It was 7:25 already in the morning when I woke up. "Oh, god, we're going to Banff today!" I finished all "morning tasks" in an amazingly quick speed. We were going at 8 or around, you see!
However, every thing was going following our schedule. We – Dina, Harue, and me, as well as Max, our golden retriever – went to Banff for an one-day trip yesterday, that was, July 10. Now, I'll simply describe what we visited in the order of time.
#1.Lac des Arcs
This lake was our first stop. The weather was very good – not too hot, and not cold. It was just partly sunny, and was mostly cloudy. The lake looked so peaceful. Max was so excited for being outside.
This lake was our first stop. The weather was very good – not too hot, and not cold. It was just partly sunny, and was mostly cloudy. The lake looked so peaceful. Max was so excited for being outside.
↑ Max was drinking!
#2.another lake
↑ Another lake on our way. I don't know its name though ^^;
↑ Another lake on our way. I don't know its name though ^^;
#3.Lake Louise
Finally, we arrived at Lake Louise. There were so many people! It also took some time to find a place to park! There were rather a large number of huge vehicles. What I thought at that time was Top Gear! I now kinda understood how they hate those caravans! (lol)
Finally, we arrived at Lake Louise. There were so many people! It also took some time to find a place to park! There were rather a large number of huge vehicles. What I thought at that time was Top Gear! I now kinda understood how they hate those caravans! (lol)
Anyway, the scenery was superb! The water was in a blue-green colour. The farther mountain still has snow accumulated on. We walked a little along the lake, and the lake was just that nice from every aspect. However, I remembered that someone has been here after a long time of hiking. Then, I was so lucky! To be honest, I don't like most kinds of exercise; hiking sounds so exhausting… ^^;
↑ Lake Louise. Beautiful scenery, the colour of water, snow, and boating people.
#4.Moraine Lake
Although a bunch of people think Lake Louise is very nice and famous – it is actually – I think Moraine Lake was even better! I just love the whole feeling the lake gave me: the absolute pure and blue water, the breeze, the colder weather, the high and straight pine trees, and a closer view of the snow. Really, it was much colder than Lake Louise. I wonder how high the lake is (and I am lazy to search for it…).
Although a bunch of people think Lake Louise is very nice and famous – it is actually – I think Moraine Lake was even better! I just love the whole feeling the lake gave me: the absolute pure and blue water, the breeze, the colder weather, the high and straight pine trees, and a closer view of the snow. Really, it was much colder than Lake Louise. I wonder how high the lake is (and I am lazy to search for it…).
↑ Moraine Lake. The weather was cold~ XD
#5.Bow River Fall
Later, we came to the Banff Town. After a brief scrolling in the town, we arrived at the Bow River Fall. It was not a big fall, to be honest, but it was still nice – I saw a rainbow raising upon the water!
Later, we came to the Banff Town. After a brief scrolling in the town, we arrived at the Bow River Fall. It was not a big fall, to be honest, but it was still nice – I saw a rainbow raising upon the water!
I walked along the river, enjoyed the scenery and the sound. Then I suddenly got an idea: why not take a video on my way back? Thus I switched my camera into movie mode, and started to record. Yet, I failed to hold the camera evenly, so what I got looked like in an earthquake… I was also trying not to get any others in my video, but that was not easy either. Sometimes, I even got my finger recorded because I was trying to adjust the camera… my first long time (7 min only though) video was such a big fail… ^^;
↑ A rainbow hovering upon the bow river~
#6.Hot Spring Pleiades
There are several hot springs. We visited Pleiades because it was not too far away. But, what I saw was more like a public swimming pool… ^^; The water temperature was 40-degree-ish. If let me to make a decision, I'd rather to go to a real swimming pool in summer than the hot spring in summer days. Well… people have their own decisions…
There are several hot springs. We visited Pleiades because it was not too far away. But, what I saw was more like a public swimming pool… ^^; The water temperature was 40-degree-ish. If let me to make a decision, I'd rather to go to a real swimming pool in summer than the hot spring in summer days. Well… people have their own decisions…
↑ Can you see it doesn't look like a swimming pool? :P
#7.Banff Gondola
I enjoyed this part very much! We were in Sulphur Mountain at that time, and there was an aerial lift – a gondola lift, if saying more exactly. At the very beginning, I was even wondering why it was called "gondola", the boat's name from Venice!
