Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Chinese Garden, Vancouver

My pal, Leanne, along with her daughter, Marron, and her mom, Shirley, picked me up at the airport this afternoon.

We headed right away to the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Chinese Garden in downtown Vancouver.

The Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Garden Society, incorporated in 1981, is a self-sustaining, not-for-profit organization with the mandate to maintain and enhance the bridge of understanding between Chinese and Western cultures, promote Chinese culture generally and be an integral part of the local community.

Funding for the Garden came from all levels of Canadian government, private individuals, corporations and the Chinese government. Vancouver’s Chinese Garden was built in 1985-1986 using the time honored principles and techniques of the original Ming dynasty garden. Fifty-two master craftsmen from Suzhou China, working with Canadian counterparts, completed this landscape masterpiece within a year. The intricate halls and walkways are constructed with precise joinery and without the use of nails, screws or glue. The Garden opened on April 24, 1986.

Based on the principle of collaborative design, the Garden compliments the adjacent public park; enhancing the view in both places. For the architect, the botanist, the student of history, the lover of beauty, the Garden provides insights into the subtle wonders to be found within the walls of this living treasure.

We got there just in time for the 1:30pm tour with Johnathan. The gardens are based on the principles of yin and yang.

Here are Leanne and Marron.

The walkways are cool.

Here are the grounds.

Here are me and Marron.

This archway was cool ... same archway, different views.

This is our guide, Johnathan. He was quite knowledgeble.

This is the Scholar's Study, which according to Johnathan, is "magical".

Rubbing these bats is supposed to be lucky ... so we rubbed 'em.

Here are the four of us in the gazebo ... Leanne, Shirley, Marron and I.



It's an interesting museum to check out. I learned a lot and found it to be a serene place.

Afterward, we took a little walk around Chinatown. Here are Marron, Shirley and Leanne.

And me, Leanne and Marron ...

It's an interesting museum to check out. I learned a lot and found it to be a serene place.

Movie - "Paul"

I saw Paul tonight with my pals, Shawna, Trish and Yvette ... we caught the 7pm show (it just opened today).

Simon Pegg and Nick Frost reunite for the comedy adventure Paul as two sci-fi geeks whose pilgrimage takes them to America's UFO heartland. While there, they accidentally meet an alien who brings them on an insane road trip that alters their universe forever. For the past 60 years, an alien named Paul (voiced by Seth Rogen) has been hanging out at a top-secret military base. When he discovers he's been taken prisoner, the space-traveling smart ass decides to escape the compound and hop on the first vehicle out of town - a rented RV containing Earthlings Graeme Willy (Pegg) and Clive Gollings (Frost). Chased by federal agents and the fanatical father of a young woman that they accidentally kidnap, Graeme and Clive hatch a fumbling escape plan to return Paul to his mother ship. And as two nerds struggle to help, one little green man might just take his fellow outcasts from misfits to intergalactic heroes.

I like Simon Pegg and Jason Bateman (he plays an FBI agent) and it looked like a cute movie.

I'm not a big sci-fi fan (would you believe I've never see "ET or the "Alien" movies??) so missed some of the inside jokes. I thought the movie was good, though, and after a while forgot that Paul, the alien, wasn't real. There are funny cameos by Jane Lynch, Signourney Weaver, David Koechner and Jeffrey Tambor.

It's not a great movie but is an entertaining way to spend a couple hours.

And here we are afterwards ... Trish, Shawna, me and Yvette.

We met before the movie to catch up. Trish had a blast on a canoe trip last week in Belize and Yvette just got back from a couple months of backpacking from Costa Rica to Belize (they didn't connect in Belize).

For the cat lovers!

I found this on Teresa's FB wall ... cat owners should find it hilarious!

Book ~ "Secret Daughter" (2011) Shilpi Somaya Gowda

From Goodreadsd~ On the eve of the monsoons, in a remote Indian village, Kavita gives birth to a baby girl. But in a culture that favors sons, the only way for Kavita to save her newborn daughter’s life is to give her away. It is a decision that will haunt her and her husband for the rest of their lives, even after the arrival of their cherished son.

