Abrams Family World Travel

Vancouver: Nearing The End Of A Magical Stay

OUR time in Vancouver is almost at an end. Three months has skipped by. We arrived when it was wet, grey and cold. But for the best part of the last month we have enjoyed fabulous sunshine.

The lifestyle here for individuals as well as families is pretty amazing even if the cost of living is high. Vancouver offers everything we essentially desire from a place to live - and more. The consciousness of the people here is unique. We have made good friends and discovered a tremendous sense of community. There's a side of us that is sad to be leaving. That's for sure. But we shall endeavour to take what we have enjoyed most here and try to transfer/create that in our lives wherever we go. 

The owners of the home we rented have just returned from their own adventure - in the Far East. Their time away has enabled them to reflect on their lives. Travelling does that. It offers you a unique perspective into life and the lives of others. 

Some of us use that perspective to improve our lives and those with whom we come into contact. We find that it makes us appreciate what we have. Others just melt back into their routine and the lessons learned and experiences had are quickly forgotten. 

Getting the balance right between work and play and earning money to support a family and staying healthy and spending time with our children is often times a tricky/challenging one. Usually, a compromise or two or three is required. We are still working at it.

After three-and-a-half years of moving around the world, we are returning to the UK. We don't know how long for. We don't know what the future holds. Who really does?

But we are exploring possibilities and trying to make dreams come true. I went to Vancouver for a three-month apprenticeship as a coach at CrossFit Vancouver. The course offered me everything I desired and took me to a new level. I met some incredible people. Now I'm venturing to take all I have learned and open a gym of my own, taking the best of what I have learned and experienced (from training at CrossFit gyms around the world) and making that the cornerstone of my own practice. 

Jamie, too, has her own dreams. She is already a yoga instructor, but while in Vancouver she got to enjoy Moksha yoga, a form of hot yoga, and she wants to bring that to the UK. That's an ambition she has had for several years, long before we arrived in Canada. 

All dreams start in the imagination and then are either abandoned or manifested. We are now trying to make ours a reality. 

But Vancouver will always hold a special place in our hearts. It's a magical city with wonderful, friendly and courteous people and so much to explore. Unfortunately, we only really skimmed the surface. My commitments to my apprenticeship program and our limited budget didn't afford us as much of an opportunity to journey far afield as we would have desired.

We did get to spend an amazing weekend with friends in Salt Spring Island. That, though, only convinced us that there is so much more surrounding Vancouver worth seeing.

That's for another day and another time. 

 

 

 

World Travel: Our Favourites - Three Years On

AT the end of our first year of travel, we posted a blog about our favourite spots - places, restaurants, beaches, parks and hotels, locations we’ve travelled to (including before our journey began) and have no trouble recommending. Now that over three years have passed since we started our adventure, we thought it would be a good time for an update.

Places

1. Vancouver, Canada: This city on North America's west coast offers a bit of everything. It ticked a lot of boxes for us. Nearby there's snow and beach for starters. There's an excellent public transport system, a fantastic range of organic/healthy produce, lots to do and see socially, the people are friendly, there's a large alternative schooling community, it's relatively safe and, for Canada, the weather is on the mild side. The only downside was the cost of property and renting. Otherwise, we really loved it - a lot!

2. Napier, New Zealand: Known as the 'Art Deco Capital of the World', this town on the north island is incredibly pretty. There's ocean, stunning surrounding mountains, hiking trails, wonderful rivers, clean parks, loads to do and see, little, if any, traffic, clean air and not lacking anything that we'd want in a big city.

3. Kukljica, Croatia: This little village on the island of Ugljan, across the water by ferry from Zadar, is a magical place for us. It's where I spent much of my childhood during the hot summer months. The Adriatic Sea is gorgeously salty and blue. The village has charm and lots of beautiful, though mostly rocky, bathing spots. It's wonderful during the hot season, but can be harshly cold in the winter.

4. Edinburgh, Scotland: Nice for walking, plenty to see, close to the coast, variety of restaurants, compact.

5. Lisbon, Portugal: Amazing architecture, lovely climate, great squares, economical and efficient public transport.

 

Beaches

1. Playa Hermosa, Costa Rica: Long stretches of sand without a person in sight or litter, stunning sunsets and perfect sea temperatures

2. Whale’s Tail, Costa Rica: Set in a National Park, with impressive caves you can walk through, great sand and warm seas

3. Los Frailes, Ecuador: Clear water, secluded, perfect waves, clean sand, sea temperature consistently good. All it’s missing is some shelter from the scorching sun and somewhere for refreshments (make sure you bring your own!)

