The Singapore Lizard

Puppy Love!

2009-11-18T07:11:00.026+08:00

*Facebook users, please scroll down and click View Original Post on the bottom RH corner of the "note" to read this properly!!!

After two days of frustration running after, correcting, and crate training my puppy, I was in love. A Mensa puppy according to the vet, Kiara learned to knock at the door when she had to use the bathroom, on the third day. Sit, Come, Down and Stay are all good...although we are still working on "Fetch" and warming her up to her kennel! To those non-dog lovers, skip this entry, it has little to do with adventurous travel - but can you resist the eyes of a little puppy?

"Wow, this car is the perfect bed...zzzzz"

"Tug of war is the best game ever - even with a blanket - why can't I play it with my leash??!"

We picked her up from the breeder in Calgary and she slept the whole way home! Shaking with nervousness, she accepted her new life away from her siblings. While the first two nights were hell - yelling so loud I could barely believe it! Something so tiny makes that much noise?! When beside any gentle human, she is in bliss. Leave the room and she cries - but she's learning!

Kiara - Gaelic for "little black haired one", camouflaged on my couch.

Training books suggest that you make a kennel super comfortable, so I bought a baby dog bed with cozy stuffing, a new toy, and treats, trying to entice her into the kennel. She's too smart though...what does she do? The second me or my roommate let her out of the kennel - she slams the door closed. Seconds later, she realizes "Wait, all the cool stuff is in there!" , runs back, drags out her ball, dog bed, and blanket, one at a time, and places them in the living room where I'm watching tv.

Me and my baby after her first bath

"I feel all fuzzy like a cat!"

Crawling under the table for a den - "Chewing the bone is hours of fun!...well, hours divided into minutes where I switch to chewing my rubber ball, blanket, and occasionally something I know I'm not supposed to, like my mom's shoes! I keep out of her closet though...that is out of bounds!"

"This is the table I like to den under, after I drag my flavour of the moment-toy around the entire table a few times and settle on a spot"

"A kennel? You're kidding, right? I'm staying right here with you"

Unless of course there'se a baby around. Kiara LOVES kids...it's like she knows she's baby too. Check out this pic (coming soon!) of Kiara and Sheena's three month old daughter, Alyssa, chilling in the baby rocker. We were at a coffee shop on the weekend (yes, I take her everywhere), and she whined when the kids who were petting her went on their way..."why can't I go play with you???")

Kiara loves to exercise and seems to have endless energy, even though she is let out at least twice a day. Every morning at 6:30 am, we go on a 45 minute walk/jog (She's more fit than I am...and at lunch hour I'm back again to play for an hour. Not to mention the hour in between work and tutoring, and two hours before bed. I think I'll have to join The Running Room's running club). At least the one online, so I can schedule the interval minutes in. She's a crowd-pleaser though, so on the weekends it gives me a chance to slow down - I even found a hair salon (The Hair Station) who said it'd be fine to bring her while she gave me a stylish cut...will have to try that!

Well it looks like I've taken on a different type of adventure. Don't worry though, this blog isn't going anywhere. Her kennel has a 5 year warranty and is international major airline approved, so I'll be sure that she's coming with me for long term travels (ahem...Europe!)!

Oktoberfest to Rocktoberfest - Prost!

2009-10-31T06:41:00.001+08:00

Decidedly different, the Shaw's annual Oktoberfest to Rocktoberfest was a great way to spend Halloween. From halloweeners, to beer girls, to the costume-shy, a mix of people (very few Germans!) created an amazing night. Kristin, Sean, Connie, Carol and I rung in Halloween with cheer. While the menu was German, they ironically only had Canadian beer - Where's the Erdinger Weissbier?!

