Vancouver Trip

May, 2008

Canada - Vancouver

Whistler

3rd - 11th May

I wouldn’t come to Canada again if only without Phyllis, my team girl, I could for sure tell you that. Thanks for not giving away it and I know for sure this wouldn’t happen. We were looking forward to visit this gorgeous city – Vancouver in May 2008! Anyone who visits this lovely city snaps hundreds of shots, and so do we! Truly, we couldn’t resist Vancouver’s many charms. It’s generally true that people here work to live, not the other way round. Vancourities get a lot done in their spare time. It’s very certain after we checked it out from the concierge. There’s an endless choice of things to do in YVR. It’s rather difficult to lay out all of those. However, vacations are always too shorts for schedules. Sometimes, time and weather permitting tell.

True enough, we had a variety of activities meant to inspire and incite our inner wanderer within the three days stay. After much discussion, we decided to rent a car heading straight to Whistler. We drove all the way to north from YVR. Thanks Captain Wong for driving us all the way up and back. He actually has a condo at Whistler. We’re saying, he might migrate to Canada one day for his retirement. Because of the highway which was still under construction, the journey was approximately stretched to almost three hours as we were caught in a heavy traffic jam on our way. Hopefully, in the future, the new Whistler highway can make for a safer drive to one of the world’s best ski resorts!

Whistler is a very comfortable place. There’s some beautiful scenery in the neighborhood. From Captain Wong, winter in Whistler is, in a word, HUGE. More than 8,000 skiable acres encompass groomed schusses, snowboard pipes, brutally steep mogul fields and some of the world’s best bowl skiing. For those who prefer not to mix gravity and low-friction surfaces, there’s another way to spend their time besides shopping the village, they can also work up a sweat on a guided snow-shoe trek through forest of hemlock and old-growth cedar. Sounds interesting, isn’t it?

We then experienced the Peak Chair for high alpine sightseeing. Once we entered the alpine environment, we immersed ourselves into a rugged, often unpredictable and quite possibly threatening world. An exhilarating ride up the chair took us to a vantage point of endless 360 degree vies of glaciers, forests and jogged peaks. Really, it’s a different world up there!

Skyline at Cougar Mountain

Skyline is an exhilarating cable line expedition through old growth forests, reaching speeds of up to 100km/hr !!! Till today, still, I couldn’t believe, acrophobia me, tried it – Whistler’s #1 zipline adventure! This is the wildest thing I’ve ever done in my life I could say. It’s so fun and not that scary at all. We enjoyed the views and photo opportunities of our surrounding mountain peaks while our three handsome guides educated us on the beautiful habitat. We felt the adrenaline pump through our veins as we soared along skylines through the treetops between glaciated mountains forest floor while reaching such speeds. Of course, at the same time, we managed to snap a few shots along the way.

Huh! Put yourself on the line! You can try! For those who enjoy adventures on the run, I would recommend you to experience skyline – one of Canadian’s top 10 new attractions. This is the tour that everyone is talking about. It’s higher, faster, safer and more exhilarating in short. Don’t forget to look below!!!

Nature Calls

Capilano – Suspension Bridge

(Naturally Thrilling since 1889)

We woke up quite late. After having breakfast, we walked, took a ferry and a bus to get there. Stepped onto the swaying planks and there we were - 230-soot, 10 stories high (80 metres) above the floor of Capilano Canyon, Capilano – Suspension Bridge! Easily, our pulse quickens. Each step created a gentle wave on the bridge surface we could feel. We marveled at the view of a thriving coastal rainforest down there. We’re wondering how delightful natural world we’re given. A tranquil stroll in the sky took us high above the forest floor tells us how relaxing it is breathing in the cedar-scented rainforest air. What a different treetops adventure we had!

As we walked around the park, we could find ‘passport’ stamps at 6 different locations: Story Centre, Kia’palano, Capilano Suspension Bridge, Treetops Adventure, Canyon Lookout and Trading Post.

Once we had stamped our ‘passport’ at all six locations, here my official “I MADE IT” validation!

We then actually wanted to proceed to Vancouver Aquarium at beautiful Stanly Park. There’re over 70, 000 animals that we could get eye to eye with. Alas, we run out of time as it closes at 5pm on weekdays. What a miss! Pray that I will go to Stanley Park one day.

According to its local magazines, YVR is beauty in the eyes of its beholders. Without its contrary ways, pleasant and otherwise, YVR wouldn’t be YVR. By making room for differences, this city keeps the promise of a better tomorrow. I realized I could hear it in the Cantonese, Japanese and any other languages spoken on the street easily. If YVR is the future – as it’s hoped – then tomorrow is something to behold, I believe. I love Canada, I love YVR, I love spending time amid the beauties of nature, where away from all the hustle and bustle….