When I told my U.S. returned friends that I would be accompanying my husband who was going to Vancouver for a conference, they wished to know whether a visit to the U.S. was on our itinerary. Learning that it wasn’t, their reaction ranged from one of surprise to disbelief. “How can you be so foolish as not to include The U.S. which is not far from Canada? You don’t know what you are missing. You just have to see for yourself how the country has advanced technologically which makes an American feel justifiably proud of his country,” said they. Some went as far as saying Canada is considered a poor cousin of the affluent U.S. as its people ddidn’t own luxury cars or go on a holiday during weekends as the Americans did. Though I was a little cheesed off by such comments I decided to form my own opinion about the so called “Poor Cousin” of The U.S.

The first thing that drew my attention as we were making our way to the exit from the Vancouever International Airport, was the sight of two people engaged in polishing a Bronze cast which was gleaming under the lights. On closer look at what was written I learnt it was The Spirit of Haida Gwail.

The Jade Canoe by the world renowned artist and carver Bill Reid who has been widely acclaimed as the pivotal force in the renewal of artistic traditions of the Haida people of British Columbia.

Nestled on Canada’s Pacific Coast Vancouever, its third largest city and the venue of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, we found is a scenic gem. The occupants of multistory offices, condominiums and apartment buildings which dominate the skyline feel proud that they can savour the beauties of nature viewing the mountains or sea from a multitude of windows and the requisite balcony. As they walk on busy downtown streets not far away, they are treated either to the sight of the Coast mountains or the splendours of Stanley Park or the waters of Burrard inlet or all the three depending upon where they are situated. A lack of freeways zigzagging about contributes a great deal in avoiding congestion in this well planned city. However it didnot mean there is a shortage of automobiles including Limousines as the rich do own them. Public transport comprises excellent bus service and sky trains and we were able to do most of our sight seeing traveling in their comfort.

Grouse Mountain—nothing to grouse

There are several tourist attractions around Vancouever which include manmade wonders amidst wonders of nature. We decided to visit Grouse Mountain, a fifteen minute drive from the city of Vancouever over the Lion’s Gate Bridge. Vancoueverites boast that given the right season, it is possible to ski in the morning and swim in the afternoon when the snow melts on Grouse Mountain! It may not be technically untrue but no Vancoueverite dares it, we were informed.

The Grouse Mountain Sky ride, an aerial tram that whisked us, 1,100 metres over the tree tops in a minute reminded us of the cable car ride we had through the rain forest in Cairns during our visit to eastern Australia. The difference however was the nearly half a dozen cabins of the cable car accommodated four passengers in each whereas here we were more than 50 in the hexagon shaped single tram referred as Gondola.

An elderly lady who was wheeled into it greeted us with a smile and we all returned her greeting with equal warmth. Over a brief conversation we had , she said she was fond of traveling and seeing places and meeting people (I was amazed at the facilities foreign countries offered for the disabled to travel in comfort). In Cairns we passed through Eucalyptus trees on the ascent while here the ascent was lined with a thick growth of Cedar, Hemlock and Douglas.

We peeped through the glass enclosure and were mesmerized by what we saw—-ships sailing in the azure waters of the Pacific Ocean appearing like small boats on one side and the towering cone shaped trees on the other.

We alighted on the Mountain top and walked along the wet mountain path, even as we were enjoying the picturesque surroundings all the way to the venue of the world famous Lumber Jack show. We were just in time to watch “Birds in Motion”, a show where rare and endangered birds of various size, shape and colour were demonstrated to the accompaniment of a running commentary regarding their classification, characteristics and lifestyle. The winged creatures flew out of their cages in quick succession and perched themselves on the lady demonstrator’s palm for her to parade them one after another in front of us. Once the show was over, they flew high up in the sky almost out of our sight and came swooping down to circle a little above us coming within our hand’s reach but none of us had the courage to touch them! Later they flew back to their respective hideouts. This fascinating show would certainly have delighted an Ornithologist, I felt.

I returned with the thought that the name of the Mountain probably had some relation to the Game bird which bore the same name. After having a taste of Vancoueverian hospitality towards visitors and guests I concluded that Canada is certainly not the “ poor cousin” or its people the “ poor cousins” of the “affluent” Americans .

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