Toronto

13:40 nm 0 Comments

I've recently purchased a Nikon Coolpix AW130, and I am IN LOVE with it. Ask anyone who really knows me, they will tell you that I hate having my photo taken and I am not that interested in taking photos. Now that I own this little magic box, I'm obsessed. The AW130 is a shock proof and water proof. When I started considering buying a camera I didn't want these features, mainly because I find that tough cameras often produce pictures that look grey. I find that colours aren't as vibrant and people tend look... Well ugly. Because I am traveling I had to accept that my camera might get wet or dropped, so I changed my tune a bit and opened up to the possibility of a tough camera. After experimenting with a few different cameras with colour differences, screen sizes, or the option of a selfie cam (not necessary, thank you) I was stuck between 2 cameras. The feature that sold me between the 2 cameras was that the AW130 has wifi. The wifi is more like Bluetooth, it connects to a smart device and uploads the photos on to the Nikon app. Seeing as I am not taking my phone, or computer this little combination worked perfectly.

Here are a few photos that I've taken with my new camera. I've edited the photos with vsco cam. These photos are taken in the Toronto Distillery District. It has a Gastown feel for all my Vancouverites.  

                                    
                                                          A few of my favourite things.

                                    


          

          
                                                                 I love artists houses.
       

          
                                                   It's awesome to see same sex wedding cards.

          

          
    

     
    

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The Risk

07:05 nm 0 Comments

When I started sharing that I was going to go backpacking in South East Asia I had many mixed reactions. Fellow adventure seekers were stoked I decided to make it finally happen.  Some people were happy for me, but concerned. Then there were people who didn't understand why I would give up my life in Vancouver to live out of a backpack in dirty Asia. I never took offence that reaction; I found it hilarious actually. It made me feel good that I could walk away from what I built in Vancity and decide to come back to it when I was ready to take it on again.

Each reaction I received had a level of fear attached to it. Adventure seekers acknowledge the risk but decide to take it as it comes. Concerned people can understand why adventure could be so inciting; although they prefer to do it from a beautiful beach resort. The people who thought I was borderline bat shit for carrying my life on my back only warned me about all the dangers I am going to run into. They warned me about political unrest, thieves, and bugs. So. many. bug. warnings.

Before I decided to book a one way ticket to Bangkok, I did my research. I have already been to Bangkok once before so I knew what to expect culturally but in regards to social and political issues, Thailand has been working through some changes. In May 2014 citizens of Thailand gathered all over Bangkok to protest the removal of acting Prime Minister, Niwatthamrong Boonsongphaisan. After interrupting meeting between the Prime minister and the Election Commission, the coup turned violent.  Three people died and over twenty were injured.

For more current news there was a bombing at  the Erawan shrine in Bangkok in August. This was the deadliest bombing in recent Thai history, and a month later Thai officials are now placing the blame on Uighur militants. The bombing happened during a rush hour in a busy shopping centre, killing over twenty people.

Now I know I am not painting Thailand in the best light, but honestly which country doesn't have its own issues? Ahem...Bye Felicia (Harper). I know for a fact that the Thai citizens are some of the friendliest people. I have heard stories about backpackers losing everything they have and end up finding their way off the kindness of strangers. Look at this guy, he helped two bird watching tourists get unstuck from a mud patch. I have no idea why someone would put themselves through the terror of bird watching, but that's my own fear to deal with...eventually. The man saved them by letting them using his body as leverage to pull themselves out. That guy deserves a massive high five and a Singha to go with it. 

Anywhere you go there will be political, social and economic issues. The best way to prepare yourself for travel is to become a well informed tourist. Knowledge is only a Google search away. I get it, sometimes you'd rather cruise Facebook till your eyeballs fall out. But save yourself some embarrassment and check out whats going on in our world before you explore it would ya?



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Home, Home on the Lake

16:06 nm 0 Comments

I've moved every two years when I was growing up. I mostly moved around Sarnia Ontario until I moved west. After my Mom dragged my Step Dad around the world, living in exotic and crazy places; she gave Paul an option. He could pick anywhere in the world to live and he picked our hometown, Sarnia.

I haven't been back to Sarnia in 10 years. I've visited briefly but I haven't spent a significant amount of time there. You're probably wondering where Sarnia is and you're probably calling it Narnia. Sarnia has a population of 73, 000 (2011) and is located in Southwestern Ontario, between the where Lake Huron flows into the St. Clair River. 

Sarnia is known for the petroleum refining plants and is also often referred to as Chemical Valley. A stranger once told me that every person he met from Sarnia happened to be very good-looking. I know for fact that this wasn't a lame pick up line. I gave it some thought and decided hell ya, we are a good-looking group of people! I thought it was because we lived by a beautiful crystal blue lake, or that we get some awesome sunshine in the summer. After learning that Sarnia has one of the highest levels of air pollution particulates in any Canadian city, I am starting to think that we are more like mutants and less like beach god's and goddesses. With some research I found that the chemical plants have put effort into changing that statistic and the air care is improving. A for effort Chemical Valley.  

