Thursday 30 August 2012

Victoria 30.6.-3.7.



Jason on his way home!

The ferry ride from Vancouver to The Island was really beautiful. We also saw killer whales on the way but they were super far, all I could see was just tiny black dots.


On the 1st of July we went downtown and Jason showed me around in beautiful Victoria.


1st of July is Canada day so everyone was dressed in red and white and there was maple leaves everywhere.





In the evening we went out to see the Canada day fireworks in the Victoria Inner harbour. The parliament building was beautifully lit at night.







The next day it was a bit rainy so we went to the BC museum. It was really good and the exhibits were really interactive and interestingly built. I would go there again any time. 

In front of The Empress hotel

Jason's parents and his sister came to pick us up from Victoria to go to Courtenay. We went for lunch together to a nice restaurant.


 After lunch we did some more sightseeing in Victoria. 

Spotted my first Canadian deer







We went to see seals in the sailing club. They are wild but they come to the harbour because people can feed them there. They were so funny splashing their fins on the water to get some fish from the people who were feeding them. I had never seen wild seals before so it was really cool! They look so funny.


 In the evening we headed to the Swan Pub for some beers before heading to Courtenay. There was a live band playing swing/blues.




Beautiful moonlit drive to Courtenay


Monday 13 August 2012

Vancouver 28.-30.6.


Canada!

Finally the day came when we flew into my boyfriend's home land. So exciting! 

My first picture of Canada

The flight from Seoul to Vancouver was about 9 hours but we flew over the international date line so we were pretty confused with the time difference. Our flight left from Seoul on Thursday the 28th of June around 6pm Korean time but yet we landed in Vancouver also on Thursday at about 12pm, so that is six hours before we left. Confusing. An afternoon nap was inevitable.


We were staying close to Gastown in downtown Vancouver

We took the Skytrain from the airport to downtown and walked to our little guest house with the unbelievable amount of luggage we had. The weather in Vancouver was pretty cold after months of the above +30's. Back to jeans and sweaters and scarves! Later I had to take out my blazer as well.


I am the tourist

Jason was kind of a tourist in Vancouver as well because he hadn't been there for years! Always just traveling through. We spent two nights in Vancouver so we got to see some of the sights downtown. Unfortunately it was raining on our first day so we mostly stayed indoors looking around in malls.

By the evening the rain had stopped so we headed out for dinner. It was so nice to have "normal" western restaurant food after months of being in Asia.


fresh salads and nice red wine! yum!

On our second day in Vancouver the sky was overcast but it wasn't raining. We decided to head to Stanley Park and walk around downtown.









The land of the Canada geese! They are everywhere







We saw some totem poles in Stanley Park.












After Stanley Park we walked around the city towards Granville Island.



I didn't know they had palm trees in Canada! Awesome!





Maple leaves everywhere..


In the afternoon it cleared out and it was sunny and warm for a bit, nice!


The mountain peaks were mostly covered with clouds though.


Our last day in Vancouver we met up with Jason's dad Russ! He had come to Vancouver the night before to visit some family before heading to the island for the summer. We went to the Vancouver art gallery together. 

dad and son

After the gallery we went to see Jason's dad side's family for a bit. After that we headed to the Tsawwassen ferry terminal to go to Victoria, Vancouver Island! 


Waiting for our ferry to Victoria

 As soon as we got to the ferry the rain stopped and the sky started to clear. 


Thursday 2 August 2012

Last days in Seoul



We went for lunch just me and Jason and the menu was only in Korean. It is much harder to order anything when there was nobody local with us. So we just ordered something and it was actually pretty good. Later we asked Yunkyung and turns out it was pork feet we had for lunch! Haha..


Nice BBQ dinner with friends.


After dinner we went to sing karaoke!





The next day we went to see another palace.






What to do next?



Korean tea house






our last dinner in Korea (BBQ again, so good!)







After dinner we went for some drinks in this really nice area and afterwards had to say goodbye to Yunkyung. We had a really great week in Seoul and having some local knowledge was really nice! Thank you Yunkyung!


Our last day in Korea we just walked around and had lunch in Hongdae before heading to the airport.

Crazy cat! 


We spent our last money at the airport on Korean beer!


Then off to Vancouver!! Canadaaaa! Yay.




The flight attendant's outfits were just like in this picture!