Twilight : White Night Melbourne – Flinders Street Station

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Twilight (Post#3) : White Night Melbourne – Flinders Street Station

Photo above was captured during light shows at Flinders Street Station building in the midst of White Night celebration in Melbourne held last February 2014.

Interior : The Block Arcade – Elizabeth St Interior Walkway

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Interior (Post#2) : The Block Arcade – Elizabeth St Interior Walkway

One of the things that I really enjoyed in Australia while strolling around in its different cities are its century old arcades and one of them is “The Block Arcade” or simply “The Block”. The said arcade is located almost at the center of Melbourne CBD. When I got a chance to enter in this European touched arcade I was really amazed. Looking at its interior design, you will really feel the building’s history and culture. Photo captured last July 2013 while walking around the city.

Adelaide – A Green City Named After A Queen Consort

Last May 2013, I planned a quick holiday in South Australia and Adelaide City was just one of the itinerary included in one of the tours that I had while I was in my two days holiday. One of the things that I learned while traveling as solo is the location of the hotel where I will be staying so I can walk around and discover the city coming from my accommodation without worrying about transportation.

Adelaide is the Capital City of South Australia. I lookup where its name come from until I learned that it was came from a queen consort of King William IV of United Kingdom named Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen. The city is also considered one of the greenest city in Australia. Since it was my first time visit, I had a lot of curiosities towards the city. I booked two nights in Ambassadors Hotel which can be found along King William St within CBD area. I got a flight to Adelaide with Virgin Australia airline and I bought two tours which include Grand Adelaide and Kangaroo Island.

I filed one vacation leave which was Friday and I continued my holiday to Saturday. I flew from Melbourne Friday morning past 7AM and arrived past 8AM in Adelaide. The flight was just an hour since the cities are near with each other. My Grand Adelaide tour was scheduled the same morning at 9AM. It means that after arriving in the airport I need to go straight to the Coach Terminal in Franklin St in Adelaide CBD. Because of time constraint I took the cab to the city. Before the time of my tour I was already at the bus terminal. My tour was divided into two: one was morning tour and one was in the afternoon.

I sit in the waiting area of the coach terminal, when the schedule time of the tour arrived, I went at the bus bay area where each of the coach tour are waiting and other bus that goes around Adelaide. I hopped on the bus and relax myself until our driver and tourist guide climb the bus. We left the terminal few minutes after the said schedule. We drove around the city itself and our driver/tour guide explained places that we passed on.

From Grote St which is the other road of the coach Terminal, we drove straight to Wakefield St until we reach Victoria Square or Tarntanyangga. At the time of the tour, the square was being renovated. Victoria Square is located at the heart of Adelaide CBD. It is the park that you immediately noticed while in the city.

Inside the bus at Wakefield St near Victoria Square in Adelaide CBD currently being renovated during my tour
Inside the bus at Wakefield St near Victoria Square in Adelaide CBD currently being renovated during my tour
Inside the bus at King William St to Rundle Mall
Inside the bus at King William St to Rundle Mall
Inside the bus at King William Road
Inside the bus at King William Road

After Victoria Square, we turned left to King William St and we saw the major parts of the city as the street is in the middle of CBD where Victoria Square road extended to the said street. Then, we drove straight to King William Rd, next, turned left to Pennington Terrace until we reached Montefiore Hill where we found the statue of William Colonel Lights whom the First Surveyor General fixed the site and laid out the City of Adelaide. I learned that William Light was the one chose and designed the street of Adelaide as well as the parklands.

Statue of Colonel Lights in Colonel Lights Lookout at Montefiore Hill
Statue of Colonel Lights in Colonel Lights Lookout at Montefiore Hill
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Messages in the Status of Colonel William Light
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About Colonel William Light
Statue of Colonel Lights in Colonel Lights Lookout at Montefiore Hill
Statue of Colonel Lights in Colonel Lights Lookout at Montefiore Hill

From the same hill, we had a great view of the Adelaide CBD with the overlooking of some of the structure of the city such as the ongoing Adelaide Oval (at the time of the tour, the Oval was being redeveloped, right now the Oval was already finished and opened for business again).

