Where in the World is Tom?

Checked out Dubai, United Arab Emirates!! Jan 2012

2012-02-16T19:09:00.000-08:00

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In Abu Dhabi to enjoy the Desert, Mountains & finally the Beach! Jan 2012

2012-02-16T19:07:00.000-08:00

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Abu Dhabi a more liveable realistic city than Dubai! Jan 2012

2012-02-16T19:05:00.000-08:00

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Some of my new friends in Ethiopia!!! Lol Dec 2011 & Jan 2012

2012-02-16T19:03:00.000-08:00

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What can I say about Ethiopia- except met some beautiful people! Dec 2011 & Jan 2012

2012-02-16T18:58:00.000-08:00

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Wow had to check if was in a Muslim country when got to Bahrain! Dec 2011

2012-02-16T18:56:00.000-08:00

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Crazy time in Istanbul Oct 2011 so came back in Dec & Jan 2012Dhabi, UAE back to Istanbul!!!

2012-02-16T18:53:00.000-08:00

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Couch Surfed at my friend Mira's place in Sofia!!! Nov 2011

2012-02-16T18:48:00.000-08:00

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Hey wanted to see Dracula's Castle! So went to Transylvania !!! Nov 2011

2012-02-16T18:44:00.000-08:00

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So what brought me to Bucharest, Romania? Well it was there!! Nov 2011

2012-02-16T18:42:00.000-08:00

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OK so have u heard of Transnistria? Well most people haven't!!! Nov 2011

2012-02-16T18:40:00.000-08:00

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When was visiting the Ukraine decided why not check out Moldova!! Nov 2011

2012-02-16T18:38:00.000-08:00

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Hey Budapest is a great city & the Loft hostel where I stayed!! Nov 2011

2012-02-16T18:35:00.000-08:00

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Wow Prague was awesome as hung with an awesome Brazilian chick!! Nov 2011

2012-02-16T18:32:00.001-08:00

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Turned everyone in hostel in Vienna on with some potent 420 lol! Nov 2011

2012-02-16T18:30:00.000-08:00

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Aussie & I got a ride to Bratislava from Krakow which was cool!! Nov 2011

2012-02-16T18:27:00.000-08:00

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Krakow is fun as went on Pub Crawl & turned into Hangover 2!! Nov 2011

2012-02-16T18:23:00.000-08:00

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Great time Couch Surfed at Rica (Rickula) & Gustavo's apt in Warsaw ! Nov 2011

2012-02-16T18:17:00.000-08:00

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Well It’s fall so it’s off to Toronto & Montreal for the 2nd year at this time! Sept 2011

2012-02-16T18:11:00.000-08:00

So taken a road trip across Canada by ride share in Oct 2010. It was so awesome but this year 2011 decided to fly to Toronto on my air mile points! A road tripis cool but takes 4 to 5 days one way & probably isn’t any cheaper as I was splitting the cost with the driver! It was cool except the dude that scored a ride with didn’t want to camp so spent a couple nights in a cheap motel plus staying with his friends along the way!

The reason I decided to go to Toronto was to see my daughter and son! I’m not a fan of Toronto but hey it probably doesn’t like me either! Hey Toronto is OK to visit for a short time but not the kind of city I’d like to live! But hey not saying it’s not a good city!

Anyway back to my blog!! When u travel on points u are kinda limited on flights u can catch! They only set aside so many seats on a flt for air miles passengers! So I had to take a flt from Vancouver – Edmonton – Toronto going east! Then had a direct flt from Toronto back to Vancouver.

The flight I took had a 2 ½ hr stopover in Edmonton. Which was cool with me as I wasn’t in a hurry to get to Toronto! Also I grew up in Edmonton & still have some family there! So my brother said he’d come to the airport & buy me lunch which was cool!

So when I got to the airport to fly out we were told the flight was overbooked! So they offered to give me a direct flt to Toronto! However my brother was going to meet me at the airport in Edmonton and buy me lunch! Hell a free lunch is worth the price of a stopover there for a couple hrs & then flying to Toronto later, lo,l. Then after I said no well they announced that they’d give $100 and put anyone on a later flight! Well I spoke to the dude about flying to Edmonton later but there weren’t any more flts to Edmonton that day from Vancouver! What I should have arranged is getting $100, a later flight to Edmonton and catch a flt the next day from Edmonton to Toronto! Cuz was getting to Toronto at midnight anyway so could have stayed overnight in Edmonton so wouldn’t have to sleep at the Toronto airport! Not that I’m opposed to sleeping at airports but would have made $100! Shit must have been a sleep at the wheel cuz usually would have been all over it! Do as they say “ You Snooze you Lose”!

I was planning to couch surf with this dude in Toronto on Friday night! The guy was so nice that he offered to pick me up from the airport at midnight on Thur & let me stay Thur as well! It was a great offer but the dude would have had to drive about 30 km each way. So I thanked him but no thanks as it was way too out of his way!

So the night spent in Toronto Pearson Int’l airport was great! Always look for a place to sleep in the Departure lounge! But it appeared all the seats had individual are rests – those are crappy as can’t stretch out to sleep! So asked one of the cleaning ladies if there were any seats with no arm rests! Then got pointed to some in the back area so headed there to catch some zzzzzz’s! So got a fairly good night’s sleep as the cleaning people didn’t bother me! What did wake me up were all the people lining up to get to check in on some early flight! So usually when u sleep at an airport that’s usually an indication it’s time get up & get on with your day!!!!

Well knew that Pearson airport isn’t on a direct subway line to downtown Toronto! So had to catch a city bus to the start of the subway line at Kipling station! Then I board the subway to go down on the Bloor line! But Farzad who was hosting me that Fri evening told me how to get to his place! He was starting work at noon till 11 pm as he worked for CTV as a producer of a the news on the network! But shit I was running late as slept in late at the airport if u can believe that!!! So I texted him to tell him was running late and he was understanding! Anyway met up with him as he was walking his dog a massive loveable Rottwiller or something! So he gave me a key to his place and ran off to work!

I didn’t want to sleep ot hang out at his apartment so I walked downtown which is about 3 km or so! I met up with my sister after work and went for a bite to eat! Then I walked back to Farzad’s apartment around 11 pm!

The next day was Sat so moved out of my Couch Surfing host’s place! Met up with my sister and son in the afternoon and headed to an Irish pub for a bite to eat! Then checked out this hostel where I would be staying! The Toronto International Film festival was going on so it was very busy! Not that the festivals goers and myself traveled in the same crowd!!

But we did head to Yorkville area which is a bit upscale for us! But we were up in the area so wanted to grab some real nice Indian food at this Mom & Pop restaurant which was reasonably priced! Then my sister left and my son and I were walking thru a park! So we stopped and did a bit of 420 (what else) and got wasted! What was cool about this was I had never did any 420 with my son as didn’t know he did it! But it was his weed so who was I to argue or question it as loved to do weed! We had a good time smoking and talking so guess u could say it was like bonding! Then we went back to the Irish Pub and had a night cap beer! Must say really enjoyed hanging out having a smoke and beer with my son as I’m not a judgmental person as am very open minded!

The next day my sister, daughter, son and I met up to hang out! It was cool to hang out with them and made the day for me!

Spent a few more days in Toronto hanging with my sister and daughter! Then she left Toronto to return to Abu Dhabi! My sister went to California on a week mediation retreat. My son returned to his army base not far from Toronto! While I got a rideshare to Montreal to visit my good friend Thomas! He is originally from Paris but we met traveling in Ecuador & trvaled to Peru for 3 weeks a couple years ago! Then he moved to Quebec City so I went to visit him in 2010! He was going to return to Paris so I told him he should see Vancouver (my home town) while he was in Canada! So he came out to visit me for 10 days & ended up staying for 2 ½ months! We had an awesome time hanging out He is a video game producer (project manager) so he tried to score a job in Vancouver as there are a lot of videop game companies there! But in 2 ½ months he wasn’t successful! Tho in all fairness don’t think he put in too much effort as we were just hanging out partying and having a good time! He had a return plane ticket to Quebec City & then another one onward to Paris! But he kept changing it so the 10 day visit stretched into the 2 ½ months! It was funny on one of the times he went to change his departure date! He called the airlines to change his departure date and said ‘Can I change my departure date tomorrow?” :The airlines told him “You can’t change the departure date from tomorrow! : So he said “Whynot?” The airlines told him “ The flight was yesterday!!!” Duh that was crazy but the dude some how got the airlines to change the departure date to another date even tho the departure date was past!! Don’t know how he did it but probably was his lucky day!!

