A big update..

I know it has been way, way too long since the official announcement of the resurrection of this blog and a new entry. Nevertheless this entry should satisfy my four million (not) avid readers. *waves to you*

United Morons
Having flown with them countless number of times and being a Premier Executive member, I would expect far better service. These clowns, even after ringing days prior to the flight to reserve a good seat, assigned me a middle row, middle seat. Fortunately I was able to talk myself into an exit row, aisle seat.

Arriving in San Fran after a remarkably short flight (no sleep for 3 days prior to leaving + 3 vodkas + 1 chardy = sleep_akyboy), I waited, and waited, then waited some more until the cows came home. Well, one cow did come, but the news she bore was my worst nightmare, Sorry sir, but we can’t find your snowboard bag! . My heart skipped quite a few beats and thought “Sumbuddy gonna gedda hurd reaaal baad. Sumbuddy!”.

I left customs without my baby and ventured toward the Bart (a train like thing to get into San Francisco city). I was headed for AI's (http://www.artificialignorance.net) abode located in downtown San Franny.

Kahlua, poohlua!
On exiting the lift to the Bart station, my backpack slipped off my baggage trolley and landed on the floor, closely followed by a cracking sound and then followed by a “oh shit!”. My carry-on luggage (backpack) was packed with 2 bottles of alki (Malibu and Kahlua). I was hoping to give the bottles as pressies to my lovely hosts (AI & LinLows). After picking up the bag from the ground, I found a small trickle of brown liquid pouring out of my bag. It is then that I realised that the Kahlua bottle had cracked. The damage was extensive. Nearly 90% of all my important papers were drenched in this horrid liquid, even my letter of introduction to Canada (something which is required to enter Canada on a working holiday visa). Not happy aky.

So I thought, shit happens, but why me? And why so often? Anyways, I cleaned the mess and continued to AI’s pad.

San Fran - Partae Central
I was in desperate need of my some R&R and the ever reliable AI was ready to provide the exact opposite. We PARTIED and PARITED! Woohooo! Partying in San Fran normally stops at 1:30am, but if you’re partying with locals the partying can continue if you go to the right places, after hour clubs. These clubs are very interesting for the crowd they attract and I should have known that I was in San Fran. No need to say any more.

Some other things I did in San Fran:

• Ate some amazing Mediterranean food.
• Got tutored by the ever talented AI on American Football plays and the art of through a gridiron ball in Gold Gate Park.
• Watched the Golden State Warriors thump the Orlando Bobcats in Oakland. I am a converted man, watcing a NBA game live is sooooooo much fun.
• Went to a Salsa club in Mountain View. ‘nuff said..the women there know how to dance (and are totally and amazingly hot). I was definitely out of their league (not in the good way).
• Ate at Denny’s (a very American diner) at 5am.
• Made an absolute fool out of myself around the locals by using the aussie term “going hard”, as in, “my mates and I were going hard that night”. I was innocently trying to describe that we were wholeheartedly drinking, however the locals took it was rather literally with a dash of vulgar. They laughed and I looked confused. Mental note, don’t use say “my mate and I were going hard” in front of Californians.

Big shout out to AI, Agnes and Tiffany.

Banff with the bunnies
I arrived in Banff some four days ago and I’ve already been snowboarding 3 times! After parting with some serious cash, I was given a small plastic card which entitled me entry to three different (Norquay, Sunshine and Lake Louise) snow fields for the entire season. Yay!

If you thought Sydney got cold in winter, then think again, this place is so cold that, that…oh shoot I can’t think of anything to finish this sentence. Its damn cold, nuff said. The following is a snippet of what I heard on the radio the other day, “its going to be a warm -19C with a top -13C”. How on earth can -13C be warm?

I was greeted by fresh snowfall upon reaching Banff. The entire town was covered in snow and it was truly magical. The roads here are permanently covered in snow, though no one uses snow chains. Everyone drives slowly and manages.

Snowboarding has been unreal. There was been fresh POW and some nice and fast groomers for us to play in. I can’t wait for more snow.

More soon…