Finally, I am home after three of travel of travel in France and Germany. This trip is more a prilgrimage than a vacation, I had visited many spiritual places on top of attending the world youth day. Other than staying in Paris for a week, I had been to Taize, Lourdes, Munich/Dorfen and Cologne/Dusseldof/Bonn. Out of the many places, I like Dolfen most and Taize second. I will have three weeks worth of travel journal to catch up writting, hopefully I will be done by the long weekend. It is a really rewarding experience in term of spirituality and boarden the horizon of my knowledge space. Europe is a very difference place than Canada, however concluded from this travel experience, I can say I love living in Canada most and pround of being a Canadian. For the past three week, I have been deprived access of internet and news, I miss the feeling of typing on my own keyboard so much. Although without using mouse for three weeks, my waist condition seems better. On my flight home, I was so hungry for information that I had read a newspaper, Time magazine and Economist in one sitting. The world still revolving as usual even I didn’t pay any attention to it. Now I have to take a good rest and pray for my luggages will come home tomorrow as promised by Air Canada. Apparently they had left a cargo of luggage in Heathrow as many people in my flight didn’t get their luggages. Luckily the most pricious item of all, the SD memory for my digital camera is in my hand carry. All I missed are dirty clothes, useless souvenirs, books from Louves, and treats for colleagues and friends.

Tomorrow I will be flying to Germany and started my three weeks pilgrimage to see the Pope in the World Youth Day. As usual I pack my stuff at the night before departure. This time is quite difference from my previous trip. In the past, either I am going back home or go somewhere just for a few days, I can afford to forget to bring something. This time I am going all the way to Europe where I can’t easily get resupplies. So I have to check and double check my to bring list. Before I put the stuff in my new backpack, I was a bit afraid it can’t hold all my stuffs. To my surprise, albeit the main compartment looks kinda small, it fits changing clothes for a whole week. There is no way it can fit two weeks load of clothes, so I will have to do laundary at least once during the Days of Encounter.

I won’t be able to update my blog until I get back from my trip. However I will keep a trip journal in the old fashion pen and paper way and upload to my blog when I am back. See you all in three weeks.

Visit the school clinic at SFU, to see the doctor about my allergies. She gave me some ornment, and I feel better after applying it. I don’t feel that itchy anymore. Allergy is caused by over reaction of the immune system. It seems more and more people are suffering these days, especially in big cities. I suppose that could be fix with genetic engineer or nanobots. In my point of view, allergy is a more serious problem to the first world than other deadly disease to the third world. If international charity pour money into vaccine for those third world disease, why the research for cure of allergy left mainly in the hand of private pharmaceutical companies, which later hugh amount for the medication just because the customer can afford it. I believe it is basic human right to live in an allergy free environment. Compare to the life of third world people, whom shouldn’t come to the world in the first place, the suffering of allergy is indeed a more pressing problem for many people like myself.

Today had been a long day. I woke up at seven to be the groomsmen of Stuart. Although I am friend to both Maggie and Stuart, I still have no idea why he pick me. Anyways, the morning starts with some fun. The brotherhood first met up at Westwood Plateau and drive to the bride’s house. It the first time my car is used as a flower car for the bridesmaid. The capture the bride part is quite easy, just some push ups, peel apple and lemon without breaking the skin, and some mushy singings. It is great to try out my new camera. I am not used to it, and couldn’t believe it’s my own camera. I must have been using my old crappy digital camera for too long. I drove a lot today, back and forth between Coquitlam and Burnaby several times. The ceremony is at Our Lady of Fatima. Pat was the choir director and played piano after the pianist left too early. As usual I fell asleep during the homily, but I am not the only one, all three groomsmen fell asleep too. It’s really a long and tried day. After church, Pat went to shopping with Verona, while I have to company the wedding party for some more pictures. The bandquet is held at Westwood Plateau golf club. The environment is really nice. The golf club drove us to photo spots using golf carts and prepare drinks and healthy finger food at the spot. The dinner is western style buffet, which is much better than I had expected, at least I can enjoy almost every single dish. I took a lot of pictures with Pat there, the sce nery is really nice looking over the baconley. We got asked the question when will be ours so many times that I don’t know what to answer. Even Brother Ho make fun of us by drawing cross of the marriage ritural in front of us. The only down side of today’s event is I forgot to ask for a silk flower instead of real flower. I suspect my allergy on my face is all due the flower pinned to my suit. Pop a pill of reacton and lots of water before sleep should cure it overnight.

There is an interesting romantic side story. It seems my friend Verona is very attactive just as Pat says. Although I found it hard to use this adjective on her as I see her everyday at work and none of our gang treat her as a girl. However, every time I see her in a wedding, there are always guys trying to get to know her. I really wish her luck this time. Maybe she could even beat Ivy on leaving the single status. Mmm…. That would make a very good bet. My money is on Verona for sure.