So anyway he got a job working in Montreal for Electronic Arts a world famous video game producer! So got to Montreal and met up with him after work on a Fri! I found out he plays hard but also works hard! He usually works from 9 am to about 7 pm as he has a very responsible position! He isn’t a techie but is the producer / project manager! He has a great personality and gets a long great with people! So the members of his team all like him and work hard to get the work done!

Thomas had another friend Fabien from France visiting him from Boston where he worked as a graphic arts designer! I had met Fabien and his friend Simon in Vancouver when they were on a road trip across the US! They stopped in Vancouver to visit Thomas & I met and partied with them!

So it was like old home week when we hung out in Montreal! We checked out the bar scene and had a great time! I notice that the people in Montreal really like to drink, a lot more than in Vancouver! Hell in Vancouver we like to drink but we’re more into 420 or at least both! This sort of what we did all weekend! In Montreal during the summer on Sunday afternoon and evenings they have a Electronic Picnic! It happens on this island in the middle fo the city! They have a couple of DJ’s spinning some cool electronic music! What’s cool is if u bring your own food (it is a picnic) you could also bring your own booze! But if u didn’t bring any food or liquor well u could buy drinks! When I was there they were having the last Electron Picnic of the summer/early fall! So we headed down to check it out!!

Thomas lived in a nice apartment close to downtown in about the Mont Royal area so I could walk downtown! He has 2 roommates who are students originally from France – Yemi & Arthur (not sure of his name as didn’t hang out with him as he had his FG visiting from Paris when I was there)! But hung out a couple times with Yemi as he’s a cool guy! While didn’t get to know Arthur as like I said his GR was visiting him! So can understand cuz she’s an actress in Paris and hot! So if I had a GF visiting well I wouldn’t be hangin out with a douche bag like myself either!

Then when Thomas went to work during the week well I hung out & did whatever on my own! One day I went out to grab a bite to eat & ended hiking up Mont Royal the famous mountain/hill in the center of Montreal! The weather was awesome so the hike was great to do! They have a giant cross on top which can be seen from downtown and other places around Montreal! When I got to the top I checked out the view and saw this dude selling his handicrafts to the people! So had a chat with him and found out he liked to spend his winters in India! So we had something in common as we both liked to travel! So of course one thing led to another and we shared some 420! So got quite wasted and sure he did too cuz the BC I get legally at a Dispensory is pretty wicked! I’m sure when I left he must have probably thought ‘Shit may wonder if the weed was laced with something as it’s really stgonG” But I’d never do anything like that plus if I did I wouldn’t waste it on a complete stranger- well maybe I might except the weed alone is enough without cutting it with something!

I have a friend Alec who I met traveling in Central America as he was riding his motor cycle from Montreal to Buneas Aires! We met and just became good friends as he’s a cool guy who also likes to work hard and travel even harde! Alec’s family emigrated to Canada from Romania! But Alecis all Canadian plus he can speak excellent French and Spanish along with of course English! He’s also a great Salsa dancer and a real ladies man! While I only speak English, don’t dance Salsa and well the opposite of him with the ladies! But hey it’s all good as I don’t sweat the small stuff! So the 2 of us get along like bro’s like Thomas and I!

I felt bad cuz in 2010 when I was doing my cross Canada road trip I didn’t get around to getting a hold of Alec! Well it was actually cuz I was Couch Surfing in Montreal! I got hosted by these 2 guys in Montreal for a couple days! Well the first thing I noticed was they liked to do 420 (again what else?? lol)! So one thing led to another & all we did for 2 days was do 420 and drink beer! So in 2 days we never left their apartment except to buy beer! So feel bad but never got around to contacting Alec!! But promised myself that would get a hold of him on this trip! So we met up a couple o f times for a beer. Wanted Thomas to meet Alec since they both live in Montreal and have a lot in common! They both work in the IT industry, both like to travel, speak Fench and do good with the ladies!

So had a great time in Montreal hanging tith Thomas his friends and Alec! I didn’t stretch my stay in Montreal longer than 1 week! I left Montreal and returned to Toronto to catch my flight back to Vancouver.

Cuz had to get home cuz 10 days after I returned home at the start of Oct I had a flight to Istanbul and to travel for 3 months!

Here's some pictures of my trip to Toronto

"Tripto Toronto in Sept 2011 to hang with my daughter & son! "

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Here's some pictures of hanging out in Montreal

"Down to Montreal; Sept 2011 to see goodbuddies Thomas & Alex!"

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OK so have u been to Vilanius, Lithuania? Well bin dar dun dat! Oct 2012

2012-02-16T17:19:00.001-08:00

Decided to take the afternoon bus from Tallinn thru Riga to Villanus in Lithuania! The bus was great as got to see the country side! We got to Riga around 8 PM and had to hurry around the bus station to catch my bus for Villanus and almost missed it! I had sent a text to Arta in Riga to say I was coming thru there again! I don’t know why I was so stupid but was hoping that she would come to the bus station to see me! But what wishful thinking on my part!

Then didn’t get to Villanus till about 11 PM and it was dark and foggy! Luckily the hostel I booked was in Old Town (another old town in an European city as shit all the cities had old towns but I figure all the cities are old towns by Canadian standards) and the Old Town was close to the bus station! So I stopped by an ATM machine to pick up some Lithuanian Litas! Which Lithuania uses as they would were suppose to use Euro from 2010, but no, not now. The installment of Euros got postponed several times. Euro, though, is circulated in Lithuanian banks, but you cannot use an Euro to buy things.

The Vilnius Old Town hostel was small and quite cozy as met some nice people there! There were a group of Erasmus students studing medicine in Warsaw staying at the hostel! They were from all over Europe and could speak good English as their classes were all taught in English!

I got talking to Gustavol, a Portugese guy, who was really friendly and outgoing! When he found out I was heading to Warsaw next well he offered to let me stay in his flat! Cuz he said it’s a long weekend in Poland as the next day was All Saints’ Day! Which is a festival which has been celebrated in Poland and the rest of the Catholic world for many centuries. All Saints Day is a national holiday, and a day when people all over Poland visit the graves of loved ones and to place candles and flowers on graves. The special candles, which can burn for many hours, are placed there so that departed souls can find their way through the darkness. Cemeteries are lit by many hundreds of these candles and at night the cemeteries can often be seen glowing from long distances. Many Poles travel long distances to visit family graves and to remember the dead. The holiday is also sometimes known as the Day of the Dead.

He was in Villanus with 2 other of his flat mates who were from France! He told me the their 4th flat mate was from Vienna but didn’t come as her parents came to visit her in Warsaw! So he emailed or texted her to tell her that he invited me to stay in their flat! The 2 French flat mates didn’t mind me staying in their flat! So later the Austrian flat mate in Warsaw chatted with me on Facebook! We seemed to get along so she gave me her telephone number and address to come and stay!

So other than the Erasmus medical students I met a New Zealand guy who was biking back to New Zealand! He was biking with an American chick and they were headed to Stockholm and to London where they would part company! Then he would catch a flight to Perth Australia to bike across the Nallabar Plains to eastern Australia and back to New Zealand! He came from Nelson in the north part of the South Island! He had a blog: http://bikeeasterneurope.blogspot.com/2012

There isn't much to do in Villanus but did spend a day walking around the Old Town of Villanus which was kind of nice! Also climbed up this hill where there was an old castle which overlooked most of the city! But other than that well there didn’t seem to be much to see unless a person went out in the country!

But since it was fall and getting cool well I didn’t do many outdoor activities as enjoy doing things like hiking thru the hills! Actually I was covering a lot of different countries and climate zones! So didn’t bring a lot of clothes like a coat! I just had a hoodie and a liner for my snowboard jacket which served as sort of a wind breaker! So if I wore both of them together well it kept me kind of warm but not if it got very cold! Also only had 1 pair of shorts and a zip off pair of pants! So when it was cool (not really cold) well wore the shorts over the zip off pants!

So after checking out the city of Villanus and spending time chatting with the people staying there well decided it was time to head out! I like to call the day when I pull out of a place for another place "Moving Day"! Anyway had to get to Warsaw to meet up with Rica the 4th flat mate as was going to crash there!

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Made a day visit to expensive Helsinki & visited my friend Matias Oct 2012

2012-02-16T16:59:00.000-08:00

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Thought that Odessa was a lot nicer city in the Ukraine than Kiev! Maybe cuz it's smaller & by the Black Sea so it's more chill!!!

