The Chronicles of XO

St George & Zion Nat’l Park

St. George, Utah

Tuacahn

After postponing my trip to St. George (4 hours south of Salt Lake City) for several weeks now, I finally accepted the invitation of my friend from work, ex boss Ryan B. to use the extra ticket for Les Miserables at the impressive amphitheater Tuacahn.

Tuacahn is one of the eight theaters in America selected as to present local productions of Les Miserables. The amphitheater is located at the St George’s glorious red rocks Canyon.

The place itself is very impressive. We got really good seas, almost front row.

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Les Miserables

I don’t really have much experience in musicals though, and I can’t say I am a musical lover, because I am not; but I really enjoyed this one.

Everything is out doors, even the stage, which makes the experience something amazing. Though, some girls seating in front of us were being harassed by a bunch of bees.

The main benefits of seeing this masterpiece of musical theater at the unique Tuacahn setting were:

The opening scene of prisoners, scattered on the hillside, actually breaking up rocks with sledgehammers;
There is a song called “Stars” that is sung under an expanse of real stars;
Nothing can top “One Day More” (the ending of the first part of the play) with a crescendo of fireworks;
Javert (one of the Characters) actually jumps from a tall bridge;
Tons of real horse-drawn carriages;
During the barricade battle, the opposing army is positioned in the rocks 30 to 50 meters behind the barricade, shooting at the rebels while they fire back.

After the show, we got to congratulate the actors; my favorites were the fat lady and her husband but they weren’t there. So I hung out with the cabaret girls.

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St. George, Utah

Next morning we were ready to go to Zion National Park but we did an obligatory stop: St. George Temple.

The St. George Temple is the only building that stands up in the city from far away. Like most temples it is really white so with the reddish background of the mountains it is very visible from really long distances.

I like the few details the temple has, like the beehives in the main entrance.

After that we did another quick stop at Inn-N-Out. Did you know that there was one in St. George (it is actually located in Washington City… but tome-to tomato right?)

Zion National Park

Pictures do not portrait the magnificence of this place. Zion Nat’l Park is, for sure, one of the most beautiful and breathtaking laces of the United States (that I have been to)

I couldn’t stop taking pictures, every pace I looked there was something to be amazed for.

According to the guide (along time ago) a Baptist priest and his guide started naming the mountains kind of as a game, and that’s why most of the mountains are named after biblical characters with the exception of the “Moroni Mountain” which is from the Book of Mormon.

My favorites places were the ‘Weeping Rocks’ and ‘the narrows’ that it is nothing but a great adventure.

To see all the pictures please click here.

One day wasn’t enough to appreciate the park so I really want to go back and take the “angel’s landing” hike or camp there for a few days.

Add comment August 20, 2008

THE boss and the bosses: Friends from Work

Park City, Utah

Chau

Well, the meeting in Park City was fun, I got the chance to go up at the top of the mountain in a tram or gondola. It was exciting.

One of the guys who I work for/with was really scare of it until a bug decided to get into the gondola also, then nobody were scared of being hanging 80 feet in the air, they were scared of the uninvited bug.

THE Boss

The other boss

One other boss

The Bosses

My some times boss

The bossy

The ‘wannabe’ boss

Add comment August 16, 2008

Invited

Park City, Utah

A few months ago i was invited to represent the LDS Business College at the “SLC Downtown Alliance” Brakefast.

This time I am invited to speak in a Breakfast-lunch meeting in Park City.

The event is in a few minutes and I am still not prepared.

Add comment August 15, 2008

Evening at the Zoo

Salt Lake City Utah

Buenos Aires Zoo

When I was 8 my godfather took me to the Buenos Aires zoo; of course I was more than excited to see all those strange animals like the zebra, the tigers, etc.

I remember that between all the screaming kids and the animals the place was really noisy. It was great.

When we went to see the lions I notice that a group of kids were making fun of an old and ugly Lion.

