Day 12 - Canada

21 October 2019 (Monday)
Day 12

At 0530hrs, Bro SD and I shared one room, we cleaned the room and tidied up the room.

I went to the lobby to wait for Rev JL so that he could gain access. Rev JL came at 0600hrs. There was a minor change of plan. Instead of 5 of us over packed the car with our luggage, JL sent Brother YM couple to YVR first for their flight to LA, USA and then made a second trip to send Brother WM, SD and I.

At 0900hrs, 3 of us arrived at YVR Airport, surprised to meet brother YM couple still at the airport because of a flight delay. We took breakfast at the airport.

At 1030hrs, 3 of us checked-in luggage and obtained the boarding passes.

At 1300hrs started boarding and boarded at 1320hrs

At 1455hrs CA992 took off.

After 10 hours of flight, we landed Beijing at 0100hrs. It was 1600hrs Beijing time. It was on 22 October.

At 1830hrs, we checked in the transit lounge (it took us about 2 hours to find out the lounge and made long negotiations to check-in).

At 1840hrs took dinner at the transit lounge, it was free of charge, we had 3 dishes and 1 soup for dinner and free flow of beverage and snacks throughout our stay at the lounge.

At 1930hrs, I took a warm water bath and there was a weighing device to measure my body weight, my body weight was 68.0 kg.

1830 - 2300hrs: We rest at the transit lounge.

At 2230hrs we left the lounge and went to E11 to wait for boarding of CA975.

0025hrs (23 October) boarding time for CA975 transit flight to SG.

您是我的朋友

08 November 2019 (Friday)

您是我的朋友

早上8点35分，裕廊西正在下雨，虽然雨很大，但是天色乌黑，预料这是一场长命雨，今天天气是Cat 1 （军中词汇: 天气恶劣，暂停户外军训和活动），不能去游泳。

昨天(07 November)留在家，不能去游泳，因为等待邮递员送来印度的入境签证(VISA)，从早上等到下午3点钟，感谢神，送来了，放下一桩心事。

回忆起上周，在网上填表格，申请印度的入境签证的心情，真的很徬惶，申请表格须要很多过去的资料，要填Khatib Camp的电话号码，我打开全部文件夹，找着了，但是都是2004/05年的旧电话号码。急不暇择，通过WhatsApp，向COL Michael Ma求助，谢谢，马上得到最新的Khatib Camp电话号码 - Thank you, Sir。

回忆起上月，我人还在国外（加拿大），SWO Lau通过WhatsApp，讯问有关CSC和向SSC(salary service centre)提交牙医诊费的reimburse，我一一详细的回应。

这两件事，说明朋友之间的互相帮助，regardless of rank，有旧同事有事找您，是因为“您是我的朋友”。

感谢，有了VISA，I am ready for Indian Missioary Trip.

Day 11 -Canada

20 October 2019 (Monday)
Day 11

0600hrs Rev JL came to fetch us to A&W to buy breakfast and then sent us to the pickup point. We ate breakfast at the bus stop next to the pickup point.

A minibus of 20 seaters arrived at 0700hrs and we started our tour to Vancouver Island.

The bus went to another 2 pickup points to pick up tourists, a total of 8 were occupied this 20 seater bus (including 5 of us).

At 0730hrs, we arrived at the ferry terminal. At 0855hrs we boarded on the BC ferry.
(BC = British Colombia)

0900 - 1025hrs, it was one hour 25 minutes travel on the BC ferry to Victoria City, which is on Vancouver Island.

Sighting: Museum, Parks, landmarks.

1200 - 1300hrs Lunch at Lin Heong (莲香）, the lunch was included in the tour package.

1330 - 1515hrs visited The Butchart Gardens, it was a rain day.

At 1545hrs arrived BC ferry terminal.

At 1605hrs boarded BC ferry.

At 1740hrs returned to Vancouver.

At 1910hrs arrived Vancouver and sent all tourists back to the respective pickup point and Rev JL fetched us to his residence for dinner. And then sent us back to Guest Suits.

Day 10 - Canada

19 October 2019 (Saturday)
Day 10.

I woke up at 0430hrs. Heavenly Father, thank you for your grace and mercy, I am well and healthy.

Yesterday (18 October), 5 of us safely back to Vancouver and Rev JL fetched us at the pickup point. We had a late dinner (with lobsters, anyway, I am refraining from eating seafood because of gout) at 2030hrs. After dinner, we checked in the very same guest room for a good rest. We had a presidential suite for Brother YM couple. And 3 of us had 2 rooms, Bro WM took one room for himself, Bro SD and I shared one room. This time around, we didn't use their bedsheets, pillowcases, and towers. Rev JL had provided us with all the stuff. We would stay there 3 nights 18,19, and 20. We would check out on 21 October morning.

