Ottawa & Gatineau: Our Capital, Multicultural City!

A whirlwind long weekend in Ottawa proved to be an adventure! Very Edmonton-like in its atmosphere, minus the tough trucks and lack of Autumn foliage, Ottawa's uniqueness brings a hint of French culture to a small Canadian city. Speaking simultaneously in French and English, residents switch from one to the other as if they were the same - a wonder I wish other cities had.

Lorina & I wandered the market-ridden streets like Dalhousie, boutique shops on Murray and York, and the classic city centre mall called Rideau. Friday evening I tried my first Beavertail ; a deep fried resemblant of the elephant-ear desserts at the Scandivanian tents at Heritage Days.



Saturday we embarked on a 12 km hike in Gatineau, Quebec. Although the Ottawa transit system is far superior to Edmonton's, and includes an amazing bus-only lane and $3 ride to the airport, we did find it difficult to find someone who could tell us how to get to Gatineau sans auto. After way too many detours, we arrived for our hike and shivered our way to see bright autumn colours and Pink Lake's scenery.




Monday, I decided to explore the city as Lorina headed back to the office - unfortunately I was a week too much into off-peak season, and museums were closed Mondays! I hear the Canada War Museum is a site to see. The Royal Mint and Change of Guards are worth it too; I saw it 14 years ago but it was memorable. In lieu of the museums and art galleries, I created my own historical walking tour, showcased in the slideshow below.

Just a simple weekend of breakfast at Cora's, which was good but uncharacteristically cold (Lorina tells me her Lucie breakfast was not up to par), buying jewelry at markets, and coffee with Lorina's friends - it was an excellent break from my hectic lifestyle. I even had the opportunity to meet Dennis and Naomi again at Royal Oak pub near Ottawa University, in another mini Singapore reunion - this time not halfway across the world!

After Canmore & Seattle this summer, small weekend trips seem ideal; maybe I'll make it a bi-monthly tradition!

Check out the slideshow ! Facebook users, please click View Original Post at the top of the "note", as facebook does not support embedding video.

A Little House in the City

Homeowners for Dummies? Tired of paying the landlord, I made the leap to a tiny little house a basement and a yard. I find the place eerily quiet, even though it's right near the busiest part of the city (ah, Edmonton, you do try to be a metropolis). After my Spanish exchange student's exchange was unfortunately cancelled, I went on the roommate hunt....quite the adventure I can tell you!

From creepy creepers to arrogant people that can't read, to families that wanted to move into my basement (my 14 and 16 year old are "quiet" they assure me), to a woman who claimed her four year old Boston Terrier only weighed 10 pounds...in a one month span I saw it all. Luckily, I now have a German roommate named Rainer, and there's better energy in my home (more than just my own footsteps!)



A cute little house is now mine; it looks like the ones I wanted to buy when I was eighteen (what do you know, it's six years later, living in Europe and Asia sucked up my money like a furious vacuum). Decorated in red and black, and the kitchen in dark lime green, feng shui elements are around my home; happiness awaits. Fairly priced, and gorgeously maintained, I'm excited to be in a place that's really mine. (Ok, the rec room/bar needs work!) English tutoring like crazy to pay the bills, I've turned into a workaholic - but a workaholic with a beautiful life. Can we say houseparty???

One thing I can tell you about home maintenance. An electrical contractor never to use: Laser Contracting, owned by Kam - don't use this company! As a marketer, I'd be happy to detail the reasons why my customer service experience was less than satisfactory; just email me.

The best part of being a homeowner? No condo fees and I can have a dog! Twenty years after I first asked for a puppy, my dream comes true. As a kid, I asked every Christmas and birthday from the time I was four, until I relented my pestering at age 12. After a year of reading doggie books, dummies books, training guides, and collecting internationally airplane-approved gear, I am ready.

Kiara

Kiara, my little black lab puppy, was born September 4th, 2009 and will be coming home from Calgary on November 7th, 2009. As summer disappears into the Autumn, I begin to understand why, despite the work, people are so excited for their babies; I can't wait to meet her!

Kiara - pronounced "kee-ar-ah", Irish for "little dark haired one", and Italian Chiara for bright, I'm sure my black lab will be intelligent and beautiful. Her full size kennel, puppy collar and leash, seatlbelt harness, toothbrush, puppy blanket, organic food, ceramic food bowl and a dedicated nameplate await her arrival!

