Arrival in Whistler - 1 December 2010
Just giving you a little update from the other side of the world.
I have arrived safe and sound in Whistler, after concerns not being able to find Julia. As it suddenly dawned on me, only when I was at the Auckland airport that I didn't get international roaming on my phone, this was only apparent when I had actually tried to call out, with the surprise of no signal- this is so typical of me. After desperately trying to exchange my Australian dollars for New Zealand dollars in between connecting flights, so that I could use the internet. I sent out numerous emails via facebook to everyone to try and get hold of Julia, as I couldn't use my phone nor did I know what her Canadian number was or even where we were staying. Once I arrived in Vancouver, I checked my facebook to have gladly found an email from Julia with her Canadian number. I raced downstairs of the airport, as my bus was leaving in 15 mins to call her from a public phone only to hear; "The number you are calling is disconnected or not available, check the number and try again." In a panic and pressed for time, I hauled my luggage up the stairs and exchanged my New Zealand dollars for Canadian dollars to use the internet, yet again, to email Julia with my bus details and hope that she would receive it and know where to pick me up from. If she didn't get it, then I'd be stranded in the dark in minus degree temperatures on the other side of the world. I can only imagine your surprise as to how unbelievably organised I was!
I go off the bus at Gateway and waited by my luggage, to turn around moments later to find Julia standing there. I could hear the theme song; "At laaassst, my looovvee has come allooong!" And even in that exhausted moment of arrival, we ran to each other, jumping up and down screaming- it's a girl thing. As it was dark in Whistler by the time I had arrived, it was difficult to see the village but the whole town was lit up with Christmas lights, much like a mosquito I was drawn to all of it. I don't think I have seen anything more beautiful, it distracted me from the piercing cold climate which I was not appropriately dressed for- surprise surprise! After a 15hr flight and a 3hr bus ride, Julia convinced me to go out.
Julia had given me a brief run down on the fashion in Whistler, as it's certainly not the place to be fashion conscious, as we'd be hitting the town in our Kathmandu jackets and heels were out of the question. Despite Julia's pre-warning on the fashion, we wore our ballet flats out against our better judgement, and set out to Buffalo Bills for local night. It turns out that there is local night, every night of the week here.
PAF- the acronym for 'Pissed as Farts' we were stumbling home through Creekside, laughing about the nights antics, playing in the snow, crunching on our Doritos, when we could faintly hear this noise. Once we stopped crunching on our Doritos,the sound got louder. Curiosity got the better of me, and I followed the sound up the stairs. Then Julia yells out for me to get down from the stairs, as she had recognised the sound. The sound was coming from a bear, we're yelling, running away from the bear, against the advice of Bear Grills. The only reason Julia had recognised the sound was because she had seen a bear the night before.
As soon as we got home, after devouring what was left of the packet of Doritos, we'd passed out on the bunk beds, much to Julia's roommates' relief, after being woken to the sound of our giggling and Dorito munching.
I woke up to find it snowing outside our window and the best part-no hang over.
What a wonderful way to start my life in Whistler Wonderland!
Love
Lydia and Julia x
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