Sleepless in Seattle

Yes, literally sleepless in Seattle.

We arrived with a full moon looming over Seattle. The lights of the airport woke me up and Robert dropped us off. He whispered to me the best area where I can sleep in the airport..... there beside the wall of the International Carousel #1. So guys, if you do come here and decide to sleepover at the airport, then that's the place to be.

Of course, I couldn't help but take a photo of the area I slept in, there, with the "comfort" of no arms, instead tiny bars in the middle that ached at the back.

Cheryl was still playing ball with Lila when I said goodnight. It was 1:30 am and I needed a shut eye or else I might sleep in and find people staring at me as they collect their bags. yeah i know, a hilarious thought to imagine.

I woke up with and found Cheryl left already. Her flight was 6 am, so she had to get to check-in by 5. I wasn't sure if she had a shut eye at all. It's amazing how so many people over here take their dogs with them in their flights.

I slowly packed my sleeping bag and found my way to the loo, decided to hire a cart ($5 USD, crazy!). My back was hurting so I thought, it was about time I should hire one before my back folds out on me.

I bought me some small soup for breakfast then wrote the rest of my backlog of blogs. Then found  myself a few chairs to continue my slumber whilst waiting for my check-in. That was 9:30 am and I was already feeling dizzy.

At around 12, I woke up and decided to check if Alaska Air was available already.
I was surprised when they charged me $20 for my checkin luggage. sigh. oh well.

I went through the bag check point and was amazed by how the seattle airport was designed with the food stalls around and cute lamp posts with hanging plants added up to the lively ambiance, then of course with the views of the airplanes. Lovely. I think i'll like Seattle :)

I found myself a rocking chair by the window with the view. I found the airport was starting this program where musicians were given the opportunity to perform and sell their materials in the different corners. A-W-E-S-O-M-E! :)

There were 2 musicians who played but the main one was Alice. She's been a musician since she was a teenager. Her tunes were more of bluesy, jazzy with a little bit of a mix of country. It was lovely watching her

and how passionate she was despite her age. She was so cute wearing this black tight jeans and red sneakers. groovy! And it's amazing how she could still be doing this. Her assistant was giving away some materials to read on about Alice's background. She actually does have a band she performs with when they're booked for big gigs :)

I lingered for a few more minutes while finishing lunch, as she told tales of the people she's met along the way. <sigh> travel.

I moved on and explored more of the airport then I decided to sit somewhere close by to Gate C9 where I was to board my flight. After all of the music I've been listening to, I decided to take out my guitar and start writing some tunes. Across my isle was a lady by the name of Shay, who lives south of Anchorage. Apparently she love songwriting too. I played some tunes and she harmonized with me. With the planes flying by the window, there we were doing some music. :) Apparently she's into the type of Hillsong music.

After chatting for some time,  I realized Alaska Air was paging for me. I was the last passenger NOT on board. hahahah. DUH!...

Run Jowe..Run...

And so there it goes.... dizzy with a sleepless night in Seattle, I was bound for Alaska.

On the plane, yet again, another musician I wasn't able to get his name. Played percussions, and was travellin' with his djembe. But his main instrument is the cajon. C-O-O-L!!!

I snoozed on the way...too sleepy

Open Mic in Vancouver

Despite the headache, I got myself to stand up and pack the guitar and head to W Broadway. I found a place Benny's Bagels Cafe at 2505 W Broadway, over the Granville Street Island Bridge.

If you ever get to Vancouver, here's a list of open mics to check out : Vancouver Open Mic Scene

I listened to a few singer/songwriters of the night. It started off with Joey who was joined by a few of his mates. I really liked his materials, the songs were really catchy. Simple guitar work there but the melodies were definitely the mainstream type that would catch the audience attention.

Later on, Melody performed a few of her originals. She was supported by a bunch of her friends who sang as her backup vocals at the back of the room.

Then Angie, another local singer/songwriter who's into yoga performed her melancholic tunes. I really liked her voice and the guitar work on her last song "The Last Dance" was amazing. I had a chat with her after.

I got on next and introduced myself. I said it was my first time in Vancouver, and was gladly welcomed by the crowd. I performed 3 songs of mine and was happy to see a few people dancing to the upbeat ones.

A guy by the name of Frank who was seated at the back summoned me to approach him. He said so many kind words which I didn't expect. But definitely has given me more inspiration. :)

I didn't stay that long coz I had to catch my bus. But I was happy to have played in the open mic scene of Vancouver. :) Off to the next town then :)

Night Shots

I didn't take the tripod with me for nothing. With all of that weight, it was time for me to take night shots. With the moon shining on Vancouver, I rushed off to the few last trips of the ferry bound for the north shore. I was so thankful that the hostel was so close by to the Waterfront Station.

I setup my tripod and camera at Lonsdale Quay and captured a few photos. I was a little bit paranoid on security but good that there was still a pub upstairs in the market. At least I had company even though they sounded drunk. This was the best of the photos so far.

On my way back to the hostel, I decided to pass by Gastown and take some photos too. I love lamp posts. And with the matching trees with lights and of course the steam ship, the scene was perfect! :) It would have been romantic I suppose. There were a few lovers walking hand in hand while I was setting up the camera. <sigh> yeah yeah Jowe... stop being hopeless romantic haha.

Buskers in Vancouver

    In Granville Island, Busking is very much supported. 
    Which is why, in almost ever corner surrounding the public market, you'd hear music around and a big variety of musicians performing.

    I met Russell on my last night. His saxophone was echoing around Gastown, it magnetized me instantly.
    I joined in for a few songs and had a long chat with him. He wanted me to join him in his band and perhaps do some recording. I wasn't really sure how serious he was though. But it was fun jamming with him :)

My Last whole day in Vancouver

It felt different when I woke up.. no Gitta and nobody in the room. I wanted to stay under the covers coz my left knee was aching but forced myself to get up. It was may last whole day in Vancouver so I'd better explore as much as I can.

