Calgary Stampede aka Cowboys

7/6
We went to McDonald’s for breakfast. The meals were more expensive and bigger than that of Taiwan, and the hash brown was delicious. Then, we took the C Train to Stampede. The train tickets were 2.50 dollars for adults and 1.75 dollars for children. In Stampede, the tickets were 14 dollars for adults and 7 dollars for children, so we spent 42 dollars. It looked like an amusement park when we entered, but we had to pay for everything. Thus, we walked around, looking for anything that was free. Finally, we saw an agriculture building, and went in. It was kind of boring. As we went out of the building, it started to rain. Thus, we ran into Big Top for shelter and saw the end of International Youth Livestock Heavy Horse. It looked like horses’ beauty contest, and we didn’t understand anything. At one p.m., we were about to leave, but the next program, Miniature Chuckwagon Races, began. It was very exciting to see the person on the miniature chuckwagon and the four miniature horses in front racing, and it was very funny to see a person falling from his wagon, and it was frightening to see one of the horses in one of the groups jump out of control. At two p.m., the rain ceased, so we left the building and went to Pengrowth Saddledome, which was also free. We entered the dome just before Halliburton World Champion Stock Dog Championship began. This competition challenges handlers and their stock dogs to move three sheep through a defined course, and after succeeding, into a pen all in 4 minutes. The handlers can save valuable seconds by keeping the sheep under control and on course. The indoor arena trials for the Stampede Stock Dogs originated in 1997 when the first competition took place in the Outdoor Show Ring. This year, there are 80 dogs. The dogs are very smart, while the sheep are very stupid and stubborn. The latter stamped their feet, and even attacking the dogs. However, the dogs are not allowed to bite the sheep. At four p.m., the contest ended, and Arizona Mini Mystique started. It was a little bit boring comparing to the previous program because it was only a show, and it did not activate our adrenaline. So we left the dome, and saw the army showing off their weapons, tanks, and even helicopters. Then, we went to the barn to see horses. The animals were beautiful, and I learned quite a few things about horses. At five p.m. there was another competition in Pengrowth Saddledome called Team Cattle Penning. This fast-paced event gives a team of three riders on horseback 60 seconds to separate three specifically identified cattle from a heard of 30, and guide them into a 16-foot-by-24-foot pen at the opposite end of the arena. It was extremely exhilarating and exciting. At 7 o’clock, when the competition ended, we left the dome for BMO Center. On our way, we saw a band with trumpets, trombones, et cetera. Then, we saw another band of percussions and saxophones. When we entered the BMO Center, we saw that the first floor was full of people trying to sell things. It was interesting. On the second floor, we went to an agriculture museum called Grain Academy. It was kind of interesting. Then, we took the train back to our hotel, and bought Domino Pizza for dinner. It was delicious.

Yoho National Park

7/5

We went to Yoho National Park this morning, and went to a town in the park called Field. Then, we went to Takakkaw Falls, which is the third highest waterfall in Canada. We had to drive through a switchback, but it was worth it. I understand why the Native Americans named it Takakkaw, meaning magnificent in Cree. After that, we went to Spiral Tunnels Viewpoint, but we weren’t as lucky as we were three years ago; we didn’t see a train. The weather was chilly, so we quickly left to stop to look at Castle Mountain. Then we went to Johnston Canyon, where we walked on a catwalk to see the blue-green waterfall. It was cold, too, because of the water that splashed up to us. After we left, we drove to Banff, where we first went to Vermilion Lake. It was a little bit disappointing; the water was not red. Second, we went to Cascades of Time Gardens, which was pleasantly beautiful. There were many flowers, but it would be even better if there was some water in where water was intended to be. Later on, we drove to Bow Falls. We saw a waterfall and an old but charming hotel. It started raining suddenly, so we fled into our car and drove in town, where there was a gigantic traffic jam. Finally, we arrived at Cascade Ponds. It reminded me of the first scene in The Sound of Music. We walked around, and saw three horses accidentally frightening a dog. One of the horses was white, another was brown, and the other was black. It started raining again, and we drove to Lake Minnewanka, where there was a dam. Finally, we drove to our next hotel, Best Western Village Park.

Glacier National Park and Yoho National Park

7/4

We left the hotel, and continued driving to Golden. On our way, we intended to go to Meadows in the Sky. Even though we have been there two times, this was the third time we got lost. We drove along the road three times to look for it, but we failed. Then we went to Glacier National Park. We hiked on Hemlock Grove Broadwalk. It was green, and both lively and tranquil. As we drove in the national park, we saw something surprising: most of the ice has melted. Later on, we drove to Yoho National Park to Natural Bridge and Emerald Lake, where we have been to, too. They were stunning. In Emerald Lake, we saw an Indian family rowing a boat, but they seemed unable to row back to the shore. Then we went to Kicking Horse Canyon. Then we drove to our next hotel, Ramada Inn. It was smaller than our first two ones.

