Grand Canyon West '11
Saturday, May 26, 2012 @ 11:07 PM
The second day in Vegas, we embarked on a 3 hour journey through the desert to one of the seven wonders of the world - the Grand Canyon! We booked our Grand Canyon West tour from Las Vegas Sightseeing to the Grand Canyon West Rim + Skywalk for USD105 each. I wasn't all that keen initially, but Rose was adamant about going to the Grand Canyon. After a few sessions of googling, we managed to source for an affordable tour!
The tour lasted a whole day, with a bus picking us up at 7.30am at the front of our hotel. It was at least an hour ride before we reached the Hoover Dam, where we got down to take some photos and before continuing on our journey to the Grand Canyon. The Hoover Dam was a pretty sight as well!
After another few hours of bumpy ride through the desert, we were welcomed by the breath-taking view of the Grand Canyon! We were entitled to a 3-hour free time to explore the place on our own before we had to gather to leave for Las Vegas again, and we definitely wasted no time. We immediately took a mini-shuttle to the Sky Rim for our skywalk!
Photography wasn't allowed on the skywalk, and the photos they sold were at an exorbitant USD30 per piece, so we have none. We were walking on glass some 500 - 800 ft above the canyon with many others, and it wasn't intimidating at all. In fact, we found the walk a little boring. The most amusing thing of the walk was that in order to keep the sky rim spick and span, each and everyone one of us had to wear a 'shower cap' like socks for our shoe, so it was quite a funny sight. It was definitely not a place for a fashion shoot. The 'cap' will ruin everything. Lol.
One of the most exciting thing is that, unlike the South Rim, the West Rim is not fenced nor equipped with safety nets. An accidental trip could send you free-falling to your death, albeit in one of nature's most amazing creations of the world. Orya had an awesome time posing as close to the edge of the rocks as possible, whereas I very nearly suffered a heart attack as I photographed her. I couldn't even bring myself near the edge of the rocks without my legs turning jelly below me.
We took the shuttle bus to another part of the West Rim where we stopped for lunch. It was a deliciously hearty buffet lunch which I enjoyed tremendously. The piece of chicken thigh was humongous! We continued exploring the place and snapping photos after gaining more energy from the meal. I preferred this part of the canyon to the Skywalk as there were rocks for us to climb high and low without the fear of falling over the edge. We managed to climb all the way to the top, oh yay! Oh, and we met a friendly security guard. He assured us that despite the fact that the West Rim is not fenced, no one ever fell to death in the vicinity before. ^^
Quite surprisingly, 3 hours was hardly enough for us to fully explore the place. There was a ranch where cowboys stayed at another part of West Rim, but sadly, we didn't have time for that. The next time I visit the Grand Canyon, I'd love to stay a night at the ranch - where we could have a bonfire with the cowboys (as the brochure stated)!
By the time we were sent back to our hotel, it was already evening time. It was an amazing trip out to the Canyon and I'd definitely love to go back! ^^
0 comments
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Grand Canyon West '11
Saturday, May 26, 2012 @ 11:07 PM
The second day in Vegas, we embarked on a 3 hour journey through the desert to one of the seven wonders of the world - the Grand Canyon! We booked our Grand Canyon West tour from Las Vegas Sightseeing to the Grand Canyon West Rim + Skywalk for USD105 each. I wasn't all that keen initially, but Rose was adamant about going to the Grand Canyon. After a few sessions of googling, we managed to source for an affordable tour!
The tour lasted a whole day, with a bus picking us up at 7.30am at the front of our hotel. It was at least an hour ride before we reached the Hoover Dam, where we got down to take some photos and before continuing on our journey to the Grand Canyon. The Hoover Dam was a pretty sight as well!
After another few hours of bumpy ride through the desert, we were welcomed by the breath-taking view of the Grand Canyon! We were entitled to a 3-hour free time to explore the place on our own before we had to gather to leave for Las Vegas again, and we definitely wasted no time. We immediately took a mini-shuttle to the Sky Rim for our skywalk!
Photography wasn't allowed on the skywalk, and the photos they sold were at an exorbitant USD30 per piece, so we have none. We were walking on glass some 500 - 800 ft above the canyon with many others, and it wasn't intimidating at all. In fact, we found the walk a little boring. The most amusing thing of the walk was that in order to keep the sky rim spick and span, each and everyone one of us had to wear a 'shower cap' like socks for our shoe, so it was quite a funny sight. It was definitely not a place for a fashion shoot. The 'cap' will ruin everything. Lol.
One of the most exciting thing is that, unlike the South Rim, the West Rim is not fenced nor equipped with safety nets. An accidental trip could send you free-falling to your death, albeit in one of nature's most amazing creations of the world. Orya had an awesome time posing as close to the edge of the rocks as possible, whereas I very nearly suffered a heart attack as I photographed her. I couldn't even bring myself near the edge of the rocks without my legs turning jelly below me.
We took the shuttle bus to another part of the West Rim where we stopped for lunch. It was a deliciously hearty buffet lunch which I enjoyed tremendously. The piece of chicken thigh was humongous! We continued exploring the place and snapping photos after gaining more energy from the meal. I preferred this part of the canyon to the Skywalk as there were rocks for us to climb high and low without the fear of falling over the edge. We managed to climb all the way to the top, oh yay! Oh, and we met a friendly security guard. He assured us that despite the fact that the West Rim is not fenced, no one ever fell to death in the vicinity before. ^^
Quite surprisingly, 3 hours was hardly enough for us to fully explore the place. There was a ranch where cowboys stayed at another part of West Rim, but sadly, we didn't have time for that. The next time I visit the Grand Canyon, I'd love to stay a night at the ranch - where we could have a bonfire with the cowboys (as the brochure stated)!
By the time we were sent back to our hotel, it was already evening time. It was an amazing trip out to the Canyon and I'd definitely love to go back! ^^
0 comments
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TRAVELOGUES
2016
Danang, Vietnam (Work)
Yangon, Myanmar (Work)
Bangkok, Thailand (Work)
Telunas Resort, Riau, Thailand (Work)
Taipei, Taiwan (Work)
Chiang Mai, Thailand (Work)
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (Work)
Johor Bahru, Malaysia
Perth, Western Australia
Bali, Indonesia (Work)
2015
Malacca, Malaysia
Taiwan
Bangkok, Thailand
East Java / Bali, Indonesia
2014
Bahau, Malaysia
Kukup, Malaysia
Bangkok, Thailand
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Pulau Tioman, Malaysia
Bali, Indonesia
2013
Batam, Indonesia
Santa Cruz, California
Taipei, Taiwan
Seoul, Korea
2012
Bangkok, Thailand
Gold Coast, Australia
Port Dickson, Malaysia
Batam, Indonesia
2011
San Francisco, California
Hollywood, California
Grand Canyon, California
Las Vegas, California
Orlando, Florida
New York City
Panama City Beach, Florida
Hong Kong
Phuket, Thailand
2009
Taiwan
Pulau Tioman, Malaysia
2008
Genting, Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
2006
Hokkaido, Japan
2005
Taiwan
