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Andre Tardiff <AndreTardiff_canada>
"Gap Year Canadian, eh!"


Current global location: Kyoto Japan

Traveller's Path:
July 8th 2008 -Vietnam's capital Ha Noi
to Halong Bay;
to Ha Noi;
to Hoi An;
to Nga Trang;
to HCMC;
Cambodia - Phonm Penh;
to Siem Reap (Ankor Wat)
to Sihanouk ville;
to Phonm Penh;
to Malaysia?!?!? (lay over)
to Hong Kong;
August 17th
to JAPAN! (Tokyo)
to Kumagaya
to Kyoto

Gender  
Male
Last ActiveProfile Views
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Hometown
Brandon, Manitoba
Andre Tardiff's URL
http://www.bebo.com/AndreTardiff_canada
Member Since
April 2008

Andre Tardiff says:
"Kyoto Tomorrow" (18 hours ago) me too!

Traveller's Path - Thailand & Laos
*** May 22nd 2008 *** The Gap Year Begins - From Brandon to Winnipeg Manitoba (Canada) * Yo London UK * To Bangkok Thailand * To Phuket Province & Paton * To Ko Phi Phi * To Koh Tao * To Koh Samui (less than 24 hours) * To Koh Pha-Nang * To Bangkok & flight to Laos * Thailand Adventure Concludes *** June 22nd 2008 Laos adventure begins *** To Luang Prabang * To Phan Savan * To Vang Vieng * To Vientiane * Back to Vang Vieng * Return to Vientiane to fly to Vietnam *** July 8th 2008 the Laos experience concludes.
Movies
City of God, the Indiana Jones Trilogy, Gladiator, Pulp Fiction, Narnia (favorite childhood story book, c'mon is nostalgic), Away from here (Canadian film). Hah i have tons more I just can't think of them right now. I really like epics and not so hollywood ending movies.
Sports
I like watching Basketball Live, I play Ultimate Frisbee and Soccer. Mt. Biking, Snowboarding, Scuba diving, wake boarding, etc.
Scared Of
Heights! But they don't stop me! The most exciting thing I did last summer as a hot air balloon adventure over london Ontario!
Happiest When
Meeting new people, having something to look forward to, being in the company of intelligent and good natured people, eating delicious foods, being with friends, sleeping, exercising and playing sports, painting, photography, good tv series, good cartoon series, exploring new things, and anything creative, intelligent, and imaginative, etc etc.
Books
"Flower of Algernon" by Daniel Keyes, "Watership Down" by Richard Adams, "Odd Thomas" and "Forever Odd" by Dean Koontz, "To Kill a Mocking Bird" by Harper Lee, "Lord of the Flies" by William Golding, "Animal Farm" and "1984" by Geoge Orwell, and "Choke" by Chuck Palahniuk.

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  • Pick your favorite photo! I've randomly picked some of mine, just wonder which appeals most to others as well!

    1. "Frenzy" - Motion shot in HaNoi - Vietnam
    2. "Drangon 'Ban' Z" - Ban, one of the shelter boys of Saigon City in Vietnam meditates in the
    3. "Fisherman" - A lone fisherman uses a stepping stone path to advance further into the lake - HaNoi
    4. "Peace of Phi Phi" - Longbaots of Koh Phi Phi Island - Thailand. A familiar site of the topics
    5. "Shade" - My Aviators - Bangkok Thailand. The example photo Canon based their reflective contest on.

    4 Comments

  • How should I celebrate my Birthday?

    1. Eat a giant Birthday Cake
    2. Buy myself a huge present (or many many small ones)
    3. Spend it at the children's Shelter and celebrate with the boys (where I volunteer all this week)
    4. Get crazy drunk and party all over Ho Chi Min City (in Vietnam)
    5. Chill out with a glass of a wine, a few friends, and a huge meal at a classy restaurant.

    5 Comments

  • Where should Andre go first?

    1. Head South to visit the USA, Mexico, and South America
    2. South East to Australia, and New Zealand
    3. Head to Europe - Iceland, France, Ireland, UK, Italy, Switzerland, Spain, Germany, etc.
    4. Visit many of Africa's countries
    5. Head East to Japan, Singapore, China, India, Thailand, Russia, etc

    7 Comments

 

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August 27th 2008 - Wednesday: Blue eyes
I've found myself in Kumagaya, a prefecture of the Tokyo region which has absolutely no reason to draw in a tourist of any kind... which makes me probably one of a very few foreigners actually in the region, and likely one of the very few white boys around. This is what makes traveling fun. This is where you see how people really react to an obvious outsider.

I may not be seeing any epic sights, any tourist attractions, or even doing anything exciting, but it is the best way to experience and integrate with a culture in a natural 'day to day life' way. (Tokyo was too used to foreigners being everywhere to give a real experience like this)

Anyway, briefly why am I in Kumagaya? I'm couch surfing and it gives me an in to a non-tourist area (read above).

