At last we've finally completed our 1 week trip to the province of Ontario. Ok we didn't travel the whole of Ontario but at least we've been to the major tourist attractions. We visited Toronto and Niagara.
We just got back on the 4th of Aug and ever since then I've been cracking my head as to how to write this blog. The fact is there's so many things to tell with pictures. So I figured instead of writing something which the picture and with that tell the story, I'm going to begin writing something with words - just writing away whatever is in my head that I want to say and then if there's a picture that fits in between, I'll put it there. So this means this blog article may change from time to time.
If you just want to see our photos, then head to our facebook account, there's tonnes of photos there which I've already uploaded. Not yet a friend? then find for me in my wife's account. Oh yea, I forgot, this blog is mainly for people we know, so whatever photo goes in here would be a strictly following our "no face" policy.
This 1 week has be been quite an eye opener for us.... Us, 2 Malaysians who of all the places in the world landed up in Halifax, Nova Scotia and now going for a holiday in Toronto and Niagara for the summer. It is really something. To sum it all up let me just say that our trip away can be broken down to the following.
If there's anything we've learned from this trip, the main one is always go for holidays on non-peak period. Either during Spring or Autumn. That's when prices are cheaper.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Wrapped Bacon Again
Ok, we're finally back from our Toronto and Niagara trip. Lots of photos to share. But before that, some backlog photos of something I've always wanted to do - grilled wrapped bacon with prawns.
Emmph, its really good. Although I would say that its better to do more. Because we did only a few and it wasn't enough for dinner.
Emmph, its really good. Although I would say that its better to do more. Because we did only a few and it wasn't enough for dinner.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
1 Week Away
Will be going off to Toronto tonight. Then heading down to Niagara Falls for 2 days and a night. Then back to Toronto for the rest of the week. Finally will be back to Halifax the following week. Good news is all the strikes are over so our plans to go to Toronto Island is still on. And hopefully it won't stink everywhere we go in Toronto.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Peanut Butter
1kg of peanut butter cost about CAD3.90 when discounted, +/- 50 cents depending on the brand and offer.
Peanut butter (PB) has been a staple diet of late. It's considered something we can fall back on when we're not in a creative mood or have no other options (that means we have ran out of resources).
1kg is a lot of peanut butter. And I really mean -A-L-O-T- Alot more than we have back home. Infact back in Malaysia, I don't recall having seen 1kg Peanut butter sold on the shelf. The biggest is usually about a 0.6 - 0.7 kg one.
So it got me thinking, since we love to have PB as our "fall back boy", that means we're going have to depend on it alot, especially when we get back home. Obviously PB ain't at all cheap back home. My bet if a 1kg type is sold, it would cost even more expensive after CAD3.90 is converted to Ringgit Malaysia. The conclusion go make your own PB.
Now, all we got to do is hope peanuts are cheap!
:)
Peanut butter (PB) has been a staple diet of late. It's considered something we can fall back on when we're not in a creative mood or have no other options (that means we have ran out of resources).
1kg is a lot of peanut butter. And I really mean -A-L-O-T- Alot more than we have back home. Infact back in Malaysia, I don't recall having seen 1kg Peanut butter sold on the shelf. The biggest is usually about a 0.6 - 0.7 kg one.
So it got me thinking, since we love to have PB as our "fall back boy", that means we're going have to depend on it alot, especially when we get back home. Obviously PB ain't at all cheap back home. My bet if a 1kg type is sold, it would cost even more expensive after CAD3.90 is converted to Ringgit Malaysia. The conclusion go make your own PB.
Now, all we got to do is hope peanuts are cheap!
:)
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Time Would Tell
Its the time of the month again when we come to that point where we'll do some short reflection. As the days and weeks have gone by and so has our time here in our home away from home.
Its really a crazy feeling for us to be "so full of time". I suppose given the nature of our work and new roles its pretty obvious that life is no longer what we use to think it was.
Although we crave occasionally the comforts of life back home - of having an easy mode of transportation, of having friends to call and chat, of family members that are not too far away from us, etc, we are resigning to the fact of this new found life. After all it is what we wanted.
A little while back, we were watching Transformers the movie and there is particular moment in a scene that struck us (particularly me) and I told my wife that this is just like us. It was the scene where Sam (the boy hero in the show) was faced with the choice of whether or not to trust the Autobot, BumbleBee which he just met and faced with the decision whether or not he should get into the car. Beside him, his school mate (and would be girlfriend). Then staring at her eyes, he says "20 years down the road, when you look back at your life, you'd be asking yourself this question - why didn't I get into the car!". So with that, they took a chance and trusted the alien robot and swiftly entered the car. The rest was history as was told by the movie.
How does that relate to us? Well, we entered the car too. And we are now traveling in it. The journey hasn't ended yet for us. But one action has led to another. We've faced many challenges and also surprises along the way. But for now nothing beats home. Having gone through just 4 months of this ride, our hearts seems very much incline to be back home once this ride is over (for now).
Come fall, we'll be taking up 2 classes - Machine Learning and Advance Natural Language Processing. That's a mouthful. There's a bit a nervousness on my end particularly on how much maths would be needed to excel in these courses. Oh well, not to worry, we have time on our side and both of us to help crack the nut open. I am sure it'll be not too bad. After all, it is part of the ride. And you know what, only time will tell - if this ride will continue here or end back home or somewhere else out there.
