_*Raison D'etre Blog*

Friday, October 30, 2009

Wow.. its already nearing the end of October and the end of fall.. Time truly flies here (its almost becoming a self fulfilling prophecy everytime I blog).. Since academic life kickstarted in UofT, my life has been passing over in weeks... everytime wishing the weekend will reach soon and seeing it fly past just like that.. Though it is not for nought as I've also done quite a few things here in Canada since the last post!

Firstly, heres the photos I have not uploaded to share till now of the various places I've been in and around Toronto!

Canadian National Exhibition Air Show

ISIC Welcome BBQ

Me winning free tickets to....

St Jacob's Village and Elora Gorge

St Jacob's Farmer's Market

Mennonite Museum

Elora Gorge!

More Photos of UofT!

University College where i take UNI255

cool windows in Hart House

Gerstein Library (Science Library)

Convocation Hall!

Toronto Islands!

Friends over in Toronto!!

Fabby + Yue Zhi at Salad King!

With Kelvin and Mooncakes I bought for his gf to give kelvin by proxy!

Great Ice Wine with great friends!

Kelvin our proud marathon-er who did his PB in the Toronto Waterfront Marathon!

Joker's Hill Forestry Field Trip

measuring Basal Area!

Measuring Tree age (rings)

Mid Autumn Festival + Nuit Blanche (an overnight town arts festival!)

Mooncakes Kelvin bought for us!

Eating mooncakes + Tang Yuan in our own balcony while enjoying the full moon view!

Inside AGO

Rabbit Balloon!

At Nathan Philips Square

St Lawrence's Market

Sunday Antique Market

Historic Distillery District

CabbageTown

Yup thats basically cleared by blog/photographic debt for my life in toronto up till my montreal/quebec trip! Shall upload my next post on my wonderful 4D3N trip to Montreal and Quebec City! Stay tuned!! =]

dEminG
Loving every bit of Canada!

My mind's unweaving/ 3:41 AM

Thursday, September 24, 2009

somehow on exchange, time seems to pass by soooo much faster.. maybe its because I walk everywhere I go... maybe its cause we cook our own meals and wash our own dishes... maybe its cause we sleep so long and comfortably in our comfy home... maybe its just me... its kind of hard to believe that I've been in Toronto for close to 1 month and that I've only explored this much of Toronto...

My lessons unfortunately have been congested into Monday to Friday with no free days.. lest Thursday and Friday being relatively free days with only 1 lesson each... my tiring days are usually monday and tuesday with my classical mythology class early in the morning with a 30min walk to class, and my late histories of sexualities class till 9pm on tuesday night... Week 3 is coming to a close and though I've pretty much settled down into the routine of school life, the revelation of class tests coming in 2 weeks time unsettles me so..

CLA204H - Introduction to Classical Mythology:
An interesting subject matter, one of which I would not have expected myself to take in NUS.. I took it as a matter of desperation due to a time table clash and myself not taking note of the way to read the module description well enough to realise the clash.. what i dislike most about this course is that its on Mon,Wed and Fri at 10am and is 30min walk for me.. Whats more, the lecturer is just mumbling to himself for the entire one hour.. at first I thought moving closer to seat in the front rows will help, but his rumblings just got worst and he does not articulate his words well that I just gave up.. now my only reason for attending his classes is to copy down the lecture notes he presents ONLY because he refuses to upload them online... and for every lecture test on fridays... sigh... not quite my exchange enrichment module i was looking for...

CSB328H - Developmental Biology
1 of my 2 core modules I managed to map to my LSM modules in NUS.. its funny to do really Biology stuff again especially since the only Biology module i took so far is Biodiversity.. Being a Cell and Systems Biology (CSB) department module, it seems like the students are all pretty well versed in Biology.. especially in lab processes... just last tuesday, we used microscopes to observe Xenopus (african toad) embryos in different stages of embryogenesis and were asked to make complication disections that left me going "huh?".. I didn't buy the textbook cause its the exact same textbook i can buy in singapore for half the price here but not having the textbook feels like I won't catch up with the other students here.. nonetheless, i like the enthusiasm of the lecturer and I can understand clearly what he teaches and also rekindle the fun of drawing cells and structures like JC biology again~!

FOR200H - Conservation of Canada's Forests
A really canadian module! Its funny cause the other students seem to know abit about the forests around their country and the situations they are faced with... maybe they are forestry majors, but even for me, I only know abit about the tropical forests around Singapore.. the lessons were taught quite normally but I like the photos of the forests, habitats and wildlife included in the lecture notes that keeps me interested! this weekend I'm going to Joker's Hill (a UofT reserve) to do a field trip for this module! Looking forward to it!!

