USA
When people think Vegas, they think of glitzy hotels and the glamorous Las Vegas strip. Cool performances, gambling, champagne, getting hitched randomly after all that champagne, you get the drift.
Even though I wanted to experience and see Vegas, I'm not into clubbing (don't do well in crowds), neither do I have cash to splash out in the casinos. So, instead of spending full days in Vegas, we took the mornings to explore nature sights around vegas, caught a few sunsets, and then headed back during the night to enjoy the pretty lights in Las Vegas city.
The Red Rock Canyon was one of our first day trip destinations. The Grand Canyon was a place I wanted to visit but it was just too far a drive out.
Red Rock Canyon was only a 2-3 hour drive from where we stayed and visiting early in the morning meant that we got to explore the area without having to deal with lots of tourists. Although, i'm not sure if such large nature areas ever get crowded...
I loved that I got to see cacti growing naturally and how they add a spark of life to the otherwise completely red and brown landscape. These cacti is not the type of plant we don't get to see in tropical Singapore, which made the plant lover in me way happy!
Check out my youtube video of my time in Vegas and exploring around Nevada!
Being able to catch the sunset at Zabriskie Point and kicking it in the sand at the Death Valley was also another great experience.
The undulating landscape of the Death Valley is just impressive. It makes me wonder how sand ended up forming in that way, and if it actually ever stays the same with the winds blowing all the time. It's cool to know that this landscape could be ever changing!
The last nature sight we went to was the Valley of Fire State Park. I think bag parks like Yosemite and other national parks get so much love from Americans and tourists, but people often overlook smaller state parks.
The Valley of Fire State Park is such a beautiful plot with routes one could drive through to explore. Different parts of the park had different rock formations and my favourite was called the Beehive. It is made of red rocks with massive perforations making them look like huge beehives. Perfect of interesting photography shots!
My time in Vegas wasn't typical. No doubt, I did get to watch a Cirque Du Soleil performance, visit a casino, walk down the las vegas strip, admired the night lights, stayed in a lovely hotel and eat at an amazing restaurant. But, what stood out most during my time there was the little day trips I took to these nature sights, and chasing sunsets around Nevada.
These trips out of the main city area just reminded me that all we need is to take a little step out of our typical path, and our entire view could change.
A Life lesson, and traveling lesson all in one!
Chasing Sunsets Around Vegas, Nevada
15 March 2017 Las Vegas, NV, USA
I'm not someone who deals very well in the snow. I don't deal well with the heat either to be quite honest.
But, I DO enjoy the cold. By cold, I mean anything from 0 to 15 degrees. I'm great. I probably don't need more than 2 layers. But when snow starts falling, well that's it.
Subzero temperatures are fine with me when nothing falls from the sky. Snow on the ground, sure its all good. Snow falling from the sky, my body goes - NOPE! I'm perfectly alright until it starts snowing or pouring rain. When that happens, I somehow ceases to function.
Unfortunately it was raining batshitcrazy the entire time I was in Tahoe, so I guess i didn't get the typical Tahoe experience; where people go skiing or snowboarding, since there was no way I could have done it in the massive rains with me being sick and all the flooding/ road closures :(
Still, it was an experience and a different sight from the rest of California in the winter.
I guess there's always a next time for snow activities. Although to be quite honest, I don't actually feel like i miss out because im so much more of a sunshine girl. Ignorance is indeed a bliss here heh!
Losing to the snow in Tahoe
27 February 2017 Lake Tahoe, United States
It has been said, Yosemite is one of the most beautiful places in California. Having visited the national park this past winter, I can say, I absolutely agree.
Even though so many of the roads were closed, and it wasn't advisable to hike (judging from my previous mountain climbing experience, I don't think I would survive a hike in the winter), it was still amazing to get to witness the iconic El Capitan in real life, the snow covered Yosemite Valley, and the best of all, actually seeing a perfect reflection of the picturesque surroundings at the Mirror Lake.
I must say, I had my doubts after seeing images online, but the lake is honestly just like a mirror. It looks exactly the same in real life!
When I saw the wintery landscape of Yosemite I was pretty sure such natural beauty inspired many of the water colour paintings one would see in museums. I finally understood how some artists can come up with such incredible art pieces. They don't imagine. Instead, they just have to reflect reality.
Not to mention, the colours of the sunset in the winter is so unlike typical summery sunsets i'm used to seeing in Singapore! It was one of the best sights whilst driving along the winding routes.
I'd hope to one day have a visit to Yosemite in the summer. Im pretty sure it would be another experience in itself!
Yosemite's Wintery Landscape
21 February 2017 Yosemite National Park, California, USA
The typical pictures and videos I see of Los Angeles they are usually of it in the summer. The sweltering heat, every one dressed in cute sundresses, cropped tops and dainty short shorts. However, when I visited LA early January, it was most definitely not during its prime. Instead of sundresses, I instead barely saw any skin. Tights, leggings, jeans, umbrellas, sweaters, some even wore puffer jackets (so not necessary though!)
Despite facing a little rain and fog, LA was not any less enjoyable.
In fact, I thought it was a good thing to visit LA during the winter months because of the LOW crowds. Also, LA winters are pretty mild.
The sun remains out, yet temperatures are sufficiently cool. Definitely MUCH cooler than the over 30°C temperature of Singapore, which made winter in LA something I thoroughly enjoyed.
During the day the sun shines just as brightly, but you still feel comfortable walking around because you're not perspiring profusely. At night, the occasional chilly breeze sometimes makes you forget you're actually in sunny LA.
The sun remains out, yet temperatures are sufficiently cool. Definitely MUCH cooler than the over 30°C temperature of Singapore, which made winter in LA something I thoroughly enjoyed.
During the day the sun shines just as brightly, but you still feel comfortable walking around because you're not perspiring profusely. At night, the occasional chilly breeze sometimes makes you forget you're actually in sunny LA.
I must say, I wished I got to see the nice sunsets with the swaying palm tree leaves. That, after 3 failed sunsets due to the intense fog, was my only disappointment.
But hey, this means I have to plan a trip back to LA again during the summer season!
LA in the Winter
5 February 2017 Los Angeles, CA, USA
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