Trip officially starts today.
Also
First use of my noodle thongs.
Thursday, 19 January 2012
Sunday, 15 January 2012
Friday, 13 January 2012
DERELICTE.........
Homeless people. Vancouver has A LOT of them. They warrant a post just for them as it's another world with these guys.
Apart from the occasional crazy eyes, these guys tend to be quite relaxed in their begging and loitering.
It's funny, through the day you see little groups of homeless people playing hacky sack or having a laugh and generally seeming relatively happy and upbeat. They seem to have developed their own little community, and they're stronger for it.
Sometimes though they do some random shit. I swear they must get together in the morning and have a little group meeting.
"Right, how are we going to entertain ourselves today?"
"I'll ride my bike backwards!" says the bloke who already has coloured paint on his forehead and cheeks...
"I'll play the spoons on my knees and sing as I'm walking!" exclaims Hobo Joe
And so they go forth and entertain each other for hours and hours in the mild Vancouver climate, occasionally stopping for fresh hits of booze or methadone...
These guys make me laugh every day. They're nice too! One bloke came up and asked for some money on my first day..
"Spare some change bud?"
"Nah sorry mate"
"That's ok, you're still a good person" and he walks away.
Cheers!
Other homeless quirks that made me giggle.
- The bloke with the sign outside McDonalds that reads
"McHungry. Spare some change??"
- The bloke outside McDonalds with a sign that says
"It's for booze, DUH"
-The girls with the sign that says
"At least we're not prostituting"
-And finally, the girls with the sign saying
"Change? Or Smiles!"
Apart from the occasional crazy eyes, these guys tend to be quite relaxed in their begging and loitering.
It's funny, through the day you see little groups of homeless people playing hacky sack or having a laugh and generally seeming relatively happy and upbeat. They seem to have developed their own little community, and they're stronger for it.
Sometimes though they do some random shit. I swear they must get together in the morning and have a little group meeting.
"Right, how are we going to entertain ourselves today?"
"I'll ride my bike backwards!" says the bloke who already has coloured paint on his forehead and cheeks...
"I'll play the spoons on my knees and sing as I'm walking!" exclaims Hobo Joe
And so they go forth and entertain each other for hours and hours in the mild Vancouver climate, occasionally stopping for fresh hits of booze or methadone...
These guys make me laugh every day. They're nice too! One bloke came up and asked for some money on my first day..
"Spare some change bud?"
"Nah sorry mate"
"That's ok, you're still a good person" and he walks away.
Cheers!
Other homeless quirks that made me giggle.
- The bloke with the sign outside McDonalds that reads
"McHungry. Spare some change??"
- The bloke outside McDonalds with a sign that says
"It's for booze, DUH"
-The girls with the sign that says
"At least we're not prostituting"
-And finally, the girls with the sign saying
"Change? Or Smiles!"
Welcome To Canada
Van Coo Go Week 1
Well after an unorganized shambles at Seoul airport, I made it to Vancouver (Van coo go) safe and sound via 30 minutes in first class.
It's hard to describe the place without resorting to cliches so I won't even try. I have had to consciously stop myself from smiling since I've been here though.
Before the plane has even descended, you can already see snow capped mountains protruding through the clouds. That's when the smiling started.
Less than 5 minutes walk from the hostel is a wicked view of North Vancouver, surrounded by snow capped mountains, overlooking the harbour. Walking down Granville Street every pub, club and bar has 30 tvs showing some form of hockey.
Stanley Park has totem poles and lush greenery that is massive.
It's all good around these parts....
The city has a very laid back feel to it. People on the street are chatty, smiley and seem happy. The people behind the counters are all friendly and very helpful.
The hostel is pretty sweet too. It's pretty clean and tidy, there's a bar downstairs with stuff to do every night (and cheap 'highballs' whatever the flip they are) and $5 dinners every night (before tax). I've booked in for the next month so then I can properly budget before I get a job.
One thing I have had a head fuck working out is the 'before tax' and tipping pressure over here. Everything you see advertised is a before tax price, but I'm not sure how much they add on. Advertise the total price damn it!
All things aside though. This place is freaking awesome. Now my bank, tax, phone and living situation is sorted, it's time to get out there meet some more people, get my drink on and plough in head first...
Wish you were here!
Below is how I feel when locals explain things to me.....
It's hard to describe the place without resorting to cliches so I won't even try. I have had to consciously stop myself from smiling since I've been here though.
Before the plane has even descended, you can already see snow capped mountains protruding through the clouds. That's when the smiling started.
Less than 5 minutes walk from the hostel is a wicked view of North Vancouver, surrounded by snow capped mountains, overlooking the harbour. Walking down Granville Street every pub, club and bar has 30 tvs showing some form of hockey.
Stanley Park has totem poles and lush greenery that is massive.
It's all good around these parts....
The city has a very laid back feel to it. People on the street are chatty, smiley and seem happy. The people behind the counters are all friendly and very helpful.
The hostel is pretty sweet too. It's pretty clean and tidy, there's a bar downstairs with stuff to do every night (and cheap 'highballs' whatever the flip they are) and $5 dinners every night (before tax). I've booked in for the next month so then I can properly budget before I get a job.
One thing I have had a head fuck working out is the 'before tax' and tipping pressure over here. Everything you see advertised is a before tax price, but I'm not sure how much they add on. Advertise the total price damn it!
All things aside though. This place is freaking awesome. Now my bank, tax, phone and living situation is sorted, it's time to get out there meet some more people, get my drink on and plough in head first...
Wish you were here!
Below is how I feel when locals explain things to me.....
Saturday, 7 January 2012
Proof that wisdom can come from unlikely sources.
