Salton Sea > Salvation Mt > Joshua Tree

[click to view bigger image, those vast lands are pretty powerful imo]

6:00 am, Thanksgiving, 2011, we woke up.

set out around 7, and we were on our way to Salton Sea.

I read a lot in advance about it, that how abandoned it is. I expected no cell signal, no human and only empty houses there. But, well, guess I was wrong. We arrived at the Salton Sea, which was formed by a flood of Colorado River, and has been evaporating ever since. The mineral is more and more condensed and causing the fish dying. During our visit, it was the season for birds migration. Lucky us saw all the dead fish and the migrating birds.

The fish are dead, dried and salted well, I believe. They lined the whole shore, which is actually a bit scary for me.

The birds are picking up the rest fishes, and rest around the area.

And from the rusts on the poles, you can tell how much the sea level has dropped over the past years.

And from the shattered walls and the exposed 100V wire, we knew it was prosperous there. From here, I can’t help thinking, after millions of years later, maybe the whole earth looks like this, no more human, dead bricks and irons, only couple of animals left, no more talks, no more laughs, only the ocean washing the shores.

We walked around, there’s actually a community center around there, and holding thanksgiving dinner the night before, and the club house was closed that day, but apparently, it’s renovated and pretty new, judging from the separators drawn in the parking lot and all the colorful tiles.

We drove on, visiting the Bombay Beach.

It was more like a little village near the sea. There’re quite a few habitats there, and their house looks pretty good. Meanwhile, among the new big houses, there stood the abandoned trailors, abandoned houses and etc. etc.

And around it, all the living stocks were sort of ripped apart and scattered around.

Houses are empty and feel ghosty even in daylight. They drew the sign of Satan and Hitler randomly on the wall and big curses and bad words were also spotted here and there.

We drove around for a while and going south, past Niland and arrived at Salvation Mountain finally. God, it’s amazing.

The door welcomed us lovely. Going inside, there parked several cars and trucks, which are the art works too, all delivering the message from God and displaying the colorful mind from Leon, the artist.

This photo is my favorite, it’s like when Jesus was carrying his cross, when every sinner was carrying his cross, passing this little shade in the vast land, there’ll be God there, or wiseman there, talk to you the direction, save you from your journey, and you feel you always can be home, and take a rest.

And not sure why, but the cloud over the mountain, feels so powerful and covering the whole area, like it’s delivering the message and protecting this land. It’s just so different, whereas it’s sunny a couple miles away.

The mountain itself is so colorful. It has the forest and river, flower and birds. It keeps saying God is Love. It lets you know Bible can lead your way. It was really amazing that all of these came from an old man who started this at his 60′s and finished them and maintaining them. When we talked him, he can barely hear now and needs the help from his friend. God blesses the old man.

Going to the right side, it’s a little forest he built,

And here you see all the pots left over.

He also built a miniature of the whole site.

And, here delivers my letter to God.

Leonard gave us some pretty postcard, and I really pay many respects and thanks to the old man for his delivering the message to the world and for this great masterpiece. It’s just amazing.

Then we started to drive north, passing a checkpoint on our way back, past Niland. Later my friend told me that they OCRed our license plate, and by the time we arrived there, they already knew who we were. Also, Leo told me to bring driver’s lic and passport, just in case.

After 2-hour long drive, we are in the Joshua Tree NP. I talked with the ranger at visitor center for a while, and he’s been ranger for a long time and among all the NPs, he likes Grand Teton best. I guess, that’s the pick of my bf and me too.

Cholla Cactus Garden, cute, huh. Yet, it gave a punch into my bf’s back. I’m just so evil that i can’t help laughing at him :p So, as a suggestion, don’t pump into a cactus, it hurts. :p and i believe 5-year-old kid knows that too. :p

Going northwest, all the famous spots were there. We saw the jumble rocks and all the Joshua trees, which is really unique. Too bad we don’t have enough time for hiking though, so we were doomed to miss the backhorse spot and ranches.