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5:00pm, Wed 04 Mar 2009 : Vancouver
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Seke temples all over the world have free meals on Tuesday night
Sitting patiently at the gate lounge for my flight from Montreal to Vancouver, I thought nothing of not yet having an allocated seat on my flights across the country. Eventually my name was called and I was allocated a seat, 33D. Back of the plane - great! :- (
Before too long the flight was boarding and I gathered my notebook charging nearby and made my way to board. At the gate the drama started, "sorry sir, this seat does not exist. Please take a seat."
O, no, these guys have overbooked the plane as is supposed to frequently be the case in North America. Luckily, I did not much care, at the worst I would have to make a fuss about them providing power and internet to me for the extended stay in Montreal so I could get some work done.
Meanwhile a mature couple from the US where making a ruckass about connecting flights and their bags being on board. A "supervisor" was called. The rest of the group, sensing futility, bid our time. At this point I was not holding any document related to boarding the plane…
After 10 or so minutes the gate guy, someone shut down was still awaiting the supervisor as he called my name along with about 3 other people. He was not in a hurry to serve us as he tapped the computer and eventually produced some new boarding passes, "Nayler", he said and handed me a new pass. "Please board the plane promptly." Briskly directly and hit the air bridge. I was on! Taking the time to leave behind the US couple now engaged with management about getting on this flight, I checked my new seat …. 1A!
I was going to cross the snow laden country of Canada in First Class. Perhaps luck, out of season travel or the state of the economy this was a very nice travel addition to having 4 seats to myself on the 747 from Bangkok to Rome.
Greeted warming my the cabin crew, they could see my joy at the stroke of luck…. And what a ride…. First class meals, touch screen tele's with a range of movies… and a power point! Wide seats, tubs of ice cream for desert and hot baked cookies… which I crushed up "Cold Rock" style for inclusion in my ice cream tub.
2.5 movies, 3000 calories, and 4 hours of smiling service later we were starting to descend into Vancouver. What else I could I squeeze from this. A smiling stewardess had been trying to pass out the remaining cookies… I went the loo and saw her in the galley. "Are you going to throw out the cookies?" I enquired … and with that simple question I was soon making off with a big bag of choc and blueberry chip treats! My Couch Surfing host would surely love this.
Vancouver airport is close to the city, but the public transport doesn't really make you feel this. My couch host Laura was "downtown" and had a unit with her boyfriend. Two buses and a "sky train" (which goes underground) later I was at entrance to her building. I had the address, the unit number, but what number was I to ring to get her apartment. I then lost about a hour, trying to find a hot spot, so I could skpe call her, email or otherwise get the missing detail. In the end a guy came out of the unit complex. He was happy to call her home number. She had realised the missing information too and had emailed it.
I was in!
Laura was immediately a friend. Tapping at the computer she was still busy with the days for work, assisting with the creation of a charity organisation. I soon had WIFI access, a coffee and a view over the downtown area. This spot was fabulous! The cookies were produced to the delight of my host. She loved cookies and immediately demolished a fair portion of them.
Day 2.
In the morning I spent some time with Laura and boyfriend Steve before getting my bearings on the streets. Targeted for re-development, the area was chokers new rise overpasses and the home of the Vancouver ice hockey team… all with in a block or two. As I strolled down to and along the water, I found the urban renewal had not displaced the beggars,. who asked for cash in numbers not less than 10.
To view this city with open eyes included wonder. At a nearby marina, I watched on as a comic act in nature developed. A large seagull had managed to land a starfish, but this tough little creature was not easily swallowed. I wondered about the symbolisism as much as the humour as the gull tried to manage the 5 pointed created into his month. Was I the seagull, now seeking stardom…. Was it easy to choke on stardom. Many "dead early" movie stars and musicians had proven this possible. I accepted the warning as the feathered diner eventually got two of the legs of the starfish into his throat and stood as though trying to suck the starfish dry…. Would be soon be the next victim of stardom?? I had a pressing appointment, so I would have to rely on cable news to report it.
