Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary

The word 'tourist trap' gets thrown around a lot when you are traveling. I try my hardest to avoid them. Perhaps the most memorable of these, was a ridiculous over-the-top 'traditional dance performance' that my mom and I laughed our way through in Central China.

Another interesting comparison I can make here, is the Great Panda Sanctuary my mom and I visited during our trip in China. As fascinating as it was, and glorious as the Pandas were, I really felt bad for the animals. In a way, it seemed the only purpose of their existence was for our viewing pleasure.

Knowing how much I hate zoos, I entered this visit with a bit of hesitation. However, on each occasion I went, I was lucky enough to be accompanied by some lovely people. The first, the lovely local, Chanel Marshall. The second, my old Vancouver Island friend, Katie Littlejohn. The video really speaks for itself in terms of how much I enjoyed myself. The place is entirely laid back, the staff clearly LOVE all of the animals, and the price is entirely reasonable (especially if you still are pretending to be a student)

Chanel, and Katie, this video makes me smile. Hope it does the same for you.

Fathers Day

Happy Fathers to my incredible father Oleh. I wish we were together today.

Love Mica

A Hermit for the Week

Hello Everyone, Long Time No Post!

Yes it is true. But admittedly, it has been awfully busy week. 60 hour work week combined with the staff video that I have completed above. Simply one of those weeks, that you question its worth while it is occurring, but will fondly look back upon.

However, along with all this work, there are plenty of positives to speak of. It seems like life is just presenting me with interesting person after interesting person right now. It certainly helps that I work in a bar that could also function as the United Nations of Brisbane City. People at the BBC simply come from so many walks of life, that it is constantly refreshing. It is very much what life in residence at UBC was; a gathering of young enthusiastic people, flying by the seat of their pants. After a while, this group inevitably becomes family.

I'm running a lot more now, mostly due to the weather temperatures normalizing. Last evening, my run took me through noticeably cold temperatures reaching as low as 10 degrees centigrade!

I'm also reading a lot more now. Becky, a friend of mine, suggested I read The Great Gatsby. Somehow I have managed to not read it after all this time, and what a mistake! The dialogue is delicious the metaphor and imagery encapsulating, and it is truly is a book you could not create anymore. It is from another time and another place.

Just wanted to send out a hello to my parents. Sorry I have been a little distant for the time being, I assure you I was very busy. To my friends back home, you are and always will be my rock, and to the grade 12's of Handsworth Secondary...even after my departure you continue to impress and amaze me.

Busy Week. Long Week. Good Week.

Happy Easter

Hello to everyone, from 'chilly' Melbourne!

It was a special Easter this year. We didn't have the glorious feast prepared by my mom, Judy, and Dave. We didn't do our Stanley Park walk to feed the birds and squirrels. However, as I am halfway around the world, it is special to be with Sasha for Easter. We celebrated together in an abandoned college, that was as peaceful as it was beautiful.

I think Sasha and I both would have been rather lonely without our family, so it really worked well for the both of us. Sasha is still plugging away at the piano, enjoying his courses, and enjoying the company of some very nice students (Suya gets a shoutout)

I also managed to meet up with my old friend Pippa. She was kind enough to host me while I was here. I want to thank her, as well as Jess, and her sister Katie. You made me feel right at home.

It is definitely a trip of self-analysis. With Easter and ANZAC day coupled together, it seems an appropriate time to think of the important things. I love my family so much. I am also so amazed with my cousins and aunts and uncles in Toronto, who managed to put so much love to make my grandfather's 90th birthday so special. I've never seen so much love in one house, it blows me away every time I go to Toronto. Also walking home from Newman College (where Sasha lives) I walked past a beautiful cemetery, and I thought of Baba. I think she would have had so much fun at Dido's birthday, and her laughter would have echoed throughout her home on Clendenan St.

Melbourne is a lovely place, even though I have used it inappropriately. Clearly, there is a lot going on here, but all I wanted this weekend was to relax, read, and be with my little brother. I managed to do all of these things, but Melbourne is a city I would like to see more of. But in a way, it is impossible to do that in 4 or 5 days. This is a city that should be lived in.

Happy Easter Everyone. To my family and my loving friends.