2011-11-18T12:30:00.007-08:00

When I was leaving Kiev well missed my flightcuz I was late for it so had to wait 7 1/2 hrs and pay another approximately$90 for another ticket (a King's Ransom in the Ukraine). So had to wait aroundthe airport where there were few seats as the only place was for both theDeparture and Arrivals were in the same area! The seating was by an automaticsliding door which seemed to be always open. So it was like friggin cold andsince I wasn't feeling too good shit it was the pits sitting by this open door!

So I just mostly slept but did read a bit ofmy book to pass the time! Anyway the check in counters seemed to open about 11/2 hrs before departure and closed about 45 mins before! This was for adomestic flight as don't know about international flights!

My flight on this Ukrainian airlines leftKiev at 930 pm and got to Odessa about 11 pm! It was dark of course and damcold but the airlines just brought our bags off the plane on a big trolley andleft them outside! We couldn't go inside the terminal building as it was closed(not sure cuz of the time of the day but other travelers told me this is commonfor a domestic flight) so everyone just searched through all the bags lookingfor their bags! It was the strangest thing I've seen at an airport never evensaw that in poor African airports! Also this didn't happen in Kiev on my flightfrom Budapest! But a lot of countries want to impress international travelersbut don't give a f*ck about the locals which guess they expect are the onlypeople on a domestic flight!

Anyway got my bag and since I didn't know ifthe buses were running any longer well decided to grab a cab! I bargained withthe driver and he only charged me about $5! We went about 15 mins but the guycouldn't find my hostel even though he said he knew where it was when he pickedme up! I finally showed him on my paper that it was close to the CathedralSquare (can't remember the Ukrainian name). Then he knew where it was and hegot me there! But the guy still wanted a tip but I didn't budge on not givinghim one!

The place he took me to didn't seem like itwas a hostel! Cuz guess in Odessa the hostels have to stay underground like inno advertising that it's a hostel! The apartment buildings in former Sovietcountries all look like they're slum buildings from the outside! The buildingthe hostel was no different as it looked that way too! The front door to thebuilding was wide open and the stairs smelled like someone had urinated thereall the time which they probably did given the doors were wide open! Thewindows in the stair wells were either broken or open! So it was cold as hellin the stair cases and it was dark!

I got to the door of the hostel and thoughtboy am I late as should have been there around 5 pm as was suppose to be on the2 pm flight! Then I would have been in Odessa about 6 pn or so! But the guyrunning the place was up as it was Sat night!

One thing about traveling in the late fall isthere are few travelers or tourists! I had a reservation so I knew I had a bedin the dorm! There were only about 3 others in the 12 bed! Then the next daythey left leaving me alone until an Australian guy came to stay!!!!

It seemed odd but the Ukraine was the firstcountry I had visited where people visiting from foreign countries were thereto try and start a business and make some money! There was an American guythere who was keen on starting up a Groupon business! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Groupon So he kept telling me about thebenefits of starting Groupons there cuz no one had done it so it was virginterritory sort of speaking! Of course I was just humoring him cuz I was in thetraveling space and wasn't into doing a business! But of course who am I am tosay as everyone is different.

Then the next day an Vietnamese Australiandude showed up and he seemed to be in the same head space as the American sothey spent a lot of time talking business. But the American guy had somebusiness in Kiev so he left! So the Australian and I had the entire 12 roomdorm to ourselves! This Australian guy was a bit different than me but we stillgot a long good! We started talking about traveling and life so we kind of fellinto a discussion about smoking weed! So I brought out my 1 hitter and we had asmoke on the balcony of the dorm room. The weed was pretty wicked so a coupletokes were all we needed and we were wasted!

So in our discussion the Aussie guy and Isaid that Budget Traveling in many countries is like Camping in the Wild West100 years ago!! We have to search for food, water & shelter!! OK so wecan go to a supermarket for food & water plus usually head to a hostelor couch surf for a bed! But shit usually u can’t speak or read most languagesso u use sign language! So u don’t know what food u’r buying/eating even thoughit won’t poison u! U get off a bus or train in a strange city & have tosearch for a hostel or where ever in the dark & maybe rain/cold! Hell uhave to fight off predators waiting to attack u & if u’r lucky just robu & other times if u’r lucky u'll just get pick pocketed!! So shit manu have to be on top of your game, be street smart & not hung over oru’ll be f*cked over AKA robbed of your passport, belongings or cash! Yeah I’mtalking from past experiences!

We came to this conclusion while sitting in our hostel dorm room thatnight chillin & having a doobie!! OK so budget travelers have a beer orsmoke cuz it’s the reward we treat ourselves to for making it to where ever weset out for! lol OK so then u ask why the fu*ck would anyone want totravel to sketchy, out of the way places? Well we do it for the adventure asit’s like seeing what’s over the next hill or mtn!! Hell these days we have tosearch for the Wild West in places like Africa, Central Asia, Russia, India,etc! Yeah there are times u may wish u were at home with a cold beer! But shitman life isn’t about sitting in your warm home watching some shit ass TV show,movie or sports! Cuz everyone's life is an adventure but some of us want to adddifferent experiences to get our adrenaline going!!!

So outside of our weed smoking times wellwent to this cheap cafeteria where they had some good fidels!! I also wentsight seeing a lot as wanted to see the beach area of the Black Sea whichOdessa is famous for! So once I saw the Black Sea resort area well that wasabout all there was to see as far as i was concerned!

Then found that could take a day bus to Moldovawhere I wanted to see!

There's a wide gap between the transportation people use in the Ukraine! There are old beat up Russian Lada's that look like they're remanents from the Cold War! Then there are the corrupt rich people driving Merecedess! The rich Ukrainians are really arrogant as they drive fast and think they can park anywhere! Reminds me of the Arabs in the Middle East plus rich people in India! Basically I guess there are rich assholes everywhere who they that money makes them important! Asshole corrupt politicians and business people!!

You'd never believe how the Odessa airport baggage carousel works!!! We arrived at 11 pm in the cold and dark & we couldn't enter the terminal! They brought the bags to us outside on carts! Then it was a free for all grabbing out bags!!! Modern technology and method - NOT!!!

Thought Kiev was a bit of a shit hole but that maybe cuz I was sick & couldn't do anything there but walk to my hostel on a dreary & cold day!!!!!

2011-11-18T12:30:00.003-08:00

Yeah had a miserable time in Kiev as was sick which doesn't give a person a positive impression of a place!

It all started out when I left Budapest as decided to fly to Kiev to save a day of train or bus traveling. I had originally thought of going Budapest - Lviv - Kiev - Odessa! But found out that to go to Lviv (in western Ukraine) from Budapest well I'd have to fly to Kiev, stay over night and then fly to Lviv! So I figure well going to have to give Lviv a miss this trip! But had heard that Lviv was a nice city as it was more European than Russian (for a lack of a better description). I guess this is because they speak more Ukranian than Russian!

So anyways I had booked my flight online with this shitty booking website eDreams! I had also booked a multi destination booking with them from Istanbul - Addis Ababa - Abu Dhabi - Istanbul in Dec. So hope they didn't fuck up those flights too!

Anyway back to my flight from Budapest to Kiev. Well got my booking reference number so went out to the airport and found out that I didn't have a booking or ticket! So that sucked as I thought hell now what? So I went to Customer Service and the lady said I could buy a ticket for the flight! Thank Christ cuz I had visions of returning to the hostel for another night and come back later! So I paid probably paid $250 for a one way ticket from Budapest to Kiev! Luckily I know now that I didn't get charged for the originally booking! But shit eDreams didn't have the decency to tell me there was a problem or I didn't have a booking! So I got on the flight OK after all that shit!

When I got to Kiev well I had a booking for this hostel there! So of course I printed out the directions of how to get to the hostel! What I didn't realize was that all signs in Ukraine are written in The Cyrillic script (play /sɨˈrɪlɪk/) or azbuka is an alphabetic writing system developed in the First Bulgarian Empire during the 10th century AD at the Preslav Literary School.[1] It is the basis of alphabets used in various languages, past and present, of Eastern Europe and Asia, especially those of Slavic origin, and also non-Slavic languages influenced by Russian.

So of course the directions I had were in English and I couldn't make out what word was what! hell it may as well been in Arabic, Chinese or Japanese characters!

