British Columbia It Is Your Turn

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.

Hidden Panorama - BC

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

Brackendale Forest and Shannon Falls

We went back in the bus after spending sometime viewing Tantalus mountain ranges at Tantalus Lookout along Sea to Sky Highway road. We hit the road again and after few minutes we stopped at Brackendale, which still part of Squamish.

We went out for a nature walk which is actually a forest walk. The forest we went in are actually part of a unique school in British Columbia, it is North Vancouver Outdoor School. Based from our tourist guide, the school introduces and teaches all about nature to young kids where the child experience outdoor fun activities. After hearing that from the guide, I wished that I was able to do the same thing when I was young since I love activities with nature.

treeSequoia Tree

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North Vancouver Outdoor School

Inside the forest, we saw mostly of sequoia trees, some were at the ground, some are standing tall. We also found some flora and fauna along our trail while walking under tall trees. We also saw a narrow stream of water which looks canal and swamp like.

I enjoyed the walk in the forest, walking in the forest is one of the things that I really love to do. The forest is one of the place that you can get yourself technically inside or between natures. Every time I am inside the forest I feel relax, calm and serene which rejuvenate my mind. The ambiance of the nature felt so refreshing and the green surrounding made me felt so alive.

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Views near Stawamus Chief on our way back to Vancouver along Sea To Sky Highway

After walking tour in Brackendale, the next stop was at Shannon Falls. I consider this stop as similar to Tantalus Lookout, wherein a great scenery was really amazing. I can’t believe what my eyes saw. The falls was really beautiful and the water flows were quite extraordinary and I can imagine the great force on it that looks like the streams of water tried to race to each other to go down to the ground.

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Shannon Falls