Saturday 16 January 2016

My First Week in Canada

This is how I travel light!

I've been in Canada a week today and it's gone by very fast. I had a flight from Dublin last Friday to London then Vancouver. When I arrived in Vancouver I had to wait to be given my visa and then was on my way. I was met at the Airport by some family members and went to stay with them for the weekend.

Premium?? Ye don't think so unfortunately 

Saturday


On Saturday I went to get a new phone as mine didn't work her it was the wrong frequency or something. Most of the other Family members came over on Saturday for dinner and it was great getting to meet them all and I really enjoyed it. I have only ever seen pictures of some of them on Facebook or from my Granny when I was younger. While all the family where over for dinner I watched my first hockey match. I wasn't quite sure what was going on in it but  looks like a good sport unfortunately the Canucks lost.

Sunday 



On Sunday I went into the city and went to the Flyover Canada at Canada Place. It's a simulated helicopter ride over Canada. It even has mist and wind and smells too so it feels like you're actually flying over everywhere. The mountains looked gorgeous and it's given me great ideas of places I would like to go to. If you're going to Vancouver I recommend going to this I really enjoyed it even though I'm usually a nervous flyer and afraid of height I was fine on it.


We also took a stroll along the sea wall which is a walking  and biking track that goes for miles around the outside of the city and Stanley park. We stopped for a bite to eat and a hot drink then headed back through Gastown to the car then drove to stanley park. 


I was so amazed at how big the park is. The view from there are amazing and you can see the Lions Gate Bridge from Prospect Point.


I have since heard that the bridge was actually built by Guinness. Oh I also visited David's Tea which is a tea shop that sells so many flavours I actually can't believe it.


Monday

On Monday I headed into the city where I'm now staying in a backpackers hostel. I also sorted out my new bank account which was a little easier then I thought. I settled in at the hostel and had a little look around the area. I have also discovered that there is a Sephora a few minutes away woop, this could be dangerous haha.

Not allowed in here with my card it's too tempting !!

Tuesday

Tuesday it rained all day but I didn't let it stop me, Sure it's only a bit of rain. I wandered around looking at all the huge buildings and ended up at Canada place.


I had a walk around and I think I was the only one there haha. I also went to Gastown which is really nice and saw the Steam Clock.


I was walking past it and it start to whistle a song. It does this every half hour and is a must see so my travel book says so I stopped to record it but the video didn't save so I went back a half an hour later. I know that sounds a little crazy but I had to do it.


I find this city very easy to walk around and not get lost in too much the layout is really easy to navigate and there are sign posts everywhere. I was soaked by the time I got back that evening, my coat had even started to soak through, as soon as I got in and changed I had a cup of Red Velvet tea. If you ever get a chance to visit David's teas try the Red Velvet and the Sweet lime they are amazing.

Wednesday

Wednesday was not so cold and dry out so I went so many places. I was up early and ready to see as much as I can. I went to Yaletown, Coal Harbour, False Creek, then went on a Hop on Hop off sightseeing tour. 


I also found this train carriage parked on the road on a track because why not. 


I did see a lot of already but it brought me to loads I hadn't been to ye. I also heard a lot of little facts about the place and  suggestions on where else to see. So it was worth it even though it was freezing on the bus. On the way back I stopped for a hot chocolate to warm myself up before going back to the hostel.

Not so great with the selfies

Thursday

Thursday I went to go to get my phone looked at as I can't make calls without my ends sound going. They told me to keep turning it off and on and see if it helps, it hasn't so I think I have to go back again.


Anyway after that I wanted to visit the museum but ended up taking a wrong turn. I ended up walking for ages down Davie street and eventually ended up at english bay then ended up at Stanley park.


There were some lovely ducs in the water that looked lovely until they came out of the water and chased me, then the seagulls followed, I had to run away fast. Here are some of the perpetrators before they wanted to eat me.























I went for a walk along the Lost Lagoon and what I thought was a cat looking at me was actually a raccoon which then tried to follow me. 


Here he is leaving 

I don't know much about racoons like if they are friendly for not so I didn't stay around it long .... actually I may have run away towards a group of people I didn't even know, because yes I am that random weirdo you sometimes come across.  

























Even though I went completely off my plan it turned into a nice day I found some really nice areas I didn't think I would be gone all day but it was really nice. I did have to use my google maps app to find my way back and thanks to google I had to walk up a huge hill but was the most direct way back.

