Cold December

I wanted to take this opportunity to say Merry Christmas to everyone. So Merry Christmas. It may be a bit early but I wish you all a wonderful winter holiday.

I am still here in Japan with a few days left until I depart for India. My flight leaves on the 25^th actually, with a 10 hour stop over in Hong Kong. That means I’ll be spending most of Christmas in Hong Kong. I’ll be with my good friend Dan. The two of us hope to find a nice restaurant where we can enjoy a somewhat Christmasy meal. I’m thinking Peking Duck.  It sure would beat the fried chicken Japanese people get from KFC this time of year.  But even if we can’t find a place that’s worthwhile I still expect to have a splendid feast on the 24^th.  I’ll be hosting a Christmas Eve Dinner at my house. I’m not so sure how many people will come but it should be a festive affair.

To add to the Christmas feel the snows came early this year. We had a 24 hour period of snowfall over the weekend that has yet to melt away. It first started on Friday before lunch, and the students saw it coming down while in class.  They all ran up to the window and shouted with joy. The home room teacher had to remind them that it was still English time to get them to sit back down. However, 45 minutes later, after they finished eating lunch, the kids shuffled outside and played with more energy than usual. I joined in for a game of cops and robbers.

Anyhow, I’m over the snow now. It is nice to look at but to live with it is a pain. My biggest complaint is having to clear the windshield of my car every morning. And even if there is no snow it still frosts over. The weather here is simply that cold. Maybe I sound like a wuss complaining about frost but that is how I am having been raised in Southern California. Anywhere I go and spend a great length of time the weather will be awful by comparison.

I can't tell you how much I miss the mild winters in San Diego. I always have. It would make no difference if I spent one hundred winters here, my feelings would never change. The cold is not for me. I suffer immensely during this time of year. And that is why I am leaving to go somewhere warmer. I only wish my respite was more than two weeks. Upon returning to Japan it will be January, the coldest of all months. Oh how I dread working the third and final semester. My schools have practically no heating. It is so bad that I never take off my jacket. And even then I am shivering. The students look at me and ask why I am so cold. I tell them it is because I am not used to Japanese weather. Then they ask me how many layers of clothing I am wearing. I tell them six. They laugh. Most of them only have on a T-shirt and pull over. I don’t know how they survive like that.

Boy

Takeru is a boy in one of my 6th grade classes at a school I teach at. He appeared about one third of the way in to the the school year. At the time, the homeroom teacher explained that he had been living in Shanghai and could speak Japanese, English and Mandarin. I said hi to him and didn't think much of his arrival. He was just some new kid who happened to be good at English.

Anyhow, as the semester went on I noticed that Takeru did not fit in well. The other students seemed not to like him, and it got to the point where he was becoming ostracized in class. At first I thought maybe it was because he was a little fat and nerdy. But then I realized it had more to do with his way of thinking. Takeru was not like the others. He was simply more open, and more curious than your typical Japanese kid. After having made these observations I didn't give his situation much thought though. 

Well, today at lunch I was scheduled to eat with the 6th graders. A desk in the classroom had been set aside for me. To the left sat Takeru. Hungrier than usual, I sat down and quickly dug in to my meal.

As I was slurping away at my alphabet soup Takeru spoke up. "Which do you like more, America or Japan?" he asked.

"Japan," I lied.

"Yes, Japan is good. The air here is very clean," he nodded.

"I guess so."

"China's air is very dirty."

"Huh?"

"Yes, very dirty. I don't like China's air."

I remembered he had come from China. "You lived in Shanghai right?"

"Yes. And China's air is very dirty. The trees give the clean air, but the China people kill the trees."

"Is that so?"

"China man are very bad. They kill trees and they sell people."

The statement struck me as odd. It gave me the impression the Takeru did not like China. "That's not good." I said. "Why do they do that?"

"Money," he answered rubbing his fingers together. It was an unusual gesture for a boy to give, especially a Japanese boy. (Here in Japan when people give the sign for money it's not done like in America. They make an OK sign, but with the palm facing up.)

"The food in China is not healthy," he continued. "I won't eat China's hamburger."

