theduck

So right now I am sitting on the bus to Jasper, nearly four hours into an 11.5 hour trip. I almost got to sleep but my mind started wandering and I was reflecting over my time in Vancouver and what I am leaving behind. Why not start typing?! A lot has changed since my last entry, which is a given seeing as it has been seven weeks. I haven’t actually done or seen much, though, which is why it has taken so long to want to write another entry. My original plan was to write (in week 6 or 7) about the friends I had made at the time and how so many of them left in a two-week span. It was a little difficult at the time to see them go but I have met ... read more

Friday the 3rd February. Easily the most exciting day I've had over here. I woke up and head to the Beaver for breakfast. I noticed that the weather was incredible: 9 degrees, clear skies with a view of the mountains and sunshine!! Hence, it was a no-brainer that Adam, Mike and myself decided to head up to Grouse Mountain and check out the snow/view. Erin had a job interview so she couldn't join us. Grouse Mountain is less than 45 minutes away (via public transport) in the North Vancouver district and the bus would drop us off right at the entrance of the mountain. It was going to cost us abot $40 each to get in, and that's without skiing/snowboarding. Luckily an English woman overheard Mike and got chatting and offered to get us in as ... read more

Technically today is February 7, but I have been so busy this last week or so, combined with the wi-fi at the hostel going down, that I haven't been able to do these. I'll still be doing it in incriments to keep it shorter and simpler. I did end up going out with Kathy and Janina on Friday night. We were joined by a German guy from the hostel. For the life of me I just can't remember his name. We went to the bar at SameSun backpackers to have a look at it and have a drink. I got talking to a girl from Camberwell at the bar and she said it was the quietest the bar had been all week. I got quite excited and decided to move there, which I was already leaning ... read more

Hey everyone!! This edition should be a lot more upbeat than the last one. I've seen/experienced a couple of the more amazing things in the last couple of days. Wednesday was not very exciting. I made no attempt to get up early and even finished season 4 of Californication that I started the night before. I ventured up to the most expensive supermarket I've ever seen in my life. It was called Buy-Low and was even recommended by reception at the hostel as a cheap place to go so it was very disappointing. Especially as I came back looking like a drowned rat. I've now learnt that the larger drugs stores are the best place for groceries (except fruit and bread). The rain did end up going away and I went and got my SIN, which ... read more

Nearly 10pm This entry will be considerably shorter then the last I would think. I'll start be describing where I am. My hostel is very small and old. That doesn't bother me the slightest, though. It's more so that people tend to keep to themselves too much, they stay in their rooms and just don't mingle. I've only really met a few annoying people so far, but I think if I put myself out there a bit more then i will be alright. It turns out that I do live in a rough part of town. A few blocks down the road is Hastings St, which is absolutely packed during night-time (picture Mitchell Street in Darwin at 2am or the front of Flinders St Station) with hobos, crackheads, beggars, whatever you want. It's not so bad ... read more

How very frustrating. It's currently 2.40am I had just taken an hour to complete my first blog entry when my battery went flat and I lost it. I've since walked to Tim Horton's (a 24-hour bakery recommended by Josef the old German guy)) froze my arse off, got a hot chocolate and muffin and calmed down. As well as a chicken wrap it all cost CA$4.46. But this story started a while ago so let's not get ahead of ourselves. I woke up before my alarm on Saturday morning around 7am Melbourne time. I'd had 2.5 hours in the previous 2 nights (this was intentional as I wanted to get a lot of sleep on the long flight). Thursday I went to Shooters (or whatever it's called these days) with people from Hog's Breath for a ... read more