The Adventures of the Wandering Octopus

The Octopus goes to Sydney

2012-01-13T15:31:00.000-08:00

The octopus and i went home for Christmas, and on our way back were able to stop off for a few days in Sydney, Australia. It wasn't ALL touristy stuff, I actually went there for my friends wedding. but seeing as we were in the area we took the opportunity to do some sight seeing! Sydney is probably best known for two things: the Opera house

and the plethora of unique exotic animals that live there.

The octopus and I got a chance to visit the Sydney Aquarium, and were greeted by the coolest statue ever (made entirely of Lego I might add). In the aquarium, the octopus had a chance to catch up with a distant counsin. (Look closely, there is a cuttlefish in that picture). We also joined my friend Meaghan on a glass bottom boat ride, this allows you to get up close and personal with some of the fish in the tropical aquarium! We also got up close and personal with some very large sharks!

Afterwards we visited some of Australias natives. We saw Kangaroos, crocodiles, dingo, the cassowary (much cooler in real life), and of course, the cuddly Koala!

Had a great time in Sydmey, it was just too bad that my visit there was so short! I'm looking forward to whenever I have a chance to return and explore more of Australia!

Christmas in Squidland

2011-12-13T18:09:00.000-08:00

So, first and foremost! MERRY CHRISTMAS! Christmas in Auckland is VERY different to those in Canada!

When walking around downtown Auckland, you can't help but notice the holiday cheer. Images of Santa, department store window displays, decorations hanging in Malls... wait... are those guys wearing... SHORTS? What is with this weather! As I am used to the wet and chilly winters of Vancouver during Christmas, I'm finding the Summer weather of the Southern hemisphere is NOT putting me in the Christmas mood. Seriously, who wants to order a hot holiday beverage from Starbucks, when you're slathering on sunscreen?

Despite the inescapable weather, I have managed to partake in several holiday traditions, both old and New.

Heather and I put up a little Christmas tree in our apartment, and made some paper decorations for it, including a squid themed, angelic tree topper! We also made some delicious sugar cookies and decorated them. And finally, hung some stockings on the odd chance that Santa visited our house!

Heather and I went down to see the Santa Clause parade. It was a bit of an odd amalgamation of floats. There was the usual: Christmas trees, Frosty, and Rudolph... as well as several unexpected guests: such as Mickey Mouse, Pikachu, and a life size dinosaur! Luckily, the big guy made an appearence! (I was ready to see him in a hawaiian shirt and board shorts) But it was a good start to December, and really displayed the Kiwi holiday spirit!

The octopus and I walked down to the harbour one night to see the "Telecom christmas tree", which is made out of several hundred LED lights. It is constantly changing color and pattern, and below the tree they have been bag chairs so you can look up and watch the light show. There are also several phone booths with a direct line to Santa, so you can make your Christmas phone call!

This year was my first experience with "Glow", a Christmas concert/service put on by St. Lukes church. It is a huge event, selling 10,000 tickets. Each person gets a glowstick and the whole concert is done in the dark. It has a really cool effect as you shout your favorite Christmas carols at the top of your lungs!

Now, I'm ready to head off to the airport and take a plane ride home for the Holidays! Enough of this sunshine, bring on the snow! (fingers crossed) My bags are packed with the essentials... well, maybe a few more shirts...

"Sir, are you smuggling dophins in your luggage?"
"Noooo, whatever would give you that idea..."

Bon Voyage!

An Octopus for all seasons

2011-12-01T17:42:00.000-08:00

Spring has sprung here in New Zealand. The Octopus and I decided to take a trip to the Auckland Botanical Gardens to see what was in bloom.

The gardens are quite expansive. It took me several hours to walk around them, and I'm fairly sure that I didn't see everything. They contain area's of edible plants, native plants to New Zealand, prehistoric palms, and a large strongly scented rose garden. There are currently 21 statues created by logal artists displayed in the gardens, which were inspired by nature. These ranged in size from small water lillies made from recycled plastic, to a giant pohutukawa (the new zealand Christmastree). Interesting journey through nature and art... although sometimes the garden stated the obvious.
So whether it's sitting on a swing, feeding the birds, or just having a think: enjoy these activites outdoors! See what amazing colors spring has to offer. (This offer only available in New Zealand during December... all other locations offer is void.)

The Octopus visits Queenstown

2011-10-06T22:52:00.000-07:00

Thank you everyone for your patience. I know it has been several months since I last posted anything. I'm afraid that the joys of school have overtaken my ability to adventure! On my spring break I went down to New Zealands South Island and visited Queenstown! For those of you who live in Vancouver, it would be like visitng Whsitler. It's a ski city! We stayed at a lovely hotel called the Sherwood Manor!
After arriving in town, the first thing you notice is the Mountains! It reminded us alot of the Rockies back home! We spent the first afternoon wandering around town, and took a gondola ride to the top of a nearest mountain. The view from the top was absolutely breathtaking!

Day two involved sunshine and more mountains! Can I just say that the weather reports predicted rain for the entire visit we were there, but it was amazing weather! (I guess the weather forcasters are equally as accurate in New Zealand as they are in Canada!) That morning we took a cruise around the lake that Queenstown is situated on. It had a great view of the surrounding area (and the mountains), and the captain even let the octopus drive the boat for a while! We then took a bus to Arrowtown, which is a small village 30 minutes outside of Queenstown. I was established during New Zealands gold rush, so Arrowtown is a very historical area.