Settling with our Molson Canadian, we enjoyed the crazy way they moved from traditional German polka dancers to a night of rock. While the veggie fare was limited to pretzles, spatzel and black forest cake (unfortunately just Save-on Foods brand) - and Canadian beer- the event made up for it in its flair. I may have to join the bandwagon and make this an annual event!

http://www.oktoberfestedmonton.com/

A Perfect Housewarming Party

2009-10-26T05:06:00.010+08:00

On October 24th, 2009 I threw my first houseparty, with quite the turnout (facebook replies, you lie!). A simple affair of 30 people, a smorsborg of Halloween cupcakes, tiramisu, crackers, Crispy Minis and various cheeses - and enough alcohol to feed an army - it was perfect. The infamous flu kept a few away from the fun, but it was a great mix of friends from everywhere. Unfortunately, the picture collection is slim, and doesn't even include half of those there...but we were too busy drinking ;)

From Big Shiny Tunes 14 to various radio stations to ecletic MTV, our background noise ranged from music to the Oilers vs. Flames hockey game. My cupboard is now stocked with wines of all kinds, gin, tonic, regular Coke that awaits its Bacardi companion, and collections of beer.

From top left: Steph, Sean, Ryan, James, Kendra

Bottom Row: Tracy, Lindsay, Kendra, Katie, Steph, Janice, Meghan

After weeks of rearranging dates and planning, it finally turned out a success. Expecting only a handful of people, I had a houseful. Maybe Shakespeare said it best

"Expectation is the root of all heartache"

You all know what this means...houseparties, bring it on! There will be more, bigger and better than the last!

P.S. If you need a good realtor, I can hook you up ;) Thanks James for helping me find my first home!

Ottawa & Gatineau: Our Capital, Multicultural City!

2009-10-21T05:56:00.017+08:00

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

2009-09-26T06:58:00.016+08:00

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!

Seattle: Underground City of Cafes

2009-08-26T06:39:00.000+08:00

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

2009-06-30T23:41:00.019+08:00

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

2009-05-23T03:11:00.025+08:00

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

2009-03-31T23:59:00.000+08:00

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

2009-03-31T09:18:00.000+08:00

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

2009-03-15T02:21:00.004+08:00

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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

'

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.

Weekend in Washington, DC

2009-02-12T23:26:00.000+08:00

A conference in Washington turned into a great weekend of sightseeing in Obama's new hometown. Cool, brisk and right on the Potomac River, this city was a refreshing spring take on February.

While the Whitehouse was closed for tours, we still took the obligatory tourist snapshots outside the Capitol and government grounds. One thing definitely not lacking in Washington: cop cars and cabs. Even as I stepped slightly over the "Hard Hat Only" area for a split second (the area was previously set up for the inauguration), my coworkers viewed police radioing action right behind me. As I stepped back over the line, the radios stopped. Talk about security!

This trip was mostly business, a Sunday walking around Georgetown was the perfect beginning to the conference. We even tried to catch a local bus and subway, which lead us from our 5 star resort to a slighty creepier part of town! Great shopping in Georgetown though and, great weather in February!

Not to mention our random adventure to an Ethiopian restaurant, Darka I think it was called (yikes forgotten the name already!) Right in Adam's Morgan area, where the local cabbies tell you to go. Madam's Organ, the bar in Adam's Morgan, was a great hangout for the night as well.

A definite "don't miss" was the Smithsonian Air & Space museum, where the original Wright Brothers plane still stands, and you can taste a bite of freeze dried astronaut icecream. Check out the slideshow below (facebook users click "view original post" to get to my site) for a few highlights.

Sean & Sapna's Golden Champagne Birthdays

2009-01-29T15:45:00.016+08:00

Sean turned 26 on the 26th, and I turned 24 on the 24th, a Golden, Champagne or Star birthday depending on your country of origin! So, we thought it was the perfect excuse to have a few double gin extra dry martinis.

Suede Lounge on Jasper was a great venue, classy but still fun. Loud enough to have great music, quiet enough to actually hear each other speak.

My three friends named Stephanie finally met each other and tons of people dropped by throughout the night. After Stephanie T. decided to introduce me to the craziest martinis , and Stephanie B. gave me some birthday shots, the party really got started. Sean's friends joined us for drinks, chocolate cake, and flatbreads. Yes, we're getting old...

