鼠年(08)回顾 2008 Review

马来西亚家人朋友 (1月 和 6月)

Dear English readers, please scroll down for English translation.

阳历年时忙考试，没回顾我在08年做了什么。
现在，试考了，农历年过了，回头看看，鼠年可真多姿多彩。

这两年来日子都很漂泊，去年可说是‘四海为家’的顶峰：-
在马来西亚和澳洲各住了三个月，其余的六个月则在加拿大。

和Ed在马旅游 (2月)

1月 – 大马
回马做家里的大小姐。
在爸爸店里帮忙和学习。
天天去巴刹，到处吃吃吃。

2月 – 大马
Ed第一次来马，第一次见家长。
我俩背包游新加坡，吉隆坡，槟城，马六甲和浮罗交怡。
Ed回加国工作，我回澳洲工作。

澳洲的朋友 (3月 - 5月)

3月 – 澳洲
上班。和一位好朋友住。
放工回家就和朋友追港剧。
很高兴和很多朋友相聚。
喝我爱喝的意大利咖啡和比利时热巧克力，
吃我爱吃的eggs benedict早餐。

4月 – 澳洲
继续上班。
搬进一间有三房，却只有一张床和一张椅子的公寓。
没有网络。看了很多英文小说。

寂寞的公寓　(澳洲)

5月 – 澳洲
如4月。

6月 – 大马
回马。如1月。

多伦多 (7月 - 12月)

7 月 – 加国
回加国。见到Ed给他一个大拥抱 ：“亲爱的，好久没见”。
享受我在加国的第一夏天。

8月 – 加国
阳光继续普照。每个周末尽情欢享。
Ed告诉我，我煲的汤和煮的东西已可以见人。Yay !
我这大小姐开始认真做好家务。

多伦多 (7月 - 12月)

9月 – 加国
啊！结婚吧！

10月 – 加国
开始发闷。不如去学喝茶和学泡茶吧。

Hey 先生，来个胜利手势吧 ! (多伦多)

11月 – 加国
好冷。
决定参加考试，

12月 – 加国
好冷。
拼命苦读。
圣诞和新年快乐！

多伦多　(7月 - 12月)

1月 – 加国
试考了，年过了。
2009 牛年要做什么好呢 ? ……

With Family & friends in Malaysia (Jan & Jun)

I was very busy with exam during the New Year, did not get the chance to review my 2008 year. Exam is finally over and (Chinese) New Years came and gone, finally, I have the time to sit down, to reflect on my 2008 year. Looking back, it was indeed a great and interesting year.

For the past two years, I have been dividing my times between Malaysia, Australia and Canada, and last year was my most traveled and drifting year. I lived 3 months each in Malaysia and Australia, the rest of the six months in Canada.

Traveled with Ed in Malaysia (Feb)

Jan – Malaysia
Went back to Malaysia and be pampered like a princess at home by my lovely family.
Learned from my father and helped out in his shop.
Went to pasar often and fully enjoyed the famous delicious street food !

Feb – Malaysia
Ed visited Malaysia for the first time and met my parents for the first time.
We traveled in Singapore, KL, Penang, Malacca and Langkawi.
Ed headed back to Canada, while I went back to Australia.

With friends in Australia ((Mar - May)

Mar – Australia
Went back to work. Stayed with a good friend.
Hong Kong TV series was our favourite passtime together after work.
So happy to catch up with many good friends in Oz.
Drunk my favourite Italian coffee and Belgium hot chocolate;
ate my favourite eggs benedict breakfast.

Apr – Australia

Continued to work.
Moved into a huge 3 bedroom condominium, however,
you won’t believe I only lived with a folding bed and a chair in the condo.
No Internet. Read many novels.

Lonely apartment

May – Australia
Same as April.

Jun – Malaysia
Went back to Malaysia.
Same as January.

Toronto (July - Dec)

Jul – Canada
Went back to Canada.
Gave Ed a big hug, ‘Darling, long time no see! ‘
Enjoyed my first summer in Canada.

Aug – Canada
Went to nearly all summer street festivals and events.
Surprisingly, Ed started to praise my cooking ! Yay!
Finally, I had been better with housework.

Toronto (2) (July - Dec)

Sep – Canada
Let’s get married dear !

Oct – Canada
Started to feel bored and restless. So attended Tea Sommelier classes.

Hey dude, you gonna have fun in summer ! (Canada)

Nov – Canada
So cold !
Decided to sit for exam.

