Slot Canyon- Antelop Canyon

 Slot Canyon - Antelope Canyon 

In the morning  after having a breakfast we went out for out tour of Slot Canyon.  It is a one part of the Grand Canyon of Arizona.  It is cut from other part and hence said as slot canyon. A slot canyon is a long, deep, and very narrow channel with sheer rock walls, usually carved into sandstone by running water. 

 Antelope Canyon is the most famous canyon in the world near the Page city in Arizona. It is the most photographed and most visited canyon in american  southwest .Famous for its wavy, smooth sandstone walls and dramatic beams of sunlight that pierce the narrow openings from above.

Most of these stunning red-rock gorges sit on Navajo Nation land and require a paid guide. Here are the top slot canyons to visit 

 

 I was informed by my son that american government had made that land, farms, and adjacent hills etc. the property of particular persons, so without their permission we cannot enter there or see anything. As such we hired the person who was waiting there for some visitors to come.  He was old- aged 61, but very much healthy, knowledgeable and interesting in taking the tourists into the unknown field of slot canyon.  After some primary discussion and negotiation he became ready to take us downstairs.  He charged 350 dollars for it. 

The person, i forgot his name, asked us to seat in the mountain car owned by him. We all four and he went to have a tour of slot canyon named Antelope Canyon.  We traveled for 40 -45 minutes in that hill car from the great sandy area.Without that car, it would not have been possible for us to move forward there in that hot sand ground.  After getting off the mountain car, he gave us little bit information and decided or guided to follow a specific route to know all canyon from inside.  He explained there were some steel framed staircases, we would have to climb up and down. We thought it would be easy and so moved forward.

It is the most difficult thing to move into the Antelope Canyon, as the gap between the cut parts of hills at many places in very thin, just a single foot or even less than that.  It is difficult even to put out leg there and climb up, or climb down when required.  we started, but could notice that it is extremely difficult for me and wife, who are old enough to do this exercise. It is somewhat easy for young energetic people who have lot of stamina and robust health. 

That guide helped us in moving into various parts of the canyon. He helped me , wife to while climbing up , going down into the canyon.  My son was also at the back of both of us protecting and holding our hands at time to help us climb up or down.  we had climbed so many stairs, i do not remembers, but surely about 200-250 steps in difficult surrounding.  Meanwhile we also drank water, which we took along with us. He told that we may require 45- 50 minutes but in reality we took more than one and half hour to move only a one portion of the Antelope Canyon. He showed well inside with brief description of when, how it all happened, showing us the lairs , colors of hills, the bubbles or holes in the hills, the marks of different time as can be visible by different lines, layers, black color, or sandy walls etc. different at each place.  Only at one place we could find it wet or with some water on the walls. 

After completing half round he inquired whether we would like to go ahead with another half part of the canyon.  It would have taken lot of time, and I in particular was fully exhausted in the walk and climbing process. I experienced complete bath  due to sweating.  So we decided to pack up from there only. we moved on backward journey.  Even then we had to climb number of stairs, move to dangerous very thin gaps in the hill.  at last we could come out of the antelope canyon with victorious expressions.  My son and daughter really praised us both me and wife for this hard task of climbing, walking etc.  They also had no idea that it could be so much tough. 

The man, or the guide was from tribal people from there. He tole he was in army, and best shooter. He could even today shoot a person standing on next hill  perfectly. The man had great knowledge of the shrubs, trees, small plants on the hilly area. He showed us some plants and  told  not to touch even a single leaf of those plants, as they were very much dangerous for life.  He told us about  the God of Navajo tribe living in that hilly area - and their traditions.  He then drove us back to the place where we had parked our car before entering his filed and hilly area.  

He was pleased with us and enquired whether he could end up the trip with blessing of tribal people which ke knows well. When we agreed to it, he made me and wife being old seat on the two chairs.  Then he took out some peace of glass from his pocket, it was like a knief or khanjar shaped mirror like piece.  He them moved it round and round from head to tow from our body.  then chanted some things, some mantra in their language, made some signs and blow out all negativity or curses, or something of that type from our body  and released it in the air .  He did the same with my wife too. He then opened his hut and showed it from inside. there was a table on which so many different photos , things as gods of that tribe. He was talking a lot about their culture etc. Though he was a tribal, he was speaking good english, therefore we could communicate with him.   While returning he also gave few leaves of some bushes to take in bath water for purification and getting relief for body.  My son gave him some extra trip for all information and then left that place. 