You don't have to agree with everything they say, but you should still listen and take what you can.
Other travel quotes the internet has given me (hope they're legit)
No one realizes how beautiful it is to travel until he comes home and rests his head on his old, familiar pillow.
Lin Yutang
Lin Yutang
It is not fit that every man should travel; it makes a wise man better, and a fool worse.
William Hazlitt
William Hazlitt
Thank You Brissie!!
Coming to Brisbane was a good idea.
Not only did I get a chance to catch up with some awesome people and have a heaps good time, but it was the perfect stepping stone between home with friends and travelling alone.
I have been tired and hung over for most of it, but still made friends in the dorms and gotten used to talking to strangers again.
I have been given the name 'Bear' by the guys in my room as I sleep so much apparently.
I would also like to express my love for the Normanby for their drink specials. The downside was that after getting there at 19:10, we were told we had to use our drink vouchers by the time the deal ended at 8. So 6 beers and 1 1/2 pizzas in 50 minutes. Doesn't sound so bad now it's written down.
Bob On!
Big thanks to the blokes and sheilas who made Brissie worth stopping over for and helping me remember how good the people you meet traveling really are. Cheers for making the effort people!
Not only did I get a chance to catch up with some awesome people and have a heaps good time, but it was the perfect stepping stone between home with friends and travelling alone.
I have been tired and hung over for most of it, but still made friends in the dorms and gotten used to talking to strangers again.
I have been given the name 'Bear' by the guys in my room as I sleep so much apparently.
I would also like to express my love for the Normanby for their drink specials. The downside was that after getting there at 19:10, we were told we had to use our drink vouchers by the time the deal ended at 8. So 6 beers and 1 1/2 pizzas in 50 minutes. Doesn't sound so bad now it's written down.
Bob On!
Big thanks to the blokes and sheilas who made Brissie worth stopping over for and helping me remember how good the people you meet traveling really are. Cheers for making the effort people!
Monday, 2 January 2012
Small Things......
Awesome Things About Blogs.....
- Writing is relaxing, therapeutic and enjoyable.
- You can keep track of the random shit and thoughts that whirl through your head and be able to look back on them later and see your progress and see where you've been and what you've done.
- You can allow your inner monologue to get the better of you and your wasting no one elses time but your own.
- Sometimes posting pictures or music can describe your mood way better than a 250 word essay
- Feel like Dougie Howser writing after a long day of being a teenage doctor.
Negatives
- Sometimes it's easy to fall into the trap of venting negativity all the time.
- Publicly airing your thoughts and hopes can be daunting, regardless of who and how many people read it.
- You have to come to terms with the fact that yes you are a bloke, and yes you are writing a blog..
The next post I write should be about me having begun my trip.
This excites me :D
- Writing is relaxing, therapeutic and enjoyable.
- You can keep track of the random shit and thoughts that whirl through your head and be able to look back on them later and see your progress and see where you've been and what you've done.
- You can allow your inner monologue to get the better of you and your wasting no one elses time but your own.
- Sometimes posting pictures or music can describe your mood way better than a 250 word essay
- Feel like Dougie Howser writing after a long day of being a teenage doctor.
Negatives
- Sometimes it's easy to fall into the trap of venting negativity all the time.
- Publicly airing your thoughts and hopes can be daunting, regardless of who and how many people read it.
- You have to come to terms with the fact that yes you are a bloke, and yes you are writing a blog..
The next post I write should be about me having begun my trip.
This excites me :D
Two Days Left
It's started.
The final goodbyes are coming and I've just seen my sisters and nephews for the last time in nearly three years.
Queue emotional Ads rearing his ugly head.
It seems to be much harder to say goodbye this time around. It should be easier the more times you do it.
Maybe it's because I'm older now and have built stronger bonds with people. I appreciate the things I have in my life a lot more nowadays and perhaps I'm scared of things not being the same when I get back.
I don't know. I should be super excited right now, but I'm having trouble enjoying the little time I have left with the people I care about. I know that once I get on that plane and get that backpack on, I'll be apples.
Right now though, I think the next two days are going to be hard.
All of life's complexities should be able to be expressed through pictures of llamas.
If they can't, then the problem should not be worried about :D
The final goodbyes are coming and I've just seen my sisters and nephews for the last time in nearly three years.
Queue emotional Ads rearing his ugly head.
It seems to be much harder to say goodbye this time around. It should be easier the more times you do it.
Maybe it's because I'm older now and have built stronger bonds with people. I appreciate the things I have in my life a lot more nowadays and perhaps I'm scared of things not being the same when I get back.
I don't know. I should be super excited right now, but I'm having trouble enjoying the little time I have left with the people I care about. I know that once I get on that plane and get that backpack on, I'll be apples.
Right now though, I think the next two days are going to be hard.
All of life's complexities should be able to be expressed through pictures of llamas.
If they can't, then the problem should not be worried about :D
AWKWARD
You can normally tell you're in trouble when you start hoping to hear from someone when they're not around or after you've only just seen them.
When that person is a friend or if the situation isn't right, it's usually best to back off for a while and let nature take it's course.
Sometimes just the simple act of getting it out there, can be the first step to moving on.
Hopefully this has just come about because I'm about to leave and am getting all lovey dovey...
Either way, it's time to back off.......
<(^^<)<(^^)>(>^^)>
When that person is a friend or if the situation isn't right, it's usually best to back off for a while and let nature take it's course.
Sometimes just the simple act of getting it out there, can be the first step to moving on.
Hopefully this has just come about because I'm about to leave and am getting all lovey dovey...
Either way, it's time to back off.......
<(^^<)<(^^)>(>^^)>
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