[US] California，Rowland Heights，Monja

這個週末，想吃個台式料理，利用Yelp的搜尋功能，找到了這家Monja餐廳，就在我平常採買的超市附近，到了餐廳門口才發現，這不是前陣子同事才介紹過的餐廳嗎？同事的評價還很不錯，挺讓人期待的。
I may try to find a new Taiwanese restaurant during the weekend. I found the Monja on the Yelp, which is near the 99 Ranch Market that I almost go every week. When I arrive the restaurant, I found my colleague just introduced me this one couple days ago.

看了菜單才知道，原來台灣艋舺有一家似乎很出名的燒肉店？看來這家Monja餐廳的特色料理便是燒肉飯，雖然在台灣時我不常吃燒肉飯，就在這兒嚐嚐吧！
After read the menu, I found the red grain pork is the most popular dish which is originated from a restaurant in Taiwan. Although I don't know which restaurant it is, it sounds good. So I would like to try it.

份量我覺得以美國標準來說算正常，沒有特別大份，不過燒肉給的挺多的，這在台灣應該看不到，燒肉外皮脆，內裡算軟，味道還不錯，只是沒有到非常棒，嚐過就可以，若有機會再來，可能就會試試其他料理了吧！
The red grain pork really taste good, the red part is crispy and the white part is soft. But the flavor is not so impressive for me to order it again if I come back some day.

另外加點了一道小菜─攪和攪和，雖然是台灣常見的素材，豬耳朵，豆干和海帶，不過台灣倒不會把三者合一，我只在這邊看到，帶著一點點的小辣，還不錯吃。
Jiao Ho Jiao Ho，it mixes the pig ear, dried bean curds and seaweed. This dish seems a special dish in LA or in US, because I didn't have a chance to try it in Taiwan. It's good to mix above three to have different taste and flavor in the month. It's nice!

Monja 地址：
18558 E Gale Ave, #108
Kingston Culture Plaza
City of Industry, CA 91748

[US] California，Fullerton，The Habit Burger Grill

這天在與家人聊天時，家人分享了一篇新聞，介紹當來到美國，有哪些相對特殊的漢堡連鎖店該去試試，用Google Maps查了一下，開車十分鐘左右，就有一家The Habit Burger Grill，這天午餐，就跑來嚐嚐！
This Sunday, my family share some news with me. It introduce some chain burger restaurant that I should try, not just McDonald's or Burger King. So I Google it, there is one The Habit Burger Grill near where I live. That's it, it will be my lunch for today.

既然我在In & Out都吃Double Double，在這兒當然就吃類似的Original Double Charburger來比較一下。
To have a clear idea, I order Original Double Charburger so I can compare it with In & Out.

跟In & Out相比，我喜歡這兒的薯條，因為我比較喜歡仍然帶有水分，稍微有點軟嫰，剛炸好的薯條，In & Out在大部分的時候，都炸得太乾了。
I like the fries from the Habit Burger Grill more. I like the fries with some water inside, a little soft but still hot. That's my favorite moment of the fries. It's too crispy at In & Out.

漢堡兩者都很好吃，只是以口感來說，我覺得In & Out更肉食性一點，Charburger比較嚐得到生菜的甜味，僅管如此，牛肉堡的香甜滋味仍然很濃厚，也可以滿足想吃肉的慾望，我覺得In & Out和The Habit Burger Grill都是很棒的餐廳，簡單，純粹，比起某些獨立的漢堡餐廳，太複雜，太多樣化，漢堡反而沒有這兩家的好吃。
Both burgers (In & Out and Habit Burger Grill burgers) are delicious. For me, the Charburger is easy to taste the sweet from cabbages. It has better percentage between to the beef and vegetables, maybe 50/50 or 60/40. The In & Out burger, is more like 80/20 or 90/10. It's meat, meat and meat. Even though, both are really, really good. Compare to some independent burger restaurants, these two are simple and pure, better than those which cannot focus.

The Habit Burger Grill地址：
2720 Nutwood Ave
Fullerton, CA 92831

[US] California，Palm Springs，El Morocco Inn & Spa

棕櫚泉是這次租車旅程的終點，網路上的介紹，這兒是加州人在冬天時，避寒的選擇之一，這兒有天然溫泉，既然剛好選在冬天出遊，再加上一些購物行程，來這兒泡泡溫泉，放鬆恢復一下，自然是再好不過了！
Palm Springs is the last place for this trip. I found this place on Internet where people live in California may go for enjoy the hot springs in winter. Since now is almost the coldest time in a year, I believe this is a good place as an end of this trip.

