I can't be bothered recalling everything that happened in Yellowstone, except that we went on a 5 mile trek mistakenly thinking that it was a hiking trail, wound up at the North Entrance of the park where a park ranger very kindly gave us a ride back to the hotel after trying to hitchhike, unsuccessfully of course. I remember while on the 'trail', we began suspecting the words of the ranger at the Visitors Center. 'Spectacular wild flowers?! where are the spectacular wild flowers??!?!' and 'DON'T EAT THE TRAILMIX. THERE MIGHT BE BEARS AND IF THEY SMELL THE NUTS, THEY WILL EAT US'. Not only did we NOT see bears, we didn't see any ANY sign of life at all in that 2 hours. Alright to be fair, we did see 4 other humans (thanks guys for the lack of heads up) and some unspectacular wild flowers, they were literally lu bian de ye hua.




We also checked out the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone area, where we stayed at the Lodge Cabins which is to put it nicely, rustic. However, it was cheap, and had the largest range of souvenirs at the gift shops, so it was cool.

Now, the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone is simply breathtaking. We went on a ranger-led hike and realized that ranger led hikes are the way to go because 1) its so much more interesting and 2) you will know you are definitely on the right track. We saw a tree with black bear claw marks, pity no black bear though, and a tree uprooted from the middle of the night since it was the first time the ranger's seen it too. So according to the ranger, everything originated from the Super Volcanoes. How the valley was formed, how the wildlife came to settle at Yellowstone, and why every part of the park is so distinctly different. Wild fires and injured animals are all part of nature, so they try not to intervene.





After sending the NY girls to the airport the last morning, I let Ruoyi drive and her first question stumped me 'This (the accelerator) is the brake right?'... Ruoyi and I visited the Natural Wildlife Museum. Man, I really want to see those darn elusive wolves the next time!

I was exceptionally sad coming back to Vegas after this spectacular vacation. Everything seems even more undesirable now, the traffic, the shady people, the lack of naturalness. You know, I probably won't be trading in my cable TV and internet to live on a ranch, but it was quite literally, a breath of fresh, fresh air. I think I can do a couple of weeks for sure. It was nice driving in single lane traffic, where everyone is in no angst to get anywhere since you just look out of the window and feel 100 times better instantly.


I also learnt a very important lesson about travelling. Keep an open mind. I'm a prime candidate to talk about that cos if you had asked me before to go horseback riding, hiking, this n that, I would had said 'I am going to Manhattan and all the hiking I am going to do is down 5th Avenue'. But because I came to Yellowstone, I now know the possibilities - skiing? more hiking? white water rafting? skydiving? Whatever it is man, I will at least consider it first and THEN maybe say no. OK maybe not white water rafting cos I'm not comfortable in water. But just imagine what I would had missed if I hadn't stepped out of my comfort zone.


I was also sad cos Ruoxi left the U.S. 2 weeks after we returned from Yellowstone. She's decided she's had enough of New York City, and answered the calling of home after 8 years. I wonder when it will be my turn to go home? I can only hope its sooner than later. But in the meantime, I shall indulge in my favorite American pasttimes - cable TV, Trader Joes, the Victoria Secrets Semi-annual sale, college sports, and vacationing (on my radar: Alaska, Argentina, somewhere in Central America just so I can say I've been there).