Street Urchins, "Sushi", Is that a Bear? and some Grapes.

I've been gone a month yet and it feels like I have been gone months already. So much is happening in such a short period of time it's hard for me to keep up. I am not even sure where the last blog ended but I have a feeling I was heading to Vancouver for a few days and meeting up with my friend Robbie who I worked with in Darwin; so thats where I will continue from.

Robbie's plane was landing at 4pm but I arrived at the airport at 4:30pm hoping he wasn't waiting for me but his plane was delayed till 4:33pm so I wasn't late :). In the arrivals area there are televisions so you can see your arrival coming through the gates. I figured Robbie would be out at about 5:15 or 5:30 so I made myself as comfortable as possible on the airport bench and played a game on my phone. 5:30 comes, no Robbie; 6:00 comes, still no Robbie; 6:30 comes and goes along with 7:00. I was starting to get worried not really knowing what to think. Then my phone rings through Viber...it's Robbie. "Emmie, mate...I'm stuck at customs." "Why, what happened?" "Well they asked me if I purchased health before I came over here and I didn't." "Didn't you read your visa, explaining everything?" "No. So I have been stuck here for two hours. They won't let me go through. They told me I have to purchase insurance in order to get through." "So purchase some. but you are gonna have to purchase for a year...they are gonna want to see that you are covered for at least your first year." " I can't purchase any. Everything is online and I closed my Aussie account down before I left." "Mate why would you shut your account completely?" "I don't know, didn't think I would need it. I have so much in cash on me and the rest is in a cheque so I can't purchase anything online." Without even thinking about it I gave him my credit card information and within 10 minutes he was through customs.

He looked like a lost kid when he come walking out. His backpack was on one shoulder, he had his smaller carryon bag dragging along the floor and he was scanning the crowd for me with the look of a lost and scared puppy dog look. He looked like he was about to cry when he saw me. Poor guy.

As jetlagged as he was he wanted to drink - like most backpackers do when arriving in a new country. We went downstairs to the Hostel Bar and had some drinks there. The Hostel (The Cambie) Is located on a corner in Gastown which is a great part of Vancouver city...however the corner we were located on was not so great. Unfortunately, Robbie and I not knowing what it was like sat right beside the gate/fence of the patio. Every five minutes a street urchent would come up to us asking "can you spare some change?" "do you have an extra cigarette?" One guy even asked if he could draw Robbie who politely said no but the man kept on insisting and without Robbie's go ahead took out a sharpie and a piece of cardboard and started drawing at a fast pace talking away while Robbie and I continued our conversation. "Look," so we looked at what he had drawn - two charachatures (a guy and a girl) sitting side by side with a big heart around them??? OK. "Can I have some money for the picture?" "Mate I told you I didn't want my picture drawn and you went ahead and did it anyways, we are trying to have a nice night here." The man grumbled a few words took our cardboard charachatures and tossed it in the garbage. There was another guy who asked me for a cigarette and when I went to give him one he was like "is it menthol?" "beggars can't be choosers...but no it's not." It never stopped we were always being hassled by someone for money or cigarettes or drugs.

Speaking of drugs...the air in Vancouver smells like marijuana - I'm guessing thats because it is smoked so openly, the street corner, outside of the bars, in the park...everywhere. I usually don't mind the smell but it was just too much after a few days; it didn't help either that when you went inside the hostel there was a constant smell of urine, though I got used to it so maybe the smell of the hostel is the better choice.

The next day two of the guys (Issam and Eric) from the hostel in Kelowna were meeting up with us, but due to a failure in hitchiking they didn't arrive till midnight by Greyhound. So Robbie and I headed out to a bar where my friend Ben works - we met in LA at the hostel and haven't seen eachother in three years. We had a hard time finding it, not because of the location - even though a bouncer from one of the clubs sent us down a dark alleyway for some reason - it was just not marked well, but after 45 minutes we realized we had walked passed it three times. It definitely was classy and my backpacking styles did not fit in with the trendiness of the place but we had a blast and Ben was very very kind with what he "wasn't" charging us for drinks.

