Exploring Victoria Bay: A Day of Miniature Wonders and Coastal Beauty

Our next stop was Miniature World, which I stumbled upon through a brochure on the ferry and decided to visit. The place exhibits several famous scenes and cityscapes in miniature scale. When I looked closely, I felt like a giant observing the world from above, imagining the tiny people coming to life. Some exhibits even had buttons that, when pressed, activated parts of the display. One of the largest exhibits illustrated the history of the trans-Canada railway from the west coast to the east coast, traveling from Vancouver to Toronto and beyond. It was reminiscent of the small villages and towns in Red Dead Redemption.

It's hard to believe that bustling metropolises like Vancouver and Toronto began with just a few houses around the railroad. There were also exhibits depicting imaginary worlds from storybooks, like Snow White and Gulliver's Travels. I even found a miniature window cleaner hanging in the top left corner, cleaning the glass and waving hello. It was a unique experience to see the world from this perspective and a vivid way to visualize history.

Next, we headed towards the bay area, where old government buildings and the homes of wealthy residents are located. Although I'm no architecture expert, I could tell the difference in the buildings. Leaning on the stone fence next to the shore, I felt the wind after it traveled across the sea, through the rust on fishing boats, and into my nose. Ignoring the passing cars on the street, everything seemed to slow down. People were enjoying their afternoon tea by the shore under orange umbrellas, ripples on the sea slowly scattered, small boats wobbled at the dock, and a seaplane gradually slowed its propeller and glided towards the dock.

Our next stop was the old Parliament House, a magnificent mansion located on the other side of the bay. The copper cap on the building had turned blue-green, consistent with what I learned in my corrosion class. After waiting in line and passing the security check, we stepped into this historical and magnificent building. Despite the sophisticated parliamentary room and reflective marble floors, I was particularly attracted to the stained glass in the corridors and stairways. Thankfully, it was sunny, allowing the colored sunlight to shine through the windows. The delicate drawings and figures on the glass were arranged symmetrically and uniquely, making it hard to look away.

With those glasses and stairs, I tried to take a photo while halfway up the stairway, under the second stained glass of the three. Imagine the sunshine casting a colorful glow over my shoulder, my hand touching the handrail, while looking down. However, the picture didn't turn out well; maybe I should have worn a cape.

We then walked along the beach, following the wooden docks and curves, counting the luxury boats until the white yachts suddenly gave way to a cluster of colorful houses swaying with the waves. In today's world, these houses are painted in dopamine-inducing colors—bright and vivid, making people feel relieved. With the right angle and filter, you can get a picture that looks like an anime scene. As I walked into Fisherman’s Wharf to see these colors up close, I found the houses further decorated with flowers on their porches. At the end of the wooden dock, I saw busy sea traffic with yellow cab boats moving clumsily and seaplanes splashing water as they took off. The waves striking the dock made me step back to regain balance. It’s not a long dock, with just a few dozen people living in the floating houses. I imagine sleeping with the gentle touch of the waves would be comfortable.

Continuing our walk along the beach, we found not too many marked places for tourists but enjoyed the deep blue sea. Looking towards the sun, we saw light beams floating above the sea, moving slowly with the waves, gathering and scattering. The mountains on the other side of the shore were capped in white, hard to distinguish whether it was cloud or snow.

Somewhere along the way, the concrete road turned into a grassy field. It seems Victoria kept the cliff shore as it is, with thatch and purple flowers swaying in the wind. Looking down the cliff, the sea waves struck moss-covered stones, turning into foam and fading away. At that moment, I walked into the heart of the plain, stretched my arms, and felt the wind passing through my fingertips and hair

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On the way back to the hotel, we passed the castle-like Fairmont Hotel, marked as a city landmark on the map. We went inside and sat in the grand hall, admiring the sophisticated decor. Although there are more luxurious hotels back in China, the special thing about the Fairmont is its long history. After a 10-minute rest, we had dinner in Chinatown and headed back to the hotel

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After resting in the hotel, I went for a walk to see the sunset. The hotel was on the city's edge, where high-rises faded away, replaced by single-level houses with flat roofs. There weren't many people on the street, just a few drunk individuals, so I walked quickly on the other side. I found my way to the shore and crossed a wooden bridge connecting to a small island. This bridge was part of a bike lane, used by walkers. Reaching the other side, I found myself in a wealthy neighborhood and even saw a water taxi dock, but this time it was quiet, with only the reflection of the sunset on the water. On the way back, we saw people packing up their boats and starting to leave. I thought it was time to head back before nightfall. This wrapped up our first day in Victoria.