Name Of The Place (Post#7): The Butchart Gardens
I captured the photo above when I had a chance to travel Vancouver Island last June 2008. This garden is popular place to visit together with Victoria City tour which is capital city of British Columbia province in Canada. The said garden is located at Brentwood Bay, BC.
I had previous post related to the garden
The Butchart Gardens – A Magical and Refreshing Garden
Panoramic View (Post#6) : Sulphur Mountain and Vermilion Lakes
Sulphur Mountain is just one of the beautiful mountains that can be found in Banff National Park which named after its hot spring on its lower slopes. Vermillion Lakes as per Wikipedia are series of Lakes formed in the Bow River valley, in the Banff National Park and at the foot of Mount Norquay. I had a chance to visit this place last May 2008 when I went in Edmonton at Alberta Province in Canada for work.
I created an old post regarding my tour in Banff National Park few years ago.
Birthday At Banff
Remembering Banff – Part 1
Remembering Banff – Part 2
This post has been updated to add the link of and to participate in the following:
Skywatch Friday – March 11, 2016
Scenic Weekends – March 12, 2016
In Heaven – March 12, 2016
Through My Lens
Our World Tuesday – March 15, 2016
Travel Tuesday – Mar ch 15, 2016
Outdoor Wednesday – March 16, 2016
Water World Wednesday – March 16, 2016
Watery Wednesday – Mar 16, 2016
Wednesday Around The World – Mar 16, 2016
View At My Window (Post#6) : North Saskatchewan River
During my stay in Edmonton, one of the things that I tried in the city as experience and another way to look around Edmonton was riding the High Level Bridge Streetcar. The said bridge is located near Alberta Provincial Legislature Building. The photo captured when I got a chance to visit the capital city of Alberta which is Edmonton last June 2008. The bridge is now one of the tourist spot in the city because of its significant history.
As per Wikipedia, High Level Bridge links separate communities of Edmonton and Strathcona which combined to become Edmonton City today. The bridge was designed to accommodate rail, streetcar, automobile and pedestrian.
Other post related to North Saskatchewan River which published few years back
North Saskatchewan River – Edmonton (Part 5)
Name Of The Place (Post#6) : Fort Edmonton Park
As I am looking for next photos to be posted in this series of categories under “Name Of The Place”, I found this photo which just right here.
Fort Edmonton Park is located in Edmonton City, Capital City of Alberta Province in Canada, I captured this photo when I visited the park last May 2008. The park is heritage park which opens late spring season to show case the old days of Edmonton from its beginning up to the times it became a city.
I wrote a post years ago about my visit in the park in other blog site and I transferred it here.
Fort Edmonton Park – Back To The Past Tour – Edmonton (Part 6)
Panoramic View (Post#5): Lake Minnewanka
Lake Minnewanka was one of the most beautiful lakes that I saw while touring in Canada. The view was really breathtaking. Photo captured last May 2008 during my three days visit in Banff.
Some of my Banff Adventure Stories:
Birthday At Banff
Remembering Banff – Part 1
Remembering Banff – Part 2
This post has been updated to add the link of and to participate in the following:
Skywatch Friday – March 4, 2016
Scenic Weekends – March 4, 2016
In Heaven – March 5, 2016
Blue Monday – March 7, 2016
Our World Tuesday – March 8, 2016
Travel Tuesday – Mar ch 08, 2016
Outdoor Wednesday – March 09, 2016
Water World Wednesday – March 09, 2016
Watery Wednesday – Mar 09, 2016
Wednesday Around The World – Mar 09, 2016
View At My Window (Post#4) : Lions Gate Bridge
The photo above is Lions Gate Bridge located in Greater Vancouver. The bridge connects Vancouver (South) to West Vancouver and North Vancouver. Under the bridge is Burrard Inlet and Vancouver Harbour. I captured this photo during my Whistler Tour last June 2008 in British Columbia, Canada while inside Whistler Mountaineer train.
