Columbus Zoo/Aquarium 6/22 and The Wilds 6/26

Columbus Zoo in Ohio was the number 1 zoo in 2009. This year Columbus Zoo is number 8 and Philadelphia Zoo in Pennsylvania is 2012's number 1.

Why not spend a day at the zoo? The Columbus Zoo also has an Aquarium and Waterpark.

I had my 5D MarkIII on auto ISO - camera chose ISO 5000.

Ahhh, found out Koalas sleep for 22 hours, I would have loved to see this one moving about.

It was hot so lots of the animals were sluggish.

Since I know you all know what they look like - I did not include a  picture of my favorite animal: orangutan. I thought I made a picture of their playground - it was enormous - places for them to climb.

This zoo also included foxes and other animals we did not get to see.  I was so impressed with the spaciousness and natural habits the animals get to roam

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Speaking of roaming, we went to visit The Wilds - which is affiliated with the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. The Wilds is in Cumberland, Ohio

This was a sample of the lands the animals get to roam...

Persian Onager

We got off our open bus for about 15 minutes and I thought this this thistle was cool.

Przewalski's Wild Horse

African Wild Dog

Since the animals are fed raw meet, buzzards swoop over the area.

Grevy's Zebra

Banteng

Sable Antelope

Some of shots were this far away.

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.