Halfway around the globe, Somer, an American doctor, decides to adopt a child after making the wrenching discovery that she will never have one of her own. When she and her husband Krishnan see a photo of the baby with the gold-flecked eyes from a Mumbai orphanage, they are convinced that the love they already feel will overcome all obstacles.

Interweaving the stories of Kavita, Somer, and the child that binds their destinies, Secret Daughter poignantly explores issues of culture and belonging. Moving between two worlds and two families, one struggling to survive the fetid slums of Mumbai, the other grappling to forge a cohesive family despite diverging cultural identities, this powerful debut novel marks the arrival of a fresh talent poised for great success.

This is the debut book by this author.  I liked the writing style of this book and it kept me interested and wanting to read it.

Going from 1984 to 2009, the chapters are written with a focus on a different character and location each time. This helped you get into the head and heart of the characters.

There are five main characters ... Somer, Krishnan, Asha, Kavita and Jasu. Of them, at first I liked Somer the least ... I liked her by the end, though.

I knew very little about life in India and learned a lot ... and I didn't find it boring.

I really enjoyed this novel and would recommend it.

Billy Elliot: The Musical, Canon Theatre, Toronto

Gord, Sister Sarah and I saw Billy Elliot: The Musical tonight

Billy Elliot: The Musical is a joyous, exciting and feel-good celebration of one young boy’s triumph against the odds. Called “The most inspiring show I've seen in years” by Ben Brantley of The New York Times, the story follows Billy’s journey as he stumbles out of the boxing ring, into a ballet class and discovers his dream to dance. Full of life, laughter, award-winning choreography and an unforgettable score by Elton John, this uplifting show will stay with you forever.

Based on the international smash-hit film, Billy Elliot is brought to life by the Tony-winning creative team — director Stephen Daldry, choreographer Peter Darling and writer Lee Hall — along with music legend Elton John, who has written what the New York Post calls “his best score yet!”

It's playing at the Canon Theatre and just started on Tuesday (Elton John and David Furnish were in town for the premiere).

I've never seen the movie but kind of knew the story. It's gotten great reviews ... the Toronto Star gave it 4/4 stars.

I enjoyed the play and didn't find it dragged. I was caught up in the story and enjoyed the dancing.

About the half the cast in this musical are kids. I'm not a fan of kids in plays and musicals ... all the kids in this one are really good.

There are four "Billys" ... our "Billy" was Cesar Corrales. He was Billy during Tuesday's opening night that got the great reviews. He was a fabulous dancer.

I also enjoyed the character of Michael ... I think it was Dillon Stevens (there are a couple boys who alternate this part). He was excellent, very funny.

The closing finale was fun!

My only complaint would be the fake accents. I know it's set in England but I think they could have skipped the fake accents and we'd still know. I found the accents were really exaggerated at times.

It's going to be around for a while ... if you get a chance, you should go see it.

O.NOIR, Toronto, ON

To celebrate Sister Sarah's birthday, I wanted to do something fun and different.

I thought O.Noir would be just that. I'd heard from friends that it is an interesting experience.

Already the rage in Europe, Australia, L.A., New York and Montreal - O.NOIR - Canada's first-ever "Dine in the Dark" restaurant now invites Torontonians to experience food, drink and conversation like never before - without their sight!

"It's a sensual dining experience like no other!" says O.NOIR owner and founder Moe Alameddine. "When you eat food in the dark, your remaining senses are heightened to savour the smell and taste of food. Even simple, everyday dishes like potatoes and yogurt take on a culinary flare."

But O.NOIR does more than just fire the imagination and stimulate the senses. After a few hours in complete darkness (that's right, no flashlights, matches, cell phones, cigarette lighters or luminous watches), customers gain a better understanding of what it's like to be blind - just like the restaurant's entire wait staff.