Gastown

I decided to go back to Gastown for day shots. I went down Richards Street and found my way back where we went the other day.

Majority of the shots of Gastown includes the well known clock operated by a low-pressure steam heating network in downtown. Right in front of it is the Starbucks cafe, where I had a chat with 2 local artists hanging out. Bruce Morrisseau Bruce's artworks and Edgar Allan Rossetti Edgar's artworks

They were both down to earth artists and so easy to talk to. Bruce was lovely and even showed me a lot of his artworks that were published in children's books. We walked to the art shop next door and there he showed me a few of those. I love knowing people who are so humble and proud of their artworks, inspired by their heritage and culture. As much as I wanted to take photos of them, I let them be. 


Granville Island

I didn't really know what to expect about Granville Island. Gitts did talk about it a lot too, as well as  
Kitsilano Beach. So I went down to the waterfront and walked up a little bit to catch bus #50. I decided to buy a day pass ($9.75) so I can go around couple of times.

Market

It is located just across downtown Vancouver and beneath the Granville Street Bridge. I got off the bus and was greeted by the big sign "Granville Island". A public market gives life to the island but there's a lot to explore though. :)

I found myself a small thai place to buy my first meal for the day. I still am not used to the big servings, but because I didn't have dinner nor breakfast, I finished it all the way. I found myself sitting outside, serenaded by singer songwriter Babe Cole. A semi circle was formed and people from everywhere sat there enjoying the sunshine and the background music. I loved the atmosphere. Sailboats were just floating around and kids were running after seagulls. Art galleries, craft studios, small shops and the Granville Brewing Company can be found around the vicinity.


Kitsilano

artwork in Vanier Park

Kitsilano or as they all call as "Kits" was named after the Squamish chief August Jack Khatsalano. Squamish is the indigenous located in British Columbia.

Along my way, I walked with a bunch of students who were accompanied by their teacher. I couldn't help but smile while listening to their conversation. The kid said "Congratulations" to their teacher after asking questions about her engagement. Then they asked when the wedding was. August 30, she said. So cute. They sounded so matured talking to their teacher like that. :)

I followed the coastline and savored in the vibe. A lot of joggers ran around and some couples were walking
the dog. Around the corner and across the water was Sunset Beach, where I was supposed to capture sunset shots the other day. There located was a silvert artwork with its humungous design decorating the horizons. It was a lovely day so I stopped for a while and took some photography shots as well.

There were a few things I wanted to check out in Kitsilano. The Maritime Museum and the H.R. Macmillan Space Centre. But because it was around 4 pm, I could only do one. So I decided to check out the Maritime Museum instead



Vancouver Maritime Museum 

Located in Vanier Park is the Vancouver Maritime Museum. I rushed in and paid the entrance fee and rushed off to get on board St.Roch. 


Excerpt from research : 
Roch is a Royal Canadian Mounted Police schooner, the first ship to completely circumnavigate North America, and the second sailing vessel to complete a voyage through the Northwest Passage. It was the first ship to complete the Northwest Passage in the direction west to east, going the same route that Amundsen on the sailing vessel Gjøa went east to west, 38 years earlier. The ship was most often captained by Henry Larsen.

I explored further and went through the Tattoo displays and the explanation of the different tattoo art on sailors body parts. I didn't realize that these all meant something most especially back in the days. I always had the thinking that for them it was just a show of manliness. There in the museum they've explained what each symbolizes. I was warned earlier due to the sensitive materials displayed. When I finished looking at the tattoo photos I didn't find a single bit of it offending. Maybe it's because I've always liked tattoos and the art of it. I know a lot of people find it taboo. The word tattoo originated from the Samoan word "tatau".

I moved on to the pirates section and finally to the miniature of the different ships. There in its grandeur stood
the miniature of the Empress of Japan. This served as the vessel connecting West Canada to the Asian Regions. It was eventually named to Empress of Scotland. Eventually it was used as a war ship during the World War II.

I then decided to head back to the hostel to drop off the bag and get the guitar. I was off for the night to explore the open mic scene of Vancouver. I tried to get a quick nap at the hostel because of a splitting headache. Ended up drinking a beer (after gulping 2 tablets of Panado)... not sure if that helped at all. 


<sup>I think it is but worth mentioning that through the span of my reads whilst my exploration in Vancouver, there's been a huge emphasis on the "Great Depression". This has me reading more and further understanding what happened. 

The Great Depression apparently happened on the 29th of October, 1929, right before the start of World war II. This is attributed to the sudden crash of the U.S. stock market. Researching further on discusses on the management of interest rates and also the realization of an early onset of recession or perhaps a far more worse situation. 

This then had me further on reading on the Great Recession of 2009. It seems history repeating itself, but at least has been tagged as the "Lesser Depression". But isn't there a pattern???? and the source of this all, seems to be all the same. <sigh></sup>

Backlog

I feel like I've got so much backlog writing my blog.

too tired, body achin' and I'm sleeping overnight at the airport but couldn't have a shut eye. Lila, the dog of the lady sleeping beside me, is playing ball at 1 am.

Cheryl, Lila's master, lives south of Anchorage, Alaska. It's her first time to get out of Alaska after 38 winters. imagine that. We've been chatting...

I feel overwhelmed sometimes when I meet people in my travels. I ask so many things and I get this feeling that I want to write it all down..... share all the stories...then I start writing this blog a day or two days delayed...and I feel I've lost the momentum...

Earlier on I had a chat with the bus driver Robert, who's son has been studying Music conducting in Vancouver and also chatted with this guy from England who just took a law exam in the US.

okay, adventure + experience + people encounters overload......dont be surprised if one day i'll stop writing....

S-L-E-E-P beckons. 

