So i got rid of my Australian mobile today… not quite sure how but Vodafone cancelled my phone online. So, if you need me you have to call my canadian house or cell. If you dunno these numbers email me amyblue at iinet net au. Put .’s in the spaces 
oxoxo amy
So, for all of those who don’t know I’m baaaack! Well, at Big White! How unexciting!!! As soon as I got back I wished I’d never come back haha. oh well. We had a pretty cool time when we were away but didn’t get much snow due to the weird weather in Canada. It’s been really warm. We got to 21 degress above when we were away which is incredible. Probably the warmest I’ve been since leaving home! The mountains we ended up riding were Kicking Horse, Panroma, Sunshine (Banff), Whitewater and Red Mountain! I went to apex with Claire after we got back too! So now I’ve seen quite a few mountains Which is good because I’d l really wanted to see/do!!
The weather at Big White isn’t much better. It’s been raining here and they’ve closed the ice skating rink as it melted !!! Oooops! So yeah, the snow isn’t great but we did get a little overnight! I went riding today which was nice! I ran into a tree!!! I’m alright though, you sort of get used to it!!
So yeah.. looks like the road trip to Coachella has turned into a solo affair.I’m going to Whistler with three of my girlfriends in mid April for two days and nights. Then I’ll probably go to Seattle or to LA for aweek before Coachella! I’m pretty excited still and actually looking forward to travelling a little by myself =) A bit of time would be nice too! It’ll be GREAT to get off the mountain!!
So, yeah. I just thought I should update! Send me emails and stuff!!
xoxo
I thought it was time I lighten the blog up a bit! Life has gone on without the Parker! We’ve had amazing, amazing, snow up here! It’s incredible to see how much can dump in one night. We’ve even had some pretty clear days. As I look out the window now the sun is shining in!!! I should probably be out there but I’ve had to have a day off to relax and get myself sorted for the big road trip! We’ll be at Red Mountain on Sunday, Whitewater on Monday and Fernie, or Panorama, on Tuesday! It’s all pretty cool =)
So, this is my latest tree hugging photo. Big White is full of snowghosts and is quite known for them. This particular snowghost looks a bit like a mushroom - I thought it was quite cute! Claire and I were out exploring off the T-Bar which is one of the higher points on the mountain. Later this day (Weds) we went in a lesson and did the cliff together!! Oh yeah! My fear of heights, again, tested but still I managed! I was quite impressed
So here’s to the treeeee’s!! Love them!!
Oh, and if you click on the photo you can see some other recent photos of the powder!
xoox
Well, well, well. Somehow or another I’ve now been away from home for nearly four months. It seems like such a long time ago that I was at home. This, oddly enough, feels like home now - which at one stage I never thought I’d say!! The reason why it feels like home but it because I’ve got new friends and a new semi-family!! (Make shift but still, family 
) Anyway, I haven’t posted a heap so this is a rather looong story…
Georgie (Parker – not from A Country Practice) has been my closest buddy the whole time I’ve been here. One of many, but yet my closest! She’s my lil sidekick! Pretty much from our first night out we’ve always hung out! Probably because we’re similar in that we both play pool, drink beer, gossip, have bad humour and love to snowboard! Anyway, last Wednesday she broke her ankle (long story, but she was at the pub dancing – crazy Canadian she is!!!) The end of the story is that she had to go home for a few reasons. But it was for the better! So I had to say goodbye on Thursday! And it was so sad. In fact the whole week has been sad. We’ve had many a teary moment!
But, it’s just so crazy. In six weeks I have to say goodbye to everybody here apart from the four I’m going to Coachella with… what will I be like then? Imagine the blubbering mess I will be!! Now that I’ve been contemplating all of this it really has hit me that travelling, alone especially I guess, I’m going to make some magically relationships and some totally amazing people … but then I’m going to have to say goodbye! What a crazy life to have ey? Meet, greet, and then leave? Dunno that I’ve really got it in me to do this too often. I guess that’s why it would be easier to not ‘settle’ in places. Similar to the people I met in San Francisco – great people, but we never developed a relationship…
So yes… it’s been a hard and heavy hearted week for me here at Big White. It’s made me realise what I have at home and how lucky I am to know that when I do, eventually, return to Perth – my friends and family are still going to be there! My positive spin is that I also have friends scattered throughout all of Australia and different parts of the world! Including a very special one in Ontario! So if any of you want to go visit her let me know =P
On the upside, I had a fantastic weekend at Sun Peaks last weekend. I felt terrible leaving G. behind. But, she survived. I really enjoyed Sun Peaks and consider going there for my next season as there is a massive village and (I think) lots to do – unlike Big White.
