Beyond the 5 Star Hotels [31/52] by Krysta

I've just returned from an emotional trip to Kolkata, India. Myself and a few other crew members ventured out of our beautiful hotel and wandered around the heart of the slums. It's heartbreaking to see the way that so many people live. It's hard not to feel compelled to help all of them, but sadly I didn't have the time or the funds to do so. We were able to a mother and her 2 young children by buying them powdered milk and a baby bottle. It wasn't much, but it meant so much to them. It was a very eye opening experience, and I'm glad that I had the opportunity to visit.  

It knows no distance [31/52] by Ryan

Dream Big [30/52] by Krysta

After 2 great weeks back home, it was back to Dubai... back to work, and reality. Well, my reality at least. I had one day in the sandy city before I set off on my next journey. First stop... Bangkok! I got my fill of delicious Thai food before heading to Sydney, Australia. Nearly 3 years ago my biggest dream came true when I landed in this city for the first time. I'd spent years trying to get here. I never could have imagined that only a few years later I'd be back.... chasing my next dream, and getting PAID to be in Sydney. It's amazing how life turns out sometimes. Sydney was just what I needed to get my mind off of the inevitable homesickness that came with saying goodbye only a few days earlier. I did a quick trip to Christchurch, New Zealand and then spent a few days wandering the harbour city in the pouring rain. I ate good food, finally bought myself a pair of real Ugg boots, and enjoyed the cool winter air. Time flew by as it always does, and it was time to go back to Bangkok. One last day of fun before I head back to my desert home.  

A new day tomorrow [30/52] by Ryan

Gorgeous sunset while visiting my friend who I've known since grade 3.

Pad Thai! [29/52] by Krysta

(Oops.. I skipped a week!)  I was so excited to be back in Bangkok for one reason in particular.... the food! Thai food is among my favorite type of cuisine and I couldn't wait to indulge in the spicy goodness. Within an hour of arriving at my hotel I'd ordered Pad Thai... it was just as amazing as I'd remembered it. Sure, you can get it at restaurants around the world, but it tastes so much better when it's authentic!

Goodbye my lover [29/52] by Ryan

Another goodbye that came too soon.

Riding Off Into the Sunset [28/52] by Krysta

After an amazing 2 weeks, I'm headed back to Dubai. I'm sad to leave, but happy that I had the opportunity to go back... even if my visit was far too short. I kept busy camping, singing karaoke, catching up with friends and family, cuddling with Titan, and of course spending every possible minute with Ryan. He dropped me off at the airport this morning and I was quite an emotional wreck. Unfortunately, goodbyes are one of those things that seem to get harder each time. I'm going to miss the people that I love and the beauty of my home country. Off I go, back to Dubai.  

Road Trip! [28/52] by Ryan

Heading out for another weekend in the big pointy things out west.

Home [27/52] by Krysta

I've lived in Dubai for 7 months and finally had a chance to go back home. After 18 hours of flying, I finally landed in Calgary, Alberta. Home sweet home. I reunited with Ryan at the airport... he even brought me flowers! It was like a movie scene, at least in my head. I couldn't have been happier. We drove back to Red Deer where I reunited with my mom and brothers, who I hadn't seen since December. The next day, Ryan and I packed up the car and headed to the mountains to do what we love best... camping! The past few months I've lived in fancy hotels and nothing felt better than roughing it in a tent. It's great to be home, but I can only imagine how impossibly difficult it will be to leave again next week.

Oh Canada! [27/52] by Ryan

Krysta stopped by my neck of the woods to enjoy some quality Canadian sights. It was great to have her here for 2 weeks and it all went by way too fast! mom and dad on the right too!

Capetown [26/52] by Krysta

I was lucky enough to score a flight to Capetown, South Africa this week! It's not easy to get such a desirable layover, in particular amidst the madness that is the FIFA World Cup. Fans occupied every seat in our aircraft, eagerly awaiting the games that they were fortunate enough to have tickets for. Football fever has overcome the entire city and it's an incredible atmosphere. I'm not a soccer fan, but I fell in love with Capetown for the landscapes. The beautiful mountains and coastlines blew me away. I can't wait to go back.  In even more exciting news... I'll be at home by this time next week. It feels like it's been forever.

Hungry Chicks [26/52] by Ryan

Found a birds nest in the grasses.

