Greetings,

My last night in LA was intense and went straight from a secret cinema to the airport to catch a flight to Vancouver. It was pouring rain and the $70 cab ride made me think of the house I helped a friend buy in Tanzania for $100. Organize the shuttle for $20 if you know when you’re leaving to LAX with Super Shuttle or Primetime, again I missed that boat. Will make an update on my last night in LA tomorrow as right now it’s time to get some much needed rest…

LA was cool but happy to be at a friends house in Vancouver and back in Canada. Vancouver is a world class city, if I ever make something big happen, would like to have an apartment. Met up with some people and headed to Dream Sushi on Main, it was delicious but seriously over ordered and feel distressed. If you have friends in far away places, look for long layovers as it’s always cool to hang out with people for an evening en route to elsewhere. The term “short but sweet” comes to mind.

Tips hat,

P.S: Flying to Jamaica on the 9th, stay tuned…

P.P.S: Thanks for the hospitality to my friends in LA and Vancouver and the gent who bought my dinner after I correctly answered an egregious trivia question.

Greetings,

This photo was taken from a friends apartment in downtown Vancouver.

Vancouver is very different than any other city in Canada. Its the only place that is surrounded by mountains and ocean. There is a famous commercial back home that it’s one of the few places in the world where you can go kayaking, mountain biking and skiing in the same day if one were so inclined.

The people tend to be very laid back and it has a huge Asian influence. Many of the buildings are built by Asian developers and there are lots of Asian people living there. Makes sense considering China / Japan and the rest of Asia are just on the other side of the Pacific.

Vancouver is truly a unique part of Canada. Think about it, Canada is massive, if it was any other continent, Vancouver would be ~5-10 countries away from say Ottawa, let alone Halifax. If you were going to visit 1 part of Canada, I’d recommend to British Columbia. Vancouver may still be my favorite city in the world.

Ever been to Vancouver? Right up there with Amsterdam.

Regards,

Note: To enlarge image, right click and select “view image”.

Greetings,

As you know, we do a lot of blogging around here. The photo above was the official blogging station while in Vancouver, British C0lumbia. There was so much blogging going on that a friend even started a blog with large dreams, even discussing having friends write for it. Suffice to say that blog died off like 99.9% of other blogs.

The reality is, if you don’t blog because you love it, you’ll never go anywhere. That said, you’ll probably still never go anywhere. For every blog that makes it there are 000,000′s that don’t. If you don’t write for the sake of writing you may as well never start.

This was one of my favorite blogging stations of all time, great view of the harbor, great friends and amazing sushi down the street. Vancouver was / is / always will be one of my favorite cities in the world.

Tips hat,

Note: To see the image larger, right click “view image”.

While in Vancouver I had the chance to pay golf at the Shaunessy Golf & Country Club. It’s one of Vancouver’s best courses and hosts many professional competitions. This hole I liked in particular because if done correctly, you can send a mad hook on that ball. That said, put too much hook and you’re in the woods. It’s about 150 yards straight and then you need to draw it around the corner.

If you mess up, it has a big ditch in front so most just hit it straight. The problem is if you do, there is no way to reach the green in two shots and it’s a par 4. Suffice to say it cut close and I was ok. Still didn’t make par. Doubt I even made bogey, ha.

If you lived in Vancouver though it would be tough to get to after work. It’s not downtown and more towards Surrey which would make “after work rounds” quite difficult to achieve. That is one thing about Ottawa, golf courses everywhere once you leave the city and lots on the Quebec side as well.

Great course, immaculately kept. Memorable day.

Tips hat,

Note: To enlarge image, right click and select “view image”.

I LOVE LAS VEGAS. Straight up, the place is awesome and arguably one of my favorite places in the world thus far. I like it because of the intensity, enthusiasm, cheap hotels, flights and general debauchery that ensues. I filmed this video above last year when I was leaving, knowing full well I’d be back. The minute you get off the plane your energy levels spike and you feel alive, so incredibly alive. Never been? Go.

