Recent trip to Hong Kong

So during the long weekend this month, I went back to Hong Kong to visit some relatives. It's been a while since I've been back. It was nice to go back to see all the new changes and eat all the great food that have there. The main reason for the trip was for my brother's second wedding in HK for our relatives who were unable to go to the first wedding in August. I kinda wished that I stayed in HK longer (I only went for a week) considering the fact that it's a 14 hour flight.

Here are some of the photos I took during my visit to HK.

This is my favorite food in HK! I got this on the first morning I woke up in HK. It's curry fishballs, Shumais (the dim sum pork dumplings), and tripe. You can also choose from a variety of different meats (meatballs, chinese sausage, etc). The street food in HK is amazing and if you ever go to HK, I definitely recommend you going to Mong Kok to try out the unique HK street foods. There are also a lot of shopping centers here as this is one of the busiest places in HK. 

This is a pineapple bun I got while I was in Mong Kok. You can get pineapple buns here in Calgary as well but you don't get the true authentic HK taste and it comes straight out of the oven in HK. Not only that, but it only costed $5HKG which is only about 60 cents CDN.

This is the famous TST (Tsim Sha Tsui) Clock tower. A lot of tourists who visit Hong Kong come here to take photos because it is right beside Victoria Harbour. TST is also has the biggest shopping center in HK, Harbour City, that has over 700 shops in one mall.








The next two photos are photos of of Victoria Harbour which is the number 1 tourist location of Hong Kong. If you decide to visit Hong Kong in the future, definitely come here. They have night light shows here every night, unfortunately I didn't take any pictures of them but if you do a Google search of HK, you'll see pictures of Victoria Harbour at night.

This is a picture of ifc, HK's tallest building and shopping center.

The two following pictures are pictures of Time Square HK. When I was there, they were setting up lego displays for their Christmas promotion.

All the upcoming photos are pictures of food and mainly desserts I ate when I was in HK. This is a picture of oven baked cheese and beef rice.

One of the best things of HK are all the dessert shops. This is a picture of fresh mango tofu dessert.

Most Chinese people are familiar with this dessert. In Chinese, it's pronounced as Tang Yuan. Its pretty much a dessert made with glutinous rice flour and inside the middle is usually filled with red bean, black sesame, or peanut butter.

This is a picture of condensed milk spring rolls. This is best served fresh when it is still hot. The condensed milk gives a nice sweet and smooth textured feel in your mouth.

This is also another famous Chinese dessert. This is a coconut milk tapioca pudding.

 The next two photos are food that I got from the airport upon my departure in Hong Kong. I had to have a last taste of HK's best foods, Pineapple Bun with iced butter, condensed milk toast, and HK style milk tea.

The last thing I got in HK were egg tarts. The egg tarts in HK are so much better than the ones we have here, mainly because you get it fresh out of the oven and the crust is homemade.

Pure Travel, Pure Happiness!

Your flight was delayed. On the plane, a baby was crying in front of you and there was lots of turbulence, your taxi driver had difficulty finding your hotel, and adding insult to injury, the meter was “broken,” so he overcharged you.

Yes, travel does have its stressful moments. However, most of those are forgotten with the moments of absolute bliss that travel rewards us with. There are a few moments I have experienced on trips that I will never forget. The mere thought of them makes me smile…

On a trip to Mexico in 2007 with university classmates, we paid a visit to Puenta Chueca, which is the home of the Seri natives. After buying necklaces from the locals, who were very friendly, we spotted one of the Seri boys kicking around a soccer ball. We took off our shoes and began to kick around the ball with him. Soon, it seemed the entire village had joined us! As the colorful prayer flags of the Seris fluttered in the breeze, we partook in “the beautiful game!” At one point, I stood with my Spanish-English dictionary open as the game moved around me. I looked over the young boy who was playing goalkeeper, and I shouted to him “Portero?” A smile came across his face, and he beckoned me towards the goal. Moments before I made a flying kick save, I focused on the sand between my toes, the glowing sunshine and the mixture of Spanish and Canadian-English laughter. That was pure joy!

