Rapid City

~ in South Dakota, United States (26-29 Nov, 2003)

Rapid City is a really small place - yet it's the second most densely-populated city in South Dakota (second to Sioux Falls). Guess what? Most of the shops near the tourist spots (Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse Memorial, etc) are closed - for the SEASON! (They have signs that read "see you next spring"...). We probably missed some part of those places, but that makes the trip a really relaxing one - at least we didn't see a lot of crowd around.

Some interesting facts about the group:
1. All 4 of us are borned in February, 1980 (3rd, 12th, 23rd and 29th).
2. Candace is good at breaking door (Indian Museum) and vehicle (double-deck bus) locks.
3. 03' Toyota Camry is a great tripod for Canon Powershot G2, apart from being a car.
4. All 4 of us have history of sleep-talk, ranged from words to speeches.
5. Our poor knowledge of American geography - we tried to locate New York city/state on the map, but we were actually pointing at Pennsylvania. Not until an American gentleman politely interrupted and pointed out the location of New York state and NYC that we realized we were wrong...how embarrassing -_-
6. None of our cell phones works in western South Dakota...since SD still hasn't lifted the regulations on mobile network carrier yet.

-- Mt. Rushmore, South Dakota

From left to right: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln. Click the above pic to see a larger version - can you see the lens on Roosevelt's nose?

-- Group on the way to Mt. Rushmore

From left to right: Merrick, Candace, Paul and Chung. We were all from the same high school when we were in Hong Kong.

-- Paul Washington, Candace Jefferson, Merrick Roosevelt and Chung Lincoln

Behind these 4 great individuals is the Avenue of Flags, featuring the 50 US states' flags.

-- In a souvenir shop on Mt Rushmore

This is just so American...

-- Street at the foot of Mt. Rushmore

Note: the stores behind are all closed for the season - that's why we could take the picture in the middle of the road!

-- Double-deck bus!!!!!!

OK I thought this doesn't exist in U.S....proved to be wrong. And this is SOOOOOO British!

-- Vehicle for the trip, a '03 Toyota Camry

Also serves as our tripod when we want to take group pictures and nobody's around...look at the camera on top of it.

-- Crazy Horse Memorial, South Dakota

Comparison between planned model and actual craft.

-- Crazy Horse

Inspired by the work on Mt Rushmore, sculptor Korczek Ziolkowsky started this project in 1939 honoring Native Americans. Korczek passed away in 1982 but the Ziolkowsky family is successing Korczeks' will, and continue with this world's largest mountain sculpture. "Crazy Horse" is the title of a Native American tribe leader in 19th century, while Korczek himself was honored as "Brave Wolf" by Native Americans society for his contributions.

-- Snapshot of the Indian Museum

-- List of alphabets and numbers used by people of Lakota

They have Lakota-English dictionary available in the book store...

-- Native American Tent

Too bad that we can't get ourselves some costumes =P

-- Segment of Berlin Wall in downtown Rapid City

Witness of the fall of Communism in E. Germany, soaked with the tears and blood of people longing for freedom... A piece of the cursed concrete is now resting in peace.

-- National Cemetery

Rested the US veterens in the two World Wars, Korean War, Vietnam War, and possibly others.

-- Sturgis, equivalent to the Mecca of Harley-Davidson fans in US

Every August, the Harley-Davidson owners all over US would come to this place to join the annual rally. In the picture is the Harley-Davidson museum.

-- Wind Cave

This is the only natural opening of an underground cave over 82 miles long, found over 100 years ago. As a result of difference in pressure inside and outside the cave, the maximum speed of the wind through the passage can exceed 70 miles/hour (~112 km/hr). We placed Candace in front of the cave because she has the longest hair and thus able to prove there's wind from the cave...

-- Boxwork in the wind cave

This extensively found structure in the Wind cave is called boxwork, an unusual cave formation composed of thin calcite fins resembling honeycombs. They exposed when the surrounding rock was eroded.

-- Merrick and bison (not buffalo)

Both from New York...bison was imported to South Dakota from New York state long time ago, while Merrick flew to South Dakota from New York a few days ago...

-- Dinner @ Lake Canyon Chophouse

The scene outside is supposed to be great, but since it's night time...nothing can be seen except the dish in front of us.

-- Erm...we don't believe that's a coincidence.

It's quite possible that she actually works for this contact lens solution company...oh well.

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