PCL302H - Pharmacodynamic Principles
This modules pretty normal as in it doesn't feel that much different from a NUS module... it has less class involvement and more studying NUS style~ but that also makes me feel alot more comfortable taking this module with just the right (less is right) amount of lecture notes being covered during every 1hrs lecture~ bought the textbook here since the author is actually the lecturer herself! don't think I'll be able to buy that from Singapore huh? it does kinda stir my interest due to the drug names and all and my interest in biomedical studies! woohoo!!

UNI255 - History and Sexuality
Why, I can't possibly take too many science LSM modules here right? beats the purpose of coming on exchange~ As I was module shopping, this module kinda caught my attention studying the history of sexualities, not just the male-female sexes but every thing else too~ though the lectures are long and tiring (on my Tuesday long days 3hrs long), it is a unique subject matter myself esp since I myself actually HATE homosexuals alot... but along the course it seems that my hate was kinda unfounded... oh well its complicated.. I still do not support their cause, but studying more into the changing cultures and psychologies of sexualities over the course of history is quite an interesting module!

well, thats what I've been doing in school! I've also joined the Hart House Camera Club with like 4 underground personal darkrooms and 1 big group darkroom.. I also tried out the Atheletic Center's indoor stadium with track and realised my HORRIBLE 'fitness' that I can't run more than 1.2km without breathing with difficulty (which i partly attribute to the cold air causing it hard to breathe) but still... damn... i gotta run more often lest i go back for eternal RT... I've also been about and around Toronto abit, to the St Jacob's Village and Elora Gorge with the International Students Center, Toronto Island for a shooting trip, St Lawrence Market, Historic Distillery District and Cabbage town~ So much more of toronto remains unexplored as I slowly discover my toronto! =]

dEminG

My mind's unweaving/ 8:57 PM

Monday, September 07, 2009

phew... finally got some breath left in me to blog~ its amazing how time flies when there's so many things on your mind as well as tasks to achieve when you're in an overseas country on exchange~ though tiresome at times, I'm starting to find fun in all this small challenges and discoveries we make along the way~ But well, lets head back to where I left off from the last post: Niagara Falls Days 2 and 3!!

Niagara Falls Day 2

After a good nights rest at the Courtyard, we went over to tim hortons to find cheap breakfast! was our first time eating and I was really surprised how cheap it was at $1.27 per cup of coffee since it seems so alike to starbucks.. they also had really nice looking pastries and I got myself a sausage muffin! yummyy~ after that we went to the visitors center to get the All day adventure great gorges pass~ First off, we went to the Maid of the Mist where we board this double storey boat that sailed next to the american veil falls and into the mist of the canadian horseshoe falls~ was nice getting a close up of both falls and especially the heavy downpour caused by the mist inside the horseshoe falls! luckily i brought a ziplock to protect my DSLR~ woohoo fun!

after that we headed up to table rock via the people movers bus (which the girls commented about having cute male tour guides - where's the pretty female guides!!) where we watched the Niagara Fury, a 4D simulation show about the creation of the falls followed by taking a lift down to the side of the horseshoe falls in the Journey Behind the Falls to get another close up and even walk in age old tunnels behind falls itself~ after lunch (teriyaki chicken rice yummy!) we went up north of Niagara River to the white water walk to see Class 6 rapids~ thats a place you wouldnt wanna do white water rafting in!! with losta time left before sunset, we went up to the botanical gardens passing by the Whirlpool Aero car to kill time.. i then headed back to the hotel to get my tripod and grab some rest before meeting the girls to hopefully catch the sunset along the falls..

unfortunately before sunset the wind was blowing into the canadian side where i was standing to take a nice shot of the falls so it was pouring heavily along with cold chilly winds.. with only my NUS jumper, i kept shaking as I struggled to wipe the len clean for a split second to take the shot before another spray of water hit the lens and prevent it from focussing properly.. it was a gamble I took and the outcome was not as desirable as I hoped as the sunset was not spectacular and my camera obviously shortened its lifespan alot during that cold and wet 40min i spent unprotected in the downpour for the perfect shot..

in my drenched sweater following sunset, we went to burger's place where i grabbed a cup of hot chocolate to bring some warmth intomy freezing body as I went to the male toilet to use the hand dryer to dry my sweater, clothes and body as i drew curious and strange stares from people seeing me trying to dry all parts of my body using the hand dryer~ nonetheless, after getting some warmth back we walked along the niagara falls parkway to take nice shot of the niagara falls illuminated by coloured lights from the canadian side.. its these shots that really make me feel that lugging my heavy tripod halfway across the world was worth it all.. satisfied we went back and i took a nice warm shower and retired for the night without falling sick (YEAH!)

