Snowshoeing at Mount Seymour

We had wanted to try out snowshoeing since we got to Canada. We hoped we would get a chance at Christmas but there just wasn’t enough snow. There was an offer on Groupon for 60% off Full-Day Snowshoe Rental and Snowshoe Trail Pass at Mount Seymour and as that mountain, well like a lot of the mountains in Vancouver, was accessible by public transport – we jumped at the chance.

Sunday was the day. 

The shuttle bus up the mountain runs from Parkgate Community Centre but it’s not really regular so we headed off early.  As we boarded the bus, we both commented that there probably wasn’t too much snow as we were already quite high and there was no snow around. Wrong! As the bus climbed the mountain road the amount of snow by the side grew and grew. I had never been anywhere before with so much snow.

When we arrived, it was all pretty easy and we exchanged our Groupon vouchers for our snowshoes with ease.  We were handed a map of the trails, attached our trail passes and headed off.



The atmosphere was great even with a DJ spinning 80’s tunes! There are several different trials to choose from.

When you reach the trail you instantly hit quite a steep hill, which at first is pretty daunting. But you just have to trust the shoes and go with it. When you do it’s pretty awesome. It’s also actually easier to run downhill that it is to walk – or slide.

The weather was pretty cloudy and as we were in the clouds the visibility wasn’t great, but the trials are in the trees so we didn’t miss much scenery. It was just great to see so much snow.

I even built a snow man!

The Discovery Trails we walked are maintained really well - there are even bridges constructed out of snow.



It started snowing quite heavily also which was pretty ace. All in all we walked about 5k, which doesn’t sound that far, but hills in snowshoes take their toll on your calves… great work out for your butt. We were pretty shattered by the time we finished and with my waterproof walking shoes turning out to be not so waterproof I was also pretty cold.




But who cares, it was so much fun, I had a constant smile on my face, even if I did look like Gene Simmons by the end of it with my mascara all down my face, I loved it and so did Dave.

Next stop, ski slopes.

You can see the full set of images on Flickr.


Created with flickr slideshow.

First days in Vancouver – Stanley Park

Arrived in Vancouver after a heavy week of goodbyes in TO, Chicago and Vegas, we were greeted by Vancouver with glorious sunshine. As soon as you step outside you notice how fresh the air is and then you see the mountains. Bam. What a sight and all around you.

We took a walk around Stanley Park an evergreen oasis of 400 hectares (1,000 acres) close to downtown Vancouver with a 9km seawall walk which starts by the harbour.

With great views of the city skyline.

The view is just amazing and the clouds form in great shapes even under the bridge.

For the second half of the walk was the most stunning sunset. I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves…

 

Hello Vancouver! 

Travel from Toronto to Chicago via Buffalo

After six months in Toronto, we decided after much deliberation that we would live out the rest of our visa on the west coast in Vancouver. We’re sorry to say bye, bye to TO but we’ve got to see a lot of Ontario and the city while we’re here so we think we did it justice. 

The one place however, that we didn’t get to see was Chicago. After looking at prices of air fare we thought we would look at options to include Chicago in our journey. The Amtrak was a really good option to Chicago, but it seemed impossible to buy a through ticket from Toronto through as they are two different companies. So we booked the Megabus from TO to Buffalo Airport. It’s only about $17 each one way. Our train left at five to midnight but as you can get caught up in customs we allowed ourselves (probably too much time) at Buffalo. 

If anyone thinks they might hang out at Buffalo Airport to wait, maybe have some food while you wait? Well don’t there’s literally nothing there! Luckily there was a sports bar where we managed to get a microwaved sandwich (bleugh) and sat and watched UFC on a big screen. I’m not sure if any of you have seen UFC, but it’s a lot of oiled up muscly men wrestling with each other. Not really my idea of a Saturday night – ha!

