Shanghai, Serenade, Silk

China! A country I would return to solely to see the Great Wall of China. Being in Shanghai for two days was an experience and it was interesting to see the culture, meet people and enjoy some amazing dimsum (so good!). I love the Chinese architecture when it is used, hated the smog that seemed to always be hovering, loved the bright reds of the maples and the watertown we went to.

The contrast of colours in trees was fantastic. So pretty!

We were told by a few different people that this man was a philosopher, or a doctor, or a teacher... not really sure who he was in the end, but I snapped a photo of him nonetheless.


In the pharmacy, you could see the different bottles resting.. Some had snakes in them and others had things that I'm not sure about.


The women were absolutely amazing at preparing the local food. The way the wrapped them with three different pieces of twine was incredible. I think I would have finished making one in the time she made twenty.

Lanterns!!

We went to a watertown that I could not pronounce or recall for the life of me. But it started with a zed.

Woman washing her clothes in the water.

I don't know why I thought this sign was funny. Perhaps because I would not want to play in that water under any circumstance.

Took a little boat ride through the canals. Very cool to see how they live. Felt a bit like I was in Venice. Except my boat steerer/driver kept hoarking. That's kind of like serenading, right?


This is their main bridge in town and I love it. There's something about it that just captures your attention.




Stopped at a silkworm factory on the way back to the ship. Fascinating! So crazy how those little worms make silk that turns into amazing blankets.


I did get myself some sheets. I figure I will have a new sized bed in Quebec and should probably have some sheets to go with it.

The lights at night in Shanghai were also quite impressive.

In Shanghai, we celebrated Mark's birthday at Pub Trivia. Mark and Cathy were two of the people on my Pub Trivia team. I suck at trivia, but love getting to know people while playing trivia!




Part of me just wanted to stay on the boat deck and watch the lights all night long. And then they turned them off at 10pm so I couldn't.


The next day my mom and I sought out one of the best known dim sum places in Shanghai (according to a woman we met who spoke English). It took us an incredibly long time to find, but the food and the experience were both magnificent! So tasty! And they did in fact bring us English instruction sheets. Guess we looked confused. haha


Forget the name of this street, but it had crazy shopping everywhere. We went in a department store where they had the most massive floor of shoes you've ever seen. Shoes everywhere. My favorite was when an irate Chinese man started yelling as loud as he could and throwing shoes everywhere. No idea what he was yelling, but everyone was standing around him just watching, so I figured it was okay.



And thus concludes Shanghai. Next stop: Nagasaki, Japan

Fieri, Friend, Food

To escape the rain at Disneyland one night, we checked out another one of Guy Fieri's recommended restaurants. This one was called Mamma Cozza and it was conveniently located on the same street as our hotel.


It was an Italian place and upon walking in, you knew it must be good, because there was a long wait and all the stuff decorating the place just added to the atmosphere. And for whatever reason, when there's stuff everywhere, it adds something to the place. And makes the food taste better. At least that's my theory for now.


Oooh, see, look at that ambience. I especially liked the tablecloths and football helmets everywhere. And family photos from over the years.


This time we decided to order one of Guy Fieri's choices along with a pasta dish (because one should always get pasta at an Italian place, right?)


So we got the Mama Special pizza and the spinach and chicken ravioli. Both were tasty and the whole meal was quite enjoyable!!


I can't wait for the next chance to check out one of his other restaurants! It is now a fun thing to do while traveling around-hope you will check it out sometime too!

Heartland, Home, Hearty

Back to photos from my cross Canada trip.

And here are some photos from my time in Quebec. Also called my "heartland" because I love it so dearly.


I spent a week at the Capernwray in Quebec and it was so wonderful and refreshing. So good to connect with friends, make new friends and to connect with God in new ways. And to begin thinking about how life would change as this would become my new home in less than a year.


And the snow. Oh how I love it! In all its sparkly diamond shimmering wonderfulness. And it's not like our snow, heavy and wet. It's light and fluffy and when it's really big, it sits on top of each flake and piles up and you can see the detail of every snowflake-it's delightful.


And piles of plants half buried in snow. Trying to stay above the snow but not managing, yet beautiful in itself. I love how snow covers everything and makes all things clean and new. It's magical. And awe-inspiring. And somehow, because it mutes all noise, it brings you back to a place of stillness and peace. I can't wait for my next winter to be a real one!


And here are a couple of the wonderful staff there. So great to be in a place that you can have deep, meaningful conversations with upon first meeting them. You can be real with one another and just be totally honest. Love it. It inspires me.


And had I actually had appropriate winter clothing, I might have taken more pictures of the snow and outside, but it was freezing, so all I could manage was to fling the door open, take a few pictures and run back inside.


Ah Snow! I'm headed back to Quebec in a couple weeks and hope to enjoy some more of the white stuff before winter is quite done.


And always good when friends are willing to blow on piles of snow on behalf of creative picture taking. I love the snow blowing photo because it makes me think of the magicalness of the snow and brings me back to a place of wonder.



My week there was filled with lots of visits with friends on the property, and also friends in town. I have a couple of pen pals there as well that I keep in touch with that it is great to connect with whenever I visit.