Hope that you too have gone into your own ride!
Its really a crazy feeling for us to be "so full of time". I suppose given the nature of our work and new roles its pretty obvious that life is no longer what we use to think it was.
Although we crave occasionally the comforts of life back home - of having an easy mode of transportation, of having friends to call and chat, of family members that are not too far away from us, etc, we are resigning to the fact of this new found life. After all it is what we wanted.
A little while back, we were watching Transformers the movie and there is particular moment in a scene that struck us (particularly me) and I told my wife that this is just like us. It was the scene where Sam (the boy hero in the show) was faced with the choice of whether or not to trust the Autobot, BumbleBee which he just met and faced with the decision whether or not he should get into the car. Beside him, his school mate (and would be girlfriend). Then staring at her eyes, he says "20 years down the road, when you look back at your life, you'd be asking yourself this question - why didn't I get into the car!". So with that, they took a chance and trusted the alien robot and swiftly entered the car. The rest was history as was told by the movie.
How does that relate to us? Well, we entered the car too. And we are now traveling in it. The journey hasn't ended yet for us. But one action has led to another. We've faced many challenges and also surprises along the way. But for now nothing beats home. Having gone through just 4 months of this ride, our hearts seems very much incline to be back home once this ride is over (for now).
Come fall, we'll be taking up 2 classes - Machine Learning and Advance Natural Language Processing. That's a mouthful. There's a bit a nervousness on my end particularly on how much maths would be needed to excel in these courses. Oh well, not to worry, we have time on our side and both of us to help crack the nut open. I am sure it'll be not too bad. After all, it is part of the ride. And you know what, only time will tell - if this ride will continue here or end back home or somewhere else out there.
Hope that you too have gone into your own ride!
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Peanut Butter Cookies
While I was preparing the snow crab, wife was busy preparing to bake Peanut butter cookies.
Check it out.
Here's the end result.
Don't be fool by the looks. Its actually more delicious than it looks :)
Loved it...
Check it out.
Here's the end result.
Don't be fool by the looks. Its actually more delicious than it looks :)
Loved it...
Seefood, Seafood (Snow Crab)
We had the opportunity today to travel to Bedford Fisherman's market. Well actually its not what you think it is. Not a wet fishmarket like we have back home. Its more like a store and even has its own website - http://www.fishermansmarket.ca/
Traveled in a friend's car. First time we were in car here since we arrive (apart from the taxi that took us from the airport to downtown) - how pathetic is that!
(oh, it was raining)
When we got to the shop, we just can't resist the luring call of the snow crab.
(this is how a snow crab looks like)
Yea, the lobsters were there but we had enough of it and wanted to try something new.
Luckily, the guy who took our order did the deed of executing the little critter. I guess he also cleaned it for us as I recall most of the snow crab having barnacles on them.
All we had to do was to simply boil it when we got back home.
Thankfully we bought only one - because one was just nice for us. About 1.6 pounds equivalent to 0.72 Kg and alot of crab meat.
Little snowy in the sink.
Another pose
In boiling water (covered)
(uncovered)
So, after an approx of 20 minutes, I had to nicely remove and break the crab into smaller pieces first. Actually youtube helped alot.
I followed this vid.
After the boiling and the cleaning (basically removing the rear end, mouth and lungs - which are all non edible).
Its time to serve.
Overall, I'll say that the meat is pretty sweet. But unlike crabs in South East Asia countries, you'll find that the best part of the flesh for snow crab is in its legs and not the claw. But if you have a go at the green gooey thing, you find that it is also not too bad. Some folks prefer the one from lobsters. Wifey prefers snow crab ones instead. For me, I'll stick with white flesh.
Sinful sinful... We're becoming vegetarians for the next few days.
Traveled in a friend's car. First time we were in car here since we arrive (apart from the taxi that took us from the airport to downtown) - how pathetic is that!
(oh, it was raining)
When we got to the shop, we just can't resist the luring call of the snow crab.
(this is how a snow crab looks like)
Yea, the lobsters were there but we had enough of it and wanted to try something new.
Luckily, the guy who took our order did the deed of executing the little critter. I guess he also cleaned it for us as I recall most of the snow crab having barnacles on them.
All we had to do was to simply boil it when we got back home.
Thankfully we bought only one - because one was just nice for us. About 1.6 pounds equivalent to 0.72 Kg and alot of crab meat.
Little snowy in the sink.
Another pose
In boiling water (covered)
(uncovered)
So, after an approx of 20 minutes, I had to nicely remove and break the crab into smaller pieces first. Actually youtube helped alot.
I followed this vid.
After the boiling and the cleaning (basically removing the rear end, mouth and lungs - which are all non edible).
Its time to serve.
Overall, I'll say that the meat is pretty sweet. But unlike crabs in South East Asia countries, you'll find that the best part of the flesh for snow crab is in its legs and not the claw. But if you have a go at the green gooey thing, you find that it is also not too bad. Some folks prefer the one from lobsters. Wifey prefers snow crab ones instead. For me, I'll stick with white flesh.
Sinful sinful... We're becoming vegetarians for the next few days.
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