It was 8am Sunday morning... in a way i was glad i hadnt gone out on the Saturday night because i was struggling to beat the clock for my 9am pickup for the Moose Tour. Ashley and Susanna were still sleeping whilst i tiptoed around the hostel room trying to gather all my stuff together in the dark. I wish I'd been able to say goodbye to them, and wish them luck on their own fresh starts in vancouver but I will get in touch with them soon. I sorted out my check out, handed back my key then quickly ate some jam on toast, and by the time i had managed to drag, haul and kick my 40kilos of luggage along the hallway and down the two flights of stairs to the ground floor my tour guide Nolan was ready and waiting to help me.
So it was Bye Bye bed bugs and Helloooo back seat of a mini van with 7 other travellers- four of whom were Australian! That said, I didnt last long in the back seat- those of you who took me to the airport would know that being in the back seat of a car, with no windows and hot air does not work for me *wink wink*. As a side note, i really must aplogise to Patrick, a fellow Australian from Perth, from whom i took the front seat of the van to avoid being sick, sorry!! We headed out of the city and up to the Cypress Provincial Park viewpoint that gave us a fantastic panoramic view of the city of Vancouver. There we made our first stop and Nolan gave us our pep talk.
What a GREAT bunch of people my Mooskateers were! To break the ice we all had to introduce ourselves, a little like the name game in any new camp group back in school. Hi my name is Victoria, I arrived afew days ago from Australia and Im moving to Whistler, I wanted to do a Moose Tour so i could see some sites along the way and OH MY GOSH there is a DEER!!! It may not have happened exactly like that, but either way I couldnt help but interupt because right there, in the grassy area behind those on the opposite side of our little circle was a Deer! A wild deer, just grazing. Isn't that cool? Introductions continued, followed by jumping photos and random videoing (im pretty sure everyone in the group thought i was a crazy girl with too many cameras) and Nolan's explaination of our Sea to Sky journey, before we piled back into the bus and hit the road!
A quick stop for coffee and to buy food for our picnic, thenwe were on the Sea to Sky! What a drive!! Everywhere you looked you could see mountains rising, some already snow capped in the early fall, a gorgeous icy blue lake expanding below and all around thick green pine trees. SIGHH... picture of perfection. We drove and drove, my window wide open letting in the crisp air, but the sun was shining so it was just right. I haven't introduced you to my other tour mates yet! Nolan was our tour guide, a young Canadian guy based in Vancouver. There was Jocelyn, Jade, Sarah and Patrick- the four other Australians on the tour. Jade had already been away from home for over three months, but the others were just travelling. There was a scotsman called Pete who was quite the character, never dull and a good soul. Andy was from England and Alexandra was from Switzerland, both beautiful and friendly. I became good friends with Alex by the end of our time in Whistler. And finally there was me, I think i was the youngest in the group by a couple of years, but certainly not the most quiet of the bunch.
Our second stop was at the Stawamus Chief, one of the largest granite monoliths in the world! Nolan told us that some movies have been filmed there, Mission Impossible or something of the kind. And the granite rock really was HUGE! Here is where i learnt Photographer lesson 101- ALWAYS bring spare batery packs! Both my cameras died right as we walked onto the hiking trail, a lesson i wont soon be forgetting! The trail was amazing! Nothing like a midday hike in canvas slip ons haha, but it was worth it. We scampered up jagged rocks, and climbed the steepest flight on narrow wooden stairs Ive ever seen up the side of the mountain till we reached the first lot of falls. Though huffing and puffing there was a stunning view of the valley bellow that we enjoyed before continuing down into "twilight country". The sun was soon blocked out by the shade of pine trees, collosal reddy brown trunks loomed out of the lush earth, and old mans beard coated the branches of overhanging trees. (Old Man's Beard is that whispy green moss like plant that clings to branches and drapes down like spider webs) We made jokes about seeing a bear as i walked along beside Alexandra, though i was secretly hoping we wouldnt. The forest is so quiet though, and I felt like we really were in no mans land, except for presence of the weathered dirt path we were following. The falls were lovely, apparently 355m high! Time for a group shot... raise those antler hands to your heads and say Mooooose!! =D
We waited till we got to Whistler to stop for lunch, where we found a nice place for a picnic by Alta Lake. The lake was beautiful, just like everything else i have seen so far in Canada- still water with the picturesque mountain backdrop. It was sunny and hot, and Im not sure who suggested it, but by the time we had stopped the car four of us had agreed to jump into the lake! Pete, Andy, Alex and I. So after eating we donned our swimming attire and prepared ourselves for the worst. The cameras were rolling, the cameras on standby... Noln shouted GO and the four of us ran up the little wooden wharf.... oh my gosh getting closer what am i thinking??? one... two... three... AHHH!!