The Lion was seating in a rock, and I can swear it was looking at me. (Seeing it looking at me made me uncomfortable.)

The lion stood up, stared to the group of kids who were mucking him and roared very loudly.

Until this day I’ve never heard something like it. It was so potent that after that I couldn’t hear anything at all, everybody (and everything) stood quite for a second.

Neither animals, nor people dared to disobey what it seemed to be a demand for silence.

After that day I decided never to step my foot in a zoo again. I don’t think I had a real reason for that, I just never did it again.

It was one of those things that you just don’t do and became your “made-up-value”

20 years later I still keep that commitment of going to a Zoo, unless I did until last Saturday.

Salt Lake City, Utah Zoo

Last Saturday, my roommates John R’s job rented the whole zoo for the afternoon for a party; so my roommates and I went to support and spend the evening at the Zoo.

Add comment August 11, 2008

Our deepest fear is

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

By Marianne Williamson from her book, A Return To Love: Reflections on the Principles of A Course in Miracles.

Add comment August 9, 2008

Driving School

Salt lake City, Utah

Procrastinated Goal

I am ‘finally’ trying to get my driving license. It is not something I really need to get, but it is something I promised myself to get almost 5 years ago… and I think (thanks to the non stop pushing of my friend Dallas and my sister) that it’s about time.

The process starts going to a driving school (A-1 Driving school) for almost 3 weeks.

In those classes the instructors talk about driving rules and potential dangers on the road… and then they have to show you some videos.

Those videos are really boring and dull, mostly from the 80s. (One of them was hosted by Don Johnson!!! From the old ‘Miami Vice”)

I fell as sleep in the one that explain the parts and its functions. (I know I’ll regret that some day)

My favorite so far is the one that show you accidents and dead people.

In the United States is common to have a car when you are 15 so most of my class mates are 15 to 16 year old teenagers.

Driving Ed: Written test

After a little of reading I went to the closest Driving License Division Office from home to take the written test (So I can have my ‘Learner Driving license’)

There were a large amount of people, mostly parents with their teen kids. They were all talking about how hard the test was, and that they know people who took it twice already, etc.

They were making me nervous.

Went some of them got out of the testing room, some of them came out really disappointed or embarrassed because they fail the test, and others got out jumping of excitement because they passed the test.

The test was in a computer where you can choose the answers touching it with your fingers.

I passed it with 48 right answers out of 50… maybe there was not enough reason to feel excited because it was really easy, but I still felt really happy.

As my friend said, “there is always feels good to pass stuff…”

1 comment August 8, 2008

Rodeo

Preston, Idaho

Enjoy

Last I went to the rodeo weekend, it was in Preston, Idaho. The place was packed and there was a fair next to it.

Before the rodeo there was a sort of ‘parade’

I felt really bad for the animals been cruelly played with and for the cowboys who were hurt by the animals (cruelly played with)

I had fun though.

So that raises a question: I feel sorry for the animals and /or the hurt cowboys but still enjoy watching them get hurt. Does my human nature make me enjoy it or feel sorry for them?

Add comment August 4, 2008

Overview: Chanon Thai Café (Salt Lake City, Utah)

New Section

Thanks to my luck I guess I got the chance to visit many, many places, restaurants, and events.

So today I open a new section on my blogging adventure where I tell where to go if you visit Utah or some places in the US.

I didn’t know what to name it so since I simply give an ‘Overview’ I named it “Overview’

The Japanese part is because I am learning Japanese (Do you know what it says?)

Chanon Thai Café (Salt Lake City, Utah)

Some corners of the old neighborhoods of Salt Lake City became popular because of its Architecture and history.

This is the case of 900 East and 900 South (9^th& 9^Th) where many little ‘peculiar’ stores and restaurants (hard to find in other places) are located.

Like Chanon Thai Café, a small but cozy Thai restaurant that transmit a feeling of comfort and relaxation.

The food is excellent ( I tried #30 Kaow Pad) and the prices were very convenient (From $5 to $14)