AliMareeRyan's journal

Festival - Thames River

aliryan — Tue, 5 Nov 2013 23:06:52 GMT

A lot of the time when traveling, it’s about being in the right place at the right time. Lucky I was in London when The Mayor’s Thames Festival was under way. The main attraction is The Carnival Parade, with fireworks, crazy floats, the weird and wonderful costumes. Literally thousands would come to watch. I was like ‘hell yes, this is gonna be awesome’ but due to budget cuts, the parade was cancelled. In hindsight it became more intriguing, as I was able to get a better understanding and could portray the festival for what it is; Amazing! Packed with talented live acts, inspiring works of art, and lets not forget the River itself, a sight worth seeing. Actually, My background training is in photography, but I’m a self taught and funded filmmaker. Just finished a trip through Canada and Alaska making mini travel doco’s, I’ve also had the opportunity to be apart of a film crew documenting an organization that’s prevents child sex trafficking in Northern Thailand. Presenting is a new thing to me, but I’m trying to progress into an all in one filmmaker, someone who photographs, films, edits, and of course presents. To produce travel doco’s, on people’s stories and places of interest.

Living with a real life Mountain man.

aliryan — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 17:04:00 GMT

“You girls should go out and see Greg, his a real life mountain man” we were advised.

Intrigued, we took the risk to adventure out to the middle of Canada’s wilderness, to Greg’s two story floating lodge that he built himself. True to his name Greg was seriously a real life mountain man, both loving and gentle but rusty and wildly untamed. Greg owns Palmer Adventure tours, taking tourist up close and personal with wild Grizzly bears. What was only met to be a couple of days out in the beautiful nature quickly turn into a week, but everyday was magical.

Completely surround by wild life, you would wake up in the morning and go for a quick dip in the ocean, refill the humming bird feeder, catch and eat fresh seafood, feed the eagles, take tourist out to find grizzly bears, collect fresh water from giant waterfalls and then sit back and relax as the sun-set behind the snow-capped mountains in the distance, while of course sipping on a warm cup of Irish coffee.

If that isn’t crazy enough for you, Greg also took us out camping in one of his secret spots. With nothing but sleeping bags and a tarp over head to sleep, it was no more then five metres away was a bear tail. Which I have to admit put me on edge, every sound, every stick that broke, my paranoia convinced me it was a bear, but lucky that wasn’t the case and we made it out safely.

Video coming soon.

(If you are a single women, I do not recommended staying out with Greg by yourself)

Photos: Khutzeymateen, Canada

aliryan — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 16:54:00 GMT

Prince Rupert

aliryan — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 16:50:00 GMT

Was more of a stop over rather then a destination. A great place to just chill, recharges, grab supplies, and figure out our next move. Staying at the Pioneer hostel, it was lovely. Yep I said lovely. Cute even, with it’s white picket fence and bright blue walls, planter boxes with big blooming flowers, it was just lovely.

But with lovely comes the very strange.

Which brings us to Alex or as we called him The Cougar Guy. Alex tells of his bizzar adventures of camping out in the wild and the scary encounters with dangerous wild life. He does nothing but travel taking on whatever adventure comes he’s way, a mountain man wanna be. I envied his life-style. Alex’s interview coming soon.

While out exploring the town, it was here that we met a real life mountain ranger!

From (A) Port Hardy to (B) Prince Rupert:

aliryan — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 16:39:00 GMT

I highly recommended taking the BC ferry from these points. Expensive, but definitely worth it. It was travelling in style and if you pay a little bit extra for the trendy food and cocktails and you’ll be sweet, because and lets get one thing perfectly clear American food = bad. Very bad, disgusting! OK lets continue.

After eating questionable food from the canteen, the ferry headed out to open sea. Swaying back and forth, up and down. To the point where, I could no longer hold down the scramble eggs and waffles. If your someone who suffers from motion sickness like me, make sure you have enough travel calm pills because you will need it for that first part of that trip.

Canadian people are by far the friendliest people I’ve ever met. Curious to know who you are and where you have come from. If you get the chance go on the tour up to the bridge do it!. We where lucky enough to be invited up there by the Captain and even got to steer the boat, it’s harder then it looks. Video to come.

