We are just about to leave Kelowna to head to Big White, where we will be working as housekeepers in the resort. we had trouble figuring out transport up there because the shuttle isn't running yet becuase the season doesn't officially start until tomorrow. But the Hostel put us onto a guy who has a van and ferries people up and down the mountian for a donation to charity. ($20 is the suggested rate). He has a business card so he must be legit :) Sure is cheaper then the one bus that runs from the airport for $70 each.
To get to Kelowna we had to endure another Grey Hound Bus trip. the bus was running 1 hour late, which was apparently ok, a lot of other people we have met along the way have been about 6-10 hours behind their schedule. There is really no stories, it's just a miserable way to travel (unfortunately the only really viable option at the moment). You stop in the middle of nowhere, we stopped at one place for a 10 min break and were told., pop and chips in the store, there was a vending machine that was empty except a chap-stick and packet of wet wipes. It was really depressing. Other highlights included the numerous people wihtout teeth, the many people not even hiding the fact they stank of pot, the young guys shirt that read "Party with Sluts". And the douche bag driver who yelled at Dick about labelling your luggage. It was ridiculous. You feel like you are never going to arrive at your destination, and forever be travelling on the stinking bus, stopping at dingy sheds with no food and constantly worrying that your luggage would not get off at the same stop as us.
Kelowna hasn't been too exciting, it's a bit of an ugly town, it feels like somewhere that tried really hard to be posh in the 70's but got filled with pubs and thrift stores instead of cafe's and trendy boutiques. It is by a lake, which today in the sun is really pretty. Everything looks a but dull compared to the stunning Banff. The hostel was always going to be a let down after the posh accommodation that was the Hostel in Banff. We finally booked a double room which was nice to have our own space. We have really been just hanging about, saw a movie last night. nothing too exciting here.
We really loved Banff, it was somewhere where you didn't feel bad sitting on the couch reading a book because, just looking out the window you were surrounded with absolute beauty.
In Banff, we scored one night, we were heading down to the kitchen for a really late dinner, that was going to be cereal. There was a bit of a crowd down there who were American in town for Thanksgiving long weekend. They were havign a feast and wanted us to join them for our first thanksgiving. They were a great group, really funny. We feasted on a BBQ chook, meaty pasta, salad, and delicious baby carrots. tell you what it doesnt sound like much, but at the time it was amazing. They even shared their beer and wine!
We went on a 'pub crawl' in Banff, but we missed the bus, and just went to the last nightclub on their list (the list had 2 pubs on it...) It was a really fun place and we met 2 Canadian girls at the bus stop who were on the list at the club (yes there is a door list at the one club in Banff). So we jumped the queue but still had to pay the cover chargeW we had so much fun Dick didn't even complain about paying a cover charge. The place played really great music, and Dick danced with me all night. We left at a reasonable hour, and when we were leaving together, Dick got a pat on the back by a random stranger, he looked at him, nodded his head, and said 'yeeeh' I couldn't help but be a little chuffed at being worthy of a pat on the back.
We met a lovely German guy at the hostel in Banff and hung out with him alot of the time. He was one of those people who are really quick to laugh, and you just feel really funny hanging around them. He though we were hilarious! it's annoying meeting cool people in the hostels and then realising that you're probably not going to ever see them again. He has done alot of travelling, and we were saying how different it must have been when people didn't all have laptops and facebook. He just said "people used to talk to each other". It was quite a striking comment. And when you looked around the common room that was all you saw, i mean some people just spent the WHOLE time on their computers, chatting on FB, watching movies etc. It really is a bit sad. After that we really made an effort to chat to different people.
Can't wait to get to big white, start work and start being paid.... you sure start chugging though the money when you're not working, Thank - Goodness for my remaining Q-Health holiday pay!! Also can't wait to stop travelling for a while unpack my suitcase and make somewhere home for a few months.
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