Friday

I made it a weeks so far and I've seen so much. I'm having a off all the sightseeing today. I have been very lucky not to have gotten jet lag but today I am feeling a bit tired probably from a busy week so today I am looking up some ideas I have had about what to do next or where I would like to go or live or work all of those things haha. 

I'm not sure if this means the same thing here!

When I went out for dinner I padded this bus and couldn't stop giggling to myself I'm such a child somethings. So so far I've settled in nicely apart from always forgetting the code for the door and have to ask at reception and only realising after being here for five days that I actually don't know the names of anyone in my room even though we talk to each other everyday or not knowing where the light switch is ( it's behind the coat rack ... clever).

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Tuesday 5 January 2016

Skintruth Rejuvenating Hot Cloth Cleanser

I've never used a hot cloth cleanser before but since I've been trying out some of the skintruth range after buying a face mask and loving it I wanted to give it ago. It came recommended from the sales woman who uses it herself and it not being all that expensive I bought it to try. 


It's suitable for all skin types and contains eucalyptus and aloe vera which has a strongish but pleasant smell. It's used for deep cleaning and for removing dirt, impurities and makeup. It comes with a face cloth and has a pump on the bottle which I though was broken at first but it just takes a bit to get it working. I think mine was a bit clogged up but it's fine now. 


How it works is that your apply it to or face and neck and massage it in then using the cloth wet it with warm water and remove it all from your skin. Straight away it feels nice and when you remove it wit the war cloth it's like it melt the make up away. It left my skin lovely and soft and felt so clean. 

Sleek Brow Perfector

Found this in Boots when I had a voucher and wanted to use it try out some new makeup. I have heard and seen so much about Sleek makeup but haven't used or bought anything before. I have used brow pencils and powders with a wax before but not this type of brow product. I tint my eyebrows as they are naturally lighter then my hair so I bought the dark brown shade 042. 



It's like a mascara with the same type of wand. When I used it it went on well and was able to keep the shape I like. It was different from anything I've ever used before and felt a bit hard when it dried but that doesn't bother me at all. The shade was a good match for my brows a bit darker but I like that kind of look. They also stayed in place and didn't rub off over the day or the night when I've worn it. It comes off well with my normal cleanser without having to scrub at it. I used the smaller end of the want to apply it to the ends of eyebrow and the thicker part for the inner parts. 

This is what it was like on.


Monday 4 January 2016

Going to Canada


Well 2016 is finally here and it's not long now until I'm off to Canada for a couple of years. The last two weeks have flown by and now I'm sorting out all the last bits like my insurance, ordering currency which I collect on Wednesday and sorting out which clothes I'm taking while having a clear out of what I'm not. I doubt I'll still wear them when I come back so I'm sorting out what to keep, what to take and what to give to the charity shop. I leave on Friday morning and arrive on Friday afternoon. This time I'm going back in time in a way as they are behind us which will be sort of the same as Australia except for behind not forward.


I had thought about going before but wanted to give Australia a go first then in February I looked back into it and in March decided to stay put and applied for the visa back in April when they opened and after 2 stages with filling out lots of forms and a two month wait I finally got my Point of entry letter at the end of June. So that was it I had one year to activate it. I hadn't made up my mind when I was going until later in the the year and in November I broke the news to my family and start making plans. It worked out a lot cheaper for me to book a return flight then a one way so I booked it and will change the date later.

Over the last weekend I had some leaving drinks with some family and family friends in the local pub and turned out to be a great night with the pub organising food for our group which was a lovely thing to do. My sister did my eye makeup for the night and it was amazing. I usually go with a very light and subtle eye but that's mainly because I'm a bit crap at it but since she was doing I told her to do what she wanted.



My suitcase is ready to be packed but can't really start that yet I have to much organising to do yet and some washing. I was trying to figure out whether to go with a backpack or a suitcase, I'm taking a suitcase because it easer to pack but a backpack is easier for travelling around.

I'm going to visit some family when I first get there, a lot I've never met before which is very exciting and I can't wait. Other then that my plan is to stay in the city at a backpackers hostel for a bit while looking for a job and a place to live. For the first couple of weeks though I want to be a proper tourist and see as much as I can. I love wandering around big cities finding things to see and do.