Fernie, Friends, Fair

On Day #2, we finished driving across BC and I waved sadly to say goodbye. On the way, we kept our eyes peeled for strange and unusual things we could take pictures of...

...like this pair of dice at pair-a-dice campground. Clever.

...like this giant oil rig (pic doesn't do it justice) with the fernie sign. Lindie and i were both quite thrilled to go to Fernie. We had both never been and had always heard about it. It did not disappoint.

...like the largest truck in the world in Sparwood, BC. If you don't think the truck really looks that big, check out me standing in front of the tire...

...like the Alberta border!

Upon arriving in Calgary, Lindie had a baseball game, so Jenn and I went out for ginger beef. We ended up having ginger beef, ginger squid and ginger chicken. It was tasty. I said bye to Jenn knowing I would say here in two weeks upon my arrival in Quebec where she would be visiting for the summer.

All in all Day #2 was great. We kind of forgot to factor in the time change while driving... but we took note of that for future days.

Carp, Cherry, Children

Our first port stop in Japan was Nagasaki, which was the second and last (as of today) place to experience a nuclear attack, as a result of the atomic bombings in World War II. Seeing the effects of the war on a lot of these places was interesting, moreso in speaking with the locals. '

When asked about the war and their view on it, you received a few different responses, some which were preceded with "I wouldn't say this very loud or to many people..." Interesting observations and dialogues around that for sure. I'm not much up on my history, but this makes me want to study up on it a bit more.


In Nagasaki, we visited and old castle where the shoguns used to live during the times of the samurai. We also visited some Samurai homes. I loved seeing all the different colored carp. Our first day in Japan was the first day of their week long holiday, 'The Golden Week', which is full of holidays. The one I can remember easiest was children's day. Any family with a son would hang carp streamers from their home.



Our last port stop with the ship was in Kobe where we disembarked from our ship. Kobe is the sixth-largest city in Japan. It is a prominent port city with a population of about 1.5 million. In Kobe, we drove up to Mt. Rokko, where you could enjoy full views of the city. After walking around up top, we took a tram down, and enjoyed remnants of the cherry blossoms scattered throughout the trees on the mountainside. I can only imagine what it would have looked like with all the trees in full bloom. Funny how when people think of Japan, they have views of tons of cherry blossom trees. Which makes sense when I could see how many there were everywhere and all the different types.






We also took a tour of a famous sake factory and got to try a lot of different kinds after. Not a huge fan of sake, but loved the plum sake- really tasty!


I didn't take many pictures in our last couple stops, partly because I felt like I had seen enough temples and buddhas to last me a lifetime, so why take another photo? And my camera card was filling up.

Next stop: Kyoto!

Lights, Lasers, Largest

Our boat docked right in the middle of the hustle and bustle of Hong Kong and we were actually connected to the largest mall in Asia, which was massive with hundreds of stores. I hate shopping, but walking through some of these malls was slightly mind-baffling.


From the mall, we headed to the island of Hong Kong (we were docked on Kowloon, right across the water from Hong Kong island). Boarded a junk (one of their little boats) and got to see a boat village, where a lot of the fishermen live on the water in their boats. It surprised me to see the water SO clean with the volume of people living there.


The day was quite rainy, so going to the best viewpoint didn't turn out that great as we couldn't see very far. But it was still fun going up there and seeing a bit of a view and taking a really steep cable car down the mountain.


In the evening, we boarded a little harbour boat and took a tour of the lights from the water. Incredible. At 8pm every night they have a massive lights and laser show from all the different buildings on both sides of the water (Hong Kong island and Kowloon). After the show (which is renowned in the Guinness Book of World Records), we traveled up and down the waterways, seeing all the endless rows of buildings with the incredible lights.


The signs at night are pretty crazy too. All the lights everywhere. And the night markets. People everywhere. Stuff everywhere. Advertisements everywhere. A bit overwhelming if you ask me.


I'm not a bit city person, and so it was interesting being in a lot of massive cities, because although there is a lot to see and do, it's a city. In going to Hong Kong, China, and Japan especially, I got the feeling that although their cultures are still present in different ways, technology, globalization and commercialism have changed the dynamic of these places a lot and that made me a bit sad. We were told that many of these expansive areas were farmland a mere 20 years ago. And now these massive cities have suddenly emerged. Then again, technology, globalization and commercialism have radically changed our society as well, especially in the way we communicate with others and spend our time. Lots to think about.



Anyway, I thoroughly enjoyed being in downtown Hong Kong, from people watching, the food, the signs, the culture, the daily grind and much more.

Tomorrow's stop: Lantau Island, Hong Kong

Pummelled, People-Watching, Pebbles

Once I have been to a place, it is not often I want to return (with the exception of New Zealand), but Vietnam would be a country I would add to my list of countries I would love to return to and explore extensively. Perhaps a biking tour?


The people, the greenery, the water, the beaches. Beautiful! Loved every second of my time there!

And who doesn't love a perfect line of amazingly colorful lanterns?

Had to climb about 150 steps to get to see this buddha at the top of the hill. He looks over the city. Every time I see one I kind of stand in awe because it baffles me. And saddens me.