SPLASHHH!! If you have ever jumped into a cold lake in the middle of Fall off a little wooden wharf in your clothes before you will know the feeling... it was liberating!! The water was freezing, but not as cold as i had prepared myself for, and midst the screams of shock and joy, i found myself having the time of my life. We got out and jumped back in, got out again and jumped back in, each time reinventing our diving styles or as we attempted, our bring in on Spirit Fingers! I touched the slime on the bottom of the lake on impact and shivered at the icky feel of it, meanwhile reassuring myself that though the street nearby was name Lake Placid, a giant ancient Crockodile was not about to come eat me. It was so much FUN! I was buzzing for hours afterwards, despite having saturated my under garments.
After the group settled into their chalet, Andy, Patrick, Pete, Alex and myself headed into Whistler Village. Whistler village is adorable. It has a definite holiday heir about it, as well as an essence of the Swiss Alps. Alex commented that it feels a lot like home when she first entered the main square. Its quaint, and neat with rustic buildings, paved walkways and little cafes with flower boxes and umbrellas everywhere. Again, it was sunny and we could clearly see the tops of the mountains overlooking the village. Playing tourist, we decided to ride the GONDOLA up to the top of Whsitler Blackcomb!
22minutes to the top, and 12 minutes across the Peak to Peak each way... the view was Spectacular!! We kept an eye out for bears but didnt see any... I'll see a bear one day haha. We posed with the cougar statue, Jumped on the mountain tops, and enjoyed the view before heading back down the mountain. When we were in town we also tried Poutine- the Canadian dish of hot chips, cheese and gravy, and Beaver Tails which are a flat doughy kind of pastry with Cinnamon and Sugar mmmmmm so good! Like a softer, fatter, flatter version of a Churro haha.
We had dinner back at the chalet, Nolan made amazing burgers, and that meant the end of my Moose Tour. I was lucky enough to get a lift back to Nicole's house in Bayshores, where i have been staying since, but the fun wasn't over yet. The next day we went out on Green Lake.
I will write again later..... its difficult catching up on the blog because so much has happened since the Moose tour. Ill fill you in the the Green Lake Escapade soon. Till then, adios.
Victoria.
p.s. Missing you all very much! Enjoy the beach for me! I am missing the sound of the waves and the sand in my toes.
Friday, September 18, 2009
Sunday, September 13, 2009
A Day In Stanley Park
I WANT TO RIDE MY BI-CYLE... I WANT TO RIDE MY BIIIKE. I WANT TO RIDE MY BI-CYCLE... I WANT TO RIDE ROUND STANLEY PARK!!
It was another breath taking morning and Matt had messaged me to tell me they were planning on going for the Bike ride around Stanley Park today. Jetlag had finally reered its sleepy heavy head and I was struggling to pull myself out of the body groove I had settled into through the night (or rather the groove that had sucked me into it and gave me crazy neck cramps). I wanted to go on the bike ride, but lets face it... I have never been very good at riding a bicyle. I can count the times i have ridden a bike on less then two hands, and i was worried that I would be too slow... too tired... and too uncoordinated to keep up with Matt, Daniel, Mick and Brett- four very competent and skilled bicycle riders. The debate was quickly swayed when my roommates pointed out that a) when would i get such gorgeous weather to go biking, b) I'd get to go with a bunch of friends from back home and c) I would simply miss out if i didnt go and regret it later when they told me how amazing it was. And they were right, because it was AMAZING!!
