Travelogue: Day 3 &4, 10/20 – 10/21 – Yellowstone and drive to Salt Lake city

Day 3

I was worried that my car does not have snow tires or chain and we had to drive through some snow area. Fortunate for us, there were only a few part snowed in and the snow was flurry. We drove on I90, thus there was nothing impressive along the road. On the way to Yellowstone, we passed a city called Belgrade. The reason for name is that wealthy Serbians financially supported a group of explorers who discovered the city. This information might not be of interest to you, but it caught my attention as I have just returned from the Balkans.

We arrived at Yellowstone River Motel around 1 p.m. This was the cheapest motel we could fine: $46/night including tax for a double-bed room with free wireless Internet access. The owner, Betty, was an exceptional host. She voluntarily provided us with useful information, things we needs: microwave, sweater for DL as he forget to bring warm clothes. The motel is closing next Thursday for the season. But next time if you decide to go to Yellowstone and plan to go through North Gate entrance, check out this motel.

- Gardiner city -

See the park

We left the motel at 2:45 for the Park. Knowing we don’t have enough time to see everything before it turned dark, we decided to drive all the way to Yellowstone Lake through Mammoth Hot Spring, Norris and Canyon without stopping at Mammoth and Norris.

- Grand Canyon of Yellowstone -

Chitchat

My traveling companion, DL, is one heck of a smart kid.  While he was in Vietnam, he racked up a bunch of national titles in Computer Science and Math. Not only that, he possesses tremendous knowledge of Vietnamese literature and music.

Day 4

Drove to Mammoth Hot Spring, Norris and Old Faithful and get out at the south entrance because I wanted to pass Grand Teton National Park and Snake River after seeing Ansel Adams’ famous black-and-white photos of Grand Teton range and the river.

I tried but failed miserably in my attempt to find a spot which able me to have the same view as in the picture on the left. So DL assured me. “I think they took such pictures from another mountain. You can’t see the river standing low right here.”

- Grand Teton pass and Snake River, Ansel Adams –

However, I managed to snap photo (right) with the same concept: a trail leading toward infinity.

I was utterly impressed by Wyoming’s open space. I’d never witnessed a sky so clear with clouds flowing so closed to my head as if I could reach them with my bare hand. I’d never traveled amid so much empty space around me.

Arrived in Salt Lake city at 9:30 p.m. Met DL’s friends at a restaurant before heading to Provo to stay the night.

See more photos

RESOURCES

Yellowstone River Motel

14 Park St., Gardiner, MO – 406 848 7303 – yellowstonerivermotel.com – Yellowstone North Entrance

Travelogue: Day 2, 10/19 – Nanaimo, British Columbia – Seattle – Yellowstone

Quick trip around Nanaimo

We walked around the harbor for a quick sightseeing. It rained a bit so the scenery was not as nice. We went to a coffee shop. [Ask Matt for the name].

Took the 12:45 ferry back to Tsawwassen. Writing the entry while on the ferry.  I ‘m sitting at the cafeteria section by the window where they have an electric socket.

Problem again with authority

I got a ticket for speeding near Seattle. The policeman claimed that I was driving at 86 mph, 16 miles over the speed limit, that I was passing four cars. Hmm! I was on the fastest lanes, of course eventually I had to pass cars on the slower lanes. Bullshit. I kept a distance with the car in front of me. Some 100 bucks plus thrown down the drain for no reason.

Met DL and his friends at Thanh-Vi restaurant in the Vietnamese community area in downtown Seattle at almost 8 p.m. We left Seattle at 11 p.m. for Yellowstone.

The weather and road condition were good. However, I could almost seen another speeding ticket from the same state on the same day. DL was driving and I was falling asleep while occasionally telling the guy, “hey slow down, it’s okay, we don’t have to rush.” Yah I had too much excitement with Washington police for the day. During one of those half sleep, I opened my eyes and saw flashing blue-red lights in a far distance in front of us. I hurried DL. “Hey probably the police, slow down. Uh, what’s that car in front of us? Is he stopping? Why can’t we catch up with him?”  Then after three minutes, we stopped seeing the lights. We drove on and saw a police car parking on the emergency lane with lights turned off. I didn’t have time to say anything as DL breathed out in relief. “Oh my gosh. I was driving for 100 mph. How could I ever saw him like this without his lights? Thanks god.”

