Road Trip Day 3 – The Grandest View Ever

The term, ‘you’ve got to see this, it’s the best ever’ is bounced around a lot. “You’ve gotta check Breaking Bad, it’s the greatest show of all time (fair argument)! Or “Dude have you seen the Avengers, it’s an instant classic (not sure about a classic, but it was pretty awesome). But that is my point, everyone has their opinion on what you should see or hear, that is pretty subjective. However, I don’t think there is too much argument, that everyone needs to see The Grand Canyon.  Hike it, run it fly over it drive by it, but you must see it.  Each person’s journey there will elicit a differing emotion, whether it’s spiritual, inspiration or just plain emotional, there is this amazing chills on the back of your neck feeling just being close to it.

Not knowing, how I was getting to the Canyons the night before, the front desk clerk kindly directed me to the National Geographic Grand Canyon Visitors Centre, which happened to be next door.  Brilliant choice of hotel (For the Win!) if I may say so. After watching an amazing documentary, I there was drawn to an ad that suggested I use the same method the director of the documentary used to shoot, helicopter. Now I am terrified of heights, but the draw of flying through the canyons was too much, plus it’s an hour trip!

That morning, I woke up, excited but completely terrified of what I was about to do.  The only thing that calmed my nerves was a hearty breakfast.

The drive to the heli-port was short, too short really. I couldn’t even prepare for the ride psychologically.  It didn’t help that the safety video told us what to do in a crash, and that there is no real way of bracing in a helicopter, thanks a lot people!

But once, we took off I couldn’t have imagined what my eyes saw.  The awesome power of nature, and her ability to forge through whatever obstacles she is met with, created the most beautiful natural wonder my eyes have ever seen.  The moment the helicopter reaches the ridge and you look down the drop, your jaw will do the same thing. It was just amazing.  And since I cannot adequately put in to words how awesome it is (despite my masters in journalism (sorry i’m Asian we like to brag)), I will just let the photos do the talking.

When you’re this mesmerised, time goes by way to fast.  It felt like 20mins when we were already heading back.  I had said to my self, hey these trees look familiar (this is not a racist remark towards trees) but it was because we had passed them on our way out. We were back. I was tempted to pay for another hour and take the trip out again.  It was that good.  Once in a lifetime, maybe, but i’m gonna do everything i can do come back.

Compared to that, the ride to Santa Fe, via Albuquerque (just to get my inner Breaking Bad geek on) was pretty uneventful.  I did see a few things along the way that were cool, but nothing will compare. The whole ride was just spent reflecting on the morning’s flight and just how in awe I was. I want to go back there.

Talk soon,

Jonathan

@jonleehk (twitter)

@theriothk (instagram)

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