"I have heard that the food there is questionable."

"China's hamburger has insect. I won't eat them again."

Poor boy. I pictured him at a McDonald's in Shanghai. He was enjoying a BigMac when suddenly a cockroach came crawling out on to his hand. But really, who knows why he said such a thing?

"What else can you tell me that's wrong with China?" I asked him. He gave no reply. Must not have understood, I thought. "What more is bad in China," I asked again.

"The street," he said, "they are very dirty. They have very much...Oh, I forget my English."

"What is it you want to say?"

"Gomi," he said in Japanese.

"You mean trash?"

"Yes, there is very much of it in the street. China's people don't use the trash bin. They are very dirty."

Though the conversation we were having may seem absurd now, I was thoroughly enjoying my chat with Takeru. It was perhaps the first time I had had a full on English conversation while eating with my students. Usually, there's hardly any speaking at all, and when my students and I do converse it's always in Japanese. They simply do not have the language ability to carry a conversation outside their own language. 

"How long were you in China?" I asked.

"12 years."

"Wow, that's a long time." When he said it, It didn't occur to me that Takeru had spent practically his entire life abroad. "You must speak Chinese like a native," I figured.

"Yes, my Chinese is very well."

"Say something for me in Chinese."

"Okay."

"Say 'the streets in China are very dirty.'"

He did just that. And when I heard him speak I almost fell out of my chair laughing. There was a glaring disgust in his voice, as if he was letting fly his true character after having been unable to express it properly in English. I found his unexpected burst of emotion absolutely adorable. Moreover, I could relate to him. There was a time when I too couldn't express my feelings convincingly in a another language.

We continued our chat. And as we were talking something occurred to me. Takeru had been just another student, but because he was trying so hard to use the English he knew, and because he had delighted me with his strange words, and most importantly, because he had made me see a bit of myself in his eyes, I was now viewing him in a different light. How strange I thought. The boy had actually endeared himself towards me. 

On we talked. Our topic had shifted to my failed attempt at learning Chinese in Taipei. I was telling him things I had never told a student before. And poor Takeru, he was making such an effort to hold up his end of the conversation that he had completely forgotten to eat his food. By then the other students had finished up and were putting their plates away. A girl came by, and I watched her as she chided Takeru for still having food on his plate.

He then turned to me and said, "I'm sorry Mr. Phil. I can't talk more. I have to eat.”

McDonalds

I recently discovered on Wikipedia that there exists a Hamburger University, “a 130,000 square foot (12,000 m²) training facility of McDonald's Corporation, located at 2815 Jorie Boulevard in Oak Brook, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago.” So thought provoking was this find that I absolutely needed to write about it.

The Hamburger University is an accredited school that awards graduates a degree in foodservice. It was founded in 1961 by Fred Turner and has grown to educate an annual body of 5,000 students. Over 80,000 men and women have graduated. The current Illinois site was built in 1983 at a cost of $40 million. 6 overseas campuses were later added, one of which is in Tokyo.

Can you believe this school exists? No? Well, it is true. The school has even spawned imitators such as Burger King University in Florida.

And what type of person would go there I wonder? A fry cook extraordinaire? A cashier looking to move up? Or perhaps an overzealous night manager?

For some inexplicable reason I can imagine myself meeting a Hamburger University alumnus at a dinner party. It is a lively affair with people everywhere. As I stand around waiting for the food to be served I strike up a conversation with the gentleman next to me.

“Hey.”

“Hello.”

“How’s it goin’?

"Fine, thank you. Yourself?"

"I’m good. My name’s Phil. Nice to meet you."

"A pleasure to make your acquaintance. Rutherford E. Livingston the third, but please, call me Mr. Livingston."

"Uh…sure. So what do you do for a living Mr. Livingston?"

"I’m a restaurant manager for the leading global foodservice retailer consisting of 31,000+ stores servicing 47 million customers a day. My store alone averages about 4 million in sales while total corporate revenue amounts to nearly 28 billion dollars annually.”

“Wow. Did you have to go to school for that?”