Today, at 0600hrs, we walked to A&W for breakfast. We would have a one-day tour from 0800hrs to 1700hrs led by William. And in the evening we would attend prayers Meeting at UMBSF (University Mandarin Bible Study Fellowship).

0630 - 0730hrs: After A&W breakfast we walked back to Guest Room to meet William who brings us sightseeing in Vancouver. (During breakfast at A&W, Bro WM tried to book for transit lounge to rest, via the internet, in Beijing when we fly home on 21 October - we would stop-over at Beijing for 9 hours for the transition.)

0800hrs: to start a day tour.
0815 - 0900hrs visited Grandville Island.
0925hrs visited China town.
0940hrs stream clock.
1015hrs Canada Place.
1045hrs Stanley park.
1130hrs salmon fish.

We had a noodle lunch at 1200hrs.

After noodle lunch, we visited another two places: The Olympic Park Ice ski facility and Queen Elizabeth Park and then William sent us to UMBSF.

We had dinner at UMBSF after the Prayer Meeting.

Rev JL sent us back to Guest Room after the Bible Study at 2100hrs.

Day 9 - Canada

18 October 2019 (Friday)
Day 9

Today was the final day of the guided tour.

At 0700hrs we had breakfast at the hotel, and we checked out hotel at 0800hrs. at 0835hrs departure to next itinerary - a small town called Vernon which was population of 0.3 million. We visited a bee/honey farm.

It was only 15 minutes drive and we arrived the honey farm at 0850hrs. A presentation made by the boss of the honey farm - introduction of the products of the hive - Propolis, Royal Jelly, honey, beeswax, etc.... (I bought a bottle of planet bee, black ointment 60 ml. It was good for itchy skin.)

At 0950hrs we left the honey farm to next itinerary - an ice Winery at Kelowna.

As today is the last day, on the way, the tour guide corrects the service charge $10 x 4 days per person = $40. ($10 for driver and $30 for tour guide)

The tour guide takes an envelope, first to correct $10/pax for the driver. She said you may contribute more than $10 for additional tips. After that she sealed the envelope and handed the correction to the driver.

And then she goes the 2nd round to correct service charge for herself, $30/pax. And you may give more as additional tips.

Brother YM had given to her a total of 5 x $40 = $200 before we boarded the coach in order to ease her job. Brother YM said she take the money without checking and just keep in her bag. In this way of collecting service charges, she had pocketed $50 which was supposed to be for the driver.

At 1050hrs, we arrived Kelowna City of 0.2 million population. We visited Okanagan Lake.

1100 - 1130hrs stopped for 30 minutes to take photos at Kelowna.

1145 - 1245hrs buffet lunch at 88 Grand Buffet.

1255hrs Visited Grizzli Ice Winery.

1415hrs ended 4 days guided tour and drive back to Vancouver in about 4 hours drive with one stop toilet break.

Day 8 - Canada

17 October 2019 (Thursday)
Day 8

This was the 3rd day of the guided tour.

I woke up at 0500hrs. Heavenly Father, thank you for your grace and mercy. I'm well and healthy.

1200 - 1250hrs we arrived in Lake Louise village for lunch. We paid for all the meals for the 4 days. This meal we have a choice: steak, fish or chicken. I took the chicken. But for soup. all served maroon soup. I can't take the maroon soup. Request to change for tomato soup. The waiter who was also the manager didn't answer to my request, she said you have to pay for it. A restaurant should have 3 common soups for customers: corn soup, tomato soup, and maroon soup. Why she didn't serve me tomato soup. I think she's busy.

I feed-back to the tour guide. The inefficient tour guide didn't pay attention to me while listening to my complaint, she uses her handphone to take photos. She was not only not professional as a tour guide but also was an untrained tour guide who doesn't know what to say pleasantly to customers.

The tour guide used words and talks on the coach offended many people.

"你又有什么抱怨？” she answered to a customer.

“Have you paid for your meal?" She said to Bro YM.

1300 - 1420hrs we stayed at Lake Louis for one hour 15 minutes.

1438hrs moved to the next itinerary, a delay of 20 minutes because the tour guide settles some admin matter.

1900 - 2000hrs dinner.

2100hrs check in hotel.