Have to say that plane rides are the true tests of someone's patience. Try sitting on your butt for 13 hours! You'll emerge extrememly fatigue. Thats doesnt sound right...you get tired just sitting? Then why do I bother to go to the gym? Then again your butt is a huge muscle.

Anyhow, the plane ride itself was an adventure. Reluctantly got out of the plane to transit at Hong Kong's new airport. Was reluctant because I was watching an old episode of Friends when we landed and they swtiched off all the tvs. We all had a personal screen. It wasnt KrisWorld, but at least I got tv...channel surfing made the trip shorter. Watched all kinds of things from "Out of Sight" the movie to Walt Disney Cartoons(think Mickey Mouse).

Getting back to the point, Hong Kong's new airport is huge! If you put our Terminal 1 and 2 side by side, should be roughly the length of HK's airport. Had to take the LRT over to the other side to get to my departure gate. Then walk a bit. Was happily writing postcards while waiting when this lady came walking up shouting for passengers going to Vancouver. It seems they changed the departure gate from Gate 49 to Gate 6. ARGH!! Gate 6 is on the other side from where I came from. And the train only goes one way! Now, I have to lug my handcarries and walk back. But the time I got there, was among the last few to get up the coach which will bring us to the plane. It was one of those things where the plane is parked a distance away so we'd had to take a bus there..........

Finally reached Vancouver. Custom officer surprised little girl like me travelling alone. Its the hair, I tell youTold her I was visiting a friend staying on Victoria Island. Little did I know Victoria Island is in Alaska. Well, Jing said Victoria and she said Island...so....sigh...the lady laughed and said "You must mean Victoria on Vancouver Island. Unless your friend stays in an igloo." All I could do was to look helpless and say YES?

Then it was the luggage claim. Think mine was the last to get off the plane. Everyone waiting to get 2/3 bags off. Me, one. Still, I stand there forever, waiting for my one bag. Sigh....exhausted, I drag my carcass looking for the exit door. Huge crowd waiting outside. Tried to open my eyes to look for Jing Ee...who was hiding behind this giant. Waiting to spring out with her camera. But of course instead of looking stunned for the camera. I looked dazed. Tired lah. As usual, Bernard was late. Finally arrived with girlfriend in tow.Those guys still waiting to see her, I laugh at you..hahahaha

Bernard drove us to have lunch before Jing and I have to take the ferry across to the Vancouver Island.I got that right this time. No igloos...Some difficulty deciding where to eat and then finding a space to park. Actually found a worse and more reckless driver than Wayne. I'm sorry Bernard, but your driving is really SCARY! Well, lunch was fun. An all-you-can-eat-buffet in this japanese restaurant for just $10. We ate till we felt so sick.

The rest of the day flew past as Jing and I rushed to catch the afternoon ferry over to Victoria, took the bus to the bus terminal. Then taxi to her house. Luckily I managed to catch some zzs during the long bus ride. Jing annouced we're going to meet one of her classmates who has offered to bring me pubbing. Had enough time to put my luggage down, her brother gave us a lift downtown. He was going out too so he'd already called a taxi. Taxis here dont stop when you flag them. You have to call for one. No extra charge. Anyhow, Jing and I were early, so we thought we could go get a drink while we wait. Finished our drink, but still no sign of her. The pub was getting crowded and we didnt want to leave our stuff around while we danced so we had to look for the baggage counter. Dumped the stuff there and started wandering around the pub looking for Jing's friend. I got quite sian after walking 4 rounds, so I told Jing to just stop somewhere where we could watch the entrance instead. Not 5 mins of standing still, my butt got pinched. I was quite dazed by then so it took some time before I realised it wasnt Jing Ee. Irritated, I turned around. This girl gave me this oh-no-I-pinched-the-wrong-person look and ran back to her boyfriend.

Well, guess that was the most "exciting" moment of the night. Couldnt find Jing's friend the whole night. We were both tired so went back early. It was a pretty eventful day I guess.