Day three involved and early morning. We got on a charter bus and began a 4 hour trip to Milford Sound, on the West Coast of New Zealand. This invovled driving through the mountains (quite literally, we had to go through a tunnel and everything). On the way, we got to see some wildlife, including the worlds only Alpine Parrot: the KEA! The boat ride around Milford was amazing. Tall mountains with huge waterfalls cascading down them. It was very picturesque. We even made some new friends on the boat! We also saw a penguin, and some seals! The boat took us right up to the base of one of the falls! It was close enough to touch it!

The next day we boarded a jet boat which raced up and down the lakes and rivers of Queenstown. It went extremely fast (hence being called a jetboat), and wizzed around rocks and logs! The boat only needs about 3 inches of water to drive, so it can go reeeaally close to the shore!

On our final day, we went up to the ski slopes. I'm not much of a skier, but the Octopus really wanted to make a snowman. Instead we went snowtubing, which is totally alot more fun than skiing. After a long day of snow, we had a quite flight home!

I had a great time in Queenstown, and wasn't able to do everything that it had to offer, I guess that means I'll have to go for another visit! :)

The Octopus in Wellywood!

2011-06-22T21:38:00.000-07:00

The Octopus and I travelled down to Wellington to find some squid, and boy did we find them!
Wellington is an amazing city filled with a mixture of classic and modern architecture, and a variety of bright colors! We started our adventure by looking through shelves of jars of squid, to try and find specimens that matched the ones we were all studying. There ended up being alot of jars.... many of which were mine. (I get to go through ALL of them again! oh goody). After our first day, we finished up and walked down to the Te Papa national museum. There we got to see the only preserved Colossal squid in the world!

It was a huge deal! (As made apparent by the "Colossal Squid plush animal". We also looked at the collections at NIWA, and found a few more specimens (some this time that were much larger than those that could fit in a jar).
We then got a chance to travel around the city, and see some of the sights. We walked around Parliament, travelled up the mountain on a trolley car, and then spent the afternoon trying to treck around the botanical gardens ("Follow the Green Arrows" was not a helpful guide!)
After a busy five days we boarded a flight home!

This was thr safety video travelling to Wellington....

This was the safety video travelling from Wellington.....

Well, at least Air New Zealand knows how to make a tedious safety video entertaining, I'll give them that.

I had a wonderful time while I was in Wellington. It reminded me alot of Vancouver. Lots of rain, but a very pleasent atmosphere. I'm sure I will be visiting again, and I look forward to it.

The Octopus is sky high!

2011-06-09T18:54:00.000-07:00

So, in a few of my previous posts I have mentioned "Skytower".

We finally had a chance to go up it and see the view. It's a nice 360 degree view of Auckland.
Both the glass elevator, and the oberservation deck have several glass floors in them. But don't worry, its TOTALLY safe! (see, it's as strong as concrete... transparent concrete)!
The view of Auckland is incredible, you can even see where I live! While your up there, you can peruse the various dining establishments you may want to visit when your feet hit the ground!

ROTORUA: cold, wet, smells like eggs...

2011-04-29T03:01:00.000-07:00

BUT! It's fun as anything!

We took a chartered bus down to Rotorua, a small town in the central North Island of New Zealand. Rotorua is famous for being built around a geothermal hot spot. It's full of geysers, as well as hot springs. Now, with all the sulphur in the area, the first thing you notice is... it smells like eggs.

HOWEVER! It is still a tourist destination. It's set on a picturesque (totally mis-spelled that) lake, and surrounded by mountains and farmland. Upon our arrival we went to our hostel and checked in, and then stumbled around a nearby geothermal park until dinner time. At this park, we found a covered foot bath, filled with naturally heated mineral water. People communally wash their feet in it. It's really cool, and your feet feel happy afterwards (or at least mine did). We grabbed some dinner and then looked for some evening entertainment.
FUN FACT: Rotorua has ZERO nightlife. Eating IS the nightlife. However, we did find a movie theatre, and watched a movie.

We woke up the next morning and left to find a breakfast location. This is when we found Milly's all day breakfast! What a wonderful place! We visited there several times! The food was basic, but really good. From there, we donned our rain gear, and trudged off into the weather (yes, it poured the first two days). We walked around the Rotorua museum where we learned about the history of the town, and about the local culture. After that, we took a nearby path which led us through the lakeside geothermal fields. Despite the rain, it was probably the most beautiful experience I've seen. Being surrounded by white smoking rocks, and thick bubbling mud on a rainy day may sound a bit dull, but I couldn't beleive how in awe I was of this barren landscape. Due to the rain, the Octopus did not have a chance to explore as much.

On the third day, the Octopus, Heather and I took a bus out to Rainbow Springs Wildlife refuge and Kiwi Encounters. It's kinda like a zoo, except that it also displays the native plants of New Zealand. At rainbow Springs they also raise Kiwi eggs. This gives the young birds a 70% better chance at surviving in the wild. I was really impressed with the work they were doing to help strengthen the Kiwi population. Since Kiwi's are a bit photo shy... we took a picture with this giant Kiwi statue...