You can also look at my post for my Whistler Tour stories:
Whistler – Warm Haven in Cold Paradise
Squamish – With The Chief, Canyon and Tantalus
Brackendale Forest and Shannon Falls
Metropolitan Vancouver From Cypress Mountain
Panoramic View (Post#2) : Cascade Mountain
The photo above is Cascade Mountain Side View which captured while I was near in Lake Minnewanka in Banff National Park last May 2008 when I got a chance to visit Canada in short period of time. I can’t forget this park as this awaken myself to one of the things that I really love since I was in college which is mountain. Every time I saw mountains, I always think how beautiful the mountain is and wondering whats on it to experience. I love climbing mountain but never had a chance to climb an alpine mountain as I live in tropical country and what we have are tropical mountains.
This post has been updated to add the link of and to participate in Skywatch Friday – February 12, 2016 and Scenic Weekends – February 14, 2016
Precious Moment In The Mountain (Post#2) : Blackcomb Mountain
The photo above was captured after reaching the summit of the mountain through gondola rides. This was one of the mountain where the Winter Olympics in 2010 was held. The mountain is in Whistler in British Columbia, Canada. I was in Blackcomb mountain last June 2008 when I got a chance to visit the province after almost two months of training and work from Edmonton, Canada before flying back to Manila.
This post has been updated to add the link of and to participate in the following:
Blue Monday – Aug 29, 2016
Through My Lens – Aug 29, 2016
Our World Tuesday – Aug 30, 2016
Travel Tuesday – Aug 30, 2016
Outdoor Wednesday – Aug 31, 2016
Wednesday Around The World – Aug 31, 2016
Skywatch Friday – Sep 2, 2016
Scenic Weekends – Sep 3, 2016
In Heaven – Sep 3, 2016
After enjoying the tour inside the museum I bought some souvenirs as my remembrance from this museum.
I hope you enjoy this little story of mine about my tour in Aviation Museum in Edmonton Alberta, Canada which happened last June 7, 2008.
The chance that I got to be able to visit some parts of British Columbia was not an ordinary chance. When I got a single entry visa to Canada, I knew that it was a one-time chance to see this huge country at North America. After grabbing all my opportunity to see Alberta, the province of Edmonton where I was assigned for few weeks of work and training, I tried my best to get the opportunity to see British Columbia as well.
I remembered that it was less than two weeks before I left Canada to go back to my country, I requested my boss if I can fly earlier to Vancouver since it was the same route when I fly back on the actual date of my return in Philippines. I told my boss, that my route will be Edmonton to Vancouver and then Vancouver to Manila. At first he never agreed because he thought at first that my route was Edmonton to Toronto and Toronto to Manila. After correcting his thoughts about my flight, he told me that he will think about it.
After few hours passed, my boss called me back and told me that he was going to make my travel a business official, because the team that I worked with has collaboration with the team in Vancouver, my visit becomes semi-business trip, because there were few days left and the only thing that I can do in Vancouver was to meet the team.
My last day in Edmonton was Thursday (June 12, 2008) and that was the same day my colleague celebrated the 10th year anniversary in the company and somewhat my farewell to the team as well.
When I came to Vancouver, I tried to plan ahead the five days that I spent in British Columbia.
The following places that I had been with were:
1. White Rock and Richmond
2. Whistler, Whistler Village and Blackcomb Mountain
3. Squamish – Stawamus Chief, Squamish Town, Cheakamus Canyon, Tantalus Mountain Ranges
4. Brackendale and Shannon Falls
5. Greater Vancouver – Cypress Mountain
6. Greater Vancouver – Stanley Park
7. Greater Vancouver – Grouse Mountain
8. Greater Vancouver – Cleveland Dam
9. Greater Vancouver – Capilano Fish Hatchery
10. Greater Vancouver – Capilano Suspension Bridge
11. Greater Vancouver – Burrard Inlet / Vancouver Harbour
12. Greater Vancouver – Vancouver Downtown
13. Greater Vancouver – Vancouver Airport
14. Vancouver Island – Victoria – Butchart Garden
15. Vancouver Island – Victoria – Strait of Juan De Fuca
16. Vancouver Island – Victoria – Race Rocks Light House
17. Vancouver Island – Victoria – Royal BC Museum
18. Vancouver Island – Victoria
19. Greater Vancouver, British Columbia’s Islands, and Vancouver Island
While thinking of similarities of the place that I found in Alberta and British Columbia province in Canada, I realized that Victoria is the capital city of BC. In Edmonton there is Provincial Legislature Building and Victoria has it as well, Edmonton has Royal Museum and Victoria has it as well. Edmonton is capital city of Alberta and that’s what Victoria is in BC.