Finally, headed over to the Amtrak train station. There was a massive group of people waiting in the station also. I thought that there must be another train or something as we were so early. The big group were hanging out eating pizza and looked like a mix of ZZ Top and truckers. After a train went flying by and they all got out their pads – I realised... they’re not waiting for a train they’re train spotters!! A very distant cry to those dweebs at the end of the platform at London Bridge recording all the commuter trains. I was glad they were there however, as there was also this guy who was sat near to us swearing to himself every other second who was just off his head. Oh how bus stations are just a magnet for alcoholic weirdos, no matter where you go in the world. 

One great thing with Amtrak is that you can check your luggage so you don’t have to worry about it if you fall asleep or go to the buffet cart.

The train arrived and we were escorted down a snowy platform along the side of this huge train in the dark. It was a little bit like something out of a Harry Potter film.  After the others had disembarked we were guided onto the relevant carriage to match our “boarding pass”, which was basically our end destination scribbled on a piece of card to stick on top of your seat so they can wake you if you fall asleep. 

All I could think when I got on the train was wow! After traveling Asia and also living in England your expectations of trains isn’t generally very high. Especially when you have paid for the lowest price ticket (in this case $70). We settled down in our massive seats and the next thing I knew I woke up 10 hours later and we were in Chicago! Best night transport ever.

Dave does the Habitat for Humanity’s Polar Bear Dip 2012!

Most people on New Year’s Day are hugging the china thrown or crawl out of bed late afternoon followed by a trip top the greasy spoon or a painful family roast. Not for us. We had a good night but surprisingly not very drunken. Dave saw this dip and was adamant he was going to take part. Of course being the doting girlfriend I volunteered to cheer him on from the side and keep his clothes dry…

Each year Polar Bear Club’s across Toronto arranges the Polar Bear Dip to raise money for Habitat for Humanity. This is basically where people turn up on New Years day, strip down to their swimming costumes and at midday all run into freezing Lake Ontario for a dip, plunge, swim!

Sound a bit mental? Yes I think so.

To be honest I was pretty sceptical that he would want to do when it was time to get out of bed, but before I could really think abut what was happening, I was out of bed trudging down towards Lake Ontario in the rain at 10.30 am. Luckily the temperature was at 5°C and not minus, but still pretty cold to get almost naked and swim.

We arrived by the lakeshore at Sunnyside Beach and I can tell you – it was NOT sunny. It was absolutely pouring down. You also don’t realise how windy it can be by a lake shore, but these great lakes aren’t like lakes at home. They are called great lakes for a reason – they are massive. Lake Ontario is apparently larger than the English Channel. You forget it’s a lake when you’re there and it just feels like being by the sea. 

The time came for Dave to strip. Thankfully the rain had stopped slightly. He realised he didn't have any decent shoes to run in with, so remedied it by taping (with Canadian maple tape of course) my Haviana’s to his feet.

I must say I was very impressed with how up for it he was. Even if a little unprepared!

Along with the 359 other Dippers he ran into the flagged off section of the beach.

“Five … four … three … two …” called an announcer.

“One!” A surge of very brave “swimmers” surged from the beach into the freezing water. It was so hilarious.

And made me glad I was the one holding the clothes.

Can you spot Dave?

Within seconds, people were running back to the refuge of the beach, with bright red faces, legs and arms. There was a real mixture of relief, elation and pain. But I could still see Dave in there splashing around.

I was freezing, and I was fully dressed with gloves on. He finally came out and was soaked by dipping all the way up to his over his shoulders. I was mighty impressed.

Extreme close-up!!!

We got him dry and dressed and went to a café on Roncesvalles for a delicious New Year’s brunch to celebrate his triumph.

What a way to start the year - Happy 2012!

Our Canadian Christmas Cabin Adventure – Part 3 – Boxing Day

Boxing Day is now officially buttermilk pancake day. Fact. I did cheat and bought the mix, but it was so easy and made the best pancakes – although I did opt for the add eggs and milk rather than just water (give me some credit please).  Pancakes, scrambled eggs, streaky bacon (yes the maple kind) and of course… maple syrup. It was almost as good as my favourite International House. Almost. 