After visiting the Kiwi's, we took a stroll through the New Zealand Countryside to go ZORBING!
For those who don't know what zorbing is. It's a huge air filled bubble, that they put you inside of, and then roll you down a hill. If this isn't awesome enough... they also put water in it. It's like a waterslide... on spin cycle! The ride lasts maybe a minute at best, but was a blast!

On the final day in Rotorua, we hiked to the Red Wood Forest. I'm always amazed at the natural beauty of Red Woods, and walking through the forest was relaxing. (Kinda the point of the vacation). Of course, Red Woods are HUGE! You need multiple people just to hug them. We then headed back into town, and took a bus back to Auckland.

If you enjoy the diverse beauty of nature, or the rush of Adrenaline, or if you just really like the smell of eggs... Rotorua is a great place to visit. I would go back there... but remember to bring a book or something to read in the evenings!

The Octopus makes some pancakes

2011-03-17T20:54:00.000-07:00

So, as you may (or may not) know, it's St. Patrick's day! Which means wearing, thinking, and breathing green! We decided that the best way to celebrate St. Pattie's day, (besides spending the day at the pub), was to make GREEN PANCAKES! So here are the steps to make AWESOME St. Patticakes!

Step 1: Obtain green food coloring.

Step 2: Add drops of green food coloring to regular pancake batter (and by drops I mean LOTS)

Step 3: Mix in food coloring

Step 4: Put mixed batter on a hot frying pan

Step 5: Flip

Step 6: Serve

Step 7: Admire the fact that your eating GREEN PANCAKES!

We hope that everyone had a great St. Pattie's day!

The Octopus is on top of the World!

2011-03-16T02:10:00.001-07:00

The Octopus climbed to the top of Mount Eden this weekend! Mt. Eden is in the center of Auckland, and you can see the entire city, and all its suburbs from the top.

It's also a dormant volcanoe. There are many around the Auckland area! It was a fun hike, and we had a great view from the top! At the crater, there is a compass directing the major cities around the world, so we made sure to find home!

The Octopus goes to the Zoo

2011-03-08T17:45:00.000-08:00

The Octopus and I (and Heather) really wanted to visit the Auckland Zoo when we arrived in New Zealand. So one sunny day we ventured out and explored the Auckland public transit system!
The Auckland Zoo is located beside a large park, so it seems very out-of-the-way.
The first place we visited was the Kiwi and Tuatara house, as those animals are both native to New Zealand. This was the only photo I could get of a Kiwi (it's a poster, the actual Kiwi encloser is VERY dark) but I did get to see a Tuatara! They can live to be over 100 years old! Another old thing we saw, was tortises! Who enjoy not moving... and taking mud baths!
The diversity of animals at this zoo was amazing. We saw various birds,

big cats,

monkey and oragutans, hippos, rhinos, elephants, and giraffes...

and this pig! Also, the Wandering Octopus made friends with some wandering chickens that follow people around the zoo!

I really enjoyed the Auckland Zoo. It's definitely engaging, the enclosers are large, and the animals looked well taken care of. If you like animals and are in Auckland, the Wandering Octopus highly recommends the Zoo! (and say hi to the chickens for us!)

The Chinese Lantern Festival

2011-03-02T13:01:00.000-08:00

The first weekend we were in Auckland, we found out that the Lantern Festival was being held in the park across the street from our dorm. It celelbrated the end of the Chinese New Year, and has become one of the largest lantern festivals in the Pacific region. There were lots of people, food, music, dancing, and of course lights!

the Octopus gets a sense of History

2011-03-02T11:59:00.001-08:00

The Octopus and I traveled to the Auckland Museum. It's a bit intimidation, as the building stands on the top of a hill surrounded by fields.

It's quite large as well! The museum consists of three floors: Maori and people of the Pacific, Natural History, and a war memorial.

The Maori history had alot of indiginous carvings, fabrics, jewlery and even a few traditional buildings. The inside of which are very impressive, because they are completey carved and painted in designs from floor to ceiling. The final wings of the first floor showed the history of Auckland culture through furniture... starting with this... and ending with this.
The second floor consisted of a mixture of animals (most of which were not alive), and geological information. We went into a "house" in which they simulated a volcanic eruption in the harbour of Auckland. It was complete with an actual earthquake and breaking furniture! Very fun! I also saw the biggest Sunfish I have laid my eyes on! Of course, once again, it's not real... but it would look GREAT on my wall! There was also a fossil section, where the Wandering Octopus got to see the remains of a very large ancestor!
The third floor was a memorial to the people who fought in the wars, complete with simulated foxholes and an entire gun gallery.
It took us about 4 hours to walk through the whole museum, and even then I'm sure we missed some things! But it was a really fun outing, and I'd look forward to going back.

The Octopus rides on the Sharkbus!

2011-02-26T21:56:00.000-08:00

Ok, so on my first day in New Zealand, we spotted this...

After that day, I needed answers! What is this bus? Where does it take you?
The very next day, we caught the bus, and headed to Kelly Tarlton's, the aquarium in Auckland! They are best known for their penguin excusion tour (everyone loves penguins), in a snowcat, and their shark tunnels (unfortunately, the shark pictures didn't turn out... this is the best I can come up with) But, we also had the chance to see a preserved Giant Squid! Which was really cool! The squid was bigger than I was!