I did manage to catch the airport. bus into the city for about $4 CAD. There was a Sudanese girl in the seat next to me that could speak English and Russian! She was there to study medicine for the past few years so she learned Russian (but not Ukranian) which most Ukranians in Kiev mainly speak! She told me there were quite a few Sudanese studying in the Ukranian cuz it was cheaper and easier to get a visa! She had a hard time when she arrived to study 6 years before! Cuz all the people expecially the kids were calling her the N..... word! Hell they weren't used to black Africans in Ukranian! Hell I even feel that people are staring at me but not cuz I'm Japanese descent but more cuz I got piercings and tattoos! But shit it was so cold that wore a Nepalese/Tibetan/Ecuadorian wool hat with tassles hanging down! Got the hat when I heard the Dali Lama speaking in Toronto last year! So everyone probably thought I was the second coming of the Dali Lama or something! Cuz doubt they could see my tatoos as I wore a hoodie!

Anyway the Sudanese girl said she'd help me catch my city bus when we got to the Railway Station which was the where the airport bus was dropping us off at!

The Railway Station in Kiev was a zoo like in most developing country cities! I had the directions and the bus to catch to the hostel! But lot of good it did cuz couldn't find the bus, where to catch it or even ask anyone or read the signs! On top of that it was like Rush Hour!!! I had no idea how far we were from the hostel! So the Sudanese girl asked around and didn't have much luck finding my bus! The people didn't seem too helpful like in most large cities!! My direction said to take the bus or subway! Hell there was no way I wanted to take the subway cuz took the subway in Tiblsi Georgia last year! They use the Cyrillic characters and was with a couple of other guys there and we got lost trying to find the correct line and direction as couldn't make out the words! So knew if I went to the subway I'd be lost for sure! So after asking and looking for 10 mins the Sudanese girl had to catch her train back to the university city she lived! So she suggested that maybe it be best to bite the bullet and pay for a taxi this time! It's against my principles as dislike taxis and taxi drivers with a passion as think they're all crooks and assholes in every country or city!!! But wtf I was feeling really sickly with a cold so thought shit that warm bed sounds great! So we manage to find a taxi driver to drive me to the hostel for about $20 CAD. He said he knew the place but the f*ckin liar didn't know where it was so he ended up driving around for an extra 10 mins!

The only way we found the hostel was that the directions I had said the hostel was near this hostel! So once I showed the taxi driver this well he found the hotel and let me off there! So I asked the lady at the hotel but she couldn't speak English! It seems only about 10% if that of the population knows English in the Ukraine(even the young kids can't speak it which is completely different that most Eastern European countries as most kids learn English in school). What is surprising about the English and Latin characters, etc is Ukraine is Co-hosting the 2012Euro Football championship next year along with Poland! Must say that Poland is light years ahead of Ukraine in preparations! Hell most of the guests to Euro2012 will be coming from England, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, etc. Hell the people won't be able to speak Ukrainian so the next thing they'd want to speak in English! But shit no one hardly speak it and the signs to anywhere are not in Latin Characters! So it's going to suck to be a spectator in the Ukraine for Euro2012! Poland is rushing to update it's train system at least in Warsaw! Didn't see the metro system in Kiev but doubt if it's in any other language than Russian! Hell even the hotels (except for say the Hilton speak English) and the restaurants don't! It's going to suck next year as I'd hate to be a fan!!!!

Anyway I was walking down the street trying to find the hostel when I took a chance and ask a young guy! Well my lucky day as he spoke broken English but knew the hostel as his girlfriend worked there parttime and he was actually headed there! So that's how I made it to the hostel on that dark, cold day!

The people at the hostel could speak English as it's a requirement cuz they know us English speaking people are arrogant and don't hardly try to speak Russian (no one speaks Ukrainian in Kiev). The hostel was OK as it seemed like some fancy apartment converted into a hostel!

The guests at the hostel weren't the typical travelers I meet at most hostels! There were 2 Russian guys, 2 Dutch guys learning Russian and an English girl! The 2 Dutch and English girl left the next morning after the English girl came home drunk that night! They were on their way to Lviv for the weekend! Then later an Irish guy came for a few days! Then 2 families of 7 people came to stay! They were quite nice and spoke English so I had someone to talk to other than the Irish guy!

I had to go to an ATM machine to get some Ukrainian Hryvnias which is about 7.2 Ukrainian Hryvnias to a CAD. Then the girl at the hostel told me there was a store next do.or. But it turned out the store next door was one of those old style Soviet stores! Where a miserable looking woman stood behind a counter and picked out the food for u! But shit not knowing Russian well all I could manage to buy was a couple of sweet buns, can of corn and bottle of water! So that was my gourmet dinner for the evening! But I didn't care cuz all I wanted was to get into bed and try to shake my cold!!

So the next day I wanted to go make a long distant phone call to find out wtf happened to my plane ticket the day before plus make sure that my booking to Abu Dhabi and Addis Ababa were actually OK! I had emailed them but they never replied so figure would be best to call them! Plus I wanted to go back to the train station and buy a ticket for the overnight train to Odessa on Sat!

So I took a map (not that it helped cuz the street names that I could find were in Russian characters! So I had to go check land marks to find my way to the Main Post Office! I did manage to phone the Customer Service of eDreams and they said they'd email the eticket and itinerary of my Abu Dhabi and Addis Ababa ticket! They didn't give me a reason why my Budapest to Kiev ticket wasn't booked! But shit that was water under the bridge as I was only concerned that I got my Abu Dhabi and Addis Ababa ticket/booking!!

So found my way to the main post office and back without any incident! But I did see a restaurant with a sign on the window showing a bowl of Borscht and a plate of potatoes for about $4 so thought shit I'll try it! So I took the server outside to show them the sign and price to ensure that it was that price! Yeah it was that price she told me in broken English! So I had a sign and price and u agreed that was correct! Now I get a bill for $12 so she said well that was a special for the bank next door! Well shit the stupid douche bag could have told me that when I showed her the sign to make sure the price was correct! It wasn't going to break me but it did piss me off that she agree on the price but when I went to pay it well it was a lot more!!

So welcome to crazy world of ripping off the tourists in good old Ukraine!!!

The next morning I got up still a bit sick but determined to get the f*ck out of Kiev! So got online and found a real sweet price on some Ukranian discount carrier I think to fly Kiev to Odessa that afternoon! Wow I was all over that cuz wanted to get the f*ck out of Dodge so to speak!

The flight was a2 pm and it was about 1130 so asked the girl working at the hostel. to call me a cab! Cuz didn't think 2 1/2 hrs was enough time to make it to the airport by bus! No she said it's a domestic flight so u should be able to make it OK! So like a fool I listened to her plus I hate cabs and also I'm too tight to pay $30!

The girl wrote me the instructions on how to get there by bus! So I left to catch a city mini bus (Marshrutka ) to the train station (again).then I had to find the airport bus which actually stops and picks up on the opposite side of the railway station from where the Marshrutka stops which is why I couldn't find the Marshrutka when I arrived in Kiev from the airport!

So I manage to catch the airport bus and thought yeah I made it on $5 and saved $25. But dam when we got to the airport the check in counter was closed! It seems they open the check in counter about 2 hrs before even a domestic flight and close it about 30 or 40 mins before the flight departs!! That sucked cuz they don't think of making sure a delayed passenger gets on the flight! So I went to the airline ticketing office at the airport to ask! Well the check in had closed and the next flight to Odessa was at 930 pm and it was not 140 pm. So had to pay $90 to rewrite my ticket for the 930 pm flight which was like 7 1/2 hr wait!

So idiot me missed another flight cuz I listened to the girl working at the hostel who probably didn't take into consideration that the check in counters closes 30 or 45 before departure as the same person that checks in people has to hustle over to work the boarding gate too!

Well I didn't pay an asshole taxi driver $30 but paid $90 to the airlines for another ticket and ended up waiting 7 1/2 hrs. Shit I had a sleep at that shitty airport as the waiting gate to get checked in was open to the main door of the terminal! So shit had to sit in a drafty room for that time! Sure didn't do my cold any good! Shit guess could have taken the long bus ride as probably would have arrived at the same time as the plane and cost a f*ck of a lot less!

Another shitty experience but did I learn a lesson? Probably not cuz "Once a fool, always a fool"!!!

So wandered off to Tallinn in Estonia as didn't want to over stay my welcome staying with my beautiful friend Arta & her family in Riga as they were so sweet to let me stay at their home!!!! Oct 2012

2011-10-29T15:50:00.004-07:00

Well it was time to head out from Riga cuz well couldn't over stay my welcome! So after all I did stay for 4 days and had an awesome time!

