The LONE RANGER
The MAN|May 01, 2022
IF YOU EVER EMBARK ON A SOLO DRIVE IN THE US AND WANT TO FEEL LIKE CLINT EASTWOOD FOR A WEEK, PLAN THE 16-HOUR, 1600KM TRIP TO MONUMENT VALLEY FROM LAS VEGAS. REMEMBER, THERE IS ND EASY WAY TO GET HERE, BUT THAT'S WHAT MAKES IT EXTRA SPECIAL
Ashwin Rajagopalan
The LONE RANGER

NOTHING PREPARES you for the sheer magnificence of this view and yet I experienced a sense of déjà vu as I gazed in amazement. I am at John Ford's Point, a spot immortalised in many Westerns and for that one moment I felt like the proverbial lone ranger. I didn't ride a horse to get here though. My journey began at a car rental agency in Las Vegas. About 16 hours and 1600 km later, I reached a spot I had set my sights on when I was still in high school.

It was the cover of the Best of Eagles album cover that was my inspiration back then. The panorama shot of Monument Valley is an American cultural icon and yet this spot in the heart of the Navajo nation gets just a fraction of the visitors that descend upon the Grand Canyon or some of its National Parks. The easy answer for that conundrum is accessibility: there's no easy way to get here. That's what makes it extra special if you ever need to embark on a solo drive in the US and feel like Clint Eastwood for a week.

Las Vegas is the one American city I never tire of. I've had more fun outside the Strip; Las Vegas' charm begins to grow as you keep moving away from the busy strip that's a tourist magnet. It's also the perfect gateway for destinations like Zion National Park, the Grand Canyon and Lake Mead. There's one spot I'd recommend as you head out of Vegas. Seven Magic Mountains is a dramatic art installation by Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone. It's almost a slice of Vegas bling in the middle of the desert featuring seven dayglow totems (approximately 30 to 35 feet tall) comprised of painted, locally-sourced boulders.

DETOURS

ZIP LINING NEAR BOULDER CITY

This story is from the May 01, 2022 edition of The MAN.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the May 01, 2022 edition of The MAN.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM THE MANView All
The 2023 Bucket List
The MAN

The 2023 Bucket List

Before the world as we know it changes forever, here's a partial list of experiences to try in the year ahead

time-read
3 mins  |
January 01,2023
Do You Have The Time To Read Your Watch?
The MAN

Do You Have The Time To Read Your Watch?

Audemars Piguet Starwheel Code 11.59 is the latest among watches with unusual layouts

time-read
3 mins  |
January 01,2023
THEY CAME THEY RODE, THEY CONQUERED
The MAN

THEY CAME THEY RODE, THEY CONQUERED

FOUR WOMEN BIKERS TRAVERSING THE UNTOUCHED TERRAIN OF EASTERN ARUNACHAL ON THEIR DUCATI MULTISTRADA BIKES. THE 'EXPLORE BEYOND' BIKING EXPEDITION WAS AN INITIATIVE OF ARUNACHAL TOURISM TO SHOWCASE THE STATE AS A SAFE DESTINATION FOR SOLO WOMEN TRAVELLERS. THE RIDE WAS FLAGGED OFF BY CM PEMA KHANDU FROM THE BANKS OF THE SIANG AT PASIGHAT AND WOUND UP AT THE ORANGE FESTIVAL OF ADVENTURE & MUSIC, DAMBUK, WHERE THE BIKERS LET THEIR HAIR DOWN AND PARTIED LIKE THERE'S NO TOMORROW. YUP, GIRLS JUST WANNA HAVE FUN, AND IN ARUNACHAL THEY CAN - SAFELY

time-read
4 mins  |
January 01,2023
ΤΗΕ RIGHT ΤΙΜΕ
The MAN

ΤΗΕ RIGHT ΤΙΜΕ

AS CLIMATE CHANGE AND SUSTAINABILITY BECOME BURNING ISSUES, WATCH BRANDS TOO ARE DOING THEIR BIT TO SUPPORT CAUSES, BOTH THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL THE TIMEPIECES THEY ARE CREATING AND THE INITIATIVES THEY ARE UNDERTAKING

time-read
4 mins  |
January 01,2023
THE GOLDENPASS EXPRESS
The MAN

THE GOLDENPASS EXPRESS

A LUXURY SWISS WINTER ESCAPE ROUTE

time-read
5 mins  |
January 01,2023
WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE
The MAN

WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE

WITH BOUTIQUE LODGES AND ΝΟ CROWDS, THE MORE EXCLUSIVE TEHLA ZONE OF SARISKA NATIONAL PARK IS EMERGING AS THE DESTINATION OF CHOICE FOR WILDLIFE ENTHUSIASTS

time-read
6 mins  |
January 01,2023
LAMBORGHINI HURACAN EVO SPYDER TOP-DOWN ADRENALINE MACHINE
The MAN

LAMBORGHINI HURACAN EVO SPYDER TOP-DOWN ADRENALINE MACHINE

A machine sculpted to perfection, the Lamborghini Huracan EVO Spyder is a sensational car in every sense. It is fast, it's beautiful, and it is just special

time-read
4 mins  |
January 01,2023
CARS TO WATCH OUT FOR IN 2023
The MAN

CARS TO WATCH OUT FOR IN 2023

WITH THE devastating effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and the acute supply chain disruptions caused by it beginning to ease, the automotive industry is rapidly accelerating out of the deep crisis it found itself two years ago.

time-read
5 mins  |
January 01,2023
DATING A SINGLE MOM
The MAN

DATING A SINGLE MOM

IT’S A COOL Friday evening. She is sitting with a cup of hot chocolate and unwinding with her phone. Her dating app has 10 unread messages. She hopes that at least one match will lead to a conversation and a date that weekend.

time-read
5 mins  |
January 01,2023
YOUR SHIP HAS COME IN
The MAN

YOUR SHIP HAS COME IN

Go-karting, the world’s first freefall dry slide on sea, musical shows, spa, artwork... this new ship has raised the bar on many levels!

time-read
2 mins  |
January 01,2023