When the guys finally met up with us - they had a hard time finding it as well - we had a few more drinks and then went back to the hostel bar to buy some take-away beers. Unfortunately we got there too late and we couldn't buy any but the bartender gave Issam a number to order "after hours." Half an hour and $50 later we had a bottle of vodka and mix and continued our night in the common room of the hostel.

It got really annoying constantly having to go all the way downstairs and outside to have a smoke so Kevin (Issam's friend who works at the hostel) opened up the windows in the common room and said "just smoke out here." Yup on the window ledge...I know right...me and heights...however my vertigo was fine and I really enjoyed the view. After we climbed out the window of the laundry room and drank on the roof till the wee hours of the morning. Don't worry mom, it's more like a courtyard and is surrounded by the walls and rooms of the hostel, there were no ledges for us to fall off.

We woke up around 11am the next day and went for lunch at The Warehouse (everything on the menu is $4.95). The outside menu said they were serving Babes and Beer "I could go for that" said Robbie. When we sat down at our table the waitress came up and I asked her "I was just wondering. Your menu outside said there are babes and beer...which babes or on the menu for today?" I definitely was still drunk from the night before. I was so hungover I couldn't even eat...I felt like a big pile of poo...and the best way to cure that is to have a drink. Our waitress told us of this Iced Tea drink in a can...it tastes exactly like Iced Tea, you can't even taste the alcohol in it, they went down so good and we all started feeling good. Then our waitress brough us a round of free shots - pickle backs, a shot of pickle juice followed by a shot of whiskey, it's pretty good. We left about 2 hours after we got there, maybe more as I lost track of time and then we went back to the hostel bar and drank beer the rest of the day. By 6pm I was done. I was wasted and felt like shit and I still couldn't eat so I went to bed...it was an early night for everyone. None of us could really sleep so at midnight Robbie did a pizza run which was the smartest idea all day lol. And yes, I ate some and finally went to sleep.

The next day we didn't do much, we wanted to stay low key and avoid alcohol at all costs so thats what we did. The day after (which was Monday) was our last day in Vancouver and Issam and Eric had to head to Nanaimo (on the Island) for the day so Robbie and I went out and took some pictures of some amazing Grafitti.

There were of course street urchins in the alley, you really can't avoid them. One man was facing the wall close to the garbage bin cutting open plastic cases of what I don't know, but he was obviously going to (try) and sell them. Then there was an older guy in a door way "so pretty..." I hear. "I'm sorry I can't help it." I just minded my own business and continued to take pictures. "I can't help it...I'm transgendered with a disability..." I don't know what else he mumbled but he only seemed to say anything when we were around because before I came close to him he had been quiet.

Later that day, Robbie, Lauren (a girl we met at the hostel) and I headed down to the bar for a couple pitchers. --- At one point in the night we saw a skunk and Robbie had never seen one. "OMG! A skunk!!! I have to get a picture!" and he was off coming back five minutes later with a smile and a few pictures. "Look how close I was I could have reached out and touched it. "Robbie!" I said looking at him "never touch a skunk, do you understand me" I was laughing "you have no idea the smell of them and how long it can take to get out...please just stay away from the skunk" lol..gotta love the Aussies. --- Xavier and Romain (the Belgium boys from our room) joined us and the pitchers started flowing. They bought 2 then we bought one, then they bought one and we bought three, Issam and Eric joined us later on and that was another 3 pitchers, we drank till the bar shut. With it being our last night in Vancouver we decided that a phone call and $50 for some take away vodka was a good idea and we drank on the roof till like 5 in the morning.