View in Colonel Lights Lookout at Montefiore Hill, Adelaide Oval under constructions
View in Colonel Lights Lookout at Montefiore Hill, Adelaide Oval under constructions

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After spending time at the hill, we drove down back through Montefiore Rd, turned left at War Memorial Drive and turned right to King William Rd. We left at North Terrace and turned right to East Terrace straight to Hutt St and Hutt Rd. Next we turned right to Greenhill Rd where Haigh’s Chocolate Factory are located. We spent some time at the factory by watching the process how the chocolate are being processed and by listening to some of the history of almost 100-year-old chocolate brand.

At King William Rd
At King William Rd
At King William Rd
At King William Rd

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After the factory, the next location we visited was Glenelg, Mount Lofty Summit and Hanhdorf. The detailed story of these places will be published in a separate posts.

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After being busy in a day tour, wherein our last destination was Hanhdorf. I arrived at Ambassador Hotel. I rested for a while and I had my dinner. After dinner, I went out for a walk. From the hotel, I walked few blocks away and arrived at Rundle Mall where majority of shopping areas, malls, boutique stores, restaurants and food courts are located.

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–At Rundle Mall Street

At first I didn’t really know where my footsteps led me until I just follow where most of the people were going. While at Rundle Mall, I started to like the area because most of the famous stores and markets in Australia can be found along Rundle Mall and they are close to each other within the same street. I like the place better than other cities in Australia. I spent at least more than an hour walking in the area before I decided to go back to my hotel to conclude my night that day as I have another tour the next day.

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–At Rundle Mall St

View At My Window : Patawalonga Lake

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View At My Window (Post#21) : Patawalonga Lake

One of the place that I visited in South Australia aside from Adelaide City was Glenelg. After spending more than an hour in the said place when we return to Adelaide, we pass the bridge of King St and while passing, I was hooked in the scenery. The photo above was actual photo of Patawalonga Lake just near Glenelg while inside the tourist bus and captured last May 2013.

Name Of The Place : Flinders Street

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Name Of The Place (Post#19) : Flinders Street

Flinders Street is one of the famous train station in Melbourne not only because of its history but because this is station that serves the entire metro train network as anyone can commute from this station to any station. And the location of the station is strategic as it is within the city center. When I captured this photo, it was during Melbourne Cup last November 2013. Recently, there was design competition happened to rejuvenate the historical and landmark station in Melbourne.

Seoul And Beyond – Random Moments

On this post, I am not really going to tell a story but just to show some photos that I randomly took while walking in some areas of Seoul and other places while doing nothing or just looking for something. And this will be the last standard post that I had with the topic about South Korea unless I come back again to this country that I fall in love with. For single photo or image post, South Korea may still appear in random pictures which I usually published everyday.

Within Seoul

1. Incheon International Airport

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After we got off the plane and walked to the arrival area of the airport, there were few people around since we arrived past 8PM in the evening.

2. Nonhyeon Bus Stop

I captured this photo because we were trying to see if we were able to use the bus instead of train to go somewhere until we realized we never understand what’s the information in front of us.

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3. Jeonggak Station Exit

When we were on our way to Insadong, we got off at this exit as we understand its somewhat the nearest exit in Jong-ro to the market until we found Tapgol Park along the road.

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4. City Hall Station Exit

I had this photo after coming from Insadong market and we planned to go to City Hall Station to buy a discounted ticket to Everland at Hotel President. All of us were fascinated with the hanging umbrellas displayed at the exit stair we took after getting off the station. We also found a modern style of entrance/exit transportation card reader.

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We had some time to walk around the area where we saw City Hall itself. We saw one of the main gate of Deoksugung (no photo captured), a palace that we haven’t had a chance to see though we have ticket for it.

5. Seoul Metropolitan Library

Seoul Metropolitan Library 2

6. Hotel President

Hotel President 1

This was the place where we bought our discounted ticket and memory of the Philippine Tourism center near City Hall area.

7. Taepyeongno 2(i)-ga

This was the street that we passed through while we were on our way to Sungnyemun Gate. I enjoyed the short walk in this street because both lanes has Korean restaurants. After walking at the side of Sejong-daero, we saw Namdaemun Market.

Taepyeongno 2(i)-ga

8. Gyeongbokgung Station Exit

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During our first day adventure in Seoul, the photos captured while we were on our way to Gyeongbokgung Palace after getting off the train.

9. Sejong-daero

I captured the photo above after we came from Gyeongbokgung Palace on our way to Sejong Center.

Sejong-daero Near Gyeongbokgung Palace

8. Sungnyemun Gate

We saw this gate while walking along Sejong-daero after we came from Hotel President where we bought our Everland discounted ticket. This gate is said to be one of the eight gate that surround Fortress Wall of Seoul which surrounded the city in the Joseon dynasty.

