If you think snow-caped mountain tops, emerald lakes and the sense of tranquillity of nature can only be found on postcards, then think again!  Everyone who has set foot on the Canadian Rockies will easily agree with me that what awaits him/her there is exactly the same as what you see on postcards, calendars or any reproduced form of the sceneries there.  

The Canadian Rockies used to be a fabled beautiful place for me.  We originally wanted to visit the place via driving on our own but called the plan off when the only available driver is me --- who does not really have a very good sense of direction and gets sleepy rather easily!  Thanks to the semi-independent package tours of Canadian Air which subcontracts to Brewster Tours, an expert on tours around the Rockies.  What was nice about this tour is the coach brings you to the destinations and you're on your own --- no little flags, or fussy Taiwanese tour guides, instead you have tourism-graduate drivers who can name each and every mountain or lake you pass by!  
  

CALGARY -- Ghost Town?  
The coach to the Rockies picks you up from Calgary, the second largest city by area.  It occupies nearly 700 sq. meter and is home to around 800,000 Calgarians.  Calgary is the home to the 1988 Olympic Winter Games and the Canada Olympic Park is still a year-round sport and tourist attraction which showcases the sites of freestyle skiing, bobsleigh, and ski-jumping events 10 years ago.  But my first impression on the city is it's kinda like a "ghost town" because when we strolled along a few blocks in a lazy Saturday afternoon, there's hardly anyone on the streets.  Perhaps due to its previous main livelihood of mining, or the timing wasn't right, or we simply didn't have enough time to explore the city?  

BANFF --- Breathtaking!  
Banff is around 3-hour drive away from Calgary.  Before we reached the main townsite on that September afternoon in 1997, we have already exclaimed in awe when we had our first glimpse of the Rockies.  This excitement stays until the tour ends because the mere presence of the Rockies around you brings unexplainable joy.  

Banff townsite is just like a town that exists in fairy tales, with Cascade Mountain as the backdrop.  People are unbelievably friendly and an idle stroll along its shops is an enjoyment in itself.  If you're lucky, you'd even bump into an elk!  To get an idea what Banff looks like, recall the town you see in the now defunct series Northern Exposure and you'll know what I mean.  

Some of the highlights in and near Banff are:  
1) Sulphur Mountain - You can take the Gondola ride to the top and have an unparalleled 360 degrees view of the mountain ranges and entire Banff townsite and valley stretch before you.  You can also choose to have dip into the Upper Hot Springs Pool which dates back to the 20's!  

2) Banff Springs Hotel - It looks just like a castle among the mountains.  It was originally built in 1888 but the present structure was built after WWI, following fires which destroyed part of the original one.  Today, it remains to be the most luxurious hotel in Banff which houses thousands of tourists every year.  Simply lying on its grasses is a heavenly experience!  

3)  Cave & Basin, etc. - located at the end of Cave Ave., it commemorates the birthplace of Banff National Park.  It was originally thought to cure many ailments.  Together with this tour is going to the Surprise Corner where you can see some hoodoos which are sulfuric stones shaped pointedly by the winds.  

4) Bow Lake - This peaceful-looking lake has sub-alpine colour at the edge which shows the harsh impact of glacier-cooled winds.  Meltwater from Wapta Icefield feeds Bow Lake, the birthplace of Bow River.  

5) Peyto Lake - The unusual color of this lake is caused by "rock flow", finely ground particles of rock carried by glacial meltwater.  The flour remains suspended in the lake water for a long time, altering the color of the sky's reflection.  

ATHABASCA GLACIERS --- Had a Tip of the Iceberg!  
The Athabasca Glacier and the Columbia Icefield once formed part of an ice sheet that ground and covered the landforms seen today throughout the Rockies.  It's supposed to exist way back in the Ice Age and it's slowly receding with global warming.  

We went there through Brewster Snocoaches which gave us the chance to actually see and touch the raw majesty of this living glacier and gained an understanding of the glacial processes that sculptured much of this continent.  For someone who hasn't seen nor touch snow, this was good enough.  

JASPER ---   
Jasper National Park is the biggest among the national parks in the Canadian Rockies.  Its town proper is not as closely-knit and as beautiful as Banff is, but with the famous Jasper the Bear, it still has some qualities (like simplicity) of its own.  Some places of interests are:  

1) Maligne Lake - Maligne Lake is supposed to be one of the most photographed lake in the world.  The term "maligne" (Mul-leen) was first used to describe the Maligne River which drains Maligne Lake.  It was used to refer to the river as "wicked crossing" after early settlers' horses and provisions were swept away by mighty current.  But in present days, it's hard to imagine its "wickedness" for this really is a beautiful spot.  

2) Medicine Lake - It's also known as "Disappearing Lake" because as the name implies, it vanishes towards the end of the summer.  The water that contained in it were formed after the melting away of the glaciers in spring but slowly flows away by October, making the lake "disappear"...  
  

LAKE LOUISE  --- Looks like it's Out of this World!  
Lake Louise is the most famous glacial lakes in the Rockies and of the most beautiful in the Western Hemisphere.  The lake is named for Princess Louise Caroline Alberta, daughter of Queen Victoria.  The world famous Chateau Lake Louise sits at the opposite of Victoria Glacier, named for the Queen.  Melting glacier silt creates the striking turquoise color of the lake and keeps it a frigid temperature all-year round.  A sense of serenity flows through anyone who spends a minute or two looking at this gem of the Rockies.  

What you shouldn't miss...  
1) Wildlife - Get your cameras and film ready for your entire journey in the Canadian Rockies.  It has lots of wildlife roaming in and around the national parks.  We're fortunate enough to see mountain goats, elks, sheep and coyotes.  We had hoped to catch some grizzly bears, too, but might have to wait the next time around.  

2) Shimmering Aspen - Maple trees are a specialty of east Canada but in the Rockies, we have discovered this type of trees (with yellow leaves) which looks like a fiery flame against the mountains. It's called Shimmering Aspen and you'll agree with me that it definitely looks magnificent!  
 

We’ve had the chance to shop at Robson St., one of the most popular and up to date shopping area in downtown Vancouver.  Stanley Park is also one of the most visited sites in Vancouver, a place for picture taking and there’s also a stop called the Prospect Point where you can overlook the city of Vancouver.  

VICTORIA ---  
The city of Victoria is best known as the capital of British Columbia.  Victoria’s main industries today are government and tourism.  With the total population of 75,000, it is located in Vancouver Island which is a 2 hr. ferry ride from South Vancouver via B.C. Ferries.  It was very nice to stroll alongside the wharf which also entitles you to pass by 2 of the most outstanding architectures of the city which are The Empress Hotel and The Parliament Building.  

Burchart Gardens – is fifty acres of floral finery which has been existing for more than 90 years.  It is located 21 km north of Victoria and 20 km south of Vancouver-Victoria ferry terminal at Swartz Bay.  It has a wide array of flowers some of which may not be found in other parts of the world.  It also has a gift store-“Benvenuto Seeds and Gift Store” with thousands of items, ranging from different kinds of seeds to books.  

Our special thanks to Dennis & family and Bokya & Bona for their hospitality during our stay and for driving us around the city.