Cycling in beautiful Vancouver

Posted on August 15, 2011 by Tamagotchi

Thanks to the city the designated bike route is expanding in Vancouver, I can enjoy cycling.  This is one of the good things about Vancouver.  I do not have to drive to somewhere to enjoy a ride.  ( I do not have a car .) I can ride from home to get a beautiful area.

This weekend,  I went from Vancouver to Lougheed Town Center in Burnaby via Burnaby lake on the way and took Lougheed highway back on Saturday evening.  I think it’s about 16km one way according to the google map.

Mainly bike routes in Vancouver  are well-marked. However sometimes all the sudden, it’s disappeared.   Usually I check the map first to see where I can ride but I lost this time.  I took turn little early and end up rode on the gravel road a bit.  Otherwise it’s quiet and comfortable.  This route is good for exercise.  I did not hardly see any cars or other cyclists along this route on weekends. Scenery was not great as I thought.  I should leave early next time to explore around the lake.

Peaceful but the gravel road was not good idea for my road bike

Along Winston Street.  There are many warehouses,  factories or companies on the right and behind the tree on the left is residential area but I did not see any access from this street.  It was very quiet and enjoy smooth ride but at the same time, I wondered I  would be in big trouble if something happen there.  I cannot go home!

We do not ride a bike on a highway in Japan, so I am not comfortable riding a bike along the cars driving fast.  But I kind of like it. I can go fast and it gives me a good exercise without stopping.  I think I will ride only weekends, though.  If there are too many cars, I will be riding in pollution and it is not healthy at all.

On Sunday after my spin class in downtown, I went to seawall from Yaletown to English Bay.  It was very nice leisurely ride.  There were not so many people at the beach but many people enjoyed cycling and walking.  I got a free air at the bike / rental shop ( Reckless )in Yaletown in front of Urban fare.  He was very helpful and friendly.  He gave me also free map. I did not know that but many people seem to like this store, too. (Yelp)   Everybody works at bike shop seems to be nice in Vancouver.  I feel bad to just get air but every shops I went, they were always helpful.   No wonder Vancouver is known for a great hospitality city in Japanese tourism survey.

English bay

Seawall looking at the Burrard Bridge

Underneath the Burrard Bridge

Burrard Bridge Marine Bar & Grill

Typical Vancouver Condos.

Sheraton Wall Centre Hotel in the middle ( small.. It was clear with bare eyes )

False Creek Ferries to Granville Island

Looking up people ( a dot… again it was clear) walking on the Granville Bridge

The Granville Bridge

False Creek

Gordon walnborn park

The Burrard Bridge

Yaletown. By the David Lam Park.

There are nice Tennis courts there. ( Public courts are free!)

Looking at the centre of Yaletown

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Climbable Coba Temple is closing for tourists

Posted on August 13, 2011 by Tamagotchi

Did you know the last climbable temple, Coba Temple , in the Mayan Riviera is being closed to climbers starting December this year?

One of the highlights in the Mayan Riviera is visiting Mayan Ruins.   Most people who go to Cancun, Playa del Carmen, and Cozumel for beach vacation also will take one day tour.

Tulum ruin is one of the most beautiful temples by the blue ocean.  Coba is 45 km northwest of Tulum, but it is much less well known.  So most of the organized tours visit Tulum but not to Coba.   However you can take one day tour from Playa del Carmen or Cancun.

This temple may not be popular as others but it is an amazing site.  It’s different from any other and is spread out over 70 square kilometers in jungle. It looks like Tikal in Guatemala.  Birds and monkeys are everywhere.

The highlight of this site is Nohoch Mul which is the tallest temple in the Northern Yucatan at 42m high.  The view from the top is breathtaking.  So if you are interested in climbing to the top, you’d better to hurry but maybe after Hurricane season.

Tulum

Adventure tours have itineraries like below.   You cannot go to Coba during the tour but tour stars or ends at Playa del Carmen or Cancun, so still you can visit.  I did not feel like I was in Mexico at Mayan Rivera because it is different from other parts of Mexico.  ( I went to Mexico City, Oxaca, Mazunte, Veracruz before this trip.  )   However when I went to Playa del Carmen from Belize to catch the flight, because of SARS and it was May, nobody was there and I enjoyed the beach.  It’s beautiful.  Even it’s resort and the place seems to be for foreigners, it is worth staying for a couple extra nights.

Tour examples;

Mexico Civilizations

If you have time, this is better.  You can see everyday life in Mexico.

Mexican Explore

What else you can do ?

You can take pictures with dolphin at Delphinus.

(From my lovely co-worker’s honeymoon pictures )

Isn’t it neat ??  So cute.

Or maybe swim with dolphins ?

How about this!  Swim with a whale shark !!??

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The most memorable & unique hostel

Posted on August 10, 2011 by Tamagotchi

Speaking of my first Canadian hostel experience,  the most memorable & unique hostel I have ever stayed will be

Travellers Hostel Ujezd

in Prague, Czech Republic

This is a ” love it or hate it ” kind of unique hostel. But location was great!   All the main sights are in walking distance including the Charles Bridge, Prague Castle, Old Town Square, Jewish Quarter and many others.  (map of Prague ) The hostel is located in a beautiful park at the bottom of Petřín hill.

Why people will hate it?  or love it?

It’s because they made this hostel from a gymnasium. They put beds in a huge room and separated by beds and lockers.   It’s like the cubicles.

I felt somebody was moving at somewhere the far end of the cubicles.  The Beds are made from skinny bony frameworks.  It shakes easily and it may break if you jump on it.  If you are sensitive and a light sleeper, obviously it is not for you. I can sleep anywhere. So no problem.

Because of the high ceiling and open space,the smell was not too bad.  Some of the hostels have small rooms and mix dorm, it can smell terrible.  The worst experience was one in China.  The hostel was nice but it’s just a bad luck.  The guy who walked all day and did not take shower before going to bed, when he took his shoes off …  Plus I was on the bottom of a bunk bed and he was sleeping above me …  Another guy snored terrible and drunk and ate in a room…  Can you imagine all these mix of smell??

I felt like an American football player when I took shower.  The shower room is open.  But the hostel in Berlin I stayed was also open.   It was smaller and some part had dividers.  So it was not too bad.  Well, Japanese hot spring ( Onsen ) is an open space and share a big bathtub with many naked people.  So I guess this is not a big deal.  However still I tried to take shower when nobody was there.  And luckily nobody was there!  I think many girls did not take showers at this hostel.

There was these statues close to the hostel and it is interesting but I may not want to walk by at night.  It’s kind of creepy.

Overall, I liked this unique experience and I am glad to stay there.

All the main sights are in walking distance including the Charles Bridge, Prague Castle, Old Town Square, Jewish Quarter and many others. Our hostel offers 24-hour reception, bar, free luggage room, no curfew and no lock out.

Facilities at Travellers Hostel Ujezd include:

– Free breakfast

– Free internet

– Free lockers

– Free hot showers

– Outdoor sports facilities

– Outdoor picnic area

– no lockout – 24 hours service

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