Found My Kindred Friend in PEI Canada!

Location: Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island Canada
Date: August 2008

At the farmhouse of Anne Shirley in Prince Edward Island, Canada
August 2008

For my thirty-third birthday Trent surprised me with a trip to Prince Edward Island to visit the real home of the fictitious character, Anne, of Green Gables.  When I say surprised that is exactly what I mean.  He actually told me to pack for warm days, cooler nights and that was it!  I had no idea where we were going until we had to transfer flights in Minneapolis, Minnesota.  Or maybe we were in Detroit, Michigan, either way it wasn't until we boarded the little puddle jumper that would finish the last few hundred miles into Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada.  For those of you that may not be familiar, and to you I'm a little ashamed, Prince Edward Island is where all the magic of the book series by Lucy Maud Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables, takes place.

Seriously... my all time favorite book series

If you were a farm girl like me, you can probably identify with long nights of nothing to do except read. Our house had two TV's and no cable and so I was either on the phone or reading as a teenager.  My favorite books were these found in this series.  Then when the books were made into a mini-series for Canadian television, and shown on PBS in the states, my heart skipped a beat.  I watched them with my friends, by myself, over and over trying to recreate the romantic relationship the main character, Anne Shirley has with her biggest rival and most handsome boy in town, Gilbert Blythe.

Anne Shirley & Gilbert Blythe in the
made for TV version

I know I am embarrassing myself by letting you into by pathetic teen years by writing about this part of my life, but nonetheless I will continue.  For my sixteenth birthday I woke with a crazy notion that dreams really do come true and a beautiful Jeep Wrangler, red with a plaid (customized) cloth top would be sitting in the driveway. (Yes this is truly the car I had made up in my head) But then I remembered I was the fourth of seven children, my dad was a teacher, and my mom was a homemaker.  There were no funds for my Jeep Wrangler but my mom had bought me something special....two porcelain dolls that looked like the two "kindred spirits" or "bosom friends" Anne Shirley, and Diana Berry, from Anne of Green Gables.

My dolls I received for my 16th birthday,
now hold a spot on a shelf in my twins room
Though these are not the real dolls sold as Anne
& Shirley just ones my mom thought looked
like them  (Love you Mom)

The Anne & Diana featured in the mini-series
There's a little resemblance 

Funny thing... I still own these dolls to this day.  They represent so much more to me now than just the two main characters from the books, but thats another story.  Either way after reading these wonderful stories of love and loss, adventure and misadventure I was ready to go see where it all took place.

Took this pic as we roamed the beautiful countryside of PEI
August 2008

I should start by telling you a little about the author Lucy Maud Montgomery.  L.M. Montgomery was born in 1874 (exactly 100-years before me!) on Prince Edward Island.  Her mother died and her father left her with her maternal grandparents to be raised in a strict household.  Though she wasn't quite an orphan like her character, Anne Shirley, she was very adventurous and had a great imagination.  When she sent her book, Anne of Green Gables, off to be published in 1908 it was an immediate success and is now translated in many languages and has a world-wide following.  The best part for me about the "Anne" books is the character is a self-reliant, poor, farm girl with lots of determination.  (Ok I felt like I could relate a little ;)  However, the on again off again love affair with her arch rival, and best friend, Gilbert Blythe is what draws in any teenage girl long before Edward and Bella ever hit the written page.

Since Gilbert Blythe was my heart throb it only made sense that
I'd find someone just as good-looking (or even better)
Trent looking the part in PEI
August 2008

So when I stepped off the plane in Charlottetown, PEI in August of 2008 I was very excited to get started on my book tour of a lifetime.  I couldn't believe what a romantic husband I had to indulge me in this desire, and plan this trip without me suspecting a thing.  Our four night stay took place at the Stanhope Beach Resort, www.stanhopebeachresort.com, in Stanhope.  Though this was a great hotel and we had our own two bedroom, town-home type unit, it was a little far for touring the sights in Cavendish, where much of the book is based.  So if I was looking to do this trip all over again, and I really want to, I would stay in Cavendish.  One hotel that caught my eye that looked clean and accessible was called Kindred Spirits Country Inn and Cottages, www.kindredspirits.ca 

