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Show Salt Lake City' s quirky spots Visit The Forum's Web site Three alternatives to the usual tourist attractions JoeyHellrung Contributing Writer Its safe to say most people come with a certain preconceived notion upon arriving in Salt Lake City for the first time. This notion typically is formulated from the e, mostly true, mostly untrue and totally ridiculous stories and rumors theyve heard about Utah. Dont get me Utah certainly isnt lacking in the strangeness wrong category. However, there also exists a level of strangeness that is more synonymous with cool than creepy. These gems are Utahs best-kesecrets in that most people only hear about them after living in Salt Lake for a number of years. They arent advertised on television or even in the City Weekly. Their existence is typically all-tru- pt spread exclusively through word-of-mou- th. residential training for about $400 per month. Most of the men living at the Zen Center end up shaving their heads. The living quarters are quiet, with sparse furniture and decor. Eveiyone sleeps on a small mat. Once you get used to the meditative quality of living, however, the experience is said to be like none other. The Zen Master, or head honcho, of the center is named Dennis Genpo Merzel Roshi but is usually referred to as simply Roshi. According to the Web site, he is working to transmit the essence of the Buddhas teachings in a way that is readily accessible to westerners and relevant to our everyday life. According to the Centerpointe Research Institute, people who meditate every day are happier, healthier and live longer than those who dont. Their sense of well-beiis higher, and some insurance companies even charge lower premiums for meditators. It is argued that meditators minds are sharper and that they are more efficient www.thewestminsterforum.com (Puzzle solutions are available there!) ng SUICIDE ROCK Suicide Rock is a huge, well, rock that can be seen from the freeway around where One meets is covered with the rock as it can recognize spray paint. Suicide Rock is apparendy named after a broken-hearte- d 1-- 80 15. Native American woman who plunged to her death after the loss of her husband in batde. No one really knows if this story is true. If youre ever looking for a quick adventure, try climbing Suicide Rock. Its an easy climb as there are plenty of ridges that serve as stairs. It only takes a few minutes to climb, but once youre at the top, youll be able to see the entire city. The top of the rock is flat enough to walk around and even has a formation resembling a bench. Its a great place to watch the sunset or sunrise, especially if you have a date. The entire rock is covered in every square inch flux. is which in are graffiti, always constandy People and the time new rock, layers to adding every you go, it looks different. One time, a group of ten fraternity members from the University of Utah was spray-paintia ld mural of their fraternity symbol huge over that of a rival fraternity. There are some good hiking trails in the area, including one that will lead you to the concrete tunnel where the creek runs under the freeway. Some people simulate a waterslide by damming up the creek with pieces of plywood and then riding an inner tube through the tunnel. This is called shooting the tube. Although you can see the rock while driving on the freeway, getting to the rock on foot is another story. Start freeout by heading east on 3300 South past the way entrance. Turn left onto Wasatch Boulevard. The road will curve, but stay on it until you reach a parking lot. Once parked, follow the paved trail down to the te walk. There are rock. This will be about a usually bicyclers along this trail, so watch out. There are murals on the concrete also some nicely done spray-pai-nt This area is also known wall that borders part of the trail. as Parleys Creek. problem-solver- s. Centerpointe also says that people who meditate have dramatically better mental health, including less anxiety, anger, depression and fear. They have better human relationships, more friends and feel generally more fulfilled in their lives. The Zendo meditation halls address is 1274 E. South Temple. The hall is free and open to the public to meditate whether on your own during the day or during scheduled meditation periods in the morning and evening. The classes are free, and some even serve food afterward. For more information about the center and classes offered, 4. visit www.kzci.org or call (801) 328-841- Health Insurance for Todays College Students! Student Select is affordable individual major medical coverage for college students and graduate students. Choice of deductible to meet your needs and budget. Travels with you, even if you transfer schools or graduate. Wide range of benefits cover you Choose your doctors and hospitals full-ti- GILGAL SCULPTURE GARDEN Gilgal Sculpture Garden is a collection of strange stone sculptures with a Mormon ambience in what appears to be an ordinary backyard of a house. The garden was created by a stonemason named Thomas B. Child Jr., whose plan was to create a monument to the LDS church unlike any other. The most famous work in the garden is the Joseph Smith sphinx: a sphinx with the face of LDS church founder Joseph Smith. If youre wondering what Joseph Smith has to do with anything absolutely nothing. Egyptian, the answer is nothing The sphinx isnt the only strange creation to be seen in the garden. A cricket, a large stone heart, disembodied heads and a granite sculpture of the giant in King Nebuchadnezars dream also live there. Theres even a of Child himself holding a set of blueprints under one arm and Mormon scriptures under the other. He is shown, as Mondo Utah author Trent Harris points out, wearing the only known pair of brick pants in the entire world. The garden contains 12 original sculptures and a multitude of stones engraved with scriptures, poems and literary texts. For years, Gilgal Sculpture Garden was only open on Sunday. If you wanted to view the wonders of the garden on any other day, you would need to call the THE ZEN CENTER phone number listed on the gate. However, that didnt hinder curiosity. According to www.utahgothic.com, the If you think Buddhist retreats only happen in India garden was long known as Stoner Park because people or some other obscure part of the world, youre wrong. would hop the fence at night to get high amid the bizarre surroundings. Although Utah is heavily concentrated with Latter-da- y The gardens address is 749 East 500 South, but most Salt visit all world the from to over come Saints, people Lake Citys Kanzeon Zen Center, which consists of three people find it by remembering that its directly behind the Chuck-A-Raon 400 South. If youre more of a houses on South Temple near 1300 East. land of person, you can experience GilClasses on meditation, Western Zen and spirituality are held nearly every day. If you find you really connect gal Sculpture Garden in the comfort of your own home with the Zen lifestyle, youre even able to live there for by taking the virtual tour at www.gilgalgarden.org. ng black-and-go- three-foot-lo- ng self-portr-ait 15 five-minu- ma stay-at-ho- me 3 me year-roun- d. For more information contact: Charles James Cayias Insurance, Inc. 2150 S 1300 E Suite 100 Salt Lake City, UT 84106 (801)488-008- 5 www.cavias.com Click for an immediate quote! 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