Canada part IV
My fourth e-mail from Canada to friends in the UK.
>Date: Sat, 30 Aug 2003 20:02:39 +0000
>
>
>Hey guys,
>
>Another update. Hope you're all well n doing good!
>
>I'm just back in Vancouver after finishing the bus tour - tired as tired can
>be so got a private room so I can have a long sleep in the hostel. Although
>some of the people there looked a bit dodgey so I hope my bags are still
>there!
>
>The last parts of the bus tour were good - white water rafting and kayaking
>n things were good fun as well as touring round other parts of British
>Columbia. One of the highlights would be staying in a hostel in the middle
>of nowhere, surrounded by trees and eerie noises staying in just a log cabin
>with no running water. Not to mention being in "bear country".. hence we
>were told not to brush our teeth outside as toothpaste attracts bears like
>honey.
>
>It's funny how you never realise the luxury of having porcelain toilets and
>sinks until you travel. The frequent term for toilets we came across here
>was "Drop toilets", i.e. just as it sounds - the plastic toilet is placed
>over a huge cess pit which is where your various excrements are deposited.
>Quite fun when it's full to the brim however.. 
>
>We also were scheduled for a climb up a mountain glacier. However, after
>about a metre 90% of the people realised that their shoes gave less than
>enough grip on the ice and hence were sliding down more than they were
>climbing up! There were many almost-domino occasions.
>
>Yesterday I phoned from a hostel to book the hostel in Vancouver for a few
>nights (before I depart from here on the 7th of September). I was weary of
>giving my credit card number over the phone as there were a lot of other
>people in the room who could easily overhear.. so she said there was no need
>to book as there were plenty of rooms and I could just walk in when I
>arrived. However, I walked in today.. no rooms available... and most of the
>other hostels were full too. I managed to make my way to the tourist
>information who were very helpful and booked me into a hostel for tonight.
>:-) Vancouver also has a "Downtown ambassador" service which are people in
>uniform who help anyone and everyone while patrolling the streets of
>Vancouver. Very, very good idea - perhaps England should adopt something
>like that!
>
>Haven't got many plans for the week to come.. may be coming home early,
>going to see if I can shift my flight forward a few days. ^.^
>
>Anyways, I best be off for some lunch soon,
>
>Take care,
>
>Si
Canada part III
My third e-mail from Canada to friends in the UK.
>Date: Sun, 24 Aug 2003 03:28:45 +0000
>
>
>Hey guys,
>
>Yet another update to let you know what I've been up to. I've been on the
>bus tour for 4 days now and it's going pretty good. It's a bit lonely
>still cause there's no one I really connect with, although they're all
>great and from a mixture of places. Kirbz would love it cause we had two
>Japanese girls on the tour and we also have four Irish ladies
>
>We left at around 9am from my hostel after I made a quick call to Kryss.
>We drove up to North Vancouver and handed over the money for the trip then
>headed off in the (rather small) bus to Whistler, on the way stopping to
>see several huge waterfalls. Just before reaching Whistler there was the
>chance to bungee (yes it was my birthday but no I think I'll wait till I'm
>a bit older ). That was quite fun to watch. Then we reached our hostel
>which was great.. like a hotel, although four of us to a room, but still
>very comfy.
>
>The following day we had the option to do whatever we wanted.. and as
>Whistler is the centre for extreme sports that's pretty cool... mountain
>biking, quad biking, canoing. I went for the cheap but cheerful trip up
>Mount Whistler in a cable car (saving my money for the later, more fun
>activities) To get to the cable car I rented a bike.. and managed to
>rip my favourite trousers up past my ankle by catching it in the chain
>(and not to mention earlier in the day making my shirt turn green in the
>wash.. d'oh!) then almost fell off my bike and almost tripped.. argh. But
>then after a 30 min trip up the mountain decided to try and climb the
>rest... yup.. took around 2 hours, but finally got there! Amazing view...
>took mucho fotos and picked up a small present off the peak for Kryss..
>which she's yet to receive Then got back down, hurried back to the
>hostel and had a BBQ along with several games of "Arsehole".. a funky card
>game!