Dec – Canada
So cold !!
Studied unbelievably hard for the exam.
Happy Christmas and New Year !

Jan – Canada
Exam is over, new years came and gone.
What am I going to do in 2009 ? …..

Toronto (3) (July - Dec)

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再见夏天….Bye bye, Summer…

Bye bye summery beach days .....(Sandbank Park Beach)

好日子过得特别快。

夏天终于正式结束。

今天是秋天的第一天。

不过，这几天的天气特好。

虽不至于可以去沙滩晒太阳，

不过天天sunny, 二十度到二十三度左右，

坐在咖啡厅外喝咖啡看书最好。

Yesterday was the last day of summer, and today marks the official start of autumn (Torontonians call it Fall). The good times always fly much quicker than any other time, isn’t it?

Strangely, the weather for the last few days have been beautiful – sunny everyday, about 20-23 degree celcius each day. Though not good enough for a swim or a tan at the beach, it is definitely perfect for a cup of warm coffee at the patio. At least, this is the right temperature I like.

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Festivals for Everything !! (Part 1)

the cooks and their food at Salsa Street Festival

夏天在加拿大是很‘珍贵‘的季节。一年才这三，四个月的阳光，所以，这里的人争取所有机会享受阳光，找尽所有藉口来庆祝。 夏季的每个周末，都有数不完的节目。最普遍的是街头美食节。

加国是个多元文化的国家。各国各种族的人多会聚住在同一地区。所以，街头美食节多在某种族聚住的地区，并带有其色彩。

如我家附近曾是意大利人聚住的地方，所以这里有个意大利街头美食节。不过，这十多年来，很多意大利人已渐渐搬去其他地区。反而，多了很多加勒比海人和拉丁美洲人。所以，这里在三，四年前开始举办Salsa Street Festival。

Summer is precious here in Canada. Well, it is not hard to understand that, it is the only 3-4 months sunny days Canadians will have for the whole year. Canadians will take every opportunity to enjoy the sunshine, and will make every excuses to go under the sun.  Nearly every weekend is jam-packed with many festivals, shows and activities. One of the most popular events in Toronto is street festivals.

Canada is a multicultural country. It is common that some particular ethic groups live in particular areas, like the Chinatown, Little India etc. Hence, the street festival for a particular culture will most likely be held in that area.

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沙。暴雨。露营 Camping with Sands and Storms

Giant sand dunes with clear blue sky

在夏季，好像所有的加拿大人都会去露营。因为，如果现在不去，接下来就没机会了。

连读五，六年，我们的朋友 ，DM和 LM都不会放过夏季这个难得的露营季节。今年当然也不例外，定了一个星期的营地。听说，DM在六个月前就要上网预定。因为，他们要去的省公园Sandbanks是很热门的一个露营地。不早定，就肯定会失望。

By the camp fire. I was already in my PJ !

Ed呢，很狡猾。‘难度高‘的东西(早上7点爬起身来上网预定）让DM做。他就坐享其成，在他们露营的那个星期去‘探望’他们。 那我们就可以‘顺道‘露营两，三天了。

Sandbank公园离多伦多两个半小时车程，不算远。上路前，我们已听说天气不佳。虽明知下雨露营很没趣，可是不想错失机会，也累了城市生活，还是不管三七二十一，要‘勇敢‘地接触大自然。我们在星期五晚抵达。建好了露营的帐篷后，LM盛了美酒，起了营火，迎接我们。那晚，我们在满天星星下熟睡。

Our cozy kitchen tent

第二天，天气一点都不是天气预象台预测地糟糕。相反的，出奇地好。吃了丰富的早餐后，他们要带我到著名的沙丘堆见识见识。有些沙丘高至五，六十尺不等。这么大的沙丘，我还真是头一次见。我们一座一座沙丘地爬。还好，天气不太热，加上阵阵凉风，我也算有体力‘征服‘它们。这时，我想到我要去撒哈拉沙漠的年少无知的梦想。突然，觉得好遥远，也好像没那么振奋人心了。

爬沙丘爬累了，我们就到沙滩休息休息。在Sandbanks, 顾名思义，当然大部分的活动都与沙有关。我和LM难得清静地坐在沙滩上看看书，Ed 和DM则在暖暖‘湖‘水内游泳，。这时，我们已知道白天的好天气是假象。因为，预像台说，狂风暴雨会在夜晚降临。不敢久呆在沙滩， 我们提早回营地准备晚餐。

Yummy BBQ ribs !