The next order of the day was to meet with the 3 top 50 finalists for the best job in the world at the nearby Steamworks Brewing company bar and restaurant. I reported this meeting for ChannelWhitsunday.com but otherwise enjoyed meeting these diverse peoples. The best job in the world certainly obtained a cross section of people. Erik the relaxed online paper editor, Marsella the chatty tour guide and Anny the poised marketing graduate. They were a little tired from the media attention of being selected to the top 50 just 24 hours ago. I enjoyed a beer, while they didn't and took the opportunity to let them know more about my neck of the woods, which they might soon spend 6 months.
All too soon it was over.
I returned to my couch hosts and the night was filled with fun and interest as we went for a free feed at the local Sikh Temple. As it happens they offer food Tuesday nights. It was bit of tradition for Laura and Paul and it was yum.
Laura and I also took the opportunity to head to the Tuesday night Couch Surfing meeting, where I had the opportunity to meet travellers from around the world in the every Tuesday night event. This is something we had not managed to get going in Airlie Beach, as our small community only has so many hosts.
All too soon my time in Vancouver was over and I was off on a transport tri-combo to jet off to Edmonton.
Related Videos, Stories & Links
 Report on Vancouver trio
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Other Stories
 01 Jul 2010 Open Letter to Adobe
11 Jun 2010 CS Marinya becomes super model for a day
10 Apr 2010 Return home from Fraser
21 Mar 2010 Mobile internet to the rescue
15 Jan 2010 Pray for Northerlies - Maryborough delivery
24 Dec 2009 What a Year, what a Whitsunday!
01 Dec 2009 Julia Gates wants her own best job in the world
22 Oct 2009 Tips for first time couch surfers
08 Aug 2009 John, Marie, Tracey and Mark went for a sail
20 Jun 2009 Yamaha 9.9 hp high thrust 4 stroke engine electrical problems.
19 Jun 2009 ChannelWhitsunday.com coverage of Seawind regatta
03 May 2009 The best couch in the world
28 Apr 2009 Superb: Dean, Clare, Hannah
20 Apr 2009 Priya
12 Apr 2009 Catrin and Marcella
09 Apr 2009 Vanessa and Romana
05 Apr 2009 Perfect sailing conditions
31 Mar 2009 Sail with Tyson
28 Mar 2009 Hayman Island with Rotary and Airlie Beach History
21 Mar 2009 Hamilton Island Wedding Cruise + 3
19 Mar 2009 Travelling Home
11 Mar 2009 LA, town of movies and bears
07 Mar 2009 Back to school in Edmonton
04 Mar 2009 Vancouver
01 Mar 2009 Ottawa, national capital of Canada
28 Feb 2009 Toronto, Ontario, Canada
25 Feb 2009 Being a good guest with Couch Surfing.
22 Feb 2009 St Thomas. Time with friends
20 Feb 2009 Viarail, Canada - Travelling from Montreal to St Thomas to stay with friends.
13 Feb 2009 Montreal - top right corner of France
11 Feb 2009 Day in London
10 Feb 2009 Sarah Simpson, Best job applicant
09 Feb 2009 Gourge, France to UK
08 Feb 2009 Gourge - French countryside
02 Feb 2009 Best job in the world video making
31 Jan 2009 Paris in winter
31 Jan 2009 Hot Koalas
29 Jan 2009 Isle of Wight and Falmouth
22 Jan 2009 Turin in snow.
17 Jan 2009 Best job in the world for Ema Q
16 Jan 2009 Rome - Old city
15 Jan 2009 Vatican and first day in Rome
13 Jan 2009 Just keep flying...
| 08 Jan 2009 Racha
07 Jan 2009 Phi Phi Don
06 Jan 2009 Phuket Arrival
06 Jan 2009 Phi Phi Lei
05 Jan 2009 Locked and loaded
31 Dec 2008 Woodford 2008
24 Dec 2008 Hamilton Island staff escape
10 Dec 2008 Randy and Shazza
18 Nov 2008 Grand Adventure
27 Oct 2008 Tigra takes a crash
12 Oct 2008 Mandurah Boat Show 2008
29 Sep 2008 5 from France
13 Sep 2008 Sailing South with Tracey
02 Jul 2008 Don't tell them its winter!
01 Jul 2008 Another
18 Jun 2008 Zineb and Ester
12 Jun 2008 Anna
05 Jun 2008 Lenni and Denis
22 May 2008 Dent to Dunk
13 May 2008 Is it winter yet?
