Grand Canyon Adventure!

A journey to the nature! We planned this vacation for a month. We booked airline tickets early for cheap fares, Alhamdulillah, all the plans run smoothly, although some undesirable things happen. Many thanks to Allah. Syukur.

Our flight was on 1st July, 2011, at 8.30pm. Papa still working on that day, and we went to Sioux Falls Airport at 5pm. We were fortunate to escape from the storms and strong winds. It happens 30 minutes early. Alhamdulillah. What a nerve breaking moment.

Our flight to Phoenix/Mesa Airport took 2 hours and 30 minutes. We arrived at 10pm (followed the mountain time which is late 2 hours than Brookings time).Upon arrival at the airport, we took the rental car and moved to Knight Inn Hotel for five hours overnight slept. We headed to Sedona as early as 5am on July 2nd, 2011. Another 5 hours drove to Grand Canyon. 

On our way to Grand Canyon, we really stunned to see the cactus tree all over the mountain at Phoenix. We passed by a stunning view of Sedona Subhanallah, the pine forest was so gorgeous. 

After two hours drive, we arrived at Montezuma Town for a visit to Montezuma Castle (the remains of old stone building). But unfortunately, the place opened at 8am and we were one hour early. Without wasted any time, we moved to Sedona. We went through the rocky road for about 30 minutes. It's really adventure indeed but luckily Aliya slept all the way to Red Rock Hill.

We arrived at Sedona at 8am, a place filled with red rock hills. Subhanallah, the place was simply stunning. We stopped at Visitor Center for some info about the place. Aliya just woke up and she seems so happy to run and move.

After that we went to the place called as Chapel of Holy Cross (a chapel built in the rock hill). Upon arrival at this place, Aliya puked due to car sickness, poor her! huhu a long way to go. After cleaning up and changed the clothes, we moved to Oak Creek Canyon, but we had to stop a few times because Aliya kept vomiting all the way there. *mode worried!

We stopped at Starbucks Cafe for ice-blended for Mama & Papa and juice for Aliya. And once again she puked! huhu Aliya looked so tired and weak and she fell asleep. After 30 minutes drive, we arrived at Oak Creek Vista lookout point. The view was so beautiful. We can see the pine forest up from the hill. No words can describe it...Subhanallah. It was too hot here (about 40C plus) and we managed to dried our wet and smelly clothes...hehhe

From Oak Creek Canyon, we moved to Flagstaff for gas and freshen ourselves. 

We hit the road after 10 minutes at gas station and headed to Sunset Crater Volcano. We paid $10 ($5 each person) for the entrance fee. Here lies an inactive volcano. It was erupted few hundred years ago and has destroyed five villages. And now, it became a national monument. The larva and black soil are all over the place. Subhanallah, the view was so beautiful. I just can't describe it by words. * and Aliya still sleeping here.. poor her, :(  

The next stop was at Wutpaki National Monument and Aliya started to puke again, and again and again :( She will thrown out everything she ate, huhu :( We're so worried but the closest clinic was miles away. We tried to keep her hydrated all the time. Back to Wutpaki, the place lies with the ruin of natives who lived here thousand years ago. The 'desert' was too hot, we can't stay longer and plus we need to rush to our destination. Aliya really need a break from the car and the road.

We arrived at Grand Canyon National Park at 4pm. Alhamdulillah. A long way to go though. 

Our first canyon stop was at Desert View The Watchtower. The architect was a lady and it was build more than hundred years ago. The awesomeness began! Subhanallah, the canyon was so beyond. Alhamdulillah, thanks to Allah who gave us this opportunity to make this happens. We went to Lipan viewpoint for the sunset. We arrived there an hour early and it gave us times for solat, dinner and stretching our legs. The sunset was at 7.50pm. There was nothing better to experience sunset at the canyon. *speechless!

We headed to Yavapai Lodge at 8 and we arrived after 45 minutes. Alhamdulillah, Aliya looked much better when she can laid down on the bed. We freshen ourselves and ready for bed. Alhamdulillah.