“I did. I attended Hamburger University and graduated summa cum laude, class of ’86, with a masters in Hamburgerology, an emphasis in Affiliate Relations and two major course studies, one in Crew Development, the other Classical Greek. I was also captain of the Lacrosse team the year we beat Yale for the Oswald Cup.”

“That's impressive.”

“I know. Now if you’ll excuse me there are more important people I’d like to talk to. Do have a nice night.”


What pompous arrogance! But could I expect any less from a McElitist? They and their company are on top in this modern age of fast food and convenience.

McDonald's, McDonald's, McDonald's. I kind of have a love hate relationship with the chain. I love the taste of the food but hate the effect it has on my body.

Because of my questionable health I try to avoid eating anything on the menu except for the ice cream. McFlurries happen to be an addiction of mine. It’s pretty hard to conceal the fact when Japan is inundated with McTemptation. I’m serious. Outside stations, in malls, on major roadways, McDonald’s is everywhere. This country has more stores than any other non-US place in the world.
 

Speaking of McDonald's in Japan, I'd like to tell you about Den Fujita. His story is remarkable for it was him who first introduced fast food to Japan.

This tale begins way back in the post war era when Den ran an import shop catering to Americas. The young man marveled at the size and vitality of his foreign customers and attributed this to their victory over the Japanese Imperial War Machine. After closely watching their habits Den realized that Americans ate large quantities of food, especially beef. That he thought was the secret to their success. If Japanese children followed the same diet they too could become strong like Americans. The one problem was that beef was very expensive and unsuitable for most family incomes.

Several years later in 1967 Den was visiting the United States on business. He came across a McDonalds and had a revelation. Fast food was an efficient system that provided beef and other high calorie foods to the general populace at low cost. If the same system could be transferred to Japan it could do the same for Japanese people. McDonalds was the solution Den had been longing for.

Den did his research and arranged to meet with Ray Kroc. In case you don’t know who Ray is he was the former milkshake machine salesman who took control of McDonald’s from the McDonald brothers and later turned it in to a commercial empire the likes of which the world had never seen.

On the fateful day of their meeting the conversation went something like the following:

“So tell me Mr. Fujita, what business do you propose?” asks Ray.

“I am impressed by the success McDonalds makes in America. I think the same success can be made in Japan.”

“And why do you think that?”

“In Japan the people have poor food. They eat fish, vegetables and rice. This does not make them strong. Here in America everyone is big. Japanese want to be big too. They need beef. They want beef. McDonald’s hamburgers can give Japanese what they want. Hamburgers can make Japan strong.”

“I see.”

“Yes. Japan and McDonald’s can benefit from harmonious relationship.”

“Mr. Fujita, I’ll be honest with you. Many men have come in to my office asking to open McDonald’s in Japan but I have had my reservations. I now realize that I was waiting for the right man. You are that man.”

“Really? Thank you. It is great honor,” bows Den.

“I’m giving you a chance because you got passion. I like that.”

“Oh, I am so happy. Thank you. Thank you,” he bows again.

“There is of course a condition.”

“Condition?”

“You will immediately start work on opening a restaurant. That will be the first of 500 store locations I expect built in the next 10 years. Are you the man for the task?”

“Yes, Mr. Kroc. I will make 500 stores. I promise.”

“Very well. We have a deal.”

Den knew that for McDonalds to be successful the first Japanese store needed to attract many customers. He and Ray decided that Tokyo would be the place to start. However, they soon disagreed on what part of the city. Ray believed that the suburbs would be best because that is where McDonald’s thrived most in the United States. Den begged to differ.

“Mr. Kroc. Japan and America are very different. People do not drive cars. They do not gather outside city center. A restaurant in suburbs is a mistake."

“What?! Our stores in the suburbs generate more in sales than our city locations. Profits do not lie," stammers Ray raising an index finger in to the air.

“I understand. But those are sales in America. Japan is not the same. It is a different market. Perhaps we can try a different way.”

“OK. I’m listening.”

“In Tokyo there is a place called Ginza. It is famous for good shopping and fun environment. Many young people go there. They like new fashions and trends. A new store can get attention. If we are to make success, Ginza is the place.”

