Thursday, May 29, 2008

finally back from yellowstone after a long long weekend. Monday was memorial day and we took off on tuesday, so we had 4.5 days for a fun road trip. the drive was quite horrendous though, 16 hrs in the car, and each of us took about 4 hrs each to drive there. Imagine trying to keep awake in the late hours at night while driving on one straight road.

Friday was really hectic as we drove down to the airport to collect our rental car. We had some issues with the rental car with underage fees, and what not, but finally, we rented a Toyota Prius, which is actually a hybrid car. All of us were pretty excited about the car as none of us has ever drove a hybrid before. the car's engine was super quiet and it was a nice car to drive. haha, if i ever come back to the states again, i'll definitely consider buying a Prius. After dinner at home, the 4 of us started on the 16hr drive towards yellowstone.

Reached Grand Teton National park on saturday afternoon (The Teton Range is a mountain range of the Rocky Mountains in North America. A north-south range, it is on the Wyoming side of the state's border with Idaho, just south of Yellowstone National Park. ). The view was pretty spectacular as we drove along, and it was really cold. To think that I thought I would be able to wear shorts around as afterall, it is spring. The day was pretty much spent sightseeing and driving around looking at the mountains and greenery. We went back to our lodge for the night and all of us concussed immediately as we were too tired.

Next day, we set off towards Yellowstone National Park. This has got to be my favourite national park so far as the things I got to see here were countless and amazng. We arrived at Old Faithful, which is the name of one of the geyser. It is named this way as the eruption time of this geyser is really predictable and hence, it was named as Old faithful. It was pretty amazing to see the geyser erupt, something which I've read about in my geography text, but never had the chance to experience. As we continued our journey to different parts of Yellowstone (Madison, Norris), we got to see geysers and hot springs, lakes, waterfalls, meanders, ox-bow lakes and many many animals. It was pretty much like an open zoo as animals would be grazing in the grasslands as we drove past. My favourite place in Yellowstone would have to be the part where we got to see canyons (even though i prefer grand canyon), but it was too bad that it was drizzling and thus, the pictures itself did not do the view justice. We also visited the mud volcano where I got to see fumarole, vents and mud pots. Something really funny happened at night outside our hotel as all of us thought that we saw a bear and immediately jumped back into the car at the same time.

On sunday, it was snowing when we went out in the morning which was really a pretty sight. We went off to mammoth hot springs (more hot springs) and went to a bear and wolf discovery centre. For ten dollars, we got to read all about bears and wolfs, and got to see 2 real grizzly bears and a pack of 8 wolfs in the place which was quite interesting. The rest of the day was spent 'animal hunting', and we saw bisons all over the place (there was one lumbering near a handicapped sign which was pretty funny), Elks, a moose crossing the road, a wolf jumping out in the middle of the road while we were driving, a mother bear and her cubs playing and rolling on the grass, chipmunks, squirrels, pronghorn., white tail deers and some other animals along this part of yellowstone known as lamar valley. The valley was beautiful, the scenery was perfect with green grasslands coupled with the mountains and lakes.

Thereafter on Monday, we visited another national Park on the way back home (Great Basin National Park), and we went on a ranger-led cave tour. The cave was about 2.5 miles long and it was really cool inside, as we saw limestone formations, stalactites and stalagmites (geography again!), and lots of interesting history about the cave. Then we took a drive all the way up the mountains and once again, I was amazed at the nice view around me. There was this road which was 200 plus miles long on the way back known as the loneliest road in USA, perhaps due to the fact that there were no cars on it, but it was really a road with amazing scenary.

I really won't mind spending the entire week in yellowstone, with more time to hike and walk around but oh wells, we got to come back for school and stanford. The next week would be a hectic one as out final presentation for class is due on friday and we have so much logistics to settle. Sigh, and I still have to go to work adding on to the tiredness. On hindsight, I finally bought my air ticket to new york to spend a week with yeeling and gwen, so i'm pretty excited about that!

haven't really found me-time to update this place, everyday seems to be a tiring one:) last weekend was a fun one going to pinnacles monument with some of the guys for a 8.7 mile hike, which was freaking tiring at the beginning with climbing slopes and what not. haha, the best part was definitely the cave at the end (too bad there were no bats) where it really felt like a big adventure. pictures should be up soon as i'm still compiling them:)

watched 2 movies (movie-hopped!), IRON MAN as well as Harold and Kumar, haha, Iron man was really really nice, it felt abit like spiderman but really refreshing as i liked the idea that he was just an ordinary man and without any special abilities but yet a superhero.

this week has been a hot one (literally) where temperatures shot up to 38 degrees celcius which is a BIG thing in california as it has always been cool. time to take out tank tops from the days in NUS.......and i went to the gym twice this week! (trying to lose some weight:()

Memorial day coming up, yellowstone trip!!!! I'm so looking forward to it.

13th batch at NOC office after business case meeting:)

taboo game with Gina at our house:)Golden gate bridge at san francisco








Yummy fish & chips at fisherman wharf

My favourite clam chowder

Chinatown




Our instant noodles dinner at mount tamalpais