July 3, 2011. We planned to get up early for sunrise at 5.15am, but we were too tired. So , we cancelled the plan and just stayed at our lodge for rest. We checked out at 7.30am and we went to general store nearby to buy some foods. After that, we headed to El Tovar for breakfast and tours to the canyon.

On our way to El Tovar, we saw elks by the road. We pulled over the car and without wasted the time, I grabbed my camera and excitedly photographed them. Actually it is illegal to approach the wildlife here, so, we made a bit distance and tried not to disturb that huge mammals.

Image from NPS

After breakfast at El Tovar, we parked the car and took shuttle bus to Hermits Rest Route (red line). The bus provide transportation along the canyon with nine overlooks. We stopped at first overlook (Trailview point). We walked about 1.5km along the canyon to Powell point. We can took the bus instead of walking but we want to explore and spend more times at the rim trail. At Powell Point, we took the bus to Hermits Rest, the last overlook point. After rest for a while and having lunch with sandwiches and tuna, we went back to El Tovar. When we reached the bus stop,all of sudden the wind blew so strong and we barely walked along the path to the lodge. The wind pushed us so hard. After 15 minutes struggled, finally we reached the El Tovar lodge. Alhamdulillah, nothing bad happens to us and Aliya was fine.

Overlook point along the canyon

We waited until 2pm to check in at El Tovar lodge, got some rest, solat, and ate. At 4pm, we went back to shuttle bus and took the bus to Village Route (blue line). We spent our evening at Mather overlook point. Alhamdulillah, our day one at Grand Canyon well as planned.

In the morning of 4 July, we managed to experienced sunrise at El Tovar...we planned to go to Mather overlook point for a good view of sunrise, but Papa was lost and can't find the place, so, we went back to the lodge and viewed the sunrise from El Tovar. We check out at 8am and moved to Phoenix. Our flight was at 3.45pm. We went through the straight highway instead of zigzag road of Sedona... And Alhamdulillah, Aliya was free from the car sickness... We arrived at the airport on time, Alhamdulillah. We arrived home at 9.20pm.

Alhamdulillah, thank you to Allah. Alhamdulillah! We really had a great vacation.

Notes: This trip was planned mostly based by advises from tripadvisor.com forum. Suggestions, recommendations and tips from this forum really help us to plan and make the trip memorable and unforgettable.

Sioux Falls 2011 Hot Balloon Race!

This is our first experience seeing such a colorful hot balloons this close. We were so excited when we arrived Kenny Anderson Park, Sioux Falls as early as 6am. What a beautiful way to start the day! The event was started at 7am, an hour delay because of the weather condition. Alhamdulillah, the pilots made the day though.

We really had a good time there. It is worth to wake up at 4 this morning! Thanks to Papa for your efforts. Much of loves. :)

More photos at my Photoblog. Do visit k. :)

A visit to Garretson town.

We went to Garretson, SD this morning after papa finished some work in the lab. It was a last minute decision since it was snowing in Brookings. It took us 55 minutes to there. Garretson has one place name Devil's Gulch (Jesse James jumped here). Here was the place where bank robbers Jesse and Frank James escaped from lawmen in 1876. I read they jumped from one of the bridge and hide in a cave here. Click the link for more details.

When we arrived, it kind of disappointment when we read a notice at the gate of Devil Gulch entrance. The place is only available for visitor starting mid-May.  I hope we have an opportunity to visit the Devil's Gulch another time, insyaAllah.

After a few minutes of side-seeing the town, we saw the "Jesse James-Pontoon Rides" signboard not far from the Devil's Gulch place. So, we stopped by and took some photos there. The place is quite beautiful. We stayed there for about 20 minutes. Weather not permit us to stay and explore more since it was too cold and windy. My fingers became numb and it was hard for me to hit the camera shutter. A lot of my pictures were blur, huhuhu.

Seharian lebih perjalanan pulang ke Malaysia

Yes, Mama and Aliya are home!