So chilled on the Monday and the next day Arta's (my Latvian friend) dad was heading to this small city near the Estonian border! So he was nice enough to give me a ride there! But hell had to wake up at 6 am to get on the road! Enjoyed the trip as got a chance to talk to Arta's Dad as he told me about the life they had in Latvia under the Soviet rule! He never spoke about Arta's mom who he's divorced from now! But she lives close to their home by herself! I kind of feel sorry for her tho I didn't meet her! I guess it just seems she lives by herself in an apartment while all the other family members live together in a big house! I don't think it's on purpose cuz Arta's Dad doesn't seem to be the type to make anyone feel bad as they all live in a big house and leave his ex wife in an apartment so she'd feel bad! I guess he got to the position in life where he had his own Management company so he could afford to finally build a home! I guess prior to that they lived in an apartment like most people in Latvia! I remember Arta's brother Karlis saying that since Arta returned from her working holiday in Canada that she's been living with her family in the house until she gets on her feet to maybe move out with her boyfriend! So this past year had been the longest time he's lived with her! Cuz Arta lived in a different town as she had asthma and had to get treated and go to school! Then she had lived with her grand parents for a while due to maybe living space with her parents! Arta's sister Krista has a room in her Dad's home but she is married to a Portuguese guy and lives with him and her son in Portugal! Then Arta's Dad's GF's daughter lives in London studying law so there's also her room vacant in their house! Also Arta's Dad's Girl Friend's son lives in the house with them but he's younger and spends all his time in his bedroom playing video games or something!

Arta's Dad was driving to Valka Latvia for a 9 AM meeting! So he was nice enough to drive me across the border to the Estonian city Valga! He didn't have much time as his meeting was at 9 AM so he could just barely have time to drop me off at the bus station so I could catch a bus to Tallinn, Estonia! It was odd that he had to speak English to the Estonians as he didn't speak Estonian and the Estonian people don't speak Latvian!

The bus station in Valga Estonia reminded me of one of those old Soviet bus station or something I've seen in movies! The bus station was cold as I had to wait from 9 am till 1230 pm for the next bus to Tallinn Estonia! No one spoke English in that bus station so had to keep asking everyone until one guy did so that helped me know when the next bus was coming so I could buy my ticket to Tallinn! I found out that Estonia had started using the Euro at the beginning of 2011! So luckily I had some Euros or I probably would had been F*cked cuz doubt if they would change Latvian Lats at that bus station!!!!

Estonia was also allowing people to use the Estonian Kroon, denoted by EEK, in parrallet to the Euro! The EEK was introduced in 1991, and since 1993, has been pegged to the euro at a rate of 15.64664 Krooni to 1 Euro. It has been stable since. Estonia became the 17th member of the eurozone - the first ex-Soviet state to adopt the EU single currency The changeover from the kroon to the euro started at midnight (2200 GMT) in the small Baltic nation of 1.3m people. For many Estonians, 20 years after breaking away from the Soviet Union, the Euro is proof that they have fully arrived in the West. The Estonia's government says the Euro will attract foreign investors because devaluation is then ruled out. To avoid a last-minute rush, Estonians were able to swap Kroons for euros commission-free from 1 December. In the past year Europe's debt crisis has hit Estonia severely. The tough cuts in state spending, necessary to join the eurozone, have pushed unemployment to more than 16%. Kroons will be used in parallel with the euro for the first half of January. Banks will swap Estonians' kroons for euros until the end of 2011 and the central bank will carry on doing so indefinitely. However, poorer Estonians feared that prices would be rounded up, and that food will become even more expensive. And the prospect of having to contribute to bail-outs of richer eurozone countries is hard to stomach.

The bus when it finally came only cost me something like less than 10 Euros or about under $13 or so! The bus took about 4 hrs to get to Tallinn. Then found the tram line was down for some reason so decided to walk from the bus station to the hostel in the old city of Tallinn.

I had been accepted to be hosted by an American guy (Brandon/Jack or whatever as he didn't use his real name) who was traveling but ran out of money so he got a job running a hostel! But he still hosted people! The hostel had only about 6 beds and a couple couches! So I slept on the couch behind the manager's desk by the front door! There were 6 people staying at the hostel and 3 of us couch surfers at one time!

I had brought a small amount of BC Bud with me to reminisce and share with my friend in Latvia! So after we indulge & had an awesome time having a bit & then chilling and laughing! Well I still had a small amount left so also shared a couple hits with Jack! He liked doing it too so we got wrecked a couple of times!

Then another night the 2 of us got wrecked with Mike, a American guy who told me had been traveling for 12 years! He was an ex-military guy who lost his leg in motorcycle accident! He was a bit of a bull shitter but otherwise a nice guy! He told me that if a person took a ferry to St. Petersburg for 72 hrs they didn’t need a visa for Russia! So he was going but unfortunately I only found out about it the day I was leaving Tallinn so couldn’t go too!

Yeah had a good time in Tallinn as it's a pretty great place! Especially the Old town as spent most of my time there! One night was off to a Couch Surfing to meet this Estonian CS chick met thru CS! But unfortunately I couldn't find the bar the meeting was being held as got friggin lost for a hour! By the time I made it back to the hostel everyone had gone off to another bar! But Mike the American was around so the 2 of us went to the bar! Then when I left the bar well got lost again for another hour!

Another day I spent walking around enjoying the fall colors of Tallinn! Well I ended up near the docks where the ships were. So I checked and found out that there were ferries going to Helsinki daily! So I booked a trip to Helsinki the next day! I looked up Mathias as we met in Tobago and Trinidad a couple years ago! I also was hoping to see his girl friend Sara but she had to work! But while I was waiting for him and his buddy to meet me! Well it was quite cold and I only had a hoodie and short over top of my zip off pants! So to keep warm I went to the public library and sat around browsing the internet most of the day! The only food I probably ate all day there was at the outdoor market! I bought a bowl of real tasty soup which still cost me about 6 Euros or $9! The guy running was a cool black guy who told me he came over from the US to play basketball 30 years ago and stayed in Finland! It was so cold there that I broke down and bought a pair of sheepskin gloves for 20 Euros which come to think of it wasn't cheap!!

So I couch surfed in the hostel in Tallinn for about 3 nights! Then I went to Helsinki for a day trip to check it out! I could only afford to go there for 1 day as it was dam expensive

All in all I kind of enjoyed Tallinn! The one thing I regret is not meeting up with an old traveling friend Lisaa who I met in Barcelona and again in Morocco! She was traveling with Mathias a Dutch guy as we all partied in Morocco! Lisaa rocked as she was probably the craziest fun loving chick I met in my travels as she was game for anything! It would have been cool to meet up with her again. She used to live in Amsterdam but sent me an email saying she was working on a contract in southern Estonia! Too bad didn’t meet cuz would have been cool! Maybe will look her up when I make it back to the Baltic countries when I do the Trans Siberian Railway! I know if I do the Railway that I’ll come thru Latvia as really want to see one of my all time good friends Arta in Riga!!!

Then took a day trip to Helsinki cuz dam couldn't afford to stay longer!!!

So glad got a flight to Riga, Latvia from Istanbul to visit my friend Arta cuz it was Awesome!!! Oct 2012

2011-10-29T15:50:00.001-07:00

Wanted to get to Latvia to visit my Latvian friend Arta who I met when she was in Vancouver, Canada on a 1 year working holiday visa! I was going to come back to Istanbul after visiting Eastern Europe so wanted to fly north and work my way back south by bus or at least overland thru the remaining Eastern European countries I hadn’t seen! So got a cheap 1 way ticket to Riga which meant staying overnight in Budapest!

So left Istanbul on a Thur so would make it to Riga on a Fri! Then I’d be able to hang out with Arta on the weekend when she didn’t have to work! So she sent me a msg to invite me to stay with her & her family which was cool! She was living with her family until she got settled back into the Latvian lifestyle as she just recently got a job after returning to Latvia!

I arrived on a Fri afternoon and made my way downtown in Riga as she would meet me there! It was kind of cool & windy that day but it was all good but wtf didn’t matter as I waited outside! Cuz it was so awesome to see her again as it had been over a year since I saw her the last time! I had been doing a road trip across Canada when she left Canada so didn’t get a chance to really say a proper goodbye!

When got into Riga I had to exchange my Euros for Latvian Lat (LVL). Latvia had set 2010 as a new target date for implementing the Euro, but with the global economic crisis, which has hit Latvia hard, it is clear they will not reach this target. Unofficially 2012 is already being discussed as a new target. Latvian Lats are used. Latvia plans to join the Eurozone in 2014.

Arta had given me direction on which bus to catch from the airport to downtown! So I got downtown to this main Shopping Mall and the big clock where she suggested we meet! So after we met we walked around a bit of Old Riga as we went for a bite to eat & a drink! Then she showed me some of Old Riga but couldn’t see much as I was carrying my back pack! So Arta suggested we come back the next day to see more!