“Den, you had be better right about this.”

“I will not disappoint Mr. Kroc."

In 1971 Den opened the first McDonald’s in Asia beneath a Mitsukoshi Department store in Ginza. It was an immediate success with many other stores soon following. By 1981 there were well over 500 restaurants. Den Fujita had fulfilled his promise to Ray Kroc.

By 2000 he was also one of the 30 richest men in Japan. Then he died.

End of story.

Den Fujita (1926-2004)

I was delighted to find out about Den and Ray while at a school I was working for a few years back. There were dozens of these manga books on historical figures. Flipping through them in the school library helped me kill time between classes. Den Fujita’s was the most fascinating, so I actually sat down and read it. Now that knowledge has been passed on to you.

One more thing. I came across an interesting quote I'd like to also share. It's from Den around the time he opened his first McDonald’s.

"The reason Japanese people are so short and have yellow skins is because they have eaten nothing but fish and rice for two thousand years…If we eat McDonald's hamburgers and potatoes for a thousand years we will become taller, our skin become white, and our hair blonde."

A pity I won’t live to see the day.

The Road Trip

The Great West

This is a recap of the 5,000 mile road trip I took with Dan and Roberto in the western part of the US while I was visiting home from Japan in August of '09. 


Day One

Woke up at parent's house after returning home late from a great rave in Orange County. Ate leftover lasanga. Drove 5 hours from San Diego to Las Vegas. Tried to get a room at Excalibur. It was booked. Later checked in to Circus Circus Hotel and Casino. Walked along strip. Went inside Venetian and took pictures. Walked a little further and entered 3rd rate casino whose name I forgot. Played blackjack at 5 dollar table and quickly lost 20 bucks.Tipped cocktail waitress 1 dollar for beer. Drank 21 dollar beer and enjoyed it. Had 6 dollar steak and egg plate. Great deal for price. Took shower and turned in early at the hotel.

Mojave Desert

Four Crows

Joshua Tree

On the Way to Vegas


Side Note

Las Vegas is a hot desert city I have never much liked. After two or three trips you get a kind of been there done that feel for the place. The drive from San Diego is also long and bland. Well, I still wanted to check Vegas out again. I guess it is because there is no other place like it in the world. The downtown area along the strip has become a giant playground for adults. While gambling, fine dining, alcohol and shows are the main attractions, there is much more to do if you got money to blow. What you get mostly has a low class appeal with a very touristy touch. Vegas' high end entertainment on the other hand is reserved for only those few who can afford it.

Lights Off the Water

The Venetian Hotel and Casino

Inside the Venetian

Umbrellas Galore

About to Get Steak and Eggs


Day Two

Ate breakfast at In-N-Out. Drove in towards Utah. Stopped at outlet mall. Dan and Roberto bought shoes, I got SD card for camera. Got back on Interstate. Saw that Zion National Park was in area. Made slight detour. Visited park. Payed 25 dollars to get in but only stayed for 45 minutes. Rode shuttle bus and took pictures. First discovered problem with camera lens. Couldnt do anything about it. Had to rush to Grand Canyon. Arrived at Northern Rim right before sunset. Saw view, felt happy to be alive. Left Grand Canyon and headed west across vast Arizona desert. Bought six pack of beer at small gas station market. Pulled over 10 miles down road to drink beer. Had no bottle opener. Continued 60 miles until we found next gas station. Bought bottle opener and ice. Turned off highway to drink beer. Saw ominous wooden cross on side of road. Decided to go a little further. 50 miles north of Flagstaff on 89 highway finally stopped. Had beer atop big earthen mound while looking at moon. Slept in car.

On the I-15 near Utah

Inside Zion

Cliff Wall

After the Park


Side Note

Having never been to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon we made a last minute change to go there instead of the South Rim. The North side is definitely different, however, first time visitors will want to see the South Rim. It's far more incredible. You get better vistas with deeper views. You can even take a day hike in and out of the the canyon. The north side by contrast does offer greener scenery but with less views and accessibility. It's no wonder the South Rim is much more popular.