1. Dari Brookings ke Los Angelas Airport (LAX) ~8jam

Mama, papa dan Aliya bergerak dari Brookings ke Sioux Falls pada jam 12.30pm, memandangkan flight ke Los Angelas Airport (LAX) pada jam 4.45pm. Perjalanan ke Sioux Falls, iaitu bandar terbesar di South Dakota mengambil masa selama 1jam dari Brookings. Kami sempat membeli barang2 dari Walmart and TJMaxx sebelum bergerak ke Airport. Summer yang panas memang memenatkan kami.

While waiting for departure @Sioux Falls Airport

Kami check-in 2jam sebelum departure. Pemeriksaan Imegresen di Sioux Falls masih longgar, tapi Mama diperiksa berasingan dari Papa dan Aliya disebabkan Mama memakai tudung. Alhamdulillah, pegawai yang periksa baik2 aje :). Kami sempat solat Jamaq Zuhur dan Asar di Sioux Falls Airport. Masa departure yang lama memberi ruang kepada kami untuk bersiap sedia dan menguruskan Aliya.

It was Aliya's first flight and she behaved so nice in the plane, Alhamdulillah, besides, Papa was with us and it took 4 hours journey to LAX. We arrived at 6.05pm (Los Angelas time) or 8.05pm (Brookings time).

Tiba di LAX, kami terpaksa berjalan jauh untuk mengambil beg di tempat pengambilan. Keadaan airport yang tidak terurus kerana masih di dalam proses pembaikan memang menyusahkan. Kami terpaksa bersesak2 dan menunggu lama untuk mengambil beg. Aliya pon dah start merengek2 sebab lapar dan ngantuk.

Sesat kat LAX. Berpusing2 cari tempat.

15-20 min jugak baru dapat beg. Pastu kami sesat plak kat situ lebih kurang 30min, sebab nak cari tempat International Departure (ID). berpusing2 dalam bangunan tuh. Electronic Information Center pon tak membantu, sampailah kami tanya pemandu teksi kat luar bangunan. Huh kena jalan jauh lagi, sampaikan kena keluar bangunan plak, keadaan sesak dan panas di luar bangunan memberi gambaran seperti berada di luar bangunan KL sentrel plak..hehe hari pon semakin gelap, hampir jam 9 malam dah. 30min perjalanan ke ID memang menduga lebih2 lagi kami tak makan2 pape dari sahur lagi, perut pon dah start masuk angin.

Akhirnya sampai juga. Hujung sekali tempatnya.

Malaysia Airlines Check-in center berada paling hujung bangunan, akhirnya kami jumpa jugak setelah penat berjalan. sampai aje, kami ke foud court untuk rehatkan badan, solat dan cari makan...huhu perit sikit kat sini, nak solat payah skit, kami alas perut dengan biskut oreo dan coklat, sedikit mee and sandwish vegetarian... sekurang2nya perut kami terisi. Makanan plak memang mahal. Aliya dah mula mengantuk dan menangis2... bila dapat port untuk menyusu memang tido je la dia... :)

2. Dari LAX ke Taiwan ~16jam

Flight MAS MH095 ke KLIA pada jam 12.45am. Mama dan Aliya check-in pada jam 10.30pm. Masa kat imigresen checking memang mencabar, Aliya jaga dan menangis dengan kuat sepanjang pemeriksaan masuk... :( memang cemas sangat, lebih2 lagi kami dah terpisah dari Papa. Papa akan pulang ke Brookings pada malam tu jugak. Beberapa kali beg kami diperiksa, memang makan masa lama, dan Aliya menangis sekuatnya, nak menyusu dan tido, kena la tahan telinga, lagi leceh bila kena bukak kasut dan asingkan laptop dari beg, nasib baik ada sorang imigresen yang membantu, walaupon tak banyak sekurang2 ringan skit beban. Memang menangis la bila lepas pemeriksaan tu. Alhamdulillah, syukur tak terhingga.

