Showing posts with label beaches. Show all posts
Showing posts with label beaches. Show all posts

Saturday, 3 March 2012

Canada Trip Day 27: White Rock BC Canada

9 July 2010 - It was finally and properly summer on our last day in Canada! My cousins brought us to White Rock to enjoy the sun. It was pretty busy at the promenade but it was a merry sort of busy, which was nice. It was nice to see Mount Baker over in the States from White Rock.

That night, we had a barbeque with our Canadian family as well as other friends who had migrated from Brunei. I felt rather sad and somewhat regretted organising many days traveling around rather than spending more time with family. That can only mean another trip back to Canada.


Nice house at White Rock, BC

Nice house at White Rock, BC

White Rock has many nice houses

White Rock neighbourhood

Construction of house in White Rock

A drive along the beach

Pretty house in White Rock

"Be sun smart" board on the beach

People enjoying the sun at White Rock

People enjoying the sun and water at White Rock

Our sunbathing spot was somewhere here. Green grass and blue sky and BY THE BEACH!!! My kind of perfect day!

We walked along to the boardwalk

The beach became busier as time passed

View of Mount Baker in US from White Rock promenade and pier

Sea gull at White Rock, BC

Walking along to the pier - White Rock

Board walk at White Rock BC Canada

Coast of White Rock

White Rock BC Canada and a glimpse of Mount Baker

White Rock BC Canada and a glimpse of Mount Baker


Tuesday, 4 October 2011

Canada Trip Day 24: Beach Avenue, Jack Chow and La Casa Gelato

6 July 2010 - After our visit to Stanley park, we were brought to La Casa Gelato. My uncle explained in much excitement of how the gelato parlour is famous for its large number of different flavours.

Vancouver is finally getting a little warmer as throngs of people were out at the beach enjoying the sun or a dip at the sea. We passed by the Sam Kee Building, which was known to be the thinnest building in the world, the width of the building is smaller than my bedroom!

At the gelato parlour, visitors were flooding in and out to get their gelato, just the perfect thing to do when the day is summery and lovely. Despite the gazillion choices they offer, I couldn't give up any ice cream opportunity for anything else but something chocolatey.

My uncle, still charged with solar energy, announced our next destination at the Queen Elizabeth Park and enthusiastically went on with his commentaries, about its famous greenhouse which is in the form of a geodesic dome.

An elderly couple enjoying the summer, lively atmosphere at Beach Avenue in Vancouver

Busy beach along Beach Avenue

The World's thinnest building is the Sam Kee Building where Jack Chow Insurance is located.

Jack Chow Insurance neon signboard

La Casa Gelato in Strathcona, Vancouver offers over 200 flavours and the number of flavours still growing!

The moment we walk into the shop, we are just surrounded by ice cream of many flavours!

Tokens are first purchased to be exchanged with ice cream of your choice. Here's my token for a single scope.

Every ice cream opportunity is always invested in nothing else but chocolate of some sort. This time, it's dark chocolate gelato. YUM!


Thursday, 2 September 2010

Pilong Rocks (Pelong Rocks or Pulau Pilong-Pilongan), Brunei Muara

This is a really old post which I dug out from somewhere. A few years ago, I was out at sea with my sister and her group of diving friends. I had been asked if I wanted to tag along and I quite fancied snorkeling, then having forgotten how to scuba dive and not having an updated diving license. The boat had stopped by Pilong Rocks, which I have heard stories of sea snakes from my father since I was a little child. There was always that certain sense of mystery when he told of his misadventures at this tiny island. I suppose it is also the legend behind Pilong Rocks.

The sea surrounding this island is quite rough and not having a proper pier made it harder for the boat to stay at bay. We literally had to time ourselves properly to jump and I think the boat suffered some damaged as it brushed against the concrete pier.

I got especially sunburned that day but had an awesome time on the island. As it isa protected area and we could get into real trouble for trespassing, as stated on the huge red sign by the concrete pier, I made sure that I do not cause any humanly trouble. I was somewhat worried as we should not be there in the first place.

I have to say, this is the most beautiful place I have ever seen in Brunei. The waterfalls in Temburong were magical but this place had its own special magic as well. Unfortunately, on one particular shore with rocks sheltering it from the sea to form some sort of a lagoon were this beach covered with dead corals. While all these pearly white dead corals seem pretty as it span across the tiny beach, looking at them makes me feel sad. I don't think dead corals are natural but then again, I lack knowledge about marine life.






Pilong Rocks (Pulau Pilong-Pilongan) from a distance

"No trespassing" sign

Rocks separating the sea from the beach, creating a little lagoon area

Like a nice lagoon area and beyond where the vegetation are were dead corals which also covered the sea bed.

Metal ladder which we can climb up to some sort of a tower

Steel tower on Pilong Rocks (Pulau Pilong-Pilongan)

View of the sea and the other side of the island from the tower

Me reading a story to a friend

Someone was fishing. Many people fish or scuba dive around this area.

Our boatman, a skilled scuba diver, caught a small fish

View of Brunei shore from Pilong Rocks

Barnacle-covered rocks of Pilong Rocks

Shoal of small fishes in the water

Pilong Rocks is an island of rocks, massive rocks all piled in all sorts of ways

A trail of rocks in Pilong Rocks

More barnacles on the rocks

Coral rock (Pilong Rocks)

Loads of dead corals


Thursday, 29 July 2010

Canada Trip Day 5: Ambleside Beach & Vietnamese Restaurant

17 June 2010 - We were passing by houses along the slope of Ambleside and was told that one of the band members of Nickelback lives here. The beach is covered with rocks, many blackened by horse clams sticking on them. What's interesting is finding rocks where horse clams, barnacles and sea weed were all stuck on them.

The beach was deserted when we visited. There was a pier beside the beach where people were fishing. Overlooking the pier is Lion's Gate Bridge, a suspension bridge between North Shore and Stanley Park.

It is simply wonderful to be surrounded by nature, yet be so near the city, which makes Vancouver a nice vacation destination. You have rivers, lakes, beaches, waterfalls, parks and mountains within 30 minutes drive from the city.

View of Cargo ship in Burrard Inlet from Ambleside Beach


Overlooking Vancouver Harbour, people are fishing at a pier


Sea gull trying to pick food from the plastic bag


My sister taking pictures of Burrard Inlet


Lion's Gate Bridge


Houses and residential building around 15St


Horse clam and black sea weed


Sea weed covered boulder


Barnacles


Horse clams and barnacles


Barnacles growing on horse clams


Beach covered with sea weed, horse clams and barnacles


Sea weed turning from green to black


Sea gull and the other one looks like a limpkin but I am not sure


Blackened sea shore


Hydrangeas flowers


This look like Eremophila Glabra Prostrate with green flowers but please correct me if I am wrong.


Our dinner at Pho Vinh Vietnamese Restaurant before we headed home.


Basil leaves and bean sprouts to go in the hot soup.


My pho noodles were excellent! I love Vietnamese Pho!