Wednesday, June 17, 2026

Day 4 - Off to Vancouver + VanDusen Botanical Garden

honeybee
could you imagine where our lives would lead?
Honeybee - The Head and the Heart

I woke up on day 4 feeling much better. I could feel it's not 100%, but much better and that felt miraculous. I don't know if it's the Aleve, the sleep, the prayers, or perhaps all, but thanks be to God! I was leaving for Vancouver that day and being able to stand and then walked to A&W for breakfast gave me hope. After breakfast I took another Aleve; AI was saying not to take it on an empty stomach and I followed this advice. My ride to Calgary airport was at 09:30 AM, so it wasn't a rushed morning. Once I was ready, I checked out and walked the short distance to the hotel next door for my shuttle to the aiport. Luckily the driver (who seemed to be from Hong Kong) was already there and I was the only one he needed to pick from there and so we set off to pick up the rest. Once we picked all the passengers in Banff (mostly single girls, aside from a couple), we went to Canmore to pick an Indian family. The ride away from Banff was so different than when I was arriving. This time I had blue sky and sunshine and to see all the mountains around, it's a reminder how special Banff is. I like Banff a lot. I like all the things that I saw and I do wish I could see the lakes when they're not frozen. Unfortunately the way my life is now, travelling in July is rather tough and August would be rather impossible. Let's hope that I could get there again before the visa expires.

Arriving in Calgary airport, I remember there's quite a few walking to be done and though I could walk, I noticed that I was slower and thought there's nothing that can be done and walking slowly might be better. I had plenty of time, so there's no need to rush. Once I found the gate, I just sat down all the way, aside for the time I went to the toilet. Usually due to boredom, I would walk around and check all the stores, but I thought I needed to conserve my legs. The Air Canada flight to Vancouver was great because there's in-flight entertainment and they gave snack. Arriving in Vancouver, it was pretty smooth all the way - getting my luggage, buying the day transport pass from the machine, and then getting on the train. The aiport was the end of the line, so finding a seat was easy. I needed to get to the Waterfront station which is the other end line and this was where I was stupid. Thinking that Waterfront is the end, the train would stop pretty long and passengers would be told this is the end line and to get off - maybe all this happened and I was not paying attention, but the next thing I knew the train moved again and the stupid me was going back to where I just came. I only realized my stupidity after I have passed a station and so I got off at the next one and then took the other train again back to Waterfront, urgh :( I'm disappointed at myself.

Back in Waterfront station, at least I managed to find the correct exit which would be nearer to my hotel. I have studied on the direction to walk, but I failed this too. I chose the wrong direction and there were moments where I was lost and it wasn't pleasant because this is a city city where there were a lot of people and I was dragging my big luggage and I always think this state is the most vulnerable state not to mention embarrassing where you have a big luggage, you're lost, and you need to figure out where you need to go by checking your phone. Luckily while I crossed a few junctions uselessly, I managed to reorientate myself quite fast and found the hotel. I found the wrong entrance though because when the doorman / security guy open the door, it was stairs and he didn't help me with my luggage. He said something about they could help if asked, which I didn't even bother because that would mean I need to tip. So I huffed and puffed and got my luggage up the lobby myself. When I checked in, I found out the other entrance at the side where the car drop off is is the better entrance to choose because there's no stairs - Google Maps fail me because they didn't tell me this.

Anyways, got to my room and it was nice. It needed to be nice for the price which I thought was expensive. It's a suite which means the living room is separate from the bedroom. I didn't need it, but that was the only option available when I booked it. In terms of suite though, not my favorite - that place is still being hold by Puro Kraków Stare Miasto which of course I'm bias because I was upgraded without extra fee. Anyways at least this Vancouver suite is nice and clean and I guess because of the price I was brave enough to ask for slippers - I could just imagine my mom complaining when nice hotel does not provide things like that. The staff at the lobby then asked if I needed bathrobe too, which I didn't - side note: Puro Krakow just provided all that without being asked.