Nha Trang Bay is absolutely stunning. Loved watching the fishermen. Wonderful place to sit and think and just watch.








Went to another temple where they were preparing for a massive festival the next day. I got stared at and pointed at by many people. I'm guessing because I'm larger. I had to laugh though because they were so NOT discreet. Pointing blatantly, tugging their friends over to come look at me. I should have offered to take some photos with them.








The beach we went to was beautiful. Not sandy though. Quite pebbly. I wanted to go swimming, because I love swimming and like taking any chance to swim that I can. I met some friends on the beach who warned that the undertow was strong. I brushed it aside, because well, I'm a strong swimmer of course. Undertow, schmundertow. I could handle it.

So I walked into the water. The current felt pretty strong, but I was also equally excited to get reprieve from the heat in the refreshing water. I walked in deeper, when suddenly it dropped off and I fell. At that exact moment, a massive wave came and pummelled me into the ground. Slightly washed out and shell-shocked, I got up, hoping my friends on the beach didn't notice and got out of the water.

Later I noticed blood running down my legs from where the rocks had cut me open. And later, upon showering, I removed approximately 2 cups of pebbles from my bathing suit. (Subtle way of stealing part of the beach).

The entire time, my mother sat on a chair in the shade, enjoying a coconut beverage and laughing at me as I got completely beat by the waves. Gotta love a mother's support.


And thus concludes our time in Vietnam. It was wonderful, adventurous and dangerous (haha). It definitely whet my appetite to come back and explore more.

Next stop: Hong Kong!

Cambodia, Children, Countries

Cambodia is definitely one of the poorer countries we visited. The lasting effects of war are evident and it made me thankful we live in a peaceful country that has been quite safe and comfortable.


We met quite a few people who had amazing testimonies of their lives and how they survived and made it through the war. One man I spoke with had been left for dead in a village where only 10 out of 200 children survived. He was wrapped in plastic bags and the sun warmed it up and he was able to escape with his life. His whole family had been killed, but he survived. Sad story, but incredible to hear the miracle of a life saved and the resilience and hope that was brought through those lives.


Many others we spoke with had similar stories of losing loved ones in horrible ways and the struggle that life has brought them. It was sobering. I was in turn incredibly thankful for where I was born and for the life i have lived, but my heart was filled with compassion for the people who I met and those whose stories I heard.

A temple where many children could be found. They were all excited to practice their English, so it was fun to chat with many of them.

Life by the beach was really interesting as well. Watching all the locals going about their daily activities and interacting with many people.

love, Love, LOVE all the kids.

Fishing village. What a contrast from a fishing village to the cruise ship we arrived on. Sihanoukville is the only port in Cambodia, and so I was happy that it was included as a stop on the itinerary because I know it boosts their local economy.


Visited a fishing village and got to interact with the people there and see their daily work and a slice into their day to day lives.





The kids loved having their photos taken. And being shown the photo I had taken afterwards.

Precious

And that's a sneak peak into Cambodia. Next stop: Nha Trang, Vietnam

Fish, Food, Flowers

It is interesting to see all the massive cities that seem to have sprung up overnight in all these places. As you drive through, you are told that 20 years ago, all this area was farmland, and now it's a field of high rises and sky scrapers.


Bangkok was where I got the first sense of that, but at the same time was able to see the more "rural" side of things.


We went on a boat ride through all the canals/channels bordering off the main Bangkok river and it was fascinating to see people's homes and get a quick glimpse into their lives.


The Thai people are so warm and friendly. All of them were overjoyed to see us and would all wave as we passed by.


A common site to see was different people cooking meals aboard their little boats.


And fish. Boy were there fish. You aren't allowed fishing directly in the river by the temples, so obviously, that's where all the smart fish congregate. I have never seen so many fish in one place in my entire life. The water was swarming with them. It reminded me of what it must have been like when Jesus told his disciples to lower their nets in the water and they were FULL of fish.




There was a food market and all the different "restaurants" had their kitchens out back, in the boats. So the servers would lean over the railing to put in the orders, and the women would assemble it. I can't imagine cooking that many meals in such a small place. And on a rocky boat no less.


Went to a local flower market and the amounts of flowers everywhere was crazy! Dozen roses for a dollar anyone? And the turkeys/ducks (I really don't know for sure what they are) in the bucket kind of didn't appeal much to me.


Love all the textures of the different fruits, plants and flowers. So diverse and colorful!


It was fun seeing some of the fruits that I have been trying out from my local produce market here at home.




This temple was interesting because they were celebrating some festival and so there were people and monks everywhere. And let me tell you, it takes a long time to make sure there's no one else in your photo when you're taking pictures of things. :)






I love that these pictures make this look like a lovely sunny day. When in reality it was 40 degrees with 95 percent humidity. Lovely indeed. You just have to embrace the sweat dripping down every part of your body.




And thus concludes a bit of a tour of Bangkok. It was about a 2 hour drive from the port (Laem Chebang) to Bangkok but I loved seeing the countryside and lots of different things as we drove!

Next stop: Laem Chebang to meet my wild side...