In case you were wondering, which you obviously weren't, I chose the colours for my peace sign so that it was made up of all the colours in the South African flag.
Sala Kakulhe - Stay well
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Sunsets
Did you know, that sunsets can be spectacular all over the world? I saw lots of amazing sunsets during my travels but being back here in TO, in my apartment with a nice view, I am catching heaps of great sunsets. Sure, I'm not in some exotic sounding location but a nice sunset is a nice sunset, I don't discriminate. Point being, take time to look outside your window or up to the sky, it will always be worth it, no matter what time of day really. I saw a giant reddish moon the other night on my way back from Hamilton and today the moon and sun were out together. In the book I'm reading, that's supposedly a bad thing, but I love it. It reminds me of Cape Town because it happened a lot there.
I've managed to see lots of people lately, running into old friends has been great. Apparently I look happier, that's what the survey is saying for the most part. I'm going to have to credit the quitting of the soul sucking job for that one. Amazing what a place can do for or to you. The lack of income can be tough but then again when you have great friends, they take you out for Indian food, have you over for dinner, buy your tea, serve you coffee, let you house and pet sit and make even update your resume for you so you can pretend to look for work all while you mooch off of them.
Things are good.
I've managed to see lots of people lately, running into old friends has been great. Apparently I look happier, that's what the survey is saying for the most part. I'm going to have to credit the quitting of the soul sucking job for that one. Amazing what a place can do for or to you. The lack of income can be tough but then again when you have great friends, they take you out for Indian food, have you over for dinner, buy your tea, serve you coffee, let you house and pet sit and make even update your resume for you so you can pretend to look for work all while you mooch off of them.
Things are good.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Not Summer Yet
Hmmm, well it's still pretty chilly here but I suppose we have to wait until the 21st of June for summer to officially be here so we can really get our complain on. I don't actually mind the coolness, I can wear all the early spring clothes I thought I'd miss out on. You know, like a puffy vest and mittens. Sigh. Obviously, my tan is disappearing faster than the chocolate bar I 'won' at my friend's shower this weekend. Although it's probably too close to call.
As part of an attempt to recreate Cape Town summers, I went for a swim in the pool at my building and then sat in the sauna. The pool was too warm to be the Atlantic ocean and the waves were nonexistent but the sauna was nice and hot. All I need is a Savanna or Foundry and some bars over my windows and I'll be set...
The sunsets have been pretty nice here too though.
As part of an attempt to recreate Cape Town summers, I went for a swim in the pool at my building and then sat in the sauna. The pool was too warm to be the Atlantic ocean and the waves were nonexistent but the sauna was nice and hot. All I need is a Savanna or Foundry and some bars over my windows and I'll be set...
The sunsets have been pretty nice here too though.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Return of the Mac
Well, here I am, back in Toronto. Been back here for a minute now. Getting settled in, for June at least. Then it's time to move again, you know, just to keep things interesting. Took a tour of Humber yesterday to glimpse my future. Compared to UBC, the campus feels tiny. Highlights are that it used to be a mental hospital (mmm and I got in), I can get free massages and it's near the lake. Not sure if I mentioned before but being near a large body of water is near the top of my list of things needed in my life. The commute is going to be long enough but should allow for some reading or sleeping.
For now, I'm still trying to get my life organised, catch up on appointments, load new music, catch up with friends and uh, look for a source of income. Can you say medical studies? I sure can!
Oh and you may not be but I'm enjoying this weather. I like when the sun is out and I like the breeze. I even got to wear my puffy vest today, which I had been itching today. Summertime heat though, is welcome at anytime.
For now, I'm still trying to get my life organised, catch up on appointments, load new music, catch up with friends and uh, look for a source of income. Can you say medical studies? I sure can!
Oh and you may not be but I'm enjoying this weather. I like when the sun is out and I like the breeze. I even got to wear my puffy vest today, which I had been itching today. Summertime heat though, is welcome at anytime.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Keep Moving
Apparently sitting still is tough. I was in Toronto and am now in Ottawa for a couple weeks before I head to Edmonton and then back to Toronto. Depending on housing and employment I could spend June just about anywhere.
If you think Ottawa and Edmonton are a bit of a downgrade from say New Zealand and Fiji, how do you think I feel? Just kidding, both have their pros and cons - for example, I left Fiji with a lot of bug bites, whereas the frost warning for Ottawa tonight should kill any mosquitoes foolish enough to think it was a good time to come out and breed. Point - Ottawa
Since my return, I've noticed a severe lack of colourful houses as were present in Cape Town and an absence of hammocks, both things I hope to do my part to rectify. As well, I've decided the grocery stores here are much too big. I almost had a panic attack in a giant Loblaws today and have vowed to stick to the smaller ones, if I can find them. Our favourite Pak 'N Save was very large but it's warehouse feel was somehow less intimidating. Plus, they sold wine and that's an aisle that's fun to spend hours searching around in. Canada could use a few more hummus options. Pam's, a exclusively New Zealand brand, made an incredible hummus that without, I'm having trouble making a really really good sandwich.
Oh something else that's weird about being back - have you ever noticed that everyone drives on the wrong side of the road here? That's been a tougher adjustment than expected.
A few photos to follow...