Di tempat menunggu, memang ramai sangat orang, tak macam kat Sioux Falls tadi, so, susah skit nak breastfed Aliya... kesian gak kat baby yang tengah lapa, susu botol pon tak mo minum... :( So, kami dudk aje di lantai dan buat donno aje, hehhe memang perit masa menunggu ni, Aliya yang tak selesa duduk dan Mama yang dah terlalu penat dan lapa... :( Mama bertahan dukung dan menenangkan Aliya selama hampir 2jam, huhu penat tak tergambar. Kami yang ada anak diberi pelepasan untuk masuk flight awal, tapi ramai jugak yang ada anak, so beratur pon panjang gak...huhu Bila dah dapat masuk flight memang syukur sangat, pramugari dan pramugara MAS memang banyak membantu... Kami pon diberikan tempat duduk yang lebih selesa walaupon terpaksa duduk di sebelah tok sami dari India.. huhu nasib baik tok sami tu baik2 aje...

Aliya at her bassinet.

Aliya plak diberi tempat di dalam basinet, tempat tido bayi, memang memudahkan Mama. Sepanjang perjalanan Aliya banyak gak tido, penat agaknya, dia ada la nangis2, dan ada masa tu dia memang nak dok kat riba dan main2, memang Mama dapat rehat kejap2 aje...tapi Aliya memang senang nak jaga sepanjang perjalanan kami. 16jam kami di dalam kapal terbang dan akan transit di Taiwan selama 1 jam 30 min.

3. Dari Taiwan ke KLIA ~ 7 jam

Masa kat Taiwan sangat mencabar fizikal Mama. Dalam keadaan penat, terpaksa berjalan jauh ke tempat pemeriksaan dan ke tempat menunggu, dan kena plak dukung Aliya (sebab stroller dia takleh amik dari flight), bawa beg susu Aliya dan beg galas laptop, huhuhu Alhamdulillah diberi kekuatan dari Allah dan berjaya mengharungi detik2 yang memeritkan ini. Nasib baik tak pengsan, hehhe :0)

Bila dah berada di tempat menunggu tu, memang dapat berehat, siapkan Aliya dan bagi Aliya makan. Memang betul2 relief. Alhamdulillah. Jam Taiwan masa ni kul 7pagi, dan samalah masa ngan Malaysia. Kul 7.30am kami akan gerak pulang ke Malaysia. Perjalanan pulang mengambil masa selama 6jam.

Pramugari dan pramugara MAS yang kat flight ni pon memang banyak membantu. Aliya plak masa ni memang tak tido langsung, 4jam perjalanan masih terkawal, 2jam sebelum sampai KLIA, memang dok merengek dan menangis, letih agaknya...memang masa ni kena tahan malu dengan orang sekeliling, harap diaorang paham, huhu, memang rasa bersalah sangat...

Kami tiba awal beberapa minit di KLIA iaitu pada jam 12.15pm, perasaan syukur kepada Allah tak terhingga. Bila sampai di pemeriksaan imigresen, kami terpaksa beurusan di pejabat imigresen kerana tiada passport asal untuk masuk ke Malaysia kerana dokumen2 kami telah dicuri beberapa bulan lepas. Kena tunggu lagi, huhu nasib baik, pegawai2 imigresen ok2 aje... :)

Aliya was so excited and happy when we reached KLIA.

Alhamdulillah, akhirnya kami berjaya sampai di Malaysia. Alhamdulillah. Alhamdulillah. Alhamdulillah.

P/s: Kepada sesiapa yang akan menghadapi situasi seperti ini, berdoa dan berserah kepada Allah adalah segalanya. Bila kita berada di situasi susah dan perit, memang kita perlu mengatasinya juga, so, masa tu, insyaAllah, kita akan pandai2 lah membawa diri. Good luck! :)

Crazy days at Brookings Downtown

We went to 'Crazy Days' event this morning. This event was held on Friday and Saturday. There are shops bargains, kids fun area, and horses tour at downtown sidewalk. We walked along the road and having a great time together although we just did a 'road' shopping! hehe

The weather was so hot! So called summer...huhu We spent only 10-15minutes there because papa need to go to work.

