Bonjour Canada! - Solo travels (Day 7)

Rideau Hall, National Art Gallery of Canada and National Science and Technology Museum.

I had a really good night's sleep for the first time in the last 6 nights. Not that the hotel room was not comfortable, but i would always wake up in the middle of the night, and fall back to sleep only 30 min later. Last night, i did not wake up at all. Probably bcos i walked so much the day before.

The night before, i had planned to go 3 places for today - Rideau Hall, Science and Technology Museum and National Art Gallery, using the OC Transpo Travel Planner online to plan my trip by bus. H/e i had difficulties navigating my way by bus, as you'll see later in the post.

Walked over to Mac's for breakfast before i headed over to the bus stop near the Notre Dame Basilica. After waiting for about 10 min, i find it weird that no buses seem to be coming my way at all. Looking at the bus schedule, i then realize that the earlier bus had just left when i came, and the next one is 1 hr later!! The long gap in bus arrival times is due to the fact that it was a Sunday. I decide to walk over to Rideau Hall, since it was not that far, and i had walked over there the day before.

It was slightly after 9 when i reached Rideau Hall entrance. The security guard informed me and another couple who were there to visit that the Hall is opened for visiting upon reservation for group visits during this period of the year, and as there're no staff today, we're not able to enter the Hall for visits. Nevertheless, we're welcome to visit the grounds.

Slightly despondent, i still entered the place to visit the grounds.

Rideau Hall is the home and workplace of every Governer-General of Canada since Confederation in 1867.





The grounds of Rideau Hall - 32 hectares of rolling lawns, winding paths, forests and gardens -were originally modelled on the style of an English country estate. The grounds reflect in their evoluation a very Canadian environment. Landscaping elements, such as the totem pole and inuksuk, are uniquely Canadian; evergreens are more prominent and sugar maples make up most of the wooded areas. In fact, tapping the sugar maples to make maple syrup has become a spring tradition at Rideau Hall.

After that, i wanted to make my way to the Science and Technology Museum. h/e i was caught in a dilemma as i missed the bus (again!) and it would be another hour or so before the next one came. I was feeling cold also as it was only about 4-5 degree celsius then, and i sought temporary refuge at the bus stop. In the end, i decide to walk back to the National Art Gallery and visit there first, before making my way to the S&T Museum later.


I arrived at the National Art Gallery at about 11 am. The entrance fee costs CAD$15 (~S$18) for entrance fee to the Art Gallery's permanent collections, as well as the temporary collection "Caught in the Act: The viewer as the performer" on display at the moment.

Felt really hungry after depositing my bag and jacket at the baggage counter (a requirement for bags bigger than A4 size in surface, which is good actually as you wont need to carry your bags or your winter jacket around the galleries), and decide to have sandwiches at the cafe here. The cafe offered a nice view of the Ottawa River and the nearby Parliament Hill.

(From here on, the post would be short as no photos were allowed in the galleries, and i know it'd be boring to read long posts w/o photos!)

I first went right to the top level to look at the Canadian Aboriginal Contemporary photography, which was there on temporary display as the photography museum was closed temporarily for renovations. The photographs and videos see the Aboriginal people's lives through the Aboriginal artists' eyes.

Next was the temporary exhibit "Caught in the Act: The viewer as the performer". The artists hope to engage viewers in the artistic process through their sculptures, immersive environments and installations.

This gadget is "activitated" when visitors push the door which is connected, causing the disco-like ball to move down to the other side of the balance:

They were pretty interesting exhibits, as visitors are no longer just viewing the exhibits from a third-party pov, but are active participants in the artistic process. There were also interesting gadgets for kids, such as the microphone that alters voice at varying frequencies.

Went on to the European and American Art exhibits.

The European and American galleries integrate painting, sculpture and decorative arts ranging in date from the early fourteenth to the late twentieth century. This was probably my favourite section, and i was intrigued by the intricate details put into the oil paintings, esp those during the Medieval and Renaissance periods, which were heavily inspired by Christianity and/or Jesus.

Some of the paintings (out of the perhaps thousand pieces there) that have left an impression on me:

Eve, Death and Serpent (by Hans Baldung Grien). Lust and death are linked, as an enticing Eve, apple in hand, grasps the tail of the serpent while casting a veiled glance at a fallen Adam, who, in a decomposed state, has been transformed into the figure of Death:

Vulcan and Aeolus (by Peiro di Cosimo). It is thought to represent the dawn of civilization, with man's discovery and utilization of fire (Vulcan, god of fire, at the anvil together with Aeolus, master of the winds, wit the bellows) and the domestication of animals (the unidentified youth astride a horse):

Claude Monet Jean-Pierre Hoschedé and Michel Monet on the Banks of the Epte:

Vincent van Gogh Vase with Zinnias and Geraniums:

Next was Asian Art.

