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| On the right was a water feature with a canoe |
Arriving at the International arrivals hall in Vancouver Int'l Airpot, travelers are immediately introduced to the native land through art and architecture that are reflective of the province's diverse landscape and people. The uniquely British Columbian themed airport currently houses the largest collection of Northwest Coast Native art in the world.
The airport also features 2 aquariums (a main aquarium and a jellyfish aquarium), and a Green Wall that is the largest living wall in North America at the YVR-Airport Station. This is not just an airport.
My family emigrated to Canada when I was a toddler and we lived in Vancouver for 4 years. It was either Toronto or Vancouver, but trying to say "baba, it's freezing" through my jittering jaw, had contributed to the decision of settling in Vancouver instead. As much as I do like Toronto, Vancouver is so much more beautiful with it's lush landscape. It's a great place for kids to grow up... after all, there aren't as many hills in Toronto to go tobogganing!
That's alright, I still got to live in Toronto, at the age when I would appreciate more of a metropolis.
After Chicago, we had 10 days off between city, as the tour headed north to Calgary. Gary had booked his flight months in advance to return home to England, when I was supposed to be in HK according to the original plan. But since I started working, the trip had been cancelled and I needed to find another destination for the time off! Back to Vancouver it was, to see my relatives.
Mid-June (still a little chilly) to August is the best time in Vancouver. During the winter, it tends to rain a lot, much like England.
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| Out with my cousin, Amy, in downtown Vancouver. Lot's of street vendors selling all sorts of delicious food. She's lining up for this popular Greek wrap |
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| Fish 'n chips, fried calamari, fried oyster, fried oyster burger! |
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| Quebec!! Awww poutine.. |
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| I miss your iced cappuccino soooooo much!! I'll pick you over Starbucks any day! |
When I was in university, I was home in HK via Vancouver every summer, except after I graduated. It's been 3+ years since I visited Vancouver (and would be 4 years by the time I visit HK in January for annual leave), but all those time I was in Vancouver, I never really went out to see the city again. But this time I am seeing the city for the blog, and rediscovering the city for myself.
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| This is Picnurbia. It's part of the city's program to transform roads to public places. Picnurbia brings a beach-like setting to the centre of downtown with grassy hills up to two feet high, beach umbrellas and built in benches. It's an ideal space for sitting, relaxing and picnicking in the middle of downtown's busy shopping district. |
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| Views from Granville Island. Granville Island is a district mostly known for shopping and local arts and crafts, across from the downtown peninsula. |
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| Workshop of totem poles |
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| Another attraction of Granville Island is the market |
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| It's a good place to enjoy a snack of smoke salmon, proscuitto and a cup of clam chowder! |
About 50 minutes drive south from Vancouver, I arrived at White Rock. The pier, beach and the promenade are popular destinations for a weekend outing. The city was named after a distinctive large white granite boulder on its beach near the promenade, a glacial erratic that migrated south during the last glaciation. The 486-ton boulder was kept white by guano from shellfish-eating seabirds, but fret not, it is now been kept white by monthly application of white paint by the city parks department!
Another attraction is the Fishermen's Wharf where you can buy fresh seafood directly from the fishermen's boats.
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| THIS is what we came for: sea urchins $10 for 3! Hmmmm~ good for sashimi, stir fry |
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| My uncle filleting a salmon |
Last place of visit was the Capilano Suspension Bridge, a simple suspension bridge originally built in 1889 (and completely rebuilt in 1956), crossing the Capilano River in North Vancouver. Besides the bridge, the park also features treetop adventures, cliff walk, nature trails, gardens and a collection of First Nations totem poles.
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| 446 ft long, 230 ft above the river |
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| Treetop adventure |
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| Cliff-walk |
Besides eating a lot, which I didn't post many photos of, this concludes my trip to Vancouver!