Grand Canyon - Arizona

 Grand Canyon

From the time my son mentioned me about the Grant Canyon in Arizona, its uniqueness, its features etc. we were excited to pay visit to it.  He brought before us the picture of what it could be, but in reality it was very much different, a vast, large scale magnificent show of nature in existence on the earth.  While describing it he had reminded us of our physical capacity to undergo travel for a long time and then physically walking - up and down in and around the canyons. We simply expressed happiness and willingness  but were totally unaware of what it actually would be in reality

A canyon is a deep, narrow, valley with very steep, rocky sides of cliffs, usually carved by the flowing river over millions of year. s because physical weathering has a more localized effect in arid zones. The wind and water from the river combine to erode and cut away less resistant materials such as shales. The freezing and expansion of water also serves to help form canyons. Water seeps into cracks between the rocks and freezes, pushing the rocks apart and eventually causing large chunks to break off the canyon walls, in a process known as frost wedging. Canyon walls are often formed of resistant sand stones or granite.

We had planned to move out of the house early morning so as to reach there comfortably and have a nearby site seeting of horse shoe in nearby area on the first day. have a night stay and on second day have a trip to Grand Canyon. But unfortunately we  were quite late at the start and hence the whole planning was misfit..  We were late at night so had a stay in a Hotel- Hotel Hampton In   at   Page City near Grand Canyon.AI Overview

The Grand Canyon is famous for its immense, visually overwhelming size, striking colorful rock layers, and unmatched record of earths geological history. 

While on the route from Chandler, Arizona to Grand Canyon we could see large  cactuses around us on both sides, further after a long trail, we could notice forests full of Pine trees, very beautiful show of miles of land full of green big pines everywhere.  This canyon is located in the north western part of Arizona,near the borders of Utah and Nevada 

So on Second day morning we  went to see the canyons.  The Hotel Hilton Hampton In  was best with all the first class amenities and also provided morning breakfast free to all visitors. We had a best heavy breakfast at the hotel. Just for information the list of items for breakfast - Boiled eggs, eggs slashed , cakes, muffins, bread-butter,chease, red potatoes , coocked oats with milk-you can add various dry fruits well cut and honey , brown sugar to taste to it., apples, oranges, different juices like apple, orange, Coffee -black,  etc.  Due to sumptuous breakfast we could move arond the grand canyon and without hunder till afternoon.

It is a very costly affair- Non american something more than 100 dollars per person. My son arranged for all four of us.  There are various discount offers, and he chose the one whereby he can visit any national park in usa during the time of one year - it provides some discount on the cost.  As we had own own car we drove on the roads as per the guiding map provided at the ticket collecting center.  We could see 3- 4 points one by one.

There we could see a museum where in you can see with interest how the grand canyon have been built over thousands of years .  You can pictures of  canyon from 5000 crores back upto even 50000 crore years back with photos of erosion of hills, formations of caves, further samples of stones in the river and valley at different point of times in those thousand crore years. 

Each Point is different and provides us a very beautiful scene of hills around, carved out in different shapes, sizes  by the river, winds and natural forces acting there over thousands of years. Each point provides beautiful stunning scene.  We had a very long photo sessions and number of selfies too.  There was great rush at all points being the holidays of saturday and sunday.  Each point is well guarded with a kind of fencing or steel railing where you can stand take photographs. 

We moved around various canyon points and stayed there for a long time enjoying the beauty of nature surrounding us.   When we had been there, we could notice the great change in the climate and atmosphere.  We were feeling very much cool like some cool hill station  and we enjoyed sitting in cool shadows of big trees around enjoying the multiple facets of grand canyons besides us. 