Photos: Porty Hardy, BC ferry, and Prince Rupet.

aliryan — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 16:29:00 GMT

Port Hardy, Canada.

aliryan — Sun, 9 Jun 2013 16:35:00 GMT

Since we stayed another night in Campbell River (going with the flow). We missed the ferry from Port Hardy to Prince Rupert!

Which wasn’t a big deal. That’s one of the best things about Canada is everyone is so chilled. Instead of having to pay for another ferry, which you would expect. We were able to use the ones we had already, no worries about it. Now, if it had of been in Australia it would have been a different story including a late fee.

Port Hardy is a cute little town, and it was here that the days started to get longer, 10pm and you could still see clearly outside. Naturally our first instinct is to find a pub. Walking into the local watering hole it was obvious that we had travelled afar. Lugging with us giant backpacks and a small suitcase (camera gear) each. It was something out of a Wild West scene when someone walks into a bar. The music stops and everyone turns to see what the cat dragged in. That’s exactly what it was like, all eyes on the two smelly backpackers wearing sailor hats.

“Oh are you gals here for the bucks partya?”

Didn’t think we looked like strippers, but it gives you an idea of the social standard for adult entertainment in this town. I think we can safety blame the hats for this one.

Port Hardy was a place that was an important turning point for me personality. Without going into to much detail, as ill end up saying nasty things. It was a moment of absolute frustration and confusion. It was the type of moment that changed everything for me, and put all thoughts into perspective.

Campbell River, Canada.

aliryan — Sat, 8 Jun 2013 16:16:00 GMT

Again we hadn’t even been out of our hostel for more then two minutes before some guy pulled over and asked “Hey are you girls from Sweden” we replied “nah mate we’re Ozzie” (Apparently Swedish people wear sailor hats, not sure why?)

And that’s how we met Garry or as we like to call them “watch out, Garry” because he was always telling us to ‘watch out’ for our heads or for steps and things.

“I’ve got a film crew coming out on my boat today, and it would be good if it looked like I had a couple of tourist on board, you girls interested?”

Next thing we know, and thanks to our Captains hats! We’re out on Garry’s tour boat cruising through Canadian waters searching for grizzle bears, watching hundreds of eagles feed on the hate (type of fish) and riding rough rapids.

This is where we met Tommy founder of Aboriginals Adventures Canada and the film crew from News Media. Tommy was quite the character. “This is black bear, then grizzly bear, eagle crawls and the big ones are polar bear crawls,” he explains while presenting a necklace that he had made for his son. He had many great dream-time like stories about the wild life and the Haida Gwaii people. He was also quite usefully. After receiving news that there’s been Orca’s sighted in the bay, he organized another boat tour (free) guided by a man named Lee. another video to come.

We also created a film about the driftwood that piles up along the banks of Canada. Enjoy!

When Things don't go to Plan!

aliryan — Sat, 8 Jun 2013 16:09:00 GMT

Don’t miss your bus! Missing our bus from Vancouver to Horseshoe bay means we had to take a later ferry. Which means we missed the connecting bus to get us to Port Hardy, and could only get half way. Thinking we could just hitch hike it the rest of the way we soon decided against that idea when we arrived in the deserted town that was Campbell River.

The first hostel we looked at, well it was more like an old pub that would tip over if you poked it.

Couldn’t tell you why?! Maybe it was the state of the pub that put me on guard because I’m not normally the one to make harsh judgment when it comes to someone’s looks. We were greeted by an older man probably in his late 40s to early 50s wore a black top with jeans, not particular odd looking, right? but he had long darkish grey hair tied back into a pony tail and from that alone I knew that stay there was not an option! Weird right?

It gets weirder! As we walked inside to the main bar area it was dark and dingy with a smoky haze across the large room. Smelt like a normal pub, beer and ciggies, but it literately reminded you of something out of a horror movie like ‘Hostel’. Let me paint the picture.

The lady behind the bar was old looking, wearing skimpy clothes with lots of cleavage (the old wrinkly kind). Who talked trash and tried to over charge us for a room. (She would have been the delusional over protective mother of the serial killer). Over in the corner by the pool tables was a mentally disabled women in a wheel chair wearing a dirty bib, who’s character was to make the scene that much creepier. The white trash guy playing pool wearing ripped jeans and a white singlet with yellow stains on it (assist with the murders) took it upon him-self to ask about our sailor hats. He wasn’t speaking clearly which made the situation weirder. We left before we met the killer. But in some bazaar twisted the ponytail guy probably was the killer. Ekkkkk (thought about this way too much)

Luckily for us, our awesome bus driver from ‘Island bus’ made sure that we were staying somewhere safe and even told us where a good place was to go eat before he took off again. Canadains really are the most friendlest people.

