. From here, we went to see The Three Sisters rock formation, and hiked around there. I couldn't get over the fact that there were wild cockatoos in the woods; my friends couldn't believe we were surprised.
It was a fantastic day, and remembering it has me anxious for my next wilderness adventure.
Friday, June 26, 2009
New Zealand
Where in the World: New ZealandThe Inspiration: Nostalgia, and the fact that I didn't really want to leave the first time I was there. Two years ago, I left LA on a flight around 11pm on June 25, and 15 hours later I arrived in Auckland, New Zealand, around 7:30am on June 27. That's not a typo, the first part of my trip to New Zealand actually involved time travel, and I think that's crazy cool.* Of course, that's just the beginning. My trip lasted a total of 40 days, and so for the next 40 days I'm predicting that I'll be daydreaming about revisiting most of the places that I went to on that adventure. With that in mind, it's only fair to share a bit of what I saw on my first day in NZ.
I met up with my brother in Auckland, and we flew together to Christchurch. This is what NZ looks like from the air.
We rented a car, and drove from Christchurch to Kaikoura. We had to stop a few times on the way there, because it was simply too beautiful to just drive by.
Kaikoura is in an area with several marine sancutaries. We went directly to the beach to see the seals. I was just a little excited.
We then went for a walk along the cliffs. I was thrilled to be looking east towards the Pacific Ocean, and the scenery just took my breath away.
I may have chased these sheep a little bit, and then decided it was proof of my natural shepherding skills, and that I could live there forever.
This photo doesn't do justice to the colors we saw there; it was unspeakably beautiful. That's why I need to go back to see it again. =)
*You know what else isn't a typo? The spelling of "New Zealand". The spell checker keeps underlining it like it's wrong, which I think is pretty irksome. It's a country, for goodness sake! It's not like I'm using the Maori name, Aotearoa.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
My Favorite Trail at the Park
Where in the World: My Favorite Trail at the Park
The Inspiration: Today's non-adventure. Class let out early this evening and it was such perfect weather that I was really excited to be able to go to the park. I went home and got Angie, my dog, and arrived at the time of evening that comes right before dusk, where the eastern part of sky is almost white, and the opposite edge is just getting darker. Angie was all fired up because it was cooler, and the animals at the park are more active and more fun to chase.
We started towards our favorite trail, a wide dirt road that loops outside of the paved circle, and I felt a little pang of guilt because I had promised not to go there by myself; a man who could be reported as "a streaker" at best had been seen in the woods recently, and when my parents saw a sign about it they made a point of asking me not to go alone. As we approached the trail, I realized how long it's been since I was there in the evening; the trees' leaves have grown in, and the trail was a lovely, dusky green, perfected by the combination of rains earlier in the week and today's heat. It was beautiful, but already almost too late to be setting off into the woods. I paused at the trail-head and read the homemade sign for myself. It warned women not to travel alone, that a "NAKED CREEPER GUY" had been spotted in the woods, and that he had put shorts on and run away when he was seen, and the police were investigating. So I sighed, and remembered what I'd told my parents, and looked at Angie, who had bounded ahead and was watching me expectantly. Then, dear reader, I swear that it bubbled into my mind and I just had to say it:
"Come on Angie. The woods are lovely, dark and deep, but I have promises to keep..."
We turned around and walked around the big, paved loop. I was stunned at how few people were there, considering the fantastic weather, and for most of the walk it was like being in the woods except for Angie's nails clicking on the concrete. The road did have the other advantage of showcasing one of my favorite summer sights at the park: a family in a car driving as slowly as possible with sleepy but wide eyed children in the back seat, peering out the windows with flashlights, hoping to see coyotes. =)
We finished our walk with just a bit of daylight left, an inch of orange stretched across the horizon. Driving home I had to laugh: with the danger of creepers and coyotes, who wouldn't consider a walk at the park to be a little adventure?
The Inspiration: Today's non-adventure. Class let out early this evening and it was such perfect weather that I was really excited to be able to go to the park. I went home and got Angie, my dog, and arrived at the time of evening that comes right before dusk, where the eastern part of sky is almost white, and the opposite edge is just getting darker. Angie was all fired up because it was cooler, and the animals at the park are more active and more fun to chase.
We started towards our favorite trail, a wide dirt road that loops outside of the paved circle, and I felt a little pang of guilt because I had promised not to go there by myself; a man who could be reported as "a streaker" at best had been seen in the woods recently, and when my parents saw a sign about it they made a point of asking me not to go alone. As we approached the trail, I realized how long it's been since I was there in the evening; the trees' leaves have grown in, and the trail was a lovely, dusky green, perfected by the combination of rains earlier in the week and today's heat. It was beautiful, but already almost too late to be setting off into the woods. I paused at the trail-head and read the homemade sign for myself. It warned women not to travel alone, that a "NAKED CREEPER GUY" had been spotted in the woods, and that he had put shorts on and run away when he was seen, and the police were investigating. So I sighed, and remembered what I'd told my parents, and looked at Angie, who had bounded ahead and was watching me expectantly. Then, dear reader, I swear that it bubbled into my mind and I just had to say it:
"Come on Angie. The woods are lovely, dark and deep, but I have promises to keep..."
