Oh Canada!

Phnom Penh, Vancouver. We had dinner here Thursday evening. 

Touch down YVR. It is now Saturday (I landed on Thursday morning) and I now feel that I am compos mentis, and steadily getting with the programme here in Vancouver. I am sitting typing whilst watching the Canucks game against San Jose, so you could say that I am a fully fledged Canadian already!

I will just run through the past couple of days. I spent much of Thursday in bed, after Krista met me at the airport and lovingly guided me back, in full zombie state, on the SkyTrain back downtown. After getting showered and doing some much needed general arranging we headed out to dinner. 

First up. We went to Phnom Penh in Chinatown where we had a great meal of butter beef, which had great zingy acidic taste, along side a pounds worth of their famous chicken wings. Dinner was great, just what I needed. However, the weather, not so much. -7 degrees downtown was a considerable shock, coming from what has been a very, very mild Winter back in the UK.

After another prolonged rest (13 hours) we decided to finally leave the warmth of the apartment yesterday. This time it wasn't the cold so much, but the driving rain that we were up against. To compensate for the disappointment with the elements we headed to the American Cheesesteak Co. on Davie. Oh boy! Do they know how to make a sandwich. Splitting a Cowboy between the two of us was more than enough. How you deal with sides on top of all that meat I don't know... Needless to say we took a stroll around soggy Vancouver to try and walk it off before dinner. 

Heading up the trio of Van eateries that we hit-up in under 24 hours was Maenam. As part of Dine Out Vancouver, we decided to go and try their fare - serving innovative Thai dishes with big flavour. They did a great job of turning around tables in the hour and a half slots promised. Great service and attention to detail did not go unnoticed. The surroundings within the restaurant are stylish, sophisticated and intimate, which make for a personal dining experience. Food wise, the steamed mussels and seared tuna salad were fresh and flavoursome, whilst the penang curried beef was creamy, rich and tender. 

All in all, a crazy couple of days food wise. At home, in the UK, not much can beat what my mum rustles up in the kitchen. I couldn't be much further from home-cooking at the minute so it's awesome that with these three meals, all so different, they delivered the same result, a very happy and full stomach.

Essential Reading

I feel that these books are very important additions to a Vancouverites bookshelf

The day has come. At 5pm this afternoon the time had come to clear my desk at ExaClair Ltd, my employer for the past eight months. I started there pretty much as soon as got back from India last year, and it was certainly an emotional farewell. It is rare to work in a place where you have such a strong rapport with the colleagues you deal with on a daily basis - you have all been great to me! (Those who find this :p)

I am now extremely excited to get the flight out the way. A nice 8 hours with Air Transat, an airline that confirms that air travel could NOT be made any cheaper. I see many failed attempts at trying to sleep, and a meal that wants to have something pretending to be chicken at its centre piece, but actually has more of a resemblance to a slab of wet rubber. Not that I am complaining or anything.

One thing flights are good for though... Reading! Here are two books that I feel are truly key reading for someone who is about set off to live amongst the jet set marina dwellers that dock their yachts and such like along False Creek. At least with Reeds Maritime Flag Handbook I will be able to recognize whether someone is from La Société Nautique de Genève or whether lifejackets have to be worn!

Wolfgang Tillmans: Migration

Left A picture taken from Tillmans book Concorde Right The man himself

Before we start, Wolfgang Tillmans is one of my favourite photographers/artists full stop. Although he produces really engaging pieces that delve into the abstract, it is his more contemparary observational photgraphic work that interests me, as he exploratively interacts and comments on society, politics, travel and culture, to name just a few areas that have entered his focus.

From the standpoint of being a German born artist currently living and working in London (UK), and having travelled the World extensively, his view on migration is one that I find of particular interest. My travel experiences are not quite so far reaching to date, but having spent four months away from home last year, I can relate to his opinion, that being:

'One aspect I like about being a migrant is that you can escape the things that you don't like about your home country. At the same time, you can detach yourself from the negative characteristics of your host country as they don't really touch you as deeply. I don't think most migrants are aware of that psychology coming into play before they actually take the step. It's not a motivation - well, for me it wasn't - but it can turn out to have a powerful and very liberating effect.'

As I am about to embark on my first year of being a working holiday migrant to Canada, I will bear this in mind when watching the news or when reading the paper. Detachment must be one of the main ways of coping when adjusting to living in a new country, and you view a country in a fresh way that a home citizen may not. With that said, I wonder at what point it will be that issues within the host country then become personal, evoking reaction and care. A year? Two years? Perhaps never?
  

Say It With A Cap

One of many great novelty hats from http://www.zazzle.co.uk/

The internet is a truly bizarre place. The last thing that I thought would be turning up on my doorstep would be a box containing this little beauty. From my lovely girlfriend, of course, we discovered a website that deals in the ultimate range of personalised... well, personalised anything really. T-shirts, caps, invitations, artwork, you name it and I am pretty sure they do it. By the looks of it, there is hell of a lot of love for Canada on there too.