The trip was completed by playing in the kids section (hey, they had a cool submarine), and taking one last picture with the SHARKBUS! (AWESOME)

The Octopus is safe and sound!

2011-02-22T19:25:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone! As many of you have heard, judging from the amount of emails I received today, Christchurch had a very destructive earthquake hit it yesterday! Here in Auckland (the north end of the north island), we didn't feel a thing. I didn't even know there was an earthquake until I got home for dinner, and the news was on in the common room. Christchurch is on the South island, so it's no where near me.
I apologize for not letting everyone know I was safe sooner, however as i have mentioned before, the lack of internet here is causing me great stress. Everyone here is fine, and thank you very much for your concern.

Please keep the people in Christchurch in your thoughts and prayers. Last time I looked at the news the mortality count was 65, I can only imagine it has gone up since then. I am keeping the families who have lost loved ones in mind in the coming weeks, and i know that it's going to be a difficult journey to not only rebuild the city, but to also pick up the peices of their lives.

Auckland: Tropical Paradise!

2011-02-21T13:51:00.000-08:00

So, I wake up from my first night in Auckland to this:

Which wasn't a big deal at 6:00 because i was still on vancouver time and was awake anyways. This beautiful, bright sunrise told me it was going to be a nice day (turns out it was raining in an hour, but that's besides the point)

Before heading off to explore most of the city, I checked my money situation. And by that I examined the coins to figure out what picture was on each one! I love the dollar coin here... mainly cause it features everyones favorite flightless bird!

Heather and I then went and found the lab we'll be working at. Turns out its just around the corner from where we're staying, literally 40 seconds from the front door! By the afternoon, the sky had cleared up and you could see the ocean from my window (look really far into the distance)
We went out again and found a really nice park, with lots of tall palm trees, and then went back to the apartment, as walking around all day in the sun wears you out!
I also have a great view of the skytower at night!

The Wandering Octopus arrives in Auckland!

2011-02-20T12:36:00.000-08:00

So, we've arrived! And due to a shortage of internets, have not been able to update until now!
The octopus and I picked up our friend (and now room-mate) Heather at the Airport, as she was flying in from Toronto first, and then all of us were flying directly from Vancouver to Auckland!

After a 14 hour flight, we arrived in New Zealand at about 6 in the morning. It was still dark out, but at least I could get a picture of the plane!
We were instantly greated by an amazing Maori carving, and then we were greated by the immigraion officers. (Luckily everything went smoothly)
We took a cab to the city center, which seams to be constructed around a large tower, which juts out of the skyline! At about 8 am, we arrived at AUT, and checked into our dorm.
We spent the rest of the day wandering around downtown Auckland, and enjoying the sites and sounds of a new country. Personally I found the New Zealand isn't very different from Canada, it has many of the same stores, restaurants and music that we play in North America.
Fun Fact: New Zealand has Denny's! (What is this world coming to?)

The Octopus gets...

2011-02-11T23:29:00.000-08:00

Today, the Wandering Octopus was kicked out of the place he had called home for the past year. No longer being known as the Car Cephalopod gave him no sense of purpose in life. However, the Wandering Octopus is not one to give up!
He went in search of a NEW place to call home! A home that could travel with him overseas, to New Zealand!

Some of the homes were too small and felt cramped, others had a uniqe and slightly childish decore, and then he found the perfect home! A mixture of space and functionality. (Perhaps he will now be known as "Backpacktopus"!

And now, off to adventure!

Just a little update!

2011-02-06T22:44:00.000-08:00

In one week, the Wandering Octopus will be on a plane flying to his new home; Auckland, New Zealand! The excitement was really setting in, until I realized how much I have to do to prepare to live in another country. How do you pack for that? Currently I've figured out that I need shirts, shorts, and a change of underwear! I'm sure I'll add to that list in the next seven days!
It's hard keeping my head on straight right now. Amidst the packing, last minute financials, and all the goodbyes, I'm having trouble keeping my life sane! I'm sure all the insantiy will be worth it!
Let the countdown begin!

A year in review

2010-12-30T23:29:00.000-08:00

2010 was a great year for a certain cephalopod! February marked the begining of the Adventures of the Wandering Octopus. This blog was honestly just created so my friends could keep track of my adventures when I moved over seas, but I never could have imagined just how enthusiastic my friends and family would be about helping me create this blog.

Personally, this year held some highs. I graudated from University, (something that felt like it was never going to happen), and moved back to my home town. I have been accepted into a Master's Program at Auckland University of Technology, and will be leaving to live there in about a month and a half. I'm hoping this blog will become slightly more interesting, once that happens... I'm afraid Maple Ridge, Canada isn't the most happening place! (But I've tried to make it as interesting as possible for all of my readers!

The Wandering Octopus has also had some unique experiences. Whether it be relaxing at the spa, watching horses on a dude ranch, or meeting prehistoric creatures, the Octopus always has a good time.

As we move into 2011, I hope you will continue to enjoy the adventures that the octopus and I embark on. I thank everyone who has encouraged me to continue this blog, and who has found the Wandering Octopus on facebook! We really appreciate your enthusiasm, and hope that the coming year will bring you as much adventure and excitement as we hope to find!