4. Englishman’s Bay, Tobago: Long, intimate stretch of beautiful sandy beach with palm trees and clear green water, just where you’d imagine Robinson Crusoe making his base. There’s a shop and café on site also (not built by Crusoe, by the way).

5. Piracanga, Bahia, Brazil: We stayed here for more than 10 months in 2011. We lived practically on the doorstep of miles of vacant sandy beach. The ocean here, while often quite strong, was nearly always the perfect temperature and the sand ideal although we did have to lookout for troublesome little flees. www.piracanga.com

 

Restaurants

1. Napfenyes Etterem, Budapest: So good we ate there every day on our short stay, sometimes twice in a day. Great menu, nice staff. Almost too many delightful dishes, making our choice so much tougher (hence the reason we kept coming back) Rózsa u 39, District VII, Budapest 1077 +36-1-3135555. http://www.napfenyesetterem.hu/

2. Pure Food & Wine, Manhattan, New York: Somewhat pricey, but worth it, if only for the scrumptious desserts. Formal vegan restaurant with raw options. Jamie can't wait to get back there. www.oneluckyduck.com 54 Irving Place New York, NY 10003-2314 Tel: (212) 477-1010

3. Terra, Lisbon, Portugal: Fabulous buffet spread when we visited over seven years ago. Food is fresh and the ginger juice, though laced with sugar, so refreshing. www.restauranteterra.pt Príncipe Real, Rua da Palmeira 15, 1200-311 LISBOA, Portugal Tel: 213 421 407

4. Tiestos, Cuenca, Ecuador: Delicious food delivered in a large tagine (tiesto). The chef can make almost whatever you like and uses his ingredients so perfectly. A hit every time. Juan Jaramillo 7-34, City Centre, Cuenca, Ecuador

5. Buenos Aires Verde, Buenos Aires, Argentina: Outstanding organic vegetarian nosh, always beautifully presented, fresh and nutritious. Plenty of vegan and raw vegan options. Lovely setting, relaxed atmosphere and genuine staff. There is a menu in English. Try the salads, pizza, deserts and smoothies. Reasonably priced as well, especially when compared to most organic raw food/vegetarian restaurants. Gorriti 5657, Buenos Aires. http://www.bsasverde.com/index_en.html. Open Monday-Saturday 9am-0.30am.

 

Parks

1. KL City Park, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: Bang on the doorstep of the Petronas Towers and an enormous shopping centre is a large fountain which backs on to a great park. Whether it's jogging, walking, kids play or splashing in water, this park has it all. It's where I infamously smashed up my shins doing box jumps on marble columns (I slipped!) We spent countless hours there with our kids in the second-to-none children's play area. 

2. El Retiro, Madrid, Spain: Outstanding and in the city centre (near Retiro subway). Has many jogging paths and exercise areas as well as a lake with boats, cycle routes and quieter, shaded areas to sit.

3. Munich Olympic Park, Germany: By the former Olympic stadium, these manicured grounds near the centre of the city were used for the 1972 Games. The park has a lake and river and is perfect for running, cycling, rollerblading or just strolling.

4. Central Park, New York: At the tip of Manhattan, the park has something for everyone in any season, Great for walking, running, playing sports, rollerblading or just to pass some time.

5. Bosques de Palermo, Buenos Aires, Argentina: We stayed just a few blocks from this park. I went running there a lot (it can get busy) and Zenchai and I hired bicycles. We also went there for days out in the sun, just to play about on the grass. It's a huge park with beautiful gardens and monuments as well as a lake in the middle where you can rent paddleboats to calmly take in the scenery and relax. 

 

Sites/Experiences

1. Iguazu Falls, Argentina: Truly breathtaking, immense natural wonder on the Brazilian and Argentine border. Well worth the ridiculously long bus journey from Buenos Aires and wait for the lashing rain to subside.