We hired bikes down by the wharf then set off. I felt so tiny with my bike, and nearly fell of just mounting my wheels haha... If you've ever seen a wobbly rider that was me! Steering into poles, garden beds and pedestrians, i had to yell warnings out for the first half hour at least- "Watch out! I can't stop and i can't steer! Ahh!" I'm sure you can all picture the catastrophe, but I got the hang of it after a while then it was smooth sailing... most of the time =)
The Stanley Park Bike ride is a MUST if you are ever in Vancouver. The track hugs the coast line and takes you around the wharf, through some beautiful forest land, past lagoons and under the Green Bridge (not sure what its actual name is). It also went past some Inuit Totem Poles and First Nation Information, as well as the Girl in Wetsuit, a tribute to the cities dependence on the Sea. We were blessed with a cloudless sunny day! The ride is easy enough, cruisy and relaxing, a great way to enjoy the scenery. Things got a little rocky when the boys decided it would be fun to go mountain biking, haha with me walking my bike up the slopes 100metres behind but it was alot of fun. I'll give it to Matty though, didnt let me fall behind! I even rode up ONE hill! Don't get me wrong, i wanted to stop, but if i had i would not only have fallen off my own bike but most likely knocked matt over while i was at it. We saw a squirrel! And the infamous Goose Duck you may have seen in my photos haha, BIGGEST ducks ive ever seen. Unless they were in fact geese, then that would make sense.
It was around 2 pm when we were half way through completing our jounrey around the park and we came across one of Vancouver's beaches. But this was unlike any beach I'd ever seen! In parrallel lines, evenly spaced acorss the entire stretch of sand were logs... really really BIG LOGS! It was fascinating! I had to take a picture because that is definitely not something you would see back home. Pracical i guess, but i would never have thought.
Anyway... 2 hours of biking on a sunny Saturday afternoon around one of Vancouvers most beautiful parks was definitely worth getting up for. Not to mention it was great exercise, and that I had Queen's "I want to Ride my Bicycle" on repeat in my head. Who could help but enjoy it, right? Haha. I'm so glad i went, and it was so much fun. Even the slightly aching legs the next day were all part of it. Sunday I departed ways with the Copa boys and continued my adventure up to Whistler on the MOOSE TOUR!
Till the next chapter of my Canadian Adventure is posted... Byeee
Victoria.
It was another breath taking morning and Matt had messaged me to tell me they were planning on going for the Bike ride around Stanley Park today. Jetlag had finally reered its sleepy heavy head and I was struggling to pull myself out of the body groove I had settled into through the night (or rather the groove that had sucked me into it and gave me crazy neck cramps). I wanted to go on the bike ride, but lets face it... I have never been very good at riding a bicyle. I can count the times i have ridden a bike on less then two hands, and i was worried that I would be too slow... too tired... and too uncoordinated to keep up with Matt, Daniel, Mick and Brett- four very competent and skilled bicycle riders. The debate was quickly swayed when my roommates pointed out that a) when would i get such gorgeous weather to go biking, b) I'd get to go with a bunch of friends from back home and c) I would simply miss out if i didnt go and regret it later when they told me how amazing it was. And they were right, because it was AMAZING!!
