South America Flight Details

To:

Continental Airlines
From: Toronto Pearson (YYZ)
Depart on: Tue, 30 December 2008 11h08 - Terminal 3
To: New-York NY (EWR)
Arrival on: Tue, 30 December 2008 12h45 - Terminal C

Continental Airlines
From: New-York NY (EWR)
Depart on: Tue, 30 December 2008 14h50 - Terminal C
To: Lima (LIM) 757
Arrival on: Tue, 30 December 2008 23h00

TACO
From: J Chavez International (LIM), Lima, Peru
Depart on: 31 December 2008 5:40:00 AMTo: Velazco Astete (CUZ), Cuzco, PeruArrival on: 7:05:00 AMFlight: 7


Back:
Continental Airlines
From: Rio de Janeiro Galaeo (GIG)
Depart on; Thu, 26 February 2009 Fri, 22h40 - Terminal

To: Houston Geo Bush TX (IAH) 764
Arrival on: 27 February 2009 1 06h00 - Terminal E

Continental Airlines
From; Houston Geo Bush TX (IAH)
Depart on: Fri, 27 February 2009 10h16 - Terminal B

To: Toronto Pearson (YYZ) ERJ
Arrival on: Fri, 27 February 2009 14h23 - Terminal 3

How do I get myself into a South America Trip?

Good question! It was really random. You got to believe, even if you are not religous, that someone out there is arranging how things work in this world - putting the right people, at the right place, and the right time.

As all of you, my friends and family, knows that I took off to Toronto (originally) for a few months for work. One of my high school friend coincidentally doing his internship in Toronto during summer had invited me to a house BBQ party of a group of new Toronto friends he made playing beach volleyball with. I happened to tag along to that house BBQ party that very weekend. And happened to meet and chat with the host and found out that he is going backpacking with a friend from HK to South America.

In my head, the thought of "Oh my God. I really wanted to go. I've always wanted to go anyways but can't go solo because it is unsafe. How often would you get the chance to find, not one but 2 guys going to South America with?". [Here it was. I've decided to go. Yes. I know I am kind of impulsive to make this decision in 5 seconds given the fact that I just met this dude for may be 2 hours.]

This guy and his friend, who've I eventually spent 2 days with just before they took off their first bit of the backpacking trip, must think I am nuts. But here I am, I said I wanted to tag along, applied for my leave of absence, bought my plane ticket, squeezed the last bit of my saving out, and packed my back today ready to go on this trip.

South America Trip Day -9: Pre-Trip

I've been waiting and waiting for 3ish months for this trip. 9 more days to go! I am glad I will be somewhere warm and sunny for the next 2 months to work on my tan, experience some new culture, and meet some new folks.

The past few months, I've been trying to learn Espanol, and asking everyone and anyone who've been to or are from the countries I will be hitting, where to go, where to eat, where to drink, what to do etc. It feels like I am much better prepare information wise for this backpacking trip. I remember my first backpacking trip was frantically trying to get all the gears and logistic stuff ready but lacking preparation for where to go. Play by the ear and advices from people who've been there are way better information from any guidebook.

This is the first trip ever that I am going because I just wanted to go. Unlike the previous 2 backpacking trips that were semi-running away or avoiding issues back at home.

This time around, the travel buddies mix is totally different from the past backpacking trip. 1st time all girls to Europe, 2nd time solo to Auzzie land, and this time around 2 guys + me. I am tagging along someone else's trip rather than organizing it like the first trip. It will definitely be interesting to see how it turns out :-P

Backpacking - Staying in Touch

I've always find it hard staying in touch with friends and family when I am backpacking. Email doesn't work for me. Though I LOVE receiving emails from family and friends, to be honest, it takes a long time to rely to everyone. You pretty much say the same thing in each email and duplicating what you write in your travel journal (if you have one).

It is much easier to keep a blog, a central location, for your family and friends to get an update from you. The auto feed photo feature is awesome. Friends and family can comment on your status and such. Works well and save me time from writing in my travel journal too!!!