In Sedona Arizona in 2008 my parents and I went hiking. We marveled at the red rock formations and periwinkle blue sky around us. Someone before us had placed a flat rock on the ground to act as a seat. While the landscape around us was amazing, as I sat, my thoughts were not with the Arizona wilderness. Instead, I was thinking how grateful I was to be experiencing that trip with my parents. We were somewhere unfamiliar, but we were there together as a family!

Comtemplating life!

In London this past summer, I was excited to have a night entirely to myself. I stepped out of my hotel licking my chops at the prospect of dining in one of Gordon Ramsay’s restaurants. A mere block from my hotel, a smell hit my nose that rendered sitting bolt-upright with several pieces of silverware on the table awaiting a seven course tasting menu as being unthinkable! I had stumbled upon a market, and one of the proprietors had a beaming smile as he stirred two pans of paella. I handed over a five pound note, and he handed me a large cardboard container. Inside was a tender chicken drumstick that had been slowly braised amongst rosemary, saffron and tomato infused Arborio rice. I stood on the sidewalk, and savored that meal, scooping it up with a small wooden fork. As London traffic buzzed around me on the left-hand side of the street,  I thought that Ramsay’s restaurants would not be as enjoyable!

Mmmmm!

Those are just a few of the times I felt absolute happiness while traveling. I would love to hear your stories of happiness as you have explored our beautiful world!

Mexico - Playa Mujeres

Beach Life

Last year I was lucky enough to travel to Mexico with my family for my older brothers wedding. There was just over 20 of us, a small group travelling together to support the union of two people. While in Mexico, I enjoyed my first experience in a country that wasn't Canada or the United States. We were staying in an all-inclusive resort (another first), so we were sheltered from a lot of the culture there was to experience, but that didn't stop us from having a unique trip with lots of interesting stories.

Mexican Sunset

On the day that we arrived, after a long flight, we were greeted with cool cloths and champagne - treatment I certainly am not used to. Within the first hour, we were sending one of our members off to the hospital, her leg going numb from the sting of a sting-ray. Not quite the first day we were experiencing, and a terrifying experience for those who went to the hospital. Once you leave the resort gates behind, the world around you changes dramatically and the cultural differences become quite apparently. Seeking medical assistance in a country where you do not know their language posed a problem, but she was treated and was back to the resort before the night fell dark. Note to any of you who get stung by a sting ray and the entire resort staff don't know what to do (we are in MEXICO - how do they not know what to do???), put the stung area in hot water, which will relieve the majority of the pain in a matter of minutes.

Snorkeling

Isle Mujeres

The majority of our days were spent on the beach or in the pool (none of us went in the ocean again - a red flag was put up after the incident I mentioned earlier) sipping on fruity drinks all day long. With over 12 bars (including a swim-up bar!) as well as 9 amazing restaurants, we were certainly taken good care of. The day after the wedding the group booked a catamaran to take us to Isle Mujeres a nearby island filled with merchants so we could do some local shopping. On the way over we stopped to go snorkeling and swim with the fish. Once on the island, we were bombarded with locals trying to sell us product. I'm sure many of you have experienced this in some country, and it can be quite frightening the first time. I learned how to bargin with the merchants, and politely turned down the "mexican flowers" that some would try to sell me. The island was beautiful, filled with life and colour, but also a shocking scene of poverty, some living in a cramped room in the back of their shops.

Rio Secreto

On one of our last days my parents and I went to a place called Rio Secreto, an underground freshwater river. We put on our hard-hats, lamps and wetsuits, and went on a guided tour to explore the caves the water had carved. It was an experience unlike anything I would have imagined, seeing the beautiful sunken caves hidden in the middle of the jungle. Rio Secreto is a recently discovered phenomenon, previously unknown before 2007. Now they fight to protect the breathtaking caves from environmental damage, and promote environmental awareness.

City of Cancun

The few moments I have highlighted from trip to Mexico have not covered all the things there are to do and see there. With an unlimited amount of activities to do on the resort, and a world full of culture outside, Mexico was definitely an enjoyable place for any traveler, whether they are a cultural explorer, or a rejuvenator, looking for a place to kick-back and relax.

