The sea was turbulent and cranky as though it was annoyed at the sunrise for waking it too early on a weekend morning. Enjoying the start of our third full day in Punta Cana, I did a photowalk while John went for a run on the beach.
The beachfront is bustling in the morning with workers grooming the sand and removing washed-up seaweed, along with joggers, photowalkers like myself, and sunrise strollers just enjoying the early hours near the water.
During the steamy afternoon hours the beach is alive with characters such as: Dad who is more excited about creating the ultimate sandcastle than his child, woman standing up and rocking out to music only she can hear through her over-sized headphones, and the little Russian child playing in the sand singing a tune similar to Mary Had a Little Lamb.
The resort itself is as lovely as before and was decked out in red, white, and blue banners last Thursday in honor of all the American visitors. The lobbies have Christmas trees decadently decorated in bows, sparkling garlands, pearls and flowers.
Aside from our time spent at the beach, my husband and I have been having amazing meals together, evening strolls, cool swims, and insightful conversations that do not include the words “work”, “social media”, or “code”. Unfortunately John goes back to work tomorrow with the TEAM 1040 broadcast so I’ll have 4 hours on my own each morning for the rest of our trip.
I’ll be spending my “alone time” catching up on work and launching a few more contests on the site this week. I have some great things in the works for the coming month including a partnership with one of the largest holiday events in town and a few charity fundraisers.
Once John is off the clock each day, I’ll be disconnecting as well so we can head down to where the azure waves meet the white sand and enjoy the rest of our vacation.
Currently sitting among a sticky at 28 degrees Celsius, listening to the wind make xylophone-like sounds as it rushes through the drying palm branches, I am on vacation.
Unfortunately though, my husband is not. He’s working about 4 hours each morning helping the TEAM 1040’s morning show with Barry MacDonald and Scott Rintoul broadcast on location. However, I bought my way into the trip and I’m going to have a full on vacation, even if it kills me (although hopefully it will achieve quite the opposite).
Last night our good friend Duane, who is down here staying at another hotel, met up with our group outside the resort compound gates as about 20 of us watched the Canucks via satellite. You can take the girl out of Canada but you can’t take the Canada out of the girl.
Thanks to Tony Roma’s Punta Cana location staff for staying open til at least 2am so that Vancouverites could get their hockey fix (just hours after we landed). Another shout out goes to Air Transat staff for finding out where we could watch the game and for making sure we could all catch it.
To think, last week at this time I was 11,000 ft up a mountain in the Alps and now I’m kneading white sand as smooth as powdered sugar between my toes. After 18 months of working 12-hour days 6 days a week (with a work trip here or there) building my company, it’s nice to take a bit of a break.
You can listen weekday mornings to the TEAM 1040 to hear from BMac & Scotty about what the group has been up to. Have a great weekend everyone and Happy Thanksgiving to all of our loved ones.
The following guest post was written & contributed by Jane Victoria King.
When the credits rolled it felt like a really great movie had ended. I was sad it was over. I walked away processing. What exactly did I just experience at the first TEDx Vancouver?
Later, I found myself asking these questions; who am I and what am I being? And what does the world need the most?
TED is all about Ideas Worth Spreading. When I told friends and family I was selected to attend TEDx Vancouver (only 100 invited attendees, through an application process), I told them I was going to a vast think tank with a bunch of creative and intelligent types. A brain-bashing if you will. I culminated my synopsis with the notion it was going to be a tremendous opportunity to knock heads together for forward thinking insights and ideas. Another wards – inspired thought leadership. I was going to an idea factory.
TED stands for technology, entertainment and design. The x=independently organized TED event. To become fully enlightened on TEDx Talks watch this video.
The day was brought together at the Electronic Arts – Think Tank/Bigger Picture campus in Burnaby. I was in awe as I entered the foyer at 8 a.m. Colourful, eclectic video greeted us. Giant Lego filled some tables. Bright letters of the alphabet on others with containers of play dough interspersed. The theme of the event was Forever Young.
The first question of the day came on our lanyards underneath our names, Ask me about… With a lime green Crayola™ marker I wrote Fresh Thinking.
Here’s where the schmoozing started. I would acknowledge faces and fast-forward to the nametags and the Ask me about…
One of the first people I spoke to was Michael. I was to ask him about energy. He told me he was with a company that was building solar panels in space, and they were planning on broadcasting the energy back down to earth. Clean, green energy and there was lots of it. The company he worked for appropriately named www.SpaceEnergy.com. I immediately felt right at home.
I came to TEDx Vancouver with an open mind, like a sponge, ready to soak it all in. The talks began with an introduction made by the Licensee and Team Leader for TEDx Vancouver, Cyrus Irani.
“We want the world to start listening to what Vancouver has to say,†he said.
No doubt Vancouver once again hit the Global stage, this time with TEDx Vancouver. Although there were some technical interruptions, much of the event went viral through video, tweets and blog rolls.