North Vancouver & Lynn Canyon

 Sunday, 24 March 2013

I woke up to yet another sunny day in Vancouver. My bed gets the sunshine from the window which was good. I was supposed to catch the 9:30 mass at the Holy Rosary Cathedral but took too long in prepping. I forgot to mention earlier that it was comforting to know our hostel was right across to the Cathedral.

I decided to catch the 11 mass instead, and so lingered a while to surf the net and do some research. Gitta woke up around 10 and was surprised to still see me there. We had a short discussion about religion coz she asked about church service.

Palm Sunday

I didn't realize it was Palm Sunday till I entered the cathedral. Palms were available for everyone right at the door. I took 2 and was ushered to a pew to the further left.  The cathedral was full and I noticed a lot of Filipinos around. The structure was decorated with intricate tainted glass windows and the painting on the walls seemed to be freshly painted.

North Vancouver
 

Lonsdale Market

I chose to catch the SeaBus from the Waterfront and cross to the North Shore. The ferry took us across to Lonsdale Quay. I decided to explore the Quay for a while and to my amazement found that there was a market market inside. Just beside the ferry arrival door, turn right and you'll find the area where viewing decks were situated. Apparently that was one of the best spots to catch a glimpse of the Vancouver skyline. I then told myself I'll go back there for night shots.

There were a lot of people around, a big combination of tourists and
families. I then remembered it was a Sunday....... I bought myself lunch and found a quiet corner outside with the view of the city. A policeman and woman were also having their lunch 2 tables away from me. I wanted to have a chat with them but decided it would seem weird, so I let them be.

I walked around the market and found myself the perfect tuque (beanie) that was made of wool outside but had a fleece layer inside. Perfect for me, at least no allergies from the wool :) I had to bargain with the lady, and was able to get $5 off the price :)

I found the bus terminal and waited for bus #229. A storm of people lined up... apparently everyone was headed for Lynn Canyon.

Lynn Canyon

Gitta was raving about the Canyon ever since I met her. And I've also read about this too before I flew to Vancouver. There are actually 2 suspension bridges, Capillano and Lynn. However, Capillano would cost you $31.95.. and Lynn Canyon was free.

Lynn Canyon is also situated in the North Shore and offers a lot of trails you can explore, covered with the towering trees of Western RedCedars, Douglas-fir and Hemlocks. You can notice the abundance of oxygen due to the healthy presence of lichen. The 50-m suspension bridge allows visitors to explore the trails.

I got off the bus and followed the in flux of people. There were a group of teenagers singing on top of their lungs, and some howling like wolves. I rolled my eyes and wished I visited the park on a weekday instead. For some reason I find nature and noise don't really go together. Or maybe it's just me.

I crossed the bridge quickly coz people were standing there taking numerous photos. I decided to go ahead.

Western RedCedar

I got to the Baden Powell trail and followed the track. On the way was the 30-foot pool with clear waters flowing. I wanted to linger for a while but it was just packed with people, lovers, kids and dogs. I moved on.

Up and up the staircase, I found the path leading to the Rice Lake where Gitta mentioned some people would go for fishing. I found an area that gave me photo opportunities off the track. I was surprised when I saw someone though. A guy from somewhere in Europe was quietly standing there with his fishing rod. He was patiently waiting for a bite... apparently you can catch trout there. I had a little bit of a chat then moved on.

Rice Lake

I loved the towering trees and how the sun's rays were shimmering through the leaves. I wanted to only hear footprints. Earlier on I noticed so many people just throwing tissue paper on the ground and some leaving their bottles... it was sad. I felt sorry for mother nature but most of all I felt sorry for those people and what they will pass down to the next generation. :(

Gitta was texting already and was asking when I was heading back. It was a her last night at the hostel and the goal was to finish off the beers and me playing her some tunes. I got back on the track and headed directly to the bus stop.We ended up chatting and doing the laundry instead.

We both stayed up till around 1-ish am. She woke me up around 5:15 am, said goodbye and told me I'm welcome to stay with her when I get to Berlin.

I went back to sleep.

The WHAT's

I now sit at Waves Coffee at the corner of Richards St. and W Hastings. It's just a block away from my hostel. I found St. Clare's to be really convenient despite the basic type of accommodation it offers.

I was smiling this morning, trying to remember things I've observed around and what I've been doin' wrong.

What I've been doin' -

• When crossing the street, I still look to my right. Of course I got honked at. Duh. All I can do is smile
• I almost crossed on a diagonal direction. That just happened to me this morning. It was hilarious when I realized. I told myself, "hellow Jowe you're not in Auckland!"
• I've been saying "beanie", actually termed to be "tuque"  here
• I always say "take away", when it's supposed to be "Take out"
• I say flat white...... doesn't seem to exist as much here
• I always forget food servings are massive!
• I always forget to give the correct amount of tips

What I've noticed - 

• People also say Thank you to the driver when getting off the bus (so good to know)
• There's a big population of skateboarders here
• Wifi seems to be free everywhere...near cafes..and you don't need to buy anything to get it on your radar
• Cars sometime get impatient when turning, even though they're supposed to wait for the pedestrians to cross. 
• People are friendly, smiling, approachable, helpful and nice :)
• Transportation here is very good. almost everything is accessible
• Starbucks seems to be everywhere!!! it's driving me crazy!

I'll update this as I go

Can't sleep

okay 40 minutes remaining till my battery dies on me and I'd need to accept that I must go to sleep. It's now 1:30 am, Tuesday in Vancouver. could this be jet lag?

I feel like there are so many things to write. So much so that I don't even know where to start. There's a lot of similarities between Canada and New Zealand. Of course magnitude-wise, it's not comparable. But I find that people here are nice just the same in NZ, where you can approach people, or get a random smile while walking.

