Back In Banff

After a 2.5 hour bustrip from Whistler, a 6 hour stint in the Vancouver Bus Depot and a 17 hour Bus Journey through the Rockies I'm FINALLY back in Banff.
Today it is snowing. It's no wonder I love this place.

My job search has so far been unsuccessful. However I did go to the local Legion (which is like a RSL) and the guy there gave me some retaurants to try out that he knows are hiring or will be hiring soon. Keep your fingers crossed for me!!
I have an appointment at the bank for Tuesday to open an account.

I'm staying at the SameSun Chalet again. Couldn't resist having a hot tub in my room. And the weekly rate is discounted which is also a big plus.
Most my roomies are Aussie (yet again) but there is a German named Conrad and another guy who's name I haven't picked up yet and I'm not sure where he's from either. The room is a little cramped but I think almost everyone is staying for a while so I don't have to worry about meeting new people everyday. Seems as though everyone goes to Kicking Horse to ski almost everyday. I've heard it's pretty expensive so I think I'll have to wait to see if I can find a job before I think about going. Also heard the slopes are quite steep so it wouldn't be a great place for me to try just yet.

Anyways, I'm in the Banff Public Library where the internet is $1 for 30 mins.
I should be able to come on most days so please keep in touch and give me something to read and reply to.

Lots of love from the Snow!!!!!
xx

"Ey" From Canada!

First and formost OH MY GOSHHHHHHH!!!!!! I FREAKIN' LOVE CANADA!

Haha anyway, I don't have much time so I'm pretty much going to have to keep this short.
The flight over was long and horrible, I barely slept. Got into L.A in the early morning hours and had some breakfast before having a snooze in the sun shining through the window at my boarding gate (there isn't much to do there when the whole airport is being renovated and you have a 6 hour stopover). I slept through most of the Air Canada flight to Vancouver, took max 10 minutes to go through customs and have my working visa approved, then picked up my bag ans caught the skylink (train) to Vancouver central. Short walk (in the rain) to my hostel where I was put into a room with 4 other Aussie girls. Here I was thinking I was going to meet people from all over the world :p They're awesome girls though.

The next day we did a bit of shopping and looking around. Then we went to Kate's friends place for some pre-drinks and an epic game of Kings Cup ;)
Went out to a club called Shine. Mostly RnB which isn't my thing but the company was good.
Walked back to the hostel with Anna. Met some Mexicans who tried to teach us Spanish in our drunken state, I don't remember anything they taught me.

Next day I left early on my Moose tour which was FAN-BLOODY-TASTIC!
I highly recommend it for anyone thinking of touring Canada. Met some awesome girls and had some amazing times in the Rockies.
In short the highlights were:
- Brideville Falls
- Hope
- Shuswap & the Copper Island Inn
- BANFF (LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!!!)
- Cougar Pete's in Banff (most delicious veg spag everrrr)
- Icefields Parkway
- Mistaya Canyon
- Athabasca Glacier & Falls
- Jasper
- Tangle Falls
- Dog Sledding in Canmore

I wasn't a fan of Kelowna but I will be heading back to Banff by the end of this week. I loved it so much.

As soon as I can I'll have pictures uploaded on my facebook for you all to see.
Sorry it's so short but when I have the means and time to explain in more detail I will.

Miss you lots!
xx

The Time Has Come...

...To say farewell. In approximately 6.5 hours I'll be on the plane heading for L.A. Scary thought.

As far as I can tell I'm all packed and pretty much ready to go. I've been going through all my paper work trying to work out what I need to carry on me, what can go in luggage and what has to stay home with Mum, there's just so much of it. I'm terrified I'm going to forget something important like my ticket or passport.

I'm not particularly looking forward to the cold weather. I've heard the max temp is around 10 degrees celsius. Brrrrrrr.......
Although, I've heard the snow season pretty much began this week so that's a plus. I can finally perfect my snowboarding :)

I guess most of all I'm going to miss my family and friends. It's only really beginning to hit me how long I'm actually not going to see them for. My parents have done so much for me both in the past and present, and leaving kind of feels like I'm abandoning them. I just want them to know that I love them so very very VERY much and being away from them will be the worst part of my trip.
For my friends, especially lil Katie, I love you all lots and will miss you as well. Thanks for always being there for me and looking out for me. I appreciate it more than you know.
I'll do my best to keep in touch, mostly via facebook and here. I apologise now for any delays in my replying or posting. I don't know exactly when I'll have access to a computer or the internet. But please make sure you all keep me posted on what's happening at home. I want the goss :p


Anyways, it's 5.23am and I still haven't updated my resume, or had any sleep for that matter (Not that I'll get any now with the freakin' birds chirping outside my window). Hopefully the glass of wine on my bedside table will send me off to dreamland soon enough.