Thanks to everyone that came out; it was a blast!

Sapna & her Martini, Sapna & Kristin, Meghan & Ryan

Pics below: Steph W & Sapna, Sapna, Sean, Kristin M.,
2nd row: Sean, Kristin, Leonard, Blake,
3rd row: Steph T, Steph B, Sapna

Viva Las Vegas!

2009-01-28T03:30:00.010+08:00

If there is one thing I must say about Vegas, it's this: you need a week. The city's overwhelming atmosphere wraps itself around you in a short weekend, leaving no time for the scenic wonders surrounding it, and very little for touristy travel.

Joanne's 25th birthday party was a 3 night event of drinking, eating at glorious restaurants, touring around hotels and shopping at outlet malls. Deciding I definitely needed to be a little more high maintenance for this girls weekend out, we went on a shopping mission. 32 dresses later, I found 2 little black dresses and makeup perfect for the nights that followed.

Above: Michelle, Priscilla, Sapna, Amy, Joanne, Aliza at Wynn Theatre.

La Reve was definitely the highlight of my trip...an amazing excuse to be high maintenance, dress up, and see an incredible aquatics cirque show, directed by a former Cirque du Soleil director, Franco Dragone.

Hotels were glamorous, from the Mirage where we stayed, to Treasure Island, the Venetian, New York New York, and Paris. Not to mention the amazing crepes and Check out the slideshow below (yes, facebook users, click on my actual link to my blog)

Definitely need to go back to Vegas to see the scenery, more hotels, Broadway and gambling. I did try my hand at the craps tables and one spin at the roulette wheel, but really, gambling is no fun alone!

Happy Birthday Joanne...I hope you had as much fun in Vegas as I did!

Home for the Holidays: Four Christmases in Edmonton

2008-12-31T12:21:00.011+08:00

For the first time in 3 years, I actually spent the entire Christmas holidays, not in New York or Thailand, but at home! With a week off work from my excellent new job, I got to shop, eat, cram in some extra yoga classes and chill.

Funny, I ended up with Four Christmases; since the parents decided to jet off to London to visit the family last minute, we celebrated with presents on the 23rd, and lunch at the Westin on the 24th. Great food!

The 25th was an amazing Christmas dinner with Camille and her family (reminded me of old times). So great to have her back from the desert for Xmas! (And thanks for the great pics below, Camille!) The 26th completed Christmas week with Boxing Day marathon shopping from 8 am to 12 noon (we beat the crowds at West Edmonton Mall!) and a great dinner at Stephanie's mom's place.

Camille & the After Eight, Sacha & her childhood stocking, Nathan letting Tigger open the gifts

Fittingly, Rishi, Rakhi and I also braved the theatre crowds to see Four Christmases, on the 25th. Definitely recommended; it's a lot more hilarious than expected!

Combined with several Christmas parties, including a couple great ones from work and Morgan's birthday party, it was a jampacked holiday season

From left: Meghan, Morgan, Laura Sapna & Stephanie

I've never had this much fun at work! Coworkers & Rockband, nice!

New Years 2008 was a night of Oilers & World Juniors hockey and makeup artistry with Camille (check out our model shoots!), and drinks with Stephanie, Meghan and friends. Completely sober on New Years...gasp...am I getting old??

Below: Sapna & Camille, the last day of 2008. Guess I'll be in e-town another year or two. Happy New Year, everyone!

My First Broadway

2008-11-29T10:58:00.005+08:00

After Sheena, Christine and I attended The Lion King's Broadway in Canada preview cocktail party, right here in e-town, I decided to venture into Broadway plays as a form of entertainment. My closest attempts before this November were A Midsummer Night's Dream in London, and a really really close chance to see Chicago in New York last December (another 2 hours in line just wasn't worth it, with 4 days to see the entire city).