Back to the story, slept in today so I felt in the mood to go for a wander and I've decided Japan is very much like any urban center in North America. Buildings, lay of the land (roads a bit different though), restaurants, fast food joints, stores, and food marts... except everything is in Japanese and their characters and symbols are completely different from our Alphabet and there is an obvious influence from their culture being different, but on the surface... the basic structure of their cities... I kind of feel like I'm at home... home if I stepped into an alternate universe where English did not exist (I'm halfway across the globe, that’s close enough to an alternate Universe).

It was a trip to do a little grocery shopping that really put a smile on my face. I proudly and confidently marched into a random food mart knowing I'd stick out like a sore thumb. And boy did I ever. It was so surreal entering something as simple as a grocery store and have it feel so different because in a crowd of brown eyed and black haired Japanese, my blue-eyed blonde look was a stark contrast.

I can remember back home in Brandon, a predominantly Caucasian community (though this as fortunately been changing over the years as our economy and small city booms), that whenever anyone of a different ethnic origin would walk through a grocery store (I used to work in one) they would stand out in a very striking fashion. It would be in a good way though; it was as if they were a curiosity, exotic because they weren't just another face lost in a crowd of similarities. They didn't have to put any effort into a trendy fashion or make up or what not to get noticed, they simply were exotic by nature. That is how I feel here. It's my turn to stick out and not be another face lost in the crowds of 'same same but different' (a little Thailand quote there). I really like the sensation.

Wandering around the grocery store the children would stare with curiosity, looking up and staring intently at my blue eyes from their ankle biting heights. The adults would smirk or smile as they passed by but were too polite to give more than a glance (such a polite people, not wanting me to feel like I stuck out but holding back their own curiosity). A simple look over my shoulder after I walked by usually caught them giving in to that curiosity though.

They locals in the store were really friendly though, they'd smile and would politely make room if I needed to get by.

The experience of not being able to read a thing on any of the price tags, products, or signs is quite a different sensation as well. I had to guess as to what I was buying. Meats, produce and dairy is a given, and fortunately baked goods and candies and virtually universal... but if I want any details of the product I'm out of luck.

I smugly packed my basket, knowing I was the odd ball in the store, purchased my goods, threw in a 'Nihongo Wa Dekimasen' to the cashier and proceeded back down the street to where I'm staying.

I dunno, It was really fun just doing a simple every day activity and seeing how people reacted to my presence.
2 Comments 8 days ago
August 22nd
Same same kind of day;

Saw the Sony Building (nothing much to report about it) and Tokyo's version of the Eifel tower. Big white and red, this view point gave us a great view of the city. Some MASSIVE and well designed giant buildings would tower over the rest of the mosaik of skyscrapters which make up Tokyo, a very different but equally interesting sight in comparison to Hong Kong. Hong Kong was more of a work of art, where Tokyo is just massive and so diverse in it's structures.

Other than that, not alot happened. Chris, Emili and I went out for supper and drinks but while waiting outside of Shibuya station before supper I was minding my own business and then approached by a fashions model recruiter for some organization in Japan, wanting to know how long I'd be around and if i'd be interested in doing a few shoots if any came up while I was around. They took down my info, took a few profile photos, swapped phone numbers and said they'd let me know if anything comes up. Apparently it's somewhat commen for agencies to approach foriegners they're interested in for shoots. I'm crossing my fingers, getting to do a photo shoot of any kind would be a wicked addition to my stay in Japan and really make the experience unique.
3 Comments 11 days ago
August 21st - Temple and huge electronic store
Woke up at noon again! Uhg. Morning wasted. However I felt great for the first time since I got here. I think I wasn't quite feeling myself since we arrived but today was a really good day.

Chris edited, did laundry and arranged accomodations for himself over the next few days so I explored the city on my own and finally, with the India visa and phone problems out of the way, saw some of Tokyo for the first time after 4 days in this city! Some real sight seeing.

Went to a temple and although this one wasn't their best... they are so much more impressive and visually appeal than any I saw in SE Asia (except Ankor Wat but thats like ancient temple, these ones are still ued). I really like their massive lanterns and the whole architecture. The gardens as well are really great to explore.

From there I went to another part of the city and explored the eletronics district in which I found a 103" plasma TV...shi-at... this was the biggest TV I had ever seen and the picture was flawless... I didn't even look at the price because I was so enthralled with this TV. I love eletronics, There were 9 floors and each floor the size of a WalMart. It was insane. The video games, products, camera, everything. Alot of the floors were houseware eletronics or watches, and misc. items though.

After the eletronics I explored a 7 floor book store, just for fun. Was easily the only foreigner in the entire complex. The selection was another jaw dropper. So many books on EVERY subject imaginable. On the top floor was some interesting comic books. Very sexual and seductively drawn cartoon girls on the covers. I believe there's quite a market for it. It was actually pretty hot for a cartoon. If I could read japanses I may have even tried to read one. Bit of a surprised considering how conserved the population has seemed thus far. Maybe literature and sexually explicit comic books are their release from the conersative protocoles of their society. Don't quote me on that though, complete stab in the dark.

Slowly getting a feel for this place day by day. Few more days of sight seeing then might step it up a level and try some more adventuresome activities like climbing Mt. Fuji or exploring other cities.
0 Comments 14 days ago
 

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Andre flip flop-less
ps andre thats you incase you didnt realise that from my amazing drawing!:D
Roxanne Hughes-Monteiro 0 Replys
:]
canada
Dj Danger 0 Replys
My attempt
Not too bad.
Seeing as I was using the touch pad on the laptop haha.

