Good Bye Calgary, I mean Canada

Now I am finally waiting to board my flight to London some interesting occurrences has already taken place.

1. When I made it into the line to check-in the lady at the front of the line asked if I would like to volunteer for a possible better spot on the flight (first class premium no less) The stipulation was that they had over booked the flight I was taking and in hopes to fit everyone or move them onto the later flight to London Heathrow via Air Canada.

So her proposal was that I don't check in now and hope to get one of these first class seats on the same flight. OR if they don't have room on the Transtat flight that I would get bumped to a later flight via AC and I would get a bonus 400CAD travel voucher for future flights but I would arrive 4 hours later.

It was very tempting since first class is pretty darn awesome from my last experience riding near the cockpit. The last thing I would want to do is make Danny pick me up four hours later at a totally different airport. I hope that someone got to take advantage of this potential deal.

2. I have to make note when I did finally get to check in (20kg max/luggage) I was 6lbs over and the lady at the counter didn't charge me anything.

3. From there I headed to security after saying good bye to my two dear friends that kept me entertained with the addition of room and board. Everyone from the first person I dealt with to the very last were absolutely fantastic. Friendly, cheerful and smiling. This gives me a great feeling to be at this airport.

Was Edmonton airport always so dreary in comparison?

4. Now with my duty free bought I just have to wait to pick it up I didn't know that we weren't allowed to walk it to the gate but that is cool it isn't like I wanted to carry much more. Like I don't have enough stuff already. I don't ever recall not being about to take your duty free purchase on your persons.

5. Free WIFI, not this isn't just for Calgary airport everywhere in Calgary I got wifi signal almost everywhere I found that most of the places that I ended up leeching off of was usually a Starbucks but since there are so many everywhere there was no lack of internet access. Again, Canada takes the gold for wifi availability.

I am not much of a writer as you who know me already are aware of but writing in my travel blog once again makes me excited. Since I know that this will be a beginning of a wonderful chapter.

Thanks for reading, stay tuned.
Much love. <3

Calgary Visit

I didn't realize how long ago the last post was and not only that it was weeks before I packed up my things and left Edmonton. Lots of things have happened since then but the summary it felt like the home that I had always wanted. It just took a bit of soul searching to figure this out.

Mental Note: Do not ride the Greyhound, take the Red Arrow when available. Thank yourself later.

After having a chance to catch up with friends and more to come. I went off on a beautiful walk to and through downtown Calgary, straying from the path I realized two things 1. There is no shortage of hills. 2. Geese are really loud. I got some nice pictures from Prince's Island Park

Yay street art!Stop to take a sip out of my water bottle bam there it was across the street from me on the side of a house.

Later that evening after my very long haul back to the house we relaxed for a bit until Niky was on her way home, nuked some shepherds pie for dinner.

The next day: I spent some time smooshing the rest of my things in my bag, baked some cookies ate some dinner watched South Park wine in hand with Katie a very nice relaxing evening.

Off to Cora's before heading to the airport!

Good-bye Edmonton

There are no words that I could write down to express how much I have come to love my life here in Edmonton. Rebuilt with all the good people surrounding me, a good job, I finally know what is another side of the coin.

Alright, I don't know what it is but I <3 my bike. A lot. I wish I could take it with me.

Alberta, how much flatter can you get?

The thought of Edmonton used to scare me and would have me shuddering in a theatrical manner. Fear of never moving away from home, fear of becoming complacent with my life, fear of never expanding my idealistic horizons. On top of that I thought it was the unfortunate memories this city had held and the horrid things that have happened in the past that has made me shun this city....We all have to let go eventually.

Learning some valuable lessons upon my return and not only that, I am in a good place to reflect on the things that I have learned from my Asian travels. I truly am a different person than when I left.

When I speak of travel it is more than going to a resort or a camping trip within the Continent but my true way of living. It differs from place to place changing who I am consistently. My beliefs, diet, routine, goals, friends, language: everything. Building up my strengths, minimizing the unnecessary, being thankful for things I thought were never possible. Embracing landscapes that wrap around us when I stand in that place I know I am meant to be. Whether that is at sunset/sunrise in a foreign country from the mountain top, listening to the sounds of the ocean ebb and flow, dinner on a patio at restaurant on a street I have never been down before. Making new friends on the island of smiles.

Memorable moments:

• Eating Korean BBQ with Heather and Travis in Victoria and poking slugs!
• Singing along to A Perfect Circle LIVE outside!
• Lopping off Teddy Gram Heads and adding four different kinds of cheese to every meal at Boonstock.
• Dancing to Stuck in the middle with you at Wunderbar with Karrie and laughing at the most endearing "Charlie 'Adolf' Chaplin"
• Singing along to "What I got" covered by Dub FX.
• Dancing to The Pretender by Foo Fighters the dnb remix Infected Mushroom's LIVE cover at Motion Notion. 
• Drinking a bottle of wine with the wife listening to Newton Faulkner.
• All the house parties! Bonfires!
• Every single bike ride on my BMX. <3
• Sitting on the swing in the backyard with friends under the warmth of the sun whilst drawing.
• Seeing Tyler's creation (Diary of a True Man) at the fringe.
• Eating ice cream cake while watching anime after a good night of drum and bass with Justyna.
• Every single smile I have seen since I have been back.
• SASQUATCH, enuff said.

Last showing of Tyler's play

 Oh Halloween, I sure do love you.
I got rocking friends, you know who you are.