Walking Through the Valley of Fire
Walking through the Valley of Fire was an amazing spiritual hike, that took me to the past, when a tribe and its people were stewards of the land. Today, the Valley of Fire is preserved by Nevada State Parks for all of us to enjoy and be in awe of mother nature. It’s about a 50 minute drive outside of Las Vegas to get here.
Early dwellers of Valley of Fire dates back at least 4000 years. Prehistoric folks included the Basket Maker culture and then the Ancestral Puebloans (Anasazi). They farmed the Moapa Valley between 300 BC and 1150 AD.
The Southern Paiute tribe has made its home in a place we now call Nevada from as far back as 1100AD. They are one of four Native American tribes who have tribal lands in Nevada. The others are the Northern Paiute, the Washoe, and the Western Shoshone.
Because of my heightened awareness of the paranormal world, I can never walk through a place without feeling the spiritual side. We co-exist with the dead, mostly unknowingly, unless you are sensitive to their presence.
Petroglyph Heaven
When you walk near petroglyphs you can feel the spiritual presence of the past. These spirits stand next to you as you view, in awe, the stories left behind from a few millennia ago. Those spirits still walk this land and occasionally let you know it…if you are paying close attention.
You might hear a whisper in the canyon, or the shuffle of feet in the sand, or a gentle nudge while you stand. The sense I got while on my walk: as long as you respected the land while you observed nature, the spirits would follow and guide you through your journey. But if you caused harm, bad things could happen. A stumble off a rock, a twist of your ankle, loose rocks hitting you…the list goes on. Beware! Be respectful!
Foodie I am
This culinary stop took me all the way back to my high school days! The nostalgia I felt when I walked inside was powerful. I caught myself day dreaming back to a time of my youth.
Everything about the inside of the café spoke 80’s. Even George McFly the impersonator, was waiting for me to dine with him as I entered into the past.
Of course the food was the real reason for my visit. I had the reuben sandwich with the Tetris shaped tots! They have a nice variety of burgers, shakes, and other 80’s style food on the menu.
T Bones Steak House at Red Rock Casino/Hotel
First of all, the steak I had was amazing, even though it is not pictured this time. Mainly because the appetizer Stone Crab Claws stole the show! It came with a hefty, but well worth it price. Each claw was $50. The claws were large enough that this could have been the only meal I had!
Lawry's Prime Rib Steak House
I ordered my prime rib the old school way. Meaning, the cart was rolled to your table, you got to select the size cut, and you got mashed potatoes, gravy, salad, and Yorkshire pudding as sides. I had the bone-in, diamond cut of prime, that was medium rare with lots of au jus, and about 22oz. An amazing tasty dinner!
Bavette's Steak House at MGM Park
The pork belly was sensational along with the dirty martini with Tito’s vodka! The pork belly was tender and flavorful. I could have eaten 10 more pieces! It could have been my whole meal! Anyhow, go try it. It was good eating.
Louie Louie
The Restaurant Sushi Bar Y Mas
I found my “go to” sushi spot!! A place that not only cares about the quality of its fish and other products, but they are also very connected to their customers with a fan base of regulars. Two very important ingredients to have a successful restaurant.
Sashimi plates are hard to come by in Vegas. Everyone out here loves the “all you can eat” sushi places. Which comprises of a lot of rice based dishes (the filler) and big restrictions on how many pieces of sashimi you can have. Some places don’t even serve sashimi. And the quality of the “all you can eat” fish is questionable.
That’s why I picked Louie Louie as my go to spot in this town!
Another great reason to eat at Louie Louie is their Hibachi plates! It’s these dishes that put the owner on the food truck map! That led the owner to open a brick-and-mortar shop!
This plate had fresh veggies, shrimp, steak, and fried rice. It was a great dish!
A Family's Loving Home
On occasion I will do a paranormal investigation on my own without a team of people. I was fortunate to have a life long friend allow me the privilege to investigate his home. I grew up with Tony and his family since elementary school. Recently, Tony lost 3 members of his immediate family in less than 11 months.
Tony’s life at that point had come full circle. His parents brought him into the world and Tony was there to help his parents transition out of the world. After that, Tony experienced several unexplained phenomena inside his home. Typically, voices of his parents chatting in the kitchen, sounds of chairs moving across the floor, and the smell of scented powder or perfume his mother used.
My abilities are still evolving and doing these types of investigations alone are beneficial to me. It helps me sharpen my skills. I keep the equipment simple when I’m alone. Usually a digital recorder, rem pod, and a video camera. I also brought the SLS Cam.
Upon entry of the home, I was immediately bombarded with love and a “welcome to my home” feeling. I could tell it was Tony’s mother. In fact, she made it known that she was still in-charge of the home. I knew then that Tony was in good company.
The real question was why was she still there? Well, it’s actually a simple answer. Tony is alone now in the home. His job as caretaker to his parents is over. Tony has not moved on yet from that and has become somewhat withdrawn, which concerns his mother. Hence, she is still there watching over him. As long as Tony remains in that state and in the home, she will always be there for him.
Video Clip 1
There are two video clips here. The first one (above) was an EVP I captured on my video cam in a bedroom now turned into a shrine for Tony’s parents and brother. In this room Tony keeps battery operated candles lit 24/7. It is also where he stores all 3 urns containing the ashes of his family members.
The room, when I entered, was filled with pure love. I could have slept peacefully in that room because it was filled to the brim with light and love.
The night of my investigation Tony played his mother’s favorite music. And I caught an EVP of her humming to the music. It was only a nano second, but it was clear as day to me who it was. It happens 16 seconds into the video. I sent the video to Cherie Pruitt, owner/lead investigator and empath, of Lingering Souls Paranormal. She discovered the EVP and confirmed it.
Video Clip 2
The second video (above) was taken in the dining area of Tony’s home. He and I both agreed that the SLS Cam captured his father in the room. What makes the video compelling is that his dad used a walker towards the end of his life. It was common for the dad to lean up against the cabinet to hold himself upright. We caught the entity on the SLS doing exactly what his dad used to do (lean on the cabinet).
*All video clips are the property of Paul Tashiro
I was fortunate and humbled to be allowed to investigate Tony’s home. It’s a sacred and very private place for the entire family. I am grateful to have them in my life.
For Tony, it brought closure, meaning, and enlightenment. It brought him confirmation and validity to what he was experiencing in the home after his parent’s passing, including his brother.
I was honored that I could do this for Tony and his family. May his parents and his brother continue to rest in peace.
See you next time on Foodie Booze Explorer…
Exploring mysteries with open eyes and heart.
It was very spiritual for me this time!
Nice that you were able to help Tony!
Me too! Thanks Kevin.
Beautiful… thank you so much for validating the love that remains …
Thank you Diane!
Hi Paul. Looks like you’re adapting to well to lace and other forms in Nevada quite nicely. The food looks amazing and such a variety. I especially loved seeing and reading your having the pork belly’s, looks and sounds delicious.
Looking forward to more of your adventures both mystery’s and foodie’s to come.
Have a merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.🎈🎊 Don
Adapting well to life and other forms (auto correct)
Thanks Don! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year’s to you and family!