2. Milford Sounds, New Zealand: Spectacular scenery on the South Island, visions I can't imagine you'd find anywhere else all in one place - mountains, lakes, hills...every corner turned delivered something special.

3. Blue Mountains, Sydney, Australia: Down Under's answer to the Grand Canyon. Impressive views, walks and cable rides.

4. El Zapato/Cajon Dam, Capilla Del Monte, Argentina: This site took us by surprise. We were on a walk, looking for the dam and stumbled upon an immense mountainscape that looked like something from 'The Land Of The Giants'.

5. Superclassico Football - River Plate v Boca Juniors: A truly memorable occasion for any footy fan - the biggest rivalry in the Argentine league. Whether it's at the River Plate Stadium, where the 1978 World Cup final took place, or Boca's smaller, but more cauldron-like ground, this is an unmissable fixture, more so for the bristling atmosphere than the football. 

 

Hotels/Hostals

1. Villa de las Aves, Uvita, Costa Rica: Fabulous two-floor house-type buildings with private jacuzzi, kitchens and a communal pool set in grounds surrounded by trees, animals and birds. With delightful owners, too - from Australia and UK, this is a spectacular place within reach of Costa Rica's great beaches. http://www.villasdelasaves.com/

2. Bahia Principe Tulum, Playa del Carmen, Mexico: All-inclusive resort hotel close to crystal clear sea water and private white sandy beaches.

3. Mandala, Puerto Lopez, Ecuador: Immaculately decorated – has so much to offer, like a library, games room, restaurant, gardens and music room. http://www.hosteriamandala.info/

4. Hip Hotel, Maastricht, Holland: Super sleek, funky one-time apartments converted into themed hotel rooms at affordable prices. There’s secure parking also, but at a fee. http://www.st-martenslane.com/

5. Intercontinental, Chicago airport: Comfortable, tasteful and sheek. 5300 North River Road, Rosemont. Tel: (847) 544-5300

 

Children's Activities

1. Parkour, Vancouver: Of all the activities we have introduced Zenchai to, this was the best. He couldn't get enough. What kid wouldn't want to run, tumble, climb, crash, jump and generally have heaps of fun exploring movement? http://www.originsparkour.com/

2. Wall Climbing, Kuala Lumpur: We took Zenchai along to the largest indoor climbing facility in Asia - and it is huge. It's all supervised and, while a little daunting, children get the chance to scale some enormous walls and grow in confidence. 

3. River Play, Piracanga, Brazil: During our stint at an eco village, we lived close to a river, which was perfect for children. Zenchai learned both to kayak and swim here in addition to spending countless hours just playing.

4. Children's Museum, Buenos Aires: Although the cost of entry wasn't low, it was worth it. Children got to role play and dress up to their heart's content. Zenchai used to beg me to take him here. 

5. Waterfall, Chiang Mai, Thailand: This northern Thai city is surrounded by waterfalls of various sizes. We found one on a Sunday afternoon and the kids loved it so much we couldn't tear them away. 

Vancouver: Growing To Love It

THIS city continues to grow on us. Even during our wet, grey reception period following our arrival, we were never disillusioned. Coming from England, I felt at home.

We haven't yet explored a fraction of all this city and its surroundings has to offer. But so far we like what we have seen.

As a city, Vancouver isn't so big that you can't get around. We live in the suburbs, but the bus services are great and we can get downtown in no time. If I were living here longer, I would definitely consider hiring or buying a bike to get around. 

Although I've met a lot of people who've been in car accidents, the driving doesn't seem particularly aggressive or perilous. 

And when you try to cross the road - not even at a pedestrian crossing - nine times out of ten cars will slow down for you. It happened to us in Australia quite often and we thought it strange (probably because we'd just arrived from Bali in Indonesia, where it's manic). But in Vancouver it's the done thing. I rarely, if ever, see any signs of road rage.

Being a Londoner, I have a gripe with expensive public transport, but in Vancouver I can buy a pass for $91 (£58) per month that gives me unlimited access to buses, trains and ferries. And on Sundays my pass covers the whole family. In the UK I'd be spending close to that in one week for an off-peak ticket!

I've touched on the wonderful food options here in a previous post. Vancouver also offers amazing views of the surrounding snow-capped mountains, where you can ski, and it's close enough to the ocean to go surfing. 