露营嘛，哪可少了烧烤。排骨，牛扒，玉蜀黍，等，总之什么可以放在火上烤的，我们都放在火上烤。饱餐后，又是美酒加营火。可是，今晚就没那么逍遥了。 喝着红酒时，我们见到天上远处，闪电打亮了天际。渐渐地，越来越逼近。我们知大事不妙。赶紧收拾好，就躲进帐篷内‘避难‘。

那晚，就在我们的头上，雨唏哩哗啦地下，闪电轰隆隆地响。从没在狂风暴雨下露营的我在帐篷内担心 ：‘我们的帐篷建在大树下。闪电噼啪砍大树的话….’ Ed接下去说 : ‘那我们就完蛋啦！‘ 虽然如此，一天排满的活动把我累坏了。来不及多胡思乱想，我就倒头呼呼大睡了。

星期天早上，我被鸟叫声吵醒。大地一片潮湿。快快吃了早餐，清理好一切，带着已湿透了的用具，和装了很多沙的帐篷，我们向Sandbank 说，明年再见。

It is (still) summer here ! During summer, everyone goes to camp. Well, if you don’t do it now, you may not have any other time for the rest of the year.

Friends of ours have been camping in Sandbanks Provincial Park for the last 5 to 6 years. Being the only rare time that is ‘practical’ for camping, DM has to book at least 6 months ahead, and have to wake up at 7am to go online for the booking. Yup, it is that popular here. This year, it is no difference, DM and LM have booked for a week long camping in Sandbanks Provincial Park.

Climb two steps and slide back one step

Ed being cheeky, he takes the advantages of letting them to do the hard work (booking), and we joined them for a couple of days during that week.

So, we went last weekend – DM and LM’s last two days at the camp site. Unfortunately, the forecast was not great at all. Yet, we still went because we have not been out of the city since I came back. Tired of city life and needing a nature dose, we packed and soldiered on.

Sandbanks Provincial Park is only about 2.5 hours from Toronto. We arrived on Friday night. After setting up the tent, we finished our day with a few glasses of wine with DM and LM by the camp fire.

Was the tent sturdy enough for the rain storm?

The next day, supposed to rain, instead we had a gorgeous weather. They took me this newbie to the famous sand dunes. Some dunes are as tall as 50-60 feet. Never saw giant sand dunes before, I was amazed. We were lucky that the day was not too hot and had constant refreshing breezes. Hence, I survived well with the climbing of giant sand dunes. However, imaging myself going to Sahara dessert (one of my many wild dreams) climbing even larger sand dunes under the fierce sun, does not excite me like before anymore.

After visiting the sand dunes, we thought we deserved more sands, and some relaxing times. We went to a beach within the Park. Weather surprisingly was holding up for us. LM and I read, Ed and DM went for a swim.

Ed tried to shake off the sands in the tent

Knowing there would be a rain storm coming overnight. We did not stay at the beach too long. We went back to our camp, cooked a big feast (BBQ ribs, steak, BBQ corn and other veggies) and tried to enjoy more wines and camp fire before the storm.

At about 10pm, we could see lightning lightening up the sky somewhere far from us . Slowly, the lightning is moving closer to us and we knew up it was time to pack up and hide in our tents as quickly as possible.

It was my first time to camp in a storm. The frequency of strong lightning, the powerful wind and the amount of rain above our tent were not funny. We camped under the trees and I was worried what would happen if the trees struck by the lightning. ‘If it happened we would be dead.’ Ed said. Yup, he likes to do that to me. No matter how worried I was, after a full day of activities, I still slept sound.

I woke up by the singing of the birds next morning. Everything was wet and soaked. We quickly had our breakfast, then cleaned up, and went home with lots of sands in our wet tents and in our shoes. It is indeed a real experience with the nature.