GAP YEAR CANADA :P
I Like Mooses Aye 0 Replys
 

Comments

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Ian At The Gap Year
Meowwwwwww.
1 day ago
Dillon Merasty Ukrainetz
hey whats up?
2 days ago
Lewis Whaitiri
How is Japan buddy...

I remember when i went to Japan last year, i had the best time!!! and those lil photo booths still crack me up...Japanese and their technology is just CRAZZZYYYY!!!

If you get the chance see if you can you can go to Hida Takayama and stay at a Ryokan (traditional Japanese Hotel) we went there, the place is rich in history if that is your thing, and at the Hotel you have a traditional Japanese feast that lasts like 6hours, just eating...it was MEAN LOL...

well buddy just thought id stop in seeing that we havent spoken in a while...

Hope all is well

Lew :D
3 days ago
Hayley
well just wanna say ur pretty gd @ breakdance :D
outher than that great show i've really enjoyed it :)
3 days ago
Hayley
xD
my friend miriam told me
2 watch it and im glad she
did cuze seriously iloved the
show =]
4 days ago
Hayley
im pretty gd thnxxx
wbu??
nt really i've started watching 2 days ago
got alot to catch xD
but ill finshed it soon cuze im like
watching 4 or 3 videos aday
4 days ago
Hayley
heeey there
thnxx 4 accepting the add xD
and(great show)
4 days ago
Amy O' Connor
Haha I know isn´t it ridiculous! Believe it or not, I met a guy in the hostel who is travelling around the world with a banana costume - he has worn it in front of all the world´s famous sites, funny guy...
5 days ago
LoveBug
ah right.
a true gap year fan then lol.
wkd, who else puts carrots in their hats. or showers with their clothes on for a vid:) xo
5 days ago
Tracylee
yay your in Japan!
And I see youve found the infamous purikura! the sticker pics that you get to decorate them! def japanese modern culture!
When do you head down south?
6 days ago
Savii-Lee
lol..

haha your new video.. is funny.. lol..

man tokyo looks amazing...= ]

hehe.. best part from the video. was wen u and ur mate were in the photo booth taking the pic.. lol and editing them,..

i bet u guys had fun.. lol

savii
6 days ago
Amy O' Connor
Yes, of course - why? Is that weird? haha
1 week ago
Inukshuk
Hi Andre
Lines are crazy here at UDub again! I came by today to check a few things for next week and ran back out! The lines are awful! The Quad was blasting Sexyback and the crazy gang from UWSA were hoarding boxes of cake and stuff into the Quad....soooo next week the crazy year begins all over again! Just thought I'd throw a crazy little piece of UDub luv ur way with a little update on the chaos that's only just beginning!
Hope your travels continue to treat you fabulous!
1 week ago
Linda-Marie
hows the travellin goin, wer r ya ni in this big wide world lol

sumwer sunny a hope unlike shitty belfast
all we r seein is rain n more rain, its worse than winter lol
1 week ago
Que Srah Srah
Yeah i'd say it a bit of culture shock alright! but really cool though is it? i defo hope to make it to Japan some day!
well currently i am residing in Melbourne, its a really cool city! i moved here in May, spent a April in Thailand and Cambodia on the way over, i've been to Thailand and Laos before, really good fun, did pretty much same route as yourself, took part in the tubing in Vang Vien etc... was brilliant! Cambodia, what a place,was only in Sihanoukville tho, when i saw you get you hairs removed on the beach i had to laugh because that happened me too...not my chest though!!! :L :L my legs... those kids would sit down and burn the ear off you until you eventually just give in. Sinvlle was cool, did you check out the cinema there, Top Cat? i spent most of my time in there as it rained alot...how bad? i got to see some of my favourite movies on the big screen! :D
So Melbourne rocks, i really like it, gonna stay here for a year n work, save money, travel later! hoorah! Party on!!
1 week ago
Que Srah Srah
Hey Andre, i just wanted to let you know i think you're doing a great job with the gap year, i was shortlisted to represent Ireland, and i'll be honest i havent been following it that much but your adventures definitly seem to be the most real life version of back packing, it reminds me of my own adventures in the past! keep it up and enjoy Japan... you lucky thing! you might be experiencing some Lost in Translation moments, soak it up i say! god damn, i'd love to go to Japan!!! Party on! Sarah :)
1 week ago
Nik
Here's that love I owe you....... Dont forget to buy electronics from Japan... They most likely wont be in North America yet!!
1 week ago
Samantha
Thanks for that warm welcome..
That's really nice of you...:D
1 week ago
Dave Brett
lol it was fun to make happy to hear you liked it

how is japan mate?

Hawaii is mental! catching the big waves dude lol!!!


talk soon

Dave the Rave
1 week ago
Miriam
well my friend told me sign up in bebo and isaw one
of your videos on the first page so istarted watching it
yaaa iguess so xD ,pretty gd
still dunno imean theres alot of place's
n.p xD
1 week ago
 
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