Healthy Eating is Overrated. [25/52] by Krysta

What a great week!! I was sent on my dream layover... Zurich, Switzerland!! I wandered the  streets, walked through fields and forests, and took in the amazing fresh, cool air. Most importantly, I indulged in some of the best chocolate in the world. I fell in love with Switzerland and I can't wait to return some day! On Wednesday, I officially graduated from Aviation College. Despite the fact that I've been flying for nearly 5 months to 21 different countries, I can only now call myself an official flight attendant. It feels good to be able to say it. The next day was my birthday. I don't know how the past year has gone by so fast. All of a sudden, I'm 24! I had a low key celebration, relaxing by the pool sipping pina coladas with a good friend. It's been a great week! I'm hoping that next week goes by just as fast... only 12 days until I go home!

MOO-tiful [25/52] by Ryan

If you look closely you'll see the little buggers that were revolting and not wanting their portait taken.  I've realllllllllllllllllllllllly been enjoying this new camera, the detail is unbelievable, the noise performance, the FULL FRAME that makes my 17mm WIDE omg. haha.  I'm in love, twice.

Once Upon a Time In China [24/52] by Krysta

"The roots of all goodness lie in the soil of appreciation for goodness." - Dalai Lama  It was a relaxing, lazy week for me. I spent most of it lounging around my apartment or at the pool with friends. After nearly a week without a single flight, I was given a flight to Beijing, China! I've been crossing my fingers for more Asian destinations, so I was quite excited. Sadly, I didn't make it to the Great Wall of China, but I'll be back again soon! I spent my time sampling local cuisine (cautiously) and bargaining for good deals in the massive markets. I ended off a great layover by stopping to visit the beautiful Lama Temple. In the heart of a bustling city of 22 million people, it's amazing to find such a peaceful place. My first trip to China was a lot of fun, and I've stocked up on more tea than I'll ever be able to drink! Despite all of the excitement over such an interesting trip, the main thing on my mind right now is home. I'm only 19 days away from going back for the first time in 7 months, and I couldn't be more excited!

Never Too Old For Fun [24/52] by Ryan

Full Frame 17mm tire swing. :)

Sri Lanka! [23/52] by Krysta

This week has had it's share of ups and downs. Ryan went home, so naturally I was a bit sad to say goodbye once again. June is reserve month for me. In non-flight attendant terms, I have no set schedule. I spent my days on standby and get sent on flights when they are short of a crew member. After a week of no flights, I was sent to Colombo, Sri Lanka! To be honest,I didn't know anything about the destination until I arrived. I discovered that it is a beautiful country with friendly people... and elephants! I ventured out with some of the crew to visit an elephant orphanage... such a cool experience! They are amazing animals. Now I wait for my next adventure, who knows where it might be!  

Together Again [23/52] by Ryan

Finishing up an amazing night at the Burj Al Arab with my beautiful girlfriend. It was a great vacation, a great year of dating and most ridiculous hotel in the world.

A Few of My Favorite Things [22/52] by Krysta

The past week has been amazing. Ryan flew to Dubai and we spent 6 awesome days together. We lazed around the beach, ate delicious food, went on romantic dates, and even sipped fancy drinks at the Burj Al Arab, the world's only 7 star hotel. While he was here, we celebrated our one year anniversary. It's gone by so fast, and I'm so blessed to have such an incredible person to love, who loves me in return. As sad as I was to say goodbye, I'm thankful for the time that we were able to spend together. He showered me with gifts, including a beautiful Blurb book that he'd had made for me... all of my Project 365 photos from last year!! It was really special and an awesome way to look back on what was one of the most eventful years of my life so far. I love you Ryan, and I'll miss you until the next time we are together again!!

L.U.C.K.Y. [22/52] by Ryan

If she were any easier on the eyes, there would be zero pressure (like space) and they'd pop right out. Good thing she's the perfect amount of easy-on-the-eyes.  It's like.........(insert your sappy-lame comparison here).....!!