Anyway, I'll be leaving Vancouver this afternoon as I cross the border to Seattle. Time flies.Still need to write the happenings of yesterday until my last night here. I can't seem to find the energy to write about Lynn Canyon though. Despite the beauty of the surrounding nature of the Canyon, I found it really sad  that people were throwing tissue paper and leaving bottles around. I was so affected that I couldn't help but take photos of it too. I felt like screaming...WHAT THE HECK? Blimmin' tourists, exploring mother nature with NO respect at all. <sigh> Okay, i'll save it for the actual article.

Fine.... i've got half an hour left.... will need a shut eye soon. Then book activities for Alaska trip. Obviously I'm not organized. haha.

Goodnight World.

Explorin' & takin' night shots

I think it's been our body clock, that's what I noticed. Gitta and I would usually wake up around 10-ish am. Yeah, I know. But hey, we're on vacation.... chill... no stress.... :)

Gitta asked if she could join me for the day's activities and was happy when I said it was okay. We geared up for the day and had breakfast, first stop. She's a very bubbly girl with a positive aura. But what I liked was she also knew how to listen too. We shared stories over breakfast, which we actually had around 12:30 pm. Just the same the day before. It seemed to be a routine now :)

We headed to Chinatown, East Hastings side. Apparently, the unsafe neighborhood. Well, we were in a mission. To visit Jimi Hendrix Shrine. Along Union St., near Main St. there it stood. But to our dismay, it was only open in Summer. Boo!

Gitts (as I then decided to call her) decided to join me up Queen Elizabeth Park, the place which Blake recommended for a view of Vancouver at night.

It was still around 4-ish, so we decided to stroll along Main Street and have a lazy afternoon while waiting for the sun to go down. Gitts found a clothing shop with a few items she had her eyes on. We ended up going back and her smiling after purchasing 2 tops.

Queen Elizabeth Park was situated further north of King Edward Avenue. It wasn't really a smart idea not to check out the map. We found ourselves walking through the adjacent golf course and going over 2 fences, with some golfies looking at us wondering what we silly girls were up to.

We walked around the park and found the way up the top. At first we were disappointed with the views and said we'd made sure to complain it to Blake. Gitts was really patient with me despite the cold.

We were about to leave the park when I saw a restaurant in the corner and asked if we could just checked out that area where a statue pointing out to something looked interesting. To our amazement, there was the vantage point. Eureka! :)

I set up my tripod and stood there choosing the right combination of aperture and shutter settings. The cold was getting to us already so Gitts and I jogged in circles.. giggling. Another guy (with his girlfriend) had his tripod setup, apparently he was taking a time lapse photo. cool!

After some time we decided to go down and head home. The cold was just biting. We were laughing our frozen butts out coz we thought of hitch hiking down the park. But nope ... that wasn't successful at all! We looked like 2 silly racoons in the park running down. We found the bus heading to downtown and kept warm while people watching. :)

Good times!

Friday Night out in Vancouver

A Friday night out I would think is always the same anywhere you go. Streets filled up with girls in their killer shoes and bling, filling the air with their lovely scents, and of course the guys all geared up to charm the girls.

Vancouver Block along Granville Street

I was rushing my way back to the hostel coz I promised Gitta I'd be back to get ready for a friday night out. I didn't realize the walk back from English Bay would take me so long. That's how I noticed the people and their get ups. It was already happening along Granville Street as early as 7 in the evening.

I followed where I can see the building with a clock on top. All I knew was the hostel was just close by, then I'd recognize the streets. I got back to the hostel and found Gitta in our room. Maki, from Japan, arrived earlier and was here just for a night before heading off to Banff. We all decided to go out for the night and check out a place called The Libra Room in Commercial Drive. We had the goal of looking for a place with an open mic, and was suggested to check out this place.

Shelby, Ben, me, Maki, Gitta

Whilst prepping up around 9, a knock on the door got us welcoming a couple from Seattle, by the name of Ben and Shelby. Apparently they just arrived and was visiting Vancouver only for the weekend. We all decided were going to have a friday night out together in Vancouver.

The Libra Room

Libra Room was definitely happening. So much that we just had drinks while waiting for 45 minutes. We ended up leaving the place, after listening to the band. (Later on, based on research, I realized their open mics were just on Monday nights).

Maki and the couple decided to head back. Gitta and I, who were so famished, decided to stay and look for a place to eat coz we haven't had anything for dinner yet. We found a place along Commercial Drive and stayed their until almost 1 am.

Stanley Park

Kelly left early for her bus to Toronto and Gowoon peeked to say goodbye around 7 am. I decided to sleep in.

Gitta, my roomie from Berlin, greeted me with a Good Morning. She just finished working for a year in Toronto and is now exploring the other parts of Canada.

She took me to the Save On Meats place(West Hastings St), just a few blocks from the hostel. It's a popular place where you get value for money breakfast. For $1.75 you get the cookie sandwich which was really yummy. For $3.50 you get a coffee to go with that. Woot! :) The guy was bubbly and nice and knew the local customers. I always like to going to places like that and blend in :)

We decided to eat it somewhere instead of getting on the waiting list. Gitta took me to Gastown so I know my bearing. After a few blocks, we headed our own ways.

Stanley Park
  

RedCedar trees

Stanley Park has been the most talked about park in Vancouver. Not only does it have stunning views, but also includes a variety of activities over so many hectares of land. Situated near downtown, it's known to be the first and largest urban park in Vancouver .Stanley Park Map

I followed the water as I headed to the entrance of Stanley. The harbour in itself was already interesting enough, coupled with a variety of sailboats and restos to take photos of. The seaplanes taking off filled the air with its roaring engines. A few joggers were running their daily kilometers while I cruised around and lazily soaked in the atmosphere.