The North Rim

Enjoying the View



Day Three

On way to Flagstaff happened upon Sunset Crater National Monument and Wupatki Monument. Payed 10 bucks and entered. Took pictures of ashy mountain and some old indian ruins. Continued south then east. Had lunch at McDonald's in Tuba City, AZ. Gave change to Indian panhandler. Later in Winslow AZ random dude at gas station invited us to house for bbq. Went and stuck around for an hour. Talked mostly about sports and women. Had to leave to see Painted Desert and Petrified Forest. Entered park. Hiked a bit and took pictures. Contemplated stealing petrified wood from park but did not. Did not need bad juju. Continued east to Albequerque NM. Met cousin Adrian at house about 11pm. He made us blue corn enchiladas with green chile sauce. They were insanely good. Took shower. Slept.

Sun Up

Waking Up in the Car

A Little Collared Lizard

The Base of Sunset Crater


Side Note

The states of Arizona and New Mexico are Indian country. Outside of the big cities like Phoenix and Albequerque their presence becomes very noticable. Native American traditions and culture have helped to shape the area. Sadly, in modern times the natives have fallen on hard times. Due to their inaccessibility to a good education, alcoholism, crime and the lack of employment opportunities in their region, many now live in impoversihed conditions on their reservations.

Wupatki Ruins

Dinosaur Shop in Hollbrook

Inside Museum at Petrified Forest

Petrified Wood

Drawings by Indians

Painted Desert

Day Four

Ate breakfast at cafe in Bernalillo called Shooting Star. Had french toast and some of Dan's breakfast burrito. Drove to Chaco Canyon National Park Monument. Saw largest ruins of indigenous people in United States. Learned a whole lot about ancient indian culture. Surrounding scenery included lone butte and tall orange cliffwalls. Took pictures. Drove back to Albequerque. Played catch with cousin's dog. Tried to fix camera lens. Failed. Went to Walgreens, then Home Depot to look for proper tool for repair. Could not find it. Gave up. Ate dinner at cousin's place. Had bonfire in backyard. Talked with cousuin and drank beer until 3am. Somehow burned leg in the process. Passed out drunk.

Entrance to Chaco Canyon

Remains of Anasazi Culture

Ruins Up Close

Through a Window


Side Note

My cousin Adrian is a very unique individual. Like me he has travelled the world doing it on his own terms. Now he is settled in Bernalillo, New Mexico with his life partner AJ. While he was a professional cook that once worked for the Governor of Alaska, Adrian has shifted his attention to Nutrition. He currently takes classes at the University of New Mexico. he still knows his way around the kitchen though. The blue corn enchiladas he hastily prepared for us were undoubtedly the best thing I ate during my one month stay in the States.

Dan Sleeps In

Adrian's Kitchen

Playing with Saba

Before we Left



Day Five

Left cousin's house and drove north to Santa Fe. Stopped off for breakfast at BurgerKing. Made it to uncle Danny's place. Amazed by his newly built adobe style house. Took uncle's car to Santa Fe National Forest and went hiking in mountains. High elevation was harsh on lungs. Got up to about 10,000 ft and saw spectacular view. Snacked on cookies and a nectarine. Took pictures. Returned to car. Stopped off at Santa Fe Plaza. Went to old Basilica Church. Stepped in to a shop and bought turqouise necklace for girlfriend. Went to Mexican Food Place called Tomasita's. Ate flautas, beans and rice. Drove to Sam's Club at Roberto's behest. Marveled at stuff on shelves. Ended up buying nothing but then got berry sundae at food counter. Split mine with Roberto. Returned to uncle's house. Rained slightly. Checked out uncle's deck on second floor and caught sight of rainbow. Most awsome rainbow I have ever seen. Took pictures. Had shower. Talked with aunt and uncle. Washed clothes.

Hiking in the Rockies

View from the Top

Side Note

Santa Fe is a city dominated by adobe architecture. Since visiting the area as a kid I always assumed it was real adobe that the buildings were made of. However, my Aunt and Uncle who recently built a new home explained that the Adobe look is only for show. The majority of the walls I've been seeing are really made of a standard wood frame with adobe style plaster on the outside. Erecting a wooden house is much less labor intensive than laying down adobe mud bricks apparently. While it does make sense I couldn't believe it when they first told me. 

