Archive for the ‘Travel’ Category
May 29, 2008
Filed Under (Travel) by Angela Chih
May 13, 2008
North Americans are prone to workaholism as they continue in their never-ending pursuit of happiness – that is, the ever increasing acquisition and consumption of goods and services. We should be looking to Europe though, to find a better balance in our lives. People over there (and of course I’m generalizing) take the time to enjoy what they already have…and it works too! Companies are as good as the workers that back them up so happy workers mean profits. And what’s the best gift you can give an employee? More vacation time! According to Mad Morten, a minimum of three weeks paid vacation is mandatory (yes by law people) for every Norwegian worker, regardless of seniority. I tell ya, I’d certainly be more willing to take on that extra project with this kind of incentive. But it’s not always just about having enough vacation time. I used to dread planning a holiday because my company wouldn’t spring for a temp in my absence so that even when I was supposed to enjoy my time off, I’d be stressing about the mounting work that awaited me. That is perhaps why according to this year’s Vacation Deprivation survey, nearly one third of British Columbians are not taking all of their vacation time. Click on for more of the Ipsos-Reid findings and find out how we can keep this condition from spreading (management make note!) Read the rest of this entry »
April 23, 2008
Filed Under (Travel) by Angela Chih
April 16, 2008
Filed Under (Travel) by Angela Chih
April 09, 2008
Filed Under (Travel) by Angela Chih
April 02, 2008
Filed Under (Travel) by Angela Chih
January 17, 2008
Heads up people! One of our readers has just alerted me about a not-to-be-missed WestJet deal!
November 13, 2007
August 08, 2007
Even though Vancouver is only a few hundred years old, there is a heck of a lot of history, much of which is bound to raise a brow or two. To get a better idea, watch the above video featuring Chris Mathieson from the Vancouver Police Centennial Museum as he offers a small sampling of what to expect in one of his fascinating “Sins of the City Walking Tours.” A unique two-hour must-see for anyone wanting to learn about the edgier side of this great city, the 10-block tour on foot leads you through the oldest parts of Vancouver as Chris regales you with stories about: * Bootleggers, prohibition, and the often quirky evolution of liquor laws (and their enforcement) in the city Pick a topic: Drugs, sex, alcohol, gambling and there will be something worth discussing. It would also be very worthwhile to discuss the origins of the phrase “skid row” with Chris; our Downtown Eastside is a classic example, especially when you look at its early history. Previous to working at the Police Museum, Chris worked in Chinatown and gave tours of that area, discussing the history of the early Cantonese immigrant community. Although he sometimes alluded to the brothels, opium dens and gambling houses that used to be there, he didn’t get to cover them in any detail. Once he started his new job, the topic seemed like a perfect fit for the Police Museum. And, of course, it’s just darned sexy stuff! The Police Museum has always been relatively unknown to those who live in Vancouver, but the tourist guidebooks (like Frommers and Lonely Planet) consistently rate it as one of the best and most interesting museums in the city. Tourists have definitely found this tour appealing (thanks in part to an international surge in so-called “black tourism”), but locals also seem to be keen on learning more about their own city’s naughty past, particularly when we have such a squeaky clean appearance. Chris says that back then, men greatly outnumbered women in Vancouver, which is why brothels weren’t just about sex. Men went to a brothel to smoke cigars, drink brandy and hear some music. It was about finding the comforts of home and sometimes that included the services of a woman. The city’s first madam was named Birdie Stewart, who opened a brothel at the corner of Water and Abbott streets. But as the neighbourhood grew, the community forced her to move. A cream-coloured building on Alexander Street was a hospital before it became a brothel and then a rooming house, which it remains today. “Ohhh! That’s why things are that way!” is the most common reaction. Often, people will walk down the street and see things, but not really understand them. Why are there separate “Gentlemen’s” and “Women with Escorts” entrances into the old hotel bars? Why is Vancouver so casual when it comes to marijuana? Why do we have government-run liquor stores? Why are there so many rumours of tunnels under Chinatown? There really are too many misconceptions to recount. A few include: That Vancouver is a quaint seaside city with a quiet and boring history (the tour proves otherwise!), that the issues of the Downtown Eastside are a recent phenomenon (they’ve been there for 120 years), that there was a large system of tunnels in Chinatown (ummm… no!), that Vancouver is and always has been a multicultural city (we’ve actually been pretty profoundly racist for much of our history)…the list is long. The Downtown Eastside and Gastown are the oldest (and some of the most beautiful) neighbourhoods in Vancouver. Chris doesn’t go down Hastings Street on his tour, as it can be a bit chaotic; the majority of the tour happens on quiet streets that are perfectly safe during the day. He’s not had an incident and honestly doesn’t expect one (part of this tour is about busting the reputation of the Downtown Eastside; there’s so much more to it than Hastings and Main). Now in its second year, Sins of the City Walking Tours are led by Chris himself, rain or shine, every Friday and Saturday from 4 – 6 PM throughout the summer. All tours depart from the museum, which is located at 240 E. Cordova St, Vancouver. The cost is $12 for adults and $10 for students and seniors. This includes tax, as well as admission to the museum on the day of the tour. There is no age limit set, but this is definitely a tour for adults. A few cool parents have brought their teenagers, but this is definitely racy material. Reservations are required 24 hours in advance by calling 604.665.3346 or emailing programs@vancouverpolicemuseum.ca. Chris can accommodate up to 30 people per tour, and can do tours at custom times and days for groups of 10 or more at a discounted price, regardless of the season. For more info, visit www.vancouverpolicemuseum.ca
June 29, 2007
If you have kids, you know that travelling with them is hardly a piece of cake. It’s simply not feasible to pack all of a child’s necessities, yet it’s just not possible to do without. Until now, there have been few options for parents, so to accommodate their needs, Wee Travel rents baby equipment to people visiting Toronto, Vancouver, and Victoria. Launched by Shana Cherry and her Toronto-based sister Lesley, Wee’s mission is to make it easy for parents to travel lighter by providing a full range of hard-to-pack baby equipment and supplies. In other words, they provide everything that parents could possibly need when travelling so that they don’t have to bring it all with them. The idea was hatched after Lesley and her son visited Shana in Vancouver a couple of years ago. Shana’s son had outgrown his cot, stroller and other kid-size equipment, so Lesley had only to pack some clothes. But when Lesley and son visited a friend in New York, things weren’t so easy. Her hosts had assured her they had everything, but Lesley discovered that meant poorly maintained equipment that had obviously been in storage for some time. She ended up buying a new stroller. Many people have very old equipment which is inadequate and likely doesn’t meet current safety standards, so in addition to travellers, Wee also caters to local grandparents who have small children visiting. Hotels frequently use this type of service, as do big budget film and production companies, airlines, car rental companies…pretty much anyone who has a baby or toddler coming. The rentals offer temporary solutions for newborns to children up to eight years of age. These include car seats, cribs, Pack ‘n Plays (fold-up playpens that infants can also sleep in), ExerSaucers, swings, bags of toys, high chairs, change tables, rockers, beach packages, strollers and joggers (double and single), backpacks for hiking and snugglies for newborns out for a stroll with their parents…virtually anything you require for your child when you’re away from home. |
|