Grand Tour Aroud Arizona States

GRAND TOUR AROUND ARIZONA

A two months’ scholarship I got, namely IELSP (Indonesia English Language Study Program), to study in University Arizona June to August this year gave me experience not only in learning English as a Second Language but also a chance to explore Arizona’s tourism places. Arizona, a state of the United States of America located in the southwestern region of the United States like other states has also many attractions. Here, I would like to share you how great and impressive my tour was. Here you go!

Sedona Red Rock Valley (June 18, 2010)

Our first tour took us to a land called Sedona. Sedona is a small valley town area which is famous for its four features; natural center town pass, shopping area, mountain bike, and pink jeep tour. Just like we have Ketep Pass in Magelang which accomplish a set of attraction between natural mountain scenery, Sedona also becomes a favorite for Americans to see and feel the energy of a pass surrounded by natural red-rock valleys. It is also because of lots of shopping and inn centre arranged in most of highway bolds which offers unlimited American brand and food. The very clean city also reserve roads for mountain bikers to explore its beauty. Or if not, visitors can rent a pink jeep to have a challenging tour.


Grand Canyon (June 19, 2010)
Have you ever heard about Grand Canyon? The most amazing canyon over the world that attracts thousands of visitors per year. Yeah, our second bus stopped in a hotel served for Grand Canyon’s tourist. Oops, I have just realized that I was a tourist. After long road from Tucson to the Canyon we took a rest first, next morning we started exploring the canyon. Night had just left us, and morning had just welcoming us with its pretty smiling sunrise; a sign that our canyon hike would soon begin.
As our guide said that the hikers must be fit physically and be sufficient water-supplied, we prepared lots of energy and water stock. We start hiking down the canyon from the top rim. As soon as we began to walk, we could see the scenic view of great and wide canyon stood boldly in front of us. We could also see some pretty squirrels and Californian Condors alternately welcomed us along the way. After the tiring four miles hiking, we took a rest in a shady stop. Here, we, all Indonesians sang our anthem “Indonesia Raya” proudly. Imagine how you would feel singing your anthem in this wonderland. As many of us felt tired and had no more desire to continue hiking down, we decided to go back to the top and then to the hotel directly.
The tour had not been finished, at the fine afternoon, we approached to the same rim to watch sunset. And it was, a fascinating sunset was seen moving down to the surface of Grand Canyon. Very impressive! We glad could have what most people wants to experience in Grand Canyon; hiking miles down the canyon and watching the canyon sunset. An exhausting but unforgettable time we have ever.


Flagstaff Museum of Northern Arizona (June 20, 2010)
In our way back, we dropped in Flagstaff museum of Northern Arizona. The museum boasts thousands historical artifacts and artworks of American history that shaped the land and the culture of the Colorado Plateau.
This place is those who want to see everything from modern Native American art to anthropological artifacts to a dinosaur. From the explanation of the guide during the tour in the museum, we understand a bit about the Navajo, the history of Grand Canyon, Tucson Cactus and the kinds, types of mountains and some other facts related to Arizonan stories. It also has a historical library complete with sold historical book, souvenirs and leaflet.

Toros Baseball (June 26, 2010)
Separately from the three tours to Sedona, Grand Canyon and Flagstaff, we came to see the game of Toros, a professional baseball team from local Tucson, versus a phoenix team. Baseball does deserve American most-live watching sport. Several days before the game, the information had just been spreaded out to students and teacher, local residents, and even bankers. To explain with its desirable event, most Americans made their job off at that time. They passionately move together into the stadium the play occurred. We also came and sat in the middle seat. We did understand a little about the play. At least, we enjoy sitting among all the crazy audience. They shouted, we shouted. They clapped, we then clapped; an expression of innocent audience. No matter!


Sonora Desert Museum (July 17, 2010)
Our next visit was to Sonora Desert Museum. The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is one of the most visited attractions in Tucson, Arizona. Founded in 1952, it combines the attractions of a zoo, museum, and botanical garden. As we did, people can see collection of thousands alive desert and Americans’ animals. What makes it different from other museum is that the natural desert which is full of many desert plants and flora as the basis land. Some small typical museums like Desert Bird Museum, Desert Bird Show Museum, small underground animals museum, are found well-arranged. The most amazing one is, to me, the number of tallest Sonora Cactus that can reach until thirteen meters long. I could imagine before.

Tucson Museum of Art (July 3, 2010)
The Tucson Museum of Art is a private, non-profit museum that relies on donations and admissions to continue to offer the best in art and education. This museum is very beneficial to academicians, both students and teachers interested in art, for doing observations or having a look at American artists’ artwork. As the eye can see, it keeps a collection of Americans’ artists. For instance, the works of the most popular artist named Andy Warhol. Unfortunately, I could not capture any arts in every angle of the museum as the reason of keeping its original and avoiding people from making a copy through camera records. That is excellently so wise, I thought.


Bisbee Queen Mine Tour (July 31, 2010)
Bisbee is a small city far enough from my living city Tucson. It is well known as a city of mine since it has an amazing mine tour namely Bisbee Queen Mine Tour. Today’s Queen Mine Tour takes visitors deep into the old workings of the famous Queen Mine where great tonnages of extremely rich copper was mined in the early days, catching the attention of the mining industry around the world as one of the greatest treasure troves of copper ever discovered. As it is said, my friends and I tried touring the mining mountain. After registration, we are equipped with a yellow warm jacket and a torch; all supplies we must bring before exploring the cave. After getting ready sat neatly on a small underground train, the exploration just began. Just a second entering into the cave, we felt cool, cooler and cooler. A friend of mine even said that she wanted to cancel and exit as soon as possible. However, we could do nothing. Conversely, the tour and the explanation delivered by the guide entertain us. It was so great to know the history of the mine, the struggle and sacrifice of diggers or prospectors to open ways and find blocks or piles of expensive diamonds. Thirty minutes passed, we were finally out. I just realize that it is cool or even so cool being in a cave.

That is my experience during the two months. Actually, Arizona also saves some other attractions such as Mount Lemon, Saguaro National Park, and Pulliam Flagstaff Airport etc. Hopefully, it entertains you much. Wanting to have the experience like me? Study and apply for a scholarship!


Author:
Muhamad Hasbi
English Department 2007
hasbi.muhamad@yahoo.com
http://saifurrijalhandsome.blogspot.com/
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