Niagara Falls D3
the night before, I was searching for wine tours and I finally found a cheaper alternative than the one offered by the hotel (which did not offer a tour of inniskilins) coz of a student discount~! we slept in late so we woke up straight and got a pick up direct from our hotel by a nice old driver/tour guide called Chuck and picked up another American lady called Marie in another hotel nearby before we started our tour!

first off chuck took a short stopover not in the plan (thats what i love about small group tours) at the floral clock! after that we stopped at a hill overlooking america where a battle occured.. during the ride he talked to us extensively about the history of Niagara-on-the-Lake (NOTL) and also about wineries.. soon we reached our first winery, stonechurch wineries! At first my mind was all about just inniskilin and famous canadian winery Reif estate.. but after a nice patient explanation by the store owner, we then tasted their wines which weren't half bad! I then bought a bottle of ice wine for only $20! woohoo! Small wineries prove my point that "GOOD THINGS COME IN SMALL PACKAGES!"

after that, we dropped by Pillitteri Wineries (we thought the driver read "Military Wineries) hahaa~ but he did advised us against buying anything there.. and the wine tasting was so-so~ but i did notice this ICE-WINE jams which I asked if I could buy later and chuck say have~ so i decided against purchasing anything~ after that we passed by Virgil, the center of NOTL and stopped over for lunch in the nice nice retirement town~ the buidlings were all old and vintagy but also quite new and refreshing at the same time! truly an option for my retirement!

after lunch, we headed to MY long awaited Inniskilins! Woohoo!! We went ahead for a tour around the winery and the smell of wines really make me thirsty! after the tour, we had another wine tasting before being released into my mini heaven of ice wine selections... there were riesling and carbernet franc ice wines too! but to truly taste something diff, i paid to taste the sparkling vidal ice wine and it was fantastic! so i bought one! yummyyy~~!! satisfied and educated on the production of ice wines, we headed to our last stop, Reif Estate wineries! was pretty quiet for a popular canadian winery and the wines weren't half bad either.. so i bought one bottle of ice wine and several small ones as souvenirs! with that done, tired and semi-high on wine tastings, we stopped by a cute small church called the "Living Water Wayside Church" that can barely fit 5 people inside to get married! finally we drove straight back to the hotel and rested...

being the last night at Niagara Falls, I decided to try my luck since Chuck mentioned there maybe a possibility for fireworks even though its September~ so i took my tripod down alone while the ladies went for dinner and waited with many more tourists also expecting fireworks that should happen at 10pm.. unfortunately, even with the huge turnout and signboards that read "Fireworks Tonight", I waited 30min in the freezing cold before a police car drove by announcing "No fireworks tonight"~ Dissapointed, I was still satisfied to have spent more time enjoying the sights and breeze of the Niagara Falls nonetheless~~

We had a long nights rest and checked out and took the bus back to Toronto and took a cramp streetcar back to our apartment, dropped our stuff in our now-cleaned up apartment and settled down~ UofT life here we come!

dEminG
Seen a Natural Wonder of the World!!

My mind's unweaving/ 7:43 AM

Sunday, September 06, 2009

Blog Typed on 31st August 2009 Monday

Quote of the post: "A good standard of living is living without houseflies!"

Phew.. time really flies when you’re overseas eh! Its already day 5! These few days, I’ve been always waking up exactly after 6hrs of sleep and cannot go back to sleep, so on Sunday, because I slept early, I woke up at 5am and after failed attempts at sleeping, I washed up and decided to take a stroll around the neighbourhood.. So I went to explore north of our place, where up till then we haven’t done so yet.. There i finally found 7-11! Hahaa then I thought of trying to see how little Italy looked, remembering how little Italy in Melbourne had fantastic Italian food, i was disappointed to find that little Italy was little more than houses, computer shops and a distinct lack of restaurants.. so i walked back towards my place along this road of nice houses with squirrels and birds frolicking all around with the occasional joggers around... it was really quiet and had this nice serene feel to it for a Sunday morning~ when i got back its finally 9am~ who knows how long i walked, but my legs were really tired.. so i decided to spoil myself and get some good English breakfast from across our place~ yummy~~

By the time the ladies woke up, it was close to the noon, then we set off to Bay Street to purchase our coach tickets to Niagara falls at the bus terminal.. on the way back we decided to have pitas for lunch at a meditterean store, which the ladies regretted as they had stomach upsets after that (I didn’t eat as I had a heavy breakfast).. looking tired, the ladies went back to the apartment while I decided to go look for the camera shops around dundas and yonge.. to my pleasant surprise, dundas square was turned into a festival ground, the green festival with lots of roadstalls, walking mascots and a open air concert.. was fun wandering around in the festive mood and even got this free kickass waterbottle for free thats like from Sigg! Was a long queue to get it, so was only entitled one... after that I dropped by an Aldo Liquidation shop and bought a nice sandal! Yeahh!! First purchase~ and also found the camera shop but still found that buying from Singapore was the cheapest! Then on the way back, i dropped by the Ontario Visitors Center to get more brochures and information and headed back home.. Back at Kensington, it was also like another festival! With live performances, street performers and haggling at the shops, its definitely a must go again!!