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10. Seoul Station and Surrounding Area

Photos taken after we came from DMZ Tour, got off at Seoul Station, walked a little until we found Concos The Galleria where we had our lunch before returning to our hotel to pick-up our luggage for our flight the night of that same day.

Seoul Station 1

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11. Seoul City Tower

One of the building around the area of Seoul Station, captured this photo when we returned from an activity we attended in Seoul.

Seoul City Tower

12. Gangnam-daero

I captured this while walking along Gangnam-daero after our Everland adventure. To be honest, we stayed in a hotel which in Gangnam area but unfortunately we never really had time to explore it. The only chance we had after we came from Everland, we walked along the road and discovered we stayed in one of the busiest district in Seoul.

Gangnam-daero

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Gangnam
Small Street in Gangnam Area

 Beyond Seoul

13. AK Plaza – Suwon Exit Station Mall

Snapshot captured while we were trying to figure out how to go to Hwaseong Fortress. It is one of the noticeable building as the location is both foot and automobile traffic area.

AK Plaza - Suwon Station Exit 1

Chromatic Outlook : At Rundle St and East Terrace

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Chromatic Outlook (Post#1) : At Rundle St and East Terrace

This photo was captured while I was touring in Adelaide City in South Australia part of my Adelaide Photo Collection while I was in the city last May 2013.

This post has been updated to add the link of and to participate in the following:
Black and White View – March 14, 2016
Black and White Wednesday – March 16, 2016
The Weekend in Black and White – March 18, 2016

View At My Window: A Little Bit Snapshot Of City Square

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View At My Window (Post#1): A Little Bit Snapshot Of City Square

Swanston Street (corner Collins Street) From Melbourne Town Hall

I usually pass this area every time I am on my way to work during my project assignment in Melbourne. They also call this place as City Square.

On The Water Front – Melbourne Walking Tour Part 1

There were lots of  walking tours available that I found when I went to Melbourne Visitor Center at Federation Square located across Flinders Street Station (train station) in Swanton Street. Some walking tours are group walking tours that has affordable fees and some are free on your own. At that time I was eager to walk around the city on my own to take my time while taking pictures that was why I took some brochures for free walking tours.

P1070263Flinders Street / Federation Square Tram Stop

The first walk that I did with my camera was happened last March 6, 2013 which was almost a month after I arrived in Melbourne and I chose the route entitled “Melbourne Walks 3: On the Waterfront”. In the brochure, there is an excerpt description which is about Spectacular bridges, Indigenous history, sculptures, Southbank Promenade, the Melbourne Aquarium and the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre feature on this walk of discovery along north and south banks of the Yarra River.

The scenery with the river and surrounding city skyline is one of the picturesque views that I am interested, it reminds me the city of Edmonton in Canada where there is a beautiful Saskatchewan river beside it. The view of the city skyline of Melbourne from Yarra River was amazing and that’s what I was trying to capture in my camera while walking the river side of Yarra River.

Walking track starts from Federation Square in Swanston Street but I did not follow the route as is, I actually started taking photos at Webb Bridge which is the farthest point to reach in the tour.  The overall walk moves around between the two sides of Yarra River. Here I saw Mebourne CBD with the river at different angle and different perspective of the city came to light.

The other end of the Webb Bridge is like a snake shape where there are open shades covering it. The said bridge are only enjoys by pedestrians and cyclists, it links Southbank Promenade at Yarra’s Edge and the Docklands. From Southbank Promenade at Yarra’s Edge or Yarra Esplanade, I got a snapshot of Dockland side where ANZ head office is located and the surrounding docking area nearby.

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P1070157Webb Bridge

P1070161Marina YE near at Yarra’s Edge
and ANZ office behind

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Southbank Promenade at Yarra’s Edge (or Yarra Esplanade)

P1070163Webb Bridge, Charles Grimes Bridge (at the back of Web Bridge) and
Southbank Promenade at Yarra’s Edge (right side)

P1070164Southbank Promenade at Yarra’s Edge (or Yarra Esplanade)

I moved on, looked around and skimmed again the map that I was holding to see what’s next to discover. Since I was walking at the side of Southbank Promenade, I had a view of Dockland. My walk continues and I passed the underground of Charles Grimes Bridge, then SouthWharf where DFO (Direct Factory Outlet) mall is, with some bar and restaurants outside. I walked along South Wharf Promenade until I saw Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. I passed the nearby Seafarer’s Bridge which is another walking bridge like Webb Bridge that will take people in the Docklands or CBD.