This socially conscious concept sprang from Jorge Spielmann, a blind pastor in Zurich who used to blindfold his dinner guests at his home so they could share his eating experience. In 1999, Spielmann opened Blindekuh (German for Blind Cow), a project aimed at teaching the sighted about the sightless world, and provide jobs for blind people.

Here are Sister Sarah and I outside the entrance.

And here are Gord and I.

When you enter, you wait in the lounge where you can have a drink. Here are Gord, me and Sister Sarah.

Maria, the bartender, took our food order in the lounge. Gord and Sister Sarah ordered Grilled Portobello Mushroom with Parmigiano shavings and balsamic vinegar for their starters. Gord and I both ordered Five Spice Filet mignon served with Potatoes and Vegetables (we passed on the veggies, though) as our main. Sister Sarah ordered Pasta with light Tomato Sauce and Vegetables. For dessert, Gord and I ordered Dark Chocolate Mousse with Rasberry. Sister Sarah opted for the "Surprise Dessert". They have a "surprise" starter, main and dessert on the menu ... you have no idea what it is until they bring it to you and you have to figure it out when you eat it.

Gord and I knew we'd be eating in the dark. We had told Sister Sarah that there was something special about the restaurant but we wouldn't tell her what.

Tracy, our server, came to lead us into the restaurant ... we had to put our left hand on the shoulder of the person ahead of us. No doubt that confused Sister Sarah!

The restaurant is pitch dark ... serious, it's DARK. You can't see a thing ... nothing! I must admit that it is freaky at first and takes a while to get used to. Tracy was great and told us where everything was ... our knife, fork, butter, etc.

We were the only ones there at first. After a while, two women arrived and sat at another table nearby. Tracy had us sing "Happy Birthday" to Sister Sarah. Then we sang it to Marissa (one of the women) who was also celebrating a birthday. Other people arrived later on.

Here is my main (steak and potatoes).

The potatoes were thickly sliced and the steak was cut up. I tried eating with my utensils but gave up and ate with my hands. I did eat my dessert with the my spoon ... which was guided by my fingers.

Here we are ... Tracy, me, Sister Sarah and Gord.

Because it wasn't very crowded, they let us stay longer than usual (we were there about three hours) to continue to enjoy the experience.

We ran into Mary and Marissa when we were leaving and introduced ourselves face-to-face. It was fun and exciting to discuss it!

The next time I have visitors from out of town, I'd definitely take them there. The food was good and the service was excellent!

You should check it out! Go during the week, though, because Tracy said it gets loud during the weekends (it's sold out) and not as enjoyable.

Canoe, Toronto, ON

After we had lunch at Poutini's, Sister Sarah and I walked to downtown ... we poked in some stores so it took about an hour.

Since it was Sister Sarah's birthday, I thought it would be nice to have a cocktail at Canoe, which is on the 54th floor of the TD Bank Tower and overlooks the harbour.

We had Cosmopolitan. It was quite tasty and the berries were so fresh.

Then we had a Chocolate Martini.

It was good too ... not as refreshing as the Cosmo, though.

Canoe is a fun place to go for a drink or two and watch the world go by.

Poutini's - House of Poutine, Toronto, ON

Sister Sarah likes poutine (a dish consisting of French fries topped with fresh cheese curds, covered with brown gravy). But since she's a non-meat eater, it's hard for her to find it without beef or chicken gravy.

There is a poutine restaurant in our 'hood called Poutini's so we went there for lunch today.

Sister Sarah had poutine with veggie gravy.

I'm not a fan of poutine so had fries and beef gravy.

Here's Sister Sarah sitting on the funky chair with her poutine.

The food was good ... not something you'd have every day, though.

Here's Sister Sarah as we were leaving Poutini's.

Happy birthday, Sister Sarah!

