Australia

The twelve-metre yacht mounted outside this pavilion ensured that no one ignored the pavilion. It was a made-in-B.C. replica of Australia II, winner of the America's Cup race for Australia in 1983. Inside, the pavilion consisted of three theatres showing three travelogues designed to entice visitors Down Under, particularly to the next world fair in Brisbane in 1988. The films were bright and breezy but there was little attempt to stress Expo's transportation theme.

There was a large shop with Australian souvenirs.

Canada

The big draw to the host country's pavilion was not just its size - 120,000 square feet - but also its picture postcard setting in Vancouver's Harbor. There were exhibits, films, live entertainment galore - you'd need at least a couple of hours to see everything. It was hard to criticise this pavilion - because it had everything. Worth the price of admission alone had to be the world's first 3-D film presentation on an IMAX system at the CN Theatre.

You had to obtain a ticket for either the CN IMAX Theatre presentation or the Teleglobe film, "Taming of the Demons", as soon as you arrived at the pavilion. If you wanted to see your alternate choice, you joined the standby line after the first show.

One of the most impressive views at Expo was from the "Prow" of the pavilion. Walking out of the exhibition hall, following the outdoor deck to the end, and climbing about four flights of stairs. It was well worth the trip.

Food: The restaurant at the "Prow" had a varied menu. Alternatively, getting off the beaten track and trying the food at the lower level of the pavilion where you got an impressive view of the Burrard Inlet.

Shops: There was a large selection of Canadian Native crafts available in a shop near the exit.

Canadian National

The big hit here was not so much what was inside as what was outside. The folks at CN had turned Newton's laws of motion into huge colourful toys that visitors could play with. For example, if enough people pedalled like crazy on stationary bicycles they could send a hoop spinning up a nine-metre mast. And people were actually silly enough to do it. A multi-media presentation featured Canadian actor Gordon Pinsent.

Japan

Japan offered a full learning experience. The most elaborate model at Expo showcased Japan's various transportation forms. You could ride on a magnetically levitated high speed train. Various high-tech effects were used throughout to make this a truly informative, yet entertaining pavilion.

Taking time at the large room sized model of the islands of Japan in motion. There were over 20,000 moving parts - model trains, planes, cars, ships, cranes, gondolas, subways etc. Riding the magnetic flotation HSST train and imagining what it would feel like to travel at speeds of 300 km/hr. Seeing the other two buildings, one showing various industries, the other an interesting history of the magnetic train.

There was live entertainment in the area next to the shop. There was a restaurant with a separate entrance serving Sushi and other Japanese dishes (seating 160).

Kenya

Starting at the Thom Trees entrance, you would be prepared for an informative tour. The differing regions of Kenya were described through pictures showing their tribal dress and geography.

The short movie Baloon Safari sailed over African grasslands capturing on film elephants, giraffes, predators and herds of gnus. One screen on the floor showed what the airborn photographers saw while a second wall screen showed the balloon from the ground. Leading to the open theatre was a sensitive yet powerful photo display on the people of Kenya.

The Thom Tree at the entrance was a replica of a tree in downtown Nairobi where people leave messages for each other.

The shop at the small boutique offered quality goods at very good prices. Carvings of ebony, soap stone, batiks and jewelry were some of the offerings.

Ontario

The pavilion was living proof that Ontario was still trying to be among the biggest and best of Canada. There was the 750 seat 3-D cinema - which thrilled viewers who tried to snag the feathers of low flying Canada geese. And then there was the black tunnel that tried to show visitors everything from hard-fought battles in primeval forests to the invention of the telephone by Alexander Graham Bell in Brantford, Ontario.

The amphitheatre was an excellent place from which to watch Expo's fireworks show at 10:30 p.m. nightly. There was also a continuous agenda of entertainment here.

Food: The Trillium Restaurant - overseen by Franco Prevedello, one of Ontario's foremost restauranteurs - sat above the pavilion, overlooking False Creek.

Pakistan

The architectural style of Pakistan, the Islamic culture and the ornate art forms were juxtaposed in this small pavilion. The entrance wais marked by a giant copper plate, with various chapters from the Koran. Beautifully woven silks and batik were displayed overhead. An ornately decorated bus, which was typical of buses in Pakistan, was the main thing to see in this pavilion.

Sitting in this unique bus which had travelled from Pakistan and relaxing while watching a video on Pakistan. Getting a feel for how the decoration of the bus reflected the aesthetics of this country.

The written text was bilingual in English and French.Shops: A small shop featured carpets and souvenirs.

Pavilion of Promise

The Pavilion of Promise was a high-tech musical and visual extravaganza. The audience was captivated by a magnificent interplay of beautifully choreographed live dancing, music, film, and laser technology shown in mirror-lined theatres. In three short films, man's fight between good and evil is dramatized. Based on the musical "The Scroll", the account is Biblical, but can have meaning and appeal to peoples of all faith. A MUST SEE for those who wanted an audio visual high.

Note the talent behind this production - this was the work of an award winning talent pool - Malcolm Muggeridge, a famed British Journalist and Broadcaster; Dr. Raduz Cincera, Czechoslovakian director of film productions joined forces with the same production team behind the Academy Award winning film Amadeus; John Cunningham designer of the theatres won international acclaim for his creation of the British Columbia (Canada) pavilion at Expo 70 in Osaka, Japan; The London Philharmonic Orchestra plays the music.

Romania

Models of the first airplane with an undercarriage, and the first jet were two of the attractions of the Romanian pavillion. The exhibits were interesting but did not offer enough information. A mere sentence, for example, on the first aircraft, built in Romania in 1910. The pavillion also displayed train, ship and aircraft models and a Citroen car manufatured in Romania.

The restaurant featured carp, sturgeon and borscht.

Saskatchewan

Canada's breadbasket offered visitors a chance to feed on the contributions made by Saskatchewan in the agriculture and high-tech communications fiels. But the real hit there had to be the film made by and about Saskatchewan's people and places.

The courtyard contained some large vehicles which were occasionally operated by pavilion staff. You could hear the sharp notes of the steam piano, Calliope, from quite a distance. A 1913 steam engine tractor sat alongside its present-day version, the 4494 Case tractor.

Lingering awhile at the first two displays as you enter the pavilion. You'd see Blowtorch, the mechanical horse and the Phoenix VIII, a super fuel-efficient vehicle (would you believe it gets 2416 miles per imperial gallon?).

The glass elevator ride-accessed through the outside doors marked "Tower" - featured an explanation of the workings of a grain elevator. The ride up the elevator gave a view to the west, north and east. The descending trip was a simulation trip down a potash mine, but lacked any really thrilling special effects.

Senegal

Six Senegalese canoes outside this West African pavilion stood in welcome while inside artifacts and photos depicted life in Senegal. Described as the Crossroads of the World. Senegal was once at the hub of African empire, according to the pavilion storyline. Highlights were cultural displays such as masks depicting the seven days of the week, all laid out on the skin of a giant boa constrictor.

Yugoslavia

A film about Vancouver's wheelchair athlete Rick Hansen was a big attraction in the pavilion's small theatre. The 23-minute documentary showed Hansen's journey through Yuoslavia the previous November it was a vivid and moving glimpse of the effort involved in his marathon ride around the world. The pavilion also showed Yugoslavia's fast-developing auto industry

Scream Machine