Lost to discover

Driving out of Grand Canyon South Rim, I followed the sign for desert view expecting to see sand dunes after sand dunes. Yes, my definition of a desert somehow was mixed up with the description of the largest desert in the world. I didn’t know that not all deserts are the Sahara. I never saw landscape like this: layers and layers of rocks in the most magnificent combo of colors creating these strokes of brushes that reminded me of "The Scream" by Edvard Munch. After miles of driving through the scenic drive route, I kept wondering where was the desert. Little did I know, I actually was driving through the desert. This one was just greener than my imagination thanks to the striving shrubbery of Arizona.

By the time I got to Cameron, I told myself to get over my own mistake, moved on to a better place, but I did not know what laid ahead of me, except I needed gas for my car. This gas station was not my typical one back in California. It gave me the chill. There were homeless people in front of the store. I locked my car, and walked inside to get some foods. An Indian Native approached me and asked if I could get him a burger. I nodded. He looked exhausted and from stories I learned from history books, Native Indians had a lot of pride, they would not ask for help unless they really needed it. However, to my surprise, he then asked, "Could you get me two?" When I got caught by surprise, my eyes do this thing when my pupils go all the way under the eye lids; it scared him a little. I walked inside and grab two burgers for him, and some chicken wings for me. I handed him the burgers, and to my surprise, again, he gave one to another man in the corner. It was hard and still is hard to explain how I felt at that moment: a little guilt that I thought he was greedy, and a little scared when he asked for my name...

I pulled over when I saw this interesting setup of rocks creating an arch; it dawned on me, I was heading to Arches National Park, Moab. I got there at 6pm, read the park guide, I decided to hike to the world renowned Delicate Arch that Dean Potter climbed. Two-hour hike, the sun about to set, I was wearing my flip-flops with a backpack full of dried fish and water: I was just being prepared. I got up and there was an audience with me. Some tourists taking pictures, some others sitting down and waiting for the sunset. I was amazed with how light those rocks looked. I was ecstasized when the orange light hitting on the Arch. Sometimes a lost is a win.