Trent standing outside the birthplace of the author,
Lucy Maud Montgomery
August 2008

Some of the sites we visited while in PEI was the birthplace of L.M. Montgomery in New London, PEI, (very close to Cavendish).  It is just a small house with lots of old period pieces of clothing and furniture from the late 1800's. Not all of the items were used by Maud's family but it does have her tiny wedding dress which was fantastic to see so I could imagine her tiny frame and little feet.  There was a minimal fee charged to enter and it is open most late spring to early fall days from 9-3.  More info can be found at www.tourismpei.ca

Visiting the Anne of Green Gables Village and posing with one of the
Anne-look-alikes.  That's the actual outfit I wore to the park that day. (Wink;)
August 2008

Trent will kill me when he sees this pic but I couldn't help myself
and dressed up like Anne with Gil
August 2008

Other cool sights were visiting Avonlea, Anne of Green Gables Village.  It is like a small amusement park that would have been around in the late 1800's.  If you're looking for roller coasters you've come to the wrong place.  Imagine root beer taste testing, dressing up in the attire of the characters of the Anne books, a small petting zoo, adult actors singing and dancing, an old train station, and shops of candy, Anne memorabilia, and old timey stuff.  Its cute. It does cost about $20 to get in and it makes every adult (especially those who have read the books) feel like a child.  More can be found at http://www.avonlea.ca

I may not look happy (in this pic) but I was thrilled to be there!
August 2008

I especially loved visiting the farmhouse that Montgomery based the character, Anne, in the books.  There is a great little walking tour that you can take yourself and since it is the basis of a fictional book there aren't any "real" items to see except to imagine Lucy Maud Montgomery visiting her cousins here as a child and creating Anne Shirley, and lending this farm house to her books, as Annes home.  With so many sites that were created in the books like, Lover's Lane, Haunted Wood or even Berry Pond aka Pond of Shimmering Waters it is fun to see on what she based these places.  This farmhouse is very recognizable from the books and has a great display showing the life of Lucy Maud Montgomery.  Just a short walk from the farmhouse is the site of the authors burial and it is lovely to see she was buried in a countryside that meant so much to her in this life.

The burial site of Lucy Maud Montgomery-MacDonald
In August 2008

Besides the little sites to see representing this great little series of books, there is so much more to see in Prince Edward Island.  If the snow didn't run six feet deep in the winters I would gladly pack up my children and move to this beautiful island.  The beaches are a beautiful red sand, and the fog in the mornings make for romantic walks on the beach.  The rolling country side of green farming and patches creating a beautiful quilt of greenery makes this an enchanting place to visit.  Trent and I enjoyed our drives along the country side almost as much as our walks along the beach.  Even the sand dunes mentioned in the books are there for the readers imagination.  It was so beautiful.

The red sand beaches off the coast of PEI
August 2008

What a romantic walk with my honey on the Cavendish shoreline
August 2008

I've also got to mention the food!  I love seafood and this is a paradise for great fresh catch of the day type meals.  The lobster dinner is so routine it is offered in almost all restaurants and it is the same in each; lobster tail, a potato, salad, a roll and a drink.  Just say lobster dinner to anyone from this area and they know exactly what you're looking for.  Though I loved the lobster, Trent fell in love with the mussels, and just like the shrimp are served in any which way in Louisiana, that's how they do the mussel's in this part of Canada.

Trent and his lobster dinner in Charlottetown PEI
August 2008

Though there are many tours that are offered on different PEI websites I truly think that this is an island you can do yourself without a tour guide or group to follow.  I can guarantee it will be cheaper to do it on your own as well.  There are also lots of plays depicting the Anne books.  The two I recommend are the Anne of Green Gables play that shows in Charlottetown all summer season and the Anne and Gilbert play that shows over in Summerside.  Though I loved the Anne of Green Gable play it was exactly like the book and shows Anne in her youth.  It is playful and fun but it wasn't what attracted me to the books as a teenager.

