May 2007
You are currently browsing the articles from Review and Things written in the month of May 2007.
At first glance, Mountain Restaurant looks like just another diner next to the highway, BUT looks deceive in this case. Okay, it is off the highway and next to an Esso gas station, but once inside the restaurant you are treated to a great view of the mountains. You forget that you are sitting so close to a mundane parking lot.
I guess Mountain Restaurant lives up to its name with this picturesque view. 
We got here on a Saturday afternoon after driving back from the Columbia Icefields. It took a bit of time to get seated. After that we got asked only three times for our order by three different people, all of whom seemed to have an Australian accent. 
The food came quickly and was good quality, and the atmosphere was nice. I especially liked the furniture, made from heavy wood and finished with a thick layer of varnish.
My conclusion is that if you’re in Lake Louise and want to have a nice but quick meal, then Mountain Restaurant will not disappoint. Just be aware that it could be pretty busy since there are few choices in Lake Louise.
The Mountain Restaurant
200 Village Road
Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada
http://www.lakelouisemountainrestaurant.ca/
Written by George on May 30th, 2007 with 1 comment.
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The Netgear WPGS606 is a wireless USB printserver and 4 ports switch. Whit this cool little box you can connect you printer to the network and add some computer to your network to. The cool thing is that you don’t have to ad wires because the WPGS606 connects wireless to you wireless router so now you can have you Internet coming in upstairs and ad and computer in the basement without a wire from upstairs to downstairs.
I my case I got the Netgear WPGS606 to connect my printer to the network so that all my computers could print to it without having to share it through one computer.
I got my Netgear from EBay so I can’t say to much about what it came with. But the SPGS606 looks really nice it has a nice white finish and comes with a stand that fits very tight on it. If you want to use the Netgear WPGS606 as a print server then before you buy it make sure that you printer is supported, check the compatibilities list and i can tell you that the Dell 1110 printer also works without any problems.
The installation of the WPGS606 is not that difficult just follow the wizard (download the newest version) and then not much can go wrong. BUT if something is not completely standard then you could need some more knowledge. I my case everything went find except the Netgear didn’t allowed me to use the security code from my router so first that needed to be changed (and then of course on all my computer) but after that it was very easy.
For the last couple of weeks the Netgear WPGS606 is standing next to my Printer and didn’t create any problems.
I now am thinking of getting a second one so that i can connect a computer in the basement to the internet
My advice if you know something about networks and want to get your printer on the network think of the Netgear WPGS606. And maybe look online for a good deal I got mine as a refurbished unit on eBay for 30 dollars.
Written by George on May 25th, 2007 with 1 comment.
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Want to go for a little walk in nature and want something different then always all those parks in Calgary?
Then maybe Big Hill Springs is the place to go. It is less then 20km outside of the city and you really feel like you are in nature.
Just follow Highway 1A in the direction Cochrane and just a couple of km outside of Calgary you will see the signs to the Big Hill Provincial Park.
The park area has a nice parking and a toilet (not smelling that great 
)
You can just follow the path and that will keep you busy for an hour or so the Path go’s round som eventually you will get back to the parking lot.
A big part of the Big Hill Springs park has a nice little stream running through it with small waterfalls and that makes it feel extra nice. I always love the sounds of water and here you can enjoy it
When we where here in May 2007 (normal weekday) it was not very busy but there where a few people around so I can imagine that I will be pretty busy when summer comes to Alberta.
Al with al the Big Hill Springs Provencial park is worth a visit it is nice and the walk is not to big so just enough to get some fresh air.
Written by George on May 23rd, 2007 with no comments.
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Head Smashed in Buffalo Jump is one of North America’s biggest Buffalo Jumps here it is where the Native people try to drive the Buffalo’s over the the sandstone cliffs.
This UNESCO World Heritage Site will tell you the complete story of the Buffalo Jump. When you get to the Head Smashed in Buffalo Jump location you are first directed to the theatre where you are shown a short movie about the Buffalo hunting. After the movie you are pointed outside to the sandstone cliffs where the Buffalo’s would have jumped of for many years. It is a very nice location and you can see for miles and miles away.
After you are done looking and taking pictures outside you will go back inside the Head Smashed in Buffalo Jump building where you can follow the story of the Native people and how they hunted and what changed in the many years the Jump was used.
The last part of the presentation will tell you the story about the archaeologists that do the research on site.
All with all the Head Smashed in Buffalo Jump attraction is very interesting and I definitely learned a lot of this intriguing way of hunting. The staff is very helpful and answered all my questions.
The cafeteria looks a bit shabby but they serve real buffalo burgers
Head Smashed in Buffalo Jump location is about two hours drive from Calgary (18km from Fort MacLeoad)
Head Smashed in Buffalo Jump
18 kms north & west of Fort Macleod on Highway 785.
Phone: 1-403-553-2731
www.head-smashed-in.com
Written by George on May 22nd, 2007 with 1 comment.
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A trip to the Banff Upper Hot Springs gives you the chance to take a dip in natural mineral waters. The water in the Banff Upper Hot Springs is always somewhere between 37 and 40 degrees, and that is pretty warm ;). The Banff springs are nestled amid beautiful scenery, making them ideal for a relaxing getaway. From the HOT outdoor pool you can enjoy a beautiful view of Mount Rundle.
You get a first glimpse of the pool if you look to your right on the walkway leading to the entrance.
The air outside was cool when we visited the hot springs on May 5th, but the water was so nice and warm we had a hard time getting out of it.
The changing facilities are simple but adequate. Bring change for the lockers.
The springs are pretty popular and very crowded on weekends and in the summer, so plan your visit with this in mind.
After a relaxing soak in the pool, you may be in the mood for a bite in the restaurant or a browse in the gift shop.