Backpacking Lite - Save yourself some liquid

Liquid always cause me pain as a backpacker. A litre of shampoo, a litre of conditioner, and a litre of body wash are minum if you don't pack another litre of lotion with you. That's is 3 KG right there.

You got to check out the solid bar of shampoo, conditioner and lotion at LUSH~!

http://www.lush.ca/shop/products/hair/solid-shampoos
http://www.lush.ca/shop/products/hair/conditioners/jungle
http://www.lush.ca/shop/products/hair/conditioners/jungle

Amazing if you plan to back lite and eliminate the chance of spilling slimy liquid in your backpack.

Wan Ji Noodle House on Clarke Road

Location: Clarke Road @ Smithe Street in Coquitlam

A tiny entrance in a location that you might have just passed by so many times on Clarke Road without paying attention to these restaurants. I didn't want to keep going to the same Korean restaurants that my family always go in Coquitlam. There are so many choices as more and more Korean move into this area. We can definitely try out some authentic Korean restaurants. There are 2 Korean restaurants in this mall but I tried the one on the left because my mom didn't like the bad ventilation in the one on the right. It is a Korean Noodle House. Never try one before.

Food Quality: 3.5/5
The taste is pretty good. Not a lot of selection. I guess it is popular to have restaurants selling specialized food. There are only 4 hot pot noodle dishes, pancakes, a few meat dishes and BBQ Pork set (must order at least 2).

I tried:

• Beef + vegetables hot pot - the soup base is really good with (I believe) homemade noodles. The taste is pretty good but nothing special. I enjoyed the soup a lot. Korean always make really good soup.
• Steamed pork with bleached Chinese cabbage + chilli marinated radish strips - I tried this dish at a cafeteria style restaurant attached to Hannah Supermarket on North Road. This restaurant removed most of the fatter portion of the pork. It tastes less fatty.
  
• Kimchi side dish - They serve a big dish of kimchi. I like this fresh type of kimchi without fermentation. However, I have better kimchi before. I prefer the kimchi I had in Hannah Supermarket cafeteria. The kimchi there has a sweeter taste. I was addicted to it.

Service: 4.5/5
The Korean waitress was super nice. She even taught us how to eat our appetizer dish (rice, rasted seaweek, sesame, other grain mixed with the hot sauce). Korean server always pay close attention to their customers and even cook for their customers if you order BBQ. Great service!

Price: $21 for 2 dishes

Atmosphere: 3/5
Nothing special. Just like other $10 per person meal restaurants. Bright, good air ventilation (very important for Korean restaurant serving BBQ), and well spaced.

Pepitas on Burrard

Location: 2nd FLR @ corner of Burrard & W. 4th Street

Searching for a decent place for Spanish Tapas in Vancouver is not a easy thing to do at all. There are very limited choice. I found Pepitas on Burrard.

Food Quality: 3.5/5
It is pretty good. The portion is bigger than I thought. I don't have anything to compare to the taste and how authentic is the Spanish food as this was the first time I tried.
I tried:

• Clam & Mussel - Bigger portion than I thought it would be. Clams and mussels were submerged in clear soup that is quite taste. I enjoyed the soup with the juices from the seafood.
  
• BBQ Squid - I am a big squid or octupus fan. I might be a bit bias to this but I found the squid taste pretty good. I like the sour and freshness from the lemon.
  
• Roast Lamb - Portion was quite big. Good portion of stewed meat and stewed fresh vegetables and roasted potato. I didn't find it that exciting. However, it was quite tasty as a stew dish.
  
• Mexican Salad - I find it a bit sour but works well with the meat dish.

Service: 4/5
The waitress was pretty attentive to us. Nothing special.

Atmosphere: 4/5
I would love to have my birthday party here. I love the atmosphere. The restaurant is a great big space that can accommodate a few long table and you can see all your friends. There very small stage for a live band. I enjoyed the colorful paper decoration all over the restaurant. Next year, I will have my birthday party here when I am in Vancouver.

Price: $70 for 4 dishes + 2 drinks.