Canada Revisited

Travel Date:

Saturday, 15th August 2015

Four years since I last stepped into the land of maple trees. My last visit was on April 2011 where we flew from Singapore with a connecting flight to Hong Kong. It was my second time to travel to Canada, but it was more special for mom because it was her first ever trip to the said country. This summer I entered Canada in a different kind of adventure through the US-Canada border crossing in Washington.

So after some few stops in Seattle, we headed our way to Canada. I was so excited because it was my first time, but can't help to get worried a bit. I think it's because I've watched too many episodes of Security Border. There was nothing to worry about because I have good intentions in coming to their country, and I'm back to visit beautiful British Columbia again. Maybe I was just a worrier! We reached the border after driving almost 2 hours.

Initially, I thought we would need to undergo exit clearance to US border but I was surprised because we went straight ahead to the Canadian border. We stayed in the car while my brother handed over our passports to the lady immigration officer. She had some few questions like which country I came from, what city I stayed in the US, any food we bought then we replied and answered her truthfully.  The lady officer gave us clearance. I thanked God and thanked the lady for me see Canada once more. Here I come!

In the past four years, there are a couple of changes I've noticed in my revisit. One of them is the Port Mann Bridge, which crosses the Fraser River connecting Coquitlam to Surrey.  This structure is a 10-lane cable-stayed bridge that opened to traffic in 2012 and considered as the second longest cable-stayed bridge in North America. Though it was noted as the widest bridge in the world, not until the Bay Bridge in California was opened. Another improvement I've seen is the ongoing construction of sky train which is extended up to Coquitlam area and projected to complete next year.

There were few tourist spots that I've never explored before that I've now ventured in my Canada revisited journey. To name a few, these are the Sea To Sky Gondola, Storybrooke film location, and some locations around Vancouver City. Oh, never to miss my amazing bear encounter and this all white dinner called Dîner en Blanc. Watch out for my next posts about these.