Chanting Man

Stanley Park offers the opportunity for walking, cycling, rollerblading, picnics and other activities. Click Here to read more details About Stanley Park. I followed the whole seawall, as they call it. It is the perimeter that encloses the park itself and takes 22km to walk. And I did it. However, I wasn't aware it was 22 km. Had I known, then maybe I would have taken shortcuts. I didn't regret it though. I came across so many interesting displays of art and history. To top it up were the different native trees of Canada. I took a few photos of the Red Cedars which were booming all over my path with its height and shade.

Totem Poles

While walking around, I noticed a guy chanting to the trees. I wanted to approach him and have a chat, try and understand why he was chanting, or what he was chanting... but I thought it best to leave him to it and just try to capture that moment with my camera. Maybe it's just me, but I love chanting.. I feel like there's always a story behind a chant...... always.... and it all goes back to history I guess.

Horse Carriage

Further on to my walking I realized I got to the area that was passed the totem poles. Okay, so I missed it. and I said, nope, I can't leave the park without checking them out. I wasn't sure if i'll ever get to Haida Gwaii, so decided to walk 900m back to visit the totem poles.

Girl in Bathing Suite

All of the poles were facing the vast tall buildings of downtown Vancouver. There they all stood at Brockton Point with an explanation for the variety of animals or faces combined in a pole. They had 8 totem poles in total. Details on each Totem pole

Tea House up in Stanley

I stood there for a while. I know a lot of people are not into this, but for some reason I've always been amazed about the meaning of the animals. For more readings on the meanings click here

On the west side of the park were the second and third beach. Don't ask me why they've named it like that... I just learned to accept it. At least it wasn't difficult to remember haha. I stopped at the second beach and sat there for a while. Granola bars are always good company. I decided to choose a log and sunbathe for a while. Couples were all cooed behind a few logs further away from me. I watched  2 friends wet their feet and giggle from a distance. A seaplane just flew right over me, approaching for landing. When I was toasted enough, I packed up and got back on the road.

Second Beach

In exiting Stanley Park would be English Bay and then Sunset beach (right beside the bridge going to Granville Island). I decided to linger in English bay. It was packed with people who were waiting for sunset. It was actually the perfect day to do that. But since it was just about 6:30 I decided to walk around the shops. I found myself a really good fruit shop and bought me some bananas and oranges for the next couple of days.

In total I walked for more than 30km. WAHH!!!

Vancouver Touchdown

Seaplanes at the Waterfront

(additional photos in my Flckr gallery)

I went through the tunnel with no rush.  Down the steps leading to immigration were 2 massive totem-like poles. I was so tempted to take a photo but I said I'll just do it when I get back from Seattle.

The immigration officer asked so many questions and requested my full itinerary when he learned I was traveling for a year. Oddly enough though he asked me 3 times, "And you're traveling by yourself?"

After collecting a few brochures from the terminal, I found my way to the train station. It only had 1 sign, Canada Line.

It was a 2-zone ticket to get to Vancouver Central Station via the Waterfront bound train. That was CAD$9.

It was chilly outside. 6C. I'm back in the cold. I was so happy to arrive with the sun shimmering all over Vancouver. The snow capped mountain ranges were gorgeous to stare at. It sort of reminded me of Queenstown. But this was all 3 times larger and grand.

Exiting the train station, I turned right to Georgia St. I was smiling. I loved it.

The hostel was 2 blocks down, located at Richards Street. (I'll cover my reviews and write up in a different section)

Kelly was one of my roomies. Originally from Sydney, Australia, she was there to look for a job….. As a float plane pilot (sea planes). WOW! The discussion about flight kept my eyes open for a while.

They say don't sleep if you're having a jetlag, most especially if you arrive in broad daylight. I struggled. I gave in to slumber.

2 hours of sleep was enough for me to re-energize, though  I still felt dizzy. I was settling in and unpacking when my other roomie arrived. Gowoon, originally from Korea but now living in Kansas and studying BioChemistry. She saw my guitar and asked me to play for her. She's been trying to learn the guitar and violin. Cool!

After a hot shower, I felt I was ready to hit the streets. I unloaded my daypack and set off.

--------

SeaPlane landing at the Waterfront

After walking a few blocks, I regret not taking my gloves with me. I felt like it was less than 6C @ 5pm. Brainfreeze + sniffles...that was me.

I looked around and soaked in the vibe. People were all heading home, a few shops were closed but the cafes and restos were getting busy. It was interesting to see the range of parking fees, from a whole day of $9 to $16, which I found absurd.

The Waterfront was just 2 blocks from my hostel. I walked along Hastings St. and found a few spots at the Vancouver Convention Center  and Canada Place to watch the people,  birds and seaplanes landing. The streets sort of reminded me of Sydney for some reason. I was contemplating of getting sunset shots at Sunset Beach (just across Granville Island), but decided I'd save it for tomorrow. For now, I shouldn't consume too much energy.

I continued on a little bit more for some photos. Then head back to the hostel to chill.

To and In Flight

I was groggy when I woke up. Dad and Mom rang me a few minutes before we left the house. It's a good feeling to hear them give their blessings. That was enough to give me some peace of mind.

I was happy to have the last few hours of bonding with my sisters, while having an early breakfast at the airport. They hugged me goodbye at the gate and waited for me to get through immigration. It's been a while since I've been inside the terminal. Apparently there's been a few changes in the layout. I had to find the new spot where I can see them wave from the top viewing deck. There they were waving. I waved goodbye too.

--

Sunset over the Pacific Enroute LAX

"I'll be your seatmate for the next 14 hours", I smiled and looked at him.  That was the leg  from Melbourne to Los Angeles (LAX).

Jay was born in Melbourne and move d to Seattle 7 years ago. In my years of travels, this was the first time I didn't watch a single movie. The absence of that was compensated by the enriching and intellectual conversations we had.  And this is what I love about travel. The people you meet, the stories you share and the insights you exchange.

He gave me some tips on Seattle and since he was also into photography, mentioned vantage points I can check out for night shots of the Seattle skyline.