We turned around and walked around the big, paved loop. I was stunned at how few people were there, considering the fantastic weather, and for most of the walk it was like being in the woods except for Angie's nails clicking on the concrete. The road did have the other advantage of showcasing one of my favorite summer sights at the park: a family in a car driving as slowly as possible with sleepy but wide eyed children in the back seat, peering out the windows with flashlights, hoping to see coyotes. =)
We finished our walk with just a bit of daylight left, an inch of orange stretched across the horizon. Driving home I had to laugh: with the danger of creepers and coyotes, who wouldn't consider a walk at the park to be a little adventure?
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Melbourne
Where in the World: Melbourne, Australia
The Inspiration: Good friends and a cheap plane ticket. Here's a true story: Last night I was up until 3:00 (which is midnight in California, and therefore the last minute for the sale that ended on June 16) staring at my computer screen, trying to figure out how to take advantage of amazing air fares. I had to called my friend JC in Melbourne twice, first to make sure the dates worked for visiting, and then because I had run out of ideas and was still indecisive, and he was the only person I knew who was awake. Okay, that's half true: I could have called my friends N&P, who also live in Melbourne, but N would help me be excited and not reasonable, when JC could try to be both. In the end, at 3:02, I closed the window asking for my credit card information, and the logical, responsible half of my personality beat out the adventurous half. Now, I know that was the better choice, but today Qantas extended the sale (although all the tickets have gone up by at least $100 each way) and after spending a day imagining all the fun I'd have visiting Melbourne and some of my other Aussie friends, I just want to get there soon, and I'm pouting like a two year old about it.
I visited Melbourne for the first time almost exactly two years ago with my brother, when JC was unfortunately out of the country and I hadn't even met N&P yet. We had a fantastic time without knowing anyone in the city, and I can only imagine it being better with delightful friends. Since I have photos from that trip, I thought I'd share.
This is my brother in Melbourne. Unfortunately, I can't remember the name of this bridge.
In most major cities, you're encouraged to avoid the alleys. In Melbourne, they tell you to go check them out. It turns out that they're full of wonderful restaurants and interesting little shops.
We also took a day trip from Melbourne to Phillip Island to see the Penguin Parade, which is one of the most charming natural phenomenons in history. We were not permitted to photograph the penguins, but the whole trip was full of fun sights.
I fed kangaroos at a petting zoo.
We stopped at gorgeous beaches on the way. It was winter there, so they didn't have many visitors, which made them all the more majestic.
And before we left Phillip Island, I spotted the best sign I've ever seen.
I can't wait to go back!
The Inspiration: Good friends and a cheap plane ticket. Here's a true story: Last night I was up until 3:00 (which is midnight in California, and therefore the last minute for the sale that ended on June 16) staring at my computer screen, trying to figure out how to take advantage of amazing air fares. I had to called my friend JC in Melbourne twice, first to make sure the dates worked for visiting, and then because I had run out of ideas and was still indecisive, and he was the only person I knew who was awake. Okay, that's half true: I could have called my friends N&P, who also live in Melbourne, but N would help me be excited and not reasonable, when JC could try to be both. In the end, at 3:02, I closed the window asking for my credit card information, and the logical, responsible half of my personality beat out the adventurous half. Now, I know that was the better choice, but today Qantas extended the sale (although all the tickets have gone up by at least $100 each way) and after spending a day imagining all the fun I'd have visiting Melbourne and some of my other Aussie friends, I just want to get there soon, and I'm pouting like a two year old about it.
I visited Melbourne for the first time almost exactly two years ago with my brother, when JC was unfortunately out of the country and I hadn't even met N&P yet. We had a fantastic time without knowing anyone in the city, and I can only imagine it being better with delightful friends. Since I have photos from that trip, I thought I'd share.
This is my brother in Melbourne. Unfortunately, I can't remember the name of this bridge.
In most major cities, you're encouraged to avoid the alleys. In Melbourne, they tell you to go check them out. It turns out that they're full of wonderful restaurants and interesting little shops.
We also took a day trip from Melbourne to Phillip Island to see the Penguin Parade, which is one of the most charming natural phenomenons in history. We were not permitted to photograph the penguins, but the whole trip was full of fun sights.
I fed kangaroos at a petting zoo.
We stopped at gorgeous beaches on the way. It was winter there, so they didn't have many visitors, which made them all the more majestic.
And before we left Phillip Island, I spotted the best sign I've ever seen.
I can't wait to go back!
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