Book ~ "Sarah's Key" (2008) Tatiana de Rosnay

From Amazon ~ De Rosnay's U.S. debut fictionalizes the 1942 Paris roundups and deportations, in which thousands of Jewish families were arrested, held at the Vélodrome d'Hiver outside the city, then transported to Auschwitz. Forty-five-year-old Julia Jarmond, American by birth, moved to Paris when she was 20 and is married to the arrogant, unfaithful Bertrand Tézac, with whom she has an 11-year-old daughter. Julia writes for an American magazine and her editor assigns her to cover the 60th anniversary of the Vél' d'Hiv' roundups. Julia soon learns that the apartment she and Bertrand plan to move into was acquired by Bertrand's family when its Jewish occupants were dispossessed and deported 60 years before. She resolves to find out what happened to the former occupants: Wladyslaw and Rywka Starzynski, parents of 10-year-old Sarah and four-year-old Michel. The more Julia discovers—especially about Sarah, the only member of the Starzynski family to survive—the more she uncovers about Bertrand's family, about France and, finally, herself.

There are two stories in this book that run parallel ... Sarah's story and Julia's story.

Sarah's story is quite tragic, yet interesting. Sarah is Jewish and living in Paris during World War II. One afternoon, the police come to take her family away, to eventually be killed. Thinking it is only for a couple hours, though, she hides her brother, Michael, in a closet and locks the door so he'll be safe. Weeks later, she is doing all she can to get back to Paris to let her brother out of the closet (hence the title about the key). In her ten-year-old mind, her biggest concern is that she thinks he will think she's abandoned him.

Julia's story is in 2002 and I found it less interesting. She's an American married to an arrogant cheating husband in Paris who is rude and mean to her. Yet she loves him and keeps forgiving him. I found her to be very weak and I didn't like her very much. Aside from her father-in-law and grandmother-in-law, her husband's family are not likable.

It gets interesting when she starts researching for an the article about Vél d'Hiv and discovers Sarah's story and it's more about that and less about Julia. The two stories eventually intersect and we learn what happened to Sarah.

I was okay with the ending. It seemed to be tidied up very neatly and conveniently ... but given how the story had shaped up, there wasn't much else it could do.

I'd recommend this book. As I said, if you can get past some of the details in Julia's story, it's a good story and makes us realize how lucky we are today.

Lunch with Sister Sarah and Aunt Carol

Sister Sarah and I met our Aunt Carol for lunch today. Carol is one of my mother's younger sisters and lives in north Toronto.

We met at Spring Rolls at Yonge/Eglinton, which is midway between Carol and I work.

We all had the Famous Pad Thai (Thai rice noodles in lime juice, tamarind and tomato sauce. All pad thai served w/ tofu, egg, roasted peanuts, bean sprouts and coriander). I had mine with chicken, Sister Sarah is a non-meat eater and had hers with veggies and tofu, and Carol had hers with tiger shrimp and chicken.

Sister Sarah's was the prettiest ... here it is:

It's been a while since I've had Pad Thai and I've never had it there. It was different but tasty.

And here we are ... me, Sister Sarah and Carol.

It was great to catch up with Carol. Alas, it seems that I only get together with Carol when my sister comes to visit.

Pogue Mahone, Toronto, ON

Gord, Sister Sarah and I went to Pogue Mahone this afternoon to see Sandy MacIntyre and Steeped in Tradition ... they play there every Sunday from 4pm to 8pm and admission is free.

Sandy MacIntyre (Cape Breton fiddle) is one of today's most prominent players and teachers of Cape Breton fiddling. He has also composed well over a hundred tunes, many of which have become classics of the Cape Breton style.

I've seen this band quite a few times and really enjoy them. They play mostly fiddle jigs and reels (which I love) with the occasional old twangy country song.

There was a good-sized crowd made up apparently of regulars.

We had supper there. Gord and I both had fish 'n chips which was delicious.

Sister Sarah doesn't eat meat and had nachos ... it was a huge meal!

There were Highland dancers ...

Like a true kitchen ceilidh, others jumped in to entertain .... some singers and some fiddlers to give Sandy and the others a break.

Here are me, Sister Sarah and Gord.

Always a fun time seeing Sandy MacIntyre and Steeped in Tradition!