A day in Vancouver with Arts and Flowers

My husband and I were planning to take a trip to Vancouver for some time. Vancouver offers so much to see and to do, so our itinerary for the trip was long. We planned a 3 day trip to Vancouver, and atrip to the Museum of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia, Nitobe Memorial Garden and Stanley Park were on top of our must-see list

It was Sunday, our day trip started with the UBC's Museum of Anthropology, a place of arts and culture. We were there a few minutes before the opening, and it gave us a chance to look at the totem poles standing high outside the museum. We bought the tickets, and as we entered the museum, we were amazed by the size and the beauty of the artifacts of British Columbia's First Nations' totem poles and other monumental carvings. The museum's ethnographic objects also come from around the world, including the South Pacific, Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas. The very famous "The Raven and the First Men"statue is the star attraction of the museum. It is huge in size, and standing right in the middle of the room, with the light coming from the glass ceiling. The humongous sizes and designs of totems and other carvings inside  and outside the museum fascinated us. There were also Japanese hand-painted porcelain bowls and exotic snuff boxes on display. After the museum we were off to Nitobe Memorial Garden.

NITOBE MEMORIAL GARDEN
Japanese gardens all over the world are some of the most beautiful places to visit. The Nitobe Memorial Garden is a traditional Japanese garden located at the University of British Columbia, and is one of the most authentic Japanese gardens in the North America.  It was built in the honour of Japanese author, educator, diplomat and politician Nitobe Inazo, who died in Victoria, Canada in 1933. Nitobe's goal was "to become a bridge across the Pacific."This garden covers two and a half acres of land and every inch of land brings harmony among natural forms. There are greeneries, ponds, bridges, lanterns, and a ceremonial tea house in the garden. It is very peaceful walking through the garden under the serene atmosphere. There are several  small wooden bridges all over the garden, as well as wooden benches under the shaded trees to sit and relax. We walked around the garden and took pictures and sat on the wooden bench across the bridge and inhaled the fresh air. Maple and cherry trees are spread out all over the garden and azaleas and irises are the beauty of the seasons. It was getting late so we went off to grab some sandwiches and head towards our next destination, Stanley Park.

Vancouver's Stanley Park is the haven for nature lovers. It's a paradise right in the middle of the city, surrounded by greeneries and the scenic views of water. Vancouver's first, largest and the most beloved urban park has manicured lawns, lush gardens, long and quiet walking trails, stunning views, a host of cultural attractions, and above all, hectares of rainforest.

STANLEY PARK ROSE GARDEN
I was somewhat lost in this magnificent green oasis, with its thousands of roses and the combination of climbing roses and clematis. I fell in love with Stanley Park the moment I stepped into the picturesque park. The best time to visit is between March and October. The beautiful tulips are in bloom in spring. The day was bright and sunny and the intensely blue sky was welcoming too. Colourful floral display beds slope downward and toward the Stanley Park Pavilion. Late in the afternoon, the shrubs, bushes and flowers were partly under the shade. The atmosphere cools down and it is the best time to sit under the shade and read a book and relax or observe the beauty of nature.

Vancouver has the longest uninterrupted waterfront path. The Stanley Park Seawall has two clearly marked sections, one for the walkers and joggers and the other for the bikers and the skaters. There are wooden benches and we sat there and took in the view of this magnificent city. The things to see at Stanley Park are the different gardens, landmarks, monuments and sculptures, trees, and wildlife. We were not expecting to see all, but the beauty of nature took our breath away.

By Aeman Tehseen Rasul
Photo courtesy: Aeman Tehseen Rasul