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Seattle: Underground City of Cafes

After an arduous summer of work, work, work, Sean and I jetted off to Seattle for a weekend in August - land of cafes, planes and a famous fish market. While Pike Place is not all it's cracked up to be, and the original Starbucks lacks the same elegance as them all, Seattle's other cafes were heavenly. One must, however, give Starbucks the credit for the largest coffee marketing plan ever - despite their mediocre, weak, American style espressos. From the central Green Tortoise hostel, to the half rain, half shine weather, to metropolitan teaspressos on Vancouver's rocky beach, our getaway was a perfect escape from our workaholic lives.


Feminism in the Air

A day at the airplane museum proved to be a worthwhile bus ride. On a budget, we checked out Seattle's very Edmonton-like public transport; slow but gets you there eventually. A slow mode of transport to check out the world's fastest mode. Throughout the museum, a feminist touch peaked my interest. Other than the well-known Amelia Earheart, women in flight included Harriet Quimby, Julia Clark and the Stinston sisters. With two floors of themed models and a few real planes parked on a runway, the Museum of Flight is a definite must-see.

Check out my slideshow of the airline industry's first women and the way society slowly let them into the cockpit. Girlpower!



Underground City Tour

Perhaps the most interesting historical tour I've ever taken (and I have taken a lot!), the Underground City Tour exposed three blocks of Seattle's "old city". Due to poor elevation conditions, the city had to be uplifted in the 1800's and for three years, people lived on a "two-level" city, with the bottom level harbouring the miners' bars and other entertainment, and releasing sewage like smells throughout the city. The comical speaker made the show, from his description of the city's aroma to his description of the city's political bureaucracy.

http://www.undergroundtour.com/

Shopping, Shopping, Shopping (and pizza)!

Go outlets! Yes, half of our four day trip to Seattle was spent on the outskirts, shopping in malls. Best $400 ever spent...for double the price of our plane ticket, we shopped ourselves silly! The metropolites in Seattle's core, and even in Vancouver's Kitsilano While Vancouver and Seattle are famous for street pizza, one slice was good enough for me. We met up with Sean's brother and had an amazing Thai meal. Busy, bustling, beautiful...if it weren't for the rain, Vancouver would be the perfect place.

Canadian Beach

HI Jericho Beach is an interesting hostel located on Vancouver's waterfront. Roomy, clean, with great staff, it's an excellent way to spend a cheap night in Vancouver. Ok, perhaps not the most Singapore like beach ever, but a refreshing difference to Edmonton's land locked land mass. A pensive hour by the beach before returning home.

Frustucken in Edmonton

Summer in Edmonton is like a fleeting two months of happiness after eight months of a prisoner's hell. The month of June consisted of a few Sunday brunches among friends, as we checked out some fine Sunday dining to relax from the stresses of the working life. The Germans have a word for the enjoyment of breakfast we miss in the English language; fruhstucken.













Manor Cafe

Meghan, Sean, Stephanie and I have labelled this as one of our favorites; amazing poached eggs, great fruit and sides and a cozy, home like feel. Just minutes away from 124th street's little boutiques, it's a great place to enjoy a meal and then walk around the downtown area.


Shopping, yoga, and breakfasts....what a great way to spend Sundays! Too bad our weather only lasts a couple months!

L'Azia

Surprizingly affordable, this restaurant in the downtown core (ok, ok, I know our downtown is not spectacular, but it's getting better!). For under $15 we got an amazing meal, including cornbread, fruit salad and tabouleh. Working like crazy makes the weekends seem heavenly.
Ah, to be a student again!

A new German movie I found interesting after a few months of classes was The Educators, titled "Les Edukateurs" (less, with a k) for the Cannes Film Festival in France. A few politically left winged college students can't stand the rich, snobby neighbourhoods near them, and break into the homes, not to steal anything, but to rearrange the furniture and leave "life-changing" sticky notes. A must see!

With my new German tutor, Marika, Wednesday evenings consist of a foray into German culture and creativity with grammar. From houses, to work, to school, we speak about real life situations, to help me follow my dream to work in a warmer place, to live in Europe. With semi-fluent French, parts of Italian and bits of German, maybe I can follow a path towards my dreams.