Shopping With The Locals [21/52] by Krysta

This is the only shot that I was able to get of the busy market in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania. I would have loved to have taken more, but I wasn't sure if the locals would appreciate it. I quickly snapped this photo as I was exiting the taxi and then put my camera away to do some serious shopping. We sampled local snacks and left with bags full of fresh fruit for ridiculously little money. It was great to leave the hotel and get to experience a bit of the culture, rather than heading to the tourist hot spots. It was amazing to see the differences in the way of life.... and the locals were just as amazed to see myself and an Australian girl... they stared as we walked from stall to stall, as they rarely see people of a different skin color. The few that spoke English greeted us warmly with "Sister!"... such friendly people, and such an amazing opportunity to catch a tiny glimpse of their life.

SNOW DAY! [21/52] by Ryan

I built a 7 foot snow man to protest the cold snowy weather. I did enjoy sledding and other winter activities today though! :)  Here's to June and 40C in Dubai!

Close to Home [20/52] by Krysta

I saw this leaf lying on the street on a rainy day and thought that perhaps I'd magically been transported back to Canada. The truth was, I was in Germany and I'm not even sure if it was in fact a maple leaf. For the past few weeks I've felt extremely homesick. Even when visiting the most beautiful destinations, I couldn't seem to get my mind off of home and how much I miss my friends, family, and boyfriend. It seemed that nothing could shake my sad mood, but something did! This week Ryan booked flights to Dubai. Once again, he's lifted my spirits and I can't wait to see him in only 2 weeks and celebrate an amazing year of dating. Things kept getting better. I checked my work email to find that my vacation time had been confirmed. I'm headed back home for 2 weeks in July. I still love my job, but it's true that home is where the heart is. I think I need a good visit with the people that I love to recharge my positive attitude! I'm currently in Frankfurt, Germany... it's pouring rain and freezing cold, but nothing can get me down this week.

Wake-up Call [20/52] by Ryan

I woke up this morning and rolled over to look at my alarm clock only to see 5:02am.  I turned on my phone and checked eBuddy to see if Krysta was online. Sure enough she was! :) I was super happy and got to talk to her for about 15 minutes before she had to depart her hotel in Frankfurt, Germany. I noticed something red outside and the sky was a brilliant shade of red and orange. I set my phone (Krysta) down and ran for my camera and poked my nose out my door and walked just far enough to get a shot of the sky. So amazing. SO EARLY. I was ready for another couple hours of sleep before officially getting up. Seeing the vibrant sky did inspire me a bit to get out and shoot more. I want to wake up early more often and go shooting as the sun rises.  Two weeks from now I'll hopefully be watching the sunset on the other side of the world. Lets hope the volcanic ash keeps to itself over in Iceland. :)  Have a great week everyone!

Thanks, April Showers! [19/52] by Krysta

Spring is in full bloom in Europe, and I love it! This week brought me back to Munich for the 3rd time! It's practically my second home by now. While I'd love to be exploring new places that I've never been, I absolutely love Germany and don't mind being there at all! I also went on a not so lovely turnaround flight. As with any job, there are good days and bad days. Every day is a new adventure in this crazy life of mine!

I've been super homesick lately, but I know that when I finally get to go back and visit I'll be sooo happy that it will make up for all of the sad times. 

Every Step Matters [19/52] by Ryan

I ended this week with an exciting trip to Edmonton where I attended a delicious BBQ where hamburgers were grilled and I ate until it hurt. The next day was spent at the MS Walk in Edmonton Alberta raising money for Multiple Sclerosis research. We walked the 5Km path and took many pictures along the way. Overall a great weekend! 

ALSO. Early sunday morning I made a big purchase at www.aircanada.com. Very Exciting! :) 

La Dolce Vita [18/52] by Krysta

It's been a busy week to start off the month of May! Most importantly, I celebrated 11 months of dating Ryan. I miss him so much, long distance relationships are tough sometimes. To keep myself distracted from the homesickness, I did a couple of quick flights to Doha, Qatar and Karachi, Pakistan, followed by a layover in one of my favorite places that I've been to so far... Milan, Italy! With my awesome crew I wandered the city on rainy day.... a refreshing change from the ridiculous heat that has settled into Dubai for the summer. As I sat eating pasta in a small cafe, I realized just how amazing my life is. I'm so thankful for everything that I get to experience with this job. 

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang [18/52] by Ryan

Minus the first part :(

hahah. I went to a gun range today with some friends! It was sweet. Shot these at 1/8000s shutter F/2.8 and left the rest up to impecable timing.. It was rather dificuilt to time the shot and anticipate the shooters that were firing the guns.

