White Sands: Part 2

Continuation....

After sand duning and simply enjoying the gorgeous view from sunset till nightfall at White Sands, we had to leave at around 9:30pm because the Security Patrol Officers came around and said they were gonna close the gates at 10:00pm. Then we headed to look for supper (p/s: we didn't eat since the small snack time during out trip and all that was burned out when we went sand duning downhill and climbing back uphill... up and down and up and down...I think you get it right?). It took us 45 minutes to get to a small local town called Alamogordo, New Mexico. Thank God some of the fast food chains opened until midnight and some even opened for 24 hours. So we stopped at Wendy's (it's similar to McDonalds) and got some food.

Oh, we also used their restrooms because the ones at White Sands National Park were horrible! It was one of those portable cubicles with NO FLUSH, NO T.P., NO LIGHTING and boy, it was soooooo STINKY!!! You can call us spoiled city brats but I feel that since it's a tourist attraction and a national park, the least they can do is have some lighting there! But thank God we brought our flashlights. Phew!

Once our appetites were satisfied, we went to look for another camp site called the Oliver Lee Memorial State Park. That was when we noticed the flashes of lightning! Instead of changing plans to stay at a hotel or whatever, we prayed and prayed and prayed, hoping that it would not rain. Or else, we might be soaking wet. We arrived at our camping site at about 11:45pm and that place was pitch dark with all the crickets and animals sound...mother nature...

In a way, thank God for the flashes of lightning because that provided us with some lighting so that we could pitch our tents. One of the youth brought a lantern (it was battery operated) and with that, we pitched two tents: one for the guys and another for the girls. At first, us girls were a little slow with putting up our tent, but nonetheless we figured it out. We couldn't see at first but the poles for the tents were color-coded and all we had to do is slide them through the tents and tie knots. And there we have it! YAY!! What a great accomplishment! hehe! I think by now you get the picture that I'm not really an outdoor person... But I'm beginning to get the hang of camping!

Picture of Israel and David (father & son) as they were the macho men who set up their tent the fastest!

Now, the most wonderful part of this camping trip is that IT DIDN'T RAIN!!! Hallelujah!! But in the girls camp, we had some issues because some of the girls had to go to the restroom and we didn't see any on this camping site. But one girl brought those wipes (kinda like the baby wipe) to use as t.p. So off they went behind the big cactus bush....it was pitch dark anyway. No one could really see them...I think...Well, we're on a camping trip and we're out in the wilderness. So it's just us and mother nature! Just in case you're curious, "NO, I did not go with them behind the cactus bush!"

Before dozing off, we saw the twinkling stars and it's breathtaking! All of God's wonderful creations on this planet... We finally slept at around 2:00am and woke up at 5:30am. It was getting bright and we eagerly waited to see the sunrise! It's magnificent! Oh, and since we had plenty of sunlight now, we spotted a restroom just downhill and we rushed there! Thank God this restroom has t.p.! I mean, sometimes we take small things like toilet paper for granted, don't we? (Reminder to self: Next camping trip, bringing t.p. is a MUST!)

See that small hut? That's the restroom downhill that I was talking about...


Oh, and Jennifer noticed this old faucet right in front of our campsite.

It's a miracle! woohoo! we got to brush our teeth, wash our faces and freshen up!


Here's a couple of pictures of the mountain view from our campsite:

Ain't it pretty?



We had breakfast and then it was time to pack up the tents and head out. Guess where did we go next???




Yes, we went back to White Sands again because we wanted to have more fun sand duning!!! Anyway, since the $3 entrance fee was valid for 7 days, we might as well make use of it. We went for more sand duning and this time, I did something that I never did in my life before! I let them bury me alive! CHOI (as the Cantonese people say)! Well, they buried me in the white sand and those who got buried agreed unanimously that it's actually very therapeutic! Since it's summer, the weather was actually very hot that day. But being buried under the white sand was so soothing and cooling because out bodies were beneath the sand and we didn't get sunburned! lolz!

Check this out! We went to the gift shop at White Sands and something caught my attention. It's a Pressed Penny Souvenir machine! We put in a penny and another 50 cents for the process of making this pressed penny. Then the machine will press that penny and mold it to become an oval shaped penny with some engravings! It was really neat! hehe!