Arta spends a lot of time with her boyfriend who she’s known for a while! Then she left on a 1 year work visa to Canada! But they kept in touch and he came to visit her around New Years! Then also again they met in Mexico for a vacation! I never had an opportunity to meet him in Vancouver cuz probably they wanted to spend time alone which was cool! Then when I came to Riga he was busy working as his company was shutting down and he had a lot of finalizing to do for the company! But I did get to meet him the night before I left Riga! Artis is a real nice guy a little quiet but that’s cool! It’s a coincidence as his name is Artis and her name is Arta! They get along great and make an awesome couple! So hoping that it all works out for them as really wish all the best for the both of them!

Arta is not a big partier or drinker so doesn’t spend a lot of time exploring the Riga night life! But I didn’t mind cuz when I travel I can do anything (yeah I do fall into the night life scene a bit but wtf) so yeah can take it or leave it! The main thing I do is meet cool interesting people regardless of their interest, nationality, gender, age or education! It’s about meeting people! So yeah can always find things to talk about with Arta and her family! We got to her home in the dark but I was really impressed with the quiet nature neighborhood and how nice their house is as wasn’t expecting it! Met Arta’s Dad Jan?? (think is his name) is a real nice guy who I think is cool & easy to talk with! But so is his girl friend Elina ?? (not really sure of her name)! Arta’s Dad has a good sense of humor too so know where Arta gets her’s from! Arta’s Dad is partner in a Management Consulting company so he does pretty good career wise but sure that with the turmoils that’s happened in the past 20 years that he’s worked hard! Arta’s Dad’s GF works for Arta’s Dad and is a computer expert & works from home! Arta’s Mom and Dad are divorced and though didn’t ask too much she lives by herself fairly close to her Dad’s home! I’m sorry that I didn’t get a chance to meet her! But maybe it’s just as well as think she doesn’t speak English and my Latvian from Latvian 101 isn’t that great ha ha!

Arta’s Dad’s home is fairly impressive but don’t think he built to show off what he could afford like some people! He’s a real down to earth family guy who wants his entire family to live together! I guess when the kids were growing up they lived in an apartment like most Latvians! Of course Arta lived a few years in this other city where she could be treated for her ashma! Then she lived with her grandparents for a while I believe! So she never really lived with her entire family for a very long time! Arta’s younger brother Karlas who is going to university said he had hardly lived with Arta! Arta’s older sister Krista met a Portuguese guy while traveling! They got married and had a baby boy and moved to Portugal. Arta’s Dad built a fairly big house with 5 bedrooms on 3 levels and basement! It was so his family and his GF;s family could all live there! They all have their own bedrooms plus her Dad has an office on the 3rd level (by his bedroom ) so his GF could work from home even tho he has an office in downtown Riga! So Arta’s Dad’s GF has a daughter who is studying law in London so didn’t meet her! She also has a teen age son David who I hardly saw around as he usually stayed in his room playing video games!

I kind of feel sorry for Arta's mother tho I didn't meet her! I guess it just seems she lives by herself in an apartment while all the other family members live together in a big house! I don't think it's on purpose cuz Arta's Dad doesn't seem to be the type to make anyone feel bad as they all live in a big house and leave his ex wife in an apartment so she'd feel bad! I guess he got to the position in life where he had his own Management company so he could afford to finally build a home! I guess prior to that they lived in an apartment like most people in Latvia! I remember Arta's brother Karlis saying that since Arta returned from her working holiday in Canada that she's been living with her family in the house until she gets on her feet to maybe move out with her boyfriend! So this past year had been the longest time he's lived with her! Cuz Arta lived in a different town as she had asthma and had to get treated and go to school! Then she had lived with her grand parents for a while due to maybe living space with her parents! Arta's sister Krista has a room in her Dad's home but she is married to a Portuguese guy and lives with him and her son in Portugal! Then Arta's Dad's GF's daughter lives in London studying law so there's also her room vacant in their house! Also Arta's Dad's GF's son lives in the house with them but he's younger and spends all his time in his bedroom playing video games or something!

They’re house besides having 5 bedrooms on 3 levels also has a sort of basement which opens up to the yard on this bottom floor! When I was there they had someone come over to lead them in yoga on Sat morning! I think Arta, her father and his GF participated In the yoga for somethink like 2 hrs or so! Their bottom floor also has a small indoor pool, a sauna and hot tub! But I never saw anyone use any of them probably cuz it was sort of cool outside even tho they’re all indoors! I don’t usually get impressed with homes but I was with there’s! Probably cuz I never expected a nice place like theirs in Latvia!! Mainly because Valdis my other Latvian friend always told me there were a lot of friends of his trying to find jobs! But those are young people in their early 20’s and not people more established like Arta’s father! I figure that Arta will be successful in her career path one day too seeing how much she likes her job & how conscientious she is about it! So guess she’s a different than most people I know as she has a good job, enjoys work and doesn’t party a lot! Yeah have to say that’s why I probably admire her!

So yeah Arta’s Dad liked watching hockey as Riga has a team in the Kontinental Hockey League! This league plays good hockey as it is a professional league which has a few Russian teams and players of course! I believe the league is just a step down from the NHL in North America! Earlier this fall the league experienced a disaster as one of the team was in a terrible plane crash which destroyed the entire team! It was funny as Arta’s Dad was watching a game between the Riga Dymanos and the Moscow Dynamos!

Then on Sat after Arta cooked me breakfast she suggested we go downtown and see Riga during the day! It’s funny cuz we caught a bus to go downtown but didn’t pay much attention to the bus number! So we caught the wrong bus and ended up having to get off down by the ports where all the ships unloaded their shipments! Then we had to walk to catch the bus we were suppose to catch! So when we were walking to catch the original bus we were to catch! Well we went behind this old building and had a smoke of 420! I had brought a small amount of 420 with me (yeah I know people will freak out that I did it but shit man I only brought a small amount to share with my cool friend Arta!). We only probably had 1 puff but the stuff was so wicked that we both got really wasted on this one toke! Arta at first said I don’t feel anything so we walked to the bus stop and sat down! Well the next thing I know we were just talking when we both got the laughs about nothing! Wow we were both pretty wasted and took the bus into town! Well it was so funny got we both got the munchies and Arta had to show me where the best hot dogs were in Riga! The thing about these hot dogs that I like was the buns were heated in a sort of oven and tasted so good or maybe I was just wasted or both lol! Anyway we walked around Old Town taking pictures! We also went to the Market place which is a happening place on a Sat afternoon! But when we were down there some guy who was obviously drunk came up to talk! So he came up and hugged me but Arta thought he was trying to pick pocket me or something! So she wanted to get away from him so we kind of hurried away from the Market! So we wandered around the New City the rest of the afternoon and made our way back to Arta’s place! But must say we really had an awesome day hanging out doing a bit of 420! It brought back memories of when we got together in Vancouver and had 420 and chilled at the beach! So yeah really enjoyed hanging out with Arta and enjoying her company!

I hope one thinks that Arta is a big stoner like me cuz that’s simply not the case! She just likes to chill and enjoy herself ! Arta is an awesome chick who is not a big partier but likes to just chill and do her own thing! I don’t know how we became friends as we definitely wouldn’t have met if I hadn’t hosted her 2 Latvian friends Valdis and Eva! Actually I don’t have a lot in common with Valdis and Eva either except maybe traveling! But they’re an awesome couple and good couch surfing friends! I’ve found out by being Arta’s friend that friendship isn’t always about having a lot in common all the time! I know that think I enjoyed her company a lot as she liked to laugh and tell bad jokes lol! Also during her stay in Vancouver I went traveling for 6 months ! Then when I came back she wasn’t living with Valdis and Eva but was living on her own plus had lived with some other people too! I’m not fully sure but think she met a couple of people I know (Ian and Maxx who are both crazy but nice) too thru her good Latvian friend Eiiva! So not sure but think they introduced her to trying the great ?? Canadian pastime for most of doing 420! So of course I’m a big fan of 420 as got my doctor to sign a form so now legal to purchase 420 & smoke it for medicinal purposes! We decided to say that I had a problem with depression which 420 helps me handle and function! I think that 420 is not a downer or something that puts a person in an aggressive or bad space! In fact some people get paranoid or sleepy after doing it! But it’s the opposite for me as I get a bit hyper, talk a lot and want to go and do something outdoors which I normally do! Another thing I like to do after doing 420 is listen to music and especially dance! So I have a couple of favorite places in Vancouver that I like to go to chill and dance! Not saying it does that for all people as it affects everyone differently! Alcohol on the other hand gets me sleepy and if I drink enough makes me vomit! Not to say I don’t drink at all but do it in moderation as I do 420! Cuz to me 420 is a social think as I only do it with someone as maybe only don’t it about 3 or 4 times by myself even though some may not believe it! I have a couple of friends that I like to do 420 listen to music and go dancing! I guess I kind of gravitate to people who chill, do a bit of 420 and not drink a lot of alcohol to get really drunk! Not that I’m opposed to drinking as do end up getting a bit drunk at times! But I like to do 420 and go for a bike ride in a park or to the beach! So yeah I have friends who also like to do the same as me! I found out Arta (though not a big indulger like me) enjoyed chilling doing a bit and enjoying herself! So we did it a couple times in Vancouver and thoroughly enjoyed our selves as we went to a beach and chilled! So guess that was one thing we had in common! But guess we also like to talk about our experiences traveling and seeing new places! Arta is quite intelligent, classy and likes to read a lot! She told me when she was growing up she had bad ashma so she had to go to a school in a town where her ashma could be treated! It was probably a bit tramatic for a young person but in a way it probably helped to become independent and handle stress in life! So I admire her for that! She told me she spent a lot of time reading books & she could read an entire book in a couple hours! She may not remember everything about the book in a few days but it was probably useful in her studies which is probably why she graduated with a masters and scored a challenging fulfilling job in Riga!