Good day. AND I got to see krysta (video chat) last night and today which was AWESOME. becuase her internet never works so we normally don't even try. 

Mmm, Germany [17/52] by Krysta

I've spent more time in Germany than in Dubai this week, with layovers in Hamburg and Munich. My days have consisted of wandering around enjoying the beautiful spring weather and indulging in delicious food... such as baked pretzels, an essential treat when you visit Bavaria! I love Germany... the buildings, the food, the people... and the flights are the best that a flight attendant could ask for. May has even more German flights in store for me! 

Empty Alberta [17/52] by Ryan

Somedays feel wide open and empty without Krysta here. I'm so glad that both of us make such an effort to keep in contact when ever it's possible. She's my priority and drive in life. I try to focus on all my other hobbies and interests when she's gone to fill the time and it usually works quite well. There are still the days that seem to never end and ones I wish Dubai was a 20 minute drive away. 

Can someone invent the teleporter already? thx! 

From Russia, With Love [16/52] by Krysta

I've been Flickr-less for a few days now.... I miss you all!! (Same as the last photo, but minus me. I have to actually take the photo to use it for Project 52!) 

This week was a great one. I flew to Moscow and spent the day getting lost in a city where nobody speaks English. I saw the Red Square, navigated the metro, and ate the best club sandwich I've had in months. Back to Dubai for a day, which I spent wandering the shopping center and planning my future home as I strolled through Ikea. Much to my delight, European airspace finally opened again, and this morning I woke up bright and early (yuck, 4 am!) to get ready for my next flight.... Hamburg, Germany! I spent the day wandering aimlessly, eating tons of delicious food and loving my life and my job. It's spring time, the tulips are blooming, and Hamburg is beautiful! If only Ryan was here, it would be absolutely perfect. 

Once a nerd, Always a nerd [16/52] by Ryan

A flickr friend reminded me that life is not just about my cute amazing girlfriend, but some of the other finer sides of life. Electronics.

I finally managed to get this shot (I've been wanting it and procrastinating forever,) but it turned out great!

I've been busy watching playoff hockey all week and eating 6 meals a day, doing an hour or more of cardio, situps, pushups... trying to drop down 15-25lbs and make my clothes fit again. I'm 10lbs down and 15 to go... wish me luck!

More nerdy photos to come in the future! 

Spring Time in Germany [15/52] by Krysta

Another busy week of flying has come and gone. I did a couple of turnaround flights to Karachi, Pakistan and Hyderabad, India. The highlight of the week was definitely my 24 hour layover in Munich, Germany. I wandered the streets in the chilly spring air, taking photos and overindulging in delicious Geman food... baked pretzels, bacon, sausages, and BREAD... Soooo much bread! One day is never enough time, but fortunately I have 2 more German flights this month! That is, if they aren't cancelled... a cloud of volcanic ash is hovering over Europe and flights are being cancelled all over. It's quite a chaotic time for the airline industry. All flights to London Heathrow (the second busiest airport in the world) and several other airports have been grounded. I have my fingers crossed that my flights won't be affected... I need to stock up on some more chocolate and strawberries! 

Life or something like it [15/52] by Ryan

My Grandpa celebrated his 91st birthday this week. Still happy and enjoying life, even though his vision is going. It's not what's wrong with you that matters, it's your ability to look past it and get the most out of life.

It's taken me a very optimistic view to have a good outlook on life right now. Who would want to encourage the person they love to move to the other side of the world? Crazy talk.

If you truly love something, set it free. If it returns it was meant to be.

Live from London [14/52] by Krysta

What an eventful week. I started off with a turnaround flight to Chennai, India. I celebrated Easter in Dubai with my closest cabin crew friends. We had a nice dinner at a fancy restaurant on the creek and it helped ease the homesickness that comes with living so far away during the holidays. On Tuesday I flew to London!! I was so excited to explore the city... I immediately caught a train from Gatwick and headed for the tourist attractions.. The London Eye, Big Ben, and the Tower Bridge. I rode a double decker bus, got lost inside train stations, took photos inside a red phone booth, and fell in love with London! I can't wait to go back! 