Shoes for sales. The prices dropped 50%-70% and you can get the Nike shoes for only ten bucks! But we didn't get anything there..

Horses road tour..

2nd visit to Oakwood Lake

Oakwood Lake is not so far from our place. We went there last spring but the weather was so cold. We went there yesterday, and it was rainy. Enjoy the photos below. We managed to snap a few photos before the black clouds came.

Cabin in 1870

Papa & Aliya

Swimming area

Birds at lake

Drinking water

Notes: Kami datang sini untuk rehatkan minda, tengok ladang hijau, nyaman dan tenang rasanya. :)

Mount Rushmore Adventure!

Hari pertama (3 Julai, Sabtu)

Percutian last minutes, tak ade rancangan, takde tentative, tup2 hari Jumaat tu decide nak g holiday sebab Papa cuti hari Isnin sebab 4th July tu hari merdeka kat US. Tengah hari ke malam sibuk nak booking hotel, nak sewa kereta, nak beli makanan, dll. Mula2 plan nak g Chicago, servey tiket flight, alih2 lupa plak yang kami semua takde dokumen sebab dihilangkan Fedex bulan 3 yang lepas. So, nak elak masalah kat airport, so decide nak g tempat yang boleh gerak ngan kete aje la..so, tu yang buat keputusan nak g Mount Rushmore (MR), Mama panggil as bukit ukir (kepala presiden). Perjalanan ke MR tu lebih kurang 6-7jam.

Aliya mula2 excited naik kete, sejam perjalanan start nangis, boring kot dia..

Kami gerak awal pagi Sabtu, lebih kurang kul 8am. Kami naik kereta sewa Chevy Malibu. Kereta kami tak mampu nak jalan jauh2 sebab tak servis.

Mama goreng nasi as bekal sepanjang perjalanan sebab nanti susah nak cari makanan halal.

Dalam dua jam perjalanan (jan 10am), kami sampai di Camberlain. Kat sini ada satu tasik yang sangat besar, tasik Francis Case Lyman County (Missouri River). Subhanallah! cantik sungguh, dikelilingi bukit hijau, ada jambatan, then awan memutih, langit pon biru terang, nyaman sungguh rasa. Kami berenti tepi tasik then makan nasi goreng! :)

Tasik

Ladang rumput sepanjang perjalanan kami

Kami gerak lepas 15-20minit kami kat situ. Sepanjang jalan kami dapat lihat padang2 rumput, ladang jagung, memang kawasan padang dan ladang aje lah, tak banyak bangunan pon, memang nyaman dan menenangkan minda. Alhamdulillah. :)

Kul 12pm, kami singgah di Shell nak isi minyak, pastu tengok ada cam tempat koboi, tak sengaja tersinggah kat 1880 Town! Apa ada kat sini? kat bawah ni ada sedikit penerangan pasal tempat ni:

"Walk down Main Street of this 1880 town and explore more than 30 buildings authentically furnished with thousands of relics. Enjoy the rolling terrain of sprawling homestead and envision life on the prairie. While at the 1880 town, you can also view memorabilia from the late Casey Tibbs, a champion rodeo bronc rider, and many props that were used in filming the movie "Dances with Wolves". ~1880 Town"

Bandar asal South Dakota pada tahun 1880

Kami stay sini hampir sejam gak, g round2 tengok bandar2 lama zaman2 koboi masa tahun 1880. Matahari terik sangat, buat Aliya tak selese..huhu Then, jam satu lebih tu kami gerak menuju ke bandar Rapids City, tempat hotel kami menginap nanti, Days Inn Hotel.