All the best, and enjoy your new years festivities!

Most wonderful day of the year!

2010-12-26T22:14:00.000-08:00

Well, I hope everyone had a wonderful day on Christmas! (I know the octopus and i did). but aside from all the usual Christmas formalities and traditions came this little gem when I checked my emails before going to bed.

(scroll to the bottom of the page)
AUT EOS Postgraduate Students

It's official! I'm on the webpage, therefor it must be! This honestly made my day. i ran around my house showing everyone the webpage, and blabbering on like an idiot!

(This being said, I completely forgot to upload any Christmas pics I got of the octopus... those will appear in the coming days!)

Happy Cephalopodmas to all...

2010-12-22T18:13:00.000-08:00

Yes, I'm sure you've all heard of Christmas... but have you heard of Cephalopodmas? A wonderful day for all cephalopod lovers to celebrate! It falls on December 22 (today). So make sure today that you shake someones hand, or at least sing them a Cephalopodmas carol! (available at this website).

Getting in the Christmas Spirit!

2010-12-21T16:10:00.000-08:00

Ah Christmas!

The most wonderful time of the year! Full of over-priced gift, crowded parkinglots and burnt cookies! (I can't bake... hence the burning).

Actually, I love Christmas. I'm one of those onnoying people who waits for Christmas all year long and then as soon as thanksgiving is over pulls out the decorations and music.

This year we travelled to a bunch of U-cut tree farms searching for the perfect tree...

... we ended up buying a precut one from the lot at the end of our street. (But it looked pretty good) I voted to use the car cephalopod as the tree topper. That got vito'd in favor of the traditional angel. Instead the octopus and I decorated the tree with some very fishy ornaments.

And what Chrsitmas is complete without a trip to see jolly old Saint Nic?

"and for Chrsitmas I want a pony, and a toy car, and Buzz Lighyear action figures, and a new bike, .... and did I mention a pony?"
"... Get off me kid..."
(Our Santa looks like he had one too many eggnogs!)

just an update!

2010-12-17T12:45:00.000-08:00

Today I received my Student Visa in the mail! (One less thing to worry about) I was so excited, I went out and bought myself a one way ticket to New Zealand! This was the final thing I needed to fall into place before the octopus and I could head over seas! Now there's nothing holding me back!
New Zealand, HERE WE COME!

A little Q and A

2010-12-07T00:02:00.000-08:00

So, I havn't updated the blog for a bit (mainly because I've been working hard, and havn't gone anywhere exciting!) However, I have had a bunch of questions repeatedly asked of me regarding my future. So I thought I would take this opportunity to update everyone on what's happening for myself and the wandering octopus!

Q: You're going to New Zealand???
A: Yes, actually, I'm surprised at how many people DON'T know I'm going to New Zealand.

Q: When are you leaving?
A: I will be leaving mid-february. My international student orientation begins on the 17th of February, so I should probably be in the country before that. I havn't got my plane tickets yet (soon I hope) so I don't know excatly when I'll be leaving!

Q: What city will you be going to?
A: Auckland!

Q: So it's official that you're going?
A: Yes! (and no) I have been accepted into AUT, I have paid my tuition, I even have a place to live when I arrive there. HOWEVER: my student visa is taking a while to be processed, and until I get that, (hopefully within a week or two), I can't enter the country for any long duration of time.

Q: What will you do once you're down there?
A: I honestly have no idea! I will be starting my Masters of Marine Sciences, which will involve me working in Dr. Steve O'Shea's lab. Dr. O'Shea is an expert on Giant Squid (and other awesomeness), so fingers crossed I'll run into one while helping him out! After a year I will begin my own thesis project!

Q: How long will you be gone?
A: A minimum of two years. It really depends on how quickly I can get my research done, or how much procrastinating I do. (I hear they have excellent diving in New Zealand).

AND... (drum roll please)... the MOST freqently asked question...

Q: Are you excited?
A: ...? No. (please note sarcasm) YES! OF COURSE I'M EXCITED!

I hope this answers some of your questions, if you have any more, comment below, and I'd be happy to answer them!

Happy Halloween

2010-11-03T22:07:00.000-07:00

So, now that it is november, and I realize that I'm behind on a post... I hope that everyone has a wonderful Halloween! (I sure did, hence why I didn't update my post on the actual day!)

As promised, here is the costume worn by the Car Cephalopod, as he attended a costume party on All hallows Eve. All in all a good night, except for all the candy we ate.

The Wandering Octopus and the Great Pumpkin

2010-10-17T19:07:00.000-07:00

So in case you didn't know, Halloween in coming up in a few weeks! A great time for costumes, candy, and of course Pumpkins!

In order to get the perfect pumpkin, one must visit the Laity Pumpkin Patch! When you arrive, try not to be overwhelmed by the vast feild of pumpkins ready to go home with you! They come in all shapes and size, so choose wisely (it helps to have a design in mind first).

But wait, there's more to the pumpkin patch than just Pumpkins! On our visit we also participated in some fun autumn activities, such as getting lost in a corn maze, being attacked by giant spiders, and watching finding nemo. If you want to get into the halloween spirit early, you could always dress like a pirate! While we were there, we saw alot of farm animals such as ducks, sheep, turkeys, and panda bears. And what octopus blog is complete without a game of:

I am happy that I now have a pumpkin to carve for halloween, and the octopus is happy that he was approached to replace a certain travelocity spokesperson. (we'll see how the negotiations go). Thank you Laity Pumpkin Patch!