At the harbor in Sunnyside just after the Anne and Gilbert play
I am all tears
August 2008

The Anne and Gilbert play was amazing.  Trent got us tickets on the second row and the actors were so close and I could see the spit spray from their lips during a lively song or performance. This, of course, is the part of the Anne books where Anne (with an E) realizes her love for Gilbert and their attraction becomes more than just friendly rivals.  I walked out in tears wanting more from these two long lost friends of mine.  (Do I sound absolutely pathetic yet?)

Posing at Anne's farmhouse
August 2008

So in short if this is an experience that sounds attractive to you then fly into Charlottetown PEI, rent a car (very easy, just like renting in the US), stay up in Cavendish, see the sights both from the books and the real sights from the authors life, see the two plays, take a nice long morning walk on a beach, drive through the countryside and if you have time hike through Greenwich National PEI park.  Make sure you eat in a recommended restaurant in Charlottetown, visit the shops in Charlottetown and check the summer calendar at www.tourismpei.ca to coordinate your trip to the time of summer you want to visit. If you are red-headed (that means you Cassie) then take a costume from the time period, put your hair in braids, and take some pictures with international tourists, and make a few tips to pay for your trip!

Just the way we like to end every great story
Anne & Gil forever :)

Goodluck!  Safe and Happy travels!!

Singapore, a "Fine" City; Around the World Part 3

Location: Singapore, Singapore

Date: March 2012

This was a t-shirt that was for sale in China Town
March 2012

I had no idea what to expect when we arrived in Singapore.  I’ve heard many things as far as the extensive punishments that are inflicted by those who do not obey the laws of the land.  Our passports even had slips of paper put inside that said “drug trafficking was punishable by death”.  So the mystery of Singapore was just that a mystery. 

 Many of the people in our group wanted to join an excursion from the ship which can be both bad and good.  Joining an excursion is like being a lamb following the shepherd.  No real planning needs to be put forth, and it usually equals a quality day with many sights to be seen.  However, children on excursions, especially those that are on long bus rides listening to facts and taking pictures out of the side windows of buses, isn’t very fun for both the parent and the others on the excursion.  Kids just don’t seem to have the same level of interest and they want to stop at the vendors with the brightest colored trinkets and try the ice cream on the street corners. Keeping up with a group, or waiting for one is difficult with children.  But we decided to go ahead and do the bus excursion since we had heard how expensive Singapore can be.

Bailey shopping for chopsticks in Chinatown, Singapore
March 2012

Our day started on a bus traveling from the harbor into the city.  Just getting out of the harbor took our bus 21 minutes since their shipping industry is so extensive.  We drove through a beautiful city that surprised me in both organization, cleanliness, and industry.  The architecture was amazing and really left me wondering why we don’t see buildings of such strange and beautiful design in the states.  It was amazing to see such beautiful architecture on this small island in the middle of the ocean.  

View of the Gardens by the bay from the Singapore Flyer
March 2012

They also call Singapore “a fine” city.  It is fine, but it is a pun from all of the fines that are posted for anything from riding your bike through a pedestrian tunnel ($1,000 fine) to spitting your gum out on the sidewalk ($500.00 fine).  It was interesting to see about 5-10 cameras mounted on the street corners video taping every move. 

A shot of the video cameras that
are mounted on many street corners
in Singapore

Trent, Bailey, Clay and I at the top of the Singapore Flyer
March 2012

Our group went straight to the Singapore Flyer (much like the London Eye) and had a beautiful view of the city.  

The Singapore Flyer
March 2012

The Sands Hotel & Casino
March 2012

From there we could see hundreds of ships out in the harbor waiting to load and unload at this hub of transport.  We could see hundreds of tall buildings that were surrounded by a lot of greenery and flora.  It was once called the garden city, and now it has been changed to a city in a garden.  It was really neat to see the soccer field built on reclaimed land (land they have built up in the water to make the island bigger) and the Sands Hotel and Casino that looks a lot like a cruise ship suspended high in the air on stilts.  

Bailey at the top of the Sands Hotel
March 2012

We drove around the city on the bus and stopped on the river that runs through town and rode a water taxi through the river to see other sights of Singapore.  One of their most famous statues is of a “Merlion” which is a symbol of this island nation.  It is said that when Singapore had a member of the royal family come and visit he thought he saw a lion on the banks of the island and so the lion was used as a symbol along with the fish body to represent the heritage of this fishing community in which it was based.  

