A Whistler of an Experience

Since I packed up my suitcase and began my journey to the other side of the world I have had some pretty damn good times! Of all these times, one of the most unique and fun experiences has been working in Whistler, BC for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games.

Initially I did not have any real interest in signing up to work for the games, in fact it wasn't until the last day of the hiring centre being open that I decided I should maybe do it- Mainly because my sister and friend had already been hired for it and I didn't want to be left behind for 2 months. It was one of the best decisions I've ever made...

Whistler is a little town about 2 hours out of Vancouver, primarily a skiing destination, it has a lot of nice restaurants, bars, shops and activities you can do while your there- Including Bungee Jumping & Cable Car rides, both of which I did.

As part of the job we were housed in a make shift village called Rainbow Village- Or as it was affectionately dubbed by some 'District 9'. It was kind of what I imagine boarding school to be like. For the next two months these people around you would be the people you lived with, ate with, went out with and worked with- which led to making some pretty weird friendships with some people you would probably never have met in your normal life.

I do not follow sports what so ever, in fact half the sports/ events they had during the Olympics I didn't even know existed before then (Curling anyone?)- But when I was around that much spirit and patriotism, I actually started caring about results for events and what not, in fact I think I even cheered when Canada won Gold in the Hockey Finals.

In between the 24 hour rotating roster there was always something going on- whether it was free events in the Village, flocking in groups to various bars or skiing (which I kept meaning to do, but didn't).

After living like this for two months, I was more then ready to get back to my apartment in Vancouver and just recover. Sometimes I do miss it though, as cheesy as it sounds, it really was a once in a lifetime experience.

Emmily & Sinead

Canadian Patriotism
Graveyard Shift Boredom

This was the view from the Bungee Jumping Tower

Ski Slope Peaks

Sleepy Sunday

By Sunday I was feeling pretty sluggish and sedated. I met up with Liam and Phillip to do some guitar shopping for Phillip and then we headed down to the Cadillac Lounge on Queen Street, where I met up with the lovely Ada and indulged in some sweet potato fries and games of pool.

When I got home I started watching Season 1 of Twin Peaks- after hearing nothing but praise about it for years. It wasn't until I got to episode five though that I was told that there is a movie length pilot that I was suppose to watch first- dang! I'm still enjoying it though- Audrey and Dale are so adorable.

Liam & Phillip playing speed pool Ada
I have a sneaking suspicion the owner of the Cadillac Lounge likes Elvis Audrey & Dale- so fine

Let It Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow

On Saturday Morning I woke up to see a beautiful flurry of snow outside my window and when I went outside everything was covered by a soft coating of white. Being the dork I am, I still get terribly excited when I see snow and feel the urge to dance like Winona Ryder in Edward Scissorhands under the falling flakes. So pretty.

Bryan's face after realizing he had to walk to work in the snow

Friday Shenanigans

Friday Night was spent making myself some pretty delectable pumpkin ravioli for dinner and then heading out to a bar in Korea Town called Clintons to meet up with Liam, Sam, Jimmy, Khiyo and Phillip.

After a few drinks we decided we fancied a trip to the dance floor. They were playing the kind of music I like to dance to- from The Smiths to David Bowie, with a few guilty one hit wonders that are just so darn catchy!

At about 2am we decided to call it a night and so began the cold walk home...

Phillip & Liam

Khyio & Sam

Clinton's had so many board games you could play

Boys with dancing shoes

So concludes Friday Night (-:

Homeward Bound for Christmas

On my way to work today, as the first traces of snow flakes were falling from the sky, I had two thoughts. The first was that if I keep forgetting to wear my earmuffs and gloves in this kind of weather, I will most probably develop frostbite. And the second was that this time in less then three weeks I shall be returning to my home shores of Perth, Australia for the first time in 16 months!

How time does fly when your having fun. It feels like only yesterday I was anxiously waiting for the plane to take off from the runway, waving goodbye to my family and wondering if I could really make it on my own on the other side of the world.

Travelling has been an amazing thing, the more places I see- the more of this world I crave, I pine for! And the longer I'm away from home, the more I realise that this is exactly what I need to be doing with my life right now. For so long I've been putting these limits on myself as to what I should 'realistically' be doing with my life at this point- go home and study, start my long term career, start saving for fuck knows what- something adults save up for. But then I'll get to a new place, a place I've never been before and something happens to me- I'm happy.

Being away from Perth has made me appreciate it all that bit more then I ever did while I was living there as well. The closer it gets, the more excited I am. I've been developing a habit of randomly smiling and squealing when I think about it lately- sometimes when I am walking down the street, which I fear is making me look crazy to people passing by who quickly shuffle away from me.

Home Sweet Home!

Sickly Situation!

I fear my friends that I am on the verge of getting sick. For the last 2 days my throat has been getting sorer and sorer- it feels swollen. It is not even snowing yet in Toronto, there's a long, cold winter creeping up though. People laugh when they find out it's the first time I'll be experiencing a winter in Toronto, almost like they know a great secret that I have not been let in on. Bah!

Long gone are the days where being sick meant my mother bringing me over freshly made chicken soup, taking me to the doctors and nursing me back to health.

Growing up really is over-rated!

Hooters on a Hangover

After a big Saturday Night, I woke up on Sunday Morning feeling like a truck had run over me. Throbbing headache, Sore Stomach and still a little light headed from the night before.

Deciding to go with the 'Hair of the Dog that Bit You' Theory, I headed down to Hooters with Sinead, Sam And Jimmy for some $2 Budweisers and Fried Pickles. It seemed to work, I was walking home with a spring in my step. Although I did accidentally sleep in for work on Monday morning- dang!

Perfect Example of how we were feeling

Jimmy & Sam

Fried Pickles- quite sickening, but good

Sinead and Myself looking a little worse for wear

Saturday Adventures

This Saturday being Sinead's last weekend in Toronto before returning to Perth for 6 weeks on Monday, we decided that we ought to have a nice night out on the town to celebrate! After drinking a lot of German Champagne, we decided to head on down to Kensington Markets to watch the Worldy Savages

play.

Unfortunately I accidentally left my camera at home, so I didn't get many photo's from the evening. But it was a lot of fun- filled with dancing, drinking and meeting a lot of nice folks.

My attire for the evening
A Tipsy Sinead

A Date With Harry

On Friday Night I went to watch Harry Potter and the Deathy Hallows: Part 1. Being a massive fan of the books, I'm usually left a little disappointed by the movie's- Yet I'm still there opening night to see them of course! For this installment of the franchise however I was pleasantly suprised by how much I enjoyed it! Maybe it's because it's been a while since I've read the books, but the movies seem to be getting better as they go and not missing out as much as they used to. Very enjoyable!

On the way home I saw a massive line forming outside H & M for the new Lanvin Collection that would be opening in 10 hours- now that is dedication to fashion.

This Little Number would be my choice from the Lanvin Collection. So Cute.

Thursday Birthday's

Last Thursday was Liam's Birthday. To celebrate we went to watch some of his friends play at The Free Times Cafe on College Street.

Me & Sinead getting ready

Jimmy, Phillip & Birthday Boy Liam