也許因此，這兒的照片不多，待在這裡的三天兩夜，其實都懶懶的，只想舒服地待在泳池邊，好好享受這樣慵懶的生活，來到棕櫚泉，我建議可以多花點錢，入住這一間El Morocco Inn & Spa，僅管一個晚上要價180美金左右，已經跟我拿到特價的拉斯維加斯旅館一樣價格了。
I didn't take too many photos in this hotel, because I think I should come here to enjoy the lazy atmosphere and be relax. There are three characteristics of this hotel that I strongly recommend you to choose El Morocco Inn & Spa as the hotel you stay in Palm Springs although the cost is as much as I spent in Las Vegas, around USD $180 per night.

這兒有好吃有健康的早餐，新鮮現切的水果，很棒的貝果，一切自己動手，感覺又很美味了；且這兒的水，據說是世界上第二名的好水(雖然我不記得評測單位了)，而第一名則處於蠻荒地區，很難有機會享受。
The wonderful and healthy breakfast. The host will help to create your own bagels and you here also have the 2nd best water in the world according to host's description. The best place is somewhere almost no one can reach, which means here is the best that people can easily to have a try.

第二個優點則是每晚五點到六點，可以享受雞尾酒喝到飽的Happy Hour，且每天都不一樣。
The 2nd feature is the happy hour, 5:00 - 6:00 PM every night. You can enjoy the tasty cocktail, all you can drink.

最後一個則是這兒的設施非常棒，有泳池，SPA池，還有烤箱，讓人超滿足。
The last thing is the nice swimming pool & spa. And you can combine item 2 and the spa, that's so joyful, so satisfied to enjoy both.

或許這也是為何房間裡沒有浴缸，就好好享受晴空下，美麗的星光下的美好時光吧！
Maybe that's why there is no bathtub in the room, just enjoy it outside with the nice weather, sky and stars.

最後，附上幾張房間的照片。
At last, attach some photos of the room.

El Morocco Inn & Spa 地址：
66810 4th St, Desert Hot Springs, 
CA 92240

[US] Arizona，Williams，Canyon Country Inn

住在Williams的晚上，我隨意挑選了一間旅館，看起來就是台灣的民宿，因為恰好是聖誕節之後，相關的裝飾都還沒拆，閃閃發亮，而且就在櫃台的樓上，還有一棵裝飾好的聖誕樹，也算是讓我們稍微體會了一下在美國的聖誕節。
We stayed at Canyon Country Inn in Williams. This is the place we still can feel the atmosphere of Christmas. All the decorations are still on and there even has a Christmas Tree on the second floor of the front desk. Just like a regular house in US.

進了房間，的確走的是溫馨路線的裝潢，床上還擺放了一隻小熊，不過，房間就真的很小了，而且就在馬路邊的一樓，其實好像也幾乎沒有二樓的房間，旅館的房間數應該不多，稍稍有一點點不習慣，有時會聽到路人的聲音，時間稍晚之後就沒有影響了，這麼冷的天，不太有人會在外面活動。
When we get in the room, you can tell the host would like to show their warm and kindness from the bear on the bed and also the color they choose. But the space is really small. When we put in our luggages, it's not easy to open it to get our stuff. 

旅館還有供應隔天的早餐，算是小型的自助吧，都放置在櫃台，可以拿取到自己房間內使用，只是房間小，有點不方便；若氣溫合適，在門廊上享用倒是很不錯。
The hotel provides breakfast at the front desk, and it's OK to take it back to the room. Since the room is small, I might recommend to eat outside if the weather is comfortable. The host prepare table and chairs on the porch.

Canyon Country Inn 地址：
442 Historic Rte 66
Williams, AZ 86046

[US] Arizona，Williams，Cruiser's Route 66 Cafe

今晚待在一個離大峽谷約一小時車程的小鎮，Williams，事先也沒有做功課，七點多八點出門找吃的時，開的店已經不多了，會選擇這家餐廳，原因很簡單，因為門口燒著木頭，又裝飾得五光十色，給人一種很溫暖的感覺，在這溫度只有個位數的冬夜，實在很吸引人。
Leaving Antelope Canyon, we drove toward a small town, Williams, which is located about one hour drive from Great Canyon. Today we drove a lot, so we take a rest first. When we go out for dinner, it's already close to 8 o'clock and there are some restaurants already closed. When we walked to Cruiser's Route 66 Cafe, we loved the wood burning in front of the front door which makes us think it will be warm inside.

室內裝潢部分，覺得也沒有什麼風格，感覺老闆就是隨意把自己覺得有意思的東西掛到牆上而已。
It's not really special inside, just few things which make me think about a countryside restaurant in US. There are a lot of people here. I think the food should be good so people come here.

