Overseas Chinese Web Guide

Category: Travel

  • Horseshoe Bend, Page, Arizona

    The Horseshoe Bend is located just outside Page, Arizona.

    As I approached Page (from the south), I saw a sign for the Horseshoe Bend, made a left turn into the parking lot, and started on the trek. Reaching the Horseshoe Bend requires a short march up a hill and then a downward hike to the Horseshoe Bend.

    From the descent, the Horseshoe Bend looks like a hole in the ground. The soil is very fine and soft, much like beach sand. So, take that into account.

    Here is the view from the Horseshoe Bend back to the direction of the entrance. At the peak, you can see a few people as well as a gazebo. The other side of the hill is the parking lot. So, the trek back is uphill on fine sand. Definitely an easier journey on a cool winter day.

    Photography Note: If I had done the research, I would have figured out what time to arrive at the Horseshoe Bend so that the Horseshoe Bend was more evenly lit instead of having to deal with the shadows from the canyon walls.

  • Grand Canyon Photography

    I found it difficult to capture the full beauty of the Grand Canyon. In the morning, when the sun first hits the canyon walls, the colors begin to warm up.

    ISO 100, 20 mm, f/5.6, 1/60 seconds

    However, as the sun rises, the sunlight totally washes out the colors of the canyons. I didn’t find any midday photos that came out well straight from the camera. Sure, I could tweak the saturation and contrast in Photoshop, but what’s the fun in that?

    ISO 100, 28 mm, f/4, 1/30 seconds

    Towards sunset, the sky took on a surreal palette with a purple and pink ribbon running along the horizon. This image is straight from the camera. Outside of resizing the photo, I have not touched it otherwise. The tower at Desert View is in the background.

    ISO 100, 32 mm, f/8, 20 seconds

    30 minutes later, the pink ribbon had vanished from the horizon and it was definitely dark. The purple canyon walls evoke a calmer and cooler mood than the more typical red rocks seen during the day.

  • Hoover Dam Tours

    Located about an hour out of Las Vegas, Hoover Dam is a natural stop when heading out to or back from the Grand Canyon.

    Hoover Dam offers several different tours from admission to the visitor center to tours of the dam and powerplant.

    The visitor center offers exhibits on the history of the Colorado River, the building of Hoover Dam, and how dams generate electricity.

    From the visitor center, the outlook offers a view of the dam below.

    Hoover Dam offers an educational experience with a mix of history, science, and geography. There’s a cafe by the parking lot that offers visitors a bite to eat before they head out for the long drive to the Grand Canyon.

  • Grand Canyon Hotel and Dining

    The Grand Canyon provides beautiful vistas throughout the year. If you are willing to endure some cold weather, the winter season offers an opportunity to visit explore the canyon when the crowds are few and far between. To book a Grand Canyon hotel or lodge, visit the Grand Canyon Lodges website. Depending on the time of year and the size of your party, you may have a number of lodging options from which to select.

    El Tovar is the main hotel located on the south rim of the Grand Canyon.

    TripAdvisor is a bit confusing because it categorizes El Tovar under hotels, Kachina Lodge under specialty lodging and Thunderbird Lodge as a bed and breakfast. In reality, the differences between these options are not significant.

    From the outside, Kachina Lodge resembles a college dormitory. No charisma. No architectural details worth observing.

    The Kachina Lodge rooms are slightly more attractive inside. But, when you step outside, you are greeted with a view of the Grand Canyon.

    In terms of location, I would consider El Tovar, Kachina Lodge, Thunderbird Lodge and Bright Angel Lodge to be equivalent. There are no advantages to be gained, in terms of geography, to pick one over the other.

    For food, the Arizona Room is well within walking distance for all four lodging options above. The food selections are somewhat limited. After one dinner in the Arizona Room, I opted for all remaining meals at the adjoining Bright Angel Restaurant, Fountain & Bar. The portion size is on the generous side, so if you are health conscious, splitting an entree with a friend would be recommended.

  • Exploratorium, San Francisco, CA

    On a foggy San Francisco morning, I stopped by the Palace of Fine Arts to visit the Exploratorium. While the museum is off the 101, transportation is a hassle because a stretch of 101 winds through the City of San Francisco, with all the attendant problems that crowded streets and endless blocks of traffic lights bring.

    With a print-at-home coupon in hand, we walked up to the admission desk and claimed our $2 off for adults and $1 off for children discount.

    The breadth of exhibits was astounding. The junior explorers had a wonderful time seeing, touching and experiencing the science in action. The museum had both simple and complex exhibits that appealed to young children, teenagers and adult alike. Allow a minimum of three hours for a cursory roam through the museum.

    One of my favorite exhibits was a camera and flash rigged to a dropper and a cup of water. A rotary dial allowed the user to select how soon after the water drop the camera would take a photo. Who knew that hands-on science can be so much fun.

  • Las Caletas or Las Marietas Eco Discovery

    While trip planning, I could not decide between Las Caletas and Las Marietas Eco Discovery. Both sounded similar in that they were boat trips with the option to snorkel and kayak. However, these adventures were completely different.

