CHAPTER 128

First written (Published in Evergreen News): 2010-07-07

Rewritten: 2026-02-12

This country pumpkin headed out of town again—this time south to the American West: Las Vegas, the Grand Canyon, Disneyland, and Universal Studios. For a rustic fellow like me, all of these famous attractions were first-time visits.

Las Vegas was, as expected, glittering and extravagant beyond words. What left the deepest impression, however, was the moment I stood in the replica of St. Mark’s Square in the Venetian. It felt dreamlike and surreal. Having previously visited the real Venice in Europe, and also seen the imitation version in Macau, I suddenly felt disoriented in time and space—unable to say with absolute certainty where I actually was.

I have been a Disney fan since childhood, revering its animated films as the pinnacle of creative art. The real-life Walt Disney theme park, with its meticulous presentation and design, proved to be the most dazzling part of the entire journey.

The park accommodates between fifty to one hundred thousand visitors a day, yet manages to keep crowds flowing smoothly, order intact, streets spotless, and—astonishingly—restrooms completely odorless. One can only admire Mr. Disney’s vision, along with American enterprise and managerial efficiency.

The park’s layout is simple and intuitive. Even a country bumpkin like me couldn’t get lost. Looking straight ahead from the entrance, one sees the iconic castle at the end of the main street, with shops lining both sides. Before long, you arrive at the central plaza for rest and relaxation.

Radiating outward from the plaza are the various themed lands. At each entrance are conveniently placed restrooms and dining areas. The three of us entered at ten in the morning and enjoyed ourselves nonstop until ten at night before returning to our hotel.

During the day, each of us devoured a delicious smoked turkey leg—US$8.50 apiece—paired perfectly with glutinous rice secretly brought in from Chinatown. An unforgettable combination. I also bought a book of Walt Disney’s quotations. He spoke of things he intended to do—and he did exactly what he said he would do.

What most comforted and delighted our “country bumpkin” family, however, was staying in a row of vacation cabins perched on a mountaintop on the western side of the Grand Canyon, inside a Native American reservation. There was not a soul in sight — complete darkness and utter silence — and we enjoyed dinner by a campfire.

Later, my wife and I sat together on the wooden chairs in front of our cabin, gazing at the boundless, star-filled night sky, which set off the little cabin glowing like a lantern. It felt as if we were standing alone atop the Grand Canyon, at the meeting point of heaven and earth, closer to the vault of the sky itself. We even found ourselves begrudging the bright half-moon for stealing the spotlight from the stars.

Before nightfall, we visited the newly built glass skywalk. To save on expenses—since we planned to take a helicopter down into the canyon the next day, followed by a boat ride along the Colorado River—we decided not to walk the bridge. Instead, we stood by an unfenced cliff to view Eagle Rock. When I approached within ten feet of the edge, my legs turned weak.

We saw a couple from our tour group posing casually on rocks right at the cliff’s edge, as if strolling on flat ground. I was tempted to follow their example, but chose the easier way. I crouched low, then crawled on the ground like a lizard until I reached the edge. There, I cautiously extended my head to peer down into the terrifying canyon—four thousand feet deep—and at the narrow ribbon of the Colorado River below. I did this twice.

A wish fulfilled. From twenty feet away, my wife and son shouted, “Don’t mess around!” Even as they scolded me, they couldn’t help but burst into laughter. It was both frightening and exhilarating.

The Grand Canyon—one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World—truly deserves its reputation.

(Postscript: On the western side of the Grand Canyon, helicopter tours and overnight stays within the canyon are still available today.)