After another huge feast of pancakes we took a drive to find Eugenia Falls. We ended up getting the car stuck on the hill down to the car park. Luckily we remembered we were in Canada and people are very helpful and friendly. Within a few minutes of burning the rubber of the tyres trying to reverse, a whole family joined me in pushing the car (including two really cute kids) back up the hill and off the ice. As much as we were embarrassed being the “English couple that got stuck” we weren’t made feel that way at all. I’m sure if that was England, if someone did come to help you, it would have had to end in some smart arse comment I’m sure. After finding a safe, horizontal and non iced surface to park and went for a walk on a side trail of the Bruce Trail along Eugenia Falls. The weather was just perfect.

Our walk had worked up an appetite of cold cuts, home made sausage rolls (I used the left over stuffing for the middle) Bubble and squeak cakes using all the left over vegetable from Christmas lunch and not forgetting yummy Home made coleslaw. Ever since my friend Lizzy made me home made coleslaw, it was so delicious I don’t think I would ever buy it again. You can read my recipe here: Home Made Coleslaw.

Our Canadian Christmas Cabin Adventure – Part 1 – Christmas Eve

As soon as we had decided to stay in the Ontario for a while we book ourselves a little cabin for Christmas. We had been looking forward to it for ages!

It would be our first and probably only Christmas we would have on our own, so we wanted to make it really special. We booked the smallest and most secluded cabin at Cedars, which is a year round, family oriented cottage resort, located on Lake Eugenia, 1 1/2 hours north of Toronto.

You can read my review of our stay at Cedars here: Trip Advisor link.

We had both been praying for snow, and luckily there was a sprinkling of snow when we arrived on Christmas Eve. We had brought so much stuff it looked like we were moving in – most of it was food and drink! It’s funny as we did think we had been quite reserved on what we had brought, but it’s amazing how much you end up getting in the worry that “you might not have enough”.

After the unpacking was done we explored the resort – there were a few other families but everyone was scuttling into their chalets or cabins giggling. It was really nice actually, really gave the pace a real atmosphere along with the now and the lights. I also bought a few decorations from Dollarama (my secret favourite shop) to put around the cabin.

Christmas Eve dinner consisted of steak and chips, which I think might have to become a tradition in our house from now on. Think we have made quite a few of those this year!

It was the best cooked steak, even if I do say so myself, and Dave did! After either over or undercooking fro so long I think I might have cracked it: How to cook the perfect steak.

Afterwards we adjourned to the sofa to watch Scrooged. I also developed a taste for brandy and cigars – perhaps snot the best think to develop a taste for, but I had always hated brandy before. When it’s really cold and you are standing outside in the snow it’s surprisingly good. As our parents weren’t around we allowed ourselves one present each to open, we both sort of knew what they were and we wanted to wear them – Jammies!! Dave bought me Snoopy and Woodstock ones, which I love – thank you Dave.


You can read part 2 here. 

I’m sorry; no I’m sorry, no no I’m so sorry.

I just witnessed today a white van and a bicycle have a collision, nobody was hurt but the cyclist was knocked off his bike. I’ve seen similar scenarios in London, where the white van driver shout profanities at the cyclist while continuing to run over the bike, while the cyclist continues the exchange of language.

However much to my amazement, the driver got out of his van and rushed over to the cyclist who was getting up and dusting himself off. They both started apologizing and asking if the other one was alright for about five minutes. At the end of it, they were such mates if they hadn’t have been holding up traffic (which wasn’t beeping ferociously) they would have gone and watched a game together.

I was impressed people of Toronto, impressed. 

Koh Tao to Hat Yai - last night in Thailand

I awoke this morning with a very foggy head, by the sound of another cockerel directly outside our window - grrr! Frantically packed our bags as failed to do so last night, checked out and headed to the Pier to catch our Lomprayah Catamaran to Surat Thani ( Donsak).

After 8 days on Koh Tao I was really sad to leave, such a beautiful place - the first I have really felt like I could stay.

We could the boat and was given a red ribbon to tie around my list as we had to change boats at Phangnan - urgh not what I wanted to do. I wad looking forward to falling asleep in the aircon room for a good few hours. We disembarked and waited for 40 mins for another Catamaran to Surat Thani. It finally came about 20 mins late and was really small. We got it fine via Samui and as soon as we got off the boat we were hurded into our minivan we had booked with Lomprayah to Hat Yai for 900 bht at Koh Tao. We wanted to get the boat and train direct to Butterworth which you can do but the train was fully booked, do we thought we'd just take our chances!

There was no room for our bags and in traditional Thai fashion the driver expected us to sit with our huge rucksacks on our laps, but I remained stood up until he sorted it - which he did. After that he dropped the majority of people off at the airport and we thought sweet a whole minivan for 4 people - until it changed into a Co-op taxi picking up every man, woman and child until we were over full again and arrived at Hat Yai.

We were told there were no buses to Butterworth for the rest of the day, and to try the trains. Tuk tuk to the train station and the next train was 7am so we found a KFC I know, I know but we were so hungover it had to be done and checked into the Kings Hotel which is really cheap only 450 for aircon room for two and Wifi.

To Malaysia tomorrow!!

The Best Day Ever – Laos, Vang Vien – Part 1 – Nice Big Cave

After travelling to Vang Vieng from Luang Probang with the best group of people, Will one of the lads from Bristol had told us about some caves where you could explore without a guide and where the water would come up to your chest. This sounded both scary and exciting so we all agreed.

Will tried to barter with a Tuk Tuk driver who didn’t speak any English. Asking the man to take us to a cave which he couldn’t pronounce using his The Rough Guide to Southeast Asia on a Budget. 

He was thrust a mobile phone and had to speak to the Tuk Tuk driver via the “interpreter” over the phone. This was a brilliant sight. Will is a very well mannered English gentlemen, who pronounces words very well and also uses far too many of them in a situation like this.

Although after about 5-10 minutes of painful conversation, he had done it! We all piled into the Tuk Tuk. Both Will and the driver seemed happy.

The Rough Guide highlighted that we should have a map for the caves and that they were available from the book shop in town. However Will seemed to think that we could probably also purchase one from the “gas station” we stopped at.

“Excuse me, we would like to know whether we could possibly purchase of copy of a map for the caves please?”

One of the old guys sat around playing cards laughing at us said “Toilet” and pointed to the loo.

“No, no I don’t need the toilet thank you. I need a map for the caves. Do you sell them here? Can I buy one please?”

Another reply came

“Toilet” again with a firm point.

Hilarious. It was reminiscent of the scene from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade:

Indiana Jones: The hell you will. He's got a two day head start on you, which is more than he needs. Brody's got friends in every town and village from here to the Sudan, he speaks a dozen languages, knows every local custom, he'll blend in, disappear, you'll never see him again. With any luck, he's got the grail already. 

[Cut to middle of fair in the Middle East, Marcus Brody wearing bright suit and white hat, sticking out like sore thumb] 

Marcus Brody: Uhhh, does anyone here speak English? 

Street Vendor: Water? 

Marcus Brody: No thank you, sir, no. Fish make love in it. 

We headed off to the caves. The cave that no-one could pronounce with no map in the wet season. Hurrah.

After veering around several cows taking a nap in the middle of the road we turned down a very bumpy road signposted to the caves that we could pronounce and not the ones we were looking for. But even Will had admitted defeat by that point.

At the end of the road we came to a bridge, also very reminiscent of something from an Indiana Jones film or other popular 80s action movies. We were like “are you frik’n serious?! Are the nine of us and this tuk tuk going to make it across?”