Wildlife

Pool Side

Dream Destination: Ireland

I have not yet had the privilege of traveling oversees, however when I do, my number one destination spot has always been Ireland. Of course I want to travel the world one day, but I would love to explore the lush green island off the west coast of Europe. I have no family history in Ireland, but from everything I have seen and heard about it, it seems like an amazing country to visit. The history of the island has always intrigued me, as history, specifically art history, has always been a passion of mine. 

Cliffs of Moher - Image courtesy of destination360

Dunluce Castle - Image courtesy of North Coast Golf Tours

I love the idea of a country with so much character and history, complimented by breathtaking landscapes. The world is a beautiful place, especially when left to its own devices. Natural beauty is something I highly value, and I would love to experience all types of natural wonders around the globe. The Cliffs of Moher (pictured on the left) are one of these natural destinations I long to visit, reaching hundred on meters in the air. These cliffs are home to over 30,000 birds (20 various species) and are also an important geological site.

Another part of Ireland I wish to experience has to do with their architecture from the middle ages and beyond. The Gaelic country is known for the hundred of castles it is home to, varying in condition from ruins to pristine.

For a country not only known for their rich culture, interesting history, as well as the kindness of their people, it has always appealed to me. I hope to travel to Ireland once I graduate, and then continue on to visit as much of Europe as possible. Once that trip is over, my plan is to eventually tour Asia, another diverse area with intriguing history and fascinating culture.

Now that you have read all about my dream destination, what are some of the places on the top of your travel wish-list??

Amy and I's Summer Getaway

Sorrento, BC 

This summer, my best friend Amy and I decided to go on a week long trip to visit her grandparents in Sorrento, BC.   Sorrento is located between Salmon Arm and Kamloops, on Shuswap Lake.  It is well known for it's breath taking scenery, and its water activities, such as swimming, boating, fishing, water skiing, sea-doing, etc.  Amy has visited her grandparents every summer since I met her in grade eight, and finally, after four years, I was able to accompany her.  

Shuswap Lake. Photo taken by me.

Amy's grandparents live in a retirement community, located right on the lake.  It was the coolest thing to look outside their window, to see the magnificent blue sky, the puffy white clouds, the mountains, the lush green trees, and the crystal blue water.

Retirement Community. Photo taken by me.

Out trip started off with us boarding the Greyhound Bus, due to the fact that neither one of our parents wanted us to drive.  The bus ride was eight hours on the way there, and nine hours on the way back, but overall, the drive wasn't nearly as painful as we thought it would be.  We both got a lot of reading done, and caught up on some sleep.  

Photo of Amy and I on the Greyhound Bus, taken by me.

For the next seven days, we just relaxed, spent quality time together, and did some fun activities.  Her grandparents were extremely kind, and welcoming people.  They made us dinner every night, and often drove us into town or to a public beach, so that we could scope out good-looking boys.  They also drove us into town once, so that we could go to Tim Horton's, and do some shopping.  We also played countless board games with her grandparents, my favorite being a marble game.

Photo of me in front of the bus, taken by Amy.

Sorrento, BC is a must see place, for a variety of reasons.  First of all, it is on the shore of Shuswap Lake ... so it is absolutely gorgeous.  Seeing the sun come up in the morning, and go down in the evening was beautiful.  Also there are countless activities you can do there.

Here are some great actives that Amy and I did while in Sorrento:

Fireworks on Canada day. Photo taken by me.

• Visiting the petting zoo in Salmon Arm.
• Seeing the Canada Day fireworks (if you are in Sorrento around that time).  
• Water tubing.
• Sea-doing.
• Swimming (of course)!
• Fishing.
• Sun-tanning.
• Cliff jumping.

Us on the dock. Photo taken by me.

Me: the farmer. Amy: my wife. Photo taken by me at the corn maze/petting zoo/farmers market

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Amy driving a tractor. Photo taken by me.

Us tubing. Photo taken by me.

Two Olympics, Two Great Travel Experiences (Part Two)

The 2012 Summer Olympics- London
(Part Two of Two)

What an experience!

