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Hostelling International's blog from Western Canada. We'll bring you news, information and tips about hostels in Canada and around the world.
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February 2009
Hey Edmonton! We have a Winner!
There was a great response to the William Jans Competition for the shows in Edmonton.
Congratulations to Nancy Colpitts! You've won two tickets to see TALES FROM TANZANIA.
RTW: Wildlife Hotspots from Sydney to Melbourne
Australia's got a well-known collection of unique wildlife but they aren't always easy to spot. I just spent the week travelling from Sydney to Melbourne by campervan and managed to hit two wildlife jackpots en route, meaning my camera is now full of kangaroo and koala pictures. Juicy deets for those heading down under after the jump.Last time I was in Australia, I didn't see any kangaroos outside of the zoo, so I figured they must be pretty elusive. Turns out they're not, especially if you spend any time on Aussie roads. Kangaroos outnumber humans 3:1 in Australia. Read more »
RTW: Staying Up to Date on the Road
It's easy to become completely oblivious to world events when you're travelling. When major events do happen, and you learn about them well after the rest of the world did, you feel out of the loop.
William Jans: WIN TICKETS!
William Jans delivers high-energy, high-entertainment one-man travel shows which have been sell out successes. 2009 will premiere "Tales from Tanzania" in addition to crowd favourites, "Trekking in Tibet" and "Solo in South America". Read more »
Culture Shock! One Year Countdown to the 2010 Olympic Games
For anyone not up to speed, the 2010 Winter Olympics and Paralympic Games will be underway in Vancouver, B.C., Canada, a year from now.
The motto to the Games? With Glowing Hearts. However, the lead up to the Games has so far been marred by a myriad of economic and social issues. Read more »
RTW: Bottom 3 Top Bunker Habits
I am a devout bottom bunker. I haven't always been this way. When I was a kid, with two siblings, it was a mad dash to the top bunk whenever we were presented with a bunk bed. Being on the top bunk gave you instant king of the castle status, but as a nervous kid I was more concerned about coming out unsquashed in the event of faulty bunk bed engineering.
Not anymore. If I have a choice, I'll take the bottom bunk. There are obvious reasons - it means I don't have to endure the discomfort of climbing pencil-thin ladder rungs; it means I don't have to be worried about falling very far should I suddenly become a mobile sleeper; it means making my bed doesn't require extraordinary balance and flexibility.
The downside of being a bottom bunker is putting up with the king of the castle, because really, when it comes to sleeping as a bottom bunker, the top bunker calls the shots. Here are a few signature bad moves made by top bunkers. Read more »
Get Tested
From February to September 2009, VANOC will perform operational testing at various event locations, examining field of play, workforce, Games-time operations and Games-time volunteers. This is a good way to see some Olympic action, without breaking the bank. Or you could use this as a pre-Olympic warmup for the hurdles you'll have to jump once the real Olympics arrive in Vancouver in 2010. Read more »
VANOC urges National Cacophony at 6pm, February 12th 2009
"With Glowing Hearts"... and screaming lungs, honking horns and excitable rowdiness, 6:00 p.m tomorrow (February 12th) is a chance to make some noise, to mark the one year countdown to the 2010 Olympic Winter Games Opening Ceremony. Read more »
YHA New Zealand - South Island Round-Up
I spent two weeks on the South Island - from the top, down the east east cost and down to the bottom. I hit up five YHAs en route and here's the inside scoop.
RTW: Holidays With the Locals
I spent Waitangi Day - a New Zealand holiday recognizing the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi between Maori and Europeans - on Stewart Island. This is New Zealand's third largest island, after the North and the South Islands, located at the southern tip of the country. As part of a trip I took with backpacker bus, Stray, I spent one night on the Island, which just so happened to fall on February 6, Waitangi Day. Read more »
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