Merlion Statue located right in the Bay of Singapore
March 2012

Government Offices just off the river that runs
through the city
March 2012

 Bailey and Clay enjoyed eating ice cream on the street.  The ice cream was cut off in slices almost like a loaf of bread, and then served between two wafers.  We saw other local children eating this same thing but they chose instead to eat it between a piece of rainbow colored bread.  The ice cream reminded us of dippin dots, as it was quick to desolve in the mouth.  

Clay got captured with the Merlion in the background, and Trent on the
Singapore Flyer
March 2010

After our tour was over we ran off to China town since we had heard the specialty of the island was Chili Crab.  

In Chinatown, Singapore
March 2012

Trent was dying to get some and we were all hungry.  Our group split up and we grabbed a taxi to chinatown and found Dum Do Chinese restaurant and we had one of the most expensive meals of our trip.  I think it cost us $250 Singapore dollars which was about $200 US.  We ordered the chili crab and it was delicious.  

Bailey & Trent enjoyed the Chili Crab the most
March 2012

Bailey still enjoying the Chili Crab
March 2012

Yes, Clay and I were in Chinatown too
March 2012

We ended up shopping in Chinatown, we ran into LDS missionaries, and we bought a few trinkets (mostly iPhone cases) for the kids back home.  

So fun to see LDS Missionaries while we were out shopping
Singapore, March 2012

Me & my slushy
March 2012

We soon left Chinatown and had a taxi take us to the Sands Resort since Trent wanted to see the view from their observation deck, and he has also built a car for the owner.  It proved to be amazing but we did learn that we could have gone to the top and ordered a drink from the bar up there and still enjoyed the view instead of paying $20 per adult and $15 per child to go to the top.  Since we were on the observation deck we had a view of the middle of the cruise ship like structure, and we could see the massive eternity pool that was up in the middle of the towers looking over the city.  It was pretty cool and Trent felt like it was well worth it.  I just enjoyed my slushy that I was able to find up there and enjoyed cooling off a bit.  

The eternity pool at the top of the Sands Hotel
March 2012

Another $8.00 taxi ride got us back to the port harbor where we had to get on a big bus that would drive us those last 21 minutes back to the ship.  It was an eventful day in a beautiful city that is full of Chinese, Malaysian, and Muslim people.  It was good to see a culture that could coincide so easily.  However, there isn’t much room for error because not getting along could easily mean death, or at least a huge fine!

Some sort of temple (maybe Hindu) just next to Chinatown
March 2012

The kids and I in front of the temple doors
March 2012

Around the World, Part 2: Operation Koh Samui

Location: Koh Samui, Thailand
Date: March 2012

View of Koh Samui, Thailand
March 2012

Prior to this trip, my only exposure to the island of Koh Samui came from "Meet the Fockers."  Luckily, we had a chance to go there, and my eyes were opened to this beautiful island, which is much more than just a funny location in a movie.  Here is more of our "Around the World" trip that we took in March.  

Trent on our hike at Na Maung Safari Park
March 2012

On Wednesday, March 8, we landed in Koh Samui and took tenders over to the island.  When we arrived, there were many local taxi drivers and excursion agents trying to get anyone and everyone off onto one of their tours.  (*Tip here!-- Don't just go with the first driver that tries to get your business.  NEGOTIATE!)  Trent found drivers that would take our group of 14 to the Na Maung Safari Park, a 15-20 minute drive, for $12.50 each.  We usually like to make our own adventure and don't always do the excursions offered by the boat because we’ve found we can save money.  In this case, we found the information about the Na Maung Safari park online, and the boat didn’t even offer an excursion here.  We were excited because the kids really wanted to ride an elephant and this was the place to do it!