Santa Fe Adobe Architecture

Inside Church

Uncle's House



Day Six

Woke up in uncle Danny's giant house. Left for breakfast. Ate big sample platter and side of pancakes at I-HOP. Said goodbye to Danny and Nancy. Checked out camera shop. Headed north to Taos. On way took detour to see Rio Grande river. Swam in river with Dan. Met nice group of people from Colorado. Continued on way. Stopped at Rio Gorge Bridge. Took pictures. Went west on 64 highway. Visited Taos Pueblo. Took tons of pictures. Finally made it to Grandpa Bialquin's house. Saw him and was sad. Is 98 yrs old and is showing age. Grandpa quickly went to sleep. Had dinner with Aunt Marla and Uncle Bob. Met with friend of Dan's younger brother. A guy named Jaron. Showed me, Dan and Roberto three bars in Taos area. Had some beer. Met two Taos indians. They invited us to their place place in Toas Canyon. Drank more. Learned about Toas Pueblo culture. Got home around 3:30 AM. Slept.

Camel Rock

Rio Grande River 

River Gorge

Bridge over River

 Side Note

The Taos Pueblo is the only UNESCO LIving World Heritage Site in the World. This is due to the fact that the area has been continuously inhabited for over a thousand years while greatly preserving the ancient culture and traditions of the people. The local Puebloans are very secretive about their ways and language. Outsiders are strictly prohibited from intruding on their reservation beyond the Pueblo site. By sheer coincidence, Dan, Roberto and I drank with some Taos Indians who shared some of their secrets. Don't expect me to write them down here though.

Taos Pueblo

Dog Crossing

Pueblo Church

Local Native Girls

Day Seven

Woke up and had breakfast. Went to visit Grandmother Lila's grave. Cried. Retuned to Granfather's house. Rested a bit. Took drive around Enchanted Circle with Dan and Roberto. Went too far on Highway 155. Almost ended up in Colorado. Turned back and found right road. Stopped in Red River. Walked around. Took Photos. Conitued on road. Made another stop in Eagle's Nest. Rushed home. Had dinner with Marla, Bob, Uncle Kenny and his friend. Ate meat and bean burritos. Were delicious. Went out to Taos Plaza. Met Jaron again. Had a drink at bar. Went to house party in Arroyo Seco. No beer there, only hard liqour. Did not drink any more. Sat around bonfire and talked to others. Returned home around 2:30am. Slept.

Grandfather's House in Taos

Shop in Arroyo Seco

Abandoned Adobe Home

Lake in Red River

Colorful Water

Side Note

The only person I have ever truly respected is my grandfather. He is an amazing man who has led an exemplary life. However, now that he is 98, he has slowed down tremendously. In fact he could not possibly manage on his own. My father, and his siblings take turns looking after him. When we arrived in Taos it was my Aunt Marla's turn. She gave him all the attention he need, but for me it was difficult seeing him in such a needy state. I love him so much and don't want to lose him. 

Holding Grandfather's Hand

Family Pictures




Day Eight

Got up to have breakfast that aunt prepared. Readied myself for leaving to go north. Said goodbye to my Grandfather. Cried. Perhaps last time I will ever see him. Left Grandfather's house. Drove to Mesa Verde National Park. Saw old Anasazi ruins. Took pictures. Went around park seeing scenery. Got dark so we continued on our way to next destination. Stopped briefly in four corners but was late and closed. Pulled over in Dennehotso reservation in Arizona. Slept in car. Sleep interrupted by local Navajo indians. Invited us to their property. Talked for a while. Watched video about skin walkers and Coyote Jack. Smoked mountain smoke to ward off evil spirits. Went back to sleep in car around 3:00 AM.