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Summerlicious 夏季美食盛会

在多伦多，每逢夏季，超过百间中上级的餐馆都会参与由American Express举办约两个星期的Summerlicious。 ‘licious’ 源自 ’delicious‘ ，即美味的意思。

Summerlicious 的特征是，所有参与的餐馆会各自设计出一个固定的套餐( 例子见文底）给来参与Summerlicious 的顾客。最值得的是，收价会比平常低。这过百间的餐馆当中有些是很高级的。我这种平凡人平时是吃不起的 （除了在Summerlicious 🙂 ）。因为，不管餐馆多高级，如要参与Summerlicious的话，晚餐收费都在每人35加币或以下，午餐会更便宜。

我和Ed当然不会错过这个大饱口福的机会。可是，我俩为了选餐馆而大伤脑筋。中级的餐馆，不算便宜到那里去。太高级的，虽划算，可是我们怕会格格不入。毕竟，我们扮不出高贵的样子，也不想吃得周身不自在。开心时，不想把声音压得低低的。所以，最后，我们选了一间中上级的 – Fuzion。

photo from http://www.restaurantstoronto.com

我们认识一对夫妇常向我们赞这餐馆有多好就有多好。可是，一餐两人一吃就百多两百元。所以，他们也是久久才去一次。我和Ed就乘这机会去尝尝。三道菜（前餐，主餐和甜品， 饮料另算）的晚餐，一人35加币，不算太贵。

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城市沙滩 Urban Beach

urban beach

有一天到多伦多市南部的Lake Ontario沿岸走走。

看到了这所谓的城市沙滩觉得很奇怪又好玩。

这长长的人造沙滩建在Lake Ontario 旁, 去年六月正式开放给公众。

这沙滩，虽有点怪，没海浪，也没得下水玩或游泳，但有沙，又有湖景，加上金黄色的太阳伞，还是特别有味道。

穿上性感泳衣，躺在沙上来个太阳浴，或带小孩来玩玩泥沙的游戏，或来沿沙滩走走吹吹 ‘湖风’，和其他沙滩又有什么不同呢？

也同样是一个悠闲平静的夏季下午。

During my leisurely walk along the waterfront, I was surprised to see a ‘beach’.

It is literally like a giant long sandbox along the water edge that is filled with sands and many tall yellow umbrellas.

I then realised it is a new waterfront public space project that was opened June 2007.

Well, it looks a little strange and awkward that a ‘beach’ that has no swimming and no waves. However, the good news is, you do have lots of sands, plus a lake view, with the umbrellas and chairs.

As you can see, many people enjoy lying on the sands for a sunbath , or bringing their children for some sand games, or just simply walk along the ‘beach’ and enjoy the refreshing lake breezes. So, what’s the real difference and why not?

And, it is equally a beautiful, lazy and leisurely summer afternoon.

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蒙特利尔的建筑和节庆 Montreal Now and Then (2) – Its Buildings and Its Festivals

[rockyou id=93228397&w=426&h=319]

(Dear English readers, please scroll down to find the ‘click’ for English translation )

当然来到蒙特利尔市，不能不谈它那耸立了几百年的古老法式建筑物。坦白说，我对建筑物不内行， 不敢在此班门弄斧。贴上多多照片就是 （如上，照片是在第一次游蒙特利尔时拍的，那时是夏天）。市中心有一条市中心的主街，Sherbrooke街, 很有趣。这条街很长。街的东部是法式建筑，西部是英式。驾着车在此街上东西跑，也看得出法式和英式建筑的不同。可惜没拍到英式建筑的照片以便比较。抱歉。

这里也有个小小的古城。城中有许多餐馆, 咖啡店, 酒吧等的。小巷中有艺术工作者卖他们的作品。我蛮喜欢的，很有欧洲风味，觉得很浪漫，很美。当然，我没去过欧洲，才大惊小怪。Ed去过欧洲，觉得这里不过如此。 我嘛，自己陶醉就是了。

蒙特利尔也是个节庆 (festival) 之城。听说，它常年办各类型的节庆。它的爵士音乐节是世界闻名的。Ed说，夏季时，几乎每个周末都会有东西看。我第一次去时，也刚好碰上蒙特利尔电影节。一屏大大的银幕摆在主要的大街上，整条街封锁了给电影节用，每个晚上都有好戏免费上映。

我和Ed在第一晚看了一部法国古典名片- Bird Cage。有英文字幕。第二晚去时，上映的是Mission Impossible。可是，我竟一点也看不懂！因为，他们竟配上法语，却没有英文字幕。我当然听不懂啦！别问我为什么他们这样做。可是，看到Tom Cruise讲法语也蛮搞笑的。

这回第二次游蒙特利尔，因为是冬天，倒好像没什么大型的节庆。即使有，我也没留意到，也没什么兴致。因为，天气真的很糟糕。整个晚上都在下雨，接着还下雪。不过，在雪中看蒙特利尔，再加上，街上的圣诞装饰，也真别有一番风味。白茫茫中，又有那五颜六色的霓虹光，很美(下图）。可是，我和我的朋友，却变了落汤鸡。