Spring Time and Snow Storms [14/52] by Ryan

This week has been especially crazy. Starting out with great weather... getting 2 inches of snow in a freak blizzard... 54 car pile up out of Red Deer on Highway 2... blowing wind 60-90km/h the next couple days and I'm currently nursing a cold so I can get back up to full health. Missing a girl in the middle east very much.

Life is still Grand.

Living Large in Lagos [13/52] by Krysta

I've just returned from Lagos, Nigeria. For our safety we were advised not to leave the hotel during the duration of our stay, which left little to do aside from lying by the pool, watching movies in our rooms, and my personal favorite... eating! We were entitled to free food in the hotel... buffet restaurant and room service. I overindulged quite a bit, but I couldn't resist. Buffet dinner, and french toast, bacon, shrimp cocktail and grilled salmon delivered to my room. Amazing. I think I left Lagos a few pounds heavier than I was when I'd arrived. It was a much less eventful layover than the rest have been, but I think the relaxation was much needed! 

Happy Easter [13/52] by Ryan

I celebrated Good Friday with family and we had a nice dinner and an Egg hunt. I avoided the chocolate as I binge ate mini eggs the night before.  I had some good times playing board games with family and friends!

I would have loved to be with Krysta this year. Binge eating chocolate with her would be fun, but I'll have to leave that to her friends in Dubai!

This morning we streamed the Easter service from our church to our TV. It was super cool!

A Brand New Person! [12/52] by Krysta

...And he's as cute as a koala! My friends Ran and Angie welcomed a beautiful baby boy named Riley this week! I'm so excited for them, but a bit sad that I can't come home to meet him for awhile. He was born while I was en route to Melbourne, Australia. As soon as I'd checked into my hotel I rushed to Facebook in search of photos, and he is without a doubt one of the cutest babies that I ever did see. I couldn't resist buying him his very first souvenir from Australia. 

I had a great layover, despite the jet lag that I battled the entire time. I spent 24 hours walking around Melbourne before flying to Auckland, New Zealand. Both are such beautiful cities, and the weather was perfect for my aimless wandering. I drank a lot of coffee, ate a lot of food, and had a great time before heading back to Melbourne for one more day. I was able to reunite with a couple of friends that I'd met when I lived in Australia 2 years ago. It was nice to have the chance to catch up before my long flight back to Dubai last night!

Bubbly [12/52]

It's starts in my toes... no wait.. it starts at Toys 'r' us when I see an automatic bubble machine for $12 and COMES WITH 6 Duracell AA batteries. What a deal! Then I buy 3L of bubble solution and go show the world what this 25 year old does for fun. 

Yea. I play with bubbles. SO FUN. 

This week was... crazy... Last Sunday my Dad and I went to the Oilers game for our birthdays against the sharks. AND WON. yes. the last in the league beat the best team in the west... 5-0 until the last 3 minutes when the sharks ended the shut out opportunity. I started working off all the cake I ate last week. I've been super busy at work. I got heart burn for the very first time and thought I was dying or something. I had a nice lazy relaxing saturday that was free and void of the gym.

I can't wait until Krysta comes home!

June can't come soon enough. 

REAL Pizza [11/52] by Krysta

What a great (but busy) week it has been! I started the week with a trip to Nairobi, Kenya. I didn't get a chance to do much, but I still enjoyed a bit of African culture during my short stay. The highlight of my monthly roster came on Wednesday, when I flew to Milan, Italy. I ate pizza, croissants, gelati, and sipped super strong, amazing espresso. Along with another crew member, I got up early to catch a train to Lake Como, where we spent the day wandering, taking photos, eating, and exploring. We took a train up a mountain and enjoyed amazing views of the lake and Como town. Sadly, we only had 24 hours so we had to head back to Milan, where we stopped to see the Milan Cathedral (Duomo) and Piazza del Duomo before heading to the supermarket stocking up on pasta and other essential grocery items. It was a short, but great layover, the best so far. After a long flight, I finally arrived home at 8 am, exhausted, but happy. I love this job.

This week was also important for my awesome boyfriend Ryan. The same day that I flew to Milan, he celebrated his 25th birthday! I felt bad for being so far away, so I sent him cards and emails and arranged for a special delivery of balloons. He is pretty great, and he deserves to be spoiled. I love him, and Italy, and pizza, and being a flight attendant.

