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We arrived in Vancouver in the most fatigued, sleep-deprived state imaginable! (*Some of those may not be real words but you understand my point… 🙂 )
This was due to the fact that we started our journey nearly 48 hours earlier in Nepal, flying from Kathmandu to Abu Dhabi. After a brief layover in Abu Dhabi, we caught our connection to London.
We spent around 18 hours in London—jetlagged and attempting to prepare ourselves for the next leg of our journey—which consequently meant very little sleep. Following that, we boarded our Air Transat flight to Vancouver. During the flight, and I acknowledge this was our fault (though the wine contributed somewhat), we opted to binge-watch all episodes of the latest season of House of Cards, resulting in us not sleeping at all on the way to Vancouver.
Upon landing, the reality of our exhaustion set in as we entered a taxi that took us downtown to our residence for the upcoming days—the Shangri La Vancouver!
After traveling through Nepal for almost two weeks and experiencing various accommodations, I was immensely looking forward to staying at the Shangri La.
The hotel is conveniently situated in the city center (where we stayed during our last visit), making it an ideal base for exploring Vancouver. Moreover, the option of valet parking simplifies having a vehicle in most city-center hotels around the world, making it incredibly convenient.
When we entered the room, I planned to enjoy a quick power nap (minimum of 2 – 3 hours 😉 ) before exploring the city a bit and having dinner… that never transpired.
Once I settled into the sheets at the Shangri La, there was no contesting the urge to sleep. I vaguely recall waking once to let the bellboy in with welcome drinks and snacks, but other than that, we didn’t rise until approximately 6 am the next day! It was splendid!
There’s nothing quite like 14 hours of sleep to overcome jetlag. 🙂 I didn’t even feel the least bit guilty for missing our first evening in the city—the Shangri La made it thoroughly worthwhile—Haha!
The following morning, I promptly discovered one of my favorite times of day—breakfast at the Shangri La. Given our extensive travel schedule, breakfast can sometimes seem routine—merely a task to initiate the day.
At the Shangri La, breakfast is truly a feast on its own. I was unaware of this initially, so of course, I neglected to bring my camera down (although I did on subsequent days, hoping to illustrate my point).
To begin with, there’s no buffet here—everything, from the freshly-baked granola to the eggs benedict, pancakes, and even dim sum, is prepared fresh for you. I feel like most guests opt for one item for breakfast, perhaps supplemented with something light (like fresh fruits or yogurt); however, I ordered three dishes—not only because I was indecisive but largely due to my appetite. Once again, it proved delightful! For this reason, I made the decision to dedicate at least an hour each day to savor breakfast here. But enough about breakfast—let’s delve into the exploration of the city!
One of my favorite aspects about Vancouver (and a major reason I genuinely desire to reside in this city) is its combination of urban life with nature. It is a city that is engaging and vibrant—like most major cities—but what sets it apart is the remarkable accessibility to nature within minutes.
This is, by and large, the TRUE reason why anyone would wish to visit—and potentially live in—Vancouver! 😁
Visitors never have to choose one aspect over the other—the equilibrium here is genuinely remarkable. (Yes, I am aware that many cities have parks, but in those instances, you remain acutely aware that you are in an urban park—whereas in Vancouver, the city’s presence fades once you immerse yourself in nature).
To fully utilize this opportunity, we engaged in a cycling tour of the city (we chose Cycle City Tours—it’s conveniently located around two minutes from our hotel).
Considering the substantial mountains present in Canada—especially in British Columbia, where Vancouver is located—the city is surprisingly flat and bike-friendly (I am not particularly fond of uphill cycling, so this was a welcome revelation).
We stopped occasionally to admire some historical edifices (and neighborhoods) in the city, but our primary destination was Stanley Park.
Being in Stanley Park illustrated my point about losing the sense of presence of the city—all surroundings became almost tranquil and serene.
Every time I engage in cycling within Stanley Park, I am reminded of the age-old trees that have stood for centuries, showcasing distinct features from eras when they were utilized by the First Nations people of Canada (the indigenous people of the region).
Cycling turned out to be an exceptional way to navigate the natural aspects of the city—it is far more effective than walking and still provides that exercise which makes indulging in lunch all the more satisfying. 🙂
I hope to see you for lunch (and grizzly bears) in the next entry!
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