The downside is that the cost of living is high. Rent is expensive and the locals complain about it. But what I like most about being here is the people - they are so friendly and engaging. 

Passengers on the bus will thank the driver when leaving. It's contageous. On a recent journey, Zenchai hailed: "Thank you, bus driver," as we got off at our stop. 

I can't recall how many times I have been places with one or both of the kids and ended up getting into long conversations. People approach me and are approachable.

We have also met many parents who are raising their children in a like-minded way, either homeschooling or 'unschooling'. There are plenty of options for alternative education. 

In terms of safety, Vancouver rates highly. There are some areas downtown which are probably best to steer away from, but that's the same for most big cities. Where we are, on the west side, it feels very secure. We're in a beautiful neighbourhood. 

Now that the weather has turned, we've ventured out more. Over Easter we enjoyed near-summer-like conditions. It was glorious. We went to Stanley Park, the biggest in Vancouver. It seemed like the rest of the city was there also that day. 

It was fun for us all, especially the kids. We walked along the coast, visited a playground, Zenchai got to experiment with Parkour wherever he could and, once we were able to catch a bus home, we stopped off for a bite to eat at one of our favourite places, TeraVburger, where Zenchai said he wanted to spend his birthday.

Guess we'll be heading back there again then.

 

 

 

 

Vancouver: Riding A Brainwave

ONE great thing about CrossFit as an activity (besides it being a strength and conditioning program) is that it's tremendously sociable and a fantastic way to meet people.

With me now doing my coaching apprenticeship at a facility with around 600 members, I get to meet lots of new faces (and also forget many names of people I am introduced to, but I'm working on that).

Slowly, I'm starting to remember them, though. Maybe my brain power isn't what it once was or I'm just meeting too many people in one swoop for my grey matter to deal with.

The brain is an interesting subject. Soon after I arrived in Vancouver one girl in a class I was helping to coach - Julie is her name -  offered me a ride home (as she lived near to where I am located). 

During conversation she told me she was a brain professor at the University of British Columbia.

Since that initial meeting, Dr. Julie has kindly driven me home several times and we always get talking about something interesting.

As she's an authority on the subject of the brain, the other day she helped me bury a few myths: 1. that we cannot produce new brain cells; 2. that we only use a small portion of our brain in a lifetime.

She said both those alleged 'facts' are baloney, explaining that from information on a new science paper she had just read we do produce new brain cells all the time and, interestingly, that whether those cells live or die is often dependent on whether we are learning new things. 

Funnily, if what we are learning is difficult and painful it helps those cells to survive, which made us both laugh considering we do CrossFit.

As for us only using a small part of our brain in our lifetime, she said all our brain is in use all the time. Who am I to argue? She is a brainy professor after all. 

Vancouver: The Tasty Location

WHAT makes a location perfect? Sunshine? Beach? Beautiful views? Happy people? Safety? Opportunity? Low cost of living? Community? Clean air?

I know every person has their own preference. But I also know by the big grin on my wife's face whenever she comes home from the store after purchasing groceries that the wide availability of healthy and organic goods is near the top of her list. Actually, put it at THE top.

I have seen her positively brimming with delight at the discovery of an abundant health food store or a restaurant that tickles her fancy or a massive fresh food market.

In some countries we've been to, like India, Ecuador, Brazil and some parts of Europe, it was either hard or too expensive for us to source the type of foods we like for a balanced diet.

But Vancouver is undisputedly fantastic for the range of organic, gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian and fresh food. So much so that Vancouver is now Jamie's No. 1 destination to live. Here you can also find community gardens everywhere, some more imaginative than others (see photo above). 

Here there are organic stores in abundance. There's a Wholefoods not far from where we are based, but just in our local high street there are two excellent alternatives with everything you could wish for and more.

It's a great plus, because we can eat healthily all the time, but Jamie's like a child in a toy store every time she tops up our groceries.

As you probably know, Jamie is a real foodie loves to play and experiment. Admittedly, her nosh is delicious. 

While I love to gobble up her treats, I know we're on a tight budget, too, and have to be prudent with our expenses.

For that reason (and having one fussy young eater) we don't eat out too often, but, invariably, whenever we do I always walk away thinking (or should I say knowing?) that Jamie's grub is far more delicious.