Dragon city!

Sexism in Canada~ ROFL

Toronto coach Terminal where we bought our tickets

The $2(toonies) $1(loonies) 25cents(quarters) 10cents(dime)5cents(nickel) and 1cents(penny).. Added together = mathematics nightmare

Dundas Square and Yonge Street turned Live Green Toronto Festival!

A recycling quiz in order to win a nice bottle~ I opt for the long queue for no-questions asked bottles though! rofl!

Ice-man Post Global Warming

Kensington Market is closed for pedestrains too!

After resting awhile back in the apartment, we headed out to meet Sara and her friend Kelvin for dinner~ we went to Bloor (pronounced as BLOR – not BLUUU) street and had nice thai food for dinner~ we then went westwards to koreatown to find karaoke boxes, nice smelling Korean food and a cool Korean supermarket with Japanese, Korean and even the asian gourmet sauces I bought from Singapore! On the way back we also found a really nice and cool candy shop!! NICE... after that we walked back realising that UofT is actually alot smaller than we thought!

The "central library" of UofT St George Campus - Robarts Library~ Care to guess what it looks like?

My red curry dinner! Too bad they put pineapples instead of potato! =\

Guess what I found at Korean Supermarket!

Finally its Monday! Waking up later, we packed our heavy bags and walked all the way to bay street.. the journey felt a whole lot longer with heavy bags but we also wouldn’t want to spend CAD$2.75 just to take a street car there~ after like forever with aching backs, we reached the coach terminal and took a smooth pleasant ride to Niagara falls via Coach Canada~ it was surprisingly fast and we reached in 1hr30min instead of 2hrs where we were told.. we then took a transit Niagara bus which also costs CAD$3.50 just for a short ride into the heart of Niagara falls, we stopped next to the American veil falls and took pictures, had a streetcart hotdog lunch and took more pictures before heading up to find our hotel.. after another long walk, we reached the Courtyard by Marriott and was surprisingly very well received by the reception (when we used Hotwire.com) that we could check in early and even though we paid for 2 adults, they had no problems allowing 3~ we got this deluxe 2x queens bed room which made a man shed a tear.. for $22 per night per pax, this is a real steal! We dropped our luggage then went on to CanadaOne factory outlet which was even further~ we took about 35min walking and finally hit the shops like Guess, Coach, Nike, Liz Claiborne and more! Too bad no AX, Zara or Aldo, but i did buy 2 nice hoodies from Espirit and Urban Planet for about CAD$20 each.. woots! Tired but satisfied, we walked back and stopped by wendy’s for dinner before retiring for the night!

View of CN tower en route to Niagara

First Glimpse on a Natural Wonder of the World!

Tadaaa!! THE Niagara Falls!! WOOHOO!!

Skylon Tower

Walking towards our hotel, through Clifton Hill!

Finally our hotel! The Courtyard by the Marriott!! USD$22 per pax per night!

Big nice spacious deluxe room!

After 30min walk, we're finally here!

What could have been a nice memoir+souvenir of Canada at discount did not have my size!! BOOO!! Cry me a river~~ sobss

Canada One!

They have pretty nice beer here! nice sweet malty aftertaste! yummy!

Take a look at all that JUICEEEE~~ (The Beer Store)

Some Quick Facts about my Experience in Canada so far:

1. Their listed prices are exclusive of taxes, so when we pay, we have to pay 5% GST followed by 8% PST (Provincial service Tax)! Thats another 13% for everything listed! Thats excluding the tipping of 15% expected when dining in or using services!! OMGNESS

2. They use lots of 99cents for their pricing.. and tag that with the 13% tax, my pocket is full of coins especially 1cents!!

3. Canadians are either very friendly, or very mean and rude! And 80% of their sales/service staff act like they don’t want to work with bad customer service. Its usually the foreign workers here that are nicest!

4. Public transportation is EXPENSIVE.. Ranging around CAD$3 for a bus ride no matter a distance, it explains why we’ve been WALKING everywhere we go... I think i’m gonna have very nice tonned legs when we return!

5. The air is dry, but very cool~ I especially enjoy walking around in the daytime with the hot sun keeping me warm and the occasional wind blowing against my cheek!

Will blog about Niagara Falls part 2 soon!! Stay Tuned!!

dEminG
NAI-EH-GA-RAH (Niagara) Fallssss

My mind's unweaving/ 6:57 AM