I enjoyed this part very much! We were in Sulphur Mountain at that time, and there was an aerial lift – a gondola lift, if saying more exactly. At the very beginning, I was even wondering why it was called "gondola", the boat's name from Venice!
The elevation was 2451m (I just knew from wikipedia). The view from this height was much more exciting than that from Calgary Tower! I was just wishing they could make each cable car with a glass bottom (then I guess lots of people would not take it anymore… lol).
On the top, the first sense of us was "wow, it's utterly cold!". The distant mountains were a bit foggy, and I was in my own reverie again! I was linking this view to NGE… (*get shot*) Also, finally, we found some animals! There were several goats, yet I didn't understand why goats lived at that place.
Soon after, I saw a squirrel! Different from what I often see in Calgary, which was the black squirrel, this little guy I saw was brown. I had already seen one when we just arrived at Lake Louise, but I didn't have the time to take a shot. This time, since my camera was ready to use, I took a lot of shots of him (let's assume this was a "he"). There were a few chips on the ground, and thus it also gave me time to take pictures~ (it did run very quick ^^;)
↑ He's eating chips. So cute~~
If you go up, there was a panorama view deck – and there was even colder. A lot of country flags, together with city names and direction marks, were on the wall of the deck. Firstly I didn't fully know what they are. After a few seconds' guessing, I realised those meant the way of the city it indicates. After reading the information board, I knew I was correct, yay~~ did I look silly? :P
↑ Panorama deck, country flags & directions, foggy mountains.
#8-9.Administration Garden & Building
This garden was the most beautiful garden I've ever been in! It locates behind of the Banff Town administration building. Lots of flowers were blooming "insanely". My sight was full of rich colours. In one word, this garden was too beautiful to tell the feeling by pictures!
This garden was the most beautiful garden I've ever been in! It locates behind of the Banff Town administration building. Lots of flowers were blooming "insanely". My sight was full of rich colours. In one word, this garden was too beautiful to tell the feeling by pictures!
↑ Are they cosmoses? I'm not sure. XD
The administration building was also very nice. It was in an European style, which is my favourite.
#10.Banff Town
The final stop of the one day trip was the Banff Town. We didn't spend too much time because it was already very late. We walked in the street and visited a few shops. They were all nice and cute, even though the items they sell were similar to each other. The whole town was in a European-like style as well. I really liked the feeling of the town.
The final stop of the one day trip was the Banff Town. We didn't spend too much time because it was already very late. We walked in the street and visited a few shops. They were all nice and cute, even though the items they sell were similar to each other. The whole town was in a European-like style as well. I really liked the feeling of the town.
Then, as the last show of the trip, we went to a sushi restaurant for dinner. It was a "kaiten-zushi; aka 'sushi-go-round'" restaurant: a toy train led many carriages where dishes of sushi and other food were on. I've only ever seen such restaurant on TV, and this was my first time to be in a real one. It was yummy! :3
↑ Sushi-go-round!!
Another thing I have to mention. When I was going to stop recording the sushi-train, my camera's battery was dead. Oh, what a nice timing!! Now, the battery was dead, the space on my memory stick was limited, and the trip was going to the end. Everything was perfect!
We had a nice trip really. I love this kind of trip, you go here and there by car, take pictures, and enjoy the environment. You need not to hike or walk too long. You go to lots of places and enjoy a lot, and you're not too tired after the day.
We had a nice trip really. I love this kind of trip, you go here and there by car, take pictures, and enjoy the environment. You need not to hike or walk too long. You go to lots of places and enjoy a lot, and you're not too tired after the day.
So, lesson from the trip: I have to pass my driver's licence road test as early as possible. XDD
Additional notes:
- the public photo album I took during the trip was here.
- the private photo album, which means, I was in those photos, was located at here.
- the videos I recorded were included in this play list.
- the public photo album I took during the trip was here.
- the private photo album, which means, I was in those photos, was located at here.
- the videos I recorded were included in this play list.