>
>The following day we made our way to Kamloop and spent our time in a
>hostel which was based in an old courthouse.. the dining room was the
>courtroom, judge's chair and witness and jury boxes all still there.. was
>interesting eating breakfast there the following morning. The same evening
>we went rock climbing which was great (Jonny would know ).. really
>inspired to take it up. At the end of the rock climbing session there was
>a "surprise" which turned out to be the instructor turning the ropes into
>a giant swing.. yup, that was fun.. swinging from almost roof to roof
>along the whole length of the rock climbing hall. We were encouraged to do
>back-flips. so I gave it a go and almost damaged my male anatomy.. but
>luckily I was fine and made it all the way round ^.^
>
>Then today we arrived in a more remote part of British Columbia,
>surrounded by mountains and towering trees.. pretty breathtaking. To be
>honest I'm not as jaw dropped as I thought I would be, it's gorgeous but
>the most amazing part of my journey was the first week was with Krystal.
>However we had a game of golf.. took me about 10 hits of the ball to get
>it anywhere remotely near the hole. My father wouldn't be proud! But hey,
>playing golf in a remote location of British Columbia surrounded partly by
>the gleaming snow-capped Rockies and smaller mountains covered in huge
>pine trees as far as the eye can see is pretty darn fun Anyways better
>finish off my dinner and get to play cards or pool 
>
>Take care guys,
>
>Si
Canada part II
My second e-mail from Canada to friends in the UK.
>Date: Tue, 19 Aug 2003 17:55:46 +0000
>
>
>Hey guys,
>
>Just another update to let you know what I've been up to!
>
>I left Krystal's house yesterday morning to get to Vancouver. It was the
>hardest things I've done as I know it'll be a while till I see her again,
>but "distance makes the heart grow fonder" and I know for sure now that I
>don't want anyone else. I'm still amazed at how we clicked so well and so
>early on... 
>
>I took a plane from Chelmsford to Toronto and on the way had an
>interesting conversation with a guy called Alan on board as he was also
>originally from Britain and had migrated to Ontario in Canada when he was
>younger. I had to say this interested me as it's something I would wish
>to do to be with Krystal eventually, but I know that's a few years off
>yet... I still can dream.
>
>On arriving at Toronto I got talking with another guy from the US who'd
>been to Canada on a fishing trip. That's one thing I've had in Canada that
>I never got in the UK - people starting conversations with you out of the
>blue. Well, that and "Poutin".. the national Canadian dish.. chips
>smothered with gravy and cheese. To be perfectly honest it wasn't too bad,
>but I prefer my chips gravy and cheese free.. the English way
>
>In Toronto I then had a few hours wait for my flight to Vancouver. I got a
>few things to eat, but while doing so noticed a guy wearing sandles with
>pink nail varnish on his toenails. Hmm. The rest of the wait involved
>writing in my mini-journal, which Krystal kindly gave me, so then I can
>send it to her after my trip so she could see what I've been up to. I also
>looked through my camera which is now completely full with digital
>photos... made a few phone calls and then had a quick read of a book - one
>that I bought for Krystal and she lent to me during my visit, it's quite
>funky - a customised book starring me & Krystal.. it's weird reading about
>yourself! http://www.booksbyyou.com or something
>
>I then hopped on the plane and slept through the numerous delays, watched
>the in-flight entertainment film and then proceeded to wonder why we hadn't
>landed yet. Half way through doing so we started our descent into another
>strange Canadian city...
>
>Upon arrival I found my baggage eventually... I was quite lucky it wasn't
>among the hundreds of bags lining the baggage claims room.. the recent
>"brownout" (apparently that's the official term for it...!) caused many
>airports to be backlogged. A quick call to the hostel then gave me two
>options... hop in a taxi and be delivered in comfort to the doorstep of
>the hostel.. or catch a bus and be delivered for a sixth of the price
>somewhere near the hostel. Unfortunately I took my chances with the bus
>and after an hour or so of trying to find the right buses, I got to the hostel.
>
>The hostel.. quite basic to say the least. It's got everything there...
>even a wash basin in the room which I was quite impressed with, but it's
>real bland and lonely. I guess after living with Krystal for a week and
>being woken up by a hug it's quite a change... ah well, I'll be off on the
>bus trip which has been highly recommended, even by the hostel reception
>guy, tomorrow at 9:15. Woo! That should hopefully take my mind of things
>for a bit, which is what I really, really need. I just want to run back to
>Chelmsford and stay with Kryss, but unfortunately not just yet But soon...