Great View within Mesa Verde Park

Little Horned Lizard

Mesa Verde Ruins

Dan Looks Up

Park Ranger

Shame on Me

Side Note

The Anasazi peoples who inhabited the four corner area of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah were once a thriving culture. However, it is believed a severe drought that occurred 800 years ago decimated their numbers and drove them to the Rio Grande river basin in what is now New Mexico. There they re-established themselves and became the modern day Puebloans. Since these Native Americans had no written language their history is very vague. Only archeology and oral tradition has given some clues to their past, and what is known I find very fascinating.

The Closest We Came to Four Corners


Day Nine

Sound of foraging sheep woke me up. Went to say goodbye to natives but was invited to breakfast. Went with them to pick corn for breakfast. Bought beer for natives from bootleggers. Breakfast turned out to be BBQ. While natives were prepping we took walk on reservation. Went to site where old Anasazi pottery fragments were scattered about. Collected some for myself. Went back to house for BBQ. Ate meat and chicken with fried bread. Said goodbye. Got on our way. Traveled northeast. Entered Monument Valley. Did loop inside. Took pictures. Bought Indian Jewelry. Left park. Continued north to Moab. Passed through on to Arches National Park. Saw various sights in park. Before dawn started long hike. Got separated from Dan and Roberto on trail. Turned back but had to wait long time before Dan and Roberto made it back. Got out of park and started long drive towards Salt Lake City. Stopped in Provo and stayed at a Motel 6.

Roberto Picks Corn

Scrawny Pup

Middle of the Desert

Pottery Sherds

Fried Bread

Having Fun

Side Note

The native Navajo people of Dennehotso were very kind to us. In return for their hospitality one of the men asked that we buy beer for them from a bootlegger on the reservation. We obliged them because we did not want to be rude. But it was evident the men were alcoholics, and the women were not at all pleased when they saw them drinking. It is a shame that they are afflicted in such a way. Their culture was once so beautiful and now they live in a marginalized world of desert and isolation. Dan, Roberto and I were amazed to find that there were still pottery sherds lying around in the earth. But these were not of the Navajo. Rather they belonged to those who came before--the Anasazi.

Ship Rock

Arriving in Monument Valley

The Famous Butte

Navajo Woman Sells her Wares

Like a Commercial

Side Note

The Four Corners area falls with the Colorado Plateau. This geological region contains several national parks. Of them we visited Zion, Grand Canyon, Painted Desert, Petrified Forest, Chaco Canyon, Mesa Verde and Arches. Monument Valley, Sunset Crater and Wupatki are monuments also found on the Plateau. This area in fact has the largest concentration of parks and monuments in the country. That said, I have never in all my travels seen any other region even remotely similar to the plateau in terms of natural beauty. In my opinion it is the most wondrous place on Earth. My pictures here fail to do it justice.

Mexican Hat

More Desert 

Amazing Formations

Posing Up High

Crazy Colors

Mini Arch

Day Ten

Awoke to find Xterra vehicle had flat tire. Needed to get it fixed at Discout Tires. Roberto took care of it. Dan and I had breakfast at Subway. Then killed time at mall while waiting for Roberto. Met up later and went to Salt Lake City. Arrived and parked near Salt Palace. Walked around temple and took photos. Also checked out State Capitol building. Hurried along. Left Salt Lake City and drove east on I-80. Passed through Boneville Salt Flats south of Great Salt Lake. Took photos there. Continued east. Crossed great expanse of nothingness in Northern Nevada. Completed 500 mile drive from Salt Lake City to Reno. Walked around Virginia St. in Reno. Ate Steak and Eggs platter at Harrah's Casino. Checked in to Motel 6. Showered and slept.

Mormon Temple in Provo

Mormon Temple in Salt Lake City

Patriotic Buffalo

State Capitol

Side Note

Utah might as well be a Mormon state. Since Brigham Young led his followers to the area in the late 1800s the local majority has been Mormon. In the capitol of Salt Lake City they have the Salt Lake Temple of Saint Latter Day Saints. It is the epicenter of their faith. During summer half a dozen devout couples are married in the temple daily. Thus, it is a very popular spot for weddings. Brother John was kind enough to explain this to us while we were visiting outside. We could even view part of a ceremony from there.

