wise monkeys abroad

lights, canyons, action

Posted on October 20, 2009 Updated on June 4, 2013

Onwards on our trip, we were able to peel another layer of clothing off. So we were down to about 2 layers now. From snow to desert in a matter of days, we travelled from Yellowstone to Salt Lake City to Bryce Canyon to Zion before we stopped at Grand Canyon. With the contrast in temperature,  it was hard to believe that we were in the same country in the same month.

Grand Canyon is magnificently enormous. Its worth watching the IMAX 3D movie before seeing the actual canyon itself – it gave us that little bit of a greater appreciation of those who explored it. But after standing on that ledge and looking out at that canyon, we can confirm that it was appropriately named! Words can simply not describe what we could see. Even photographs doesn’t do the canyon justice. Go see them for yourself!

The colours change as the sun sets and as the sun strikes the sides of the canyon, the lighting plays tricks with our eyes. We felt like if we reached out we would touch canvas because for a moment there, we are convinced that what is before us, is nothing more than an enormous painting. But although it is a work of art, it is not a painting. A moment where again we realise what a wonderful world that we live in!

All those feelings aside, we travel across desert and along a bit of Route 66 before we end up on Las Vegas Strip! Where we are introduced to excesses – excess lights, excess gambling, excess food. Before coming here, we watched The Hangover and so arriving here we thought we knew what to expect! Well, however you imagine Vegas, its glitzier and regrettably tackier! But, its still worth a visit but dare we say 3-4 days is more than enough.

So we stayed in Imperial Palace for one night before upgrading to the Bellagio for the next 2 nights, where we watched “O”, the Cirque Du Soleil show performed with a pool. It was the show of all shows and trumps all other Cirque Du Soleil shows.  For the past 4 years, we have watched the shows that tour Australia but after seeing this one, we feel like we can put them to bed and see no more. 🙂

And if you want a break from Sin City – Hoover Dam is an interesting “half-day” trip out of Vegas to do.