Hey, Mark. I've made a few trips to that part of the country and struggle with shooting there. I think the challenge is that there is so much for they eye to take in that it is near impossible to effectively capture yet too enticing not to try. The only way I've generated any useful shots there is by using longer glass. Maybe for that reason I like the image in your follow up post best. The first one is also nice as is the foreground detail in the second shot.
I envy your being there. I love traveling in that region.