salvation mountain

"GOD IS LOVE." These three gigantic words span across an even more enormous chunk of land splashed with a myriad of colorful pastels and patterns. You have arrived at Salvation Mountain. Located quite literally in the middle of nowhere in an area known as Slab City, Salvation Mountain is a wild and magnificent statement of one man's passion project and love for Jesus. Can I get an Amen!

What started out as a small statement of a personal conviction, Salvation Mountain has now grown into a Southern California icon boasting thousands of visitors from all over the world every week. Leonard Knight, the visionary and creator, used a combination of straw, adobe, and tons and tons of paint to make what actually turned out to be his second mountain (his first attempt had unfortunately collapsed). Drawing inspiration from his spiritual background, Knight used this mound of earth as a canvas to write biblical verses and share personal items which are scattered all throughout the mound. 

I got to visit this beautiful place towards the end of last year and I was completely blown away by how grand and detailed it was. While climbing up to the top, I actually ended up having to hold my friend's hand in fear of slipping and tumbling to the ground (pro-tip: wear shoes with grip ladies n gents).

Speaking of pro-tips, here's a few more:

-stick to the yellow brick road (don't get yelled at by the groundskeeper!)

-wear sunglasses

-wear sunblock

-only park in the designated lot (someone driving a 4x4 off-road behind the mountain ended up receiving A LOT of bad words and some reprimanding)

-sure, taking a nice pic for your insta is great, but really take some time to enjoy the splendor of it all!

I hope you've enjoyed this post and are eager to book your first trip out into the desert to see Salvation Mountain for yourself! Don't hesitate to leave a question or comment below.

Yours, 

DEATH MARCH TO POTATO CHIP:

Sometimes, expectations do not always
become realities...

"Let's go on a hike," they said. "It'll be fun," they said.

A couple weeks ago, my family group from Palomar Korean Church (PKC--a church I attend when I'm at school) decided to bond a little with the help of good ol' nature. I had heard a lot of Potato Chip Rock and the amazingly breathtaking photos I could take once I reached the trail's peak. What I did not hear a lot of, however, was the actual hike up to the scenic stone.

For someone who, on average, hits the gym less than 5 times a month (but that's going to change now OK) this hike was definitely not a "walk in the park"--it took about 2 1/2 hours to climb up and down the rocky mountain. Determined to reach the top, we took minimal breaks and relished in our sweat until finally, FINALLY we got to the famous Potato Chip, and let me tell you: it was worth it.

There was already a long line of people waiting to have their picture taken on the most thin slice of rock I had ever seen. Our group tried to take as many pictures as possible before starting our trip down on the trail. It was nice to see people arriving and being completely awe-struck by not only the rock, but also at their achievement of reaching the mountain's peak.

Climbing down, we took some time to take photos of ourselves against a backdrop of God's beautiful creation. The weather was perfect as well, which allowed for many great, clear images. All in all, the entire experience--despite the dust in our nostrils, sweat on our backs, and aches in our legs--was incredibly fulfilling and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys a challenge. Try out your New Year's Resolutions and endurance down here in San Diego and you may find that completing a challenge is in itself the most satisfying accomplishment you could ever experience.

Hope you are doing swell,

Rachel

THE LAST BOOKSTORE:

Every frugal bookworm's paradise...

One of the greatest pleasures in life is being able to start a book and become so immersed and connected to its characters, plot, and underlying message that you don't know what to do with yourself. To finish a book feeling very satisfied and enlightened is an undertaking I often take for granted. Visiting The Last Book Store, located in Los Angeles, led to me to believe that there was still a hope in the tangible book industry even during the rise of Kindles and the dwindling number of Barnes & Nobles. I love flipping pages, annotating important lines, and even smelling that all-to-familiar-homey smell of books that you all know what I'm referring to.

This bookstore actually contains a lot more than just books--the two floors contain various artworks and stations that sell materials and hold workshops. Basically, anyone searching for some therapeutic alone-time (or if you're on a date, that works too!) can enjoy everything The Last Book Store offers. They offer a plethora of books, new and used, for reasonable prices that will keep your wallet smiling and bookworm heart full of content. Even if reading is not your thing, this place will keep your creative, artistic mind jogging as you venture through book-filled mazes and interestingly decorated rooms.

I bought four novels to read during the time in between classes when I'm not reading my Bible or catching up on homework. After reading Haruki Murakami's novel, 1Q84, and getting that odd sensation where I can't quite catch up to reality--where I'm caught in a limbo, still processing the author's masterpiece--I told myself that I'd read more of his work. Along with two of Murakami's books, I bought two classic pieces: All the King's Men and The Road. I will probably do an Opinon post on one or two of the books after I've finished reading...so look out for that!

Hope ya'll have had a great weekend,

Rachel