From Mountain to Canyon, 6/15 &16/12

This part of my vacation, included starting off in Las Vegas, Nevada; then to Zion National Park in Springdale, Utah. The next day, we headed to the Grand Canyon North Rim, Arizona 

 Las Vegas...

 Along the way to Zion National Park...

Voila: The Grand Canyon.

This was just a glimpse of the Grand Canyon. It is huge!!!  We did not even go to the South Rim.

Going to Page, Arizona, we stopped on the pedestrian bridge at Marble Canyon overlooking the Colorado River.

While there, a Navajo and his son asked if we would like to buy jewelry made by wife and daughter.  I was very happy with their pieces. Notice the necklace?

Tonight I also blogged about:  Shonto Trading Post and Antelope Canyon, 6/17 &18/12

Shonto Trading Post and Antelope Canyon, 6/17 & 18/12

We are now in Page, Arizona to see Monument Valley which is part of the Navajo Indian Resevation.

As we left Page, AZ we came across The Glen Canyon Dam located on the Colorado River .

Lake Powell

Colorado River

Realizing that Monument Valley was actually further than we wanted to go - we stopped here...

It was so fun to learn about this dwelling called a Hogan.

Older style Hogan:

I could not get over the terrain, ever so often we would come across these very interesting mounds.  This was like a geology trip. There were so many different mounds.

The next day we went to...

Antelope, huh?  Apparently there were antelopes that roamed this area and the Navajo Indians discovered this canyon. This area is the northern part of Antelope Canyon which does not require hiking and is a photographer's dream. There are actually 2 kinds of tours. You know which one we signed up for.

These light beams come through around 10:30 - 12:30.  Our guide was very helpful and assisted me with a rented tripod.  And although, it was cumbersome to use the tripod - all the guides who understand photography said - you won't have regrets. All the guides are Navajo Indians.

This was a long day as we now had to drive back to Las Vegas. We visited Ceasar's Palace - what an elaborate place.

 At the Trevi Restaurant - too funny, the ceiling looks like day all the time.

 A sweet treat to end this part of my vacation.

Pan-Pacific Parade, 6/10/12

It was a joy to watch the performers from Japan entertain us with their culture as well as embrace hula. Many of them shared what an honor it is to perform hula here in Hawaii. This festival or the Japanese word Matsuri is a 3 day event and culminates with a parade.  Pan-Pacific-festival.com/Aboutus.

As with many parades, other groups also participated.  

Shun Wah, her friend and I got a spot facing Waikiki Beach - it was a perfect day.

Many of the hula dancers were so happy to see this lady. As you can see, I did not get a good shot of her but I presume she went to Japan to teach them hula.

 B-Tribe was awesome as they did "double dutch". Earlier I saw them at the Ala Moana Center Stage.

After dinner at the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center's food court, we came across these ladies performing for the tourist and us locals. Turned out there were 4 halaus (hula schools).