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  1. #1
    Guest Member S Landreth's Avatar
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    Killer Whales, Vancouver Island, Canada with the Thai girlfriend

    Our first day (of two different trips) out whale watching. Some pictures










    About the first two pictures. I have a video I’ll upload later. The killer whales came right for us and then dove under the boat at the last second.

    We also saw two different Humpback Whales (another video later) some harbor seals and sea lions.








    We had planned this trip after a friend of ours told us about his experience with killer whales. He has been out here three different times. We had booked the zodiac for ourselves and the girlfriend thought it might be nice to invite a Thai girlfriend of hers, who was recently married to a Canadian. It was a first for three of us.

    I wanted to wait till we finished with our first whale watching trip to open the thread. But during our first full day on the island we visited Butchart Gardens right next to the resort. It's a beautiful garden located in what used to be a quarry.










    They serve a nice dinner at Butchart Gardens and reservations are recommended.


    We are staying in a nice place; located on Brentwood Bay with its own Marina, while on Vancouver Island.

    Our room and view
















    If you want to visit Canada with your Thai spouse, the Visa process is fairly simple if the Thai meets some basic requirements.

    Depending on your Thai spouses supporting documents the Canadian Embassy might issue a Visa for an extended period of time. The girlfriend was given a 2 ½ year Visa (when her passport expires) to come and go as she wishes so she's already planning for next year.
    Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.

  2. #2
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    Looks beautiful. Looking forward to video. Thanks for sharing.

  3. #3
    Thailand Expat
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    Great pics, I'm jealous.

  4. #4
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    I've caught fleeting glimpses of them on a couple of occasions whilst working offshore.
    There have been recent sightings of the in the River Mersey, where you'd be more expected to see the "brown trout"

    Watch: 36,000-kg beast causes a tidal wave in Liverpool's port - Liverpool Echo

    Cheers

  5. #5
    Guest Member S Landreth's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by johpam View Post
    Looks beautiful. Looking forward to video.
    I’ve just uploaded these two videos (below) on youtube so they might take a little time to clear up. Please be patient.

    I want to explain both videos. Both were shot by two different Thai girls using their smartphones.

    The girlfriend shot the Humpback video and the girlfriends girlfriend shot the Killer Whale Dive video. The voices you hear in the background of the Killer Whale Dive video was of the captain, the professional photographer who was brought along (by the captain) for this trip (he’ll be with us Friday also) and the Canadian (wonderful guy) who was recently married to the Thai.

    The photographer placed a Gopro in the water to catch the Killer Whales diving under the boat but in the excitement he forgot to turn on (properly) the Gopro.

    Enjoy!




  6. #6
    A Cockless Wonder
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    Not scrimping on the accomodation there I see S L

    Nice to see some people don't let standards slip!

  7. #7
    Thailand Expat
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    The orca diving under your boat, what a buzz!

  8. #8
    Thailand Expat VocalNeal's Avatar
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    Been there done that, got the driving license :-)

  9. #9
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    Very nice videos

  10. #10
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    I worked on Vancouver Island approx. 40 years ago. Beautiful scenery all the way up to Prince Rupert. Hope you enjoy your trip. Some friends and I will be in taking our Harleys from Manitoba through the mountains maybe as far as Vancouver. it is a great trip as I have done it before.

  11. #11
    Guest Member S Landreth's Avatar
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    Another day out watching (and learning about) Killer Whales/Humpbacks,……….














    We were able to get close to the Humpbacks (same two sited from the first day) but not to the Killer Whales yesterday because they were in US waters where you are required to stay at least 200 yards away from the animals or face some heavy fines (could run into the 100’s of thousands of dollars) and they were patrolling the area. In Canadian waters you’re allowed 100 meters.


    Couple of nice photos the (part time) professional photographer (Koen Hoekemeijer) shot while out on our first day (Killer Whales Hunting). Funny thing how we acquired these photos below. Mr. Hoekemeijer knew the Thai girl that was with us was able to get the video of the Killer Whales approaching and then diving under our zodiac and he told her If she would send him the video he would send her a couple of photographs. I think Mr. Hoekemeijer took about 1,400 (plus) shots that day.




