I went to Joshua tree national park with my family and my American friends. We stayed at Jumbo rocks camping ground. The temperature was not as high as I expected. Also, the wind was not so strong. So, we had a great time. On Friday night, my friend made a salmon steak for our dinner and I made some smoke foods like chaplain, chess and shaomai. These foods were really nice. Then after dinner, we enjoyed smore that is typical dessert for camping. It's roasted marshmallow biscuits sand with chocolate. That was also really nice.
Next day, we went around some mainly spots of this park.First, we went to Skull Rock and walked around. There were huge rocks and ere plants. It was easy to walk but walking with child on my shoulder was a bit hectic.Then after lunch, we had a shower by using my friend's shower booth tent and at dusk, we went to Key's View to watch a great sunset. It was the flame of the setting sun.
Then, we had a dinner. I cooked Japanese style foods for my American friend; Teriyaki chicken, fish and some grilled vegetable with miso sauce. Everything I cooked was banquet. After dinner, we amused ourselves with card game. Then we slept.
Day time was so hot, but night time was rather cooler. So, we set hotdog and rice cake for breakfast. Then, we put away tents and all our camping stuff and went back my home. Everything of our camping trip was fantastic and great.
At the same time, I found a lot of differences between U.S and Japan in a camping style.
To start with, almost all Japanese camping grounds need a reservation, but in the U.S, first come first served style is not rare. Secondly, Japanese camping ground has a lot of comfortable equipment such as kitchen fixture, shower room and coin laundry. Some camping grounds have hot spring and power supply. However, in the U.S, especially in national parks, they have minimum equipment. In Joshua tree, it has only non-flush type restroom, but each site usually has a fire place and fixed table and bench instead.
Generally speaking, U.S campers have good manners compared to Japanese ones. They never make noise at night and do fire work display.
In addition, they cook only simple food. However, in Japan, they cook a lot with using pan and dodge oven or something.
Accordingly, there are a lot of differences in camping style.
Briefly to say, Japanese camping ground is designed for enjoying comfortable camping. So, camping is main purpose in Japan.
Opposite to Japanese camping ground, U.S camping ground exists for enjoying a rich environment. So, camping is one of the means to an end. Due to this, U.S camping ground has many activity programs by rangers such as outdoor theater, star watching and so on.
I understand Japanese camping style situation. I think one of the reason is that there isn't a big scale natural environment like the U.S natural park. That's why camping is main purpose. However, here in the U.S, there is huge nature and a clear concept for how campers should enjoy it.
American natural parks are controlled so strictly and they have a long history.
In 1872, Yellowstone area was authorized as a first national park in the U.S.
The one naturalist man made a basic system of natural park.
His name is John Muin. His concept is so simple. "Nature should be saved as naturally" and there is famous phrase " You can leave only footprint and you can take only photo". We are not allowed to bring any stones, flowers and to feed animals. For instance, 1988,there were fifty forest fire in Yellowstone Natural Park, but authority left them because of natural thing.
Also, now the forest recovered by itself. I totally agree with this concept.
I think overprotecting is not good for nature. So making a lot of souvenir shops like somewhere island country is not allowed by all the nature lovers.
I will enjoy American nature during my stay in LA. Of course I will do with American style.
Written in 2009 and revised Oct 2012
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