German philosopher Wittenstein said it best "Die grezne meiner sprache sind die grenzen meiner welt". The limits of my language are the limits of my world.

Hiking in May: Canmore, Banff & Grotto Canyon

Tired of the bustling, busy city, and our workaholic lives, Bonnie, Janice, Sean and I headed to the mountains for May Long Weekend. You can't beat the Rockies for a breath of fresh air! Just three hours away from our demanding, hectic, corporate lives, we found the fresh life and dead silence of nature.




We began our adventure at 8 am. A three hundred kilometre trip was the perfect opportunity for me to finally finish some German homework! Our pit stop in Calgary was a chance to visit Joanne (yay!), and eat at Las Tortillas, a small neighbourhood authetic Mexican restaurant, owned by Sean's host mother's brother from Mexico. I can't say they are adventurous in the vegetarian department, but even their cheese quesadillas had a unique, pickled salsa taste.

A sunny May long weekend Saturday felt like the perfect whipped topping on your favorite dessert---just the thing to start your weekend off amazingly well. At The Hostel Bear in Canmore, we enjoyed a faux log-cabin style stay.

Saturday afternoon we toured Canmore's five million dollar neighbourhoods, and barely slept Saturday night due to the frequent cargo trains.



Grotto Canyon, Canmore


Bonnie's first hiking trip on Sundaywas indeed one of my best. Known to the town natives as the "trails behind the houses" (really, it took a policewoman to tell us it was Cougar Creek and Grotto Canyon we seeked), this was an amazing, rocky, oasis between Canmore's beautiful million dollar homes.

We spent the evenings at Banff and Radium Hot Springs to relax in a hot-tub temperatured pool (really, guys, put some sulphur in if you want to call it natural).

In Banff, we met Alex & Christina, travellers from Ontario and Montreal and enjoyed another Mexican meal (at the only place open for food on a long weekend Saturday, past 11 pm). Really....in a tourist town!




Check out our styling Canmore tourist pics and hiking adventure in the slideshow below! (Facebook users, please click View Original Post in order to see the FlickR slideshow in action!




Monday's sleety snow was much to our dismay. We took this opportunity to show Sean and Bonnie Banff and Lake Louise for the first time ever. With its motivated joggers, fit labradors, and cute couples, the lake is like a miniature winter paradise. Although Lake Louise's frozen lake (Yes, FROZEN in May), limited its gorgeous view, we still enjoyed the perfect Illy cappuccino on the steps of the Chateau Lake Louise hotel. Fairmont, at $400 a night, was a beautiful opportunity to make believe before our reversion to the city.

3 Nights: Marriages. Freedom & Shoe Shopping in Mumbai

Asking why anything happens in India is like wondering why anybody believes in religion; you may find your average person, anthropologist, or guru to give you an answer, but everyone avoids the topic and nobody can tell you for sure.

Mumbai was my final destination in India, and wow, did I need the break! Finally a city with the Asian atmosphere, but freedom of Singapore. Well, maybe Singapore with a twist. The first night we saw Valkryie in the theatres, where they refused to sell me a can of pop. Going the cautious route, I was trying for a cold drink with no ice, but legally they can’t sell it over the MSRP for the particular amount of mililiters, so they only sell it in a glass.

Check out the slideshow below for pictures of the Elephanta Caves, the hotel destroyed by terrorists in November, and Mumbai's beaches.

Hanging out with Rajat was a highlight of my trip; someone that could understand my perspective, culture shock, and share a couple nights out on the town. From the wine bar to a club where Bombay's movie stars hang out, to an open air lounge that reminded me of Singapore and Montreal, we partied the night away.

I also got my share of inside information from Neha, on the different "levels" of arranged marriages. Interestingly enough, there are families that don't even allow the couples to meet outside of their homes (or with their brother's present), and a family or two that might let their kids pick matches for themselves. The norm, however, especially in the upper middle class, is to match based on these criteria: 1) Money 2) The Families get along 3) The Caste 4) Astrological Compatibility and 5) What key family members think. So, if you're trapped...your best bet is to get your brother on your side!