As part of my tour, after whale watching activity, we visited BC Royal Museum.
Here are some of photos I captured during my visit in the museum and some learned information during the tour.
Museum Entrance
1. Natural History Galleries (2nd Floor)
Within the Living Land Living Sea section of the museum displays the diverse geography of the province from prehistoric to present day.
Woolly Mammoth – popular in the museum which depicts the last line of mammoth species.
Other living things displayed in the gallery
2. First People’s Galleries
(3rd Floor)
Pit House or The Kekuli – used as winter homes of the Aboriginal people of BC
Totem Gallery – shows the art style of the Coastal First Nations of BC.
House of/Big House – Jonathan Hunt House (Chief Kwakwabalasami of Fort Rupert)
Snow Shoe
4th Floor
Haida Canoe – was once used by Coast Salish people in Victoria’s Inner Harbour
3. Modern History Galleries
(3rd Floor)
At Century Hall, some photos capture are the following:
Hats Through The Decades
1900s Cabinet – Typewriter
1900s Cabinet Collection
1912 Model T Ford – An automobile during 1900
Livery – Where the blacksmith uses metal to bend, shape and cut. Based from information in the museum, the blacksmith main job are shoeing horses, making repairs for carriages and hiring horses and buggies
Port Moody – Train Station
Century Hall – Old Town Vicinity
(5th Floor)
Old Town Vicinity Area
Kitchen
Hotel
Office
After more than half an hour of flight we arrived at Victoria harbour. Before going to whale watching adventure I did a quick walk in the area to see the beautiful place that I was at the moment. The inner harbour of Victoria City in Vancouver Island was lovely for me, though I saw a lot of boats, yachts ferries and docking stations, I still saw the beauty of its place. This was the first harbour that I saw that feels good. It seems there was a balance in the place.
Victoria Inner Harbour Snapshots During My Walk
Victoria Inner Harbour Snapshots while at Stellar boat on our way to Whale Watching Adventure
Snapshots after returning to Victoria from Whale Watching Adventure
After coming back from Whale Watching Adventure, we arrived again at the inner harbour. I walk again in the area before we visited BC Royal Museum. As I saw the surroundings of the place, I felt I like it more and more, I was amazed with the settings and design of the harbour and thought that Vitoria City is the kind of place that I dreamed to live someday. During my walk at the harbour I did not miss to see Empress Hotel and BC Provincial Legislature Building.
After visiting the museum we went straight to The Butchart Gardens, and along the way I had a chance to capture some snapshots while we were driving at Beach Drive.
Snapshots at Beach Drive in Victoria On Our Way To The Butchart Gardens
For this article I will be focusing what I did and what I found in Royal Alberta Museum. Just additional information before I continue telling my story, after I visited two royal museums such as Alberta and British Columbia (in Vancouver), I quite understand that it seems that there might be another province in Canada that have their own royal museums. After checking in internet, I just found out that there is one in Saskatchewan and Ontario province. After I learned that, I felt good that at least I was able to visit two royal museums in Canada.
As far as I remember, it was more than an hour left when we went to Royal Alberta museum and it will be closed (the reason was, we visited other places and I never realized that museum’s will be closing that so soon). Because of tight schedule, we were so aware about the time but honestly, while looking to each exhibit in that museum, how I wish I have more time.
There are two levels in Royal Alberta museum. First level has portion where you can see lots of wild animals that had been preserved in some ways, they call it “Wild Alberta”. And for me, seeing those animals in up close and personal (although they are not moving anymore) was one of my amazing experience in that museum. There are lots of animals I saw in that gallery. I wish I can take pictures of all of them but that is impossible with short period of time that we had. The second level, composed of the gallery of Aboriginal Culture where you can see the earlier history of Canada. While in another room, you can view the Natural History Gallery for their beautiful stones and historic fossils.