So, thanks to Sheena's aunt, we got tickets to the cocktail party, inclusive of yummy little appetizers, high class wine, and coffee and Bailey's at the conclusion of their sales pitch. The preview included a couple of the actors in costume, their songs, and a short video of how they made the costumes...we can't wait to go in July!

A week later, Stephanie W and I went to see Hairspray, an interesting take on the 60's, racism, and teen pop culture. While it was highly entertaining, I have to admit I like John Travolta's movie version better!

Halloween Ghosts & Crazies

2008-11-01T01:31:00.001+08:00

Compared to last year's Thriller experience, this Halloween was a little more laid back. A small house party, with Wii games and crazy costumes, and a short walking ghost tour were the highlight of the week. Not to mention The Exorcism of Emily Rose, a gripping but freaky horror film we decided to throw in the DVD Halloween night!

Above: Sumo Wrestlers, A Fairy Princess, Mario, A Bunny & Iziza the cat,@ Steph K's place

Sheena and I decided to take walking tour, an interesting but choppy version of Edmonton's ghost pasts and histories. We can't wait to take Entity Seeker's Ghosts & Graveyards tour in the winter!

Jasper in the Fall: September Long Weekend

2008-09-15T18:06:00.007+08:00

A trip to the Rocky Mountains is the perfect way to end off summer, so Sean and I decided to head out to Jasper. Even in the rain, the mountain range is breathtaking! My tiny little toy car didn't like the mountainous paths though...I guess a little 120 horsepower Hyundai Accent isn't meant for road trips! We took the gondola, wandered around the touristy town, and hiked down trails.

Not to mention the cutest little basement suite we rented from one of the town's residents. The Two Little Princesses Inn Hiking Boots was the only available suite on this busy long weekend...but it turned out to to be a charming, fairy tale like place!

Above: Michelle & Sean, Sapna in the Rocky Mountains, Miette Hot Springs

Michelle and Nicole happened to be hanging out at Miette Hot Springs, so we took an afternoon to get really hot (and then freezing cold) in the hot springs sulfur smelling pool, and walked down the paths to see the geological wonders (which I'm sure Michelle understood best). From the cute small town restaurants to the endless trails and walking paths, this mountainous adventure was the perfect end of summer break.

Next up: Radium Hot Springs in the winter, and possibly winter camping!!!

August Long Weekend: Camping in Two Hills!

2008-08-12T03:20:00.008+08:00

Two Hills??? Yeah, that's what I thought too....a small, small town with 3 liquor stores and not much else, was the only campground left available a week before August Long Weekend. At $12 a night with free firewood, no liquor restrictions and sunshine most of the day, it was quite the deal! Let's just say that the one thing their not missing on their barren roads, is the rookie RCMP officers.

Probably the most unprepared Girl Guides ever (the last time Steph and I went camping together was, yes, Girl Guide camp in 1999!), we showed up on a tight budget, with a saucepan, plastic dishes and some veggie dogs. Needless to say, I found a way to have my cappuccinos

Below: Yes, Crime Watch in Two Hills, Alberta. For all those hooligans!

Really...all there was to do was run through farmer's fields. Thanks to Google and Blackberry, we made it to the actual town, to refill our small drinking supply...

Heritage Days back in e-town was a great end to the long weekend. 33 degrees (finally, SUMMER!), and a day filled with cultural festivities. From the Hawaiian hula dance to the Celtic riverdance style steps, we watched a variety of award-winning performances and sampled some different food, like the famous Hungarian Langos and the Guatemalan spiced mangos. If only the Canadian winters didn't exist!

Deutschland: Frankfurt, Struttgart & The Rhine Valley

2008-07-08T22:50:00.002+08:00

Germany is a beautiful country; it was so great to hang out with friends in European cities and check out the German beer (surprizingly mixed with all sorts of concoctions, from Coke to Orange flavoured drinks) The greenery surprised me the most; in between small cities and teeny towns is a ton of forest, perfect for hiking, camping and apparently close enough to Holland to get to the beach!