Now if only the octopus had a costume for Halloween! Any suggestions?

The Octopus and the Aquarium

2010-09-27T23:36:00.000-07:00

Please note: All material in the blog has a Seal of Approval!
Finally, after months of being back on the mainland, I finally had a chance to visit my favorite place in the city (and my second home), the Vancouver Aquarium!
We met my friend Catherine at an iconic symbol of the Vancouver Aquarium, an orca statue/fountain. So, to state the obvious... it's an aquarium, we saw fish, fish and more fish - - But then we saw an "extinct" fish, the coelacanth! (Please note the quotation marks, as this fish has been found off the coast of Indonesia.)
The Vancouver Aquarium is divided into sections based on aquatic habitat.
We started out by journeying to the Arctic exhibit, where we saw beluga's, and did some very important research... VERY IMPORTANT! We also passed by the dolphin tank, which houses three rescued Pacific White Sided Dolphins. (They move fast, and therefore take blurry pictures)
We then ventured into the "Treasures of the BC coast" exhibit, which houses eels, seastars, jellies, and of course (everyones favorite) the elusive Giant Pacific Octopus... who was not so elusive today!
We then made our way to see the dolphin show (have I mentioned they're fast) and if you don't beleive how fast they are... watch this!

(the little boy is so impressed with the dolphins... it was pretty adorable)

Afterwards we made our was to grab a quick bite, and then headed to the much warmer tropical exhibt, which houses large tropcial reef tanks with brightly colored fish, sharks, spiny urchins, and a very curious fresh water pufferfish. The Tropical gallery is also home to an indoor rainforest with parrots, frogs, camen, a sltoh or two, some turtles, and various other animals.
All and all, it was a fun day of frolicking with the oceans animals!

The Octopus Visits Dinotown!

2010-09-19T00:17:00.000-07:00

One fine summer day, the octopus and I parked the car and decided to take a scenic boat trip down the river.

As we paddled, we found ourselves surrounded by dense jungle. Up ahead, we saw something moving along the river bank, as we drew nearer, we realized it was a ginormous lizard! It was unlike anything we had ever seen. As we rounded the river bend, we found ourselves nearing a port. We docked our canoe, and ventured into a stone-age metropolis known as "Dinotown". (Y'know, you'd think that the Parks and Services department of Canada would put up sinage warning people about a river through time!.... oh! um... never mind)
We decided to tour around by climbing on the Dinotown Express, a train which takes us around the city! After becoming more familiar with our surroundings, we met some of the locals (they're real party animals).
Just outside of town, the Wandering Octopus discovered a giganic dinosaur skull! We woundered what kind of an animal it could have come from... we didn't have to wait long to find out! An Alosaurus came crashing out of the trees and chased us further into the jungle. Finally we were rescued by a friendly Stegosaurus, who scared away the prehistoric predator. Now, we were lost. Luckily enough, a very tall Brontosaurus told us which direction Dinotown was in. As we journed back we ran into a Styracosaurus (it's like a triceratops), a duckbilled dinosaur, and a guy who was a bit of a bone head (that's a dino joke)! As we reached a large clearing we could see Dinotown in the distance. We started to walk across the clearing, and heard a noise behind us! Turning quickly, we saw a Raptor running after us in pursuit! We took off, and were lucky enough to make it back into town before it caught up to us!
Once back in town we passed some time playing mini-golf, (apparently a popular activity in the Jurrasic Period), and then wrote on a cave wall, so that history would know we had been there!
We started to look for a way home. We priced out airline tickets (but with the prices today, neither of us could afford it). We aimlessly wandered around until we ran into the Wandering Octopus' great great great GREEEEEAT Grandfather! (it's amazing what you can do when you travel back in time). He suggested it would be easiest to just hail a taxi, so we did!
We arrived home exhausted just after dinner, exhasuted from out Prehistoric adventure!

The Octopus on Facebook!

2010-08-28T23:37:00.000-07:00

Hi all!
So I thank everyone who is friends with me on facebook and is finding the links to this blog that I post on my page... however... I beleive the time has come for the Car Cephalopod to get connected! That begin said, he now has his very own facebook page, which you can become a fan of! I'll make sure to send out blog updates from this page from now on!
To find this page, click on the link on the bottom right side of the screen (just above the "followers" heading).
I hope everyone that is reading and enjoying this blog will show their support, and hopefully get their friends interested in the escapades of this octopus!
Up next... figuring out Twitter (this could take a while)
Thanks for reading!
~The Wandering Octopus (and his chauffeur)

The Octopus and the Kiwi

2010-08-24T13:55:00.000-07:00

Ok, so when I say "Kiwi"... I'm not referring to the fruit. I'm actually referring to the fact that this blog will not be in vain! I originally started this blog when I applied for the Masters Program at AUT in New Zealand, so that I could keep all my friends back home up to date with my life, while I was overseas.
Yesterday, I received my official letter of acceptance to AUT, meaning that in Feburary I will be getting on a plane and moving to a new country! I am so excited for this opportunity, and hope that as I embark on a new adventure in my life that you all will enjoy reading about it.
I promise to have a few more adventures in North America before february rolls around, but look forward to all that is in store for me and my sassy cephalopod!
NEW ZEALAND, HERE WE COME!!!

the Octopus goes to the wild west!