Serenade from Afar [11/52] by Ryan

She may be in Dubai. BUT WOW, does she know how to throw me a party! I looove her! :D

She spoiled me rotten even though we were over 11,700km apart when the calendar flipped over to St Patricks Day, my Birthday. It started at 2pm in Alberta when Dubai flipped over and she had stayed up late just to wish me a happy birthday as of Dubai time. There were emails, facebook messages, and a video of her singing me happy birthday. 10 minutes after midnight in Alberta, a call from her cell to wish me happy birthday! I woke up to an amazingly long email that took me two days to read as I was super busy. I came home to Balloons that she had delivered to my house with a card. I opened another card that she had sent from Australia and wrote on it for me not to open until March 17, 2010. She's the greatest. Everyone needs someone like her in their lives! It's even more amazing when you're dating someone like her. Last year in 2009 when I turned 24, her favourite number, She wouldn't stop wishing me happy birthday as we went to sleep... woke up... throughout the day.... when we hung out that evening.... it was pretty great :)

The two stuffed animals Eve & Ry that I got her, celebrated with her by putting on their party hats!

I was truely blow away with how MUCH she did for my birthday. I couldn't have asked for a better present, a better girlfriend, or a better best friend :)

Thank you Krysta! I love you!

City of Dust [10/52] by Krysta

A thick cloud of dust has hung over Dubai for the past week, the result of a recent sandstorm. An eerie grey/orange tinge has replaced the normally blue skies. The visibility was so bad that we faced the fear of diverted flights and delays. Fortunately, my flights have all been pretty uneventful. It's been a busy week, full of turnaround flights... I've been to Bangalore in India, Bahrain, and twice to Riyadh in Saudi Arabia. It's been exhausting, even with a couple of days off in between. Tonight I sat at the airport for 3 hours on standby. Not knowing where I might be sent, I had my suitcase packed with my winter jacket and beach attire. Oh, the unpredictable life of a flight attendant! At the end of the night, I was not needed for any flights and was sent home, much to my relief! I've survived! No more turnarounds this month.... bring on the layovers! Fresh air is calling my name.Ciry of Dust [10/52] -A thick cloud of dust has hung over Dubai for the past week, the result of a recent sandstorm. An eerie grey/orange tinge has replaced the normally blue skies. The visibility was so bad that we faced the fear of diverted flights and delays. Fortunately, my flights have all been pretty uneventful. It's been a busy week, full of turnaround flights... I've been to Bangalore in India, Bahrain, and twice to Riyadh in Saudi Arabia. It's been exhausting, even with a couple of days off in between. Tonight I sat at the airport for 3 hours on standby. Not knowing where I might be sent, I had my suitcase packed with my winter jacket and beach attire. Oh, the unpredictable life of a flight attendant! At the end of the night, I was not needed for any flights and was sent home, much to my relief! I've survived! No more turnarounds this month.... bring on the layovers! Fresh air is calling my name.

Crying [10/52] by Ryan

It's one thing I've never really been able to do since I was about 8. I get sad about stuff, but the most I can usually get is a little misty eyed. I do, however, let the tears stream down my face when I'm laughing so hard I can't control myself as I wipe the water off my face between catching my breath.

It might seem a little sadistic, but I like to know that Krysta cries about me sometimes. It really does show how much I mean to her. I just have to find other creative ways to show her how much she means to me too. I think i've managed this quite well :)

I miss you Krysta!

I Love My Life [9/52]

I started off this week in beautiful Indonesia, soaking up the sun on my best layover yet. Myself and a few other crew members visited Ayer Island in Pulua Seribu, about 30 minutes by boat from the coast of Jakarta. It's amazing to see such a peaceful island so close to a city of 12 million people.

Since then I've spent my time catching up on sleep, avoiding cleaning my bedroom, and going on a couple of quick turnaround flights... one to Bahrain, one to Riyahd, Saudi Arabia.

On Tuesday I celebrated 9 amazing months of dating Ryan! I was super excited when a delivery man arrived with a gift sent from him. I'm not sure how I got so lucky, but I love my life, and my boyfriend! :)

Birthday Boy [9/52] by Ryan

Last Sunday I went up to Edmonton to celebrate my Nephew's 2nd Birthday. He got a lot of Thomas the Train tracks and parts and toys. I've always loved that stuff and am a little jealous. I will have to go up and play with him some day in the future. ALSO Team Canada won the olympic gold medal in Hockey. We brought our HD box up from Red Deer so we could catch the game in Hi Def. It was a pretty great day all around!