After checking out the sunset over the Pacific, we had a sip of whiskey and continue on with our discussions.

--

If there's one thing I've learned, if your itinerary includes a layover in any of the US airports, make sure you've got enough time to get to your next flight. Apparently, you would need to go through immigration and customs regardless if you're on a domestic or international connecting flight. Oh, and they still ask people to take their shoes off.

Alaska Air enroute Vancouver

I think I need to mention that I lost the rainsheet of my Terra. :( And I almost lost my sleeping bag, but good enough it was still hanging on to the bag. It took me a while to claim with Qantas.

My last flight was via Alaska Air, from LAX to Vancouver. My lack of sleep was hitting me and I felt like I need to take iron supplements soon. I dozed off.

At 12:45 pm, 21st of March 2013, the captain welcomed us to Vancouver. I lazily woke up and looked out of the window.  Gorgeous.

Packed up & All Set

how do i Feel now? Mixed emotions. Excited, nervous, sleepy but couldn't get a shut eye, worried I might have forgotten something and so on.

I finished packing up my bags at 10:30 pm. It's funny how I still find comfort when family double checks how I organize my stuff, hearing their comments  like "Do you really need that???" then rolling of the eyes. We always end up giggling.

I'll be carrying the big 60L Terra (now weighing 15kg) + day pack (7 kg) and my Luna guitar. My sis asked me to carry everything and see if the weight was okay. After her taking a few photos & giggling because of how i looked... I felt like my shoulders would fall off. again, goodluck to me. haha.

Is it sinking in? Sort of. It's crazy to think of it this way. Today I'm in Auckland, New Zealand, Southern Hemisphere, Summer........    Later, I'll be walking the streets of my first stop, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, Northern Hemisphere, End of Winter (I think).....

I'll digest everything. I will Allow my tongue to taste everything local, focus my eyes to see day and night, expose my skin to the different climates......... I'll soak it all in as much as I can. To experience, learn and take with you such powerful memories will always be the culmination of one's travel.

I ask of you my friend, all the best wishes you can give and all the prayers you can whisper... as I embark on this journey.

Till my next post.

Day Bag

When you travel distances, the way to go is to ONLY carry essentials... pack light and compact.

This bag allows me to carry my laptop and Canon EOS set, with the capacity to attach my camera stand, a water bottle and many more.
The  photo shows how conveniently they've designed it for an active photographer to get hold of the camera. The compartment gives the owner the option of detaching the lenses or just leaving the camera in full setup.
It's so cool how you dont need to open your backpack and reach for it.
This side compartment is also 100% padded for protection.

 The pack also goes with a compartment for your water supply bag. I'll be carrying the bladder with me, and will only use it if necessary.

The bag also goes with a water proof sheet! how cool is that! 

Thanks to my family for such a wonderful birthday gift!! :) woot woot

Photo Sport Writeup

My Day

Birthday. Another year.

I've received early greetings and gifts. Had a catchup with close friends over dinner and enjoyed the conversations and the laughs. I will definitely miss that while I'm on the way. Just knowing that you can trust these people is something I hold so dear.

My Last Year has been filled with such amazing "movement" of sorts. Moving flats, moving cities and moving back again. Amazing how I survived all of those changes in my life in the span of a year, managed to go through the stress and still find myself stronger than ever before.

I've had some ups and downs, but I've always tried to look at the positive side of things and learned to see things from a different perspective.

If I can itemize a few things from my learnings, that'll be:

• Learn not to expect from people, as this entails disappointment
• Learn to be patient and take each step stride by stride (literally and mentally)
• Be yourself , be confident and try to emanate a good and positive vibe
• Love yourself

 I believe everything happens for a reason. Coincidence does occur from time to time, however, there are instances when such situations are meant to be. We meet some people for a reason, either to leave a mark in their lives, or them to yours. Or perhaps it worked both ways. It is not easy to decipher... no code book will ever explain...and it is only in retrospect that you get to combine the pieces together and you say "Ahhh! So that's why that happened...because.....this happened..blah blah."

I would like to say thank you to all of my friends and family for the support, the advices, the company and even if miles of land and/or sea separates us, I've never doubted each moment of these relationships I hold dear... with people who have been part of my life for years....To you my gratitude....and my love.

And of course to the man upstairs.... I hope I'll be your vessel... directed by your tides of guidance and protection.....

Maraming Salamat!!!!

Preparations

I'm excited but i'm scared.
I'm feeling positive but anticipating anything can go wrong.
I've been protecting myself from issues or dramas before I go, coz I want a fresh mind and an open heart...no baggage, no hurts, nobody to think of but myself. I owe it to me to be free and embrace the world as my oyster.

For the past few months I've been filling up a spreadsheet with all of the information, directions, prices and links that I can get hold of whilst researching and booking. I've always done this when I go on big trips. It allows me to estimate expenses and further more, plan my route and the distances involved. It can never be as close to how my sister organizes trips, but at least it's something I can go back to in case there are items I have missed.

As part of the preps, here are a few things I've done which I hope someone (might) find helpful in case they do the same thing in the future:

• Have a Checklist handy for the following items
• Clothes, as for me i'll be travelling in both cold and hot climates. so better planning is required
• Bags (i'll be taking my Terra 60L North Face with me) and pack light
• First Aid Kit (i've included a few survival items too)
• SPOT Connect items (Beacon)
• Monetary (OneSmart card for loading of several currencies)
• Research on vaccinations if needed
• Read, Read, Read = lots of research
• Get yourself acquainted with the geography of the places you're going to
• learn about the distances, the suggested means of travel, best deals
• make sure to double check tripadvisor site regarding latest news that might have impact on your trip
• Close accounts that wouldn't be required whilst your away. I'm saying this because I had to cancel my Southern Cross health insurance to lessen expenses, besides, it will be useless while i'm away. Had to cancel my broadband and empower accounts too. 
•  Make sure to give a copy of your itinerary to your family and/or closest friend so they know your where abouts. My SPOT device will be very handy for this, but it's still best if they know your plans "in case" anything happens. 