2010-08-02T20:29:00.000-07:00

This weekend I went back up to central British Columbia for my sister's wedding. It was held on a horse ranch, so the octopus decided to don his ten gallon hat and get country!

We stayed at the AP guest ranch. The Wandering Octopus saw lots of horses, got some good riding lessons, chilled with the locals, operated heavy machinery, set up camp for the night, spent the night drinking instead, decided to wrassle a bear (not a good idea)... wrassled a bison instead, and then he rode off into the sunset in one of the old carrige things.

WOW! What an adventure! And we didn't even mention the Car Cephalopod being kidnapped and held for ransom!

Octopus in the news

2010-07-27T21:24:00.000-07:00

So, since my life is currently boring, and I am not travelling anywhere exciting... the car cephalopod decided it was his duty to update all his readers on a wonderful celebrity cephalopod making headlines!

If you have NOT heard of Paul the Psychic Octopus, you need to hear about him!

Originally making his leap to stardome during the world cup, Paul predicted the correct outcome of all the soccer matches. He was born in England, but now resides in a Germany aquarium. He has been gifted with his own Spanish soccer jersey (the number 8 for his correct number of predictions... and the number of arms he has!)

Paul is now using his fame to bring attention other endagered species. He is the new spokes animal for "Earth, Sea, and Sky", which is working to set up a rescue station for endagered turtles on the Greek Isle of Zakynthos. (Paul even has an agent).

He will also be appearing on the Silver screen. "The Murder of Paul the Octopus" is set to be released in August... but unfortunately does not feature the psychic cephalopod. (A stunt octopus was used for any scenes including the character of "Paul".)

We hope to see more of Paul in the future!

It's my party, I'll bring a Ceph if I want to!

2010-07-11T21:47:00.000-07:00

So, it was recently my birthday! (I'm 23). My family went out to a local pasta house called the "Old Speghetti Factory" for dinner. I had tortellini and it was delish! Of course, I felt obligated to share this wonderful day with my cephalopod companion (doning his brand new party hat!) A good time was had by all!

(yeah, this is me and my family. Arn't we a smiley bunch!))
We then went home for present opening, (which involved a mushy card from my parents), and cake eating.

My family got me an AWESOME octopus ice cream cake... however, if someone can please explain to me why he's holding a phone... please comment below!

The Octopus and the Graduate

2010-06-22T12:34:00.000-07:00

I have finally graduated from University! (It's taken five years, so beleive me, to a perpetual student this feels like a big deal!) I now have a BSc in Biology from the University of Victoria (also known as bunnyland). My ceremony was very exciting. (I got a cold the day before, so I was a bit dozy the whole day) We were paraded into the auditorium, and everyone in the audience claps, and waves and takes pictures of you... you feel a bit like a celebrity. Then you sit for an hour until they call your name. You walk across the stage with a big grin on your face, the chancellor bops you on the head with a hat (it's true), and then you go back to your seat!
It's over! Just like that! You have a degree! (well, maybe there was a bit more pomp and ceremony than that)
I am so thankful for my family and friends for their support over the past five years.

What's next for me? Well, there's always a Master's Degree program down in New Zealand...BRING ON THE SQUID!

The Octopus goes camping!

2010-06-22T12:09:00.001-07:00

I will start by saying that I am not a camper! However, I thought I would give it a chance.
We journeyed into the Mountains, and found our campsite. From there we put up our tarps and tents (this took several hours... in pouring rain). The octopus helped us chop wood so we could get a fire going, at which point we cooked hot dogs and marshmellows. I found out that during camping you spend alot of time sitting on your butt under a tarp, or playing cards (under a tarp), or eating dry cereal (this is also done under a tarp!)
I didn't even last 24 hours before calling it quits. I'm told by avid campers that it was just a bad weekend to go, and I shouldn't let it ruin my opinion of sleeping in the great outdoors. I actually don't think it did, because I always start laughing when I think back on my sad attempt at camping!

The Octopus travels to Kamloops!

2010-06-08T22:56:00.001-07:00

The octopus and I travelled up to Kamloops to watch my friends convocation ceremony. (Congrats again, Katie). The morning, of course, started with Timbits, and then a three and a half hour drive from Maple Ridge to Kamloops. The drive is extremely scenic; moving from the coasts temperate rainforests, to glacier covered mountaintops (we saw snow by the side of the road... in June!), and finally to the deserts of the BC interior!
The ceremony was held outdoors at Thomson Rivers University, and consisted of approximately 120-150 grads. It was really exciting for me personally, because I will be crossing the stage at my own convocation in a little over a week! (Fingers crossed I don't trip!)
And of course, my faithful cephalopod will be joining me at the due!

The Octopus moves to Maple Ridge

2010-05-04T12:53:00.001-07:00

After leaving Victoria behind, the Car Cephalopod turned his gaze to the community of Maple Ridge, British Columbia! It's my home town, and I have moved back in with my parents while I find an awesome job, and save up some money! Maple Ridge is known for... um... probably nothing, but we have alot of HORSES! Here is the Car Cephalopod with some of the locals!