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Yarra River at Southbank Promenade near at DFO

P1070166Charles Grimes Bridge at Yarra River and the Docklands at the end of it

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South Wharf Promenade

P1070170Side Entrance of DFO

P1070173Bar / Restaurant at South Wharf Promenade

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P1070176Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre

P1070177Seafarers Bridge

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P1070179Some photos at South Wharf Promenade

In my walk I did not missed historical Polly Woodside Tall Ship which is located in historical Duke and Orrs docks which was the ships home during its early days in South Wharf. I crossed the busy Spencer Street and I saw Crown Entertainment Complex. The front of the complex is called Yarra Promenade, where a lot of people are passing by, the place is really nice because of its relaxing ambiance, beautiful view of river and line of trees. While walking along the promenade I had a glimpse of Batman Park at the other side of the river.

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Polly Woodside Tall Ship

P1070182World Trade Center Wharf, Crowne Plaza, Spencer Street (bridge),
Crown Entertainment Complex and Yarra River from South Wharf Promenade

P1070183Seafarers Bridge and Yarra River

P1070185Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre

P1070186Spencer Street bridge

P1070188Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre from Spencer Street bridge

P1070194Clarendon Street which connects to Spencer Street

P1070195Spencer Street

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P1070200Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre

P1070201Batman Park at the other side of Yarra River with Rialto Twin Tower

P1070203Batman Park, Rialto Twin Tower, and Kingsway road bridge

P1070204Crowne Plaze and Spencer Street bridge

P1070205Melbourne Aquarium

P1070206Kingsway road bridge, Rialto Twin Tower and Melbourne Aquarium

P1070207Melbourne CBD skyline with Yarra River at Yarra Promenade

P1070208Spencer Street bridge from Yarra Promenade

I crossed under the Kingsway road, I had a glance of Melbourne Aquarium and Rialto Twin Tower. Next thing I saw after Batman Park is called Enterprize Park where I discovered from the brochure that the park is a site  for ‘Scar Project’ where represents the “scar tree”. Based from the information printed, the First people of Australia which called Aboriginal people did took pieces of bark from some trees and called it as “scar tree”. Scare tree is a sign that you entered the land of another community. Learning this information is fascinating, I discovered something from my walk. In the same park, I saw from a far the art called Constellation but I not clear as it should be.

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P1070216Some photos around Yarra Promenade

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P1070217Eureka Tower

P1070218Mario playing his guitar along Yarra Promenade

I passed another bridge named as Queens Bridge, it is similar to Spencer Street with tram track and both busy with vehicles and trams. I saw historical Sandridge Railway Bridge, an old railway bridge from Flinders Street to Port Melbourne in late 19th century. I never walked anymore in the bridge at that time because I passed it few times. Along the bridge are arts display and I got to know that sculptures are called “The Travellers” which depicts different types of immigrants arrived by train from the pier station. Aside from the sculptures, I saw the list of countries of immigrants of Australia and found my country Philippines on the list.

P1070219Queens Bridge

P1070221Crown Entertainment Complex

P1070223After passing Queensbridge Street, I saw this nearby
(my walk was during Melbourne Food & Wine Festival)

P1070224Queens Bridge and Melbourne CBD

P1070225Sandridge Bridge after passing Queens Bridge

P1070228Sandrdige Bridge from Southbank Promenade

After passing Sandridge Railway Bridge, I continued my walk at Southbank Promenade until I saw Southbank Pedestrian Bridge. Here, I stroll along the bridge itself to be able to take pictures with another angle of the city skyline of Melbourne with Yarra River. The bridge has a bar and restaurant underneath called Ponyfish Island Cafe and from the same bridge I got a couple of photos of Flinders Street Railway Station, Southbank Promenade, Southgate (shopping centre), Hamer Hall and Princess Bridge where St Kilda and Swanston Street end meets.