On the Sun Arta used her Dad’s car and Arta, her brother Karlis and myself went to this city by the sea! She showed me the beautiful old houses in the city! which it seemed a lot of Russians buy and fix up! The houses are massive and are painted some odd colors! We went for a walk by the sea and also went for a bite to eat at this city! It was a real pleasant day and it was so cool to spend some time with Karlis even if he’s quite quiet! But guess next to me anyone is quiet as I don’t give most people a chance to talk!!!

Then the Monday Arta had to work so I stayed in bed late then spent my time blogging! Also researching where and how I was going to head to Estonia and wherever! I then wanted to make some chilli for the family as sort of a repayment for all their hospitality and kindness! What was really cool was that Arta’s boyfriend Artis came over to eat some dinner! Artis is a real nice guy and is easy to talk with even if he’s also kind of quiet! Shit doesn’t any Latvians talk or does a crazy Canadian have to do all the talking lol!

Then the next day had decided to leave Riga and Latvia as didn’t want to overstay my welcome! So Arta’s Dad had a meeting in this city by the Estonian border so he said he’d give me a ride there which was cool! So woke up at 6 am as Arta’s Dad had to be at this city for a meeting at 9 am! I must say I thoroughly enjoyed myself staying with Arta and her family in their home! I didn’t do a lot of drinking or seeing much night life which was OK with me! Cuz hell get more than enough opportunities to do that in other cities or countries! As far as I’m concerned I had a far better time in Riga than I do in places that most people say is a great fun city – like Barcelona or Amsterdam! But guess it all depends who u’r hanging out with cuz to me it’s the people u meet traveling that make my trip so awesome! I just hope that I can return to Riga one day to meet Arta, her boyfriend and her family again one day!

I just hope that one day we can get together to enjoy each other’s company again in the future!

So on another trip originally to visit UAE & Abu Dhabi! Then scored a fairly cheap ticket to Istanbul so will use it as a base 2 go north & south! Oct 2012

2011-10-29T15:49:00.001-07:00

I started thinking about going on this trip in August! Then I came across a ticket from Vancouver to Istanbul for $1100 for 3 months which I thought was a sweet price! After that I got greedy in my travel plans (as usual) & thought wtf if I pay that much for a tkt I may as well check out a few other countries close by that missed in 2010! So now about all that is guaranteed on this trip is that I’ll be leaving Vancouver on Oct 15 and return on Jan 15!!

Then after I decided on a ticket well still wanted to go on a trip promised myself I'd do to Toronto & Montreal! So that happened from Sept 15 to Oct 4 which was a day after my crazy trip to Tofino a cool chill place on Vancouver Island with my good fun close friend MJ (a real sweetheart)!

So anyway back to my current trip to the other side of the world! So tho been to Istanbul a couple of times! I'll be checking out the remaining Eastern European countries that missed last year! If u check this map u will see the countries that are east of Germany & Austria! Cuz really love the people from Eastern Europe and the countries are more interesting to me than Western Europe!!http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/europe_map.htm

My flight took me to Amsterdam where I had a 8 hrs stopover after an all night flight from Vancouver Canada! Well being from Vancouver where BC Bud is King so normally I’d be off the plane running to hit the coffee shops in Amsterdam! But I used my better judgement (yeah I still have some) & decided to hang out at the airport to catch up on my sleep seeing as I just got off a night flight! I also knew from a previous trip to Amsterdam that if I went to a coffee shop well have u heard the expression “like a kid in a candy store”?

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=like%20a%20kid%20in%20a%20candy%20store

Well then maybe u’ve heard the expression “pigging out” then change the word “food” for “weed” in the following definition http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=pig%20out
Anyway u get the idea that I'd over indulge & probably end up missing my flight! Duh "No shit Sherlock!! I also knew that on my return flight back from Istanbul that I had an overnight stop in Amsterdam! Then I could maybe indulge to make up for missing out for missing on this flight!

So my flight made it to Istanbul at 1230 am so by the time I got my bag it was about 2 am or so! Also as a Canadian I was dinged $60USD for a 3 month multi entry visa! That sucked but what could I do? Tell them to screw off and get back on the plane?

But I knew before I left that I’d be sleeping at the Araturk Airport in Istanbul the first night! On the second night thought that I’d stay at this hostel that my friend Jasmina works in Istanbul! Jasmina is a Serbian friend, who lives in Istanbul & is a friend of a good Serbian friend of mine in Vancouver! Jasmina and I had been communicating on FB since she lived in Istanbul & I wanted to meet her!

(A bit of useless information is Istanbul is the largest city in Turkey with 8,8 million inhabitants, situated on both sides of the Bosporus, making Istanbul a city of two continents, Europe and Asia.There are 3 major parts of Istanbul. On the European side lies Stamboul and Beyoglu, divided by the Golden Horn a drowned valley about 7 km long. On the Asian side lies Üsküdar (ancient Chrysopolis) and Kadiköy (ancient Chalcedon). Larger Istanbul is 45 km wide and 35 long from south to north. The city continues all along the strait of Bosporus, which connects the Black Sea to Sea of Marmara and the Mediterranean further south.)
So anyway Jasmina worked in a hostel on the Asian side of Istanbul so thought I'd stay there! But a couple days before I was to leave she told me that unfortunately her hostel was fully booked for the night I wanted to stay! So decided to book a bed in the Harmony Hostel on the European side where most of the tourists hang out! I had stayed at the Harmony Hostel when I was in Istanbul last year as someone recommended it to me!

So the first night I surveyed the Araturk airport for a comfy place to crash! But first I had to grab something to eat cuz they didn't feed us on the plane from Amsterdam! So I settled on a Chicken joint to eat & then I noticed that the Burger King next to it had nice padded bench seats! So I decided to sleep on one of those benches! But before I went to sleep I heard a couple of chicks talking with a Canadian accent near me! So I found out that they were a couple of nurses who worked at VGA hospital in Vancouver & lived close to where I live! They had been on vacation in Turkey for a couple weeks & had a late flight out on the same KLM flight that I came on! Anyway I had a so so sleep at Burger King!

The next day I paid 2 Lira (60 cents Canadian) for a Metro ride to the Tram line to the downtown area of Istanbul! Then when I got to end of the Metro line I was suppose to go to the Tram line! But was discombobulated and couldn’t figure out where the Tram line was located! So had to ask this one guy who asked around & walked me to the tram line! I paid another 2 Lira to get on the tram! Unfortunately it was morning rush hour! So I had to wait for 4 trams to come by so I could get on! Well next time I plan to get off the Metro earlier & catch the tram so it wouldn’t be so busy & I could get on! I was amazed that I could still figure out how to find the hostel from memory in Istanbul!

I was really disappointed in the Harmony hostel on this trip! I guess last year it was spring & the weather was nicer! I got to the hostel in time to have the free breakfast! The kitchen is on the roof of the building but shit I noticed that one of the walls was missing so it was like friggin cold with the wind blowing thru! Well got a dorm room with 4 other guys so I laid down and had a short nap in the afternoon! I was kind of disappointed cuz last year thought the hostel was cool! But in Oct it was kind of windy & there was a hole in the window & one of the windows didn’t close as it was broken! So had to get the guy working at the hostel to tape up the window cuz it seemed they were going to replace the broken glass!