>
>Today, after a long sleep, I did some laundry which is now lieing about in
>my room drying, had a muffin for breakfast (I'll be heading off for a
>brunch session of writing some postcards etc. in a few minutes), went
>across the road to get a huge bottle of water (I haven't yet determined
>just *how* drinkable the water here is) and a padlock.
>
>But hey, i guess I turn 19 tommorow which is the legal drinking age. Too
>bad I don't drink, ey?
>
>Anyways, I better be off,
>
>Take care and I'll be in touch,
Canada part I
My first e-mail from Canada to friends in the UK.
>Date: Sun, 17 Aug 2003 17:09:06 +0000
>
>
>Hey Guys,
>
>How have you all been? I'm good.. I just thought I'd write a big e-mail to
>let you know what I've been up to.
>
>At the moment I'm in Chelmsford (in Ontario) seeing my Girlfriend
>(Krystal) and her family. I arrived last Saturday after getting lost in
>Toronto airport. As I was getting off the plane while talking to my
>new-found friend Bill from Hamilton I got greeted by Krystal jumping on
>me, which I can't say I didn't enjoy. Then her family drove me (on the
>wrong side of the road) back to her house where I was given a quick tour.
>After being introduced to various family members (who's names I still
>don't know if I remember...) I realised Canadians have some strange
>habits, one of which is saying "ey' at the end of every other sentence.
>Krystal actually does an "interesting" impression of an English accent..
>
>On Sunday we went to a car show with Kryss and Mel (Kryss's sister).. with
>competitions such as who has the biggest speakers. Then on Monday we left
>for Niagara Falls which was a five hour drive, which consisted of Kryss
>licking her hand and wiping it on me and sucking her finger and then
>sticking it in my ear... bliss, although I got her back.. She also
>insisted on playing this strange punch-buggy game.. which she seemed to
>always be creating new rules for so she'd win.. hmm..
>
>After five hours of being slobbered on we arrived and checked in at a
>hotel before running off to see Niagara falls.. which was big and wet. Me
>and Kryss then took a boat ride which went as close as you can get to
>Niagara Falls (Kryss called it our first cruise ). Then after eating at
>Planet Hollywood we went back to the fals where the American and Canadian
>falls were lit and a fireworks display went off where me and Kryss stood
>in eachothers arms.. pretty romantic.. but they do say the Falls is one of
>the most romantic honeymoon destinations in the world. Before leaving
>Niagara Falls we went up the "Skylon" tower (a pretty tall tower where you
>have a good view of the falls from). We then left for back home, passing
>through Toronto on the way back where we went up the CN tower (it's HUGE!)
>where we got a good view of the whole of Toronto.. and part of the floor
>is just glass.. so you can see all the way down which is friggn scary.
>After that we headed back after stopping off to meet some more of Kryss's
>family.
>
>Last Wednesday we went to see American Wedding.. 'twas fun.. especially
>since the cinema was pretty empty except for me and Kryss. Funny how
>Kryss seemed to laugh at all the really dirty jokes.. ah well, her
>giggle's cute. Then we went around to her friend's boyfriends house.. just
>as there was a power cut through the west coast (Blame Canada... ) so we
>all played Risk in the candlelight.. me and Kryss were kicking ass!
>
>Then on Friday we went to "camp". In Canada it has a different meaning..
>not the usual drive to a remote location and tent up, but jump in a boat
>and jump to a remote island and stay in a little bungalow. 'twas fun. Me,
>Krystal, sMel and their father went fishing.. Krystal loves to rub it in
>how I didn't catch anything.. but they each caught some fish.. which we
>later had n tasted great.. apart from almost choking on one of the bones.
>We also proceeded to play a game of "Yoo-kah".. some strange Canadian game
>with strange Canadian rules..
>
>It's been good here in Chelmsford.. running around holding Krystal's hand
>in mine.. hugging in the spa.. gonna be hard to leave tomorrow but will be
>back next year, and she'll be coming down next year too for my Sister's
>wedding. It's amazing how we clicked..
>
>Ah well, off to explore some more strange Canadian ways of life...
>
>
>Will be in touch, regards to all,
>
>