On Tuesday Robbie, Issam and I were heading back to Kelowna. We had to wait till 4:30 for our bus so a few of us went to the park to sit in the sun. Of course...a street urchin put us in his radar and headed our way. He threw a book on the ground, got down on his knees, put his head down on the book and sprawled out. I figured he was just gonna take a nap and not bother us, but of course I thought too soon. He started talking away - about I don't know what - and coughing into his hand and I think he said "I'm Sushi." Then he looked at Issam, held his hand up and said "hi 5." So Issam high fived him. Then he looked at me and did the same thing so I high fived him. Then he asked me again, so again I high fived him, then again so I did again. The 4th time I was like "no mate thats enough" and he wouldn't stop. After realizing he was failing with me he turned to Lauren. "Sorry mate, you have been coughing into that hand and I am not overly keen on touching it." Shit, I didnt even think of that and my sanitizer wasn't on me. Lauren continued, "Mate you look a little fucked up if I might add. We are just trying to hang out so you can leave now." Not being able to get him to leave we decided we would move spots. Lauren started walking farther up the park and "Sushi" belined it right for her. Kevin went after them to make sure she was alright - which she was - and Issam went after "Sushi" had a long talk with him which eventually led to "Sushi" putting a sleeping man on a bench in his radar. Thank God. We spent about an hour in the park hanging out and talking, Robbie finally joined us after his walk around Gastown and we saw a friend from the hostel in Kelowna who joined us, and then "Sushi" decided he missed us and joined us again...we listened to him for about 15 minutes until we decided we'd had enough.

We spent the rest of our time walking along the water and talking away and then headed to the grey hound station for our 5 hour bus ride to Kelowna. Robbie and I only spent two nights there and then hopped on a Greyhound up to Kamloops - I know I have been taking Greyhound so much here but it hasn't been bad but I still have some time here so we will see how it goes.

Robbie and I were going up to see Alex - my best girlfriend from Darwin, we worked in Karumba together and met up again for the months we lived in Darwin - for her birthday. I was super stoked to see her, I hadn't seen her since my last week in Australia. She is living and working about an hour out of Kamloops in Sunpeaks at the resort.

We had a blast. The first night we didn't last long I passed out after an hour at her place. The next day (Friday) we had plans to go golfing...yup me golfing...that's a laugh, I can barely hit the ball, however I am great at driving the carts, having a few beers and playing bumper carts. We couldn't go golfing right away because there was a conference golf game so we went to the bar where she works and had about 3 pitchers of beer and thats where it all started. 3 hours later we got two golf carts headed to the beer shack - $12 for 4 - and began the most unprofessional golf game ever. It was soo much fun and absolutely beautiful. It was surrounded by mountains and the sun was shining. I even tee'd off and when I hit my ball from where it landed I did a little dance when I actually hit it. We skipped a hole because Alex didn't like it and then we skipped 8 and 9 (we only played the front 9). Robbie and Alex were driving the cart infront of me, they kept looking behind them to make sure I was following them but my cart was begining to run out of battery "great" I thought to myself "I'm gonna get stuck out here with the bears and have to walk back." Of course not golfing I didn't know the pro-shop would know my battery died and come out with a new one, but I made it back to the pro shop safe and sound. We continued our day with drinks and a party at Simon's (Al's boyfriend.)

The next few days we really didn't do much as it was raining and backpacking involves a lot of drinking so we chilled out with Netflix and even got Robbie to watch Hairspray. Alex was amazing, she cooked for us everyday and the meals were fantastic, she wouldn't even let us give her money for food "you guys are on a budget so it's my treat." Sunday was her Birthday so Robbie and I picked up the tab for her and Simon to say thank you for everything :). Then of course, what happens is what always happens especially when with Al we drank till the wee hours of the morning though I was never hung over that weekend. Al always cooked the most epic meals and in the morning when I woke up on Sophie - the couch in Simons living room - and Robbie woke up on Juan the Mexican guy - haha just kidding its the other couch - Simon made us a fresh fruit smoothie!!! How can you be hungover with all the wonderful stuff they showered us with.

