Vancouver is small, Canada is big, but the world is tiny...

With the recent trips to NWT, I realized the place we are living in is so small. There are actually people around you who don't speak asian languages, who don't drive Japanese/Germany made cars.

Canada is a huge place, 2 hours to Whitehorse and you are in a entirely different world. You won't see dimsum restaurants, heck, you can't even find starbucks. (there is only one in town)

You would think that people living in the great north have never been outside of their birth place. You would be wrong. After chatting with many miners at the mine site, you would find people have been to many parts of Asian, South America, parts of Africa. They have seen more, they have experienced so many different culutrals.

All of which, make me think that I am still that "frog in the well".

Then, there was the trip to Hawaii.

You would think that Hawaii is covered with tourists. You would be right. You would think all Hawaiians are friendly? You would be wrong.

An upsetting encounter we had with a local, over a seat at a restaurant. The tanned local hawaiian was upset 'cause we challenged him over the fact that he took the seat we were about to sit on. He claimed the locals don't have to ask for permissions when taking things.

I think he was upset because he has seen so many tourists around town, crowding the place up. However, that is exactly the opposite of what a NWT miner would view the world. After seeing much around the world, a miner is actually more accepting and more tolerant of what others may present themselves.

If you are just talking about how I should view the world and see others, I would rather be a NWT miner than a Hawaiian local anyday.

Tiny Bubbles at Hawaii

Just returned from the 8 day Hawaiian trip, bathed in the sun, lots of water sport. Although not exactly a relaxing trip. It was very good indeed.

One of the most Hawaiian singer is Don Ho, and he brought the world this song:

Tiny bubbles (tiny bubbles)
In the wine (in the wine)
Make me happy (make me happy)
Make me feel fine (make me feel fine)


Tiny bubbles (tiny bubbles)
Make me warm all over
With a feeling that I'm gonna
Love you till the end of time


So here's to the golden moon
And here's to the silver sea
And mostly here's a toast
To you and me


So here's to the ginger lei
I give to you today
And here's a kiss
That will not fade away

Home is where your heart is

Travelling to the mine site in Northwest Territories is a long trip, took 2.5 hours flight to Whitehorse and stayed for the night. The first thing I realized when I came out of the airport was how quiet it was. No busy cars, no crowd gathering around, just the sound of quietness. It is amazing that it only takes 2.5 hours for one to feel how big Canada is and how small Vancouver is. Throughout the whole trip, I didn't see any person who looks like he/she can speak Mandarin/Cantonese.

Then, the next morning, I took the SUV to Watson Lake, 4 hours east of Whitehorse, there really nothing there, except a "signpost forest", it has a few thousands of signposts from around the world.

It was created back in WWII when Alaska became a major military point to prevent a possible Japanese invasion, the americans decided to build a highway through Yukon for easier equipment transportation. When a soldier became homesick, he started putting the sign of his hometown near Watson Lake. Soon, everyone followed.

Walking in that "forest" was a strange experience, seeing signs from germany, us, and other countries, made me realize that it doesn't matter where you are, your home will always be your home, and you will take that with you.

Some of us have spend a lot of time away from Taiwan, so the meaning of a "home" might be very vague. But, for me, being away from everything familiar, my home is where my heart is, where I know I will get comfort and love when I need.

Oh I miss you so...

Going to places

It seems like I haven't been updating my blog as frequent as before. Of course, it does not help that my company internet browser has been rigged so it becomes an hassle to update. There are few things I should update though.

1. I have just passed the Life insurance test, one of my annual goal, I am very proud!
2. Spending lots of time with MSS and her wonderful family.
3. and I am going to a few places in the next 2 weeks!!

Where am I going?

This weekend, I am going to Northwest Territory, population 41000, with per capital income of 90,000!!! That is freakishly high, why? Because NWT has huge amount of mines there, with booming material prices, everyone makes more money there. And that is where I come in, I am taking over a mining company's Group RRSP account, which requires me to visit the mine site twice a year.

The site is very remote, I have to take 2 hour flight to Whitehorse, population 28000. Then 5 hour ride to Watson Lake, population 1500.

Finally, another 5 hour ride to Tungsten, population 200. Wanna guess what the company mines?

Tungsten!

I have to spend about 3 day traveling back and forth, and 4 days at the site.

What are things to do? According to the HR manager there, there will be a gym, a hot spring and a lake for fishing. For me, it will be a great chance to do more blogging.

The best thing is that after I come back from the visit, I will be going on a trip to Hawaii!! Imagine that, going from a Subarctic zone (with 3 hour night) to a tropical zone (with 3 hour sleep) in two weeks. I am pretty pumped up! Whoohoo~