Frankfurt Apfelwein was a great alternative to German beer...although I did like the lemon flavoured beer at the cafes. Kristin played tour guide and together we checked out an original Frankfurt pub in the city, and I tried vegetarian German food (yes, it exists!). Potatoes and an awesome green sauce, with egg!

Kristin and I spent the first couple days in the city, walking around the major tourist sites, taking in the architecture (some of it from pre-WWII), checking out Frankfurt by night, and seeing the Goethe house museum...what a cool old-style mansion! Not to mention our amazing boat ride on the Rhine at night. Check out the slideshow for the architectural pics (click View Original Post in facebook)....

Heidelberg was our next stop, a beautiful hill town with old houses. The coffee is just indescribable...cafe after cafe after cafe...I was in heaven! We also visited the amazing Heidelberg castle, and a Museum of Pharmacy!

Struttgart was another Singapore reunion, where Kristin and I met up with Jens, and I got to experience an original German beerfest with old school German music and perfect summer weather; it is so comical to see 8 year olds attempt to make capirinhas and serve you beer in tents! We also spent an afternoon in the brand new Mercedes museum, checking out the history of German and the automobile industry. Next time, Berlin is on my list for sure!

Jens, Kristin & Friends at a houseparty

Last days in Germany: Kristin and I visited a small town in the Rhine Valley (Cronbeck) on our way home to Frankfurt, and saw more great cafes, castles, churches

We then spent an evening of "Wine in the Park", back in Frankfurt, Singapore style. Not only did we get a view of the riverbank, but there were Ironman athletes finishing up the last part of their triathalon.

What an amazing country...I'll be looking for German lessons and a way to go back!

Praha: An Ancient Little City

2008-06-30T04:49:00.009+08:00

Taking the bus to Prague was like riding a horse on a really bumpy trail in the middle of an Eastern European forest, dotted with farmhouses. The view coming into the city was amazing though; it looked as if we were walking into a fairytale.

Our hostel was the cleanest $20 a night accomodation I've ever slept in. Camille and I spent the entire three days walking (those Czech taxi drivers charge quite the premium!) around the old town, the newer town, the Jewish Museum (the saddest memories of the Holocaust's effect on Prague) and various gardens and parks. Not to mention a couple nights out at the bars and jazz cafe's...

Sapna & Camille at Bugsy's Bar

Sapna's first cup of Absinth! ugh!!!

Check out the slideshow for the best view (yes, facebook users, you have to click into my actual site to view the show, sorry!)

The Town of Kutna Hora

Now this was the craziest little Czech town ever...filled with churches and cemetaries. Not to mention a musuem dedicated to objects made from skulls. The Ossuary pics are below...enjoy the morbidness!

Euro 2008: Football in a Storm

2008-06-27T06:24:00.006+08:00

Football may just be the craziest thing about Europe, at least every second summer! We just happened to be in Vienna for the Germany-Turkey Euro 2008 semi-finals, and there could not have been a better place to be. Camille and I arrived at the Fanzone Wien two hours early, just barely enough time to snag food, an $8 beer each, and a $6 bucket of popcorn, before the crowds poured in. Not to mention a seat on the bench under the Mastercard shelter--which was great for standing on to see the giant screens fixed to the cathedral walls.

Towards the middle of the game, a hail warning sign flashed on the big screen, which seemed laughable after our warm weather Wednesday afternoon. "Follow instructions of the security guards" they warned us. The game continued as usual until the 70 minute mark--usual being screaming fans dressed in German or Turkish flags. That's when the worst storm in Vienna in a decade hit---powerful wind, pouring rain, hail and blinding lightning.

Our previously spacious Mastercard shelter became packed as everyone huddled together to wait the storm out. You'll have to use your imagination here...it was too wet for pictures!!!
Absolutely drenched, we were pushed out half an hour later by dressed up guards, complete with ambush-like helmets. The train ride home smelled "like wet humans" according to Camille, and added to our adventure through the unexplained lock down at one station. Soaking wet, we returned to the hotel and prepared for another half day in Vienna, with Tobi (yes, another Singapore mini reunion!) As the Germans say, "man sieht sich immer zwei Mal im Leben!"

