Adventures of PrincessNg

I had heard Glen Canyon described, by those who planned to reserve that part of the river for hydroelectric power development, as an unspectacular, gently flowing stretch of the river unruffled by significant rapids, that in fact the Bureau of Reclamation had begun to dam. From the very first day, I was overwhelmed by the scenery--both in prospect and in description grossly underrated. The monumental structure of the towering walls in variety and color defied comprehension.
- Eliot Porter

Eliot Porter made his first rafting trip down the Colorado River through Glen Canyon in 1960. He became captivated by the region's beauty, and over the next decade, returned to it ten times to photograph its weathered trees, colorful rock formations, and hidden slit canyons.

Instead of heading for the highly famed Grand Canyon, I decided to visit Glen Canyon. The reason was because I chanced upon beautiful pictures of hidden slit canyons. And the photos were taken in Antelope Canyon. So... OF COURSE I had to head down to get some pictures of my own and to stand there in awe of what nature has created for us, and that many would have missed it!

So off we went. The view from Glen Canyon Dam is amazing.. We were at Glen Canyon Dam as the Visitor Centre is there too. We found out that the Tour of the Dam is free. Of course we wanted to go. But alas, we missed the tour timings for the day. So we just mingled around and viewed the exhibits and goofed around.



The next morning we were there. In true KIASU (scared lose: literal translation) Singaporean style we were there at 10:00AM to book for the 11:00AM tour. Little did we know, most Americans are KIASU too, just that they didn't know the term. So even though we thought we were 1 hr early, we took the last 2 slots for the tour.. It was a very educational tour. Something I appreciated.


Of course we talked to the park rangers about the different places we might see. And I was asking about Antelope Canyon. To get to Antelope Canyon, you MUST have a guide. Antelope Canyon is a cathedral to the older Navajo generation. They would probably pause before going in, to be in the right frame of mind and prepare for protection and respect. This would also allow them to leave with an uplifted feeling of what Mother Nature has to offer, and to be in harmony with something greater than themselves. It was, and is, a spiritual experience.

But my excitement was quelled!! It has been raining the past week.. And there was a high risk of flash floods! And to be caught in these hidden slit canyons would be a recipe for death. So... instead, the park ranger told me that I could hike the Horseshoe Bend trail.

It was WONDERFUL! Seeing the horseshoe bend.. It just popped out from my geography text books. I can only imagine how many decades and centuries of erosion it took look like this! The pictures I took didn't do any justice. For one, I didn't have a wide-angle camera then. (I was but a student who had to practically BEG her parents for a camera for her birthday.. Beggars can't be choosers).


It was truly a sight to behold. It reminds me how little I am compared to what the world has to offer.

Just look at that.. The sight that greeted me as I walked towards the main entrance got me riled up for an entire day of FUN! I purposely went there on the eve of Christmas so that I can have a relatively empty park. *evil grin* As you can tell, I am a rollercoaster fanatic. (And seriously, at that time Singapore didn't have any coasters worth riding.. and there's only ONE now)

I walked around, tried every ride.. And even got seconds and thirds for quite a lot of the coasters. All these before 5pm when the park closes during winter. First ones thru the entrance and the last ones out..

The best tip I can give is to continously scream that you're a SINGLE RIDER. I took the Goliath thrice in a row without ANY waiting time. The first ride I went in, someone noticed that I was alone and shouted for me while I clambered from the back to get the ride. And after I just kept running and taking.. AWESOME!!

The Goliath is the traditional rollercoaster ride. Dead drops, etc.. No 360 deg turns, no flipping s upside down. I love it.. Imagine going down at the speed of 85MPH in a carrigae with no overhead secure safety catch. It was those lock bar against your lap. YEAH!!!

Look at that drop!!

Tatsu was amazing. Legs dangling, we're rotated to "fly" like Superman.. And this is the new-age rollercoaster ride. Swerving, rotating, upside down... All these at the top speed of 62MPH..

It was a REALLY fun ride

I totally did not regret choosing this over Disneyland. Don't get me wrong.. Disneyland is great. But I have been there before (2 days for a kid was HEAVEN) and wanted to try something more adult this time around.


Check out for Opening hours and ticket prices HERE..

I came across San Diego Union Museum. It was the FIRST office of the San Diego Union Newspaper. This wood-frame structure was prefabricated in Maine and shipped around the Horn in 1851. The building is restored as it was when the Union printed its first edition on October 10, 1868 and was published as a weekly. Visitors can view the original printroom with a Washington press and the editor's office.
Admission: FREE

Lovely Building

Around the area, there is a beautiful church to take a look at, the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. The cornerstone was laid in 1868, but with the movement of the community to New Town in 1872, it lost its parishioners and was not dedicated until 1919. I find it simple, yet absolutely stunning. None of the intricacy of the churches of Europe.