Without further ado, lets begin my short journey in one of the beautiful museum I visited in Canada.
Wild Alberta
There are different kinds of zones in Wild Alberta.The following zones are: Borreal Forest Zone, Prairie Zone, Parkland Zone, Mountain Zone and Water Zone.
In Borreal Zone, I was quite exciting because I saw beaver that I felt like they were so real. I saw beaver while traveling in Banff but I am very far from it. Unlike in the exhibit I saw them closely and found how cute they are c”,). I also found some caribou, wolf, moose, pelican and grouse. And even I have less time to see it, I still take my time to take pictures of some animals there.
In Prairie Zone, I had fun enjoying the view of eagles. The museum exhibits different kinds of eagles. And eagles are the raptors that I really admire. The other animals I saw were: coyote, mule deer and prong horn. I also post with huge bison, the animal that I can’t believe with an amazing size.
Brown Bear
In Parkland Zone, I found birds and swans. This is the zone where the animals you can see in Borreal and Prairie were mixed. In this place, I enjoy the different sounds of birds tweeting in my ears. And most of the sounds soothes my ears. It’s really different in a place like nature, the only difference of the museum to the nature, animals through dioramas are enclosed in glasses and not in motion.
In Mountain Zone, I found the mountain lion which similarly look like a tiger. Honestly without notes at the front of diorama there, I will really think they are tiger. Other animals that I saw were bighorn sheep, grizzly bear and mountain goat.
And in Water Zone, I saw different fishes that was enjoyable to watch but since I have limited time, I was not able to capture some photos from this area.
Syncrude Gallery of Aboriginal Culture
When I visited this part of the museum, I totally understand who were the first people lived in Canada. They call them “First People” or “First Nation”. While in this gallery it reminds me that this huge country of Canada has similarities in my own country Philippines when it comes to the first people. The way they live their life, like hunting is amazing. And the way they survive in the winter season. I saw a lot of unique stuff of Canada history.
I saw the old snow shoe and that was awesome. Then I saw the clothes that the “First Nation are wearing during winter. I was able to see the ancient tools they used for living like rocks. The life that first people did to survive during ancient times such as Bison hunting. Even the kind of shelter that they live in. I remember when I visited Fort Edmonton Park, and thinking the Fur Trading Era. It connects everything. Seeing a very old and unique stuff were wonderful. The gallery showcased the artifacts of history from Ice Age up to the modern times of Canada specially in Alberta. It’s really worth to know the Alberta history and of Canada as a whole.
Natural History Gallery
Since we just have few minutes left before the museum close, we tried to visit this gallery as much as we can. But even I tried to view all those stuff displayed, I still amazed and I can’t stop admiring the things I saw in this gallery. I took a lot of time, viewing the wonderful stones displayed. Every stones displayed there, struck me and I can’t believe I am seeing it.
Then, I saw the fossils display in the gallery where you can find the dinosaur bones located at the side of the room.
For me everything I saw in the museums are made of artwork and passion for history. I hope you enjoy the little story I had when I visited Royal Alberta Museum last June 2008.
After I arrived in Victoria inner harbour through floatplane, my first scheduled activity was whale watching. From inner harbour airport of Victoria I was instructed where to go next so I can meet the group that I will be joining for whale watching. It was my first time to join such an adventure and I never seen a whale for real.
I arrived at the dock station where the whale watching tours that I will be joining was located. At first, I thought I am the only one in the tour because I haven’t seen much of people where I was standing. I met the guide for the whale watching adventure and then he gave me an overall uniform. At first I was confused why I need it, but when I saw other people in other boats wearing the same thing, I just followed as what instructed to me. Then, people coming by one group and another. When all of us were ready wearing our track suit and warm jumper uniforms, we hopped on the boat. I sat near the rear side of the boat. When every body were on boarded we almost filled up all the space in the boat. The next thing happened was, we started moving away from the harbour.