We saw a bear! Well...there is a possibility it was a bear. They hang out on one of the hills, but so do cows, though the cows usually hang out in heards and this was just one big spot. "Is it moving?" asked Simon "Of course it's moving look at it! Is it a bear, I want to see one! I have only seen them in the zoo." "Well dirt moves, in the wind." I just looked at him. "Well," he said "we will say yes, it is a bear. That way you feel better." It was sad when we left on Monday. I really didn't want to say goodbye to Alex. It was so good to see her and I had missed her so much, but we are meeting up next week :)

Now, for the past week we have been back at the hostel in Kelowna. We went grape picking on Thursday. It was not bad all, it was not excruciating and not once did I ask myself the famous question "what the fuck did I get myself into?" It was actually kind of fun - even though my hands were purple at the end of the day - and I was keen on filling a bin. But once you start dumping the buckets in the bin and they don't seem to fill much...1 becomes your goal for the day and by the end of the day, even though we finished our row our bin still wasn't full. You make $80 a bin when they are full and we worked in pairs...so we made, MAYBE, $35 each. Definitely not worth it...but it was nice to get out for a day. We are hoping to do some work this week - smaller bins and more money - it's been raining, or the grapes haven't been ready so the days we work are not really guaranteed...so we are keeping our fingers crossed.

Well...I know this was a long one and there are still a few more things to tell but I will save it for the next one...I am gonna try and get another one out at the end of weekend before heading back to Vancouver :) Hope you all are well, talk soon.

                                                                                                                        MyBeautifulLife

 

I Can't Believe This is Canada!!!

Wow!!! A week has passed since my last blog and so much has happened…I feel like I left a month ago. I have been meaning to write sooner but I just haven’t been able to find the time as I have constantly been on the go, sightseeing or meeting up with people. I am going to do my best to update you on everything so I hope this won’t get boring.

Alright so the last blog ended with Sara and I on our way to Calgary for the night. We actually stayed for two nights. Sara was exhausted…we somehow ended up off of the TransCan and way far North so we had to come back down and then over to Calgary…it ended up being a 15 hour day. So Sara wanted a day to relax before driving our last little bit to Kelowna. Plus…we had drank quite a bit before at her mate Richard’s house…we got to bed super late and woke up about noon so an early head start was not an option.

Sara slept quite late but her mate Richard took me out and about so I could see a bit of Calgary. It’s a really nice city, very modern and clean, lots of bars and shops, live music in the park and just a really nice vibe all together…plus, the sun was out. Richard took me to his favourite bar for a pint and then we headed back to his place where he looked at me and said “fancy another beer” and popped open a Corona. It was all downhill from there. Sara woke up and Richard started handing out more beers. We decided that it was getting late and we would rather have a fun night so we decided to head out and buy some beer for the rest of the night.

Now there is something I have to tell you, and I really hope it comes across as somewhat funny because in real life I pissed myself laughing. Richard is a comedian - I don’t mean that literally, like he doesn’t have a stand-up show or anything. He is just so random and does the funniest things. When we got to the liquor store there was a booth with a tall young man wearing a bowtie was handing out samples of a new beer. “Would you like to try a sample?” he asked Richard. “Actually, I would like to discuss your bowtie!” When the guy handed him a sample Richard said“you short poured me.” “yes I pour less when I free pour.” “well, remind me when you are working at the bar never to get a drink from you.” The guy was not impressed but a woman in the store was asking “who does he belong to he’s so funny.”

When I walked out of the store Sara pulls me aside and says wait. I had no idea what was going on until I looked over at Richard who was seated on his case of beer and his hat out in his hand asking for money. “I wanted to see if I should quit my day job but I didn’t even make 25 cents in the two minutes I sat there so I’m gonna keep my job.” Then at the convenient store, he walked in put his case of beer up on the counter and said “I’ll just take this 6 pack!” The women were a little confused.

The rest of our day we spent outside on the sidewalk drinking beer and playing hackie sack. Richard kept saying “Cmon Cheryl!” and when I kicked high he would say “I saw Cheryl’s clam” then we would continue to call me the one trick pony as I only have one way of getting the hackie sack on my shoe. So in return I called him Dick for the rest of our visit. Everytime someone walked by we would yell “new player” and toss the hackie sack to them and they would join in for a minute or two.

At 9 I was done, day drunk is not the way it used to be when I was younger and we were leaving the next day…so we were in bed by midnight and up the next morning to head to Kelowna with an afternoon stop in Banff.