When I arrived to my parents adorable house, I noticed that there were two dutch cruisers sitting in the garage. It only was a few hours before I snagged one and went on a Sarnia tour. When I was living here, biking was my number one form of transportation. My closest friends and I would girl gang cruise around the city hitting up all our favourite spots. After a day of school we usually would bike through Canatara Park. Riding as fast as we could through the nature trails singing at the top of our lungs and sharing weird stories about the creepy Underwear Man who allegedly lived in the forest, leaving his underwear in the trees. 

The summers in Sarnia are one of the best. The temperature rises, and everyone turns into a beach bum. Lake Huron and the St. Clair river are a beautiful crystal blue colour that is so inviting it would be a shame not to jump into the cool waters. Years ago, my friends and I spent everyday at a beach called the Cove we would dance on the rocks to our own renditions of Michael Jackson, Grease The Musical and the Ramones- who I was quite passionate about. The Cove is close to the Sarnia Marina, and is only a few minute bike ride to the Bluewater Bridge. 

Just across the Saint Clair River is Michigan state. Not much is keeping us apart, you can wave to our neighbours and they will most likely wave back. You could swim over if you really wanted to risk it, but for us less daring folk; we take the Bluewater Bridge to get our US of A needs. This bridge is a hub for summer activities. Albert's Rolling Lunch is Sarnia's best known fry truck and located under the bridge. It would school any fancy food truck that you might come across now. Albert's used to have a white vinegar hose that the fantastic fry specialists would spray all over your lunch at your request. I had a dream of spraying my own fries with that hose. They have now replaced the hose with a spray bottle. Bummer. 

After a fatty lunch we would burn it off while doing river runs. Starting on the far right side of the bridge we would jump in and let the current take us under and to the opposite side where we would get out and start again. We could do this for hours before it was time to go home for dinner. I once shared with my protective Father that river runs were my favourite summer activity. He immediately drove me to the bridge and made me explain how to do a river run. He warned me about how dangerous it was and made me promise id never do it again. I couldn't keep that promise.

Biking through my old hoods and checking in on the most memorable houses that I lived in jogged my memory of all the fun I had here. I was reminded of all the great pizzerias, how the citizens take hallowe'en seriously, the hockey teams, and all the Tim Hortins I used to loiter in. I often wonder who I would be if I grew up in Sarnia. I probably wouldn't have the travel bug, I wouldn't have intense cravings for beautiful hikes with breathtaking views and this blog probably wouldn't exist. Being close to my family is important to me, and it was hard growing up away from them but it doesn't mean I'll never come back. I am thankful for my East/West Canadian mix, I get to leave a piece of myself in some of the best places. 







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Its All Happening

12:45 nm 0 Comments


“Its happening” This is something I tell myself on the daily. With only a few short weeks left to take off, I can only patiently anticipate that moment that Jenika and I arrive at YVR to say goodbye to western civilization for the foreseeable future.  I have daydreams of crossing Thai customs with the biggest painful ear to ear smile on. As I take my first steps in to the adventure, I throw my fist in the air free willy style and yell Xena Warrior Princess wails while glitter confetti pops around me. That is how excited I am. In reality it will be more like Jenika and I hugging and jumping and maybe a few tears of joy. Thats cool too though.

Before my arrival, there are a series of things that I need to do. I want the next few weeks to fly- but I also don’t want to waste time thinking of the future. Queue stoner voice: “You gotta live in the moment man.” I have discovered I am a well organized woman, I am passionate about efficiency and easeful planning. Dorky? Yes. Do I care? No. To make the shift from working 40 plus hours a week to a FUN-employment and backpacker life style I devised the month of October to be a series of steps to localize myself with change.

Step 1- Pack up my life into 3 boxes and 3 Chinese laundry bags. This was quite easy for me and I was looking forward to getting rid of useless things that was acquired over time. I was also handing away my things like Oprah’s give away day. “ You get a shirt! You get a dresser! You get a bed!”.

Step 2- Leave Free People and The Commodore and bask in the shift of being FUN-EMPLOYED. Truthfully, leaving my jobs were really easy. Its not that I didn’t enjoy what I was doing, but my heart wasn't in it. My head was already sipping beers in Koh Phi Phi.

Step 3- Visit Family in Ontario. This has been much needed, my family has had a few ups and downs this year and it will be nice for all of us together. 

Step 4- Asia. Need I say more?

I am currently sitting pretty in the beginning phases of Step 3. I am seeing this trip back home as a pre-vacation to the real deal. I am looking forward to cooking for my parents, taking Bumbe  (Grandma) out to movies and shopping, seeing my Grandpa and noting hilarious things he says, and visiting with my cool aunt and uncle and hanging with my cousins in Toronto. I cant think of a better way to start a life changing adventure. 





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