When it got too hot at White Sands, we left to go to Holloman A.F.B. At the entrance before we entered the A.F.B. they checked our ID's (that's a security measure that they do in all army and A.F.B. gates). Since most of the youth and their parents had military ID, and I was the odd one who didn't, they didn't allow us (or rather, ME) to enter without a visitor's pass. So we had to turn around and go to the A.F.B. office to get a pass! It's actually very troublesome but I understand it's for everyone's safety. They can't just let anyone without proper identification to enter their military grounds right?

Finally when we managed to get inside the A.F.B., we headed to the swimming pool! While swimming, the lifeguard on duty shouted out that it was time for Adults Swim only. So the younger ones under 18 had to leave the pool and I stayed behind to swim with one of the parents. After a few laps, we took a break and talked at the side of the pool. Then the lifeguard approached us and and I got a shock when he asked me, "Are you under 18?" I was so stunned!!! I was thinking in my head, "You've got to be kidding me!" Of course, I told him I'm 20 and I even asked him if he wanted to check my ID, and he declined. I've been stopped and questioned by so many people during this weekend camping trip that it's not funny anymore! Give me a break, man! Gosh!

A group picture of the youth and their parents

The water slide that I enjoyed very much at the pool! haha!

All in all, I have to say that I had a blast during this camping trip even though there were some glitches along the way... like the ones below:





Thank God for His safe journey mercies and protection throughout the entire trip.

The End.

(Sorry if I was long-winded in this post but I just wanted to jot down all the wonderful memories that I've been blessed with... even the not-so-good memories)

White Sands: Part 1

Last weekend, I had the adventure of my life! Seriously, it was the most adventurous trip I've ever taken. I think I have seen it all in this trip with my encounters with the U.S. Border Patrol & Customs, the Holloman A.F.B. (Air Force Base) officers, and even the lifeguards in the swimming pool inside Holloman A.F.B. (no, I didn't drown or anything...).

Let's start with a youth group from church planning a camping trip in White Sands National Monument, New Mexico. Okay, so we departed in two SUV's and were happily on our way to our destination. It was supposed to take only 1 hour and 35 minutes to reach our destination. But we ended up reaching there after 3 hours and 15 minutes!! It wasn't the restroom break that prolonged our trip...it was ME (or should I say the U.S. Border Patrol)!!! At the checkpoint where we were crossing the New Mexico state border, they decided to do a thorough background check on me since I'm an international student. They took my passport and Texas ID to check on me.

So we waited and waited and waited... I felt bad because the whole group had to wait for me. But the group sure knew how to spend their time wisely...check out the pictures:

The girls stood at the junction of the road and got some vehicles to honk as they passed by.

Dancing the Cha-Cha dance.

Some were playing volleyball at an open area at the check point, playing cards, etc... Basically they were having a lot of fun.

Oh, did I mention that we even witnessed a vehicle being inspected thoroughly (we think they suspected that the young drivers had drugs hidden in the SUV or something). The officers even got a small camera that slid in the gas tank to see if they stuffed it in there. Then they checked the engine, air filter, underneath the tires, inside the trunk, and all. But in the end, they found nothing. Here's some pictures as proof:

(We purposely posed at this angle so ya'll can see how they were checking the SUV and all...)



After waiting for over an hour, an officer came by and told me that they've checked on me and I was okay. But they were still waiting for a call back from the FBI to verify my status here!!! OMG!!! So you see, the youth were having fun there but I was almost suffering from a heart attack. Seriously, even when I first came to the U.S. at the US Customs in the LAX Airport, they didn't give me a hard time at all. It took about 15 minutes and I was done. But this time, it took me 1 hour and 40 minutes at this check point. But thank God, I made it and we went on our way to White Sands.

Since we arrived late at White Sands, we couldn't camp at their grounds because we had to set up our tents before 7pm...so we had to look for another camping spot. Before leaving, we did go in and visit for awhile. I must say, White Sands is spectacular! It's definitely one of God's most beautiful and marvelous creation! As the name of the place suggest, it's all about the white sands in there! (Don't you think it looks like snow? But of course, it can't be winter in the midst of summer, right?) We also took the opportunity and went sand duning. It was really fun! My very first time! Scary, at first but later on, I had a blast! It feels good to be young..lolz!

Picture taken as we approached White Sands

Nora and I sitting and enjoying the sunset

The girls trying out different stunts!

I was trying out sand duning for the very first time! hehe!



To be continued...