US-Canada Trip 2022 Day 4-5


For date reference, day 4 is referring to September 23 and day 5 is September 24. I think this is more for me than for anyone in particular.

As I wrote in this post, I felt like the trip had gone downhill after day 3. Even with the spectacular views from CN Tower on day 4, I can never compare those views to that of the Niagara Falls.

After CN Tower, we took the street car up to Toronto Chinatown. I have been to only two other well-known Chinatowns so far – Los Angeles and San Francisco – and I’ve come to expect rowdy behavior from the senior residents of Chinatown. Still, it was a bit disorienting and with Mom constantly wandering to God-knows-where, I had to be on my toes every second.

Can you tell my anxiety level has been pretty high during this trip?

After finally grabbing a bite, we walked a few blocks down to Toronto City Hall. It was my idea because I needed a photo of the Toronto sign in the Nathan Phillip Square to prove I’ve really been to Toronto. I don’t know about you but have you ever had to prove to someone that you’ve really been to a certain place?

I have. From then on, I’ve always photographed the sign of the place I’ve been to.

That afternoon, on the way back to the hotel, I received a call about my car. At first, I thought they were calling me to notify me my car was ready to pick up but it turned out they broke something while dismantling the car door. So now, new parts will need to be orders and who knows how long that’ll be. I became so anxious after the call. I know I should had been but I was.

Day 5 aka my birthday was spent driving from Toronto to Ottawa. Mom drove while I sat back and enjoyed my birthday drink from Starbucks – Iced Matcha Latte. I was thankful she allowed me to connect my phone to the rental car so I can play some music instead of listening to the hum of the road and our pathetic attempts of trying to make small talks with each other despite our small talks so far lasted less than a minute before Mom either got angry and started shouting or she got bored.

She also wasn’t feeling well that day and she had to exit in a random town and take a nap behind a Tim Horton (Canadian coffee franchise) while I just sat there, earbuds in, and listened to my music. I volunteered to drive but she wouldn’t let me, most likely still worried about my driving skills after my accident.

We finally arrived at the Ottawa motel at a little after 4 PM. As soon as we had a small meal, mom took some cough medication and went to bed.

US-Canada Trip 2022 Day 3


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US-Canada Trip 2022 Day 2


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US-Canada Trip 2022 Day 1


The last two days has been absolutely crazy. On Monday, I worked almost 12 hours before continuing on Tuesday with a little over 4 hours to complete my 16 hours of the 40-hour work week.

For the first time in a long while, I felt hectic, trying to get every customer billed and all the payments reconciled. I am a billing and accounting specialist, in case you haven’t figure that out. I send bills to customers and reconcile payment for a living.

I am writing this post prior to getting on my first flight from Salt Lake to Las Vegas. From Vegas, I’ll have a 4.5 hours layover before boarding another flight to Buffalo, New York. Of the airports I have been to so far, the Salt Lake airport has the best Wi-fi. So I’m taking the opportunity to type this on my laptop with a physical keyboard.

Anxiety-wise, I think now that I’m sitting in the airport, sipping on an iced chai latte, I am feeling a better, not near-hyperventilation like a few hours before. In fact, I had been near-hyperventilation for the last few days.

I was getting cold feet about trip. There’s so many worries. As much as I tried to relax and look forward to my long-awaiting trip, my anxiety, as always, was holding me back. Darn you, anxiety! Always causing misery. Why can’t you leave me alone?

So many things to do, my brain kept telling me. You can’t go. I barely slept the night before my flight. My brain kept me all night with about a million thoughts. Why didn’t you purchase carry-on luggage for the flight? There’s no way you will bill all these people before your flight. You can’t place your trust in those people to take care of your garden.

All night long. Just thought after thought. Ugh!

I spent Tuesday night on the flight to Buffalo, New York and will be there at 5 AM. Hopefully I will get a few hours of shut-eye during the flight.

Trip to Dinosaur National Monument


Why does it feel like either I’m not taking trips at all or I’m taking trips all the time? It’s the second trip this week (the first was on Sunday) and this time, it was a trip to the Dinosaur National Monument, which is about 4 hours from me in Jensen, Utah. My uncle drove this time while I was in the passenger seat making sure he doesn’t get lost while enjoying the scenery.

I haven’t processed many of the pictures yet but I can tell I got some of my 2022 favorite photos here.

I have been to Dinosaur National Monument before, back in 2017, but as much as I am interested in dinosaurs, I actually came for the natural scenery this time. As we stopped at each location, I tried to find subjects for my photos because one of the recommendation I got from the instructor of the photography composition class I took in April was to focus on something. “Try to focus on something and not just taking pictures of the general landscape.”

I think focusing on something makes a photo that much interesting. Don’t you think so?

Strawberry Bay: Enjoyable or Not?


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Yellowstone 2021 Day 3


I should’ve done a “Day 3” of the trip 3 days ago but with my guests still in town and work, I just couldn’t find the time.

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Yellowstone 2021 Day 2


It’s amazing how I’m able to find so much in common with my fellow traveler and guest, who happens to be a 15-year-old.

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Yellowstone 2021 Day 1


Of the five Yellowstone trips I’ve taken so far, I think this is the most relaxing trip so far or maybe I’m just exhausted from all the traveling I’ve done recently.

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Las Vegas 2021 Trip Day 4


I think a picture of the sunset from the 35th floor is a fitting picture to end this journey. Another end to another trip.

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Las Vegas 2021 Trip Day 3


I think this is definitely a 2021 thing. I was told this conference is going to be crazy, that there would be lots of people, believe me, 1000 is a lot of people especially in a time like this but it has been slow-going working at the registration desk.

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Las Vegas 2021 Trip Day 2


One thing I must admit about Las Vegas or perhaps every city, the night view is definitely different from what I’m used to especially when it’s from the 35th floor of a 5-star hotel room.

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Las Vegas 2021 Trip Day 1


It was around 8:45 AM when I arrived in Vegas and it was 100-degrees. So hot!

It’s my first time traveling to Las Vegas guys via an airplane and I have to say it’s more exhausting than driving – you have to park at the airport, ride a shuttle to the terminal, go through security, walk to the gate, board the plane, and ride for an hour. An hour later, more walking. Oh and let’s not mention all the things you cannot bring with you when you air travel.

I’m on my way to the hotel. My cold has somewhat subsided after taking multiple medications this morning. Hopefully, it’ll stay that way.

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #150: Let’s Get Wild


This week on Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #150, Dianne assigns the topic of “Let’s Get Wild” and I say let’s get wild with Mother Nature.

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Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #149: Cool Colors – Blue and Green


This week on Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #149, Tina has challenged everyone with the topic of Cool Colors – Blue and Green and I have just the pics.

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A Photo a Week Challenge: Unexpected


I spent this past week traveling and on the first day of my road trip, while I was walking along the Fremont River in Capitol Reef National Park, I spotted something moving in the trees. At first glance, I thought it was an owl. I have no idea what made me think of that. I was about to point and whisper-shout, “Owl,” when I realized it was just an ordinary fatty of a squirrel.

A Photo a Week Challenge

Highway 12 Road Trip Day 4


After about 4 hours, I am at last home.

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Highway 12 Road Trip Day 3


Okay, day 3 of 4. I had probably driven almost 500 miles by now. I’ll have to check my odometer in the morning.

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Highway 12 Road Trip Day 2


This is day 2 of my 4 day trip along the All-American highway (Highway 12). This is actually the first day touring Highway 12 as I spent yesterday in Capitol Reef.

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Highway 12 Road Trip Day 1


It was such a beautiful day today. Though I’m dog-tired having driven almost 300 miles and fulfilled my 10,000 steps today, I had such a great time. It is very rare to get a quiet day without my mom and the jet noise from the air force base. It’s one of those rare days I get to just focus on nature.

Now onto Day 2

Weekly Prompts Color Challenge: Purple


Weekly Prompts Color Challenge – Purple

Birds in Actions


Weekly Prompts Weekend Challenge – Wings

Vanishing Point on a Path


Cee’s Black and White Challenge

Weekly Prompts Weekend Challenge – Path