By Lynda Bulimo, July 18 2010
I have always been intrigued by the Rocky Mountains since I did a project on mountain ranges in Year Six at school in England.  Now living just four hours away from the famous Rockies, I couldn’t wait for a chance to be up close and personal.
We set off from Edmonton and travelled down to Banff, a region in south western Alberta which is a popular tourist attraction with my family and best friend, Andrea Ford who is on vacation from England.  Although I was very much looking forward to see the mountains from a close range, I lost my nerves when I, my sister Sasha and Andrea boarded the gondola that was to take us up the summit. However, once inside the gondola, there was no going back and moreover it was a magnificent way to conquer my height phobia.
Within minutes we were up and away into the grey skies. If the ground scenery was fantastic, the view from the top was surreal. Like a scene out of Twilight Saga movie, the view over the forest below and the mountains is imbued with suspense and intrigue. It was simply breathtaking; I felt like I was journeying to a mystical land where I’ll be surrounded by angels.
Going up to higher altitudes, my ears began to pop and hurt, the kind of sensation you feel when the plane is taking off and landing. I didn’t bother me and having conquered my fears, I concentrated on looking down to see if I could spot and photograph bears which roam Albertan wilderness.  However, I was unlucky in this search but I did see mountain climbers which I thought was very brave of them; in fact quite encouraging. The snow on the mountains adds a really pretty decorative bonus to the beauty of the Rockies as seen in the photograph below.

By Andrea Ford, July 18, 2010
I never thought I’d see so much in a two-week trip. I left my home in England for a vacation in Canada not sure what to expect.  All that changed when I visited the Canadian tourist resort of Banff, Alberta. Here, aboard a tiny Gondola, I had a breathtaking panoramic view of the Rocky Mountains, the second longest mountain range in the world after the Andes of South America.  Suspended in the blue sky like a crystal raindrop and surrounded by puffs of white clouds, each taking its own individual form, I marvelled at this natural phenomenon created more than 76 million years ago.

  I’ve always been fascinated by how clouds drift along the skies together and always wondered if I could possibly float above the fluffy surface or whether it would simply dissolve away in my fingertips.  To see these vistas from a close range took my breath away and is more beautiful than I could have imagined. I mean; I have seen sights from high above ground before, but nothing quite like in Banff.

Spectacular views

As I, my best friend Lynda and her younger sister Sasha boarded the Gondola, I felt a sudden rush of excitement while Lynda, who is acrophobic, panicked. But as we rose from the ground, everyone enjoyed the spectacular views with gorgeous fresh blue rivers glistening below and the large village transformed into a miniature wonderland.  

The journey took only eight minutes to reach mountain top but in that short time, we were transported to a world full of rocky wonders.  Along the way we spotted some brave mountain climbers doing their beloved sport and I imagined it must have taken them hours to reach their destination. I know from my mountain climbing knowledge what an exhausting but exhilarating experience that can be; only this time I was at the mountain top with little physical effort.

Although the journey from Edmonton via Montana in USA and to Banff felt like the longest five days of my life, I am glad I went as an opportunity to see these world acclaimed vistas is certainly worth the journey and will remain with me for as long as I can hope to remember.

By Sasha Bulimo, July 18, 2010
Canada is home to one of the longest and major mountain range not only in North America, but in the world. Can you guess which mountain range I’m talking about? That’s right: The Rocky Mountains! Currently, much of the mountain range is protected by national parks and is a popular tourist destination, especially for hiking, camping, skiing, snowboarding and fishing. Banff National Park in Alberta gives you a closer look at the Rocky Mountains. However, to get even closer to the mountain range, most tourists use a Gondola, a type of lift that takes you up the mountains. This is truly one of the best ways to see the mountains of the Canadian Rockies. The ride itself takes eight minutes and brings you to the summit of the mountain and back.
My Experience:
When my sister Lynda, her friend Andrea and myself stepped foot on the Gondola for the first time, we were all frightened but excited at the same time. The Gondola itself was only a small capsule, holding only four people at a time. As I took my seat in the Gondola, I was expecting a seat belt of some sort. However, there was none so this reassured me that this ride was going to be safe and smooth. When the Gondola launched, I looked up, and saw how high it had to climb. Still feeling frightened but with nowhere to run to, the ride went on and before we knew it we were already halfway up the mountain top. Although this was the scariest part the views were absolutely spectacular. We were so high up I was no longer able to pin-point the area where my parents were waiting. I couldn’t see them; I couldn’t see anything down below at all. But, I’ll tell you what I did see.

By Lynda Bulimo, Aug 26 2009
Jamaica is a place I’ve always been intrigued about since I was young. Growing up in London, I had many Jamaican friends and teachers. The parents of my Jamaican friends spoke with a very distinct accent, and I knew it wasn’t very “African”. So where in the world could they possibly be from? In my naivety, I thought all black people come from Africa. This is true given what I now know about the history of the Trans Atlantic slave trade. So I was delighted to get the opportunity to visit the beautiful Caribbean island, to see for myself just what makes Jamaica tick. More...

By Sasha Bulimo, Aug 26 2009
On the evening of Friday, August 8th 2009, my family and I made our way to the airport. I was so excited and thrilled that we were “actually” going to Jamaica, the land of relaxation and music! More...

Aug 26 2009
It was a first one for Robert Ayieko and his friend, Albertina Mutheu Kasoa. The couple are seen here in enjoying horse riding in the vast Canadian resort of Banff National Park in Alberta over the weekend. Mr Ayieko who moved from London to work in Calgary eight months ago.