P1070230Flinders Street Station (with clock) and Melbourne CBD

P1070231Flinders Street Station, Melbourne CBD and Southbank Pedestrian Bridge

P1070232Flinders Street Station from Southbank Promenade

P1070233Southbank Pedestrian Bridge and Ponyfish

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P1070236Melbourne CBD skyline with Yarra River

P1070237Princes Bridge

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Crossing Southbank Pedestrian Bridge

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P1070243Flinders Street Station Clock

P1070245Flinders Walk

P1070246Southbank Promenade

P1070247Eureka Tower from Southbank Pedestrian Bridge

P1070251Southbank Promenade with Southgate Mall

P1070252Lastly, I walked at Flinders Walk where the famous Flinders Street station located. And from this location I was able to capture Eureka Tower near at Southbank Promenade.

P1070253Princes Bridge, Hamer Hall and Southgate Mall in Southbank Promenade

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Southbank Promenade and nearby areas captured from Flinders Walk

P1070256Princes Bridge and Hamer Hall

P1070259Hamer Hall (left)

Victoria – Lovely Capital City of British Columbia

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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.

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Victoria Inner Harbour Snapshots During My Walk

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Victoria Inner Harbour Snapshots while at Stellar boat on our way to Whale Watching Adventure

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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.

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Snapshots at Beach Drive in Victoria On Our Way To The Butchart Gardens

Passing Vancouver Downtown

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.

BC Place Stadium in Downtown Vancouver at Georgia Viaduct
BC Place Stadium in Downtown Vancouver at Georgia Viaduct
Telus World of Science in Vancouver Downtown at Quebec St
Telus World of Science in Vancouver Downtown at Quebec St
Telus World of Science in Vancouver Downtown at Quebec St
Telus World of Science in Vancouver Downtown at Quebec St
At Coal Harbour
At Coal Harbour

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.

Canada Place (captured near at seabus station in Vancouver)
Canada Place (captured near at seabus station in Vancouver)
Vancouver Lookout at Cordova St near Burrard St in Vancouver Downtown - I'm on my way to the Airport
Vancouver Lookout at Cordova St near Burrard St in Vancouver Downtown – I’m on my way to the Airport
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Vancouver Lookout at Cordova St near Burrard St in Vancouver Downtown – I’m on my way to the Airport
Vancouver Centre Mall at Vancouver Downtown - I'm on my way to the Airport
Vancouver Centre Mall at Vancouver Downtown – I’m on my way to the Airport
Pacific Centre Vancouver Downtown - I'm on my way to the Airport
Pacific Centre Vancouver Downtown – I’m on my way to the Airport
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At Howe St looking towards Toronto Dominion Tower and Vancouver Ceter Mall Vancouver Downtown – I’m on my way to the Airport

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.

Squamish – With The Chief, Canyon and Tantalus

Squamish was one of the significant place that we passed while we were on our way to Whistler. Before reaching the town of Squamish, we’re able to have a short glimpse of Stawamus Chief (or The Chief), The Chief is a granite dome and considered to be one of the largest granite monolith in the world.

DSC05022Stawamus Chief (The Chief)

Next, to Stawamus Chief is Squamish town. Since I was inside the train and just passing by, I had a quick look at the nearby port and its surrounding area.

Squamish Port

Squamish Port

 

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Around Squamish Town

Few more minutes passed and we reached the beautiful spot which later I learned that it is Cheakamus Canyon. The first time I saw some parts of the canyon, I was already amazed. There is a river beside the train tracks and discovered that it is Cheakamus river. Aside from the river, I never thought that I will find a beautiful canyon. The train followed the tracks within Cheakamus Canyon. I got excited when the train slowed down and I got a better view of the canyon. Around the vicinity, we crossed river, creek and lake, all the sceneries that I witnessed fascinated me. The water flow in the streams in the canyon was breathtaking and I felt great with the beauty of the nature that surrounds the train.

 

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Cheakamus Canyon

 

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 Around Cheakamus Canyon

I honestly admired all the people involved in building the tracks in the early times. They made a great effort where to put the tracks of the train because I never disappointed for everything that I saw while traveling with Whistler train. They knew exactly the best spot where to be able to see the wonderful nature in Squamish.

 

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Cheakamus River

Another scenic view in the area that I saw was after we came from Whistler. The bus tour where I hopped on from Whistler Village stopped at Tantalus Lookout. The lookout is located exactly along Sea to Sky Highway (major road) from Vancouver to Whistler and vice versa. The lookout viewpoint is towards Tantalus Provincial Park where Tantalus ranges can be seen. The sceneries we’re all breathtaking, I never expected that few minutes stop in the highway was great indeed.

 

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Tantalus Lookout and Tantalus mountain ranges