So the way I'd like to travel is to have a mix of the following:

• Visit Museums, Gardens and/or Art galleries
• Check out a park in a major city 
• Listen and/or perform in an open mic
• If safe and weather permitting, do day treks/walks/hikes
• Talk to locals and ask an "off the beaten track" recommendation --- this i would love to do coz I find these are the places that can be more charming than the usual touristy places
• have a takeaway(out) breakfast in a park on a Sunday morning -- this i often did when I was on my South America trip. I've always liked to study the dynamics of families on a weekend. parks/beaches can be a good place to do that. I loved the vibe in Chile. :)
• If there's a fishing area, perhaps stand beside the locals and have a chat -- i usually do that here in NZ
• Visit a Church and say my 3 wishes :)
• Strive to take good night photos
• Don't rush too quick through places. Take it all in and stop for a while or even for days/weeks if I feel like it. 
• Send a postcard to family and friends -- this I always do. usually when i'm in a park.

Again, there's a lot of things that are out of our control when we travel. Best way in life regardless what stage you are or where you are, is to accept things and react accordingly... wisely and maturely. 

Ahhhhh.... 4 days to go. i'm goin' crazy and panicky. so many things yet to be sorted......

An Evening of News & Confusion

It's happening again. Every time my birthday is approaching, life changing news items arrives.

I checked my email last night and received the good news that my Canada working holiday visa has finally been approved until March 14, 2014. Just 6 days before my departure. Whew!

But then, another email came through, requesting me to change my flight itinerary and perhaps book Europe first before Canada. Note. this has been my dream company for ages. i've applied but been so many times rejected.

Ok...that's when I had a memory flashback.

7 years ago I was, sort of, in the same scenario. I was offered a job in New Zealand and at the same time my work visa (H1B) for the U.S. was approved. It was then that I had to make a huge decision... and that was a month before my birthday.

Here I am now.

This is my trip of a lifetime..which I can still do anyway, but just needs tweaking...
and....this is also my dream company...which i'm not sure if i'll be given the same opportunity again.

I dont know. I need something solid...a job offer in writing...and also a work visa.... that's the time i'll rebook my flights....

<sigh>

if you were me?

Tunes on The Road

I've decided to make this trip more interesting. And so I bought Luna and will also be taking Shutter with me. What does these all mean?

Luna will be my bestfriend on the road. The one i'll caress as I run my fingers on the fretboard and write new tunes on the road. Music will always be a part of me, that's what I've learned the past few months. And so, I bought Luna...my travellin' gat (guitar). :)

It took me a few weeks before I finally decided to buy one. Maton was my first choice (saw it down in Wellington). But the price didn't justify my desire to get one. If I were to take a gat with me on the road, I'd rather it be a small cheap one in case I get it smashed somewhere.

I bought Luna for a really cheap price. When I saw it from Al (from Rockshop), I knew that was the one. It had character.... coz it had a smash on the side.... from stories of its own travels on the road too. Small guitars dont usually have good booming bass due to the size. But it can sometimes vary depending on the wood. Luna was fine.

So my target is to check out an open mic (if existing) in each town I go to. I told myself this would be give me the chance to meet different musicians around the world and even try to play different genres. Through the years, I've found that collaborating with musos opens up a wide range of tunes that you don't normally play, thus, giving you an opportunity to experiment.

So, yeah, this nomad is up for writing new tunes on the road. :) watch that space :)

Why?

The past few days have been busy with catch ups and this will go on until I embark on this journey.

I get almost the same question over and over again, about what route, what countries. But I guess the main one was "Why?" and "Why Now?" -- good one.

The last few weeks of 2012 and early months of 2013 gave me enough time to re-evaluate what I wanted to do. I guess when you get older you try to figure out priorities and perhaps tick off some items from your bucket list.

As we all know, life is short and I'm not getting any younger either. The dream to travel for months lingered in my mind for so many years. However, when you're used to working, saving and having this kind of routine, such dreams are put on the back burner. I came from a culture where financial stability is a must and survival is the main game after graduating from University.

Those months of re-evaluating made me decide ---- That's it! I'M DOING THIS!
no more procrastinating. time is ticking away. It's now or never. and when you don't have commitments, I guess that's the best time to do it.

I had to break a few of my rules. For starters, I said I'd only travel to Europe and Tibet if I've got a boyfriend or husband. Well scrap that. I ain't waiting for it to happen coz who knows if it's even going to happen in this lifetime. Second, I said I'd do this if I'm financially stable. Nope, I ain't even close to that. But hey, if there's a will there's a way. I know it's not going to be easy but I'm up for it. I'm ready to face the challenge. I know if it doesn't work, i'll try my best to sort things out. and if worse comes to worse, i'll just come back home. No shame in that.

My previous years of travels have equipped me with the right combination of adventure and fear. I think it's still okay to have the right amount of fear, enough to have you consider risks and security without compromising the possibility of an opportunity.  In my younger years, I've found that there's a certain degree of arrogance when it comes to adventure. I believe for some situations, it was just sheer luck that I have survived. But looking back, there are so many things that I wouldn't do anymore. Call it getting wiser, but for me, i'd say it's just making sure that calculated risks have been evaluated.

Accidents. Hospitals. In a foreign country. I've experienced  a few of those, both in South America and Australia. The last accident was the ultimate one for me. When you've gone through a disability whilst traveling, the traumatic impact scars you. This incident solidified the fact that I "have" to do this journey... that's it now or never.

