Beautiful Victoria BC

March 2011

Canada is one place I've dreamed about visiting mainly to see my rellies in Ontario. One evening three months before X'mas, through a twist of fate I decided I will spend Christmas somewhere else.  Anywhere but Auckland. I love Christmas in NZ but not last year, I just badly needed to go away!

Because I was time-constrained and not game enough to risk not getting back to Vancouver for my flight back home due to weather disrupts, I had no choice but give up my intentions of visiting Ontario. It was a huge disappointment not seeing all our rellies and was a greater disappointment I guess for them later to find out I was in Vancouver but did not get to Ontario.

16 August 2012

I started writing this months ago and never got to finishing it.  Many things have happened since then, weight issues, feeling in a rut, health issues although I took this in quite positively for having been finally able to learn what my problem was.  Have visited a few new places domestically and overseas and managed to resurrect my love of poetry.

Gong back to this post, I could ramble on about how I fell in love, so in loved with Victoria Island, BC and had a  great time catching up with my ex-sisters - in- law with my kids!   I've taken a few photos to share, so I will let the pictures do the talking instead:



the bus to Tsawassen Ferry

BC Ferry to Victoria Island



Dining inside the Ferry Liner

Sidney, Victoria BC



Main street of Sidney, Victoria BC



I'd be blind if I didn't notice these beauties



Craigdarroch Castle at 1050 Joan Cres, Victoria BC



Well-lit up neighbors' homes



The Fisgard Lighthouse, Victoria BC



A closer shot of Fisgard Lighthouse



Fisgard Lighthouse with Olympic Mountains (Washington State USA) across the waters



Canadian ducks everywhere at the park..



A walk by the lake....



Frozen puddle...



A 3-storey X'mas tree inside the City Hall



Just one of the corridors inside the City Hall



Carols at Butchart Gardens



The City Hall at night



@ Sidney Aquarium



Niagara Falls (not the one you know) in Victoria, BC



Mega sizes...enjoying a movie with the girls..

Romancing the Islands

July 2006

I am scared of deep water and the first time my ex told me to pack my bag because we were going on a cruise I panicked!  That was to Singapore in 2005, that country the size of Lake Taupo, that small city cum country all looked up to by the bigger countries around her and the rest of the world as a matter of fact!

After my Singapore Sling, I became a convert into cruising as a real holiday, as the true holiday!  My fear of water did not bother me at all and I've always been a little toughie on the road or on the boat so none of those seasickness stories for me! I realize that to see 3 countries in one trip, I would at least pack and unpack six times the least; on a cruise there is nothing of that especially if you are picking up the ship where you are!

 Anyway that was my first cruising experience, this time we were going on P n O and going around the Pacific Islands! This time I also promised to put my foot down; my son was not going to be left like he has been in the past few years at home to friends or family he hasn't bonded very well yet .

The cruise starts at Princess Wharf in Auckland by the Sheraton Hotel.  Immigration and customs and a bit of duty free is done in a few minutes.  As you embark your photo is taken and you are given your Cruise Card/Identity Card and given your cabin number which should already be cleaned and ready for you.  The card serves as your mode of currency inside the ship. 

We will be out on the sea for a few days and will be stopping at 5 of the islands:  Port Vila  and Mystery Islands in Vanuatu; Isle of Pine, Lifou and Noumea in Caledonia.

Below are a few photos I took from this trip: