Is this a private fight or can anyone join in?

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Canada is a pumping travel destination, the lovely reader. Don't you worry about that eh, and within hours of flying into Vancouver your intrepid travel blogger was ensconced in the Samesun backpackers lodge bar, trying to get my head around the unusual tipping culture prevalent in North America, as well as getting a taste of sport Canadian style. I'm talking about hockey, and it goes without saying the national sport takes place on ice at high speed, amidst whirring blades and hyper-aggressive intensity. Hockey also features players trying to plaster their opponents to the perspex wall at maximum velocity, politely known as a check. The game at times explodes into toe to toe brawling, where the protagonists launch an absolute s**tload of lusty blows at each other. Eventually with fists still flying the refs skate in and pile on top of the melee, before banishing the protagonists to their respective benches to cool off. The players are so gentlemanly they will kindly pull the other guy back up if they've fallen, so they can continue to bash the s**t out of them. It seems mugging someone on the ice is considered poor form, and no hockey player wants to be labelled a goon! Anyways, Montreal have just monstered Boston 5-1, so all is good in the world up here.

In fact, flying into Vancouver after a brief stopover at LAX has been a wonderful new experience. The north west of this mighty continent is a complete novelty to me, and this is the first time I've ventured north of San Francisco on this side of the continent. However, on arrival in Vancouver things feel familiar in some respects, mainly in relation to the swarms of Aussies at the hostel. Yet although it's hard to put my finger on it, life in this part of North America does feel different. For a start you can't get much further from Australia, and the nineteen hour time distance really blows the mind. After being in the air for close to twenty hours I arrived in Vancouver on the same day and around the same time as flying out of Sydney, and that's a discombobulating experience...

Anyways, three nights at a choice Vancouver hostel has been just the ticket to start this trip. Sure it's cold compared to Oz, but I know as I head east the weather is going to get more fierce during winter. The sun has been shining every day, which has been perfect for exploring so I'm off to a flying start. The local people are great too, just as I've come to expect from hanging out with Canadians over the years. They are incredibly polite drivers, who will pull up for a pedestrian at the drop of a hat, and jaywalking seems to be a habit indulged in by Martians! The local Canadians are also very animated, confident, engaging, polite, and most of all welcoming. Although there are literally swarms of Aussies in the country, we are given a wonderful welcome by the kind and gracious hosts in Vancouver. I'm loving it here in Canada!

So what's the go then? Yeah, well I've been on the explore that's for sure. A hostel in the centre of downtown has been the perfect base for exploration. The city itself contains only half a million inhabitants with the streets on a grid, so getting around is a breeze. I recommend getting around on foot, which is pretty exhausting by the end of the day but super rewarding nonetheless. I've wandered around the magnificent Stanley Park featuring wonderful trails along the water, and separate trails through the centre of the vast park. You can also check out the Vancouver Aquarium located within the park, it's a wonderful asset to the city's people. Chinatown is definitely worth an explore, and features the world's thinnest building. I went over to get the skinny on this incredible structure, and if I were to lay down that's the total depth of the building, but a couple of workers were still squeezed in there selling insurance. I also enjoyed a walk over the bridge to Granville Island, featuring a wonderful public market and heaps of novelty stores and coffee shops to explore. Oh yes, you can also check out the yachts moored down at the marina.

Nights have been a breeze, as the hostel has a bar and cheap food in a hospitable atmosphere. In fact I've been amazed how cheap the prices are in Vancouver, especially now with the Aussie dollar almost on par with the North American currencies. Just last night I was reading my guide book over a quiet beer, when out of the blue a couple of Aussies parked themselves down, and before long a quiet night chatting at the hostel bar turned into a big night out on the town. There's so much to see and do in wonderful Canada and the fun has only just begun, basically all of you should be here now!

For every complex problem there is a solution that is clear, simple and wrong." H.L. Menck

As I continue my travels, until next time it's signing off for now

Tom

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Photos

Roede House Museum, Vancouver
This gorgeous Victorian house has been converted into a museum.

Stanley Park
This track does a loop around the edge of the park for walkers, cyclists and skaters.

Granville Island street
The quiet streets around the market are perfect for for a sunday stroll.

Dr Sun Yat Sen Gardens
An icy pond in the heart of Chinatown.

Comments

[eric meier]

hey
Looks like another great trip! What is your next destination? Olympic National park is amazing.

[Ren]

Fight club
Hi Tom... finally getting time to read your travel blogs... There's an old joke: 'A mate and I went out to watch a fight and a hockey game broke out.' Ren