Stanley Park 2

7/2/2009
This morning we hiked in Stanley Park along the trails lingering through Stanley Statue, artist circle, and Totem pole. We walked about 5 kilometers all the way to Lion Gates Bridge, but I wasn’t extremely tired or exhausted. I guess the green peaceful woods had something to do with that. Then, we took the bus which cost us CD$7 in total for on day unlimited ride to Third Beach. Dad and Judy went directly down to beach, while mom and I sat on bench enjoying the view and the sun. It was quite cold and beautiful. Later we went to Second Beach, which was surrounded by a pool and playground. We saw a sea gull dropping a shell to the ground in order to break it. Later, we went to a big pond called Lost Lagoon of the park, and saw a beautiful poem by Pauline Johnson which named this pond. It was once a lagoon, but the road construction caused it be isolated from the seawater, so it is a pond now. To keep the fish in the pond alive, they had to set up an artificial spring to pump the water in the air to get oxygen into it. The water is murky and dirty, but there are interesting ducklings and ducks inside. It was fun to watch them fighting over their food and struggling to eat the tiny fish they found.
Later on, we walked around the city, but couldn't find anything we wanted to eat for lunch. Thus, we went to Safeway and ate exactly what we ate yesterday, except that we had canned sardine plus canned tuna today. After lunch, we slept the whole afternoon like yesterday, and then woke up at 7:30 p.m. We went to Vietnamese Pho Number One in the West End to eat Vietnamese noodles and rice for dinner. It was delicious but expensive. Then we went to English Bay to watch the sun set. It was exquisite.

Stanley Park 1 and Canada Day

7/1

Happy Canada Day!!
This morning, we went to the top floor of our hotel, Cloud 9, for breakfast. The watermelons and cantaloupes there was sweet and delicious. After breakfast, we walked to Coal Harbor and saw a lot of sea stars. Most of them were reddish orange, but I saw a purple and a white one. The sky was filled with so many shades of blue; one part was gray-blue, and another was the most serene azure I've ever seen. Later on, we went to Stanley Park and went to Rose Garden. There were many different kinds of roses, and their sweet fragrance and colors were different. There was one that smelled like tea. The scenery was picturesque. Then, as we searched around for a restroom, we went across an aquarium. Later, we stumbled across Beaver Lake, where we had never been before. It, too, was charming. We saw a beautiful black bird called red wing black bird with a streak of red on each side of its wings. There were many ravens, too, and their feathers were such a glossy black that I finally understood why Anne Shirley wanted to have raven hair.

Later, we went to Safeway and bought instant noodles and canned tuna for lunch. Then we slept for the whole afternoon, and woke up when Mom said that there was a parade outside because today is Canada Day. We didn’t see much of it. Then we went out for dinner, and ate some Japanese food at a food court near Safeway. It was not tasty. Then we came back to our hotel and watched the fireworks at 10:30. There were so many different patterns and colors, but it was not as good as the fireworks I saw five years ago at MIT on Fourth of July.

Departing For Canada

6/30/2009
This morning in Taiwan, my family and I packed for our trip to Canada. We took the high speed railway. We boarded the plane at 11:15 p.m., and arrived at Vancouver at about 7:20 p.m.(Canadian time). We’re staying in Empire Landmark Hotel. Judy and I share a room while my parents share another. We went to 漢記 for dinner, like we did when we came here three years ago.

Half Moon Bay

This picutre was taken from the beautiful Half Moon Bay golf court.

We strolled along the sidewalk and enjoy the breeze and scenery imagining we were the riches.

7/17/08
Today is the last day in the U.S. of our trip. We decided to go to Half Moon Bay, and on the way, we saw many orchards and farms selling their products. We even saw metal statues standing in the yards of several cottages.

First, we went to Half Moon Bay state park, where we saw a summer camp having a field trip there. It was windy and cold, and a sign said that the beach is very unsafe; as a result we didn’t like it. So we drove off to Half Moon Bay Golf, which was surrounded with mansions facing the attractive seashore. The grass in the golf course was beautifully trimmed, and the clubhouse was as fancy as the mansions beside it. We admired its beauty and watched the golfers play.

Later, we went to Pebble Beach, and climbed down to the tidal pools to examine the sea creatures. There were not many things to see, so we soon drove to Pigeon Point, where we took many pictures of the almost-broken lighthouse, admired the opal-colored ocean, and looked at the flowers. While we were looking at the ocean, we saw many birds with red feet, and we saw gigantic sea stars.
We decided to leave, and drove north. On the way, we saw a beach full of people surfing with parachute. It looked exciting and fun, but non of us is a athlete, so we did not even think about trying.