Photos: Campell River, Canada.

aliryan — Fri, 7 Jun 2013 16:05:00 GMT

Canada: Vancouver.

aliryan — Wed, 5 Jun 2013 04:30:00 GMT

Oh boy! Where do I begin…

Travelling along the coastline of Canada starting in Vancouver.

Honestly Vancouver can only really be explained with the photo’s and video’s that were taking. A crazy party town. It was a shame that we only stayed there for one night but in the end I guess one night was all we needed.

Staying at the Samesun Hostel in down town Vancouver, we were shacked up in a room full of smelly boys. We called them England, Ireland, German, and Scotland because that’s where they were from, real original ay?

After a short nap, and recharge our camera batteries we we’re up again ready to rock. Took to the street to find a Glide cam and other camera gear. If your ever in need of some serious camera gear in Vancouver Canada look no further then the guys at Beau Photo Supplies. Seriously great people there and they’ll look after you.

Still hurting from the sun kiss look and pretty sure jet lag had kicked in. We did not sleep that night, so instead we stayed up editing in the common room. From memory it was probably about 4am the next morning when we met Sam. A shy but nice boy from England. Who had made the move to Vancouver. He stumbled in completely pissed off his face. “I’m hurting real bad, you have to look after me” he stated.

“Sure Sam we’ll look after you, how does a nice walk down town sound? “

Honestly I don’t think he wanted to but we made him anyway, taking Sam to the streets for a photographic adventure!

We didn’t even make it two steps out of our Hostel before we where flagged down by some junkies in the street and I mean real junkies. One guy was higher then a kite from an all night rave, offered me a joint while complaining about being hit by a car just hours before. We also met Alex (not a junkie) a rad dude that just finished DJ-ing at a night club. He court word that we where out adventuring the street and immediately became excited.

“I’m Vancouver born and raised I’ll show you all the best spots”

Probably the most unorthodox but raddiest tour guide I’ve ever been on. I mean how many people can rap all the words to Fresh prince of bell air, and walk out in front of on coming traffic and not give a fuck. But like I said Vancouver is best explained with images.

Video coming soon.

Photos: Vancouver Canada

aliryan — Wed, 5 Jun 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Down Town Vancouver, "Party Town".

Hawaii

aliryan — Tue, 4 Jun 2013 17:36:00 GMT

04-06-2013 D day no turning back now. Camera check, bag check, passport check alright lets do this.

The first of many flights to catch began from Melbourne to Sydney then Sydney to Hawaii were we relived the 04-06-2013 again. A little bit weary after the 12-hour flight and with 10 hours before our next, we tried to make our way to Wikki beach. Only to get lost but luckily we run into a charismatic young woman named Jessica who showed us the way.

“Hey are you girls from Australia!” Little did we know what was in store, but Jessica is this incredibly strong willed woman, who was comfortable enough to share her life story. A story you wouldn’t expected a total stranger would be so willing to share, a story that hit a little bit too close to home.

As we hang out on the beach she explained to us that she use to live in Hawaii and that this was the first time she had been back in six years. She had come back to spread her mothers ashes. Being as we are we didn’t feel comfortable asking questions or pursue into how or why her mother had died but as conversation went on Jessica opened up. Telling us that just last month her mother fell victim to domestic violence and was murdered by a man to whom her mother was dating at the time. Taking back completely, we couldn’t believe our ears. You always hear about domestic violence on the news and in books but you don’t ever hear about it face to face.

This is only the beginning, there’s so much more to Jessica then meets the eye, and it’s incredible to think that in such a short stop over hanging out on the beach drinking pina calandos and obtained severe sunburn, that I could have learnt so much about love and strength as Jessica so brilliantly portrays.

We interview Jessica as part of the ‘The Adventures of Ali and Polly’ project. Video will be Coming Soon!

Photos: Hawaii.

aliryan — Tue, 4 Jun 2013 17:35:00 GMT