I've had so many injuries, more so on the knees and foot. When I left the Philippines my Ortho Doctor was suggesting I undergo a knee operation which I said No to. A Solid NO.  Call me stubborn. He did advise me though that without the operation, I'll experience bad arthritis and rheumatism when I reach the age of 40. So, when I said earlier that I'm not getting younger, that also goes without saying that my body has been manifesting aching signs the past few years and I'm just in my early 30's. when I had the accident last year, that was it .... I knew for a fact my right foot would never feel the same way again. But acceptance was the key. It was an eye-opener looking at it from a different perspective.

Life is too short. and while I can physically, mentally and emotionally do it... then I should...I MUST. Tomorrow is something I don't want to over analyze but rather just look forward to while enjoying each moment of Today.

Was I scared when I made the decision? Definitely!!! I was full of doubt. But I didn't want to be faced with the WHAT If's 5 or 10 years from now. Am I wishing I'm making the right decision? YES. But I believe at the end of the day, with decisions made, it's how you deal with the consequences that really matters. And it's only in retrospect that you realize a lot of the incidents along the way.

When 2013 started, I had this positive feeling that this would be a good year... and i'm holding on to that.
someone once said, if only everybody can travel, then maybe the world would be a better place.

Travel obliterates ignorance to a certain degree. It defies boundaries between cultures and opens up minds. It modifies perspective and cultivates understanding. Travel is not just about feeding your eyes with sights, its more of exhuming knowledge from the experience and taking that with you. It's not just about a click of the camera and posting it on facebook and saying you've been there done that. Travel is about immersing in the culture in the span of time you're in a foreign country. It's about mingling with locals and travelers alike. There's is so much out there.... it allows you to see outside the confines of YOU but at the same time makes you realize what you're capable of through the highs and lows.

I know this year of travels would exhaust me. I want it to. until I stop. I know I will for a while. Coz I told myself I'd need to stay grounded after all of this. But that's a bridge i'll cross when I come back.

For now, I'll be the nomad I want to be. on the road.

Couch Surfing

Couch surfing was first introduced to me 2 years ago, by 2 friends of mine who have been both hosts and surfers.

The main concept is to accept travellers in your homes for the duration of their visit. Anyone can sign up and share their couches or perhaps tour people around. It has eventually expanded to meetups and search for travel buddies.

I woke up this morning with an email telling me that a host family has accepted my request in Fairbanks, Alaska. woot woot!

So much looking forward to experiencing couch surfing and also staying with locals, coz for sure, that's the best way to go when traveling :)

Packin' up (1st stage)

So yesterday was a whole day of reorganizing the bedroom and making sure my remaining belongings wouldn't be in the way.

I started throwing out clothes out of my old bags, figuring out what i wanted to carry with me.

Pack light. that's the goal.

I started forcing my sleeping bag in my 60L backpack. then my snow pants. I wasn't really sure at first though if it was practical weight-wise to take that snow pants with me. But I figured Alaska would still be deep in snow and going around in jeans and another layer would be a stupid idea. So yeah, scrap the weight on the shoulder and just pack it up.

I decided to take several layers of Merino with me. Stuff I would use in Canada, Alaska and Tibet. However, i'll be in Europe summer, so my packing was supposed to be a combination of the seasons. Goodluck. it was all singlets, a few blouses and shorts. That was it. I prioritized my cargo/trekking pants over the desire to take another pair of jeans.

Definitely a lot of carabinas to hook stuff on, my light jacket, fleece, socks and undies. Yeah, i can't go without my knives, emergency blanket and fire starter. Some essentials in case I get to the wilderness.

i know i'll still repack.... hmm i haven't considered weight of shower stuff. hmmm plus tying up the camera stand.

maybe i should start doing muscle building exercise... eeek.

I am doomed with the weight. oh and....im carrying a travel guitar too. Luna.

Goodluck to me.

Corner shop

It's been a while since I've visited that dairy shop at the corner of Meadowbank (St.Johns Road).

The guy smiled, he's been the owner since I've moved to New Zealand. I first met him back in March 2006.

I always find myself passing by that corner from time to time. It reminded me of humble beginnings when it was just me and my sister. Cold winters walking to the bus stop. Running after the grocery stroller (losing a wheel)... we still didn't have a car back then. We were happy in that small 1-bedroom apartment in a culdesac near Gowing drive. Cruickshank. 10. if my memory serves me right. Chinese couple who were living above writing us love letters of complaints... about our giggling.... yeah. I felt sorry for him, but we were still giggling.

Never forget roots. Never forget where you've started. It's when you look back that you realize how far you've made it and how matured you've become.

Not sure if I have matured with all of these moving though.

Back to Open Mic

Tuesday nights open mic @ One 2 One Cafe along Ponsonby has always been part of my routine years ago.

I decided to visit tonight and perhaps get on the list. Callum was still running the show.

I sat at the corner bar and listened while Callum started the night with a few tunes. The only familiar faces I saw were Reese and Graham, well, those who I personally knew and got introduced to. The others were a few who I've listened to a year ago but never had the chance to mingle with.

Callum called me "Mary". For who knows why, I couldn't figure out where the heck he got the idea my name was Mary. oh well. so I started over again. "I'm Jowe". He listed me down on the list as Mary. that still worked.

I met a guy by the name of Sam. just graduated from high school and lived in onehunga. Cute, looked more European. Young of course and really shy. We had a few chats at the back patio. He tried to jam along with a few of my songs.

I then got on after the bearded guy (playing the harmonica). I started with my Shot of You song then the Does that make me Weak, then played my instrumental piece on the piano. First time ever to play on the piano there. It was an odd feeling, most especially coz I wasn't singing to the tune. The audience were okay and very supportive with their cheers. A girl from Korea approached me and got my name. Got good feedback about my voice.

the night went on with a couple more musicians. The Korean girl was amazing. Voice sounded like Norah Jones and she played the piano skilfully as well as the guitar.

Had to rush off early though. Didn't want to stay up too late. Not so me. But decided I needed energy. Staying up late outside seems to drain me more than staying up late with the computer. Go figure.