24 Hours in England [8/52] by Krysta

After my Brisbane flight I had a few days to recover from jet lag before a flight to Khartoum, Sudan on Monday. I spent my time lying by the pool and just being generally lazy. I checked my roster the day before my flight and was excited to find that my quick turnaround flight to Khartoum had been changed to a 24 hour layover in Manchester! I stuffed my suitcase full of warm clothes and, excited to visit Europe for the very first time! I've been battling a nasty cold so I wasn't feeling very motivated to do much, but I couldn't bear to stay in my hotel room for the entire day. I caught a train into the city and wandered around taking pictures, window shopping, and shivering in the wintery air. Night was falling, so it was back to the hotel room where I spent the evening taking advantage of free wireless to talk to my boyfriend that I miss so dearly.... and headed to bed early in an attempt to regain my health. No such luck... I had a miserable flight back to Dubai, sniffling and sneezing and struggling to speak, but the crew and passengers were great, so that made it a bit better. 24 hours of rest in Dubai, and then it's off to catch my next flight at 4 am!

PS... About the photo...I had to Google this building, as I didn't actually go inside. It's a shopping center built in the late 1800's, formerly used as a corn exhange. In 1996 it was damaged by the IRA Bombing, so it has been renovated and is now quite modern. On the screen in front I stood and watched the Vancouver Olympics for awhile, happy to see a bit of home so far away. :)

I miss you... [8/52] by Ryan

come home.

Goodnight, Brisbane! [7/52] by Krysta

It's been a great week! On Saturday myself and fellow Canadian Priya honoured the Olympic games by going ice skating! We wore Vancouver 2010 gloves as we skated around the rink. On Sunday, rather than celebrating Valentines Day I woke up bright and early to head to work. Have I ever mentioned the fact that I love my job? My very first layover took me to my former home... Brisbane, Australia! It was a long 15 hour flight, but we made it! Once we landed I could barley contain my excitement.... I was back in Australia! I always told myself that this day would come. A few years ago I was working 2 full time jobs, desperate to pay for flights to Australia, and now here I was... getting paid to be there. It was an amazing feeling. I spent the first day wandering the city, taking photos of the places that I used to spend my days, eating sushi, and loving life. The next morning I woke up bright and early to head to Auckland, New Zealand. I was really looking forward to it, as I'd never been there before! We got to the airport, boarded the plane and were waiting for our passengers when we got the bad news that there would be a 2 hour delay. We hung out in the cabin waiting for more information. Eventually, the Captain informed us that the flight had been cancelled and that we'd be returning to our hotel. I must admit, I was quite disappointed, but I reminded myself that I was still in Australia, things weren't so bad! Unfortunately, it was a rainy day... in fact, the rainiest day that Brisbane has experienced in 9 years! The rain poured down the entire day as residents and businesses dealt with flooding. I decided to brave the weather. I invested in an umbrella, headed across the bridge, and took a few photos. The rain started falling heavier and I was forced to return to the hotel for the safety of my camera. $5 umbrellas aren't entirely reliable. The rain finally stopped just after midnight. I took advantage of this by grabbing my camera and venturing out into the city late at night. Along the way I stopped for pancakes... delicious at 2 am! I wandered the city until around 4 am before heading to the hotel to call it a night. I enjoyed one more afternoon in Brisbane eating sushi and drinking bubble tea before the long overnight flight back home to Dubai. I can't believe they pay me for this!

Strobist [7/52] by Ryan

Tonight while talking to Krysta to late as usual, I headed up to bed only to notice the vast ammounts of fog outside. I suited up in my best for the blistering cold temperatures outside. So cold my new Flash Wave 2 slaves were reduced from a range a couple  hundred feet, down to 10 feet. I think it was the moisture in the air making it feel much colder out. All I know is that my hands were FREEZING. brrr.

Anyways, after having little sucess with my rwireless flash transmitters, I opted to go sit in the shot and fire the flash myself. Worked great.

Time to head to bead, I'm beat. SO tired. Not looking forward to the gym tomorrow. That's for sure!