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Here is one of my favorite photos from my Sunday hike to Frary Peak. Continue reading “Photo of the Day!”
Tag: Nature
Which Way to Frary Peak?
It was a beautiful day Sunday, the most beautiful weather last week, I think. In perfect timing, my hiking Meetup group announced a Sunday hike up Frary Peak which is the highest point on Antelope Island. If you follow my posts, you’d know I’ve been to Antelope Island multiple times. This island is always the first spot my mom would bring our guests. So when I learned of this hiking expedition, I was like, “there are hiking trails on Antelope Island?”
I got up early on Sunday morning, excited to go hiking. It’s my first hike since returning from China, so of course I’m excited and it gets me out of the house. It was also the first time to test the strength in my legs because they had felt different lately like stronger.
At around 10 am, I met up with the group and started toward the trail head. When I got out of the car and looked up at the path, I looked up at the steep path and thought, “What the heck have I gotten myself into?” However, I began muttering beneath my breath, “You can do this, you can do this.” Next thing I knew, I was almost at the top of this path.
When I turned the corner and saw this sign, I was in shock. 23% grade? I just hiked up a 23% grade path? Wow! The steepest I’ve ever walked was 10% on my treadmill. I know now I can do it.
However, as we ascended and the path became slightly rocky, it became more difficult. My need for rest grew and on some parts of the trail, I ended up resting more than ten minutes before continuing.
The trail was windy at times, so windy I felt like I was going to be blown away. However, after about four hours of hiking and resting, we finally made it to the radio tower which about 0.2 miles from the peak. I was so happy to see this trail marker, signifying we’ve hiked three miles along the Frary Peak trail. At that moment, I wanted to stop and go home and make myself something sweet. I simply couldn’t walk anymore ascending paths. The radio tower is a good place to stop. Until next time.
#WeekendCoffeeShare: That was Fast
Good Saturday morning! Thank you for joining me. Let’s get some drinks! Continue reading “#WeekendCoffeeShare: That was Fast”
Photo of the Day!
I was going through the photos I took from my trip to Bryce Canyon last night and this photo caught my attention. Continue reading “Photo of the Day!”
Photo of the Day!
If you did not notice, I was off-line last Saturday. Continue reading “Photo of the Day!”
The Variation in the Garden
I went on a solo hiking trip earlier this week in my hometown’s Forest Park Continue reading “The Variation in the Garden”
Photo of the Day!
I fear I’ve been eating way too much during the last week I’ve been in China. Continue reading “Photo of the Day!”
Which Way to Pick Figs and Grapes?
On my first Sunday in China, my aunt invited me to pick figs and black grapes on a farm about 30 minutes from the city. After spending the first few days in the city, I was all too happy to leave it even if it’s only for a few hours. After living in the U.S. suburbs for more than half of my life, I am no longer used to the city even though when I left my hometown, it was technically still a suburb.
Anyway, I didn’t really have any desires to pick figs. I couldn’t even tell whether they were ripe. You can tell I’ve never seen or eaten freshly picked figs, right? The only figs I’ve eaten were dried ones. So while everyone else went searching for figs, I spent the time wandering among the aisles of figs and took pictures.
After a few moments, I heard my aunt ask, “Where is everyone?”
My other aunt replied, “They must had gone to pick grapes.”
Before I could take another picture, they went dashing toward the other direction. “Wait!” I shouted but they didn’t hear me. So holding my camera in my hand, I went running after them.
The area where the grapes are planted was slightly different than the place where the figs are planted. Instead of flat ground, there was a muddy trench in the middle and unless you wanted to get your shoes dirty, don’t step in the trench.
This trench is considered dry and thank goodness because by this point, my legs were exhausted from walking spread-eagled.
As we exited the grape area, I gave the corridor one last look – left goes to the figs, right to the grapes – as my aunts went to pay for the figs and grapes they picked while my uncle and his dad found a table to sit down for a cup of fig tea. It was a good Sunday.
Photo of the Day!
Of all the photos I shot Sunday on my hike, this is definitely one of my favorite. Continue reading “Photo of the Day!”
Loud Silence of Nature
I cannot stop thinking about my hike last Sunday especially now I’m back in the hustle bustle of my hometown in China. Continue reading “Loud Silence of Nature”
Which Way to Canyon Hollow?
Last Sunday, I went hiking up the Canyon Hollow Trail. Continue reading “Which Way to Canyon Hollow?”
Photo of the Day!
Weathered
Photo of the Day!
Bonneville Salt Flats
2016
Okay, I’m not sure if I mentioned this but last Sunday was my third time going to the Bonneville Salt Flats and the second time I’ve brought a camera there. Continue reading “Photo of the Day!”
Photo of the Day!
My mom has been on a craze lately. Every weekend since Christmas, she had been calling her friends in Salt Lake City, persuading them to go out. We (meaning me) would be the guide. Continue reading “Photo of the Day!”
Growth
I haven’t seen much growth in these parts yet, it’s still freezing and snowing. Therefore, I’ll just have to use some of my old pictures for this challenge.
Photo of the Day!
Photo of the Day!