    If would like to see more of Koen Hoekemeijer’s work (super nice guy and it was a pleasure to meet and spend some time with him) go to his facebook page: Facebook - Koen Hoekemeijer

    Some of his work,……..






    Some videos the girlfriend took while out during our first day,..........










    Quote Originally Posted by Yemen View Post
    I worked on Vancouver Island approx. 40 years ago. Beautiful scenery all the way up to Prince Rupert. Hope you enjoy your trip.
    Thanks, we were able to enjoy some of it. The day before yesterday we rented an ATV and spent some time in the Sproat Lake, Horne Lake, Mt. Arrowsmith and Port Alberni area of Vancouver Island. Picturesque








  12. #12
    Thailand Expat
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    Beautiful Mr Landreth, thx again

  13. #13
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    Gorgeous pics and thread.

    I will be heading to BC and Vancouver Island next summer. Thanks for the preview. Any places on Vancouver island you recommend visiting or staying at? Have you made it to Victoria?

  14. #14
    I am in Jail

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    Great thread.

    Watch your foot print though.

  15. #15
    A Cockless Wonder
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    I can't be sure without a $1 coin but I think even my knob is bigger than that!

  16. #16
    On a walkabout Loy Toy's Avatar
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    Fanatstic sharing of your experiences once again Mr. Landreth.

    You are one of the reasons I still look on this forum.

    Thanks.

  17. #17
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    Thanks landy beauriful clear photos you certainly get around.

  18. #18
    Guest Member S Landreth's Avatar
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    First I would like to thank everyone who made a positive comment, showed me some appreciation or just stopped by to view this thread. Hope everyone enjoyed the thread and learned a little something, if not about Killer Whale watching maybe how beautiful this part of Canada is.

    The last couple of days while on Vancouver Island we were able to enjoy some other tourist attractions with the beautiful weather helping us.

    We did a Zipline






    Rented a Kayak along Brentwood Bay and went out looking for whales.






    Went into Victoria and spent some time around the Inner Harbor and Fisherman's Wharf














    While in Victoria we also ate lunch at the Noodle Cart which served good Thai food.


    I might update this thread a couple months from now, if the captain of our boat (while whale watching) sends me (or post) some good pictures of the days we were out with him.

    And I have to say, observing Killer Whales in their natural habitat was wonderful but I would advise anyone who wanted to do some whale watching to head to Mexico and watch the Humpbacks as we have done previously.
    Last edited by S Landreth; 24-06-2015 at 02:59 PM.

  19. #19
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    great reporting

  20. #20
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    Great pics. Will you be in Vancouver at all on this trip? If so, send me a PM.

  21. #21
    Guest Member S Landreth's Avatar
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    ^We flew into BKK yesterday. The only time we were in Vancouver was while we were catching flights in and out of the airport.

    Next year we might spend some time with a couple (she’s Thai, he’s Canadian) who live in Vancouver (part time) and I’ll let you know our schedule before we leave.

  22. #22
    I'm in Jail

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    Is it possible to do a zipline in the "superman flying" position ??

  23. #23
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    Great Thread as always Landreth

  24. #24
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    I lived in Port Alberni for the first 19 years of my life. Left there in 1964. Went back a few times to visit & fish for salmon. I hunted all around Great Central Lake & Horne Lake. The scenery is much prettier now. Several massive Forest Fires in the mid 1950's, burned a most of the Beaufort Mountain Range. The town is rated as the 'worst" place to live in Canada. From 1940-70, it was one of the highest income Towns in Canada.

  25. #25
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    Quote Originally Posted by cdnski12
    I lived in Port Alberni for the first 19 years of my life. Left there in 1964. Went back a few times to visit & fish for salmon. I hunted all around Great Central Lake & Horne Lake. The scenery is much prettier now. Several massive Forest Fires in the mid 1950's, burned a most of the Beaufort Mountain Range. The town is rated as the 'worst" place to live in Canada. From 1940-70, it was one of the highest income Towns in Canada.
    I've been to Port Alberni a few times. I have a theory about Canadian towns that start with a Prince, Port, or Fort. They are generally shit holes. Port Alberni is miles above Prince George though.

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