We departed Falconridge at 8:40am (without breakfast), heading north the 295km to Edmonton. Just short of Red Deer I spotted a train on the tracks (it had a rear end device), but the motive power was no where to be seen. Red Deer is about half way to Edmonton, and Naushad turned off the motorway and headed west 14km to Sylvan Lake, a large lake and popular picnic, camping and boating spot. After a bit of trouble finding the local Tim Horton’s (it was not listed in the GPS unit), and then finding it was too busy we headed back to Highway 2 and continued north towards Edmonton. Arriving in Edmonton we went straight to a Punjabi restaurant on 34th Avenue for a combined breakfast and lunch smorgasbord. We then headed north-west to the West Edmonton Mall.
It seemed like every vehicle on the road was heading to the mall, the largest in the world. The mall occupies about 24 blocks, and includes two hotels, a casino, amusement park, water park and countless shops.
We took an entrance to the car park from 90th Avenue, and then went through a nondescript entrance into the mall (there are many entrances and this was not one of the main ones). We came out just near the water Deep Sea Adventure, with a sailing ship, submarines (not working), bumper boats and a seal and sea lion pool, with a display starting at 2pm. We watched and videoed the seal display, then we all went our separate ways, Rozi and Shamina to the shops they wanted to see, and myself and Naushad to see the swimming pool/beach, ice skating arena and the amusement park with various roller coasters etc. Once we had checked all that out I headed for the six shops I had earmarked in my earlier internet research. Three were camera shops (Japan Camera, McBains and Blacks), and two were book shops (Chapters and Coles). I also had the music store HMV on my list. I picked up a mall guide and worked out where I wanted to go. I was lucky as all the shops I had earmarked were within the one section of the guide’s index (Photo, Music, Books and Stationery). I marked on the map the locations I wanted to go to and then started.
I started at the eastern end of the ground floor and checked out Japan Camera (average mall photo shop) and just a short walk away, McBain Camera. I then headed west for about ten minutes before coming to Black’s Is Photography, and had a look there. Near the western end of the mall is the Chapters bookstore as well as HMV on both levels. Chapters was an excellent store, and I could have spent hours in there, although there transport section was a bit thin on the railroad side. A plus was that the transport and photo sections were just 3 or 4 feet away from each other. The photo section was very good, although I already had many of the books. In the rest of the shop I found the specials table, and a book titled “Bollywood Today” for $10. I also picked up a copy of The Railroad Press, a magazine I subscribed too a few years ago. Into HMV I checked out the lower level, and then up the escalator to level two. Here I found a 5 DVD set on the final years of steam, including bonus films. This was only $26 so I purchased this. One shop that did catch my eye was Michael Hill – Jeweller. So I took a picture of this. I also checked out the mall’s one pet shop where you could buy the normal (puppies, kittens, fish, and small caged birds), as well as the more exotic (large parrots, snakes, chameleons etc).
Moving back east on the second level, I headed to Coles, the second bookshop, but it was average. I had spotted a couple of art galleries on this level, so headed to these. Both of these (Editions Gallery and Wall Street Gallery) had many paintings and prints of trains, including a large print of a CP steam hauled passenger at Morant’s Curve. Most of these paintings were very large and between $1200 and $2000.
Time was now after 4:40pm and I had covered a few kilometres in the mall so headed back to the pre-arranged meeting point. Naushad was waiting but the ladies were still shopping, and would not be ready till about 5:15pm.
Shamina, meanwhile had been into clothing and gift shops picking up a few bits and pieces, including a new pair of jeans.
We finally departed the mall, heading further north to Jannifer Dean’s house. Jannifer, was a neighbour of Rozi’s in Matu Street, Nepani, Fiji. We had snacks, then kava, and finally a late dinner, before heading to bed about 12:30am.
It seemed like every vehicle on the road was heading to the mall, the largest in the world. The mall occupies about 24 blocks, and includes two hotels, a casino, amusement park, water park and countless shops.
We took an entrance to the car park from 90th Avenue, and then went through a nondescript entrance into the mall (there are many entrances and this was not one of the main ones). We came out just near the water Deep Sea Adventure, with a sailing ship, submarines (not working), bumper boats and a seal and sea lion pool, with a display starting at 2pm. We watched and videoed the seal display, then we all went our separate ways, Rozi and Shamina to the shops they wanted to see, and myself and Naushad to see the swimming pool/beach, ice skating arena and the amusement park with various roller coasters etc. Once we had checked all that out I headed for the six shops I had earmarked in my earlier internet research. Three were camera shops (Japan Camera, McBains and Blacks), and two were book shops (Chapters and Coles). I also had the music store HMV on my list. I picked up a mall guide and worked out where I wanted to go. I was lucky as all the shops I had earmarked were within the one section of the guide’s index (Photo, Music, Books and Stationery). I marked on the map the locations I wanted to go to and then started.
I started at the eastern end of the ground floor and checked out Japan Camera (average mall photo shop) and just a short walk away, McBain Camera. I then headed west for about ten minutes before coming to Black’s Is Photography, and had a look there. Near the western end of the mall is the Chapters bookstore as well as HMV on both levels. Chapters was an excellent store, and I could have spent hours in there, although there transport section was a bit thin on the railroad side. A plus was that the transport and photo sections were just 3 or 4 feet away from each other. The photo section was very good, although I already had many of the books. In the rest of the shop I found the specials table, and a book titled “Bollywood Today” for $10. I also picked up a copy of The Railroad Press, a magazine I subscribed too a few years ago. Into HMV I checked out the lower level, and then up the escalator to level two. Here I found a 5 DVD set on the final years of steam, including bonus films. This was only $26 so I purchased this. One shop that did catch my eye was Michael Hill – Jeweller. So I took a picture of this. I also checked out the mall’s one pet shop where you could buy the normal (puppies, kittens, fish, and small caged birds), as well as the more exotic (large parrots, snakes, chameleons etc).
Moving back east on the second level, I headed to Coles, the second bookshop, but it was average. I had spotted a couple of art galleries on this level, so headed to these. Both of these (Editions Gallery and Wall Street Gallery) had many paintings and prints of trains, including a large print of a CP steam hauled passenger at Morant’s Curve. Most of these paintings were very large and between $1200 and $2000.
Time was now after 4:40pm and I had covered a few kilometres in the mall so headed back to the pre-arranged meeting point. Naushad was waiting but the ladies were still shopping, and would not be ready till about 5:15pm.
Shamina, meanwhile had been into clothing and gift shops picking up a few bits and pieces, including a new pair of jeans.
We finally departed the mall, heading further north to Jannifer Dean’s house. Jannifer, was a neighbour of Rozi’s in Matu Street, Nepani, Fiji. We had snacks, then kava, and finally a late dinner, before heading to bed about 12:30am.