Wien: Coffee Lover's Paradise

2008-06-27T05:20:00.007+08:00

Two hours of gorgeous people watching at the arrivals terminal of a Slovakian airport and two Slovakian lattes brightened my mood and set me off in a European direction. After meeting Camille and hopping on a bus across the border, we recounted our adventures apart the last year. Upon arrival in Vienna, we were greeted with sunshine, beautiful architecture, the smell of bratwurst and an amazingly connected transport system.

Situated in Ottakring, a heavily Turkish populated area, our hotel was clean and quaint. Kaffeehauses line the streets and every second corner is a kebab shop. Not to mention the abundant Anker bakery shops that sell fresh sandwiches.

Coffee is Vienna is an everyday delight, with some shops open at 7 AM and others opening much later and staying open into the wee hours of the morning. While some serve the infamous Italian espresso, (normally the restaurants that also serve amazing pizza), others serve a much stronger, richer, dark er, Viennese espresso, Julius Meinl. Even I had to put sugar in it!

European Days: Hofburg Palace, Spanish Riding School and Schonbrunn Palace

2008-06-26T01:51:00.000+08:00

Only in Europe can you spend two days walking around and encounter a palace, Spanish Riding school, breathtaking cathedral, and castle, within city limits. We started our hot summer day, as tourists, moving from one attraction to the next, snapping photos like avid photographers. What a beautiful backdrop! Check out the slideshow below for a real view of Vienna's urban beauty...from skinny streets, to cobblestone roads and BMWs, to palace grounds, Renaissance art, and exquisite decor in cafes.

The Schonbrunn palace was the most breathtaking. Somehow, it struck me as more beautiful than Versailles; it was elegantly, but sparsely decorated, with paintings and paneling that seemed decorative, rather than intense. The gardens are indescribable, less crowded and more peaceful, it seemed like a retreat rather than a tourist attraction. We spent the rest of the day wandering the streets, stopping at high class shops, gelato stands, and cafes (where we tried Mozart torte!), until the night grew dark and we had the perfect background for cathedral pictures and our model poses!

Checkout the slideshow....Facebook devotees...please click the link "View original post so you can actually see the show"

Mozart in the Park: We also had a chance to visit Mozart in a famous cemetery, just a few trams stops from the train station. Among the memorable graves were Mozart and Strauss, not to mention hundreds of family plots with beautiful decoration

A British Weekend

2008-06-25T23:27:00.005+08:00

After four years, it was a great entrance back into the European world...a weekend in England! Just a chill weekend, hanging out with cousins, my grandma, and family I hadn't seen in years.

We started our journey with a three hour detour from the London Heathrow airport back to Dartford, Kent, with my cousins Pavan and Tina. Normally a one and a half hour trip, this turned into a random journey, as we were at the mercy of the Tom Tom GPS! Called "SatNav" in the British world, this little piece of technology took us through the same tunnel twice, through London rather than around it, and left us stuck in that wonderful London traffic. We did, however, see a rather interesting undertaker's sign, blatantly advertising burials for people of all religions, with religious signs in their window's shop. We bury anyone!!!

Our weekend consisted of countless games of Wii Golf, fun & games with Simba the Ulsatian, and 4 years of catching up...hence the lack of abundant pictures!

1. Sunny & Nia, dinner at Sidcup Place
2. Sonia in the tiny town of Crayford
3. From Back Left: Sunny, Nia, Uncle Steve, Tina, Sapna, Sonia, Aunty Viniti
4. From Left: Tina, Nia, Uncle Steve, Uncle Ramesh, Sunny, Jhaiji, Aunty Neelam, Sapna, Aunty Viniti, Sonia...and ofcourse, Simba.