You don't have to be a Hieun Tsang to love travelling. Neither do you have to love scholastic studies or to be in search of knowledge. Your final aim may not be to write a travelogue, so that you leave behind amazing memoirs for posterity. One thing, however, is certain. However much we may deny it, a love for travel is something we are all born with. We love to explore new lands and get acquainted with the culture, people and the cuisine that gives the place its special flavour.

Speaking about Canada, the second largest country in the world, we can see that it holds immense possibilities for a tourist who is in search of his particular kind of nirvana - a multicultural and bilingual haven of fair practice where the society is at home with both English and French.

In Canada, most travellers definitely find their nirvana when they are in close proximity with Nature. Ranging from sparkling lakes to breathtaking mountain ranges of the Rockies, from the vast flat arable and treeless stretches of the interior plains, spanning most of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba to the Tundras where the sub-soil is permanently frozen, Canada has gems of natural beauty which never cease to fascinate and perplex a traveller who wishes to be away from the pollution and suffocation that he finds in cities.

The weather in Canada fluctuates from lower than -30°C in winter to more than +30°C in the summer and influences the lives of Canadians who love to talk about it continuously, whether they are at work or at home.

While travelling in this land of ageless natural wonders, you come across friendly people hailing from a variety of backgrounds, like the original inhabitants - or the aboriginals - besides people who come to this country from all over the world with the idea of settling down. The aboriginal societies are said to have derived spiritual inspiration and solace from the phases and workings of Nature. The country is sparsely populated except in a few areas like Quebec City, the Windsor Corridor along the Great Lakes and the Saint Lawrence River in the Southeast. Canada has more lakes than any country in the world as well as more fresh water reserves.

Even in the deep forests, canoes are used while navigating on lakes and rivers. The mode of communication depends on the geographical location.

You may fly with a big Airline like Air Canada or a smaller one like Bearskin Airlines. You may also, according to your fancy, drive down the scenic Trans-Canadian Highway to appreciate the cowboy culture in Alberta or the friendly fishing villages in Atlantic Canada. Witnessing the powerful Pacific tides in British Columbia would be something that will linger long in your memory. So will the untamed landscapes of North Canada.

From December to April, you may enjoy skiing and riding horse-drawn sleighs at Banff, Canmore, Lake Louise, Yoho.
In summer, in the Canadian Rockies, you can enjoy sports like whitewater-rafting, mountain biking, hiking and horseback riding. When you take part in a guided canoe trip around Alberta and Yukon, you will first learn how to 'read' the water, then pitch a tent and begin your training on a quiet lake.

The uninhabited forested river valleys are home to many species like the Canadian geese, beavers, eagles, elk, bear and moose. You can light a romantic campfire under the northern lights. For the moderate hikes, no backpacking is required. You may just carry your lunch, rain gear and camera.

Another interesting excursion is called Heli Hike and Tipi Camp, which is declared by the UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. You can participate in a fascinating session with Native elders who will unravel the traditions of Canada's original inhabitants. Here, you will be travelling by helicopter.

If you wish to slide over the immense Columbian Ice fields, you may ride a special bus called `Snow Coach' and get the thrill of your life. Or, with the help of your guide, walk on the slippery surface of the Athabasca glacier.
Experience what a Tipi Camp is: Situated in Edmonton, capital of Alberta, the tipi or trapper camp is pitched on a meadow in the forest. A sleeping platform and stoves accompany the wooden floor. The camp has running water and hot showers. And around you, nature in all its glory!

Canada is undeniably associated with the Canadian flag, the beaver and the maple leaf. Maple syrup is a favourite purchase that foreign tourists bring home with them. Tourtière, Nanaimo bars, poutine and beaver tails along with salmon, game and fresh produce are all special delicacies of Canadian cuisine.

If you are travelling short distances, you can ride around Canada in a bus. It's relatively cheaper and the services are efficient. The train network is useful for those wishing to travel from east to west. It is comfortable and connects most of the cities on this route.

While on a long drive, take your family with you. It is cheaper and will work wonders. Those of you living near the Great Lakes can travel by the Seaplane - also known as the 'floatplane service'. It is a costly but fun experience, nevertheless.
And in the long run, the lovely lingering taste of enjoyment will stay on, forever.