Shopping in India is an amazing mix of markets, stores, faux clothing, real designers and export stores where tagged, labelled Banana Republic clothing is about 90% off. Not to mention the "flying shoe stores". Twice as packed as the Town Shoes on a Saturday in West Edmonton mall, these stores hold racks and racks of shoes and purses, both of which you cannot touch. About 10 sales people are ready to help you as you race to find a spot on the benches to sit down. You point, verbalize exactly what you're looking for (good luck if you're just browsing!), and they proceed to yell commands to the men in the stockroom, on the second floor. 2 minutes later, you have your choice of shoes they place in front of you. They don't fit? You want a different style? The salesmen throw the shoeboxes up (literally, they throw them) through holes in the ceiling, and catch back the alternatives thrown down at them. Don't think you're leaving without buying something....

Stelletos, a "flying shoe store" in India.

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We ended our trip with a February 28th weekend in Kent, England, to celebrate my grandma, Jhaiji's 80th birthday. Just a small family party, with a random orange tree as a gift, and an atmosphere that made me wish Europe was home.

Sapna & Sonia Jhaiji & Sunny

Uncle Steve & Tina The Orange Tree Nia, Sapna, Sonia, Jhaiji

Delhi, Agra & An Orphanage

Family in foreign countries doesn’t always mean what you think it will. Say the slightest word like “cheese”, ask your mom for a bobby pin “quietly”, or mention cough syrup, and all of a sudden, 2 people are off to the store to buy it, and you have it in your hands 30 seconds later. Try to make your own coffee and they are offended; don’t eat your food and they are offended, finish your food and they can’t imagine why you won’t eat tons and tons more. Tell them you’ll go five seconds away from the home alone and they have an escort by your side. Tell them you want to wait a few years for marriage and they worry; tell them you haven’t found the right person, and all of a sudden there is a single, Indian American, rich BMW owner in Los Angeles with your email address.

Even my parents turned more brown in India (and it wasn’t just the sun).

From the time we landed to the time we left, we had use of a minivan and Rakesh, talkative, English speaking the driver that felt he had to contribute and control every discussion. If I thought Southeast Asia was random, I was delusional. Planning in India it seemed, was the only thing that was impossible, even with a so called chauffeur. While their carefree attitude can be admirable, to a Westerner with limited vacation time, it’s frustrating! Not to mention the huge “problem” I created by suggesting by “airing out dirty laundry in public”, simply by arguing with the arrogant cab

driver that I, a single female who understood the language, could take the metro in broad daylight without an escort.

The most interesting discussion surrounded astrology (at the mention of the word, 2 astrologers were on the mobile phones for me, one of which delivered a “life chart” for me). I found out later, from a cousin in Bombay, that the reason for my Uncle’s excitement was two-fold; aside from his religion, the charts are used to indicate your chances at a marriage match.

The astrological beliefs were second most surprising only to the superstitious beliefs that blew my mind. Hijiras, or the transsexual cults that exist, are seen to be witches, that can determine your fate. They come at happy occasions, like weddings or births and demand money for a dance performance. After my uncle gave them almost $100, they demanded more, and threw rice at us, cursing us, until they got what they wanted. Talk about a scam!

Delhi, itself, however, is an amazing city and a backpacker’s paradise. Agra, despite the rushed tour guides, was also breathtaking. The slideshow below should be a quick peek at the few sites I saw. My last day in Delhi was an adventure, meeting Dennis at Café Coffee Day for coffee (another Singapore reunion!) trading his work exchange stories with my family stories.

Perhaps the most moving experience I’ve ever had was our visit to the Anath Ashram, or the local orphanage. I remembered it vividly from my last visit; an image of myself as a four year old child, handing out flip flops to a huge line of children much older than me. As I walked in the doors this time, that pitiful feeling hit me again, although there was a definite lack of the grungy, grey cemented atmosphere I remembered. In fact, it was bright, freshly painted, complete with a garden. In fact, the orphanage provides school, university scholarship and arranged marriages to students each year.

We handed them their food at their lunch break, watched them eat it in about 15 minutes, wash their own dishes, They were so grateful, watching us walk in the front doors, even before they knew we had food and clothing for them. We handed them their clothing, and their dessert sqaures barfi. I wanted to get them ice cream, but apparently, 26 degrees is way too cold for them to eat icecream, they’ll get sick, they tell me. For a mere $500, my family had provided them with lunch, a week’s worth of flour and oil for the kitchen and underclothing and socks for 140 children.