08 May 2008 Whitsunday Private Yacht Charters
25 Apr 2008 And that's a wrap
19 Apr 2008 6 up for adventure
10 Apr 2008 Gloucester Island Assault
09 Apr 2008 Restocked and roll'n
06 Apr 2008 Sail to Nara Inlet Waterfall
31 Mar 2008 Antifoul is best on the hull, not in the tin!
29 Mar 2008 Cinetech from Hong Kong
24 Mar 2008 Dinner with friends... But what's for dinner
21 Mar 2008 Now that is a big screen!
17 Mar 2008 New office at the marina!
23 Feb 2008 Woody Head Camp Ground, Bunjalung National Park, Iluka
21 Feb 2008 Kiama, New South Wales South Coast
20 Feb 2008 Diamond Head Camping Ground
19 Feb 2008 Yagon Campground, Myall Lakes National Park
18 Feb 2008 Gillards Beach, Mimosa Rocks National Park
14 Feb 2008 Congo Point, Moruya NSW Southern Coast
12 Feb 2008 Greenpatch Campground Booderee National Park
11 Feb 2008 Camping Gear for sale, Car included.
01 Feb 2008 40th Birthday Tour
29 Jan 2008 Top Gear Australia Audition
05 May 2004 New Zealand #5
04 May 2004 New Zealand #4
30 Apr 2004 New Zealand #3
29 Apr 2004 New Zealand #2
28 Apr 2004 New Zealand #1
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Quote
from Ghandi
I
do not want my house to be walled in on
all sides and my windows to be stuffed.
I want the culture of all lands to be blown
about my house as freely as possible.
Pretty much my life... and I love it.
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John's
world trip
Where did I go on my recent round the world trip. Click below
to see it on a world map. |
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Check
the stop overs |
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Netcomm
N3G002W
Netcomm N3G002W providing Hot spot internet via 3g / Next G
Read
more |
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Next
G Coverage
Telstra Next G coverage continues to impress. Using my Tu500 handset,
I have been able to get on the net at high speed at various places.
The latency of the network also seems very low when I get on. Very
nice.
Coverage
Test List |
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Come stay on my cat using Couchsurfing.com
Couch
surfing is a world wide network of free
beds and a great way to meet people and
emerse yourself in the local culture. I offer accommodation on my sailing catamaran through this great web site:
John's
Couch Surfing profile |
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Says
it all : "Sailing" by Christopher Cross
It's not far down to paradise
At least it's not for me
And if the wind is right you can sail away
And find tranquility
The canvas can do miracles
Just you wait and see
Believe me
It's not far to never never land
No reason to pretend
And if the wind is right you can find the joy
Of innocence again
The canvas can do miracles
Just you wait and see
Believe me
Sailing
Takes me away
To where I've always heard it could be
Just a dream and the wind to carry me
And soon I will be free
Fantasy
It gets the best of me
When I'm sailing
All caught up in the reverie
Every word is a symphony
Won't you believe me
It's not far back to sanity
At least it's not for me
And when the wind is right you can sail away
And find serenity
The canvas can do miracles
Just you wait and see
Believe me |
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Whitsunday
Guide
Visit
the Cumberland Charter Yachts Site for
the most comprehensive online area and
anchorage guide. Second only to "100 Magic Miles".
www.ccy.com.au/area
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Sony
HDR-SR1
My camera of choice, with some great customisation for even
more flexibility.
Read
more |
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Dot
Com
John
Nayler
PO Box 1039
Airlie Beach Q 4802
P: 0407 15 13 11
www.nayler.com |
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John
Nayler Home 
World Trip 