A selection of exquisite eighth- to thirteenth- century Indian stone sculptures from the Max Tanenbaum collection are currently on display. Mainly architectural elements carved in deep relief, these works depict Hindu, Buddhist and Jain deities.

Went on to Canadian Art section.

Early Aboriginal art works and paintings and sculptures of the 1970s are installed in the spacious Canadian galleries.

Sister Saint Alphonse (1841) by Antoine Plamondon:


Sunrise on the Sanguenay, Cape Trinity (1880) by Lucius R.O'Brien:



The Jack Pine (1916-1917) by Tom Thomson:

The Red Maple (1914) by A.Y. Jackson:



As i need to make time for my next destination, i did not spend as much time as i wanted to at the Canadian art galleries, and left the place at about 2:15pm.


I wasnt sure what bus to take to the Science and Technology museum, so i decide to take a taxi instead, since it's only a 10 mins' ride from downtown Ottawa. You only need to make a toll-free call on the phone inside the gallery, and a taxi would come within 10 min. The taxi fare cost me about CAD$12+ (~S$15).

The entrance ticket to the museum is CAD$7.50 (~S$9).


The place is very suitable for families with kids to come, as there're many interactive gadgets for kids to learn more about the inventions by Canadians, and other aspects of modern technology - communications like satellites, phone, e-mail, space travelling, etc. The place also explores past and modern day transport like railway trains, bicycles, aeroplane, etc.


The first stop was a look at canoes, and how it shaped lives of the Aboriginal people and the European inhabitants during the 18th century:





Next, life-sized trains which look operational and looked like they had run on actual railways before:






The toddler looked so small compared to the train, keke:

Space travelling and astronomy section.

Doesnt this remind you of Star Wars?:

Some real-sized satellite thingy:

Life-sized rocket:

Antique cars:

This section talked about how the bicycle transformed to how it eventually looks like now:

The museum did not turn out as interesting/engaging as i'd have expected, although the exhibits themselves were done pretty well. They probably lost me at some of the more technical details, which i do not have a particular interest in. I was still very fascinated and awed by the life-sized trains, as well as the old bicycles and photographs of the aurora.

I asked for directions for buses at the reception, but it was getting really cold by then (it was close to 5pm then, but i had turned dark) so i decide to take a taxi back to downtown instead.

I had dinner at Rideau Centre again, this time had fried rice special from the Manchu Wok place. Did not enjoy my dinner as much as my other meals in Canada so far, as the rice was rather dry and i found it hard to swallow without drinking some water.

Popped over to the Chapters Bookstore. As i've decided to go Montreal the next day, i wanted to get a travel guidebook. Also spent some time reading a novel there before i went back to hotel at about 8pm.

Slept early at 10 plus, as i would be leaving for the bus terminal at about 6:15 am the next day.

Bonjour Canada! - Solo travels (Day 6 Part II)

Parliament Hill, Chinatown and Rideau Falls Park Part II

We had a sumptous meal of rice, vegetables, shrimp omelette and gong bao chicken at one of the Chinese restaurants there. The Chinese couple told me more about Canada during the meal, and that i could consider going to Montreal for a day tour since i've some free time the next few days.

After lunch, we went back to Ottawa downtown, and they dropped me off outside Parliament Hill. It was about 2 plus then. I first went to the Info Center that was opposite Parliament Hill to enquire about Gatineau Park that i heard from the couple. It was supposedly very beautiful during the Autumn, and they held a Fall's Rhapsody just a couple of weeks ago. To my disappointment, a lady at the Info Center informed me that it's not advisable to go Gatineau Park now due to the weather, and also bcos there're less things/view to see now that we're at the end of autumn.

I then enquired about tours to Montreal. Also disappointed to hear that there's no tours organised from Ottawa to Montreal. But they do have buses that go to Montreal, which takes about a couple of hours, and i could go on tours in Montreal itself.


After getting the necessary info about the bus to Montreal, I went off to Parliament Hill.

As mentioned before, Parliament Hill is not only Ottawa and Canada's key landmark, it is also a functional workplace where members of the House of Commons and House of Senators meet on a regular basis to debate draft Bills and whether to pass them. This is possibly the most important place in Canada, as the policies passed here affect all Canadians, one way or another.

Only the Centre Block of the Parliament Hill is open for visitors to enter. You also need to go on guided tours, as some areas are not open for visitors. I signed up for the 3:15pm tour (which is free, btw).

Our first stop was the House of Commons Foyer.

Photo: © 2001 Library of Parliament

The Foyer is probably most familiar to Canadians as the setting for the ritual known as "the scrum", where Members of Parliament field questions, surrounded by journalists, cameras and tape recorders, following Question Period and debates in the House of Commons.

