Gleniz da MenaceJasper, AB + Saskatoon, SK • August 13
At dito nagtatapos ang aming nature retreat. Habang nagda-drive kami pabalik at patuloy na ina-appreciate ang mga bulubundukin, knowing na matagal-tagal pa uli namin sila makikita, sabi ni Kenneth, “Babalik na tayo sa palayan.” Natawa lang ako pero yung nasa isip ko, “Huhu this is where I belonggg.” Napapatanong ako sa sarili ko, “Bakit ba hindi kami dito nakatira?” Which is alam ko naman yung sagot. Sobrang na-inlove na lang talaga ko sa Alberta.
Jasper, AB • August 12
Eto na ang last day. Pero hindi ko pa ramdam na last day kasi ang layo pa ng iba-byahe namin pauwi. 16 hours.
Also, side note, ilang days (or weeks?) akong na-delay sa pagsulat ng araw na ‘to kasi siguro pakiramdam ko lipas na. Ang dami nang bagong nangyayari sa buhay ko. Almost 1 month ago na ‘to pero kelangan ko ‘tong tapusin for my own peace of mind. Kasi tuwing makikita ko yung 7-day Japan blog series ko at hanggang day 5 lang yung natapos ko, naiirita ako.
Jasper, AB • August 11
Another day in another town. Ang saya ko na napapalibutan nanaman ako ng bundok. For two days, we’re going to explore Jasper and hands down, Alberta na talaga ang paborito kong province. Albertans are so blessed to have easy access to these beautiful mountains and lakes and all things nature.
Hinton, AB • August 10
Yung araw na ‘to ay nakalaan lang sa byahe. From Vancouver to our next stop, it will be 9 hours. 10 hours siguro kasama na yung mga stopovers at kain ng lunch.
Now that I’m trying to recall what happened, parang ayoko nang i-detail yung mga nangyari. Basta in short, na-badtrip si Kenneth. Yung 9-hour drive namin from Vancouver to Jasper, tahimik lang kami lahat. 9 hours! Kahit nung nag-stopover kami to grab lunch, sobrang minimal talking lang. Gusto kong sabihin kay Kenneth na, seryoso ba? Worth 9 hours of galit yung incident na yun??
Vancouver, BC • August 9
Di ko inexpect na aabot ako sa day 11. Madaming moments na tinatamad na kong ituloy ‘to pero umiiral yung pagka-stubborn ko kasi gusto syang makitang kumpleto. Tsaka yung 28-day trip ko nga sa Pinas nakumpleto ko eto pa kaya. Although eto kasing trip na ‘to malaman at siksik kaya ang daming kelangan i-document.
Anyway, last full day na namin ‘to sa Vancouver and what a great way to spend our last day. Sobrang nag-enjoy ako sa pinuntahan naming rainforest, we had fun with the cousins, and we ended the day enjoying happy hour at this nice bar.
Whistler + Squamish, BC • August 8
Sobrang excited ko, na medyo takot, but mostly excited, because I’m going to do bungee jumping today! AAAAH! AAAAAAAAHH!!
Richmond + Vancouver, BC • August 7
Today is their cousin Gab’s birthday kaya sya yung nag-prepare ng itinerary por today’s bidyo. Ang first activity ay brunch, but since 11AM pa yun at medyo maaga kami nagising, nag-breakfast na lang din muna kami. Tsaka ang dami ko pang tira na food from yesterday’s dinner.
Vancouver, BC • August 6
It’s a brand new day and it’s our first official day in Vancouver. Madami kaming ginawa nung araw na ‘to pero ang highlight talaga ay yung masasarap na food. Mostly Asian yung mga kinain namin pero ibang level kasi sa sarap. Kung babalik man kami sa Vancouver, food trip yung main reason.
Vancouver + Richmond, BC • August 5
This is going to be a short one but still interesting dahil ang sasarap ng kinain namin nung gabi. Magpapaalam na kami sa bulubundukin ng Alberta at maghe-hello sa masasarap na pagkain ng British Columbia. Mahaba-haba nanaman ang drive ni Kenneth kaya ine-expect kong mabilis nanaman syang ma-bad mood. Almost 10 hours ang byahe from Banff to Vancouver pero hindi naman nakakainip dahil sa mountain and forest views. Sabi ni Kenneth nakakatulong din daw sa mood nya yung magagandang views. Naalala ko nanaman yung sinabi ni Mary Oliver na:
How wonderful that the universe is beautiful in so many places and in so many ways. Its intonations are our best tonics, if we would take them. For the universe is full of radiant suggestion.
Mary Oliver
Banff, AB • August 4
Kahapon pa lang excited na ko because today is Lake Louise day. Before this whole trip, nanood ako ng isang vlog about Banff at super ni-hype nya yung Lake Louise. Most favorite lake nya raw yun. Nung tinanong ko si Kenneth kung pupunta kami dun, oo raw, so na-excite ako.
Gleniz da Menace