We hired bikes down by the wharf then set off. I felt so tiny with my bike, and nearly fell of just mounting my wheels haha... If you've ever seen a wobbly rider that was me! Steering into poles, garden beds and pedestrians, i had to yell warnings out for the first half hour at least- "Watch out! I can't stop and i can't steer! Ahh!" I'm sure you can all picture the catastrophe, but I got the hang of it after a while then it was smooth sailing... most of the time =)
The Stanley Park Bike ride is a MUST if you are ever in Vancouver. The track hugs the coast line and takes you around the wharf, through some beautiful forest land, past lagoons and under the Green Bridge (not sure what its actual name is). It also went past some Inuit Totem Poles and First Nation Information, as well as the Girl in Wetsuit, a tribute to the cities dependence on the Sea. We were blessed with a cloudless sunny day! The ride is easy enough, cruisy and relaxing, a great way to enjoy the scenery. Things got a little rocky when the boys decided it would be fun to go mountain biking, haha with me walking my bike up the slopes 100metres behind but it was alot of fun. I'll give it to Matty though, didnt let me fall behind! I even rode up ONE hill! Don't get me wrong, i wanted to stop, but if i had i would not only have fallen off my own bike but most likely knocked matt over while i was at it. We saw a squirrel! And the infamous Goose Duck you may have seen in my photos haha, BIGGEST ducks ive ever seen. Unless they were in fact geese, then that would make sense.
It was around 2 pm when we were half way through completing our jounrey around the park and we came across one of Vancouver's beaches. But this was unlike any beach I'd ever seen! In parrallel lines, evenly spaced acorss the entire stretch of sand were logs... really really BIG LOGS! It was fascinating! I had to take a picture because that is definitely not something you would see back home. Pracical i guess, but i would never have thought.
Anyway... 2 hours of biking on a sunny Saturday afternoon around one of Vancouvers most beautiful parks was definitely worth getting up for. Not to mention it was great exercise, and that I had Queen's "I want to Ride my Bicycle" on repeat in my head. Who could help but enjoy it, right? Haha. I'm so glad i went, and it was so much fun. Even the slightly aching legs the next day were all part of it. Sunday I departed ways with the Copa boys and continued my adventure up to Whistler on the MOOSE TOUR!
Till the next chapter of my Canadian Adventure is posted... Byeee
Victoria.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Vancouver- a beautiful city!
Goodmorning to All from the city of Vancouver!!
How are you all? Im sorry i haven't had time to write or update you on my travels, as you can imagine it has been go go GO since i left Australia. Flights were good, I went via Taipei- 9 and a half hours flight then a three hour stop over, then got onto a connecting flight to Vancouver which was another 10 and a half hours. All in all very good, I had been worried because i flew China Airlines, but it was a very lovely plane and pleasant service. The first two nights i stayed at the Quality Hotel Airport South (haha mouthful of a name) which was perfect- double bed, nice bathroom, free breakfast haha all a girl on her own could want! First night i actually made a couple of random friends... in search of food i walked up the street and found a bistro and bar at thre sheraton. Took my seat at the bar, ordered my food, and in typical Movie style fashion, the gentleman a few seats down the bar began talking to me. His name was Joe, he was on a business trip and about to get married in two weeks in New York. He gave me alot of advice on where to get a job and that i should not be afraid to do something different to other Aussies coming here to Canada, AKA i dont need to just go to Whistler. I'll admit, sitting there listening to him suggest a plethora of different options made me think really hard about what i want to do and where i want to go. Because honestly, the reason i left Australia was to get away from people i know, and to experience something new. Going half way around the world to live with a community of Australian's kind of defeats the purpose don't you think?
Anyway... Another guy ended up joining us, a 28 yr old American Pilot from Montana named Eric Dickhausen, who incidentally works for a Billionire, flying his planes. As out of this world that story sounds, i can only assume it was true. Though for those of you worrying that i was being naive, don't worry i had my wits 200% about me and i was careful not to tell them where i was staying or any unneccessary information. The real amazing part of this story is that, there i was, had literally only arrived 5 hrs prior into the country, and found myself sitting at a random hotel bar, eating and sharing a drink with a Canadian and a Pilot from Montana. I was shouted dinner too. Next day, I went into the city. Eric ended up joining me. I missed home so much, and i had a minor freak out in the morning that my money in my debit Visa had dissappeared (goes to show how little i know about withholding credit on reservations at hotels haha) and i was grateful for the company. We had lunch, courtesy of his boss, and then spen the day in thie city.