Last night in Vancouver was awesome, had dinner and drinks with some great friends. Good times until I woke up with a head that felt like an anvil on my neck accompanied by an aggressive man with a big hammer.

Got my travel insurance today. I’d bore you with more on this topic but I ended getting what I wanted, for cheaper after calling around in circles while my head was  spinning.

Next stop? Las Vegas. I have no clue how long I’ll stay, I’m aiming for~5 days. What’s funny is how cheap it is to stay in Vegas because they expect most visitors to be degenerate gamblers, alcoholics or both.  If you aren’t a degenerate gambler, you don’t have to worry about losing it all before hanging yourself with your neck tie in the gents room.

On that uplifting note, good day to you.

Back in Vancouver, love it here.

Out of nowhere a friend of mine from the late 90′s who moved out west sent me a message saying “what’s up”. Turns out he was talking with one of our mutual friends back home and I’m sure you can figure out the rest.  He picked me up in Tsawwassen and we drove into Vancouver.

Once there we eat All You can Eat Sushi as though we had been castaway on some deserted island for months. We devoured plate after plate, with great vigor and zeal. After that drove up to the top of Mount Seymour then walked to the top of the ski trails and had a beer while discussing what’s new and all that shiz. Conclusion? Living in Vancouver is better than Ottawa, anyway you cut it, unless you like shoveling and want to work for the government.

Tomorrow is loaded with more vaccines and getting some prescriptions in case my stomach explodes from some cheap rat meat from the streets of Thailand or something of that nature. I’m also going to buy health / travel insurance. I do believe it’s ~$700 or so for 6 months or a year. Considering the bedlam that has ensued already on this trip, I’d be a fool not to get covered, a fool I tell you.

I am in Vancouver until Wednesday, then off to Las Vegas for ~5 days. That said, I don’t have a ticket out yet so who knows.

Having been sick like a dog for awhile, and on antibiotics until today, it changed the trend of this trip and made me a sedated soul akin to the majority of the residents in this here town, Victoria. This weekend definitely changed that and the trip is done consolidating and ready for another leg up, so to speak.

Caught the ferry from Victoria to Vancouver on Friday, got into town, went to buddies brothers and began drinking pints at his place and random pubs until we finally reached our destination, the B.C Lions game. They are die hard Sask Roughrider fans and madness ensued. When cheering for the opposing team, seems like anyone wearing your colors is someone you’ve known forever, it’s interesting to say the least. The subway / sky train system here is puzzling, there’s no gate for your tickets, one could even assume it was free.

After the game we headed to Gas town to get gassed. Ended up in several bars, most with the name * Whiskey or Whiskey * before settling in at Bourbon. Great times. On the way out it was bedlam trying to get a cab, as a result I flagged down a limo and settled with the driver on a reasonable price to take the 5 of us back to a friends for an afterparty of sorts.  Turns out getting a limo was only fractionally more expensive and exponentially more fun then 2 cabs should you have a group larger than a typical cab can accommodate. I highly recommend you start chatting up a driver should they be at a stop light or near a club you’re at when in a similar situation. Should they not be driving someone, they have nothing to lose. Also try and incorporate some stops into the mix to stretch it out and enjoy the festivities, especially when entertaining.

Along the way we ran into a bunch of arguably diseased and definitely derelict characters, one of which was wearing a blazer with creased khaki’s. We told him if he wishes to produce, he has to change his game plan. (we saw him at start & end of night and was still working on that $5). Granted by the end of the evening he only needed $1 from his initial $5. That guy needs a lesson in street knowledge, if you’re going to bum, the least one can do is look the part. Another enterprising fellow of sorts was selling low quality artistic renderings, my only regret of the evening was not purchasing his “Dragon Rider” when I had the chance. When enquiring about this piece of artistic mastery later in the evening I was informed it was already sold, much to my chagrin.

