what, it's time already?

This picture was taken several hours after I arrived in Canada on May 2. This is me at the balcony. Well, time flies so fast, doesn't it?

seems like only yesterday - picture taken by Bob  


Much to my regret but a few more hours and I am about to end this wonderful adventure in Canada. It caught me unaware because I thought I was leaving tomorrow. Well, yes, but it will be at 2:25 am. So, I have to be at the airport at around 12 midnight tonight. It pains me to leave behind things I will always have a fondness for.

I am truly blessed to have had this experience. Not many have been as lucky to have the same experiences I have. It is not only the wonderful places I have been to, like the ones I have shared so far and these pictures I have yet to show:

Finn Slough  - taken by Gwen Austin Turbyfield;


Fishing anyone?  


sunset at Steveston. Taken at the Charthouse by Gwen  


me at Riverrock Casino and Hotel 


My house for three weeks is in this condominium 


but it is the warm welcome I receive from people everytime I come. There's Stephe, Arlene's son, who always make sure he comes to see me in spite of his busy schedule in Edmonton. Dinner at Trudy's house, which always turn out to be a real treat as she cooks really well... reuniting with them, I have come to realize they are no longer friends but my family in this side of the world. There's Don, Daniel, Jenny, Scott, and their malamuths, Taku and Kodiak.

Arlene's family and mine, too. Trudy, Daniel and Stephe who flew all the way from Edmonton 


Final dinner at Don's and Trudy's home - May 22, 6:00 


Trudy and Daniel 


With Don Wallis and Jenny 



Visiting the Wits, Chris and Ole and Tina and Andy have always been a pleasure knowing that they are friends forever.

Respectable Ole and bubbly Chris  


me and Andy 


meeting new friends, poet-laureate Bob here with poets Scott and Arlene

Poets all


With Joe and Arlene at Finn Slough 


not so anonymous;

A real winner and they haven't started the olympics yet 


Joe Oppenheimer, husband of Gwen Austin and a member of Mensa as well as Bob;
Learning from the master historian Joe 




but most of all, living with a gracious woman with a kind heart who had given me so much for so little, my generous host, Arlene Lawson, who has unselfishly bestowed me with wonderful treasures of memories and more.

My beautiful host, Arlene 


This feeling of euphoria I have is one of those which I hope will never come to pass but always does.

my dad

On this day today in 1914, my father was born. He would have been 92 had he not died on February 14, 1986 of a heart attack. I am so far from home now but he is in my heart everyday. We were very close. I have written about him two years ago when I started blogging. You can read about him here Please follow the link and know about this man who has given me everything I need to have in life. It is not a long read. This is my only way to pay homage to his kindness and his sacrifices for me. And while you do that, please pray for his soul. Thank you very much.

PS.

I just realized I am a day late considering that my blog follows Philippine time. So, my father's birthday was on May 19.

Let the pictures do the talking

Once again, miss anonymous, this time with her hubby, took me to a wonderful vacation spot up in the mountains called Whistler, a ski resort during winter that extends until spring. A two-hour drive from West Vancouver, there are a lot of good views to see along the way. We first stopped at the famous Shannon Falls.

Shannon Falls entrance 


Shannon Falls 


Had a hard time finding a parking space. Anyway, here's a view of the parking lot.

View from Whistler Parking lot 


The place is filled with people. I chanced upon a not so busy spots and clicked away. Whistler will be the venue for the next Winter Olympics. This early, plans are underway to make the event a success. We were greeted by a young woman into the Olympic Center.

Do all paths lead to the mountains? 


Whistler Center 

Information Center for the 2010 Winter Olympics 


The two-hour drive is not bad considering the beautiful snow-capped mountains viewed from afar and the lushness of those nearby.

Anonymous' hubby discovering that a river runs through it.  


We passed by several ports along the way. There were people in their scuba diving gears getting ready for the big swim. Didn't find it appropriate to catch them on film, though.

Port