Snapshots during whale watching
After few minutes passed and we had some distance from the harbour, our captain and tour guide in the boat gave us a warning to hold on tight which I did and then we hit the sea as if we were racing with another boat. Every time there’s a big wave our boat didn’t slow down and I knew that was one of drivers trick for us to made us feel we were like riding a roller coaster. Everyone seems enjoying it, I enjoyed it. While we were looking for the whale I also took the chance to look around the surroundings and took a quick snapshots. We moved from one place to another, still trying our luck to catch a glimpse of whales. It took us a while in the sea. And I estimated 30 to 40 meters from us, we saw whales, there were two whales that we saw. They showed their selves to us trice but it’s really quick, and for those times I was not lucky to take photo shots as we don’t knew when they going to appear again. But even that was the case I was still lucky to see them in their natural habitat, in the sea.
Race Rocks Lighthouse and surrounding rock islands
After looking for whales, we went around the Strait of Juan de Fuca at Western part of Vancouver Island. I like the sceneries from the boat. Some shots that I got were looking towards Vancouver Island, while other shots looking towards USA as we were near at the border area. We also visited the Race Rocks Lighthouse were we found small islands and rock islands in the area before going back in Victoria harbour.
When I did Victoria and The Butchart Gardens tour, the last stop in our itinerary was The Butchart Gardens. After coming from Royal Museum in Victoria, we went straight to the garden. At first, I don’t really know what to expect in the garden which of course plants and flowers, but I had this high expectations because the garden is part of a tourist itinerary tour.
We arrived at the garden, I walked from the entrance, along the way I saw the gift store and I decided to look inside. While checking out things, I ended up shopping some souvenir stuff. When I got out the store I looked around, I immediately like the ambiance of the place then I passed the cafe and visitor centre. Next, I saw the big name of The Butchart Garden but I bypassed it as lot of people stopped in the area to take photos and I knew I it will take sometime before it cleared out with people, that’s why I decided to take photos once I’m done with the garden which I did before leaving the garden.
I followed the track from the start point of the garden which starts from the big name “The Butchart Gardens”. Along the way, I saw Snail Fountain, Roses and Orchids until I saw the sign the direction of the Sunken Garden. The first part of the garden that I visited was the beautiful and amazing Sunken Garden. The view from the top was lovely. It’s like a magical garden place, it’s really a refreshing scenery.
Sunken Garden
I went down as I was excited for what I saw, then I walked along some tracks in the Sunken Garden. I saw shrubs, towering trees and Quarry Lake where I got scenic photos of it. After reaching the corner side of the garden, I found the Ross Fountain. I spent few minutes in taking photos of Ross fountain and then continued strolling the garden until I saw a statue of woman.
Ross Fountain
After enjoying my eyes in Sunken Garden, I moved to Rose Garden where I found a lot of beautiful and colorful flowers. I did a lot of up close and personal photos of some flowers that I found in the garden. There is a nearby fountain as well that I saw in Rose Garden and it’s called Sturgeon Fountain.
At Rose Garden
Sturgeon Fountain
After enjoying the fountain view I continued my wandering in The Butchart Gardens until I entered in another type of garden called Japanese Garden. Here the design of the plants, trees , flowers and overall atmosphere in area was oriental and I amazed on the picturesque of the garden.
At Japanese Garden
I kept my pace and move along until I saw the Star Pond which surrounded by flowers in its edges. Then, I walked again up to the Italian Garden.
I was fascinated with my walk in the garden, beautiful and colorful flowers with green grass, plants and trees compliments each other made the garden even better. While inside I felt I were in a magical place and I felt I was a princess which lives in a wonderland, well that’s just for a moment.
After my half-day and last tour in British Columbia which was the North Shore Capilano Suspension Bridge and Grouse Mountain, my bus tour dropped me off at Vancouver Airport which located at Richmond. Here I met my colleagues assigned in Vancouver team and another one assigned in Toronto team.
