18 May, 2006 (Thursday) Grand Canyon, Arizona

'Natural beauty instills awe as much by uniqueness as by splendour. But what happens when that uniqueness starts to blend? What happens when that awe starts to wane and it just becomes a pile of rocks again?'


Grand Canyon
The stories are true - the Grand Canyon is huge. Awe inspiring. A lot of red rocks and sparse vegetation. It gets quite hot in the sun. We saw a really fat squirrel. (Picture: Falling off the cliff looks like fun)


Stories of the Hopi
The Hopi people lived in the Grand Canyon area for close to 900 years - up until the 1200s. Only 3 percent of the Grand Canyon national park has been archaeologically surveyed. In that area 4,300 sites of significance have been identified. The Hopi were farmers, living on corn which they cultivated in the arid plains. I recorded some of their stories which I found interesting, as recounted by a park ranger who was kind enough to give us a tour of some ruins.

Origin of the Hopi:
The Hopi believe that they have lived in a number of different worlds since their genesis. This world is their 4th World such world. (Picture: Ranger Brian explains why traditional Grand Canyon dwellings are so small. Their front door was in the roof)

Legend has it that once they lived in another world, a 3rd World. Things were well there, until a time came that it stopped raining. There was no water to grow food. No water to drink. So it was that they ascended through a hole in the sky which led to a new world. A world with rain and water.

The Hopi still remember their ascent to this day, maintaining a 3-inch hold in their Kavi, their spiritual building. They believe that the hole which they ascended is a large mineral spring at the base of the Canyon.

Ears of Corn:
The Hopi people believe that at the beginning each of the different peoples of the world were given a choice of corn. There were all different shapes and sizes, and they meant different things: those that chose the large corn were destined for a life of luxury and plenty, but this would not endure, the people of this corn soon being forgotten. The Hopi believe that they chose the smallest of the corn - that they chose a life of hardship and deprivation, a culture that would endure through the ages. (Picture: Clouds cover the sun)

The Hopi way of life endures even to this day. I wonder what type of corn we have chosen?


Tales from a Utah trailer park
I've had my first trailer park experience. Tonight we drove into a Utah trailer park, paid our $16.60 and pitched our tent.

The place is called Crazy Horse. It's packed out with RV's and has a handful of tent areas. We have tent neighbours but they haven't spoken to us. Apparently the RV people move in clan-like groups. There are 14-RVs belonging to the St. George RV club here for the weekend. (Picture: Traditional Grand Canyon shot)

The amenities are basic. The men's washroom smells like somebody washed their hunting dog in there, then let it piss everywhere. No single moms sighted, in fact hardly anybody sighted. Everybody seems to stay in their RVs and watch TV. Weird.