Some friends chide me for being too trusting, and my ex-boss used to say I get too friendly ‘coz she saw me making friends with security guards and caterers and many other random strangers during our events.

In recent years, from following a house owner to his house alone in Shanghai, to befriending an old man and hitching a ride from him followed by an almost sponsored bi-plane ride in Seattle, and then following two girls in their car from Wreck Beach to downtown on my last day in Vancouver to be treated poutine (fries with sauce and your choice of meat stuff, apparently a Quebec specialty? *shrugs* but they have it at New York Fries, which does not exist in New York btw), I question my sensibility sometimes, but my instincts ain’t too bad, I think?

I had my hair done in a different salon last week, since I couldn’t find my usual hairstylist. After convincing me to do stuff to my hair, somehow I was persuaded to accept a lift from him on his electric bicycle, and I was free to try driving it. Having the experience of riding a motorbike to a tree some years back, I wasn’t particularly thrilled at his offer. But somehow I followed him to the carpark (or more like two-wheel-carpark) and took on his offer, and rode the electric bicycle to my dorm with him lighting his cigarette behind me.

Heh. It was cool.

Riding my first-time-hairstylist’s electric bicycle

The random stranger I met in Seattle who offered me a free ride and company to the out-of-the-way Museum of Flight and an almost sponsored trip on a bi-plane ride

Met 2 Canadians at Wreck Beach and the stranger on the above right pic let me try on her construction site outfit. (Being a construction worker is very respectable in Canada, unlike how we view Singapore’s Banglas)

To all who knew my love for tasty quesadillas:

My mouth awaits the day it can sink into the soft, yet crispy, well-assimilated combo of chicken, salsa, and cheeeeeeeeeeezzzzzz once again.

For dinner, I ordered a mushroom quesadilla (the only choice for a quesadilla), for 14RMB, from a place called El Mexicano, which charged me an extra 7RMB to have it delivered along with a beef taco (although I realized it should be called a burrito after I ate it). In total I spent 41RMB, which is pretty pricey for a meal here, but it’s been my average expenditure on food these days due to my larger appetite.

Compare what I ate today (left) and what I could eat almost everyday in Canada (right):

Today, I ate a flat, mushy, cheeseless, piece of tortilla skin with mashed up mushrooms, green peppers and onions. Oh, how I hunger for a good quesadilla.

I also confess to having hamburger withdrawal symptoms, but the inferior burgers here are keeping me full at least.

Thankfully there’s still popcorn chicken, heh.

Going…Going…Gone.

I haven’t had time to sit down to reflect, but what I know now for sure is that the past 4 months has been nothing short of pleasant, fun, and wonderful.

Much thanks to my housemates for giving me insight into Canadian culture and helping me with all my needs, and all other friends who made this sojourn so enjoyable I find it hard to leave. Mostly, it’s thanks to the friendly, and always-going-out-of-the-way-to-help Canadians and their pleasant habits.

It’s 2.30am now and the cab I booked will be arriving at 7am. Still, I have not finished packing.

So I have to pack now, blog later.

The next time I blog, it’ll be across the border, down where it’s not as cold.

(Check back tomorrow for the words of this post. Too tired now to think about what to write. But I couldn’t wait to show off pics so here are the pics first haha. as usual, click on pics for slideshow.)

Very much English, Victoria is a quaint capital that is reminiscent of London, somewhat. Be it the architecture, the way the boats are lined on the river, the entire setting of the place illuminates it’s associations with Englishness. With a small population inhabiting the capital of British Columbia, the main attractions are the Parliament Buildings, the Fairmont Empress Hotel, and Butchart Gardens.

(Click on any of the images to view slideshow)

At UBC, in Vancouver, in Canada. The final 10 days (till my next visit, of course!).

Slowly, I’m trying to cut the strings of attachments.

I’ll always revisit the memories created in this lovely liveable place, and with its people I befriended so easily (you must know how anti-social I was/am in Fudan). It remains on the top of my list of places to live/retire in (if I can afford to).

(And of course, the place to sign marriage papers if someone asks)

Click on the pictures below for pictures of UBC, and other memories in Canada.

Especially you, Shaina Yu Jin Tong.

Just decided to post some random food images for the fun of tantalizing my friend, Shaina, who is starving at work now. Hopefully she will never go on a diet again because, come on Shaina, you and I, we live to eat.

From Canada (the pics, not necessarily the cuisine):

Quesadilla 

Vera’s Burger from Vera’s Burger Shack

Some burger from some restaurant 

Pasta 

From Singapore:

Chicken Wings, Holland Village 

Chicken Wings, Holland Village 

Stingray, Holland Village 

Soft Shell Crab from Geylang dimsum 

Seriously. One day rain, next day snow, following day sunshine. 5 degrees Celsius, then -5 degrees Celsius, then 12 degrees Celsius. Rainproof jacket and umbrella; beanie, scarf, gloves and boots; then short-sleeved polo shirt.

Actually even a woman can’t be this temperamental.

(that’s my friend, Rosanna, and our 2 smiley faces)

(The end of the rainbow seems to be at the ocean)

Okay, here’s something lame for once (I’m sure this is the only time I’m so lame on my blog):

My rendition of 98 Degree’s “Because of You” (for those who don’t remember or were wise enough to shun boyband pop, the start of the chorus goes “You’re my sunshine after the rain, you’re the cure against my fear and my pain“) :

You’re my rainbow after the snow

You’re the reason why I’m off my pillow

…(I’ll spare you from the rest haha)

Sunday, November 25

Families headed downtown to watch the Santa Claus Parade that delighted kids and adults alike. Roads were blocked, buses were rerouted, and we were part of the packed crowd. We even bumped into the boss of Prima Taste there (remember how nice he was during my birthday dinner?)!

It was fortunate that we encountered good weather (finally not raining) that day. Though cold, kids’ smiles brought on my performers’ smiles brought warmth (this sounds super cliché but that was how it was!).

The crowd in anticipation

The kids await in the best position

Look over there, Daddy!

All the kids had the best views from above

Fluorescent Tigger

Finally, the arrival of Santa

Crowd dispersal

That’s because I’ve had an overload of salmon sashimi for the past 3 weeks or so.

I only learnt the shiok-ness of ingesting raw salmon marinated with the combination of soya sauce and wasabi after coming to Vancouver (known to be an international food hub). Imagine all those years I could have indulged in this delectable feast!

So I have been compensating for lost time.

And guess what? I’m eating an excess of something good for a change! The oils in salmon fish discourages blood clotting by reducing the stickiness of blood! There is hope for my high cholesterol! Heh.