Getting our $10 pictures with these wild beasts
March 2012

The park was in good shape for a third world country.  It had many things to offer, and there was no cover charge to get in.  At the front of the park, there was a tiger and a jaguar chained up with a line of tourists waiting to get their picture taken by these amazing creatures.  Clay chose to get his picture with the tiger, but we waited to watch a few others in the group get theirs, so we could make sure the tiger was docile enough to get up close and personal with.  Though I do hate to see animals locked up on a chain this way, it was incredible to get close enough to touch this animal, and I do realize this is a way for these people to feed their families.  For $10 each, we were able to pet the tiger and get our photo with him.  When the tiger tried to look over his shoulder at us, the handler would knock him in the muzzle to have the tiger look away.  At one point while I was petting the tiger's back, and he was knocked by the handler, the tiger did a low murmured growl that shook through his body.  That was my cue to move on.  I was done.

Bailey choose to get her picture taken with the baby tiger and feed her a bottle of milk.  It was precious and really looked a lot like a kitten with the exception of his huge paws.  This also cost $10 just for a picture. 

Bailey & me riding Solomon our elephant
March 2012

The most amazing thing about the park were the elephants.  They had 28 that lived there, and once again, all the tourists were lined up to ride them.  Trent and Clay got on one elephant, and Bailey and I got on another with our mahout (elephant handler) riding up on the ears of the elephant (yep, that would be the forehead!).  We rode peacefully along as our huge beast ate giant bamboo leaves and moved to the commands of our mahout named Tuck.  Tuck shared that our elephant's name was Solomon, and he was a 45-year-old Asian elephant.  He was a dark charcoal grey with orange-tinted splotches of freckles on his face to distinguish his elephant breed.  We roamed around the park for about twenty-five minutes on the back of Solomon, and at one point, our mahout jumped off and had us move off of the bench saddle they had strapped on Solomon's back and we rode up on his neck and shoulders. Can I just mention that I did get a little bit panicked here?  What if Solomon tried to make a break for it?  It was so interesting to feel the thick skin of Solomon and feel the bristles of his hair under our skin and to think about all of these animals living on this island in the middle of the China Sea.  Tuck took lots of pictures of Bailey and I, but we were separated from Trent and Clay and their elephant so we didn’t get to enjoy it as a little family.  By the end of our ride, we felt like Solomon was an old family friend, and Tuck told us how prestigious it was for him to have become a mahout.

Momma & Baby at the Elephant Nursery
Koh Samui Thailand, March 2012

At the end of our ride, we said farewell to Solomon and headed up to cool off at the waterfall in the park.  On our way, we saw the nursery where there were two baby elephants that were three- and six-months-old.  They were absolutely precious, and one even sucked the mother's teat as we watched and fed the mother bananas we had purchased.  (Though there was no cover charge at this park, everything had a price!  To feed the elephants some bananas, we had to pay a few Bhats though they did accept dollars as well.)  The baby elephant made us all wish we could just take one home and keep it in the backyard but seeing the size of their mamas made us realize that was just our childish dreams surfacing for a moment.  

Our beautiful waterfall taken from the bottom of the 2nd waterfall
Koh Samui Thailand, March 2012

We paid $3.50 each for a ride up to as close as we could get to the waterfall without having to hike too much with the kids.  I felt this was a smart choice since there was plenty more hiking in front of us.  At the first waterfall, there were lots of tourists all trying to get in and get cooled off from the heat and humidity that was engulfing us.  With a little refreshing splash, we were ready to hike up to the next waterfall which was about another 10 minute walk up.  We stayed on the path that was clearly marked with ropes and cutouts of the mountain and made it up to the next waterfall where there were less tourists and a little more water to splash around in.  My only regret was having only one water bottle with us that was quickly gone by the time we had gotten to the first waterfall. (*Tip-- Bring water on hikes - even if you're hiking a waterfall!  It's hard to hike thirsty when there's so much refreshing water is running by your feet.)

Bailey swinging between waterfalls
March 2012

At this second waterfall, there was a swing that the kids had fun swinging on, and we all climbed the rocks that formed the natural pool.  There, we took a nice dip and cooled off from the sun.  I was the first one back on the trail to head back down, and while I was waiting, I saw a little bench I probably wouldn’t have noticed had I not been waiting on the others.  

