Travel Journal

Because Southeast Asia has such a tropical climate, there are a lot of fruits available here that you just can't get in North America. Well, I guess in this day and age of modern packaging and shipping, there really are no boundaries, but what ends up arriving in Chinatown or other Asian markets in North America is a far cry from what you get here locally. We went to the fruit market and came back with a number of gorgeous, delicious fruits: From left to right: Lychee, longan, rambutan, and mangosteen. They are all very similar in that they are peel-and-eat fruits, but obviously they appear quite different. To me the first three taste like variations on a theme (cool, sweet and juicy.) But the one I want to single out is the mangosteen. I don't know how I ever managed to have visited this region multiple times without having tried this delectable entity, but I am so glad I finally did! Contrary to its name, the mangosteen has nothing to do with the mango (another mouth-waterin...

Breakfast in this part of the world can be quite different from what we normally eat back home in North America. Usually I just eat yogurt, some fruit, or an oatmeal bar at my desk at work. Here, it is not uncommon to eat things like fried noodles with curry vegetables first thing in the morning. People often go to kopitiam or "coffee shops" for a quick bite before heading off to work. These coffee shops are unlike the Tim Hortons back home, as you will find all manner of things to eat: noodles, meat and rice claypot dishes, a nice bowl of chicken feet and mushrooms in a noodle soup...just the thing to start off your day right! Each vendor at a kopitiam or hawker centre displays a menu with helpful pictures and descriptions like this one: Yesterday for brekkie I went the fried noodle route: won ton mee (flat rice noodles) topped with char siew (barbecued pork), veg and oyster sauce, accompanied by won ton soup and chilis on the side. Yummy! I have to admit that eating such ...

Just a quick post to say that after 3 flights comprising 21 hours of flying time (not to mention at least 5 hours waiting in airports), I have finally made it to Singapore, 11.30 pm local time. The first thing I felt when I got off the plane was: "Wow. It's hot." Not only hot, but humid. The kind of humidity that makes you feel like you're wearing a wet towel all the time. Thank God for air conditioning! Much gratitude as well to Aunty Winnie and Uncle Jeff for picking me up at the airport so late at night. I don't feel particularly tired right now so I'm probably going to hang out with my aunt and uncle and cousins Cody and Michelle for a while (we are watching the Italy-Australia match), but I'm pretty sure the jet lag will kick in tomorrow and I will be a zombie. Tomorrow we have planned to see the typical tourist sights of Singapore: the Central Business District (CBD), the Merlions, the Esplanade, Sentosa Island...and also the eating will begin. I say...

In addition to complete the goal of a lifetime, Ms. Champagne also achieved yet another milestone: getting married! Yes, Millie is no longer a bastard child, Cathy and Tyler have made her street legal. Again, another scorching hot day for the wedding, but really a fantastic day...actually, a fantastic week, starting off with a decidedly indulgent but oh-so-blissful spa day at the Carmichael Inn . (If you haven't been there yet, I highly recommend it!) We were massaged and facialed and body wrapped and fed delicious food until we emerged quivering like jello, we were so relaxed. A few days later we had a group pedicure session at the Third Avenue Spa where we all fell asleep in our reclining chairs, then headed to the rehearsal dinner after constructing boutonnieres and corsages by hand. I spent the night at Cathy's and got up bright and early on Saturday, ready for hair, makeup, bouquet-making, McDonald's, and Ferris Bueller. I felt important because in addition to my flow...

Where have I been for the past few months? Seems like the time has flown by and so much has happened. I turned 30 in April and had three fantastic celebrations. Picture me so surprised at the party some great friends threw for me that I burst into tears. I spent a lot of time eating -- barbecue, oysters and other fine dining, delicious pot roast and flat rice noodles with beef and black bean sauce. Thanks to everyone who came out and helped me to celebrate - you made the week so very special. The big race weekend came and went. I did my worst half-marathon ever, finishing with a time of 2:39...so much for beating my personal best of 2:19. In my defense, I will just say that the day was unexpectedly hot, and we had been training in much cooler and oftentimes rainy weather. Everyone who came out to support us can attest to the insane heat of the day, as we all ended up with sunburns of varying degrees. I was fortunate enough to have a loyal crew of fans who helped to ease my way along th...

You Are 44% Evil You are evil, but you haven't yet mastered the dark side. Fear not though - you are on your way to world domination. How Evil Are You? I stole this from Mark's blah-g

Finding clothes that fit me. Apparently my current body configuration is being jilted by modern fashion. Marathon training and cross-training has made the lower half of my body resemble that of a short Eastern European amateur wrestler and NOT that of a sleek gazelle. When I undertook this marathon training, I was picturing the slim, no-body-fat athletes who have to wrap themselves in foil blankets at the end of races. I feel duped. I'm tired of trying on dresses that are tight in the chest, loose in the belly, and ready to bust the seams at the hips and thighs. I'd like to have my ankles back, please -- I'm tired of the "cankles" ("calf-ankles", a Nat term. She makes up cute word phrases like "shpants"...figure it out.) I know I'm not fat but I'd just like my figure to regain something approximating normal proportions. And I'd also like hourglass figures to come back into fashion. When my race is over, it's back to wei...

Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro This has been on my "Life's To Do" list for a few years now, since I went to Uganda. Apparently the snow cap is melting so it will be impossible to summit the mountain in less than 20 years' time, therefore the time to do it is NOW. I have negotiated 4 weeks off in July, but unfortunately there hasn't been enough time to save up the almost $10,000 I would need for this trip (which would include a visit to the Ngorongoro Crater, a Serengeti safari, and various trips to Dar-es-Salaam TZ and Kampala UG to visit friends.) But I'm still dreaming....

"7/4 (Shoreline)" by Broken Social Scene . The sophomore equivalent of "Cause = Time" from their first album, maybe even better. Sorry, no link to the tune...you'll just have to go out and get it yourself. But trust me, it's worth it. It's written in 7/4 time for God's sake!

Hungry 

I am short 

Catering to the Japanese 

One gazillionth photo of the Golden Gate Bridge - view from Fort Point 

"Everywhere you look, everywhere you go, there's a face of somebody who needs you." 

On Thursday, March 2, your friendly neighbourhood camera-whore will be appearing on A-Channel Morning , the morning show of what used to be The New RO. I was asked by VSO to publicize their upcoming fundraiser trivia night, Around the World in 30 Questions , which will be held in Toronto and Ottawa during the second week in March. It's just a short, kinda scripted thing, where I basically just have to answer a few questions about my experience with VSO overseas and then I get to ask the host a few sample trivia questions. I am ashamed to be a shameless centre-of-attention-seeker! Coincidentally, the trivia part is being organized by Paul, the guy who so masterfully prepares the quizzes for our Monday night trivia at the Barley Mow . Go Banana Stand! Also coincidentally is that recently a film crew from TVO came to our trivia night to film a documentary for Studio 2, and I spent a good part of the evening wishing the producer would come over and interview us. Sadly, she did not...

Right now I'm in Ottawa, but I'm trying to figure out where I'm going to go. The UK? Australia? New Zealand? I'll keep you posted.