After I had settled all my things, I needed to decide what to do next. Initially I had wanted to go to Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge and explore the nature around it. The thing is though, that evening was Survivor 50 finale and I wanted to watch that and so I needed to be back by 8 PM. It's possible by my calculation, a bit of a rush, but it could work, but then I wasn't physically 100%. So is it really a good idea to go across the water to North Vancouver and hike around? I ran it with the AI, it felt like it may not be a good idea and my second option, VanDusen Botanical Garden, was better. I'm stubborn right so even as I waited at the bus stop, there's still the thought we're not doing this? The bus stop where I was waiting is the same for either bus and the bus to Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge came first and I was really hesitant, then I thought no let it go. That bus came a few mins late and my calculation relied on exact timing so those few minutes could derail a lot. Then the bus for VanDusen came and I took it. Since I didn't plan or study for this, my way to get there was not the best. I realize now taking the bus all the way is not a good idea because it's a long journey. I could actually shorten it by taking the train first and then the bus and that would give me more time in the garden :( I'm not sure if Google Maps gave me that direction or if I didn't see it. I spent the bus ride booking for the ticket to the garden, trying to understand the weird cable contraption in the bus you can pull to indicate you want to get off. I saw a guy by some corner waving Palestinian flag alone, I was very curious why he chose that spot. Basically I just tried to absorb and understand this city.

I arrived at the garden at around 4 pm which left me around 2 hours to explore, not ideal but I just had to make do. I had the map on my phone, but I was pretty aimless on my exploration. There's a disbelief that I could walk quite okay and I thanked God a lot as I walked. I was there on a Wednesday and starting that weekend, they were having their Fleurs de Villes exhibition and there were staff setting up their installation arts, hence the mannequin in the picture below - I don't think she's completed yet. The tree with the yellow flowers is Laburnum which the AI told me to enjoy because they're blooming - I had to ask it what it was - but they were indeed beautiful. Other blooming plants were the many different azaleas. As I was trying to find the waterfall, I met a couple who told me there were blue poppies which got me really excited, but I couldn't find them. Other things that got me super excited are the big trees. When I saw the Douglas-firs, Cedars, Redwoods, Giant Sequoias, I almost turned to be a tree hugger, I didn't, but I thank the good Lord that somehow I was still given this opportunity. The garden is really nice. A really good place to walk around in. The waterfall didn't have water running when I was there. There was a maze but I didn't want to risk tiring myself walking unnecessarily that I didn't enter it. By 6 PM, I thought there would be staff directing visitors to the exit, but no such thing or even an announcement the garden was closing. So I only exited after 6 PM.

For photos from VanDusen Botanical Garden, go here. I needed the bus to get back so I checked Google Maps for where the bus stop is. Got there only to see the sign that this bus stop was not being used, use the next one - arrrgh!!! All that walking and now I had to walk to the next one, God help me. Being spoilt here in Singapore, I often get shocked when I go to these first-world countries and then see things like their bus stop which was just a pole with sign that one can miss easily, no shelter, sigh. Anyways, I made it to the next bus stop with time to spare. This time I got smart and got off when it reached a train station and completed the rest of the trip with train which saved me a lot of time. Back in the neighbourhood of my hotel, I first went to Breka to get some things for breakfast the next day. I settled on donuts, which were good. Then I was thinking of ramen for dinner but as I made my way to the ramen place, I noticed another Japanese place just across the street from my hotel. Their tempura looks good, so I went there and it was the first and only time I had rice on the trip. I like it when things fall into places. I had enough time when I got back to my room and I was all cleaned up and ready for Survivor at 8 PM. Funny how there were people who I liked during their first time in Survivor, but this second time around I do have to say my opinion of Jonathan and Joe diminished. I can't say I like the remaining 5, but I did feel sad when Tiffany was gone, and then I applauded Aubry when she won.

Okay, first impression of Vancouver. Somehow I felt there were a lot siren sounds. I had to ask myself, was it like this too in New York. Then, again this is about me and how we're so sheltered in Singapore, but to see quite a number of homeless people in Vancouver, well that was so jarring to me. I had to remind myself, it's different out there in the world unlike Singapore no matter if they're rich first-world countries. Street cleanliness wise, well nothing compares to Singapore, right? My best-friend, Dewi, once said she's annoyed when all these foreign tourists say Indonesia is not clean, etc. She feels if they're not from Singapore or maybe Japan, they have no right to say that when their countries are not spotless. She might be right :D

:) eKa @ 9:40:00 PM •