Stunning Geology and Size

Massive Scale: The canyon averages 4,000 feet deep and stretches 277 miles long, reaching up to 18 miles wide.
Visible Earth History: The exposed rock walls display billions of years of geological time and colorful layers carved by the Colorado River.
Erosion Masterpiece: It is considered one of the finest and most striking examples of arid-land erosion on Earth

Self Service - key to life in USA

 The Life in USA is quite different from life in India.  One can see Self Service adopted in every sphere of life here. Take any situation, and you would have to follow the rule of self service. 

Following are wide areas operating on self service -

Buying of Groceries, Vegetables, Fruits, Food Items. It is good to select the food stuff you desire, you can select and pick every single peace by choice. In india we are not allowed to choose and pick up every fruit we want at many places. 

All home services - you have to do on your own, washing clothes, plates, dusting, cleaning, gardening, watering plants, or cooking or each and every thing in your home. 

While on tour or travel- fueling your four wheeler with petrol, gas etc. along with air in tyres. you have to do it on your own at the pumps or station. You would not find any employees to do this there.

Washing Centers for cars or vehicle - there to you have to take your vehicles and stand in the line if there is and if not take your vehicle to the specific spot or slot, where everything of cleaning car outside by air, water, soap, and again water , everything done with big brushes, mechanically operated.

Similarly in Departmental stores, big or small - you would rarely find staff to help you out. You have to fetch the trolly, collect all material you desire to purchase and go the payment counter, which is only manned by one person, and supported by another to fill the products in different plastic bags at a very large departmental store. Otherwise cashier alone does all the work. 

At Hotel or Restaurants also after making paying and giving order, you have to collect your food stuff and sit on the chairs put there or carry home the same.  Nobody would serve you food on table generally. In rare cases, this service is handled by staff - in some indian south indian restaurants.  At one place i have seen even robot delivering your order at the table where you are seating. 

On route while travelling you can find many big size cupboards full of drinks, cold drinks, sweets, food items , near the haults or washrooms on roads or toilets on the road. There too no man to serve you. you have to pay through machine and get the material you have chosen. 

You would never see the gate keepers or security personnel at the gates of even a very large housing societies.  You have to operate the doors with the keys alloted to you. No human being to serve you or help you in any way in the society campus. 

Everywhere the rule is first pay and then pick up the items ordered. only packing of items is done by human beings. 

Self-service is convenient and a significant financial opportunity for businesses and customers. Implementing self-service kiosks can set organizations on the path to dramatically increasing their revenues, improving productivity, and maximizing cost savings.

Key Stats

• Companies have found that integrating self-checkout kiosks has decreased cashier staffing, resulting in yearly cost savings. 

• Businesses using automated order platforms experience a significant decline in ordering errors versus manual entry. This increases customer satisfaction and reduces waste.

The Silent Takeover of Everyday Life

A decade ago, self-service was optional. Today, it’s expected.

From airport kiosks to banking apps, the self-service Industry has embedded itself into daily routines. You don’t wait for assistance—you initiate it. And increasingly, you prefer it that way.

Why? Because it solves three universal frustrations:

• Waiting in line
• Miscommunication
• Dependency on staff availability

This shift is one of the most defining self-service market trends. Businesses are no longer just offering self-service—they’re prioritizing it. In many cases, human interaction is becoming the fallback, not the default.

Why Businesses Are All-In on Automation

For companies, the appeal is obvious—but it goes beyond cost-cutting.

Self-service solutions provide:

• Consistency: Machines don’t have off days
• Scalability: One system can serve thousands simultaneously
• Data insights: Every interaction is trackable and analyzable

This is where the self-service market share is expanding rapidly across sectors. Organizations are investing in kiosks, mobile apps, AI chatbots, and automated workflows—not just to save money, but to gain a competitive edge.

And customers? They’re adapting just as quickly.

There’s a psychological shift at play. People increasingly value independence over interaction. The ability to control the pace, avoid judgment, and get instant results is powerful.

But there’s a trade-off.

As self-service becomes dominant, the human touch—the nuance, empathy, and spontaneity of real interaction—starts to fade.