Love and cuddles xx

All This News Is Good News

:] I GOT MY APPROVED WORK VISA TODAY!!!!!

I'm so so relieved it was processed as quickly as it was. It was stressing me out way too much. But now I have to update my resume which, thanks to Bended, hasn't been needed for over 2 years. No idea what I'm going to write.

I also looked up the hostel again to see if I could check my reservation, which has infact been reserved for the two nights prior my Moose Tour.

Tomorrow I'm picking up my tickets from the travel agent - which I should add is the lovely Jacki MacWilliams of Meridian Travel, Rosanna - and Mum and I are going to choose some travel insurance which best suits my needs. I'll probably also do my tax which should give me some extra travel money. And finish the paperwork for Deakin which Mum is kindly donating to my Insurance fund.

Next on my list is beginning communications with the Relos in Seattle, Washington and sorting out if and/or when I'll be seeing them.

Oh and if you haven't noticed it yet, I have a nifty new countdown until I leave...

xx

16 sleeps to go

I'm beginning to get a bit nervous and very stressed out. And trust me my skin is suffering for it.

I tried booking my accomodation online, and it all seemed to go alright, except I still haven't heard from them. It's worrying because I gave my credit card number to confirm my booking, so they could very easily be dodgy and start stooging me.

www.couchsurfing.org is another of my new best friends. My cousin got me onto it, and her friend Nazza in Calgary. I've been in contact with him and he's willing to have me stay for a while while I sort myself out, and wait for my work visa to come through. It's comforting to have something go right.

I've begun moving out of Werribee. It's sad because I love it here and I love Kristin and Dan; I almost don't want to leave. Most of my furniture is gone, and I'm sleeping on the floor :p And I'll be taking most of my clothes and the rest of the furniture home tomorrow (my only night off!!).
Still so much to do and so little time in which to do it.

Apparently my visa won't come through until after I've entered Canada, so for it to work, I'll have to leave Canada and re-enter under my visa. ANNOYING! I hate paperwork so much. I don't understand why it takes so long for people to look at, stamp approved and send back to me. It really doesn't seem that hard.

Oh and lastly, if anyone has a hot tip on cheap but good travel insurance for backpackers planning on doing some snow sports, hook me up.

xx

Kathmandu; My New Best Friend

Buy a backpack can now be checked off my list of things to do :]

Today during my break at work Adam (my boss, friend and backpacking pro) and I went to Kathmandu in Geelong and paid a nice visit to the clearance basement, where to my pleasure I found the perfect backpack for an extremely reasonable price. And I mean about $400 cheaper than in store.
It's a good size bag for someone of my size, and has lots of handy features, including a detachable day pack and a laundry bag...

http://www.kathmandu.com.au//40277/Longhaul-X-Pac-v4.html

My pack is exactly the same (colour and everything) but for less than half the price. Don't you love it when that happens?

Downside of today: went to take my VISA application to the post office and it had a sign saying "closed until further notice" which is super LAME! So now my VISA is yet another day late. And it's supposed to take between 4-6weeks to process so it looks as though I'll be living tight in Canada for a couple weeks.

24 Days and Counting...

Today Mum and I went shopping to try to find me a backpack, and I came to the realisation that backpackers backpacks are WAYYYYY overpriced for what they are. Most especially for backpackers like me who are too broke to be spending 500+ dollars on luggage. It's ridiculous. Hopefully Ebay has something more to offer.

I also received my new passport which isn't half bad (thankfully). I'm reapplying for my work VISA now, so fingers crossed it's processed quickly.

I'm getting way too excited now.
And exhausted from all the extra hours I'm working.

:)

Let The Countdown Begin...

So it's official; I'm leaving summery Australia for snow-covered and wintery Canada in 26 Days.

There's so little time left and I still have alot to do. I'm still waiting on the arrival of my passport although it has been approved and has been dispatched by registered mail. When that arrives I can finally complete my application for a work visa, which I doubt will be processed before my departure. On top of all the paperwork, I'm still yet to book my pre-tour accommodation at the backpackers, buy an actual backpack or any snow gear for that matter or make any official job applications. Like I said, so much to do...

I thought it might be useful for me to start a blog now so I can not only save my money by not spending extra time in a Canadian internet cafe formatting the bloody thing, but I can also make sure I've got everything I need in order before I leave. I one of those people who needs lists, but I keep misplacing my lists and having to make new ones. Very annoying.

Anyways, this is just the first post of many to come...
xx