    Sea Sick. Las Marietas is located in Banderas Bay, and the journey out there can be unpleasant for those who get motion sickness and have not taken dramamine. The crew were handing out plastic bags to those who were sea sick at the tail end of the ride out to Las Marietas. In contrast, Las Caletas is a smooth, enjoyable ride along the coast of Puerto Vallarta.

    Activities. If you have young children, Las Caletas is the perfect destination. Between the burro ride, ziplining, and floating on an inner tube off the beach, the little ones were absolutely delighted. Las Marietas offers kayaking and snorkeling. If you get sea sick on the way to Las Marietas, you’ll probably be spending your time on the beach.

    Food. With a full kitchen, Las Caletas offered a better assortment of hot food and cool desserts. For Las Marietas, the lunch offerings are sandwiches and salads.

  • Las Caletas

    Of all the tours offered by Vallarta Adventures, I enjoyed Las Caletas the most. Like the other tours, we started with breakfast at the Nuevo Vallarta center before boarding a catamaran. The ship proceeded to Marina Vallarta, where it picked up additional passengers, and then headed straight to Las Caletas. The ship traveled parallel to the coast and the journey was not rough at all, unlike the ride to Las Marietas.

    On the way to Las Caletas, we passed by Los Arcos, which are giant, arched rocks in Banderas Bay. We could see people snorkeling around the rocks in the morning.

    As we approach Las Caletas, we receive a wave and a warm welcome.

    Las Caletas has two beaches. The first one you pass is the quiet one. The catamaran that transported us to Las Caletas is in the background.

    Las Caletas is the perfect destination for young children. Vallarta Adventures has a program dedicated to kids (four and up) that includes face painting, a visit with ducks and monkeys, a ride aboard a burro to the hilltop, and a zipline ride back down the hill.

    During your stay at Las Caletas, drinks are complimentary, unless you want some fresh coconut juice.

    The most important sign at Las Caletas. The water sports end at 1:00 PM. So, after lunch, there is no returning to the beach for more kayaking or snorkeling.

    At the second beach, you can snorkel, kayaking, swim or float in an inner tube. The kids really loved the inner tube.

    Lunch is a delicious buffet that offers food both familiar and foreign. For Chinese kids who are not too experimental, you cannot go wrong with rice.

    I really liked the handmade tortillas, especially with the cactus.

    Good bye Las Caletas.

  • Las Marietas Eco Discovery

    The Las Marietas Eco Discovery tour starts with breakfast at Vallarta Adventures. And, depending on your susceptibility to motion sickness, this may or may not be a good idea. If you require dramamine, picking it up at a local pharmacy in the United States would be a good idea because shops are far and few between in Nuevo Vallarta.

    After breakfast, you depart from the Vallarta Adventures marina aboard a catamaran.

    On the way to Las Marietas, you might spot some pelicans looking for some hand-outs.

    Your captain might also take you to see some wild dolphin swimming in Banderas Bay. We spotted wild sea turtles during our adventure as well.

    For those that got seasick, a quick ride aboard a motorboat takes you to a secluded beach out in Las Marietas. The hardier guests can snorkel or kayak near the catamaran.

    After a few hours, the captain and crew collects all the guests for the return trip and lunch aboard the boat. Food choices included rolls, cold cuts, tuna salad, and pasta salad. You can also drink to your own delight at the open bar. The trip back was much smoother than the ride out.

  • Puerto Vallarta v. Nuevo Vallarta

    If you are not sure if you should stay in Puerto Vallarta v. Nuevo Vallarta, consider this Nuevo Vallarta panorama.

    A bit difficult to see, so I’ve added a scrollable version below. You can see construction cranes working on new developments, as well as large expanses of space between the different resorts. Don’t be fooled by the riviera moniker because Riviera Nayarit is nothing like the French Riviera. The region is not walkable or developed at all.

    Nuevo Vallarta can be nice, and I enjoyed my stay at Villa La Estancia. But, understand that while the food and transportation in Nuevo Vallarta can be American in price, the level of infrastructure and development is not commensurate with the cost.

  • San Sebastian del Oeste

    San Sebastián is a historic mining town located in the mountains almost two hours from Puerto Vallarta. I joined the bus tour that departed from Vallarta Adventures after breakfast. The road to San Sebastian passes through rural Mexico, where you will see abundant fruit trees, horses, cattle and the like.

    While Puerto Vallarta in June is quite hot and humid, San Sebastian was cool and comfortable in contrast.

    The first stop was at Hacienda Jalisco, the pre-revolutionary home of the mining bosses, as well as an escape for Hollywood luminaries in decades past. You can walk around the grounds looking at the historical documents, maps, artifacts, and celebrity memorabilia left behind.

    After the Hacienda Jalisco tour, we head back to the bus and ride into town. The next stop is a small coffee plantation, where you can sample and purchase the local coffee. The farm also featured many fruit trees scattered throughout. We then proceeded to walk down the street to lunch, followed with a walking tour of San Sebastian.

    You can visit the local church and learn about Saint Sebastian.

    The other stop is the home / museum of Doña Conchita Encarnación, where you can view historial photographs of San Sebastian and learn about the three families whose history are intertwined throughout the fabric of San Sebastian.

    On the way out of San Sebastian, the bus stops at the tequila distillery where you can sample various tequilas and mixed drinks. The tequila almendrado, or almond flavored tequila, might appeal to those with a sweet tooth.