In fact, here in Maple Ridge we LOVE horses so much, we put a giant metal horse on top of our town clock! (It used to be our biggest tourist attraction because it moved... but then it broke, and we never fixed it).

The Octopus leaves Victoria!

2010-04-29T12:06:00.000-07:00

So, yesterday was my final exam of my undergraduate education at UVic! Which means, today, I'm packing up and moving home (with my parents) because I have no money! (oh the joys of being a student). So, the Car Cephalopod and I journey'd to downtown Victoria to take one final look at the scenery! (Apparently we made some friends, as tourists were looking at us strangely, and asking question about the Octopus)

I will miss all the amazing people I have met and worked with in Victoria! I wish everyone the best, and I am positive I will be seeing you soon! The Octopus will be BACK! (Duh duh duuuuuh!)

The Octopus was a SUPERSTAR!

2010-04-28T10:17:00.000-07:00

SO! While trawling the internets and being bored out of my mind, I stumble across this video on youtube! Apparently the Car Cephalopod had an auspicious music career prior to living in my car!

I don't know who this guy is... or why there's a hippo in the video too... but this rocked my world!

The Octopus goes to see Oceans!

2010-04-24T10:44:00.000-07:00

This past Earth day, Disney Nature released its newest environmentally aware film, Oceans! Who better than to go see a movie about the ocean, than a cephalopod?

We were the first ones in line for the theatre, actually, we were the ONLY ones in line for the movie! We watched the movie while happily munching on our popcorn! I have to say, the movie had some EXCELLENT cinematography! We saw dolphins, sharks, porcupine fish, the Giant ocean sunfish (a personal favorite), as well as many other amazing animals! The car cephalopod saw some relatives: the blanket octopus, mimic octopus, and the cuttlefish!

Disney has said that for every ticket sold in the first week, it will donate money to help save coral reefs! What more do you need? You get to save the reefs, and see an awesome movie! I really enjoyed the movie, and would suggest any ocean lover go to see it. It was engaging, inspiring, and (don't tell the kids) educational! I definitely wasn't bored, and this wasn't a movie you make out to in the back row!
The wandering octopus highly recommends going to see this movie, it is perfect for the whole family!

the Octopus goes to Sidney

2010-03-03T20:51:00.000-08:00

No, not Australia... although that would be nice! Today, the Car cephalopod and I journey'd to the SHAW Ocean Discovery Centre, in Sidney, BC!

It's an organization set up about a year ago to educate the public about the animals in the surrounding waters of the Island, particularily the Barkley Sound area. Car Cephalopod was welcomed with open arms (no, seriously! We were the ONLY people there, and the staff were REALLY curious as to why I was carrying a stuffed octopus around!) It's a great experience for learning, and seeing cool creatures! We saw a huge whale skull, got up close and personal with Strawberry anenome's, had a fish eye's veiw of the neighbourhood, and had a starring contest with a Pacific Spiney Lumpsucker! (he won) The Wandering Octopus even found his next meal... and a DATE!

We finished the day up with wandering around Sidney: playing around, hanging with pirates, and panning for gold! Finally, with the sun setting, we headed home!

Visiting the big White!

2010-02-16T17:04:00.000-08:00

Instead of going to downtown Vancouver to see the olympic fun, we decided to head to Whiterock, British Columbia for a fun day on the beach. "Why is it called Whiterock?" You may ask... well...

YES! There is a GIANT WHITE ROCK along the coastline, right next to the pier!
It was a beautiful day, perfect for the competitions going on in and around vancouver!
However, Car Cephalopod, my friend and myself just enjoyed goofing off on the beach, and enjoying the good weather!

The Wandering Octopus goes to the Spa

2010-02-14T20:55:00.000-08:00

To commence spring break, a friend and I went on a little roadtrip up the west Coast of Vancouver Island to go visit the Kingfisher spa for the day! (and of course, Car Cephalopod and his friend turtle joined us!) There's no better way to rid yourself of the stress of schools than a massage and spending the day relaxing by the ocean in my opinion! We got up early, and grabbed breakfast at Tim Hortons! Car Cephalopod ordered for us... and then proceeded to eat our noutricious breakfast muffins! We even caught him eating all our TIMBITS! We enjoyed a scenic drive up the islands coast, which involved singing to the radio, eating candy, looking for elusive elk, and admiring the wildlife (we saw a bald eagle, and tonnes of sea lions! And no trip up to Comox would be complete without taking a picture with the Wolrd Famous Giant gnome!

Finally we reached the Kingfisher Spa, just outside of Comox.

We enjoyed getting massages, and walked the "hydropath"! (A unique combination of jet tubs, and water features, which is an hour of pure aqua relaxation!)
We then headed home, and stopped for some dinner! Apparently Car Cephalopods are also voracious vegetarians! And after looking at the menu, decided to get a decadent dessert to top off an AMAZING day!

Introducing Car Cephalopod

2010-02-03T20:01:00.000-08:00

Meet car Cephalopod! He is an octopus who resides in my car! He enjoys traveling around witnessing the wonders of the world! Where ever he goes, he enjoys making new friends! It's fun being a traveling octopus!