And another one of my favorite things there is the kiddies. Love them. Only half of them were there this time around, but I LOVE them. They warm and melt my heart every time. I feel like I've been able to see glimpses of them growing up and was there when the oldest ones were born and started growing up, so it's a neat connection. And always wonderful to snuggle up on a couch on a cold, wintry day to read a book together. Or play travel. Or go outside and freeze our buns off in the snow, wind and cold.



There's a Chinese restaurant nearby as well that we always go to. My friend Jenn and I went there back when we both lived out there and the tradition continues on. We mainly go for the owner because she is wonderful and full of life! I can't wait to continue seeing her on a more regular basis and maybe even playing some tennis together in the summer!


So off to Chinese we went and it was great food and great fellowship as well!


And then Dave and I went for our traditional poutine. True Quebec cuisine. The best is from 'La Belle Province' and it has smoked meat on it. You feel disgusting after eating it, but during the process it is wonderful. And the tradition must be upheld of course. Dave and I both did our second year at school together and we were the only two second year students so we got to know each other quite well. So it's always been great to go and visit and hang out together.


And so ends my trip to Quebec! Oh, and I stayed with my lovely friend and penpal Steph and we enjoyed some good Thai, a movie and chats and did not take photos, so it is not documented in photograph form, but it was a wonderful time nonetheless!

Hope you enjoyed a little sneakpeak into my "heartland". I'm sure there will be many more photos in the future to come as I introduce you to the Quebec I know and love!

Ideal, Ikea, Indian

Last week Calgary Flames came to Vancouver to play the Canucks, so I phoned Lindie up and told her she should fly out so we could go to the game together. So I picked her up at the airport and we headed to Vancouver.

Before the game, we went for Japanese to my favourite Vancouver restaurant. And suddenly Lindie was half out of her seat, about to chase two men (dressed in suits and looking quite dapper if I may say so myself) out of the restaurant. Turns out they were Flames players (Hagman and Conroy). Sadly, Lindie didn't make it in time to get some photos, but we enjoyed that we had dinner with them.. Actually this is the same restaurant where the Canucks sometimes go. So perhaps we will have to frequent it even more often.


The game was ideal (for me) and Canucks won. For Lindie's sake, I was glad that Flames scored with 10 second remaining. Because then I was happy and so was she.


The next day we did a bunch of different things and on the way to Vancouver stopped at Ikea for some wandering around and random photo taking. I love it when Lindie comes to visit. The things we do are always incredibly random, but so fun, including a lot of laughs and good chats as well. Brings you back to simply appreciating the people in your life and loving spending time with them.


That evening we went to Vij's in Vancouver, which has perhaps some of the best service and best Indian food ever. And while you sit there, they bring around appies and chai. So tasty! Here we were joined by more friends and it was just a lovely evening all together.

Dropped Lindie off at the airport on Friday morning, and then I spent the day meeting different people and such, before being dropped off at the airport myself, for my cross Canada adventure. I decided I would go to Calgary for the weekend for my friend Jenn's birthday, and figured, why not keep going? Presently I am in Saskatchewan. And it's beautiful. Yay for snow. And for wonderful friends. I am blessed.

More intermittent updates to come soon!

Seattle, Sauces, Sugar

I love when you have long-anticipated days that have been in your calendar that you can hardly wait until they come. Those days that cause you lost sleep because you're just so excited. I have these days and moments frequently, but want to share about this one day that I had been feeling agog (eagerly anticipation) about for a while now.


My friends Amy, Carlee and I met at university and really become good friends during a retreat course we took together one summer. So we have been trying to get together more and figured a day trip to Seattle would be a wonderful way to hang out and a great way to start the new year.


First stop: Krispy Kremes. We realized early in that we were pretty much going down to Seattle to walk around and go eat some good food.


Next stop: The troll under the bridge. Thankfully he let us pass through.


My view of the bridge. Delightful.


Following stop: P.F. Chang's. The best chinese food bistro. ever. They mix you your own sauce to the spicyness level you desire. Every time I go, I want to go back instantly. Probably a good thing that there isn't one in Canada.


Next we found a delightful place called the Chocolate Box which had the best hot chocolate ever. Then on to Pike's Place market and some wandering around.


We found some fun clothing to try on and got some nice modeling pictures...


Then we decided to take a break from our eating and walking and go see a movie. We saw Little Fockers which was good for some laughs. :)

This face-pure excitement.

At some point in the day, we just started taking pictures of EVERYTHING. So we found it fitting of course to take a picture when our buzzer went off at the Cheesecake Factory later on.


Carlee wanted to share her love/hate relationships with popcorn...


We really just came to the CF because of their Thai Lettuce Wraps. And were they definitely worth it.


After crossing the border after suspicious questioning, we found Amy's car with the lights on, and battery dead. Thankfully we found someone with jumper cables who was kind enough to give the car a jump. And thankfully we didn't listen to Carlee who insisted that if we just push the car down a hill, the car will start up again.


I think having a dead battery was actually the perfect ending to the day. I almost peed my pants laughing so hard.

The anticipation and excitement was worth the wonderful fellowship, great conversations, endless laughter, boisterous sing-alongs, tasty food, and chilly strolls. I am thankful for good friends and for the chance to take the day off and go adventuring together. I look forward to many more!