Kami lalui Badlands National Park masa nak g Rapids City. Tempat Badlands ni dipenuhi dengan batu2 dalam laut. Tempat ni sebenarnya laut masa ketika dahulu, then laut kering, so, jadi kawasan berbukit2, berbatu2, memang incredibly beautiful!! Subhanallah. Kami ni nak lalu aje, sebab nanti balik baru nak singgah betul2 amik gambar.

Badlands. Banyak gambar di hari ke-3 nanti.

A ah, fyi, Rapids City guna Mountain time iaitu lewat sejam dari masa kat Brookings yang guna central time. So, masa yang akan ditulis lepas2 ni akan guna Mountain time, huhu keliru skit.. Kami sampai hotel dan check-in jam 3.30pm (ni mountain time la yer, kalau waktu sebenar kat Brookings jam 4.30 petang dah, dan waktu kat Mesia kul 3.30pagi).

Alhamdulillah, lega dapat sampai hotel dengan selamat, bilik hotel muat katil queen satu, selesa gak walau kecik, sesuai la untuk kami bertiga. Perjalanan yang meletihkan, Aliya pon lega aje bila dapat baring kat tilam, kalau tak dok nangis dalam kete, lenguh kut dok kat baby seat lama sangat.

Kul 7.30 g cari Walmart, nak beli makanan. Kami beli nasi segera yang ada sayur, boleh microwave selama 90 saat, then boleh makan daa. Kami beli telur, ikan sardin. So ni la makanan bekal untuk besok plak. Malam ni makan roti ngan pisang aje lah...

Kul 9.30 sampai hotel, smayang dan tido..huh penatttt sangat.

Hari kedua (4 Julai, Ahad)

Kami bangun seawal kul 4.30am untuk subuh, subuh kul 3.45pagi rasanya, tapi tebangun kul 4.30am sebab tak larat badan, nasib baik syuruk kul 5.30am. Awal2 lagi kami g microwave nasi segera kat dapur hotel, hehhe then rebus telur guna coffee maker, telur buat lauk. Bila semua masak, kami gaul semua benda, buat cam nasi goreng, taruk garam dan black pepper. Yummy.. Alhamdulillah rezeki hari ni.

Kami gerak ke MR dalam kul 7.35am, tunggu Aliya bangun dulu, kesian kalau nak jagakan dia..

10min perjalanan ke MR, kami singgah di Reptile Gardens, ni memang tak plan pon, tengok ada billboards kat tepi2 jalan, so singgah la. We waited for 15minutes outside because the place is open at 8am. Kami stay sini selama sejam. Apa yang ada sini?? hehhe macam zoo, tapi zoo untuk reptilia. Ada buaya, ada biawak, ada kura2 gergasi, macam2 la ada. seronok, tempat dia best. :)

Reptile Gardens

Kul 9 Kami gerak ke MR, sampai gak akhirnya, dalam 34 minit perjalanan. Jalan ke sana agak berbukit2 jugak, jalan bengkang bengkok, tapi nasib la tak banyak kereta walau pon orang ramai...tak tau la nape tak sesak, tapi kami suka! Kami parking kat open roof yang boleh nampak mount rushmore terus, kena jalan naik atas lagi untuk g main entrance dia untuk bergambar. Manusia ramai sungguh, orang tempatan, pelancong yang macam kami pon sangat ramai, nak jalan naik atas berasak2, huhu tak best nak amik gambar, tapi memang cantik sangat tempat ni, speechless bila sampai atas..

Akhirnya kami sampai di Mount Rushmore! Awan mendung, ni sebelum hujan.

Aliya papa dukung dengan snugger, Mama plak dok sibuk angkut barang2 kamera, hehhe bila aje sampai main entrance dia, snap 2,3 gambar, then hujan..huhuuhu takde rezeki nak stay lama2, so, kami berlari2 la turun balik ke tempat parking, nasib baik Aliya tak kena hujan. So, kami decide g Crazy Horse Monument dulu, tak jauh dari sini, dalam 10min tak sampai. Tapi kat sini pon hujan gak, makin lama makin lebat, uhuhuh kami stay kat dalam dewan pameran ajelah, tak berpeluang ke gunung yang ada ukir kepala Crazy Horse tu.