Upon return to the home, dial a bottle came into effect and before you knew it a massive lasagna was being taken down slightly before the crack of dawn. The next day was a somewhat right off. Ever wake up after what feels like being run over by a mack truck and just “get the day going”? I find when that happens it’s met by a sharp crash into a wall about ~5-7 hours later. Saturday was no exception.

Glad we made the trip to Vancouver, it was an awesome time and now I’m back on the island for the next while. I will leave at sometime this week or early next week. Upon returning home after the weekend we swung by the delicious beverage dispenser and hit up the short game area discussed in a previous post. Perfect way to end a weekend of leisure and gluttony.

Finally, if you’re going to a game that isn’t a big deal, just buy your tickets from scalpers, buddy got a considerably better ticket for $8 more than our tickets. No we didn’t take the first offer we got in case you were wondering.

I’m a curious guy by nature which could help explain why I’m doing what I’m doing. I walked with a friend to work today then ventured through the lower downtown eastside to see what was “cracking” @ about 9am on my way to Gas Town. Wow, what blend of people. First off the cross between heaven and hell is basically one street, Cambie. To the west you’ve got a thriving business district and posh apartments, to the east, you’ve got the depths of depravity. The best way I could describe your average citizen on the east part of hasting is an emotionless stare, the literal expression of “the lights are on(sorta) but there is NOBODY home”. Needles I mean needless to say I won’t be going down there again.

After that I made my way to Gas Town which is basically the same area. It’s interesting how Gas Town is a tourist attraction and has lots of people come visit it from around the world but surrounding it is what could only be described as miserable.

Not a big fan of hot dogs as they are crap filled with garbage meat.  That said, I’m still sure he’s not the true “Dog Father”.

Ehhhh yeah … Regal? Really? Misnomer!? I walked by the place, all I could think of was scabies and mites.

If the Regal made me think of mites and scabies I don’t even want to know what’s lurking in here. Also “Astoria” I’m sure the Waldorf would love the association if they knew this hole existed on East Hastings.

Another gem from East Hastings. I can only imagine the stories if those walls could talk…

I’m off to go for a swim and/or a nap then meet some old friends from high school for drinks tonight. Tomorrow I’m off to Victoria.

That’s all for now.

Not much to report on here except the wedding was out of this world and I had an absolutely amazing time from start to finish. The wedding went off without a hitch and I’m thrilled for the newlyweds.

Woke up at a reasonable hour and after eating some disgusting McDonald’s went for a swim, hot tub and steam. The pool above was sick and I had the entire place to myself which is always great. Now I’m coordinating that fishing venture. The buddy I ‘m doing it with lives in Montreal and he’s blowing me away with the drawings. Originally I was going to pay him for some art work but it’s quickly morphed into more than that and now we’re doing this together. Works out well as both of us have totally different skill sets which are equally important to the implementation of the idea.

If I was still working, I’d be on a plane back home now. I’m glad that I’m not. Tomorrow I’m meeting up with some friends from High School then going to Victoria for a week or two to do some fishing and just enjoy some “lazy island days”. I will say that if I don’t get out of British Columbia soon, I may never want to leave. It’s hard to believe it’s part of Canada, totally different than the rest of the country which is great but not like this.

I just went out for some sushi (what a surprise!?) and took this photo of what I think is the Art Gallery but what do I know? I’m just a quasi tourist cruising around. The tall building behind is the Shangri-La, tallest building in Vancouver. In the not too distant future I think many buildings will be that tall or taller. The core of Vancouver isn’t that large so the only place to build is up and there is no shortage of people wishing to move here.

Reading through some of these bloggeries is already reminding me of things, instead of the usual blur that trips turn into. I’m starting to realize that in the future I’ll be able to look back on these and from the snippets remember vividly many of the great times I’ve had and yet to have. These updates are like cue cards to jog the memory, pretty sweet.

Do I regret resigning and liquidating my life? No way.