Slowly we drove across and you could see through the bridge to the river below. The bridge rattled so loudly. I’m not sure what was older, the tuk tuk or the bridge.

We made it alive. Wow. At the end we came to a sign post. One sign pointed left and read “AMAZING cave”. The other pointing right read “nice big cave.”

Oh nice big cave it is then, thanks drive. Don’t worry it’s not like the other one’s amazing, oh no wait, it is.  After driving along rice fields we finally arrived at a cave. It wasn’t the one we wanted but hey! We were all handed a torch and headed on in.

It was amazing and so dark. Stalactites and stalagmites were everywhere and water down in one section of the cave.

“Down here, it's our time. It's our time down here. “Yes Leah had got it. We felt like the Goonies. It was a real 80’s moving kinda day! We all turned our torches off at one point and realise dhow dark it actually was. And then of course we finished the visit of by trying to get Will to climb into a really small hole that he couldn’t fit in, which he tried of course.

Bangkok - First Day!

Breakfast in the hotel was better than expected, although I had three cups of coffee – whoops! We started walking river along the Klong and got stopped by guy who we soon worked out was trying to scam us!


You read a lot of things about scamming in Thailand and you always think it won’t happen to you, but they are so clever and must be able to spot someone that has just arrived! We new it was a scam when he told us everywhere was closed as everyone was going to pray at the palace. Another guy turned up who was a tuk tuk driver and he started to pretend argue with him making out he was bartering a good deal for us. We knew that was a load of crap so we were just strong and walked away.


We go to the river and stupidly bought a tourist ticket for 150b when we worked out afterwards that a single trip on the non tourist boat was only 14b!! Anyway at least we had learnt and it did mean we could get on any of the boats that came along. We jumped on the boat and it whizzed along, such great views of the city – it’s definitely a great way to travel around the city.


 


We arrived at Ratchawong Pier and headed to china town. It was everything I had expected it to be. Mental like the souks in Marrakech and every smell imaginable. From Jasmine incense to fish to urine. Stalls and food everywhere!














We also stopped and got some yum dim sum – the place was bustling and was just awesome. It was really hot, but we didn’t care. You can tell from the steam on the camera!





Back on the boat to Tha ten pier and got another ferry across to the other side of the river for 3b to visit Wat Arun.








It was awesome – very Gaudi-esk but more spectacular. Althought the stairs were so steep I only made it up one flight as I wasn’t sure I could get down again. Dave went all the way to the top though while I waited. The view was still amazing from where I was.


The view from the top (thanks Dave!)





We headed back over the river on the 3b ferry towards the reclining Buddha. It was amazing! There were a lot of people there, but it was still worth going and we managed to get some great shots as you can see!





We got our first tuk tuk back to the hotel – we think we got a bit ripped off but it was so much fun, we didn’t care!

Mumbai to Bangkok: 2nd June

We boarded our flight to Bangkok with ease, but had some weird guy who wouldn't stop getting up and going to the toilet... thankfully the flight wasn't full so he moved seats. I would really recommend Kingfisher Air - they were really great and the food, if you like curry that is, it also helps if you like the Kumars :)

We booked our air tickets direct with the airline on this website - http://www.kayak.com/ it worked out loads cheaper than going with the Flight Centre.

We arrived Bangkok safe and our bags we're nearly first off - so glad as that is my worst part of traveling. I had my bad not turn up once and it was horrible - but if you're going on a trip for months you need your stuff!!

We got a taxi direct to our hotel from the airport - great tip from my friend Helen that you go downstairs in Bangkok airport and they give you a ticket with the cost on it. We had read so much about being ripped off so were nervous that our first trip might be expensive. The first week of being in Thailand was both Dave and my Birthday, so we stayed in a slightly nicer place than we would have otherwise. The Lamphu Tree House which was in the old part of town near Khao San Road - but not too close which was great.you can read my review on Trip Advisor here - http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowUserReviews-g293916-d940156-r112859195-Lamphu_Tree_House-Bangkok.html