Word-Of-the-Week #872: Captivation

April 22, 2021 by · Comments Off on Word-Of-the-Week #872: Captivation 

Captivation – a feeling of great liking for something wonderful and unusual.

When was the last time you experienced something wonderful and unusual? Is there a special captivating place you’ve been wanting to visit?

This week’s WOW is a serendipitous follow up to last weeks Enchantment. Ironically, I was on a road trip to Joshua Tree and Borrego Springs!

I had planned a get away with my girlfriend Sandra to celebrate our birthdays back in late January. But with COVID restrictions it just didn’t feel like the right time to venture out. We weren’t sure if restaurants were open and frankly, I didn’t want to go on a vacation and have to cook!

As it turns out March and April are two of the best months to enjoy the desert. I call it Goldilocks’ weather…not too hot and not too cold. What makes Joshua Tree so captivating are the twisted, bristled Joshua trees, and the rock formations.

“With nearly 800,000 acres of mystical beauty, Joshua Tree National Park is undoubtedly one of the world’s most incredible natural desert treasures. Sweeping and grand in scale, along with the all the trees, it’s populated by granite monoliths and voluptuous rock and boulder formations.”

FUN-fact – The Joshua Tree is known to grow in just two places on Earth. Here and somewhere near Jerusalem.

We spent two days hiking and exploring before heading off to Borrego Springs, home to the world-famous Sky Art Metal Sculptures and one of the few designated International Dark Sky Communities in the world.

More exploring was on our list of things to do and see along with some relaxation at the La Casa Del Zorro Spa. 😊 While we didn’t get a super bloom like 2017 we did get to see some nice desert flower blooms.

More FUN-facts – There are an amazing 130 full-sized metal sculptures – many inspired by creatures that roamed this same desert millions of years ago. The artworks range from prehistoric mammals to historical characters, fanciful dinosaurs, and a 350-foot-long fanciful serpent.

Borrego Springs is completely surrounded by Anza-Borrego State Park, the largest California State Park.

This week’s focus is on finding captivation. What would you want to do or see that would be wonderful and unusual? Can you make that happen this year?

I LOVE feedback! Join my Facebook community on my FUN-damentals Fan Page.

Word-Of-the-Week #660: Surreal

March 30, 2017 by · Comments Off on Word-Of-the-Week #660: Surreal 

Surreal – dream like, unreal, fantastic.

Can you remember the last time you had a surreal experience? Do any have any past memories that were dream like, unreal or fantastic? Did you know that Surreal was Merriam-Webster’s 2016 word of the year?

When we were planning our trip to India last year, Sunil our travel agent remarked, “You are going to three of the most surreal places I have ever been. The Himalaya’s, Hampi, & Bagan in Myanmar.” And he was right!

A couple of years ago I thought about comparing international sites to those I have seen in North America. And since a picture is worth a thousand words I will keep it short and sweet.

  • We stayed in Leh in the Himalaya’s which is a high desert at 11,000 + feet.

The Himalya’s

  • In February we were in Palm Springs and when I looked up at the mountains surrounding the valley, some capped with snow, it reminded me of the Himalaya’s minus the monks, monasteries, and altitude sickness! High desert – low desert – looks pretty much the same to me. What do you think?

Palm Springs

  • Then last week we headed out in search of the Wildest Desert Bloom in Decades! And since I had never been to the Joshua Tree National Park we went there first and came into Borrego Springs on the back roads.

Hampi

  • When we were driving through Joshua Tree it struck me that it looked just like Hampi with all the crazy rock formations (well of course minus the ruins which is why we went.) What do you think?

Joshua Tree

  • And for Bagan, there just isn’t any place like it! Sorry about that.

This week’s focus is on surreal. What would you like to see that would qualify as unreal or fantastic? Do you enjoy just being out in  nature? Have you had your recommended dosage of Vitamin N this week? Check out the Wildest Desert Bloom in Decades!

FUN-fact – The Joshua tree, the largest of the yuccas, grows only in the Mojave Desert.

I LOVE feedback! Join my Facebook community on my FUN-damentals Fan Page.

FUN-photos: Wildest Desert Bloom in Decades!

March 30, 2017 by · Comments Off on FUN-photos: Wildest Desert Bloom in Decades! 

  • Finding the Wildest Desert Blooms in Decades was our day’s agenda. Since I had never been to the Joshua Tree National Park that was our first destination. Massive boulders and rock formations jutted up from the earth. Some stacked neatly while others looked as if they were tumbled out of a giant bucket. And thousands of Joshua Trees in varying stages of life & death filled the desert in every direction.
  • Then as we continued on to Borrego Springs using only the back roads, the “hills were alive with blooms” that ranged from vanilla, to soft pale butter & vibrant sunflower yellow, periwinkle, fuchsia, tangerine, lilac & lavender.  Clinging to the side of the rocks and roads were perfectly formed big bouquet-like mounds of miniature daisy bushes.

And the rock formations in Mecca were incredible. Unfortunately Mr. Jaded, AKA Chris, didn’t stop so I could take some pix. Quote “It’s just a pile of rocks.” This is what I live with!

  • La Casa del Zorro was our overnight stop and the next morning was spent driving and hiking in search of the fields of flowers dotting the desert landscape. Our “big bonus surprise” was discovering 130 full-sized metal sculptures that are inspired by creatures that roamed this same desert millions of years ago. The artworks, spread out over 10 square miles, range from prehistoric mammals to historical characters,  dinosaurs, and a 350-foot-long fanciful serpent.
  • Heading home we came out of the desert via Hwy. 78 to Julian and got more incredible displays of bountiful blooms that got bigger the higher up the mountain we went.

FUN-fact – The Joshua tree, the largest of the yuccas, grows only in the Mojave Desert.