Bonneville Salt Flats

Sign

Roberto Loses It

Made it to Reno

Day Eleven

Got up and left Reno behind. Took detour off the I-80 to see Lake Tahoe. Dan and I skipped rocks off lake surface then went in for swim. After that got back and I-80 and drove to San Francisco. As we arrived in city realized we were ahead of our schedule. Decided to turn back to go to Yosemite and kill the next day there. First had dinner at Olive Garden. Then drove east. On way to Yosimite stopped at bar in Groveland. Had two beers with Dan. Went a little further and pulled over alongside road near perk entrance. Spent the night there.

Lake Tahoe

Depth Model of the Lake

Roberto Strikes a Sexy Pose



Day Twelve

Awoke in car outside of Yosemite. Drove in to the park and made a loop within Yosemite Valley. Took pictures. Left park and drove back to San Fransisco. Roberto dropped Dan and I off in Oakland while he went to meet a friend. Dan and I walked through Downtown Oakland Chinatown. We had lunch at a Chinese restaurant. Killed more time wandering around. Surprisingly downtown Oakland is very boring. Roberto came back for us. We all went to stay at a friend of Roberto's house, but first ate at Jackinthebox. Slept at friends.

Yosemite Valley in the Morning

Roberto Splits a Rock

Park Forest

Moon Beside Half Dome

Valley in the Afternoon

Side Note

Ansel Adams was a famed naturalist and professional photographer. In 1941 he was comissioned by the Department of the Interior to travel to and take pictures of the National Parks and Indian Reservations in the country. Through his exceptional photography and persistent advocacy Ansel later helped expand the National Park system. His continued work allowed him to see the best natural scenery the United States had to offer. Nonetheless, from the time he was a child Ansel always regarded Yosemite as his favorite place to photograph. For anyone who has made the trip there it's easy to see why it forever captured the naturalist's heart.

Buildings on a Lake

Downtown Oakland Sign

Beneath the Glass

Old Mayor's House



Day Thirteen

Woke up somewhat early. Played a few video games. Left for downtown San Francisco. parked on northside of area along street. Took trolley to Fisherman's Wharf. Walked around and took pictures. Than walked back towards where car was parked. Crossed through Chinatown along the way. I bought some soveneigrs there. Also checked out adult video store. Got in car and drove over to Golden Gate Bridge. Pulled over in park near there. Took photos. After that went to Hayward to visit Dan's frind John, Had dinner there that John made. Marinated chicken with salad and rice. Then went to see movie District 9. Thought it was okay. Got back to house and slept.

City Hall

Chinatown Trinkets

On a Trolley

Docks

Fisherman's Wharf

Seals Own Pier 39

Seals and Seagull

Interesting Building

Side Note

The Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco is one of the nation's most popular suicide spots. The 245 ft drop and frigid waters below promise certain death to those wanting to take the eternal plunge. The fact that many jumpers are unseen and never recovered after their bodies are washed out to sea by strong currents makes it difficult to track just how many people kill themselves each year. Regardless it is deemed a local problem that has only now being properly addressed. For years signs discouraging people from jumping were the only deterrent. Barriers were suggested yet voted down because of the cost and how they would effect the bridge's physical aesthetic. In 2008 a new plan to run a plastic covered stainless steel net along the bottom of the bridge was however approved.

Golden Gate Bridge



Day Fourteen

Had breakfast at place in Hayward. I ate belgium waffel with strawberry topping. Said goodbye to John. Drove back to San Diego. Traffic in Los Angeles was a bitch even though it was a Saturday. Arrived at parent's house. Trip ended.

Side Note

I absolutely hate Los Angeles and for good reason. The city is a traffic nightmare that is over polluted and congested. In the past I have always made every effort to avoid to going there. This is not always possible unfortunately. To worsen things I got caught in traffic while passing through on our way home. We then had to get gas and stop off somewhere to eat. When we finally got clear of the greater city area I felt free and relieved. How sad it is that every time I return from abroad and touch down in LAX, Los Angeles is the first and ultimately last place I see when in America. 

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