Driving out of Moab this morning, we saw a sign at a Chinese eatery: "Chinese Food - $`1.75 a scoop". The mind boggled... Can't imagine a restaurant in Oz getting much of a response to a sign like that!!
Drove alongside the red mountains for about half an hour, and then this gave way to mostly flat plains again. Now many small, very worn down hills which have actually been colonised by the native plants, so may be preserved from much further erosion any time soon. Odd huge chunks of rock scattered about.
In Southern Utah we drove through a small town, advertising a Farmer's Market. Yay..... Pulled up, and jumped out of the van, purse in hand. THREE "farmers" had turned up. Did buy a nice Banana Loaf though, but an entire busload of Asians had arrived as well, and obviously didn't spend up big either.
Many small Indian communities exist along the countryside, many abandoned, vandalized, boarded-up houses in evidence. Looked startlingly like some of our Aboriginal communities up north. The occupied houses just sat forlornly in red dirt, NO grass, trees, or shrubs - just dust. Very sad.
The distant mountains became Monument Valley in a flash. Again mile after mile of stunning red mountains, against a perfect blue sky.
Set up the RVs. This is ALL Navajo Indian owned country now - EVERY building, business, accommodation house, camping ground, tourist guide, advertising hording, or retail outlet is Indian owned.
We went on an almost 4 hour guided tour in an open truck, with an Indian guide. Thankfully pretty good suspension, because most of the roads (tracks) were seriously bad.... The views were stunning again, and it was all the stuff we've all seen in Western movies over the years. Amazing.... Came home caked in thick red dust, just as we did when we went off in a dune-buggy in Alice Springs.
There were non-stop tours going all day in Monument Valley, literally hundreds of visitors, all paying a minimum of $50 per head. Not to mention all the people staying in two resorts - one very flash, and one more average. Cannot imagine how much money the Navajos get in their coffers each week, pretty much 52 weeks per year, and cannot imagine what they do with it!!!! Still hundreds living in apparent poverty sadly, and you cannot go more than 10kms along the road, without coming across road-side stalls selling "Indian Jewellery" and rugs. Looked a few times, but it's all very cheap and nasty, so did not part with any money!!!
Too late to eat, and far too tired. Toasted cheese sandwich!!!!
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