I was so excited for Banff! That’s where Lake Louise is and one of the things on my bucket list that I have been dying to see. I was like a kid in a candy store while we drove through the Rockies, “look over there! OMG!!! Look there. WOW!!! This is so incredible, I can’t believe we are in Canada. Oh, look over there!” Sara was laughing at me. I swear, I didn’t feel like I was in Canada, lol actually I still don’t. The views are just breathtaking. I have traveled around the world looking at beauty when it’s been here in Canada the whole time. I wish somebody would’ve told me how awesome Canada is a little sooner…oh well better late than never.

Our first stop in Banff was Moraine Lake. It was so beautiful…crystal clear water close to the shore
but as it stretched towards the snow peaked mountains it turned a beautiful aqua. There was a dock with canoe rentals, people sitting around the shoreline basking in the warm sunlight while watching in the distance the canoers that looked so miniscule next to their surroundings. We even got our feet in the water for a picture and they cramped within seconds the water was so cold.


I could’ve stayed all day, it was so peaceful and serene and the sun was perfect – a long with the view of course – but we had to head to Lake Louise and then drive to Kelowna. When we were coming off the road from Moraine Lake there was a huge traffic jam and the road was blocked. They weren’t letting people in because it was to packed (there was nowhere to park at Moraine lake, people were parking on the street). We were lucky we got there when we did.

We parked a bit away from Lake Louise as it was really busy, much busier than Moraine Lake.
As we got closer I got really excited as Lake Louis has been on my bucket list for years so I couldn’t wait to see it. I was quite disappointed when we first got there, there were so many people …well tourists I should say. There were probably a thousand people maybe more. It was so congested, it was 10 times worse than the Blue Mountain Village on a long weekend – it probably didn’t help that it was labour day weekend. I have always had this image that when I got to Lake Louise, it would just be me standing there, alone, no one around, just me standing there in the complete quiet taking in the beauty of Lake Louise. (Notice the blog background)

 

The water is a rich mint green colour with an incredible back drop of snow kissed mountains that reflect into an almost perfect replica of themselves in the water. It is breathtaking, probably one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. We found a quieter spot down along the path on a brick wall and we just planted ourselves there for a little bit. Even with all the people there I was still quite happy – once we found the quieter spot. I was finally there and I was so happy J

We got to Kelowna around 8pm. Hung out with some people, had a beer and went to bed. We were up super early the next day, had breakfast (free pancakes every morning at the hostel – KIH) swapped pictures, or should I say Sara needed mine lol and then it was the end of our journey together and Sara left for Vancouver.

I spent the week in Kelowna and a few of those days I spent with my family that lives out there. It was so great!!! I hadn’t seen them in years and my cousin that I saw last time I was out there (which was when I was 10) was a year old and now has a 1 year old herself, who, I might add is the cutest thing in the world. She is always smiling and laughing and when you say “Ivy fist pump” she walks up to you and pumps your fist with hers lol its too funny. It was so amazing spending time with my family and getting to know my younger cousins and learning I have heaps in common with one of my older cousins. My uncle talked about our family history and our grandparents…it was so nice. 

 

 My last night I spent at the hostel as I wanted to hang out with some people I had met and then the next day my Aunt and Uncle picked me up and took me to the Greyhound. Yup that’s right the Greyhound, my most favourite bus company in the world – this is total sarcasm. We all know how much I despise the company and my day started off with the woman telling me its an extra $15 (per bag) to put more than one bag under the bus. ??? I have never been charged extra…but yet they are ok with you taking like 3 on the bus with you…makes no sense whatsoever. However, despite my hatred for the company the bus ride was great. It had plugs for your electronics so I was able to charge everything and it had free wifi…happy me.

I was heading into Vancouver to meet up with my mate Ian –we both stayed at the hostel in St. Kilda and hadn’t seen each other since. He picked me up at the bus station, we went food and beer shopping and then we headed to Squamish. The plan was to camp the night in his (covered) pickup and get up early for a hike.

