I came back to N.Y at last.
I've traveled for almost a month.
I want to look back on the way I've been through so far.
On the day before I would start my travel, that is so say, on Jan 2nd, I got a big problem that I wasn't able to get a flight ticket to go to Salt Lake City. I noticed the emergent situation at ten at night. I got panic seriously because I've already booked everything including the tour, the bus ticket for Yellowstone, so that it was almost impossible to change my plan as long as I would decide to throw my precious 1,000 dollars away from my purse. I was in such a hurry, searching the phone number for American Airways because I bought the ticket from A.A. Finally I found the number. Actually I was really worried about whether or not somebody could get my call as the time had already passed 11pm. Fortunately, I was able to call there and talk a staff about my problem. However, the only solution was to buy a new ticket by using American credit card because the reason why my reservation was rejected was that I used Japanese credit card, though personally the situation where I couldn't use Japanese one was rare and I guess it was special only for A.A. Anyway the cost of getting a new ticket was more than $600 included tax but actually I could get the same ticket only by $250. I was wondering whether I could buy one now or I should hung out at once to think about that. I didn't have much time with me and had to decide what to do because I must have flight to Salt Lake City on the day after that day. I was surfing the Internet to compare the price. And I got the ticket from United Airline which cost was $500 though it was still super expensive. So anyway, I made it!
In this way, my travel has started.
In Yellowstone, I went to Old Faithful and Canyon side of Yellowstone national park. It was pretty cold there. Stupidly, I didn't bring my rain bout so I was wearing just running shows. I was almost freezing and it was nearly impossible to take pictures by using my fingers. Surprisingly I appreciated the cold weather because the snow made the park much more beautiful. I was able to see Cristal Ice which means snow is shining beautifully in the air. And I saw Rainbow dog which comes up above the sky because of the reflection of the sun like a normal rainbow. The geysers in the park was incredible. Among all, the most famous geyser which was I guess the biggest in the park seemed to be stately, dignified. I felt the power which the nature creates by itself. And I got a wonderful opportunity to meet some new people in various ages. The guide was also great! He made our tours more exiting. What I felt though my stay in the park was what makes us happier, more enjoyable, more impressed depends on both people we meet there and nature we encounter there. Even though the park was great, if people we met were not good, we had less impressed in the park. I think that memories we store in our minds forever are composed with place, people, and time. So if all of elements are perfect, we will get a special wonderful experience we've never had before. I was thinking about that on the way to Salt Lake City from Yellowstone.
In Los Angels, I tried to make a time in order not to be in a hurry. I tried to walk slowly without thinking unnecessary things. I was just walking along the beach. I sat down on the sand, taking off my shows and jacket. I lay down on the sand then I fell asleep in the long beach in L.A. On two days after that day, I went to Venice beach and did the same thing. I took my shows off and then I lay down on the sand under the very comfortable sunshine. I took a nap again for almost two hours. I wanted to stay there more but I had to leave there to fly to Vegas.
In Las Vegas, I have visited some amazing wonderful national parks: Grand Canyon National Park, Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Death Valley National Park, and Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon. I was proud of myself because I was able to go all the parks to which I had been seeking to go since I was in Japan. Actually, it was hard to join a tour which takes us to the parks as I was always worried about the minimum number of people joining the same tour. What I was surprised is that even though I got a confirmation mail from the tour company, just on the day before the tour, suddenly I got a call from the company to tell me the tour might be canceled because of the lack of participants. I realized that "Oh! I'm in USA, not Japan!" What I couldn't still understand is that usually they didn't say sorry to me. They dealt with me unkindly by phone. I can say that service mind is much better in Japan than in USA. An interesting thing is that people born in America take this manner for granted. I wondered how they would feel when they encounter the situation where shop staffs have no smile when they talk to them. If Japanese minds would be introduced more to American culture, however prosperous a company can be.
In Phoenix, I came across a wonderful meeting. In advance while I was in Vegas, I had already applied for the tour to go to Sedona where many people seeking healing want to go because there are red rocks which they believe include a mysterious natural power. The guide I took was such a kind person. Because of his great kindness, I was able to go hiking with his friend to the mountain in Phoenix and his friend drove me to the famous botanical garden where it was difficult to access alone by public transportation. On the following day, he drove me to Sedona again because I really insisted that I wanted to go to Sedona again. He treated me at a Mexican restaurant. I appreciated both of them. I had a great experience there. Especially, I've never forgotten that beautiful scenery in which I closed my eyes, hearing the sound of the nature, feeling relaxed, happy. I am sure that I will come back to Phoenix again to meet them.
In Orlando, I stayed there for four days to go to Disney World. Honestly I felt great lonely when I went to Disney World alone. I've never imagined that I could go to such a entertainment park by myself. I had fun but if somebody would come with me, my visit would be definitely more exiting. On the second day, I got a big storm so I just stayed in the hotel and talked with one of my precious friends on Skype. It was a good time for me to be refreshed.
In Miami, I met a trouble again between the tour company. I was waiting for somebody coming to pick me up at my hostel. The departure time passed but nobody came, so that I called the company and one of people working there said to me that your reservation was tomorrow but actually I made a reservation exactly on that day because my confirmation e-mail proofed the fact. Fortunately later after my calling, a driver picked me up and I was able to go to Evergrace National Park to see some wild alligators. On the next day, I went to Key Largo to do scuba diving. In fact I got a sea sick in the shipment. However, the ocean was amazing beautiful. The degree if transparency of water in the ocean was incredible. I've never seen such a clean ocean. I saw lots of interesting fish there. My diving partner was also great! He has experienced diving more than five hundreds times. I really trusted him so that I was just following him during our diving. He found some curious fish. The temperature in the water was a little cold but I had a great fun. On my flight's day, I came across another horrible trouble between the bus company to offer pick up service for the International airport. I've already reconfirmed my reservation on the day before that day. However, nobody came on time. I was waiting 15 minutes more. As I was worried about the situation, I called the company. Surprisingly a woman getting my call said she couldn't find my reservation on PC so we couldn't pick me up right now. I got to be panic. I was running back to my hostel and explained my trouble. I wasn't able to understand what happened with me because I called the company twice to reconfirm my reservation in order to avoid the trouble. While I asked the hostel's staff to call a taxi, there was the shuttle bus for me! Still I don't know why she couldn't find my reservation on PC yet I was able to go to the airport safely.
Finally, I came back to New York. It was pretty cold because I came from Miami. When I got to my dorm, I felt relaxed. Although I was tired with a short flight to N.Y, I started to clean my room up. It took approximate five hours. I used a washing machine five times. After preparing for the coming spring semester, I went to bed with my sweet bears, feeling exited for tomorrow.
My trip was over. However, already I am on my new journey. I will enjoy the rest of my stay in N.Y.
