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Sunday, July 19, 2009

El Sur Grande

It is a place where height meets depth. It is a place where Cliffs meet the Ocean. It is a place where land meets water (in a unusual way). It is place where terrestrial wildlife meets marine wildlife. It is a place where a Waterfall meets the ocean. It is a place where the undisturbed beauty attracts a lay man while the forbidding wilderness makes it ideal for an adventurist. It is actually a place where Man meets Nature. It is Big Sur (Spanish-language "el sur grande", meaning "the big south", or from "el país grande del sur", "the big country of the south") on the coast of California.

Perched on the volcanic mountains on one side and the mighty Pacific ocean immediately on the other side, it is a place for hikers, trekkers, swimmers all
alike. Explore the redwood forest and at the end of it you can go for a swim in the ocean. "You must see it to believe it" surely applies for this place, for one cannot describe it in words.

Fractal is the word that comes to my mind immediately. It looks very irregular and it still looks perfect. Not a strange thing for Nature.

The CA1 neatly blends with the terrain and keeps the place as is, while making the journey a smooth one. The Bixby bridge is awesome, connecting two slopes of the cliff, and looks like a man made wonder embedded naturally. The fog in the mountains add to the beauty of the drive. The wild flowers blossom along the slope down to the blue waters.

I have heard that the coast along Oregon leading to Canada through Washington is also a wonderful experience.A drive down this coastal highway is surely a time to be remembered.