As I type this, I am currently on a solo mission on the way to Banff, Alberta via the Greyhound bus with hopes of finding a place to live, a car and to carve up some Canadian snow. My dear travel partner has decided to hit up Vancouver as her next stop due to the lack of good employment opportunities in Banff, the unattractive blistering temperatures to be seen in the near future and the fact that Banff has a high cost of living. Fortunately for myself, none of those things have swayed my decision to check out the beautiful rockies.
Before arriving in Calgary, I spent 8 nights in Tokyo seeing the sights and had an absolute blast. We stayed in Ikebukuro and Shibuya which made all the main hot spots quite accessible via train. In Ikebukuro, due to a tight budget, we decided to stay at the Flexstay Inn which was small but cosy. Aside from the scent of cigarettes, the tiny rooms and the annoyingly impatient elevator, it was a decent choice for the price.
From Cat Cafe’s to the stand-up restaurants in Ebisu, Tokyo is a thriving place of absolute enormity with one of the most confusing (but reliable) train-systems in the world. If it’s your first time, be warned, the Tokyo train map is reminiscent of a spider-web. This time around I made sure to hit up the spots that I didn’t get to see last time that were at the top of my list (minus a few). I missed out on seeing Tokyo Dome and the Tsukiji fish market, but it leaves me with something to look forward to when I visit next.
This time around I got to visit Fuji-Q Highlands theme park which gives you a view of Mt. Fuji and access to some of the wildest rollercoasters in the world. The coasters at this park top any other coasters I’ve been on in my time, with some boasting record-breaking Guiness Records. Be warned, the lines, even on a Monday, are annoyingly long and limited me to 4 coaster rides.
- Fuji-Q
The famous crossing in Shibuya is definitely a sight to be seen, the sheer amount of people that cross the street at any given time is simply mind-boggling.
- Shibuya Crossing
Of course, no trip escapes a moment of embarrassment which makes for a good story. We decided to check out Mori tower in Roppongi which has an observation deck and with great views of Tokyo and an art-gallery consisting mostly of intricately built-to-scale models of Japan’s most innovative structures. The urbanisation project was called “Metabolism”.
Here’s where my clumsiness comes into play. The model structures are placed on blocks, surrounded by a wooden step with plastic signs warning people to watch their step and not to touch the structure stuck to them. Whilst admiring one of the structures, I leant forward as if to say “oooh, how pretty” and subsequently crushed one of the signs with my right foot which ironically stated “watch your step”. Now, the initial loud noise of a breaking sign made my literally shit-a-brick thinking I’d broken some expensive artwork, and I believe the staff at the art gallery initially thought the same. Thankfully it was only a measly plastic sign and not a 60,000 Yen model structure! Phew..
Moving on from Japan and flying into Calgary via Vancouver, I experienced some of the worst ear congestion from a flight in quite a while. I guess it didn’t help that I was quite sick from Japan with a nasty cough that lasted quite a few days and is still lingering.
Nevertheless, we checked into the HI hostel in Calgary which was my first experience staying at a hostel (but not dorm-beds, which I first experienced in Fiji at Beachcomber Island). The location isn’t too bad but it seems that it was quite a mission to do simple things like get groceries or food, but it forces you to venture out into town at least. Things I had to arrange that were crucial whilst arriving were a bank-account (Bank of Montreal offered us a sweet deal), my SIN number (get there early!) and a SIM card for my mobile phone (Virgin mobile does a good post-paid deal which is month to month and you can cancel with 30 days notice, free of charge).
- HI Calgary
The one place I had to visit quite often was Chinook mall as it seemed to be the best for clothes and other bits and pieces. It’s also where we arranged our SIM cards and where I picked up a down-filled coat to get me through the blistering cold weather. When someone says Canada is cold, they are not lying. Alberta in particular is FREEZING and I haven’t experienced the worst yet. So far the coldest I’ve experienced was about -12c but I’ve been told that it is going to be one of the coldest winters ever and last year they had temperatures as low as -42c!!
I met quite a lot of great people whilst staying at the hostel and I’m glad I had the opportunity to do so. I had a lot of fun and I do plan to head back to Calgary, especially to witness an Ice Hockey game and perhaps to see the annual stampede (I’ll make sure to get my plaid-shirt, cowboy boots and hat to match!). Til then, I’m off to the “STD” capital of Canada, Banff, which should be interesting!
Until then, I’ll continue my journey on the Greyhound bus towards Banff, but I probably won’t be getting any sleep after reading the disgusting horror story of Tim McClean who was innocently murdered and mutilated whilst on a Greyhound bus. Eeeek!
-Andrew
