It has grown on me!

Saturday, May 31, 2014

Huntington Harbor Boat Rental - Kayaking

Today, my husband and I went to Huntington Beach for kayaking. We bought the two-hour double kayak rental ticket for $19 through Livingsocial on February 25. It would expire next month, so we decided to try it today. It was hard to find this rental shop because their location on Google Map, which was attached on Livingsocial site, was wrong. It led us to completely different location. Anyway, we finally found this Huntington Harbor Boat Rentals after an hour.

We had tried kayaking over 10 yeas ago in Okinawa, Japan. Because our previous experience of kayaking was many years ago, we totally forgot how to kayak, so the staff of the rental shop nicely taught us how to kayak simply was very helpful.
A week ago, I had bought the waterproof iPhone case on Amazon for this kayaking. That's why I was able to take my iPhone there and took some pictures on the kayak. We enjoyed kayaking seeing many beautiful beach houses. We didn't know that there were several small beaches on the harbor, and some children were swimming there. Some teens were jumping into water from bridges. We found new aspects of Huntington Beach from the views from kayak.

Afterward, my iPhone became more useful because we got lost! The views of the harbor looked same everywhere. We checked our location through Google Map on my iPhone. We finally made it to the rental shop 30 minutes in advance of time we were supposed to come back. :)

Kayaking was totally heavy exercise. We exhausted ourselves by paddling the kayak for almost two hours, but we really enjoyed it and had a great time there. :)

I uploaded my Youtube video which I recorded that day.

Huntington Harbor Boat Rentals - Kayaking Experience

Huntington Harbor Boat Rentals
16732 Pacific Coast Hwy
Sunset Beach, CA 90742

Friday, May 30, 2014

Josh Gad, Olaf - In Summer (Disney Film, Frozen)

One of my favorite characters of Frozen, Disney Film, is Olaf, who is the snowman and was built by Elsa. Olaf is very a goofy and adorable character. I think everyone loves him! His voice actor is Josh Gad and also sings the song, In Summer, in this film. Today, I listened to the song, and it became one of my favorite songs. :)

Lyrics

Olaf: Oh, I don't know why, but I've always loved the idea of summer, and sun, and all things hot.

Kristoff: Really? I’m guessing you don’t have much experience with heat.

Olaf: Nope!

Olaf: But sometimes I like to close my eyes, and imagine what it’d be like when summer does come

Bees’ll buzz, kids’ll blow dandelion fuzz
And I’ll be doin’ whatever snow does in summerrrrrr
A drink in my hand, my snow up against the burning sand
Prob’ly getting gorgeously tanned in summerrrrr

I’ll finally see a summer breeze, blow away a winter storm
And find out what happens to solid water when it gets warm!
And I can’t wait to see, what my buddies all think of me
Just imagine how much cooler I’ll be in summerrrrrr

Da da, da doo, ah bah bah bah bah bah boo
The hot and the cold are both so intense
Put’em together — it just makes sense!

Ratdadat dad dada doo
Winter’s a good time to stay in and cuddle
But put me in summer and I’ll be a — happy snowman!

When life gets rough, I like to hold on to my dream
Relaxing in the summer sun, just lettin’ off steam
Oh the sky would be blue, and you guys’ll be there too
When I finally do what frozen things do in summerrrrrrr

Kristoff: I’m gonna’ tell him —
Anna: Don’t you dare!

Olaf:
In summerrrrrrrrr!

This is my entries related to my favorite songs.
http://itisapieceofcake2011.blogspot.com/search/label/songs

Thursday, May 29, 2014

Memorial Day Travel - Part 3, Lower Antelope Canyon

We finally arrived at Lower Antelope Canyon around noon. Many people were waiting in a long line to purchase tour tickets, which were $28 per person. We got the 1 p.m. tour tickets, and we still had time until the tour begins. That's why we decided to grab a quick lunch in Page, which is the closest city from Antelope Canyon. It took 10 minutes to go to Page, and we bought sandwiches at Subway. We came back there just in time! (We were glad to have eaten lunch before the tour begins because the tour was two hours long, and we needed to hike a long distance!)

The tour began! Our tour group of about 20 people followed the tour guide man and headed toward the entrance of the Antelope Canyon. As you can imagine from the photos, it was a super hot day!

We climbed down the pretty narrow ladders to enter the canyon. The inside of the canyon was very crowded with so many people. Because of that, the lines of people moved very slowly.

The views through the canyon were spectacular! The curves and shapes of the walls are magnificent! I was amazed at how beautiful the shapes of inside of the canyon were.

We walked through very narrow passageway.