我們點了一份生菜沙拉，一份三明治，與一份牛排，食物水準算是中等，還不錯吃，只是沒有留下很深刻的印象，我想原因都是因為，這是我來美國後，第一次遇到把小費(15%)直接算進帳單裡的餐廳，雖然我已經知道有這樣的餐廳，但我以為是高貴的餐廳才這樣做，完全沒想到會在這樣一間鄉村餐廳遇到，導致印象偏向負面，也就不記得食物是否好吃了～
I don't remember how good the food is, maybe it's OK. I just remember this is the first restaurant which include the tips (15%) when the waiter gave me the check. This surprises me. I thought only the high-class and expensive restaurants do that, I never expect I'll meet this in such a countryside restaurant which gave me a bad image...

Cruiser's Route 66 Cafe 地址：
233 Historic Rte 66
Williams, AZ 86046

[US] Arizona，羚羊峽谷(Antelope Canyon)

其實，羚羊峽谷本來並不在這次旅程內，剛好有同事也利用這次的耶誕假期，安排了一趟大峽谷之旅，建議我可以也同時到羚羊峽谷看看，再加上一個旅遊App的介紹，終於讓我下定決心，調整了大峽谷行程，來到羚羊峽谷。
The Antelope Canyon is not in my list while I planed this tour. There is a colleague that he also arrange a similar trip with his girl friend and he strongly recommend me to come here. What a coincident that a Chrome App also introduce it at the same time. So I adjust my schedule in Grand Canyon and add Antelope Canyon.

羚羊峽谷其實分成了上、下羚羊峽谷，上羚羊峽谷是比較好走，遊客比較多的行程，建議若想來，一定要先預約，而且準時抵達，像我就錯過了原來預約的時間，在城鎮裡東問西問，好不容易終於後補上了，差一點就白來一遭了。
There are Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon. The Upper is easy for walking in, so there are more tourists. I strongly recommend you to make a reservation if you want to visit the Antelope Canyon and be there on time. I missed it and almost all the trips are full, I was lucky that finally I found a tour there are two available seat for me and my friend.

羚羊峽谷的成因，其實有點像大峽谷，只是這兒沒有一條固定的河流穿過，是被暴雨形成的激流沖刷而成，岩石上的紋路，都是水的痕跡，很光滑，也很漂亮；也因為是暴雨形成的激流，如果遇到下雨，峽谷內是非常危險的，也因此，規定不能私自進入，必須要參加當地的行程才能進入。
Antelope Canyon was formed by erosion of Navajo Sandstone, primarily due to flash flooding and secondarily due to other sub-aerial processes. Rainwater, especially during monsoon season, runs into the extensive basin above the slot canyon sections, picking up speed and sand as it rushes into the narrow passageways. Since it happened some accidents before, people have to join the local tour to enter the Antelope Canyon now.

首先要搭乘15-20分鐘的四驅車前往谷口，到了才發現，人真的是爆多的，雖然這個景點，似乎沒有那麼出名。
This might not be a very famous spot for Taiwan. When we arrived there, there are a lot more people than I expected.

來此參觀，就網路上的介紹來說，最好是在中午，這時候陽光從上方直曬，雖然所處的緯度偏高，至少此時已經是最接近頭頂的角度，峽谷中正是最明亮，光線變化最多樣的時候，同時，也是最貴的時候(大約50鎂)，若是一早或是下午的場次，價差可能會有10美金。時間總共一小時，雖然我覺得還算OK，這是慢慢走，能拍拍照的行程(不可帶腳架)，若仍不滿意，還有攝影師行程，記得沒錯的話，應該是兩小時100鎂吧！
The best time to visit here is at noon. You will have the best sunshine to show the most colorful sandstone. So it's also the most expensive tour, maybe USD 50. For other time, it may be 10 dollars cheap. The total tour is around 1 hour. You can slowly move in the Canyon and take your time for taking photos. There is also a special tour for the professional photographers, 2 hours with USD 100.

這就是被洪水沖到此的漂流木。

這是我們的導遊，利用當地的特殊環繞音效，為我們用直笛吹奏了一曲；這位導遊有點不一樣，介紹一些特殊造型岩的時候，他都講得滿簡單的，然後就讓我們自行拍照，接著他會跟每個小團體借相機(手機也行)，直接拍給我們看，這樣，每個團體就都能拍到那些造型了！

This is our tour guide, the way he introduce the Antelope Canyon is very simple. He left many time for us to take photos. And he will also ask for the cameras/phones for each small group, then directly take photos for us because he knows all the angles for the special spots.

峽谷的另一邊，跟入口看起來幾乎一樣，就只是少了幾台四驅車在此等待；之後就原路折返了，不拍照，應該不到十五分鐘就走完了吧！
This is the other side of the canyon. When return, I think we finish the route within 15 minutes since we didn't take any photos on the way back.

Antelope Canyon 地址：
Page, AZ 86040