Crazy Horse Monument

Ada apa kat Crazy Horse Monument ni??? Crazy Horse tu adalah nama ketua red indian yang memperjuangkan tanah mereka dari di rampas oleh orang2 putih ni, kira hero red indian lah ni. Kat situ orang putih ni plak nak buat ukiran Crazy Horse naik kuda, tapi tak siap lagi, ada kepala aje, kuda, tangan, badan semuanya takde lagi, susah rupanya nak ukir gunung ni, sebab projek ni start tahun 1948 lagi, tapi tak siap banyak pon..sebab masalah budget pon ye gak, yang buat ukiran ni buat secara sukerala samalah macam Mount Rushmore tu, so tunggu orang derma baru bulih ukir2, letup2 bukit.

Kat sini tak dapat amik gambar, hujan lebat la kan, so, g amik2 gambar kat tempat pameran dia aje dalam dewan. Takde benda menarik sangat sini, hujan buat aktiviti terhad, tiket nak masuk pon mahal, $20. Tapi apa yang best sini, ada sorang nenek tua, american lah, dok geram kat Aliya, siap nak bergambar, nak main2 ngan Aliya, then anak nenek tu ada bagi duit $15 kat Aliya, hehhe. Tak leh nak letak gambar dia, sebab tak menutup aurat, huu. Stay sini selama 30min, then gerak ke Hot Spring.

Pekan Hot Spring

Permandangan cantik sepanjang perjalanan kami ke Mammoth Site.

Mammoth Site, Hot Spring.

Kat bandar Hot Spring ni ada Mammoth Site. Subhanallah, perjalanan kami di penuhi dengan permandangan indah, memang cantik tak tergambar, kawasan hijau yang berbukit bukau, ada binatang2 liar macam bison, dan rusa (pronghorn antelope). Boleh amik gambar dekat2, tapi tak berani. hehhe Kul 1pm kami sampai di bandar Hot Spring. Klasik sungguh bandar dia, bangunan2 klasik, hijau bukit bukau, nyaman aje, udara segar sungguh. Ada apa kat Mammoth Site ni?? Tengok bawah ni:

http://www.mammothsite.com/

Satu jam kami kat sini. Kami enjoy sangat, tengok fosil2 Mammoth, memang menarik, tapi, Mama plak macam nak demam sebab kena hujan masa kat Crazy Horse tadi, selesema, sakit kepala dah, bila nak balik tu, makan nasi dulu, rehat2, bagi makan Aliya. Masa kami makan tu, ada sorang makcik datang ke kereta kami, minta tolong nak jump start mini van dia, Alhamdulillah, kami dapat tolong diaorang, nasib baik Papa bawa jump starter kat kete. Last2 dia bagi 15 dollar walaupon kami menolak.

Dari Mammoth Site, kami gerak ke Custer State Park. Dalam perjalanan tu, singgah farmasi, beli ubat demam, Mama makan ubat dan tido sepanjang perjalanan ke Custer Park. Perjalanan amik masa sejam, sepanjang2 tu kami lalui hutan dan bukit2 yang penuh dengan pokok pine, Subhanallah, memang indah yang amat, huhu terasa nak bawak satu family datang sini.

Custer State Park. It's gorgeous?

Kat Custer tu, cuma road tour, tapi roud tour yang sangat best!!! Permadangan memang 10bintang...Kami lalui kawasan bukit hijau, hutan pine, kawan bukit batu2, terowong bawah bukit, terowong batu, jumpa tasik, jumpa binatang2 tepi2 jalan. Penghujung road trip tu, kami berenti solat zuhur dan asar tepi jalan, ni dah kul 7pm. Nasib baik tak gelap lagi, sebab maghrib kul 8.30malam. Dari Custer kami plan untuk ke Mount Rushmore lagi, sebab cuaca cam dah ok.