When I got up I decided to try and call Jasmina to say hi! So I got the guy working at the hostel to call her and I spoke to her! She asked me if I wanted to come over to her place as she lived on the Asian side of the Bosphorous River! I had to walk down to the ferry dock and catch the ferry to the Asian side. Well that seemed easy as got the right ferry and made it across OK! But when I got to the other side Jasmina told me to take a cab to her place as it should only cost about 15 liras / $7 CAD! But the crazy driver didn’t know where he as going and got lost & kept drving around asking people! When we finally got to Jasmina’s place the meter was up to 25 lira which Jasmina said was a scam!! But hey hell had no idea where we were so at least we finally found the place! Jasmina lived in a nice little place that was quite modern!

We sat around and had some tea and she apologized for not having any weed to smoke! Well surprise surprise I had brought a bit of my own weed! So we had a smoke and Jasmina got wasted & guess I did too! Then she told me that her husband played drums in a jazz band and they were playing at this club in the shopping side of Istanbul! The main part of Istanbul is separated by the Bosphorous river and one of it’s tributaries in to the Touristy side with sights like the Blue Mosque. The shopping side with the bar & club scene around Tazim Square! Then there was the Asian side which was more chill & a cooler place to live! Not to mention it was cheaper!

Jasmina said we c take a mini bus to the Jazz Club in Tazim Square which is where the night life seem to happen! They didn’t start playing until 11 pm and lasted a couple hours! Then they could give me a ride back and wasn’t very far out of the way!

So we took one bus to Tazim Square to the Jazz Club! If u imagined a Jazz Club should be in a little dark bar place in an older building! Well u were correct as the Club was up stairs in a little place! The group was awesome as love Jazz music cuz it’s all so creative! The dude playing the lead guitar wrote the music but just for his bit on the guitar! The drummer (Jasmina’s husband), the saxophone and bass player all added creative parts of their with their instruments!!!!! Yeah so had a couple beers & enjoyed the music for a couple of hours! Then Jasmina’s Darin sp?? gave me a ride back to my cold dank dingy hostel on the European side!

The next couple days in Istanbul I spent trying to book a cheap flight to Riga, Latvia! Cuz wanted to visit a friend who lives in Riga that met while she was on a year work visa in Vancouver Canada!! Actually I was excited about going there cuz she invited me to stay at her parent’s house! Hell when I travel I like to do it on the cheap & nothing beats couch surfing especially in a local’s home!!!! So thought hey maybe I should take a small gift cuz tho I’m tight when it comes to myself! Well I do appreciate it when someone does some thing for me so like to repay them in some small way!!

So took a quick trip to the Grand Bazaar to check out something to get them something ! Then thought they will probably think “Beware of Greeks bearing gifts!!!” So I thought all piss on it as I’d wait to see how hospitable they were first before spending any $$ - now u can see that I’m quite cheap with my coin! Lol

Anyway as I was saying I thought the Harmony Hostel kind of sucks now! Shit the only common area to sit, talk, eat our free breakfast, read, use ur computer or the hostel’s computer was on the top floor! I thought it was a cool place when I was there last year in the spring! But shit in the fall when it was getting chilly well it was Cool as in cold! The room’s 4th wall seemed to have disappeared so it was now a cold windy room with 1 wall missing! But as the guy told me it could be worse cuz it could have been the wall facing the Bosphorus River where the cold winds would blow in from!!! Duh!! But hey it was either sit there or in the dorm room to socialize, read or eat!! But shit the Wifi didn't seem to work in our dorm which sucked! But we did pick up some unsecure network sporadically!

The good part about the Harmony Hostel and why I’d probably stay there again (when I come back to Istanbul in Dec & Jan) is the cool people working there plus the easy access to the Araturk airport! The other thing is the free breakfast provided plus in the evenings they always cook up a Pasta meal which they do cuz they want to not cuz it’s part of our hostel fee! The woman cooking breakfast is a no fuss, no nosense, lack of humor, non English speaking Turkish woman who had worked there last year too! But the dude who worked days there Insham or whatever was a real cool funny guy! One of the other guys working or at least hanging around there remembered me from last year!

Yeah they always cooked up a different pasta meal in the evening which was great! So guess I never ate at a restaurant or bought any food during my stay in Istanbul!! Which is why I'd brave the cold dingy rooms cuz the price was right!!

Noticed that it was kind of breezy in our dorm room the first night! So checked the windows and noticed that there was a small hole about 10 cm wide! Also the window didn’t close cuz the hinge was broken! So told the guy there and it was fixed up with a bit of duct tape- good old duct tape!!!! Then it was nice in the room!
There were basically 4 of us staying there for the 3 days I was there! A Polish dude Kris who was cool, a Mexican guy Fernando who was kinda young & a socially awkward American Max! There was also some Asian guy who kept to himself who could speak English but he was as friendly as Cancer! When I met him I asked where he was from just to be courteous and friendly! But the dude said he didn’t want to tell me – shit that was a first!! So we all just left him alone after that!

One night Ishan or whatever the dude’s name was said he’d take us to a bar! So the 4 of us and a couple of chicks were to this bar, restaurant, club kind of place! I figure the dude got some kind of kick back from the bar for bringing people to the establishment! But shit who cares cuz that’s the way business is done in a lot of places in the world! Anyway we all got a bit drunk and wasted so had a good time hanging out there with the others from the hostel!

So yeah the next day I woke up with a bit of a hangover! But shit had to catch my cheap flight to Riga! The flight was one way and meant I had to stay over night in Budapest! So a normal 3 hrs flight took me over 24 hrs!! Going to the airport cost me 4 Lira (about $2 CAD). I took the tram part of the way and then caught the Metro which took me straight to the Araturk airport (my hotel the first night in Istanbul)!

I was planning to sleep at the Budapest airport for the 1 night! But I got there about 4 pm which was too early to sleep! Also found the airport was quite small so there were a lot of people sitting in the few benches that were available! Plus the seats were all made of steel with no padding to sleep on! So it was not a great airport to sleep at - http://www.sleepinginairports.net/list.asp?region=1&country=Hungary&city=Budapest&terminal=International !

Like found this about the Istanbul main airport “Ataturk International Airport in Istanbul is a modern and spacious facility that has a lots of space to sleep in both before and beyond the security gate. The airport, which see 29 million travelers each year has been recently renovated and has cafes with large comfortable couches, free wi-fi, and a number of shops that remain open 24 hours.The airport itself is quiet between the hours of 10pm and about 4am when traffic really picks up. An airport that has the bulk of its flights scheduled for the daylight hours make that airport a great place to crash overnight.”

So thought shit man what am I going to do from 4 pm until midnight when I wanted to sleep! I had tried to book a bed at this hostel in Budapest that my friend Jasmina worked at in the city! But shit they needed a 2 night min stay so that wouldn’t work! Plus shit it was raining like hell plus windy! So I kind of wimped out (as it was near the start of my trip when I had still had a lot of $$ plus had to get my feet wet & then would take on any kind of thing to save money) & got the lady at the Info desk to find me a cheap room at this local hotel with free shuttle service! So basically got a hostel dorm style room & a shared bathroom & shower down the hall for about $50 CAD! So yeah got picked up taken to this sort of motel / hotel with free Wifi & breakfast! Then they gave me a free shuttle ride to this cheap restaurant a wanted to eat some Hungarian goulash & dumplings which I love!!! Hmmmmm

So yeah then spent the evening catching up on my travel blog ! Met an American couple who were doing their once in a life (their words not mine) trip for months! They had been to Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda so we swapped lies about our adventures in Africa! lol They seemed quite well to do (he owned a small IT type company & she was a lawyer) but anyone on a lengthy trip can only do it if on a tight budget cuz I know as do it all the time! They had to pay for a cab to get to and from the airport so they asked if I wanted to share a cab since we were leaving around the same time! But man I had negotiated a free shuttle to and from the airport so had to pass on their offer!

So that was my short sweet stay at a motel/hotel which will be my first and only stay like that! But hell sometimes a person has to stretch their pocket book to include something more! I don’t do it often but if I really needed to well can afford it but shit man like I say I’m frugal/tight!!!

Then it was off to Riga, Latvia to visit and hang out with a nice chill Latvian friend of mine Arta!

Yeah guess should post some pictures but that takes time & a good internet connection so hey stay tuned & keep checking back cuz will do it soon insha’allah!!!