Vancouver is BEAUTIFUL!! it is such a clean city! wide streets, beautiful shiny buildings, sky scraping condo units and goergeous mountain lined horizons on all sides. The view is amazing!! Everywhere you go there is something amazing to see, even it is just to marvel at how clean and attractive the city is. I spent the day in the city yesterday as well but this time i had met up with some boys from the Coast, and though id been enjoying myself it was so nice to see familiar faces and hear familiar voices. They met me at the Samesun Hostel in the city which is where i am now, sitting on my ricketty, slat missing, saggy top bunk of a bed haha but I will get to that later. I caught the Sky Train into the city- you should see it!! Apparently its the longest non manned train system in the world, and it was so smooth and easy, it makes our trains back home look like dinosaurs haha. Jetlag hit me pretty hard yesterday and when you're lugging around near 40 kilos of luggage it takes it out of you! Shuttle bus, sky train, about 6 escalators and a taxi later i made it to the hostel! in one piece haha. With Matt Morgan and the other boys, I got my bank account, phone, and Social Insurance Number all sorted so i am now ready to work! Hooray!
As for the Samesun Hostel... haha its been fun i can tell you that. And thank God i am with three really lovely girls who have all become good friends since saying here together. Their names are Ashley, an Irish girl, Angelica from Germany i think and another girl from the Czech Republic who regretfully i cannot remember her name for the life of me! i feel terrible because she is on the bottom bed bellow mine, oh dear. They are all so nice, and i was so tired last night from a second day walking the city that i ended up here in our room most of the night catching up online. But they were all here too doing similar so it was quite homey and nice. oh... but Ashley got bitten all over mby bed bugs poor thing, has been so itchy, and a little furry friend came and jumped across all our stuff whilst we were talking last night haha AAAHHH mouse!!! and our window was wide open all night, so strange haha.
Critters and bugs aside, this was my first night at a hostel in my life and i really enjoyed it. Everyone is really friendly and there is so muc apening around here that if i had wanted to go out or wanted to stay up and party all night i couldve just walked down stairs.
I'll have to get photos up soon, just havent had time, but i will be moving to Whistler soon and i will settle down. I don't really want to go to Whistler, i feel like i should move somewhere less common, but its a starting point none the less. I have an interview there next week and a place i can stay at for free in the meantime. Im going to book a moose tour to whistler for tomorrow so at least ill get to stop and see some of the sites on the way. I've got one more night here in he Samesun then I'll be taking my adventure to the next destination- Whistler.
I am having so much fun, and absoluely loving Canada. Though i miss you all sooooo much, and think about you all the time, i really do, i am not ready to come home. There is so much i want to do here, so much to see and i cant wait to find a place to live and a job to enjoy. Being homeless and jobless is a strange thing, haha but I'll find my place soon enough. In the mean time, I'm enjoying every second.
Missing you! Sending you all many hugs and kisses and all my love!! I hope you are well and happy xx Im guna go shower in our lovely communal bathrooms, mmm hostels. haha.
Bye for now!
Victoria.
How are you all? Im sorry i haven't had time to write or update you on my travels, as you can imagine it has been go go GO since i left Australia. Flights were good, I went via Taipei- 9 and a half hours flight then a three hour stop over, then got onto a connecting flight to Vancouver which was another 10 and a half hours. All in all very good, I had been worried because i flew China Airlines, but it was a very lovely plane and pleasant service. The first two nights i stayed at the Quality Hotel Airport South (haha mouthful of a name) which was perfect- double bed, nice bathroom, free breakfast haha all a girl on her own could want! First night i actually made a couple of random friends... in search of food i walked up the street and found a bistro and bar at thre sheraton. Took my seat at the bar, ordered my food, and in typical Movie style fashion, the gentleman a few seats down the bar began talking to me. His name was Joe, he was on a business trip and about to get married in two weeks in New York. He gave me alot of advice on where to get a job and that i should not be afraid to do something different to other Aussies coming here to Canada, AKA i dont need to just go to Whistler. I'll admit, sitting there listening to him suggest a plethora of different options made me think really hard about what i want to do and where i want to go. Because honestly, the reason i left Australia was to get away from people i know, and to experience something new. Going half way around the world to live with a community of Australian's kind of defeats the purpose don't you think?
