It’s been over three weeks since I’ve been back in Canada… I have little desire to return to Hong Kong. Prior to leaving Hong Kong for this visit back home, it wasn’t so much that I loathed Hong Kong, I had actually come to appreciate the place more than ever. However, this was pre-summer heat wave so I can say I’m glad I’m not in the thick of things haha. Pretty much after touching down, the yearly family trip took me to Jasper/Jasper National Park. I have fond memories of the place. As a kid, before getting heavily involve in football/soccer in the winter time, my pops would always take me skinning. I still remember those trips in the Blazer between the two of us, playing word games and the like.
Rolling into Jasper, was a nice sort of reunion, certain aspects are still memorable in the back of my mind. But more importantly, something that was largely an oversight in my childhood was the fact that the pristine wilderness is something you definitely don’t encounter every day. The ability to stand alone, with little to no sound is something I’ve grown to miss while confined to the concrete landscape of Hong Kong. Every few seconds, the bang of the upstairs in your apartment, a car ripping by, your own personal “sound space” is at a very high premium. This alone is enough for me to want to ride out the relatively more quiet lifestyle after the last few months living in one of the world’s most densely populated areas.
I wish I had taken better account of exactly what natural landmarks I had visited but off the top of my head the shots include Whistlers Mountain (tram ride), Athabasca Fals, Sunwapta Falls (I think), the Athabasca River and the Columbia Icefields. It was good to be able to just shoot some pics not really expecting anything but after reviewing them I’m happy I was able to make a set out of them. The way the water inconsistently creates different shapes at every turn is something I could probably watch for a good few hours a day haha.
-Eugene