The Church that is fully booked for ANY wedding for a year or more

Walking around is amazing! The place commerating the first time a United States flag is flown in Southern California, San Diego's first courthouse, hotels, etc. This place is filled with so much history.. yet being put in such a way that everyone can appreciate.

Check out their official website here.

There are also Ghost Tours available, if you are interested. (I'm a scaredy-cat thru and thru)

2. Statue of Cabrillo
I'm no US history buff.. Hence I couldn't appreciate the statue at all. I think Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo led the first European expedition to explore what is now the west coast of the United States. So here I'll just show you a picture of me monkeying around near the statue. But the view was awesome!! At that time I did not own a wide-angle camera.. But on a clear day, you can view San Diego and Mexico.. And of course the Pacific Ocean.

View of San Diego

3. Whale Watching at Cabrillo Lookout Point

From December to March, visitors have a great view of the Pacific Gray Whale as it travels along its yearly migration route from Alaska to Baja California. The lookout point, just south of the old lighthouse is ideal for whale watching.

Yes, I was there in December (late Dec, to be exact) but I did not manage to catch any whales. The only one I saw was the statue at the lookout point. But be sure to enjoy the panoramic view of the Pacific Ocean.

4. Old Point Loma Lighthouse

This treasure is a short walk from the Cabrillo Visitor Center and parking lot. Old Pont Loma Lighthouse stands majestically above the San Diego Bay and Pacific Ocean. In the main building, you can ascend to the second floor and see the refurbished living quarters of the keeper of the lighthouse and his family, much as it looked in the 1880s. It's amazing how tiny and cramped it is. And of course the famous spiral staircase!

The adjacent building has visual displays and large lighthouse lenses. It is really interesting to see the exhibits and all the stuff of that time.

Outside the lighthouse, a foot path leads to a scenic view point overlooking the ocean. And as you walk, you will see the toilet. A toilet with the BEST view EVER!!



5. Point Loma Tide Pooling

Point Loma Tide Pools is the largest and most prolific tide pools in San Diego County. You can catch it at low tide to see all that it has to offer. This is something I did not manage to catch. I did not plan ahead of time to catch the low tides.

For more info of the place, check out their official website HERE!

Just because I'm having an awful Monday, I'm going to write-up about a place that will always stay close to my heart. It's one of those places that is fairly ordinary but it will still blow you away. At least, that was what it did to me..

During the road trip, it was suppose to be Coronado Beach that I wanted to visit. Without a trusted GPS or a proper map for that matter (and me peering out to look for signboards), we missed the turn to Coronado Beach. And it looked awfully crowded!!

LESSON LEARNT: Never trust a tourist map on a tiny brochure, a third of roads gets drawn out into oblivion!!

As we were driving down, trying to find a a place to make a U-wey.. We came across a quiet beach. Perfect! "Let's just park the car so that we don't waste any time!" Because the whole purpose of going to the beach in winter was to take in the view of the Pacific Ocean in every imaginable shade of the fiery sunset.

And that was what we caught! A BEAUTIFUL sunset in a quiet beach. So quiet it seemed like we were the only ones on the beach. It was truly THE most memorable sunset ever.

The beach is located 4.5 miles south of the city of Coronado on Highway 75. The park is located on the sand-spit that forms the outer edge of San Diego Bay between Coronado and Imperial Beach. The park has 2.5 miles of ocean beach and 1/2 mile on the bay. The entrance to the park is from Highway 75, which serves as a divider between the ocean side of the park and the bay side.

It is a place that will hold many wonderful memories for me. And hence it's my favourite place thus far. Along with the wonderful memory that is etched within me, i remember the gorgeous scenery it had to offer.

It is such an underrated place (especially against Coronado!), but it was exceptionally beautiful.

Here are snippets of my memory of Silver Strand State Beach..

Map of Camelback Mountain

I'm not a fitness-nut. But I have to admit that when I was there, I was relatively fit (running and exercising regularly). But be absolutely prepared for what Camelback Mountain has to offer! I thought it would be an easy hike up. And boy was I proven WRONG!!

The Trail tried: Summit Trail (Echo Canyon Trail)

Directions to the trailhead:

Enter Echo Canyon Parkway east of Tatum Blvd. off of McDonald Drive. Parking is often limited. Trail ascends through spectacular sandstone rock formations and stunning views from the summit into Greater Phoenix.

Trail Length: 1.2 miles

Elevation Gain: 1,264 feet

Summit: 2,704 feet

Difficulty: Strenuous

Open: Sunrise to sunset

** Take note the difficulty, it said STRENUOUS.. If only I came across this info I before I embarked on my "Happy Hiking Day"**

At the trailhead, everything was great. The trail was easy and manageable. There were even wood that cut into the ground to create steps. But that was shortlived! Because I came face to face with a monster! (Yes, I was relatively fit.. But I'm not a seasoned hiker!)

Do you see how STEEP it is!!

That was possibly the worst, but it was relatively steep throughout the entire trail. But there were other sections with the rails, and chains to help poor newbies like me out!