Another plus was my twoooo packages I got last Friday! Mum sent me a bunch of (well overdue) photos of the family! It seems her computer literacy is rising while her impatient daughter is away! Rach (sister) sent me photos of my lovely niece and nephew! They all look so big and make me miss home a heap. But that’s okay! So my little shrine is now a HEAP bigger! It’s quite fantastic!
Work has been crappy. It’s presidents week in the US and we’ve been pretty full all week. I think my impatience and miserable attitude probably haven’t helped but I think it’ll get better now. I had a really nice night last night with one of my mates Tim after drinks in the laundry at work with the housekeeping boys (yes it’s a team of housekeepers that is all male, bar the supervisor and one other girl). I did 1.5 days housekeeping this week for some extra cash! So I got to share their beers! They do recycling so they got some cash – sweet! We had a snowball fight in the laundry (it’s inside). Pretty funny stuff!!
What else? This time next week I’ll be two hours away from THE road trip! I’m so excited. Though, this has caused many a headache lately. Money matters drive me nuts and as much as I try to ignore/deal with them they still seem to rear their ugly head and ruin just perfect plans!!! But, after much deliberation we got a Dodge Grand Caravan hired for 14 days for about $900 (CA). Expensive ey? Not cheap but totally worth it! There are three of us (Kiwi & Andrew – I live with Andy and Kiwi came on the last road trip to Edmonton too and we all work together) leaving Saturday afternoon and then Wednesday we pick up a Scottish lass called Claire – she’s such a darl and from Edinburgh which is GREAT ‘cause I’m def. going back there!!! (She works in the restaurant in our hotel as a server). Our plans are vague but that’s what I wanted. We’re going back to Red Mountain and then to Whitewater in Nelson, which is east of Rossland – they’re both reasonably close to the US Border. Then we’re going to Fernie and then up the Rockies. Thinking about a few different routes depending on where the snow falls and how much fun we’re having ☺ A few definite are Sunshine Village in Banff and Kicking Horse in Golden. We’re also going to hit some hot springs! Ainsworth Springs in Nelson and maybe the Radium Springs below Banff. It’ll be so much fun!
The snow has been great here at Big White this week. And it looks like it’s going to continue. We’re due to get a decent dump tomorrow and then Monday! Yay! Monday is my only day off this fortnight and I may even try to get some housekeeping in! Got to keep that cash flowing in for Coachella and the next road trip!
So all in all its been a pretty dodgy week for my travel adventures. But, what doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger right? (love the cliché) And… I think I might have just learnt one of the harder lessons in travelling the world. Can’t be all glory after all right?
Love and miss you all (as always, but particularly a lot this week).
Ohhh I nearly forgot, my personally football fever has kicked in. If the Eagles make the granny I’ll be there this year (Dad – you’ll be in the line for me right!? ☺) And, I’ve got a carton on the eagles beating Sydney on March 31st. We can’t even get a radio-cast of it here – bloody ridiculous with the technology we have that I can only watch the score tick over online, but never mind. Can someone record it and put it online for me? We want to watch the game.)
It has been awhile!! I’ve just been flat out since i got back from Edmonton. Working to make up for my days off and then yesterday I went to silverstar which was wicked! I haven’t uploaded my photos yet but I will do once I get a chance!
So last week, well last weekend I went to Edmonton with three of my mates. Kristie is from Edmonton and she was going home to visit her family so myself, Michael and Brad went with her! it was an aesome trip!! Edmonton was so very, very cold and SOOOOO flat. It was such a weird drive to pop ou the other side of the rockies and then just have nothing but flatness to see - it’s like you can see the whole world it’s so flat!!
We spent Sunday, Monday, Tuesday night in Edmonton. Kristies family were awesome - cooking us dinner - that was so appreciated due to the lack of real food we tend to get haha. We stayed at her mates houses two nights and it was real good to meet some of her friends! But it made me quite homesick! Seeing her hanging out with her good mates - all I kept thinking was ‘where is ‘ And she got to see her sister! And her folks! It was really nice for her =)
So, on Weds we headed for Jasper! I drove past the place where I’ll be working so that was cool! (For those who dunno I’m working at Jasper Park Lodge over the Summer - its a fairmont hotel and I’m really looking forward to it. check out: http://www.fairmont.com/jasper/ if you want to see it!). So then we went riding at Jasper. Oh my gosh - they took me down unmrked, back country double blacks!!! Crrrrrazzzy! Bu it was a really good day and I had heaps of fun So that was nice! Another mountain ticked off my list - hehehe.