This is the Spiral Jetty, Continue reading “Photo of the Day!”
2017 Reflection Part 2
For Part 1, click here!
One of the best and worst thing that happened in 2017 was when I got a job. The best parts were I got a job and I finally have a decent stable income. The worst part was the misery. I got minimal holidays and no vacation. Even when I had to take an hour from work to go to the doctor, I had to convince Miss HR to let me go like a child begging his/her parents for candy.
Now that I’ve thought about it, I got bullied by pretty much everyone in that office. No one trusted me in anything. Everyone stood against me. I don’t know how I survived this long.
I was so glad when I told Miss HR I quit on Friday. I had a feeling she’d been waiting for those words for a long time because the word about my resignation spread quicker than wildfire and fifteen minutes, Mr. CEO was on phone commanding me not to quit.
Anyway, back to pictures.
Although my weekdays are stuck behind a cubicle, my weekends were wide open. For the first time without the need to do homework or study for exams, I was having the problem of coming up with something to do on weekends. The first few weekends in June, I went hiking with my aunt. I tried out different trails but would often come home super tired. So I quit hiking for 2017. Hopefully now I’ve lost a few pounds, I can hike again in 2018. Here are my favorite hiking photos.
B for Blue
Waterfall Canyon, Ogden, Utah
Overlooking Ogden City
Wild cherries along the trail
After I quit hiking due to both exhaustion and hot weather, my mom decided that I needed to get out of the house. So together with my aunt, we went to the Dinosaur National Monument in Vernal, Utah and Golden Spike National Historic Site in Corrine, Utah. I didn’t take a lot of photos from those places since most of those trips involved driving rather than walking.
Green River
Dinosaur bones at Dinosaur National Monument
Turtle Rock, Dinosaur National Monument
ATK Rockets
In August, after planning the trip for a week, I decided to take my aunt to Mirror Lake, a stunning site about a hundred miles from my home. I decided that I needed to take some time and soak in nature and stay cool.
The elevation of Mirror Lake is approximately 9000 feet above sea level which meant a significant temperature difference and it felt so nice to get away from the heat while getting wonderful exercises walking around the lake while photographing its stunning natural beauty.
Mirror Lake
Pedal boarding
I didn’t travel much after that.
In September, I attended an event at the Aerospace Museum to honor the anniversary of the air force. I’ve been to this museum many times but none of those visits had bands and cakes.
Honor Guard
Birthday cakes for the Air Force
Old edition of Air Force One
I want to thank my mom’s classmate for visiting us this year because otherwise, I would not have gotten to travel during Thanksgiving. Even though these are places I’ve been multiple times, there’s always new scenery to be photographed.
Late Autumn/Early Winter 2017
Great Salt Lake
Utah State Capitol at night
A lone antelope
Last but not least, I call this my miscellaneous photo collection. These are my favorite photos taken from home.
Blackberries
Homemade bread
Creamy Veggie and Corn chowder
Baked Mac n’ Cheese
Christmas Tree and Stockings over Fireplace
Before I end this post, I want to say that I am looking forward to 2018 starting with a trip to China mid-January. I am looking forward to seeing my grandma in China.
In 2018, I am also looking forward to hunting for a new job – one without an egotistical COO and mean employees and one that speaks English. I am looking forward to hunting for a new job where I get benefits like medical insurance so I can quit paying over $100 each month for health insurance.
Lastly, in 2018, I am looking forward to toning my body now that I’m finally back to my normal weight range. I am looking forward to becoming lean and gaining muscles in my arms and legs while continuing to shed the pounds slowly.
2017 Reflection Part 1
As I look back on the posts I’ve written in 2017, I realized I never made a New Year resolution for 2017 Continue reading “2017 Reflection Part 1”
Photo of the Day!
Can you believe it? We are less than two weeks from ringing in 2018! Continue reading “Photo of the Day!”
A 2017 Photo Rewind: Ascend
As the end of 2017 draws nearer, I will take a moment to do a photo rewind starting with this week’s topic of Ascend. Hope you like it.
This was one of the most memorable moment in 2017 – riding the world’s longest passenger cable car (or so it claims) up to Tianmen Mountain in Hunan, China. The ride took around 30 minutes and by the time I got off, I was so relieved because I no longer have to hold in my vomit.
One day, after having tea with my grandma, I decided to ascend these stairs to the park for some exercise. I really needed it and I was completely out of breath by the time I arrived at the top.
This was the last leg of one of my favorite trails – The Valley of Five Lakes. I hiked this trail during my road trip to Canada back in May. It was so beautiful. We, my aunt and I, used an alternative path to find our way back to the parking lot. As we were about a mile from the parking lot, we encountered this steep hill. I didn’t want to go up. It was simply too steep, so steep that it felt like I might roll backwards if I hiked this but I didn’t. Eventually, one step at a time, I ascended this difficult hill.
Finally, hiking has its rewards. This was the view of the city three hours later after ascending a rocky and slippery not clearly marked trail.
Starts with P – Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge
Here is a compilation of things that start with the letter P. Hope you enjoy my selection. Continue reading “Starts with P – Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge”
This is Another Story 