To travel overseas has been a dream of mine for my whole life. I finally got that chance thanks to being accepted into a promotional program for a major tech company a year ago. As an Olympic sponsor, they chose me to be part of a group of tech-savvy individuals promoting their newest product at the Olympics in London!

 (I’m being intentionally vague here, as I don’t have permission to write about that program in this blog!)

My excitement was bubbling over approaching the trip! On July 23^rd, I departed for London. It was a breathtaking flight watching the sun set, only to see it rise again a few hours later! Also, I had a perfect view of the Olympic rings cut into a field outside London as my flight approached Heathrow!

These Olympic rings were actually cut manually using oxen!

After arriving at Heathrow, a friend advised me to get off the “Tube” at Westminster Station instead of Waterloo, which was slightly closer to the Premier Inn County Hall, my amazingly-located hotel. I was rewarded with a great view of Big Ben as I stepped out into London sunshine. (Yes, sunshine! It hardly rained at all over the three and a half weeks I was there!) That night, I went with my colleagues to a great pub where I had my first pint of “bitter,” a traditional English beer. I found it to be very tasty.

Walking across Westminster Bridge for the first time! Yes, that building was my hotel!

The next morning, I slept through TWO alarms. That was my first notable experience of jetlag! Oops!  

Over the next few days, I was busy worked with my colleagues who hailed from around the world, attending a few orientation sessions. Whenever I could, I took in the excitement of London. It was a delight drinking really good tea and reading the Daily Telegraph every day. Nights were often spent walking along the Thames, under the London Eye just outside our hotel.

 A beautiful night!

We watched the Opening Ceremonies at a small community viewing. This was wonderful, as the happiness Great Britain felt reminded me much of how Canadians felt during the Vancouver 2010 Olympics! The next day, we went to our work sites all over the city. I was one of the lucky few who was chosen to demonstrate products to fans in Olympic Park for a week and a half!

I loved demoing tech products for Olympic spectators from all around the world! Every morning, I could hear fans roaring from the Aquatic Centre and Riverbank Arena at the far end of the park!  We had long days of work, but it was worth it! We had great meals together at the end of every day!

My first Olympic event I was given tickets to was the men’s table tennis semi-finals!  If table tennis sounds like a yawn to watch, it wasn’t. China dominated the games we watched, and I was stunned by the power and agility of these athletes. At times, it looked more like a full-sized tennis match!

The athleticism made this very unlike ping-pong games in my basement!

Days later came a handball quarterfinals match between Hungary and Iceland! This 11 vs. 11 team sport, where players dribble a ball and throw it into a net past a goalkeeper was exciting to watch! With Hungary down by one with seconds to go, their goalkeeper made a save on a penalty shot, and Hungary tied it with two seconds left! They went on to win the game after four periods of extra time!

An unfamiliar, but exciting sport!

Olympic Park featured beautiful touches of nature. I loved spending many of my lunch breaks in “Park Live,” a grassy picnic area where Olympic Events were shown on big screens. Every Team GB medal was cheered loudly!

Wildflowers in Olympic Park!

My favourite event I was able to see was the Women’s Gold Medal soccer match between the USA and Japan. I was hoping and praying Canada would be in that game, but I savoured the experience of being at Wembley Stadium with over 82 000 others!

I was excited for my first professional soccer game!!!

As the Olympics wrapped up, we went on the Harry Potter Studio Tour, I saw Shaklespeare’s Globe, rode the London Eye and enjoyed our farewell dinner at Jaime Oliver’s “Fifteen.” I will write more blog posts on London itself. It is an amazing city that cannot be summed up in one post!

My second Olympic experience was a wonderful chance to experience Great Britain! I just hope I get to go to Sochi in 2014!

Two Olympics, Two Great Travel Experiences (Part One)

The 2010 Olympic Winter Games- Vancouver

(Part One of Two) 

My mom and I enjoying the 2010 Olympics! 

It always begins with red.  Into my suitcase goes a steady stream of Canada hats, Canada hockey jerseys, Canada t-shirts, Canada PJs and even Canada-themed boxers!