If you are ever struggling for gift idea, look no further. My mesh cap is certainly built to last, although I haven't yet decided whether wearing it down the street is cutely endearing or utterly barffable. Maybe my girlfriend and I will just keep this one between us. I love it. Definitely one of the best things the postman has delivered!

Bike Love

Some great action shots over Lions Gate bridge of the Gran Fondo event from Van to Whistler

I admit, it is a massive wrench to be leaving my trusty road bike back in the UK. Not only have I completed some great charity rides on it, but it has been my main hobby for the past couple of years. The freeness that it allows you is unparralled. I love being able to get home from work, get on the bike, and pedal out into the fresh countryside and explore the coastal landscape that I currently cruise around.

Fortunately there is avid bike scene in Vancouver too, so all is very much not lost. If it's not the trendy kids on Commercial Drive on their fixies, then it is the lycra-clad keeno's that are biking around the city early on Sunday mornings that are the heartbeat of bicycle riding here. What's more, Van is very cycle friendly, as there are a good amount of cycle lanes downtown, and the seawall that you can always use at leisure.

What has grasped my attention though is the Gran Fondo event that takes place, starting out from Vancouver, with the finish line all the way up in Whistler! I love the idea of a nice punishing ride, and with the 2012 edition taking place on September 8th this year, I have a perfect goal to start training for.

The route is 122km from start to end, and takes in all the stunning scenery along the 'Sea to Sky' highway. This self-dubbed 'big ride' event takes in some steep climbs and fast descents - sure to be a huge challenge, but one that I am more than up for! I will have to find a nice new bike to undertake this one!

Posting Cards



They say that variety is the spice of life!

It is fair to say that this past year, I have ended up sending a great deal of paper on the 4,500 mile trip from King's Lynn to Vancouver, albeit quite reasonably too (thanks Royal Mail). Equally, I have received my fair share of postcards, notes and doses of much appreciated thoughtfulness too.

What's interesting is the how a city/state/country portrays itself. I mean I have accumulated a nice picture of a stereotypical 'Mountie' posing in front of a idyllic azure blue Canadian lake with some thunderous mountains looming, there are a couple of stunning cityscapes of Vancouver (one of which is a glowingly lit night shot), whilst an interesting illustration of the Vancouver Public Library highlights all of its architectural splendor.

I think there is something wonderfully archaic about sending these cards to family and friends. One thing I noticed whilst walking through Gastown last October was the abundance of tourist shops and side-stalls selling maple syrup and fridge magnets amongst other miscellany. I mean its completely understandable with the sheer volume of people visiting, especially with all the holidayers that stop off, departing from their cruise liners for half a day. 

All these images travel the World over, and drop on doorsteps or are shoved in mail boxes. Acting like min advertisements. For me, the first images of Vancouver and B.C. instantly grabbed my attention. Being from an extremely flat part of  the England, seeing the mountains really is believing. If that dream of visiting Van is ignited from that view on a solitary card, well, great - making the trip is a must!

First BIG Step

Today: My visa has officially entered the assessment process!

Waiting. I have done a lot of waiting over the past few months. Mainly because when I got back from India last Summer I had little time to get my visa application sorted out to come over to Canada. Firstly, I didn't know that there was a quota of how many British are accepted this year. Secondly, it turned out that by the time I had all the relevant paperwork, photocopies and a police check certificate (stupid really, as I didn't even get a detention through my entire time at High School) I had run out of time. Full up for 2011. Noooo!! Who knew that Canada is such a popular place to go, eh?!

Anyway, after the disappointment of not getting a visa for 2011, the opening date for the IEC Working Holiday Visa programme for 2012 was the main thing on my mind. I must have registered for the update e-mails from the government webpage at least ten times. Thankfully, just before Christmas the new window, with over 5000 places, was opened. I guess there really is a Father Christmas after all.

It's today though that really has made working in Canada more of a reality. In my lunch hour at work I finally got the news that I had been waiting for, as I was sent a notification that my application documents are now in 'the system' - waiting to be accepted, all being well. Although I am currently uncertain what sort of a job that I will get at the minute, the forthcoming prospects excite me! Working in India was fun, chaotic fun. Vancouver is going to offer something totally different. I can't wait.

Happy New Year

Wish I had been in Van to celebrate moving in to 2012!!

Out with the old, in with the NEW! New Years is often considered to be quite a disappointment in most peoples circumstances. I for one had no real plans, but ended up spending it with good friends, house-party style, in Norwich, England. It is funny as a lot of the people who made it I went to school with, yet rarely do we get the chance to see eachother throughout the year, as everyone is always so busy, myself included!

2011 was a great year for me. Not only did I spend four amazing months volunteering and travelling in India, there I met my beautiful Vancouverite girlfriend, who I then came over to visit last Autumn, which has now led to my subsequent 2012 plans to move over in just under three weeks! So excited!

Anyway, needless to say, a great deal of New Years was spent actually telling my friends about my plans as many of them were oblivious to what I had been getting up to. I have already been dishing out invites to everyone saying they must come over and visit once I have settled, and when they can! A lad was saying how that he had been looking into doing the same thing - ski bum up at Whistler, his ultimate goal.