The bench where I found our little Thai guide waiting for us
March 2012

There sat a little Thai man in very shabby clothes who didn’t speak any English at all. (Okay, he could speak about three or four words.)  All he said to me when I noticed him was "secret pool" as he pointed up to another trail that was even more primitive than the first.  By then, our group was starting to assemble, and Clay saw the Thai man and heard what he said as well as another French couple who decided to follow this Thai man.  Clay looked at me and I gave my approval, so Clay started following the Frenchies along with the Thai man up the smaller trail to continue up.

Want to cross this bridge?  You can decide when you get there! ;)
March 2012

Because the second waterfall had only been a 10 minute hike from the first, I assumed this “secret pool” would be just as close.  When everyone had finally gathered, I told them I was going up with Clay and soon Trent, Bailey, the "O" family, and I were all headed up.  It was a very treacherous trail.  There were ropes but fewer than the other trails, and this trail was much steeper than the ones previous.  We kept going, taking few breaks to catch our breath and wishing for water, but we continued up.  About 3/4 of the way up, we ran into some other Americans coming down, and they gave us hope that we were almost to our goal and that it was well worth it.  

Our "secret pool" that wasn't so secret with the little Thai guide telling everyone about it
March 2012

After about 30 more yards, we finally made it to the "secret pool" and our Thai guide disappeared behind a rock to change into his "swim trunks" he had hanging on a tree.  We all started to get into the water, but we soon learned that our guide could also say "No" and "Yes."  We soon got “no, no, no” as he came out from behind his changing rock in the most dreadful sheer swim Speedo I had ever seen.  It looked like something made by a shipwrecked person living on a deserted island, and it gave very little to the imagination.  I was satisfied that his front was covered, but as soon as he turned aroundm the girls started to snicker since we could see the torn fabric holding on trying to cover his bottom but not doing a very good job of it.  We had a good laugh, and then our guide dove into the pool proving how deep the water was.  Once he was in, he gave us the “yes, yes, yes,” and we all started to get in and cool off.  He swam us over to a little cave in the pool and grabbed a rope submerged in the water that we used to pull ourselves into the cave and through the waterfall that rained down in front of it.  He was a funny little guide since he kept pushing us all into the cave as though it was a huge cavern though there really wasn’t space for us all, and then he gave us the sign for wanting to take our picture. 

Clay posing with the beautiful view from the
top of the mountain down to the ocean
Thailand, March 2012

He showed the kids where they could cliff jump into the pool and we all enjoyed the cool crisp water that rejuvenated our tired soaked bodies.  The view from our pool was also amazing since we were so high in the Koh Samui jungle that we could see a landscape of green out before us stretching out to the ocean.  It really was one of the most enjoyable moments of my life only to be clouded by the fact that my other four kids weren’t with us to enjoy it too.  

At that point, it was time for our descent and since one of my flip flops had broken on the way up the mountainside, I had the pleasure of trying to navigate down with only one shoe.  I know I do this every time.  As my sister, Kym, would say, I hike in banana peels!  It is especially stupid since I own a great pair of Keens that I have officially dubbed as my waterfall hiking shoes but that I forget to bring every time. 

The "banana peels" I tried to hike in - not a good idea
March 2012

We did make it down and had our taxi drivers waiting for us at the bottom to take us back to the boat.  We gave our Thai secret pool tour guide a hefty tip for leading us on our wonderful excursion, and the kids encouraged him to use it on a new bathing suit, but in a country like this, I'm sure that is last on his list of essentials.  

One more rope swing we found on our way back down
the mountain side.
Koh Samui Thailand, March 2012

Back on the boat, the Brits didn’t like that we had come back on with only our bathing suits and cover-ups, and one even rolled his eyes at Clay and turned to his wife and said, “He could have at least put a shirt on” which made me laugh that a shirtless 9-year-old boy in his swimsuit could cause such disdain to a grown man.

Our boat, The Aurora
March 2012

That evening was a formal evening, and though they are not my favorite, it was nice to dress up and see our group looking so smart at dinner.  Since my converter for my curling iron didn't fit into the plug in my room, I had been unable to curl my hair so I did my best to look presentable, and we ended up having a great evening dining with friends.