That is how I have packed for the last two Olympics! After my previous post on sports travel, it was requested I write more on my experience at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver and the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. I have been very fortunate to attend both!  Read on my accounts of two fascinating sporting events that captured attention around the globe!  

I won my trip to Vancouver 2010 through Molson’s Facebook page!  Molson was the official brewery of the Olympics. Wow, did they ever pack an incredible itinerary into four days! 

I took my mom on that trip with me. She “took me” to the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary…in utero! I figured that was a fair trade! J

The feeling of that trip was incredible from start to finish! I remember high-fiving flight attendants as we got on the plane. Molson then shuttled us to The Sutton Place, our beautiful hotel. We were given tons of swag, from Team Canada hockey jerseys to VIP passes to Molson Hockey House, a massive sports bar complex Molson had set up for the Olympics! My mom and I made sure to enjoy some wonderful Vancouver sushi!

Molson then gave us tickets to four events!!!

On the way to the Pacific Coliseum for short-track speed skating! 

On the way to the Pacific Coliseum, my mom and I were interviewed by a Canadian doing hockey reporting for the Australian Olympic Committee! (We are at 2:25!) Our first live event was short track speed skating, which is incredible to watch live! On TV, you don’t get a sense of the incredible speed those athletes move at!  

The heart of Canada’s Olympics was hockey, though! We began with two of the best games of the men’s preliminary tournament. I got a great shock realizing we would get to watch Czech Republic vs. Russia from a luxury box! The game was fast-paced and it was a blast watching Russian and Czech fans going crazy in the stands! In the elevator heading down after the game with us was legendary Russian goaltender Vladislav Tretiak, who played against Canada in the 1972 Summit Series!

Oh, yes!

After that came the crown jewel of the Olympic prelimnary tournament- Canada vs. the United States!

Our seats were in row #7, and there were several times I needed to pinch myself! Yep, it was real! Also, it was a really good game! Canada Hockey Place was a sea of red and white! Canada and the US traded goals, but eventually the US gained a 4-2 lead. In the third period, Sidney Crosby scored to bring Canada within one goal with four minutes to go! As the teams took a timeout, all 18 000 fans in the arena were chanting “LET’S GO CANADA!” The volume was deafening, and being a part of that crowd is something I will never forget!

 Cheering on Canada from row #7!

In the end, Canada couldn’t pull off the comeback that night. We finished off with a women’s hockey semi-final between the US and Sweden. It ended 9-1 USA!  Yikes.

My first Olympic experience was a breathtaking chance to cheer on Canada on home soil! I had no idea, I would also attend the next Olympics…

Beers of the World, United Kingdom! Pt. 3- Scotland!

Welcome to... SCOTLAND!

Photo Credit: Ian Britton

Now for Scotland, and Innis &Gunn! For this particular blog, I’m not going to say I’m an expert or anything, but this is practically ALL my boyfriend drinks and I literally have to hear about it every night so yeah kind of an expert. 

Photo Credit: tabula_electronica

Innis & Gunn was inspired by craft breweries in America and sought out a new way of flavouring beer. When they first begin to brew their beer they start like any other brewery, however their unique flavour comes from allowing the beer to mature in white oak bourbon barrels for 30 days. This process allows for the beer to absorb the whiskey from the wood of the casks and add to the flavour, and alcohol content.   Like many other breweries Innis & Gunn has a large variety of beers, let’s take a look into these flavours (all information gathered from Wikipedia);

                Original: Aged in oak barrels for 77 days

                Blonde: Lightly aged in oak barrels for 37 days

                Triple Matured: Triple matured in select oak barrels for 99 days

                India Pale Ale: Aged for 55 days in oak casks containing fresh hops

    Spiced Rum Finish: Aged in oak barrels finished with oak chips    

    from Caribbean spiced rum barrels for 47 days

    Winter Beer: A limited edition, seasonal brew that changes every year

And that is just the tip of the iceberg. For more flavours and information on Innis & Gunn and their beers visit their website, http://www.innisandgunn.com/.