The drive from Jasper to Lake Louise is the called the Iceifelds Parkway. It’s amazing. (http://www.icefieldsparkway.ca/) I have never been so awestruck since leaving home and i feel like I have seen some truly incredible things!!! To see the Rockies has always been soemthing I’ve wanted to do so I am really feeling as though I’m exploring the world! I love it! Anyway, I took HEAPS of photos. We saw a coyote too - I have a video I will upload and post! But, alas, I have to go to work so I should go! Click on this photo to go to the rest of them! I’m off to Sun Peaks this weekend and I’m planning my big road trip for March at the moment - so anyone who has been through BC and Alberta let me know and I will totally take your advise onboard!!! There is just so much to see!
love and miss you all! As always xoxoxo (And yes, I know I owe quite a few of you emails… I will get back to you in the coming days)
Hey hey people
So I got back from my little roadtrip (36 hours approx.). It was so amazing! Really nice to finally see a little more of Canada
So we left Saturday morning at about 7am. This was a little tough due to the fact I partied all Friday night for Aussie Day! (That was also great… click on the photo below for some interesting photos!) Anyway, off we went!
First stop was Apex Mountain. This is about 30mins out of Penticton - the drive was amazing. From Kelowna to Penticton we followed the Okanagan Lake! It was so beautiful. Snow topped mountains rolling by with this amazingly huge Lake beside us!! I really enjoyed this drive. I did a bit of it when I first came in from Vancouver to Kelowna but I was sleeping some of the way so I missed it!! I can remember waking up though and seeing the mountains topped with snow! It still amazes me today =)
Anyway, I was a little worried about Apex due to a few different stories I heard. The girls I live with had trekked down there and didn’t even ride the mountain due to the fact it was too steep! Craziness! A few other mates had been and had a good time but thought it was a little hairy still… basically it’s way steepers than Big White. And the terrain (due to its steepness) isn’t groomed and is mostly black or double black diamond runs.
Quick lesson for those who dunno… black runs = hardest, thus double black diamond = majorly insane. Ungroomed = runs don’t get groomed at night so they’re moguly, which is basically caused by the turns skiers do! Which means for boarders the runs are pretty annoying (especially if your learning!)
So i was a little freaked out, because (as you all know) I’m new to this whole snowboarding thing and a little freaked out by heights!! But it was all good as I was with three ski patrollers so worse comes to worst I’d be in good hands =)
Anyway, the view was amazing from the top. It was a pity I couldn’t do all the runs but nevermind. There was one green run (beginner) that went to the top of all the other double blacks so at least we got to see the view from all parts of the mountain!!
This is me at Apex. Click on the photo to see all my photos from that day!
peace!! I’ll blog about Red tomorrow I’ve gota run to work!
So… today i did somethin’ crazy! I bought tickets to a three day festival in Indio, California!!! Me and a girl I work with (Ashely - she’s from Kelowna) both bought tickets. They don’t officially go on sale until Saturday, but there was a ticketmaster presale! However, as we didn’t KNOW the presale code we though we were done for!! (Ba Bawm, waiting with the plebs!) Nonetheless, 2.5hours at ‘work’ on the internet (thankgoodness for google!!!) found us the code and bingo… i somehow spent over a lot of money of money on a three day festival in California, with a road trip from good ol’ Canada down - what a thrill!
I am coming out of my skin with excitement. This gig has something for everyone and then some! Not to mention that Crowded House and Rage Against the Machine are re-forming for the event - do you need me to repeat that? Even my sisters should appreciate the CROWDED HOUSE!!! w00t - other highlights are the chilli peppers, a few wicked djs, and a tonne of awesome bands.
So stay tuned because my dream is being lived! This is SO why I came overseas! I have nothing else to say but ROADTRIP!!!!!
Check out the lineup at: http://coachella.com/event/lineup
So… I’ve been getting a few packages!!! My lovely neices and nephew have sent me! This is basically so I can show them all their wicked artwork!!! It makes it feel a bit more like home too…
So, while the rather impulsive, dramatic (but fantastic) change in hair colour may appear to be the only tough decision I’ve had to make while living at Big White I have been trying to work out what to do next Summer - where do i go next?
Well, I’ve made it! Yahoo. It feels super nice to have a little bit of planning… though it does lay in the hands of the Canadian Immigration! So lets all cross our fingers. Anyway, I’ve applied for my second working visa so I can stay on in Canada!! Exciting =)
So my plans are to stay on in Canada and return to Big White to do another season - or at least to another Ski resort!! There still remains a small chance I would come home around my birthday sometime this year but it’s all a matter of money, money, money!!!
So other than that not a lot has been happening! Same old stuff everyday really! Howevermm I do have a roadtrip this weekend to Red Mountain and Apex Mountain. These are relatively steep mountains!! I may get totally scared!!
Check them out :
My housemate Liz has been saying she’d cut my hair for yonks! And, my hair is really dry (was) due to the bleaching and the environment up here! So my hair was hanging for a cut and I finally got the balls to let her do it!! Very cool… but I also got her to dye it while she was at it! We had our own little salon happening in the lounge/kitchen!!! So here’s the new me! Tell me what you think!!!
We even dyed my eyebrows - check it:
