Ulton's Audit and Forensic Accounting Partner, Bernard Whebell recently took a trip to Canada with two other couples from Hervey Bay. While one of the couples were avid skiers, Bernard was more interested in exploring the country and experiencing new things. In this Q&A style article, Bernard shares his highlights, cultural experiences, and recommendations for those planning a trip to Canada.
Q: Who did you go to Canada with?
A: I went with Sharon (my wife) and two other couples from Hervey Bay.
Q: Why Canada?
A: One of the couples were mad skiers and were going to Whistler and Banff. As I had never been to Canada and had always been interested in seeing it, I decided to join them.
Q: What were some of the highlights of your trip?
A: Snowmobiling to a little cottage in the mountains with a stunning view, ice hockey games, and visiting Niagara Falls from the Canadian side. I also Ziplined despite being terrified of heights.
Image: A little cottage in the mountains of Banff
Q: Did you have any interesting cultural experiences?
A: The snow and the ice-hockey.
Q: Were there any local cuisines or dishes that you would recommend?
A: I wasn't impressed with the coffee, but found some nice beef dishes. The food is very similar to ours and cost parity to Australia.
Q: Did you encounter anything unexpected during your trip?
A: I loved the friendly and hospitable locals, how cheap the food was, and what was different, was how everything came with a tip, even at the supermarkets.
Q: What recommendations would you give to someone planning a trip to Canada?
A: Vancouver, Banff, and Niagara Falls were definitely worth visiting. I wished I had more time to explore some of the smaller towns and driven across the Trans Canadian Highway. Next time I go to Canada, I would love to go during the summer to experience the natural side of the country.
Q. What did you wish you would have seen?
A. I really wanted to see some bears - but they were hibernating when we were there.
Q: Where's the next place you'd like to go for a trip?
A: Nowhere is planned as of now. I'm fortunate enough to be able to travel at the moment. Although, I would love to go back to Japan or Singapore because I have friends there.
Q: Have you thought of any particular activities or places you'd like to
A: Yes, I'm particularly interested in hiking the Camino way in Spain. It's a religious pilgrimage walk that used to be done in the Middle Ages, and there are tours available where you can hike from one hotel to the next. I also would love to see the Alpine area of Europe, Germany, and other such places.
Q: Do you have any travel dreams that you hope to turn into a reality one day?
A: Well, I have a dream that the day I stop working, I will liquidate everything and just keep one house. Then, I want to rent a unit in Florence for six months from one December to 30 June. Then, we rent a unit in London from one July to 31 December. We continue this pattern, living in different places every six months, maybe even in Tokyo or a country hillside in the back of Japan or somewhere up in Canada.
Q: That sounds amazing. You really want to experience living in different places.
A: Yes, I think it would be a much more profound and meaningful form of travel rather than just visiting places for a short time.
Here is Bernard's brief description of some of the places he visited.
Here are some images from Bernard's trip.