Three sessions divided the day: Playfully Young, Globally Young and Emotionally Young, with conversation breaks in-between. Speakers were bookmarked with other TED Talk videos or TEDx Vancouver Forever Young teasers produced by the Vancouver Film School. Sessions two and three included live musical introductions with Cellist, Cris Derksen introducing session two and beat boxer, Shamik beginning session three. The two later jammed together for a standing ovation.
It seemed each talk resonated differently amongst those I spoke to. I also uncovered a theme amongst the crowd. When we got past the Ask me about and went to the, what do you really do? Most responded with two answers. Paid work and passion work.
Once again I found myself thinking. This time, does personal progress come from the inspiration in one’s head? I personally listen to my heart and follow what it tells me. If it feels right I do it, if it doesn’t I don’t. I’ve always thought there are three kinds of people: the thinkers, the dreamers and the doers.
One of the TED Talk videos exemplified the following statement; a good leader never doubts what he or she is dreaming.
Later, Guy Dauncey nailed it when he stated negativity kills creativity. There is strength in the word yes.
New insights into life on earth came to me upon viewing Vancouverite and District 9 Director, Neill Blomkamp’s video. Wow was the first word that jumped into my mind. Among other things he mentioned the Principal of Mediocrity and on the other spectrum, the Rare Earth Hypothesis along with the Kardashev scale, which begged the questions, are our social systems determined by technological systems? Will the world one day become one? One government. One economy. Run by one computer?
When Marc Stoiber flipped his slide up, Is social media KILLING the environmental movement? I had to lean back and sigh. What he concluded with struck an all too familiar chord.
“The world will not be saved by typing the mission. The world will be saved by living the mission.â€
I came to TEDx Vancouver a sponge. I left soaked in new thoughts and ideas. Most importantly, we can’t change behaviour, but we can inspire it. Have you given any thought lately as to what the world really needs?
Thanks TEDx Vancouver for the Ideas Worth Spreading.
About Jane: Based in Victoria, BC, Jane Victoria King is an award winning TV producer, photojournalist, mariner, mother, and lover of all things cycling. You can follow her on Twitter @Jane_Victoria.
After staying in 4 hotels over the last 7 nights, I figured a reprise of the “hotel” theme for my Vancouver Then and Now series would be in order. The original photos are from the City of Vancouver Archives’ online collection, and some of the new images are from Google Street Views.
Then and Now Vancouver Hotels
1944
Clarence Hotel, 515 Seymour Street
Photographer: Jack Lindsay, Item #: CVA 1184-227
2009
Malone’s Bar and Grill
1927
Hotel Pennsylvania, corner of Carrall and Hastings Streets
Major Matthews Collection, Item #: Hot N34
2009
Portland Hotel Society-Pennsylvania
1927
Hotel Georgia, 801 West Georgia Street
Major Matthews Collection, Item #: Hot N36
2009
Rosewood Hotel Georgia 2014
1925
Murray Hotel, 1119 Hornby Street
Photographer: WJ Moore, Item #: Hot N6
2009
Murray Hotel
1913
Wigwam Inn, up Indian Arm
Major Matthews Collection, Item #: LGN 1028
2009
Wigwam Inn, up Indian Arm
You can read other posts in this series, including “Then and Now” hotels (part one), apartments (part one and two), tourist attractions, parks, and more. Just a reminder that the City of Vancouver Archives are presenting a special film showcase this Sunday and I have 4 tickets available for my readers to win. See this post for details.
After closing in 2004, the Robson Square Ice Rink is now renovated, re-surfaced, and covered with ice in time for some winter fun and 2010 festivities — of Olympic proportions.
“Before”
In 2006 I profiled the rink, which was in limbo — looking for sponsors and ways to reconstruct the skating surface without damaging the offices and classrooms that had come to surround it. In recent years it was a popular venue for dance classes as Vancouverites would meet to tango and salsa under Robson Street through Dance Sport BC.
With the return of the ice in an opening ceremony at 9:30am today, the rink will be open for a free public skate from 12:00pm until 9:00pm today. Regular hours will be:
Free Public Skating
Public Skate and Cafe: noon to 9 p.m.
School Groups, Coaching Clinics and Skills Training: 9 a.m. to noon
Extended Public Skate Hours from Dec 21 to Jan 1: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Hours Christmas Day (noon-5 p.m.), Boxing Day (9 a.m.-9 p.m.),
New Year’s Day (9 a.m.-9 p.m.)
Extended Public Skate Hours during the Winter Games
According to Metro News, General Electric spent $1.6 million in the past three years restoring the rink and the glass-domed GE Ice Plaza will be used as a central location for public celebration during the Vancouver Olympics. Skating will be free if you bring your own skates to wear but you can also rent for $3 (kids 12 and under can rent for free). Free skating will continue to be open to the public as of today and running through the 2010 Olympic Games.
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Update: I stopped by today to take some photos. There were plenty of lunchtime skaters as well as live entertainment from a brass band.
Update: To answer some questions, they have helmets available to rent as well as plastic carts to push around on the ice, assisting young ones and those who cannot skate very well.
Update: You can cross OVER the ice rink on the FREE Olympic Zipline, read more here.
Update: Due to an attack on my site, this post was republished and comments have been lost.