“But don’t think it’s all charity”, a cousin reminded me, “Trust me, there is no way the owner would be running it if it weren’t for a much better profit than he could make elsewhere, trust me.” As much as this reminded me of Aravind’s cynicism in White Tiger, I couldn’t help but believe it to be true.

Cultural Confusion: An Indian Wedding In A Country of Paradox

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Slumdog Millionaire, was a chilling introduction to this country of paradoxes. I found the film lacked so much depth in Vikas Swarup's story, it seemed simple. Not to mention it is common knowledge in India that the slumdog actors were really from the slums, paid so poorly they could barely afford outfits for the Oscars, and returned to the slums once their roles were complete. After reading Millionaire, my India: Cultural Preparation Guide and Aravind’s White Tiger, a servant’s narration of life in India, I wrongly assumed I was prepared for the days to come.

Five of my days centered around the wedding, which was a continual series of events, all of which were 1 to 4 hours late. Yes, you read correctly, HOURS late. Imagine the frustration as I tried to attend all events, sight-see my Dad’s hometown, and plan for the short 15 days I had available to me. “Nothing is impossible; this is India”, they will all tell you with a huge grin on their faces. “That is one word that doesn’t exist here”. To be fair, things got done...in a haphazard, frantic, tiresome, crazy manner, but yes, they got done. From the hectic markets with amazing goods to the whirlwind city tours, things get done.

Check out the slideshow below of a traditional Indian ceremony. You might want to set the slideshow slider to 1 second; there's a lot of pictures! Facebook users, please click to my original post link to see the real blog:

Here’s a brief breakdown of what is going on:

Ceremony 1: Sunday, February 15, 2009 A prayer and dancing celebration Location: A giant, white, outdoor tent. Time: 3 hours late. The Mendi ceremony and dinner party were part of this

Ceremony 2: Monday, February 16, 2009 10:30 AM: Chanth Only half an hour late Prayer ceremony, boy’s side, with yellow paint smeared all over the groom!

Ceremony 3: Monday, February 16, 2009: 12 noon Chura: Girl’s bracelet ceremony. Both the boy and the girl have a “little helper”, kind of like a flower girl or ringbearer, to guide them through the wedding preparation process. Songs, dance, and a really long prayer and bracelet ceremony

Ceremony 4: 12 noon, boy's side: Chapani Tora Breaking the pot ceremony, followed by lunch

Ceremony 5: 2 PM: Hand painting the walls, really random, not on the itinerary...

Ceremony 5: 8 PM: 2 hours late Bharat: The horse ceremony, with a pit stop at the temple. Also a ceremony in between where girls tie ribbons into the horse's hair

Ceremony 6: Dinner, at the hotel where the horse stopped. Milne (garland ceremony) where the families meet each other and exchange garlands

Ceremony 7: Jaymalah(Confetti ceremony)

Ceremony 8: Tuesday, February 17, 2009: Time: 3 AM, 2 hours late: Langafere The 7 Wedding vows and Ceremonial walk around the fire

Ceremony 9: 6 AM Hidden shoes ceremony. The girl's side hides all the boys shoes and makes them negotiate a price to get them back! This takes about an hour of high pitched arguments.

Ceremony 10: Tuesday, February 17, 2009: 7 AM: Drive away singing ceremony. Married couple drives away in a car, money is thrown around, and beggars run to grab the money.

Cermony 11: Tuesday, February 17, 2009: 12 NOON: Mou Dakai Gifts and money ceremony

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Karnal & Panipat, Dad's hometown, Province of Haryana, India

Between hours and hours of wait time and indecision, my dad took me on a tour of his hometown, from his elementary school, to the local park, to the rickshaw ride, to the milk factory that sold icecream, it was quite the simple place. Even Panipat, where my dad's brother lives, was a simple, simple, town...but it is the best place to buy carpets in India , and added great style to my living room! (Thanks, Gunjun for showing me around the best places!)

I have to say it touched my heart to see the gigantic smile on the old rickshaw driver's face when he charged us 20 rupees (less than a dollar, and twice as much as he should have) for the ride, and we gave him 100 rupees (about $2.50). Four days of stressful, ridiculously expensive wedding ceremonies, and too much food and all it took was two dollars and fifty cents to make a local man smile as if he'd won the lottery.