We had a really good setup in the truck. We had our mattresses rolled out and our sleeping bags rolled out as well a case of beer and music it was actually really comfortable. We were up quite late catching up on what we have been doing and where we have been…I have course worried about bears and made Ian go for a walk every time I went to the outhouse lol but we survived.

The parking lot (that we camped in) was full the next morning, Ian had been smart for us to camp there over night, while everyone was packing their bags and looking for parking spots we were stretching and making up oatmeal and tea for breakfast.

I thought the hike was 3 hours there and back…oh how I was pleasantly surprised. Just at about our hour and a half mark we came to a sign that said 5km. “5km? I thought the hike was 9 km there and back?” I looked at Ian out of breath and wanting to die “Nope, it’s 9km there” “This better be worth it Ian” I shouldn’t have been complaining considering I wasn’t carrying anything. Everyone hiking up was doing what I like to call extreme camping. They hike up with full blown excursion backpacks equipped with tent, sleeping bags, food and they hike up to the lake and set up camp! It’s intense and awesome and I love it…however I need to get into shape lol.

The hike was worth it. A beautiful lake with miniature islands of trees surrounded by snow peaked mountains. Again I was in awe of the beauty that is Canada. Ian was laughing at me “I keep forgetting you are not used to this kind of scenery” I would like to know why no one told me the west coast was this amazing lol. We even witnessed 5 people swimming in the freezing water for charity

 

 After an hour we headed back down but stopped off at a look out point which was probably my favourite spot. We walked out onto the rock and sat in the hot sun and just stared out into an incredible view which again amazed me that it was Canada. Mountains kept appearing out of nowhere. Everytime the clouds moved there was a new mountain hiding behind it. All I could see for miles was mountains…there are no words to describe or pictures to show how incredible it was or how free I felt just looking out at this incredible country that is mine.

18km we hiked. I could not move by the time we got back to Ian’s car. I worked joints my body forgot it had lol but I did it and definitely want to do it again before I leave.
The drive back to Vancouver was amazing – of course. The view of the mountainess islands on the water actually reminded me of the incredible everyday view I had when living on the Island in the Whitsundays. Yet again, I am amazed by BC. I saw a falling rock sign and asked Ian if he knew the story and he quickly answered saying he read my blog and didn't need me to tell it to him lol...damn I love telling the story.

My next stop was to see Paige (you remember her, we met going to Fiji in flew to New Zealand together). We hadn’t seen each other since Queenstown. Over two years. I just spent the past 4 nights at her place. It is so great catching up with people that you met traveling as you have a different bond with them then you do with others in your life, there is a different level of connection that you just don’t have with anyone else. It really amazes me how well we actually got along for 4 days because in all honesty, we don’t know each other that well. The first night we had some drinks but I could barely stay awake as Ian and I did the hike that day, she finally let me head to bed just after midnight. The next day she wake me up at about 830am “if I don’t answer maybe she will go away” were my thoughts but I knew we had to be up because we were going into the city for the day.

Our first obstacle was parking the car. There were signs on the parking meters stating new temporary hours on parking times and they were a bit confusing but after reading and rereading we decided to leave the car…not to smart.

We went for lunch at the Warehouse, this awesome restaurant where everything is $4.95…I know right!! And the food is soo good and the portions are a good size. Then we went shopping which was a bad idea because she took me into Brandy Melville and I couldn’t resist. The clothes were calling my name so I had to purchase!!! We did more shopping and walking, went down to the sea wall and sat in the park, it was such an awesome day and we had so much fun. The next few days I just chilled as her and her boyfriend had to work so it was nice to just do nothing for a couple days.

And now, I am at a hostel in Vancouver. I got here super early this morning and checked in and went to sleep lol. I am now waiting to meet up with another friend I met on my travels. Robbie is flying in from Australia (yes he is Ozzie) and he has never been to Canada nor has he ever backpacked and I am super stoked to see him!!! I can not wait to spend the next few weeks traveling with him.

I am so loving life out here on the west end…I know I am not gonna want to leave….I can’t believe this is Canada!!!