WAYMO - Great pleasant experience of driverless Car

 On arrival in USA, in arizona state, seen number of Waymos on roads - self driven, or driver less motors or cars serving the needs of people of travelling.  It was amazing to see them on road, moving at a fast speed, waiting on the signals, taking right turns and moving further. 

Two days back we decided to travel by waymo - a reliable brand to take ride without fear.  So my daughter in law booked a ride for our evening site seeing .  We had planned to visit the Desert garden or the Cactus Garden in Arizona State.  So we all four had to travel. Just to give us surpirse of modern technological development in usa, this ride was arranged for us.  The Taxi or Car arrived at our gate within few minutes of bookin on the app developed by them. 

We four then opened the door and got into the car, tightened our belts and gave instructions to start the ride. The ride was of about 30 minutes from our home and the destination was Cactus park or Desert Park in Arizona.  In the beginning i was little bit frightened to enter the car, but within few minutes of ride , i was at peace.  

We were just watching how strangely, the driver less car was moving on the roads very swiftly and speedily too.  While driving all the rules and regulations of driving in usa were fully followed by the Waymo.  So we were relieved of the tension.  I had seen it stopping on signal seeing the red light, and moving forward after becoming green on its own.  Further during heavy traffic of cars on the road, the waymo car used to silently stop behind the front car with safe distance in between. While turning on roads also it followed all rules looking at the vehicles on road from different sides.  

While sitting comfortably in the taxi, or car we could see on screen in front of everybody of us the movement of vehicles around us, the traffic in front of us, the road, the signals, the turns, the road map etc. On the top of the Car named Waymo, there is constantly rotating bulb or battery which keeps the vehicle well informed of all the things around it, so as to take decisions while driving and follow rules properly.  On screen we were seeing the time which may be required to reach the destination, and were surprised that really within stipulated time we reached safely at our destination - i.e. the desert park or cactus park in arizona. 

After having the round and pleasant trip of the garden for one hand half hours, we again booked Waymo for our return journey to Chandler, Arizona.  again within 15-20 minutes the car arrived at the gate of the garden.  We them well got seated in the car on our return journey.  This time too the experience was quite good in every respect. very safe and smooth driving by the car without driver, without any jerks, jumps, or breaking signals or anything of that sort.

While going we had observed that when an ambulance was coming from opposite direction in front of us, as per rules in usa, Waymo silently stopped on road and after seeing that ambulance has gone on its way, moved forward . So each and every ruled is followed by waymo without fail. 

While on return journey the waymo suddenly took some turn unexpectedly moved into some nearby area, and within few minuted came back on the track of desired road map.  Wonder why it happend but it happened without causing any trouble or problem for us in the car.  It rightly dropped us back at the entrance gate of our housing society.  Thus we peacefully reached home with the help of driverless car - Waymo.

We literally enjoyed the ride for hour or so with great satisfaction as to the mechanical development in car manufacturing and how perfect the whole system works in the car.  Hats off to science and technology and and research behind the production of such driver less cars in USA.

As can be seen from the website of the company - Waymo- 

Our mission is to be the world’s most trusted driver and 

Every year, 1.4M lives are lost to traffic crashes around the world. The status quo is not acceptable. Waymo is committed to holding safety to a higher standard. Because when we do, we make space for people to get around in a whole new way. On this path, we aim to offer freedom of movement for all, create a sustainable, efficient transportation ecosystem, and make the planet better than we found it.

Our experience is that company has really achieved its mission  in this project of driver less cars on road for peoples movement and public safety taken together. 

Desert Botanical Garden - Arizona

 Desert Botanical Garden-  Arizona 

It is a very famous Cactus Garden wherein one can find hundreds of varieties of cactuses grown, maintained and decorated very nicely.  The Garden is very big in size and requires sufficient time and energy to visit it, as you have to walk a long distance on different trails to enjoy various species displayed there. 

You can find number of parts specifically displaying particular varieties of cactus and allied shrubs or trees.  You can find number of volunteers standing there and guiding you while you move in different areas of the garden. 