Travelogue: Day 1, 10/18 – Astoria (OR) to Nanaimo, British Columbia

Astoria – Vancouver: 314 miles, 5 hours 34 mins by car.
Vancouver – Nanaimo: 2 hour ferry

Canada shooed me away

I was denied entry into Canada. Why? I had too much in my car making them think I came there to live. Nobody believed that I would come for only a day. Did I look like a refugee? After all I did have the American passport. Do Americans start flooding the Canadian border now?

 They ask me a bunch of question How long you meet him?

• Where did you meet your friend?
• How long did you meet your friend?
• What did you do there (meaning the country I met him)?
• Was he also working there?
• Why all the way from California for just one night?
• Why you need all that stuff with you for just one night? (I’m moving out of a house for god sake!)

One particular  officer tried to act intimidating, making me wonder if it was part of the job at the custom check or he was just exceptionally mean. I was trying to reason when he raised his voice. "Don’t argue with me. Listen!"  Yeah, I listen my ass.

I had two choices: either forfeited the trip and headed back to Seattle. But my friend wouldn’t fly in until tomorrow evening. What was I supposed to do in Seattle? Angry, I drove back to the closest US town after the border looking around for overnight storage.  I entered a bakery called "Seaside Bakery Cafe" and asked the lady there.  She seemed very nice, turned out she really was. She suggested Pantec and a Mail Service next door.

Fishy people near the border

The lady who worked there kept telling me  she said she will accept just to "help me" because we are the post office we don’t do this thing. She told the man to the back and whispered something to him and when she came out, She wanted $50 dollars. I balked at the ideas, then she said she will take $35, 15 is deposit will return to me if i take it tomorrow. She did not trust that I came back the next day as I could be a runaway from my parents; my parents were frantically looking for me at the moment. It was ridiculous as she held my driver license and passport. Yeah, and she wanted cash because she could not be sure if my credit card had money.

Red flag #1:  If she’s honest, why didn’t she talk to the guy in front of me? Why did she have to whisper with him in the back?

Red flag #2: Why cash only in a credit card country? I don’t buy the the reason not being able to check for the money. Yeah, that’s why people swipe the card to see whether they can make the transaction.

This shady woman’s action can be simply interpreted as:

1. The post office does not accept random luggage deposit.  So this woman was trying to a business on the side therefore she had to consult the guy first so they can split the money.

2. She wanted cash because even if the post office accepted luggage, she could keep the money to herself. She said something about writing me a receipt. But this kind of receipt can be torn up the minute I leave the door.

Genuine people and cheap storage

I returned to the Bakery to seek help from the owner. She jumped at the price quote for my luggage and called Pantec from her phone before writing a good direction, only 10 minute away. The 5×5 storage cost only 20 dollars for a few days.  You can fit a mini truck load in there, bicycle, big TV, etc.  Credit cards were accepted.  The only setback was there wasn’t any security. Once people have access to the storage rooms which are left open, they can cut the lock. At this point, I simply did not care. If anybody wanted to steal my clothes, magazine, food, cooking stuffs, be my guest.

Now, I’ll show you a trick to catch an insincere person. Observe his smiles.

A sincere smile can last up to 5 second (or close that).  When you see a smile on a person for an extended time, it’s likely you’re staring at a fake smile.  When a person smile sincerely, both the tips of his mouth and eyes moved.  A fake smile is when only the mouth’s tips change and the eyes’ tips remain where they are. [Link]

Canada finally

Sweet Canada neighbor granted me entry into her country. Drove to Tsawwasen ferry to catch the 5:45 ferry to Nanaimo island where Matt lived. Acted like a complete idiot as I gave my luggage to a baggage guy and 10 minutes later begged for help from a boy to run with me to see where my luggage was? Yup yup, I’ve been to many places people were afraid of traveling to. I’ve been to place I didn’t understand a single word spoken there and I was okay. Ironically, in sweet maple Canada, I kinda lost my composure.

