Canadiana Backpackers Blog

We are a “Family Friendly” hostel. That is, we accommodate guests from eight months to eighty years of age. It’s a peaceful, realxed atmosphere and we’re quite proud of that fact. But sometimes, on very rare occasions, people have personality conflicts; it’s almost inevitable in any situation where you host more than 200 people.

We had an “incident” last night. As many conflicts are, this one was alcohol fueled. Our longer term guests have become friends; both of ours and with each other. So I guess what happened could be termed a “family spat”. Two of our? long term residents? had “issues” with each other. (Though I’ll wager neither of them knows what the issues are.)

The nice thing? is that the ensuing “scuffle”? was broken up by other residents. When they are travelling, this is their home and they won’t? put up with? that kind of behaviour in their “home”.

? Sometimes – just sometimes – working the night shift at the hostel is akin to running a children’s day care. They’ll kiss and make up in the morning (or perhaps tomorrow afternoon when they wake up) because they are both pretty decent individuals. But, to quote Holly Golightly in “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”; “Quel night!”

Most of the “Lager Louts” (it’s an affectionate term) are leaving at the end of the week! We’re going to miss them. In every hostel there is always a group of hard core party animals (and animalettes) who are into late night revelry and alcohol-fueled bachannals that continue until dawn.

They’d appreciate anonimity in this message but their names are; Chris, Matt, Simon, Scott, Mitch? and Jonathon. I won’t mention the ladies names but their initials are; Madeline and Genesis. It is 4AM as I write this and I hear screams and laughter coming from the rear patio. People are sleeping. Better check it out!

You won’t believe this. They are playing with sharp instruments out on the patio. Playing a game of darts at 4 AM! They’re laughing like hell because Jonathon has his pants down and two darts are buried to the hilt in his right thigh. He’s laughing hardest of all! No sense; no feeling, I suppose. Chris said; “I guess this is about the stupidest thing we’ve done since we’ve been here.” Gee, do you think? This even surpasses last night when Jonathon chugged a 750ml bottle of Aunt Jemima’s syrup in less than 40 seconds!

There was a lot of screaming in the common room just now. Matt and Jonathon were trying to give Genesis a “Moose”. Genesis is a young and pretty senorita from Mexico. She just found out what a “Moose” is and wants no part of it! Just in case you don’t know, it involves slobbering all over her neck! What a romantic bunch!

I’ll grant you it’s pretty crazy and this present group of party animals are as wild and irresponsible as any; however, unlike some other groups we’ve had, carry on with their antics in the spirit of good fun with malice towards none. Matt, Madeline and Chris are off to Vancouver – God help that poor town!

WINTER IS HERE?

Early last December we posted an entry “Winter is Here” while we were experiencing a minus 12C cold snap. Things have changed since then. Last winter was Toronto’s mildest in recorded history; but, this winter has turned out to be even milder!

It is mid-January (traditionally the coldest time of the year) and it has yet to snow. Today was a balmy +6C and has been for the past few weeks! Chris Pearcy a long-term guest and one of the ring leaders of the “Lager Louts” has just finished the weekly event he does for the hostel. It’s called “Pearcy’s Mystery Pub Night”. This is his last one for us as he’s leaving for Vancouver. Last week it was so warm the “Double L’s” did the pub night in Drag and made a pretty ugly group of “women”! It’s a good thing playing dressup is no longer illegal – whatever floats your boat, I reckon!

007 in 2007??

Ariyanto left the hostel yesterday. It’s a rather unusual name; it’s? Javanese in origin. Backpackers come from all over the world to the Canadiana.? Ariyanto is ethnically Chinese but born in Indonesia and? he is right up there among? the most remarkable characters to visit with us at the hostel. He is, at the same time,? both the scion of wealth and a self-made man. Actually, he’s a bit of an industrial spy. (More about that later.)

When he finished school back home, his wealthy father presented him with a bill for $200,000. It was the estimated cost of his rearing and education. He has cleared that account; “Every last cent plus interest.” It was an exercise in “tough love” to ensure that he would not become a wastrel as many who inherit wealth often are.

Ariyanto? began by investing? in real estate; starting with small prperties in marginal (read: dodgy) and inexpensive areas and gradually purchased larger holdings. Among his properties he now owns a luxury beachfront hotel on on Bali’s exotic beach. As a? Christian in the most populous Muslim nation on earth, He has sought to give back to the community and his country. He has built (and helps to sustain) a large Orphanage in the capital city of Jakarta. He has turned the management of the facility over to the Catholic Church of which he is a parishoner.

Oh yes, I said he was a spy. Ariyanto was toying with the idea of starting a backpacker’s hostel in Vancouver where he now makes his home. He had heard that the Canadiana had been voted the Best Backpacker’s Hostel in North America and he came to see just how we operate. The Canadiana is Toronto’s largest Backpacker’s Hostel; inspite of what our competitors claim and advertise. It consists of eight renovated Victorian houses (circa. 1889) and can? accommodate? more than 200 guests. We are located in the shadow of Toronto’s most famous landmark, the? CN Tower making us the most centrally located hostel in Toronto.

He liked what he saw but plans to make his hostel “more modern”. Big mistake. It is the “Old World” charm that makes our hostel unique and provides the homelike ambiance that travellers find so appealing. Whatever Ariyanto decides, we wish him well.

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A brand new year has begun at the Canadiana. As in all places the year began with new promises and wretched excesses. Our Provincial Parliament? has raised the minimum wage by a whopping 25 cents per hour!? This act of generosity? will raise? the average worker’s wage almost up to the poverty line. Meanwhile, these self-same? Members of Parliament also? voted themselves an? annual? increase? as much as $39,000! Nothing, it seems, really changes.

We rang in the New Year here at the Canadiana with all the backpackers with an impromptu celebration. Nothing was planned but everyone somwhow ended up back at the hostel for the countdown to midnight. All in all, it was a great evening with lots of fun and little drama. It bodes well for the coming year.

Thinking back on the previous year a host of faces and characters flash by, etched in our memories. Meeting interesting people? is one of the benefits of working in a Backpakers Hostel. Sadly, most will become like “Ships that pass in the night”. But there are others whom, for whatever, reason, have a profound effect and can somehow make your a little richer for having met them.?

In 2007, Canadiana Backpackers is going to try to introduce you to a lot of interesting people as we host them over the coming weeks and months.?