In making the arrangements, we were pleasantly surprised that the ferries that transport vehicles and passengers from the BC mainland to the island could easily accommodate a large forty foot recreational vehicle such as ours.

Our first destination was Victoria BC. It is situated on the southern tip of the island. The city is very beautiful, having a nostalgic and royal feel to it, with the gorgeous and majestic Empress Hotel, welcoming visitors from all around the world.

There are numerous attractions to visit in Victoria, including the Royal London Wax Museum, the Victoria Bug Zoo, the Miniature World, and the Royal British Columbia Museum.

The RBCM was founded in 1894, and is one of the only archival institutes in British Columbia that contains archives of the Government including such collections as photographs, paintings, maps, and video tapes. The social and the political history of British Columbia and the Pacific Northwest is the emphasis of this museum.

There are also cobblestone streets and horse drawn carriages found throughout Victoria evoking the imagination of what life must have been like centuries before.

With all good things having to come to an end, we were soon packing up to continue our journey to the other end of the island. The next stop on the map was Campbell River Fishing Village and RV Park.

As the name suggests, fishing is normally plentiful, the people are warm and friendly, and the accommodations are great.

A fellow fisherman gladly shared his catch with us after learning that we had tried to catch our own fish with little luck.

That evening after dinner, we observed the luxury passenger ships passing as we looked out over the nearby bay, destined for unknown and exotic ports.

Having the Northern tip of the island yet to explore, we were on our way again the next morning. This time, we had heard of a little known destination called Telegraph Cove, a must see for campers, tourists, and locals. Telegraph Cove RV Park and Resort, offers several amenities including shopping, camping, and even a restaurant.

Activities seemed to be the focus of the welcoming cove we found that day. Included were kayaking, fishing, and whale watching. We chose the whale watching, as it is something we had not yet experienced. The Orcas were the center of attention that afternoon as they would swim right next to the boats, showing their interest with our visit to their home. It was easily the experience of a lifetime.

Upon returning to the campground, we learned of a community barbeque that was planned for that evening. Everyone planned to bring food and after preparing our dish, we joined the festivities. As we listened to our fellow guests, I realized that most were returning visitors or residents of the area. I was happy that someone had been generous enough to share this little known place with us. Our wondrous adventure had gotten even better.

 

During the New Year, a special selection of dishes called osechi is eaten. Many of the food items in these dishes represent prosperity, good fortune and health. A soup called ozoni, consisting of miso, glutinous rice dumplings and vegetables is made for the holiday, too. More popular foods are knotted boiled kelp, fish cakes, mashed sweet potatoes with chestnuts, simmered burdoek root, and sweetened black soybeans. Sashami and Sushi are also enjoyed, as well as some non-Japanese food. Many of these meals are sweet, sour or dried so they can be kept without refrigeration. On the seventh day of January a seven herb-rice soup is made, to let the over worked stomach rest. If you're into munching out during the holidays, Japan is defiantly the place to be.

In Japanese culture, it is a custom to send postcards for the New Year to friends and relatives. The original purpose of these traditional cards is to give far away friends and relatives tidings of yourself and of your immediate family. They are sent so they arrive on the first of January, no sooner or later. But it is customary not to send a card if one has had a death in the family that year. In this case, a simple postcard is sent instead, to show respect for the deceased. Cards have always been a good way to the spread holiday cheer, from here in Canada all the way to Japan.

A holiday just isn't a holiday without fun and games. Although some of these games are less popular than they used to be, Japan has not completely forgotten. Young children, and even some adults indulge themselves in a good game of Hanetsuki, which is Japanese badminton. Takoage is kite flying, and karuta is a type of card game. Both of these games bring smiles to the faces of many people celebrating. A spinning top, called a Koma, is also used for fun. But the most traditional game of all is Fuku warai. In this game, a blind folded person is given paper cut outs of facial features. They have to try to put them all on a paper cut out head. It is sort of like the Japanese version of the North American game called Pin The Tail On The Donkey. Without games, the New Years just wouldn't be the same.

Celebrating the New Year includes paying attention to the first time something is done in a new year. Many Japanese people will drive to the coast or climb a mountain on January first so they can see the Hatsuhinode, which is the first sunrise. Hatsumode is the first trip made to a temple or shrine, and is usually done just after midnight on January first. If the weather is good, a lot of people will wear their kimonos to the shrines. Other firsts that are important to the Japanese are Shigoto-hajime (first work of the new year), keikp-hajime (first practice of the new year), and hatsu-yume (first dream of the new year). To the Japanese, the firsts of a new year are very important and are rarely ever missed out on.

Overall, the Japanese New Year is a festive celebration. Traditions are important, and they show this while they celebrate. Foods, postcards, games, and special firsts are customs that will be rejoiced for years to come. In my opinion, the best time to travel to Japan would be during Shogatsu. A little bit of culture never hurt anyone.