On one of our first days off, the Refugee Nation Crew (Ova, Leilani, Jen, and I) ventured into the unbefore-seen world of Alyeska (also known as Girdwood). We drove south of Anchorage taking in the scenic drive of mountainsides to our left and water to our right. In the far right, you could also see misty mountain landscapes reminiscent of artwork one sees while eating at a Chinese buffet.
But this was more than a journey to nature. This was a journey to discovering how much of a nerd I really am. While Jen and Leilani conversed about trendy things, I was in awe of the waterfalls that trickled down the sides of the mountains. I was entranced by the water formations on our right. I knew then that I wanted to come back to Alaska so I could go salmon fishing, so I could watch the whales feed, and so I could try Native food like seal.It turns out no one else was thinking the same thing.
When we made the left turn into Girdwood, we pulled into a shopping mall with interesting store names:
* Coast Pizza (It's true we were by the coast and they sold pizza)
* State Trooper (It's true this was the office of the state troopers)
* The Shop (which looked like a coffee and ice-cream shop)
* Tourist Trap (which did sell tourist-y items)
* Restaurant (which was a restaurant)
* Bakery (which sold baked goods)
After getting coffee and baked goods from Bakery and after purchasing a exclaimed,
"Look! Green grass!" Jen replied, "Uh...you don't have pooping moose from the Tourist Trap, our
adventures continued towards the Alyeska Ski resort. It was here I discovered my love for nature: there were fat-ass mushrooms that made me think of Smurf villages, green grass and moss (When I green grass in Minnesota?" Not this time of the year. Not this time of the year.) Among our nature finds were a babbling brook, frozen roses, clusters of red berries, and a man humping a moose.
At the Alyeska Ski Resort, I also discovered that Ova had a love for animals. See the photo of Ova and the bear. 
And Ova and the other bear. And Ova and the moose (yes, he was the man humping the moose). And Ova and his Karate Kid crane pose, which became a staple no matter where we went.
Our hiking expedition in Mt. Alyeska took us from the ski resort entrance to a back walkway to the ski resort entrance. We were told to find--what was it? Eagle Creek Drive?--which would take us to higher hiking grounds, but we made a wrong turn and circled into a shopping center.Because night was coming and Jen had been warned that vampires were roaming Alaska, known for its dark days, we left the town of Alyeska and headed back to the safety of Anchorage.
****
Author's Note: Despite the previous blogs that may make it appear as though I haven't been doing anything (there are numerous photos in which I am merely standing by and observing), please be reminded that I was brought in as a guest artist of Refugee Nation. I am a writer. Therefore, I was acting!