Dalam 45min perjalanan kami sampai di Mount Rushmore lagi sekali, pertunjukan lampu plak start pukul 9, so, kami gerak dulu ke bandar Keystone, 5min je dari MR. Kat bandar Keystone ni, kami naik kereta kabel, naik bukit, dari sini pon dapat nampak mount rushmore, huhuu sgt indah, sambil2 tengok sunset sekali. Alhamdulillah, kami berpeluang merasa pengalaman yang indah ni.

Cable car at Keystone.

Mount Rushmore at night

Kami naik Mount Rushmore kul 8.30pm, setting camera, set tempat Aliya kat stroller dia. Huh kami tak bawak baju tebal la, sejuk plak kat sini, so gamble aje la, snap gambar family, tengok2 low battery sudaa, huhu so, jimat snap untuk light show.. Tunggu2, takde pon light show lagi, yang ada cuma ada slide show pasal sejarah 4 presiden, pasal USA la, macam2 sejarah la, Aliya plak dok nangis2 ngantuk, cian dia. 45 min kat sana takde pape pon, then kemuncaknya, diaorang cuma pasang lampu suluh kepala2 ukir tu je, huhuhuhu takde pon light show!!!! kecewa, kalau tahu cam ni memang kami turun ke Rapids City untuk tengok bunga api aje la, huhu tak apa, memang takde rezeki. Kami balik ke hotel dengan perasaan kecewa, tapi perasaan gembira mengatasi segalanya. Memang panjang hari kami, macam2 tempat dan pengalaman yang kami tempuhi, Alhamdulillah sangat, segala urusan kami dipermudahkan, kat hotel, kami smayang, Aliya minum susu dan tido, semua orang penat.

Hari ketiga (5 Julai, Isnin)

Kul 9am check out lepas breakfast menuju ke Dinosaur Park tak jauh dari hotel, dalam 5-10min sampai. Dok kat situ lebih kurang 45min, bergambar, tengok permadangan, dan rilex2, sebelum gerak balik. Kami akan melalui Badlands road sekali lagi.

Dinasour Park at Rapids City.

Kami sampai di Badlands kul 11.15am. Kat sini banyak tempat singgah dan dapat berenti tepi2 jalan, viewpoint. First stop kami di Pinnacles entrance overlook. Amik gambar sampai kul 12pm, turun bawah tempat berbatu2, siap ada tangga. 45min kat sini, then kami gerak lagi, tengok2 permandangan yang luar biasa rasanya, Subhanallah, memang menakjubkan.

Badlands

Kami round2, snap2 kat Badlands sampai kul 3.30pm. Dari sini, perjalanan balik ke Brooking ambil masa 5jam 15min.

*Guna masa central plak (tambah sejam)

Kul 7.10 malam berenti kat Tasik Francis Case Lyman County untuk solat zuhur dan asar. Kali ni sembahyang tepi jalan. Dari sini, lagi 2jam 45min lagi nak sampai Brookings.

On the way tu, kami nampak signboard nak g Corn Palace, so, kami pon singgah la ke Corn Palace jap, masa tu kul 8malam dah, tapi still terang, tak sunset lagi. Kul 9.15 baru maghrib rasanya. Dok kat situ 45min. Corn Palace ni dibuat dari jagung2, menarik sangat.

Mitchell Corn Palace.

Kul 8.45 kami pulang balik, sampai umah dah kul 10.30pm. Bergegas smayang maghrib, then tunggu isyak kul 11.05pm. Alhamdulillah, tamatlah percutian kami. There are 3 words I can say about this vacation: AWESOME, AWESOME and AWESOME! Alhamdulillah.

A visit to Siouxland Heritage Museum: Old Courthouse Museum

• We went to Siouxland Heritage Museum, Sioux Falls. Today's weather is good but it is too hot. Enjoy the photos below:

The entrance

Underwear brief history! haha what an interesting exhibition. :p

Hot Air exhibition.

• We stayed there for about 20 minutes. The hot weather make us so thirsty and tired. haha