Blogs from Alberta, Canada, North America - page 257

It's official. I have looked everywhere, there really are no Balti house in Banff. Anything else, and you're laughing, there is Canadian, French-Canadian, American, Thai, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, French, Swiss (!), English, Irish, MacDonalds...but if you mention Indian you get looked at like you're from another planet. I don't think they have even heard a Garlic Chilli Chicken Bahar our here, let alone know where to recommend a good one. The closest I've seen is a jar of Pataks Korma curry paste in the supermarket for an extortionate price..... there are some serious sacrifices that I've had to make to come to this place... The good news though is that it's snowing - yeyyyyy!!! It's big gloupy wet flakes like you get in the uk at the moment though, but I know things will definitely improve ... read more

Hiking has been a big part of what we have done in the Rockies, but the most memorable hike of all was the walk we took up Sulphur Mountain on a very snowy day. Sulphur Mountain is probably not one of the biggest mountains in Banff, but its meant to take 2 to 5 hours to negotiate the path all the way up (and down) and on a day as snowy as this one it was even harder. We began around 12.20pm and at first were really determined to make it up, but the more we climbed the harder and harder it was, it was strenuous all the way up and we had to keep stopping. When we neared the top, part of the path was over a huge drop, and despite the path not being ... read more

During the first few days in Banff we hired a car. This was a new thing for me because i have never driven in a foreign country before and never on the right side of the road. The first day i was extremely nervous and drove pretty slowly throughout the day, it was notable however that the other drivers tended to be extremely courteous, very different from the UK. On this day we drove to the nearby town of Canmore which is very similar to Banff, though it is located just outside of the national park. This was fine for a first days driving, i was a litle too nervous to do anymore than this on our first day with a car. The following day however we drove up north (about 60km) to the resort of ... read more

Can you believe it, one week today we start out on our travels. I've been packed for about a month, but am constantly revising it. Keegan, may pack the night before if he can manage to stay home long enough. We are going on a travel agent's Fam to China. I know 3 other agents that are going to be on this tip. We begin in Bejiing and end in Shanghai. We are doing a 4 night Yantze River Cruise, through the 3 gorges. Bye for now.... read more

Well, although all that is left of Mark and I's trip to the "land of smiles" are pictures, soveniers and a pile of memories - FEAR NOT! As Mark and I will be returning ASAP. To tell you the truth, the only thing that is getting me through school right now, is knowing the fact that I will be out of this country in less that 215 days. Yeah... that's a long time, but it's a light at the end of the long, dark tunnel called "University". I am presently looking in to some volunteering projects in Thailand. I would like to spend a month teaching English and then travel though Thailand for a month, and then over to Vietnam and Laos. All depends on funds though. As for Mark - I am sure he will ... read more