I really enjoyed the Banff Upper Hot Springs. It is a great place for a quick getaway. I plan to go back in the wintertime, when it will be crisp and chilly outside but warm and cozy in the water.
Banff Upper Hot Springs
Sulphur Mountain (end of Mountain Avenue) (just before the Banff Gondola)
Banff, AB
Phone: (403) 762-1515
www.hotsprings.ca
Written by George on May 17th, 2007 with 1 comment.
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You know that you can save a lot of water if you would install a rain barrel? Now you can use your rain water for your garden. Your plants like it better to because this doesn’t have all the chemicals in it that the water from the tap has.
Just connect a Rain barrel to the downspout and it will fill itself with each drop of rain.
Make sure do that you cover the top so and the sprout so that insect will not start using you barrel for there reproduction. You can just get a a fabric like we use to keep the insect out of the house and just put it over the top.
And before the real winter starts make sure to empty out your Rain Barrel because you don’t want it to brake because of the frost.
Go look for a nice barrel and give it a try this summer
Written by George on May 16th, 2007 with no comments.
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If you want a bird’s-eye view of Calgary, Calgary Tower is the place to be.
Calgary Tower is not the tallest building in central Calgary, but it is one of the few that offer 360 degrees of viewing pleasure. On a clear day, you can see for miles and miles - the Rocky Mountains, the Pengrowth Saddledome, the downtown cluster of high-rise buildings. It is also very interesting to see where the roads go and where the Bow and Elbow rivers flow.
The elevator ride to the top of Calgary Tower takes only a couple of minutes and culminates in the best view overlooking Calgary. If you dare stand on the perimeter glass floor (warning to those afraid of heights!), you’ll also see what is happening 525 feet below.
If you don’t know what you’re looking at, the information displays around the observation tower may have the answer.
No tower is complete without a revolving restaurant - the Panorama Dining Room lends itself to a nice, romantic dinner 190 meters above the city.
There is also a more casual restaurant, but it was closed when we were there. I was also a bit disappointed to find the retail shop closed and many of the vending machines out of order.
Your Calgary Tower ticket is valid for the entire day, so you can study the city in daylight and then go back to see it lit up at night.
If you are planning to go with friends, try to get the VISA coupon booklet (I found mine at Calgary Airport), which has a 2-for-1 coupon.
This was my first visit to Calgary Tower and I really enjoyed it. It is worth a visit, even for Calgarians, because it is a uniquely memorable way to experience the city.
Written by George on May 15th, 2007 with 2 comments.
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Big T’s is tucked away in a little strip mall between Crowchild Trail and Motel Village, close to the Banff Trail LRT Station.
It doesn’t look like much from the outside, but the inside looks and feels just like a “BBQ and smokehouse” should.
The food is great and portions are BIG.
It was a Thursday night and far from busy, yet the service was barely adequate. Our servers were somewhat brusque and impatient.
But because the food was great and the ambience was good, I would definitely go back.
If you’re ever staying in Motel Village or just passing nearby, Big T’s BBQ & Smokehouse is a good place to get some tasty food.
BIG T’s BBQ & Smokehouse
2138 Crowchild Trail NW
Calgary, AB
Written by George on May 14th, 2007 with no comments.
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A visit to Banff is not complete without a ride on the Banff Gondola. When you take the gondola up to the summit of Sulphur Mountain, you can truly see the world from high above. The Upper Terminal (pictured) is 2281 meters above sea level and houses an observation deck where you can gaze down on the town of Banff and the surrounding wilderness.
We found some restaurants with beautiful views and a souvenir shop (always very crowded). From the Upper Terminal, you can follow the walkway to the Stone Observatory that dates back to 1903. You can also hike up or down Sulphur Mountain. If you don’t feel like riding the gondola downward, just follow the trails back to the Lower Terminal. Of course, you can also hike to the summit and ride the gondola down, but if you plan to do this, buy your gondola ticket at the Lower Terminal before you head up.
A cool feature of the gondola ride is that, in the short time it takes to go up the mountain, the weather changes before your eyes. May 5th, the day of our visit, was a beautiful day in Banff - nice and warm with no snow on the ground. At the top of Sulphur Mountain, it was not too cold but there was an abundance of fresh snow, which made everything simply beautiful. So it’s best to be prepared for more extreme weather up top.
This webcam offers a sneak peek of the view you will enjoy from the Banff Gondola Upper Terminal.
Don’t leave out the Banff Gondola in your Banff travel plans - you’ll be missing out on the most breathtaking views of this scenic region!
Banff Gondola
Sulphur Mountain (end of Mountain Avenue)
Banff, AB
Phone: (403) 762-2523
www.banffgondola.com
Written by George on May 13th, 2007 with 1 comment.
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After a long day of sightseeing, my friends and I got so hungry we could eat anything, but of course we didn’t want to eat just anything ;), so we chose a Malaysian restaurant called Tropika just outside Calgary’s downtown core. It is situated on 1518 Centre Street NE and has ample parking space in front.
The restaurant had nice decor and plenty of seating. The menu was extensive, with most of the items accompanied by pictures, so those new to Malaysian cuisine can get a visual feel for the food.
I ordered the Sliced Lemon Chicken with chicken-flavoured rice. The chicken was coated in a sweet lemony crust. It was pretty sweet but very good. I was also glad that it wasn’t spicy.
My three friends were all very happy with their food and not much ended up in the doggy bag.
If you’re in the mood for Southeast Asian food, I highly recommend Calgary’s Tropika Malaysian Cuisine.
Tropika Malaysian Cuisine
#171, 1518 Centre Street NE
Calgary, AB, T2E 2R9
Phone: (403) 230-3330
www.tropikagroup.com
Written by George on May 13th, 2007 with 3 comments.
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