Most people think they know a cactus when they see one, but they are often mistaken. All cacti are succulents, but not all succulents are cacti. Agaves, ocotillos, aloes, and the succulent euphorbias (such as African milk trees) are among the swollen or spiny plants often mistaken for cacti. However, the term cactus refers to a particular family of plants defined by a distinctive flower pattern. To be a cactus, the plant must produce flowers with the following characteristics: many tepals (combined sepals and petals) that intergrade with each other; many stamens (usually hundreds), and numerous stigma lobes (rarely only three). If a plant lacks such a flower, it cannot be a cactus.

The majority of cactus species are pollinated by numerous species of bees, a number of which specialize in cacti. Cactus bees are all solitary, but in some species the females congregate by hundreds of thousands at nesting sites to dig their individual nest burrows, which are densely concentrated in an area of a few thousand square feet. Cactus pollen is packed into these burrows to feed the grubs, which the parents do not tend. Some cacti are pollinated by birds, moths, or bats.

following were some of the species prominently found in above garden -

 

Organ Pipe Cactus- 

The many, usually unbranched stems that arise from ground level readily distinguish an organ pipe cactus from a saguaro. The stems also are thinner, and have solid woody cores. Plants are usually 9 to 11 feet (2.7-3.4 m) in height, but occasionally exceed 20 feet (6.1 m). The pinkish-white flowers, produced from April through August, open after dark and close shortly after sunrise. The spines on the fruit loosen and fall at ripeness. The juicy, sweet, red pulp contains many tiny seeds

Senita


generally grows 10 to 13 feet (3 to 4 m) tall and has the same general form as organ pipe cactus. It differs in having stems with only 5 to 7 (rarely up to 10) ribs and very short spines on the juvenile stems, giving them a sharply angular aspect. Mature (flower-producing) stems are quite different; they're densely covered with long, bristly, gray spines. Pink, nocturnal flowers about an inch (2.5 cm) in diameter emerge through the bristles from April through August; they emit an unpleasant odor. They are followed by marble-sized red fruits with juicy red pulp.

Engelmann Prickly Pear - 

Engelmann prickly pear is a shrubby cactus forming hemispherical mounds up to 5 feet (1.5 m) high and 2 or 3 times as wide. Pad size varies with individual plants; the largest are over a foot (30 cm) long. (these giants may be hybrids with other species.) The spines are also variable.

The juicy, palatable fruits ripen in tremendous numbers in July and August. Most saguaro fruits, produced in similar abundance earlier in the summer, are devoured the same day they ripen. But Engelmann prickly pear fruits persist for several months. Though they are eaten by a wide variety of animals including rabbits, packrats, javelina, deer, squirrels, numerous birds, desert tortoises, and cactus beetle

Teddy bear cholla

This distinctive cholla has a vertical trunk 3 to 5 feet (1-1.5 m) tall with densely-packed horizontal side branches on the upper foot (30 cm) or so. Older, lower side branches die and fall off. The joints are very densely spined; very little of the living surface can be seen through its armor. The spines are especially sharp and strongly-barbed. Young spines are yellow and become black with age. Yellow-green flowers in spring are followed by spineless fruits that usually contain no fertile seed

wild animals -

In one section in the park we can find number of wild animals. We could see 3-4 different Owels of different colors and sizes, They were easily handled by the men and women , who had their hands fully covered by thick hand gloves full size.

Similarly we could see various types of snakes, wild frogs and other animals too.

Saturn and Moon views -

This is one important segment of the part, isolated from others. you can inside with batteries provided out freely. You cannot use your mobile inside as per rules. It is complete darkness over a pretty long peace of land, wherein two big size telescopes manned by two different people.

You have to stand in a row of visitors who wish to see it. Then one by one you move forward and see through the tescope first - Saturn. I could find it clearly visible. It is pretty sparking, shining with colorful rings around it. It is at a far distance from earth, but the machiney can help you find like very near. Though the image is very small, you can see it completely

Thereafter we move forward to see the Moon from the another telescope. The image of moon is comparatively big - we can see its size, radius, shape - further the number of holes, lines, lairs of land, etc on the moon. It is clearly visible. It is very interesting to see both these planets.