Along the trail, the beauty of the desert can be fully appreciated. There were different cactus to admire, and the view along the way is just spectacular. Here is the infamous Saguaro Cactus that was 3 times the size of me. And seriously it was the only one I was daring enough to go for the photo-op. The rest seemed a little far off the trail.

Look how BIG it is!!

And reaching the top, one can only imagine the wonderful urban+nature view that awaits you.

The escape from the Urban Jungle was GREAT!!

I would definitely recommend just trying the hike because the view is worth all the effort. But be prepared for the strenuous hike! And seasoned fitness nuts using it as a fitness circuit! That means being overtaken tonnes of times by runners (Don't ask me how they run up those steep slopes!).

Check it out if you happen to be in the Phoenix.

This is an itinerary of my first ever Road Trip in the US of A! Ok, it is more like my first ever to plan on my own and embarked with a friend without any family members. (When I was little, I did remember road-trips my family made in California during the weekends and holidays)

This is for reference. I will highlight each place of interest in seperate entries.

For a more detailed breakdown, CLICK HERE for my itinerary!

DAY 1: Phoenix, AZ - San Diego, CA

The entire day is spent on the road getting to San Diego, CA. A great route that showcases great sceneries: desert landscapes, snow dustings in the mountaineous regions (Kumeyaay Highway), sand dunes (Imperial Sand Dunes) and wind turbines (on Campo Indian Reservation).

DAY 2: Exploring San Diego, CA Exploring San Diego.

Having been to San Diego before, I skipped SeaWorld. I went to explore the lesser known attractions it has to offer. Cabrillo National Monument, Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, Coronado and Silver Strand State Beach..



DAY 3: San Diego, CA - Los Angeles, CA

We thought we could leave later since Los Angeles was a short drive away from San Diego. However, I've always been a klutz.. (Still am!!) Wasted the ENTIRE DAY driving from San Diego to Los Angeles and back to San Diego (to pick up something I left at the motel! I did tip the housekeeping staff who kep my mobile phone safe..) and back to Los Angeles. Stayed off Los Angeles at Valencia.

DAY 4: Six Flag Magic Mountain, Los Angeles, CA

Six Flag Magic Mountain! Didn't want to go to Disneyland as i've been there when I was staying there. I know it changes, but I wanted thrilling rides! Off to the coasters!! And on Christmas Eve, it was EMPTY!!!

DAY 5: Hollywood, CA - Las Vegas, NV

A short walk around Hollywood. The usual: Grauman's Chinese Theatre, Kodak Theatre, seeing the Hollywood sign, etc. And on the road to Las Vegas, NV. A LOOOONG ride.. What essentially was a 5hr drive became far longer due to the MASSIVE traffic (everyone was travelling on Xmas day). Traffic was moving, but it was slooooow..

DAY 6: Las Vegas, NV

Headed to the Las Vegas strip and walked the ENTIRE DAY!! We walked down admiring the Bellagio, Paris, MGM, Sands, Luxor, New York, Caesar's Palace etc.. We walked the entire strip, taking pictures. We went into casinos, had cheap food. Saw tigers, aquariums, etc. Ur senses will go BEZERK. Saw the sun set and the glittering strip twinkled before me.

DAY 7: Las Vegas, NV - Kanab, UT

Outlet SHOPPING!! But alas, a quick one before heading on the road again. Back to the desert landscapes. But I do have to admit that when you cross the border to Utah, you will be amazed at the beauty just by crossing the border. AMAZING!! The most high-strung I've been on a road trip. Be very careful to plan really well. NOBODY should ever get caught like we did. The sun had set and we were driving through Zion National Park to get to the motel. Steep cliff-offs, snow, narrow winding road.. GOSH!!



DAY 8: Zion National Park, UT

Exploring the beautiful national parks the States have to offer. I absolutely love going to their national parks. Got up early to drive to Zion National Park. The first trail we went to was the Canyon Outlook. It was so beautiful seeing the scenery. Amazing. We did 2 more trails and called it a day. Lush greeneries with snow everywhere. It was a winter wonderland!


DAY 9: Kanab, UT - Page, AZ

Driving through, it was amazing the landscape that you see. The way they made their highways are great. Any great scenary can be admired especially with the slip-offs they have. The drive down was a slow and relaxing one. Reached Page, the gateway Arizonian town of Glen Canyon National Recreational Area. Stunning sceneray again.

DAY 10: Glen Canyon National Recreational Area, AZ - Phoenix, AZ

Woke up early to do a tour of the dam. It was FREE, and it was very educational. Wanted to see Antelope Canyon but it was raining for 2 days before. Just my luck!! It's a desert and it rained when I was there. It is where the beautiful pictures are taken of the canyon. So off we went to hike to see the Horseshoe Bend. The national parks is haven for ANY geography teachers. It was a scenery that was just breathtaking. And after, it was back to Phoenix, AZ.