The staircase that is always featured in the news when the Prime Minister fields questions from the journalists after a session is over:


Some of the intricate details in the walls of the foyer. Many of these have been added only later, as a result of re-building of the House of Commons after a fire that almost destroyed the entire Centre Block (except for the Library) in 1916:





House of Commons chambers, where Members of Parliament assemble to debate issues and pass laws for all Canadians:



The Speaker's chair is the focal point of the room. Government members sit on the right hand of the Speaker, while members of the Opposition parties sit on the left. Above and behind the Speaker's chair are the galleries for the public, the media, distinguished visitors and political staff.

It is interesting that the intricate details such as the provincial and terrritorial flowers in the stained glass windows, and the Canadian wildlife that runs through the ornate white borders are taken care of in such details, such that the chamber is not only symbolic as the core of the democratic system in Canada, but also portrays the national identity of Canadians.

Next, we passed through the Rotunda, which is also called the Confederation Hall.

Photo: © 2001 Library of Parliament

From its initial designs in 1916, the Rotunda was meant to represent the coming together of the diverse elements of Canada in a strong federation. Each one of the provinces and territories, including those that joined after the construction of the room are represented by their coats of arms.

The Neo-Gothic design made the hallway a very attractive place, and also reinforces the design of the entire Centre Block as a whole.

Library of Parliament. Modelled on the Reading Room of the British Museum, this distinctive circular structure features a ring of sixteen flying buttresses, pinnacles, decorative windows and beautiful ornamental ironwork. The Library building is crowned by a circular lantern.

The first Librarian of Parliament, Alpheus Todd, advised that this Gothic marvel be separated from the Centre Block by a corridor to protect it from fire. That advice helped save the Library from the disastrous fire that struck the Centre Block in 1916.

Impressive Library, that is still functional till today:

The Library of Parliament serves the information, research and documentation needs of Parliament. Its collection covers hundreds of years of history. Its staff answers today's questions and anticipates tomorrow's information needs while working in the oldest part of Centre Block -the only part that survived the fire of 1916.

Shelves of books and archives that line the walls of the Library:


Work desks for the librarians, with photocopier machines and computers in the background:


Other intricate details of the Library:

Next, we were at the Senate Foyer.

The Upper House of Canada's Parliament, the Senate plays a central role in Canada's legislative process, examining and debating bills passed by the House of Commons as well as introducing new legislation.

Photo: © 2001 Library of Parliament

Senate chambers:

Brilliant in royal red and gold, the Senate Chamber is where the Queen or her representative, the Governor General, addresses Parliament and gives assent to bills destined to become law. The Senate is also an equal partner in the legislative process: it is where Senators debate and revise bills passed by the House of Commons, investigate national issues, represent and protect regional, provincial and minority interests and introduce new legislation.

After finishing the tour, i still had a couple of hrs before sunset, so i decide to take a walk to Rideau Hall, along Sussex Drive.

The National Research Council of Canada:


Rideau River:

A gem discovery is the Rideau Falls Park, which i didnt realize/notice on the map until i actually passed by the place.

The Rideau River, just having passed Ottawa's old city hall (now the Canada and the World Pavillion), tumbles into the Ottawa River, cascading over a dramatic sheer waterfall. On June 4th 1613, explorer Samuel de Champlain named the river for the French word for curtain, "Rideau." You could also see the Leamy Lake Ecological Park and the Gatineau River on the opposite Quebec shore.

Rather spectacular waterfall:

It was very relaxing and cooling here, where you can enjoy the majestic view of Ottawa River, yet feel the warm of the sunshine on your face.

I continued my walk to Rideau Hall. Walked pass the Prime Minister's Residence and South African High Commission. Rather disappointed to find out that the Rideau Hall was closed for the day by the time i reached (about 530 pm). It was getting cold by then, so i quickly made my way back.

On the way, i discovered a recreational pathway along Rideau River, and a few locals pushing baby crams, walking the dog or cycling. I popped over to take a look, and it was rather fun to see dogs running freely on the fields near the River. A friendly golden retriever suddenly jumped on me and gave me a shock. His (or her?) owner came over and assured me that the dog meant no harm. I smiled at her, and patted the dog before i walked off.

It got really dark, so i quickly left the area and walked back to Rideau Center for dinner.

The whole journey is about more than 18 km, back and forth. It was no surprise that i felt SUPER exhausted and drained, and practically gobbled my dinner in less than 10 min.

After dinner, i popped over at my favorite haunt, Chapters bookstore to finish up a book that i was reading the other night.

Planned for tommorow's activities before i turned in at about 12.