We were walking for about one and half hour and still all sections of the garden we could not visit or see.  So it required 3-4 hours minimum, even if you just want to take a round and have a look at some of them.

Casinos - Las Vegas

 CASINOS

Casinos are integral part of USA culture, as seen during my tour.  I was very much anxious to know about it, to visit it and to play too , to know exactly how it operates.  When so many men, women, resort to pass on nights after nights in different casinos of various states of USA, there must be something which attract them to it, even at the cost of money.

I could see number of casinos in Arizona, Nevada, New york, Washington etc. but we preferred to visit casinos at Las Vegas in Nevada State.  We had been staying in a very big hotel named circus circus, wherein at the bottom of the hotel there was a big casino.  This Hotel is at the central place on the main market area and many tourist attractions of Las Vegas. 

We had been living there for two nights - three days at a  hotel.  It was observed that though the casinos are open whole days, it is more curious, interesting , funny to visit the casinos at night time.  So we usually after the dinner at nights, had some site seeing of nearby places, and then on return journy to the hotel stopped for a long time in a Casino at the hotel circus circus. There are casinos with leass initial ticket or start from even One dollar at many machines and slots.   While in major cities the entry level price is quite higher than this. 

Both two nights we enjoyed played different games on various types of machines and we were playing even up to 3 or 3.30 in the morning.  While being there we could not notice how a time  of 5-6 hours could easily be enjoyed in a casinos.  There is always a bigger risk of lossing money  in the games but the entertainment you get is of great value too.  The funding of our casino games was done by my son and hence there was no problem on that count. 

There we could see different types of games - card based games, machine games,   We played Rouletter -Roulette: A classic table game featuring a spinning wheel and a ball, where players bet on where the ball will land.  This is a very interesting game and we enjoyed playing it. Me and my son played it. and In the play loss and win are two results at the end of the game. so after playing for a long time, we were ultimately in winning stage, and we decided to quit and encash the reward in the game. 

We also played some other machine based games.  I do not remember the names. there also we earned and also lost at times.  But it was a great time pass and different experience altogether at night time in hotels in USA.  

Night time Casinos are full with visitors.  They can be seen in almost every big hotel and even in private building only having casinos.  At all the major cities of USA we could see Casinos and people enjoying their time their by their wish. 

In Las Vegas in many big theme based hotels we could see some ladies too having a stake of 6000 or at one place 8700 dollars at risk during the game.  But they must have been the masters of the game and much more experienced and frequent players in those places, so they have can have a big stake in playing in casinos. When the people play with a big stake, they are freely served beverages, wines, drinks , cigarettes and whatever they want, so that play on for pretty long time and pump in more and more money.  

I had seen number of old single men and women visiting casinos for passing night time. May be they have problem of sleeping, or they have so much money and do not know how to spend and also no companion and so feeling lonely etc.  There these people were seen drinking alcohol , enjoying food stuff and playing games simultaneously.  It is a totally different life altogether. 

Key Biblical Principles on Gambling and Casinos

The Love of Money: Scripture warns that the "love of money is a root of all kinds of evil" (1 Timothy 6:10). Casinos fundamentally operate on the desire to acquire money through chance rather than honest  labor.
Getting Rich Quick: Proverbs 13:11 and Proverbs 28:20 discourage shortcuts to wealth, teaching that "wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it". 
Financial Stewardship: Christians are taught to manage their resources wisely as gifts from God
. Spending money on games with statistically guaranteed losses is often viewed as poor stewardship of provisions meant to care for family and help others.
 
Greed and Covetousness: Placing a bet involves taking another person's losses as your gain, which conflicts with biblical commands to avoid covetousness and to "love your neighbor as yourself".
 Different Perspectives -While major evangelical organizations and denominations (such as the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association) view visiting a casino as spiritually harmful due to its reliance on greed and chance, community discussions on platforms like Facebook Groups reveal mixed opinions. Some believers argue that casual, limited spending for entertainment is a matter of personal conscience, provided it does not lead to addiction, obsession, or a distraction from God.