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A Summer job turned into Million Dollars

(Dear English readers, please scroll down to find the ‘click’ for English translation)

上周末，Ed带我去尝尝加拿大人的’茅舍’ （cottage) 假期。他朋友的家族在北上靠湖边有一个别致的渡假屋。我们就占了这个便宜也去一起去玩玩。

暂不谈这假期，先要谈去cottage 路上的一件奇事, 也是一个生意奇迹。

话说，四十多年前，在多伦多北部郊外地方，一个父亲担心儿子在暑假三个月无所事事。于是，在一条北上渡假的高速公路(Highway 11) 的路边开了一个简陋的汉堡包档摊给儿子卖汉堡包。只为了他有点事做。此档只在夏天才做生意, 暑假后儿子要回学校上课。怎知，这父亲的生意眼光独到。这汉堡包档摊的生意出奇的好。这四十多年来，成为众多多伦多人在北上渡假的中途充饥站。

当Ed告诉此故事时，我也没把它放在心上。只是，当我们抵达时，我才真正见识到此汉堡包档莫名的魔力。不是它的汉堡包特别好吃，而是它那惊人超级长的两条人龙。排队的人有超过百人以上，而且走了吃饱了的，又有新顾客。队伍一直维持相同的长度。

我突然间感到莫名的兴奋。因为，从没试过这么‘热闹’地排队买汉堡包吃。Ed见到人龙要掉头走。我怂恿Ed留下来排队等。反正，等的时候我可以拍拍照给这部落格。所幸，这汉堡包档已结合现代经营手段。有充足的人手，都是年轻小人，播放流行音乐。一切是那么地有秩序，有效率。不到二十分钟，我们已在吃着新鲜热腾腾的汉堡包。

听说，那个以前的小伙子已是百万富翁。他还在高速公路上建了全Ontario省唯一一个私人公司拥有的人行天桥。天桥的另一边也有一个停车场，这是让回家的人也可以轻易的来吃汉堡包。他也开始包装他们的汉堡包，现在在各大超级市场可以买到现成的。真是有生意头脑！

坦白说，它的汉堡包不过如此。如此的人龙，原来是这些人自小随父母去渡假，这种停在高速公路边享用汉堡包的童年美丽记忆已根深蒂固。在此吃汉堡包是重温那另人追忆的童年。这种回味是外人无法了解的。Ed邀请我们到她cottage渡假的朋友如是。相信跟着她的孩子将来也不会例外地成为这汉堡包档的常客。我想，我也已上了迷。将来去吃时，我会回忆我在多伦多的第一次cottage假期。

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Just the same

(Dear English reader, please scroll down to find the ‘click’ for English translation)

回来多伦多约一个星期了。 这阵子我都与时差的不适＇战斗＇着。多伦多与吉隆坡的时差为十二个小时。这里的中午十二点即吉隆坡的午夜十二点。 所以，我在中午会很疲倦，会睡上好几个小时。晚上呢，就会睡不着，或早上四，五点就爬起身来。这两天，好了些。

离开多伦多有四个月左右吧。除了季节的转变，其余的就如四个月前我离开的一样。就好像不曾离开过。

只是，心情有点不同了。上次来此，算是放自己一个长假，也是为了尝试多伦多的生活，见见Ed 的家人朋友。这次，这里变得熟悉了。而且，完成了在墨尔本的学业，也变卖或捐赠了在墨的一切。现在，没了这些牵挂。也许，算是新生活的真正开始吧。

可是，还在等着加拿大的永久居民证，暂是游客身份。再说，我还要再考药剂师的执照，才可以工作。加上，Ed的工作形式多为合约式。我们可能会再搬到别地也难说。听起来有点困难重重。哈！ 这证明爱情有多伟大，把我从老远吸引过来 ! （或也是盲目的 😉 ）

我暂也不想多想。暂顺其自然吧。想看看在打开生命的另一扇门时，另一边的风景如何。

现在， 我只想要好好享受多伦多夏天的阳光。这也是我要早点回来的原因。上个冬天把我冷得怕了。虽夏天已过了一半, 可我就喜欢现在的阳光, 不是熨人的热, 只是懒懒地温暖。 Ed也已迫不急待地为我编排了一系列的节目。:)

(photo from http://exploreto.wordpress.com )

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