The tour guide man told us the best places for pictures!

We were really tired from hiking for two hours there, but it was really worth it. Then, we headed toward the Colorado River. I'll write about it next time.

I updated my Youtube video which I recorded that day.

Lower Antelope Canyon

Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Memorial Day Travel - Part 2, Carl Hayden Visitor Center & Glen Canyon Dam

In the moring on May 25, we left from St. George to go to Antelope Canyon. On the way there, we found Carl Hayden Visitor Center unexpectedly, so we stopped by the visiter center to get rest for a while.

Carl Hayden Visitor Center

We were able to see beautiful views of this huge dam, Glen Canyon Dam, from the visitor center.

Glen Canyon Dam

Carl Hayden Visitor Center

Outside of the facility, there was the Dinosaur foot prints!

Dinosaur Tracks

Glen Canyon Dam

There was the gift shop at the visitor center, and we bought some fridge magnets for our souvenirs. Because we have been collecting fridge magnets, we were glad to find these. These were only $2 each!

Then, we headed toward Antelope Canyon. I'll write about it next time.

I uploaded my Youtube video which I recorded Carl Hayden Visitor Center.

Carl Hayden Visitor Center & Glen Canyon Dam

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Memorial Day Travel - Part 1, Headed toward St. George, Utah

My husband and I went a road trip during three-day holiday. On May 24, we headed toward St. George in Utah to go to Antelope Canyon next day. While drove through I-15, the most scenery was desert.

I-15

I uploaded myYoutube video which I recorded on I-15.

Driving Through I-15 North, Barstow to Las Vegas

We stopped at Las Vegas Premium Outlets North for shopping for a while. Then, we headed toward St. George again.

After driving through desert for a while, the scenery significantly changed at Virgin River Gorge. We drove through I-15 seeing extraordinarily giant sedimentary rocks. It was spectacular!

Virgin River Gorge

The scenery of Arizona was very beautiful. We drove a very long distance, but the scenery got rid of tiredness from driving so long.

I uploaded my Youtube video, which I recoded on I-15.

Driving Through I-15 North, Las Vegas to St. George (Virgin River Gorge)

We finally arrived in St. George and stopped at Pioneer Park, overlooking St. George.

St. George, Utah

We were able to see Zion National Park from Pioneer Park.

Zion National Park

St. George Utah Temple

St. George Views

Monday, May 26, 2014

Quality Inn Flagstaff - Review

Last night, my husband and I stayed at Quality Inn in Flagstaff, Arizona. It was a non-smoking room with a queen size bed for Sunday night, which was the day before Memorial Day, for $65.17.

The room was clean and quiet. WiFi was free, but Internet access was not always stable.

Quality Inn Flagstaff

I liked that there was the 6-outlet on the wall. :) The flat TV was big enough, but its remote control didn't work at all.

Quality Inn Flagstaff

There were four packs of instant coffee and two tea bags. I didn't use their shampoo and conditioner, but I liked the lotion, which had probably aloe scent. I didn't also use their hair dryer, iron, and ironing board, but I think that these are useful for some people. I thought a number of towels which were two bath towels, a hand towel, and a small facial towel, were not enough for two people. :(

Quality Inn Flagstaff

The shower head was very unique. The head dial can allow to shift the spray setting, such as massaging mode.

Quality Inn Flagstaff

breakfast

It included continental breakfast, but the food selections were pretty limited. The hall for breakfast was still under contraction, so we needed to go to the converted guest room for breakfast. Considering the price, it was pretty good motel though.

I uploaded my Youtube video which I recorded there.

Motel Room Tour & Review - Quality Inn in Flagstaff, Arizona

Quality Inn Flagstaff
2500 East Lucky Lane
Flagstaff, AZ 86004
928-226-7111

Motel 6 St. George, Utah - Review

Yesterday, my husband and I stayed at Motel 6 in St. George, Utah for our first time. It was a non-smoking queen bed for a Saturday night stay for $62.26.

The room was nice and clean. They provided free WiFi, and Internet access was pretty stable. :)

Motel 6 St. George

There was no bathtab but it's fine for me.

Motel 6 St. George

Amenities were really limited. There was no shampoo, conditioner, nor hair dryer, but it was no problem for me at all because I usually prefer to use my own ones. I used their soap only, but I didn't like it. Even though I rinsed my hands thoroughly, I still felt something on my hands. My husband told me that he didn't like the soap either.

Motel 6 St. George

The front desk staffs were friendly and check in was pretty quick. Overall, this Motel 6 was fine for us. It was okay to stay for just sleeping.

I uploaded my Youtube video which I recorded there.