Nepal So Far

From my arrival in Kathmandu until my recent arrival in Pokhara, it has been a really interesting journey.  That's putting it mildly!  The people of this country are fantastic - friendly, kind and always smiling - an it seems genuine!  With my guide, Raju, I have eaten momos (dumplings to die for), seen the devastation that took place in last year's earthquake, visited Stupas and temples both Hindu and Buddhist, and went to a crematorium (the most sacred one in Kathmandu) where I saw a body prepared and burned.  That was all on my first day!
Today I traveled by bus with Ram, my trekking guide, to Pokhara.  What should have been an uneventful trip of 6 hours ended abruptly due to . . . we don't know!  But there were buses and trucks - hundreds of them - just stopped and waiting.  After more than a half hour, we just bailed and took a taxi that drove us "the back way" up mountains on rock covered dirt roads, but we made it to Pokhara.  Tomorrow we begin our trekking journey and, while we're promised good WiFi, I don't believe it for a second.  This is the ONLY good WiFi I've experienced and it's in a restaurant (that has good curry).  The fourth rolling blackout since my arrival just ended.  The lights are on - YAY!
What a place!

First View of the Himalayas

Woman With Offerings and Monkey

This Speaks for Itself

A Flag Salesman in Durbar Square

Girls Getting Married to Fruit - Really!

Offerings for Wishes Granted

At The Monkey Temple

Bodhnath Temple

 With lack of WiFi and electricity, blogs may be intermittent and incomplete.  I'll catch up later!

Capitol Reef National Park

Today I spent the day exploring Capitol Reef.  Granted, it's an odd name for a national park and is so-named for the obvious reasons (there's a formation that looks like the capitol and some other formations resemble a reef).  The park itself was impressive and different than any of the other parks I've visited, and it was a great day filled with fun hikes; first to Cassidy Arch (named after Butch Cassidy who hung out around here when he was hiding out) and the second to the Grand Wash, a slot canyon with narrows.  The day was finished off by an encounter with some bighorn sheep and a visit to some petroglyphs.  Wow!  Photos below.

Sunrise from My Hotel Room

Chimney Rock

 

The Castle

 

1.5 Miles Up, 1.5 Miles Down and 1,000 Ft. Gain in Elevation,
parts of it over slick rock - Hard!

View Along the Hike

View Along the Hike

Cassidy Arch - That's Me on the Arch!  Yay!

 

This Photo and the One Below are from Grand Wash

Big Horn Sheep!

Petroglyphs - Native Origin Unknown

Sandpipes and Scenic Highways

Kodachrome Basin State Park was so named by National Geographic photographers in 1949, around the same time as the film was first used.  The sedimentary spires (sandpipes) exist only in this small area and no one is sure of their origin and they are different than the hoodoos in Bryce in their creation.  Theories are that they were geysers that were filled in with sandstone or that they were caused by tectonic activity, but no one is sure.  The other amazing thing is that there was no one else in the park!  Unbelievable! 
The drive from there to Capitol Reef was beautiful and changed constantly, from expansive views of rock formations to forests of pine trees and birch trees changing color.  The summit was a head-spinning 9,600 feet. 





I Don't Know What This Is??

Petroglyphs in the Park

A Slot Canyon Near Boulder (Utah)

Hoodoo Voodoo - Bryce Canyon

Words cannot begin to describe these bizarre formations.  They boggle the mind and the first glimpse into Bryce Canyon literally makes your jaw drop.  Each one is huge, some stretching over 50 feet straight up.  They are a combination of limestone, dolomite, mudstone and siltstone and have formed from water, ice and gravity.  They change shape and size constantly due to weather conditions.  Today I hiked among them.  The hike is called the Queen's Garden Navajo Loop hike in Bryce and many consider it to be one of the most beautiful three mile hikes in existence.  I would have to agree.



                        Note the People for Size Comparison                        

More Zion, Not the Grand Canyon and Some Really Pretty Rocks

I am writing this from a town called Cannonville, a very small place about 8 miles from Bryce Canyon. It is located on what has been called the most beautiful highway in the U.S. by many - and it is exceptional.  It's difficult to drive without your jaw dropping from another amazing scene around every corner.  Cannonville does not have a restaurant, but the hotel told me that at 5:00 a BBQ truck (I.D.K. Bar-B-Q))  would set up in the parking lot.  A woman named Emily and her husband run it and it is REAL good barbecue!  After a long drive from a disappointing visit to the Grand Canyon's North Rim (snow, then fog and only glimpses of the canyon), a comfy room and some delicious pulled pork put everything right.  The photos of these places do not do them justice.  The expansiveness of the views are just not able to be captured.  Utah - I'm impressed!

Walter's Wiggles from Above

View from Scout's Lookout



Near the Temple of Sinawava

View from Canyon Overlook Hike

Checkerboard Mesa

 



Mule Deer in Zion



Zion Chipmunk

Trees at Grand Canyon North Rim
(Note the fog rising from the canyon)

Red Canyon