Anyway... Another guy ended up joining us, a 28 yr old American Pilot from Montana named Eric Dickhausen, who incidentally works for a Billionire, flying his planes. As out of this world that story sounds, i can only assume it was true. Though for those of you worrying that i was being naive, don't worry i had my wits 200% about me and i was careful not to tell them where i was staying or any unneccessary information. The real amazing part of this story is that, there i was, had literally only arrived 5 hrs prior into the country, and found myself sitting at a random hotel bar, eating and sharing a drink with a Canadian and a Pilot from Montana. I was shouted dinner too. Next day, I went into the city. Eric ended up joining me. I missed home so much, and i had a minor freak out in the morning that my money in my debit Visa had dissappeared (goes to show how little i know about withholding credit on reservations at hotels haha) and i was grateful for the company. We had lunch, courtesy of his boss, and then spen the day in thie city.
Vancouver is BEAUTIFUL!! it is such a clean city! wide streets, beautiful shiny buildings, sky scraping condo units and goergeous mountain lined horizons on all sides. The view is amazing!! Everywhere you go there is something amazing to see, even it is just to marvel at how clean and attractive the city is. I spent the day in the city yesterday as well but this time i had met up with some boys from the Coast, and though id been enjoying myself it was so nice to see familiar faces and hear familiar voices. They met me at the Samesun Hostel in the city which is where i am now, sitting on my ricketty, slat missing, saggy top bunk of a bed haha but I will get to that later. I caught the Sky Train into the city- you should see it!! Apparently its the longest non manned train system in the world, and it was so smooth and easy, it makes our trains back home look like dinosaurs haha. Jetlag hit me pretty hard yesterday and when you're lugging around near 40 kilos of luggage it takes it out of you! Shuttle bus, sky train, about 6 escalators and a taxi later i made it to the hostel! in one piece haha. With Matt Morgan and the other boys, I got my bank account, phone, and Social Insurance Number all sorted so i am now ready to work! Hooray!
As for the Samesun Hostel... haha its been fun i can tell you that. And thank God i am with three really lovely girls who have all become good friends since saying here together. Their names are Ashley, an Irish girl, Angelica from Germany i think and another girl from the Czech Republic who regretfully i cannot remember her name for the life of me! i feel terrible because she is on the bottom bed bellow mine, oh dear. They are all so nice, and i was so tired last night from a second day walking the city that i ended up here in our room most of the night catching up online. But they were all here too doing similar so it was quite homey and nice. oh... but Ashley got bitten all over mby bed bugs poor thing, has been so itchy, and a little furry friend came and jumped across all our stuff whilst we were talking last night haha AAAHHH mouse!!! and our window was wide open all night, so strange haha.
Critters and bugs aside, this was my first night at a hostel in my life and i really enjoyed it. Everyone is really friendly and there is so muc apening around here that if i had wanted to go out or wanted to stay up and party all night i couldve just walked down stairs.
I'll have to get photos up soon, just havent had time, but i will be moving to Whistler soon and i will settle down. I don't really want to go to Whistler, i feel like i should move somewhere less common, but its a starting point none the less. I have an interview there next week and a place i can stay at for free in the meantime. Im going to book a moose tour to whistler for tomorrow so at least ill get to stop and see some of the sites on the way. I've got one more night here in he Samesun then I'll be taking my adventure to the next destination- Whistler.
I am having so much fun, and absoluely loving Canada. Though i miss you all sooooo much, and think about you all the time, i really do, i am not ready to come home. There is so much i want to do here, so much to see and i cant wait to find a place to live and a job to enjoy. Being homeless and jobless is a strange thing, haha but I'll find my place soon enough. In the mean time, I'm enjoying every second.
Missing you! Sending you all many hugs and kisses and all my love!! I hope you are well and happy xx Im guna go shower in our lovely communal bathrooms, mmm hostels. haha.
Bye for now!
Victoria.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