I learned a hard lesson:

1. Don’t estimate any situation ever.
2. Research research and research.

Typical Canadian

• A Canadian will suggest going to an ice skating ring. This was the first choice Matt brought up when he asked me what I would like to do.
• He will take you to Tim Horton to try out doughnuts especially the Tim’s bits.
• Uhh, I only notice that.

I’m in Canada for less than a day, so I can’t write much about this country and the people. However it’s safe to say that Canada is very similar to the US. The people look, dress, and almost behave the same; I barely notice anything different.

Chit chat

Matt and I discovered we shared the same interests and were working on similar projects, using similar resources and technology, aiming for similar goals. Can’t say more.

I had a nice sleep in a decorative room full of porcelain dolls, some of which were handmade by his mom. [Pix]

RESOURCES

Pantec Mini Storage
943 Boblett St., Blaine, WA 98230 * 360 322 6111 (phone)
How to get there (very easy):

1. From the Canadian border, you drive on freeway 5 for five minutes
2. Get to the first city after the border
3. Drive on main street. You’ll see "Seaside Bakery Cafe"
4. Go straight to first stop sign. Turn left on H St.
5. Turn right on Mitchell, 2nd street after overpass
6. Pass a school and turn left on Boblet.
7. Pentax is on your right

Ferry
Schedule: http://www.bcferries.com/schedules/mainland/
From Tsawwassen to Nanaimo (Duke Point): http://www.bcferries.com/schedules/calendar/sch09050602.html
Prices: http://www.bcferries.com/fares/nanvanoffpeak.html

Driving instructions from Seattle:

1. I-5 North to the Canadian border
2. In British Columbia, I-5 becomes Highway 99
3. Highway 99 to Highway 17 (Exit 28)  
4. Southwest on Highway 17 to the Tsawwassen ferry terminal
5. Total estimated driving time: about 2 hrs 30 minutes depending on traffic conditions

(Thanks Matt for the information)

Travel itinerary

1. 10/18 Wed morning: Depart Astoria, Or to Vancouver, British Columbia
   Chitchat and sightseeing with Matt
2. 10/19 Thursday afternoon: Depart Vancouver for Seattle airport
   Pick up DL in the evening. Meet up his friends
   Leave for Yellowstone (night driving)
3. 10/20 Friday: Somewhere in Washington or Montana
   Probably stop some place to take rest
   In the morning, sight seeing along the way
   Arrive at the motel in afternoon or early evening
   Drive around a bit and go back to motel
   Use wireless internet there to write a bit
4. 10/21 Saturday: Enjoy Yellowstone, take lots of pictures.
   Either stay one more night at Yellowstone or leave in the evening heading toward Salt Lake city
5. 10/22 Sunday: Option 1: Somewhere near Salt Lake by early morning or Option 2: Drive to Salt Lake very early in the morning. Sight seeing nearby places and Idaho.
   Meet DL’s friend, see Mormon Church, see lake, night gathering
6. 10/23 Monday morning: Drive back to bay area 11 hours
   Arrive home

Whacked myself on head to force out this post

I have not blogged for a long time. Shoo me to the devil. Shoo! Shoo! For the past two weeks, I’ve been working on my new/old site about Sarajevo. Yah I finally admit it; this city and the country haunt me. I first blog about Sarajevo on sarajevo.wordpress.com using the free hosting provided by wordpress. However, I want to grow this site as well use it as a learning experiment so I decided to host it. It now has a new home at beyondsarajevo.com.  I use a wordpress template and dress it up a little. Don’t you dare go ballistic about the site’s visualization. I never said I was a pro web designer anyway. 

I see beyondsarajevo as a foundation brick for me to build other more successful and worthy sites in the future. For example, I’m planning to create a site about Prague and the Czech Republic once I arrive in November. I have not nail down the site’s content. I believe ideas will come to me. 

I had a nice dinner chat with my Japanese boss last night about everything, mostly Japanese culture. This is the reason why I really forced myself to crank out this post to jot down notes about this conversation.

I will update tomorrow as I want to finish setting up my hosting account for a Vietnamese version of the Saraj site, then I’ll go to bed. It’s difficult but I manage to wake up a bit early in the morning for the past month.