If you think Ottawa and Edmonton are a bit of a downgrade from say New Zealand and Fiji, how do you think I feel? Just kidding, both have their pros and cons - for example, I left Fiji with a lot of bug bites, whereas the frost warning for Ottawa tonight should kill any mosquitoes foolish enough to think it was a good time to come out and breed. Point - Ottawa
Since my return, I've noticed a severe lack of colourful houses as were present in Cape Town and an absence of hammocks, both things I hope to do my part to rectify. As well, I've decided the grocery stores here are much too big. I almost had a panic attack in a giant Loblaws today and have vowed to stick to the smaller ones, if I can find them. Our favourite Pak 'N Save was very large but it's warehouse feel was somehow less intimidating. Plus, they sold wine and that's an aisle that's fun to spend hours searching around in. Canada could use a few more hummus options. Pam's, a exclusively New Zealand brand, made an incredible hummus that without, I'm having trouble making a really really good sandwich.
Oh something else that's weird about being back - have you ever noticed that everyone drives on the wrong side of the road here? That's been a tougher adjustment than expected.
A few photos to follow...
I'm Back!
Well in case you weren't aware, I have returned safely to Canada and just realized that I am still continuously writing in the passive tense. It's a problem I have had.
Right, so let me just say that I LOVE Canadian customs. When I landed in LA it looked like I was going to have to get fingerprinted and I was trying to think of a way to ask if it was mandatory without winding up on a no fly list. I'm not sure if it was my Canadian passport or because I was in transit but I did not have to place all 8 fingers and 2 thumbs on the glowing green pad. I saw the customs guy give someone the thumbs up and thought 'oh, how friendly', only to realise he was telling the person to put their thumb on the pad. Oh how glad I was to avoid all of that.
Why do I love Canadian customs? Well, not only were there no finger print stations in site but on my re-entry to Canada form, I didn't even have to mention where I was actually coming from. As far as the Canadian government is concerned, I was just in LA. That's it! Bizarre. Oh and the best question was "Did you contract swine flu?" Um I certainly hope not was my reply and this seemed to be good enough. The good news is, I'm no trouble maker...
Right, so let me just say that I LOVE Canadian customs. When I landed in LA it looked like I was going to have to get fingerprinted and I was trying to think of a way to ask if it was mandatory without winding up on a no fly list. I'm not sure if it was my Canadian passport or because I was in transit but I did not have to place all 8 fingers and 2 thumbs on the glowing green pad. I saw the customs guy give someone the thumbs up and thought 'oh, how friendly', only to realise he was telling the person to put their thumb on the pad. Oh how glad I was to avoid all of that.
Why do I love Canadian customs? Well, not only were there no finger print stations in site but on my re-entry to Canada form, I didn't even have to mention where I was actually coming from. As far as the Canadian government is concerned, I was just in LA. That's it! Bizarre. Oh and the best question was "Did you contract swine flu?" Um I certainly hope not was my reply and this seemed to be good enough. The good news is, I'm no trouble maker...
Monday, May 4, 2009
LAX
Well here I am, back in the Northern Hemisphere. Luckily I checked out the stars 2 nights ago, um but on the 2nd of May, and saw the Southern Cross constellation while I still could. Can`t see that stuff up here. Thanks to my friend I am in the Air Canada lounge at the Los Angeles air port. Literally a life saver. It means I get free food and internet, free drinks of all kinds and a calm, comfortable place to relax and charge my mp3 player and PSP. I got about 1 hour of sleep last night, the first of 2 3rd of May nights. The 10 hour flight was quite rubbish. The food was awful and the gross vegetarian sandwich was accompanied by chicken flavoured casava chips. Hmmmm maybe the flavouring is artificial. NOPE! Listed on the ingredients - chicken fat.
Anyway, I felt sick for a lot of the flight and only ate a bun for breakfast, instead of diving into the mystery breakfast. This nice old lady from Vancouver kept offering me her food so I scored a yogourt as well. Not sure why the vegetarian option, with a yes to dairy doesn`t get the yogourt or the biscuits for dessert at dinner.
My video system was mostly busted and you didn`t have much movie choice. It was the type where the movie just starts and you join in wherever you can. My tv got stuck on one of the High school musicals and can I just say, I couldn`t take it for more than a minute. Zach Effron CANNOT play basketball - at all! Then only the kids and country music stations worked so I had to go stand at the back of the plane and stretch an sit on the ground and got to talk to a Fijian flight attendant who was very nice.
Speaking of Fiji, you should go there. All of you. It`s nice, relaxing and you see so many fish just going snorkeling. I`ll write more in another post just now. 5 more hours until my next flight...
Anyway, I felt sick for a lot of the flight and only ate a bun for breakfast, instead of diving into the mystery breakfast. This nice old lady from Vancouver kept offering me her food so I scored a yogourt as well. Not sure why the vegetarian option, with a yes to dairy doesn`t get the yogourt or the biscuits for dessert at dinner.
My video system was mostly busted and you didn`t have much movie choice. It was the type where the movie just starts and you join in wherever you can. My tv got stuck on one of the High school musicals and can I just say, I couldn`t take it for more than a minute. Zach Effron CANNOT play basketball - at all! Then only the kids and country music stations worked so I had to go stand at the back of the plane and stretch an sit on the ground and got to talk to a Fijian flight attendant who was very nice.
Speaking of Fiji, you should go there. All of you. It`s nice, relaxing and you see so many fish just going snorkeling. I`ll write more in another post just now. 5 more hours until my next flight...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)