All the three of us took sometime to catch-up for everything happened to us while staying in Canada, we chat about who were the people that we met in the team, who we thought were really good in their job, who looks good, who was accommodating and a lot of stuff. We spent sometime to walk a little bit around the airport and we took some photo of us and the place as our memories. All of us told each other how we were really going to miss this beautiful country of Canada and all of us wished if we can go back again.
Honestly I was not able to spend a lot of time walking around Vancouver itself, as I was fully preoccupied of arranging my tour and five days were not really enough to see British Columbia.
I got a few chances to see some of Vancouver Downtown. First was when I came from Whistler Tour, next when I was on my way to Victoria in Vancouver Island because I went to the Floatplane station at Coal Harbour. Then when I was came from walk in Stanley Park. And the last chance was while I was inside the bus on my way to the airport in Richmond flying back to Manila.
All the chances were quite unplanned because I was just passing by Vancouver Downtown, as I was already came from some tour or some place. All chances was not really intentional because of the situations at that time. Even all those were just unexpected chances I was able to see some places in Downtown.
My North Vancouver tour was officially over after we left Grouse Mountain. Before I joined the tour that day, I did checkout in my hotel because after the tour, the bus will drop me off at the airport and because of that all my luggage were in the bus as well.
In my tour as I wished to experience more and see more because I had few hours left before flying back to Manila, I was happy that the tour includes a seabus ride to cross Vancouver Harbour from North Vancouver to Vancouver.
The trip started at Lonsdale Quay at North Vancouver and then the ferry crossed Burrard Inlet or Vancouver Harbour. Along the way I had time spent viewing the coastal side of Greater Vancouver. I enjoyed the whole trip. After exiting the seabus, the bus tour was waiting at the Waterfront station. The seabus experience was the first time while in Vancouver.
Vancouver Downtown and Vancouver Harbor (captured while at seabus) on the way to Waterfront Station
After returning to the bus, a realisation came to my mind that I had few hours left to see more of Vancouver, that’s why on the way to the airport I enjoyed Vancouver Downtown inside the bus.
I still wish I can come back in Canada in the future.
During my last tour, the third itinerary I had in North Vancouver was Cleveland Dam. As I walk out the bus and walking approaching the dam, the surrounding areas were really lovely. The natures that encompassing the Capilano Lake or Capilano Reservoir were magnificent that made me really adore it. I felt how natural the place was and felt to believed the water flowing in the dam were indeed fresh.
Surrounding area of Cleveland Dam
After visiting the place, I learned that the river I saw in Capilano Suspension Bridge and Capilano Fish Hatchery were coming from Capilano Lake which being hold by the dam. The water in the lake was not still or stagnant water, I learned that a lot of rivers and streams are flowing down into the lake coming from surrounding mountains. The lake serves as freshwater to the lower area of Great Vancouver.
Capilano Lake or Capilano Reservoir and surround mountains
I just realized as well that the Capilano Lake was the lake that I saw while I was in Grouse Mountain Skyrides. The Cleveland Dam serve as to hold the water in the reservoir and used to control the water spill down to the Capilano River.
It was my last day in Vancouver or let say my last day in Canada, though it was not a full day tour as I still went to office in the morning to say goodbyes to the Vancouver team, I was still able to arrange my tour in the afternoon. I booked a North Shore Capilano Suspension Bridge and Grouse Mountain Tour. The half day tour includes 4 places such as Capilano Fish Hatchery, Capilano Suspension Bridge, Cleveland Dam and Grouse Mountain.
The first stop was Capilano Fish Hatchery. The location of the hatchery is just beside the Capilano River in Capilano River Regional Park. The river was the same river that I saw when we went to Capilano Suspension Bridge. When we arrived at the center, there was a personnel approached us and explained the process of growing the fish in the hatchery and that includes telling us that if the right time, they release the fishes into the river. But at the time we visited the place, there was no schedule of fish release in the river.
After spending time inside the center, I walked around the area of the hatchery and I was fascinated in the surrounding areas as I felt the nature is within the hatchery. And the Capilano River was really adorable. I fell in love with the river.
You must be logged in to post a comment.