Friday, June 29, 2007

Fear and Loathing in Vancouver

Hi again,

Today I am writing this message from the University of British Columbia. I came here searching for frisbee (I have not seen once since i got here). I did not find any frisbee but i did find an art gallery and a anthropology museum. This was interesting, though i am getting really sick of art galleries and museums.

Since getting to Vancouver i have been constantly surprised. I am staying around the corner from a really dodgy part of town. It has more beggars, crack cocaine addicts, and alcoholics than anywhere else I have been. I was walking to the shops and I saw someone smoking cocaine. This has been a little hard to deal with. Apparently they all live here because this is the only place in Canada where they won't freeze to death in the winter.

Anyway one of these druggies passed out in front of the hostel. I was alerted to this by the mexicans who shouted "come and look at the dead girl". She was naked below the waist. Thankfully some ambulance officers came and revived her. They even gave her some pants!

I am staying in a four bed dorm. I think over the past six days a french guy stayed over, two Japanese guys have stayed over, two Koreans, a Canadian and an Afghan!. It has been really weird.

The Afghan was particularly interesting. he left Afghanistan in 2000 when the Taliban took over. Since then he has worked in the oil fields in Calgary, and worked for a brief time in Vancouver. He is as tough as nails. He told me he has never lost a fight in his life and i believe him. Fortunately he seems to like me.

Last night we cooked dinner together. He stole half of the ingredients and I brought the other half. He obviously did not know how to cook so I showed him. We cooked chicken stir fry. I will be sad when he goes. He is very interesting person (although a little frightening).

Friday, June 08, 2007

Finally figured out how this thing works! (again)

Hi all,

Motivated by my impending trip I have decided to update my blog.

Here are my travel dates so far:

24 June 10am, leave Sydney

24 June 10am, arrive Vancouver

17 July 9am, leave Vancouver

17 July 4:30pm, touch down in Toronto

9 August 7:15pm leave Toronto

10 August 7:30am, arrive in London - (an overnight flight, weak!)

And that is all that I have planned. Life in Australia is good, though recently it has been all about getting ready for my trip and finishing of work. It is good though, as I like being busy.

I played frisbee nationals in Australia recently. It was good. Here is a photo of my catching the last goal our team scored at nationals. Go me! (we won the game)