To Try or Not to Try

I had sushi 3 times before I even liked it, but once I had some rolls with flavours I liked- I was hooked for life. The best part about Sushi is the feeling you have after youve stuffed your face. Surprisingly, you dont feel like someone should roll you home.

 In fact, you feel healthy, and energetic. Sushi comes in all sorts, and Im no expert, but I will say I have tried lots of Sushi, from Coast to Coast. The best to way to learn about anything, is to just go ahead and try it. The worst that will happen is you wont like it!

 Here is a list of Sushi restaurants I have tried specifically in Souther Ontario, and highly recommend:

• EAST, St. Catharines

EAST has an all you can eat menu, and the food is of outstanding quality.
They have the best torpedo tempura shrimp Ive ever had. I must say EAST is my personal favourite. 

Some of EASTs finest!Assorted sushi with Crab, Tempura Sweet Potato,
Cucumber, Advocado, Shrimp and and Mango. I want it now....yum...........

The decor is modern, and the service is unbeatable every time.
The location is convenient, right downtown St. Catharines on King Street. I  would give EAST 5 stars over and over!

•  Mikado, Burlington

Mikados was an overall great experience! It feels really genuine, and traditional in the restaurant, and in the best way possible.The decor is Old World Japan, and the sushi is amazzzzzing, I highly recommend the Dynamite Roll. ;) And for men: you might be approached with some aphrodisiac tea, on the house of course. (haha, I swear!) Overall it was a great experience and excellent service. When we left, the owner opened the door for us as w us out thanking us for our visit

Inside Mikados Sushi Restaurant

• Koi Sushi, Kingsville

Koi Sushi is in the little cozy town of Kingsville along the shores of Lake Erie. It opened up 5 years ago, but unfortunately I didnt discovered until last winter when I was in the Leamington area. Now I loveeee it, and cant wait to go back.

The sushi is really really good, and the atmosphere inside is comfortable. The colors are rich, and warm, and the staff is really friendly and accomodating. There are 2 lounge spots in the front of the restaurant with large windows so if you can, make a reservation to snag these comfy corners.

I have also tried, and enjoyed sushi from:

• Ichiban, Burlington & London
• The Iguana Lounge, Windsor
• Conception Sushi, London (has all-you-can-eat)

If youre feeling really adventurous, try making your own. Its really not as hard as it seems. And if you pre cut your fish and vegetables, it doesnt take that long either. Here are some basic rolled sushi we made at home! Turns out we have a knack for it? If we can do it, Im sure its not that hard..

 Mango, advocado, sprouts and cucumber wrapped in nori

Scotts on a roll! The roll on the top
 left is an outtie. Nori on the inside,
 rice on the out! (It surprisingly easy)

                                                                           

The final product :)

Buddhas Life and Teachings

If you are interested in Buddhism, or are just curious on what it is all about,

Please check out this PBS special on Buddha, Part 1. It is a great place to start :)

Two Words

                                               Lykke Li

Live on the street

Official Music Video

Cool Flora in Canada

Pretty purple flowers around town

I found these unique, newly cross-bred flowers in the
Halifax Botannical Gardens, Summer 2010.

Blue Hydrangeas :)

My favourite!

 Bizarre Jellyfish kinda flower

A Hard Rains A-Gonna Fall

Camping for my sisters birthday in April sounded like a great idea. I guess I missed the memo that
 Aprils Showers bring May flowers..

We chose Wheatley Provincial Park, just North East of Leamington and Point Pelee- Canadas most southern tip, and a key point on the migration route of the monarch butterfly. We got a really big campsite off of a creek, which was great but that didnt stop the torrential raining!

 

This was one of the million ways we set up the tarp that trip. The wind was relentless!
It was a cold night out there, but we survived.

Yes, we have matching boots and sweaters. :p
Atleast we were dressed appropriately.

Murals in Montreal

Montreal has some of the best street art. There is a group that paints large somewhat abstract murals, including the one above. I was spotting them all over the city during my stay in Montreal last summer, and it was cool to see color, creativity, design and ideas everwhere...I think its beautiful!

Rock the Lobster: actually a saying in Nova Scotia

Since I had already worked in Western and Central Canada, I was itching to go out East. Why? I really dont know. Probably because it was as far as I could get without crossing an international border, and because it was near the water. And, well..



                           why not?

The view! Minutes away from the farm.
Here is The New Minas Basin, which is opens
into the Bay of Fundy, directly connecting
 to the Atlantic Ocean.

I figured, Im young, Im healthy- nothing here is holding me back. I did not hesitate at all and once I had decided that I wanted to go to Nova Scotia, (and eat all the seafood I could get my hands on, while resting on the beaches of an Atlantic Maritime province) I was determined to find work there! More money, more travel is sometimes the case, so I knew I needed to make some money while I was there to maximize my exploration while there.

 I was offered work at an organic farm in Grand Pre, in Annapolis Valley along the Bay of Fundy (wine region and agriculture region of N.S.) I was hired as a Farm Hand, who would; harvest root vegetables, herbs, and thousands of pumpkins at Halloween time, as well as help make and package tofu, and run a Tofu stand at the Halifax and Wolfville farmers markets. The Halifax market was HUGE.  It is at the Old Alexander Keiths brewery down by the docks. I heard its the largest market in Canada, and I believe it. Its pretty much delicious labyrinth. And the Wolfville market...Lets just say, its close to my heart!!

 I highly recommend Richard Hennigars Suprima Organic Apple Juice! He minimizes gasoline dependance, and has organic Grass Benders. Thats right, grass benders! I harvested apples for Richard for the summer and the next summer I did some grass bending. But its not for the faint at heart. :)

Below is a pretty hilarious, while very informative video clip of what part of our job was while working at Suprimas Organic Apple Orchard. Here is a coworker Rick, a Nova Scotia native and Richard Hennigar, the owner of Suprima explaining what it is, and the benefits of organic grass bending. Some clips from the Wolfville market too.

Wolfville was a good biking distance from Grand Pre, about10 km, and was full of students my age since it is the Home of Acadia University. I was also able to meet some people from the Katimavik program too.They came to internship for a few weeks on the same farm I was at,and we had some good laughs!
I also worked with some foreign woofers, (Willing Workers on Organic Farms) from France, Belgium, Germany, California, and Japan. THAT was so much fun in itself.

 One of my favourite memories has to be going into Wolfville on foot one time, our way lit by a full moon. We met up with some local university students our age down by the harbour, had a bon fire and ended up singing Bob Marley in unison by the end of the night. Or rolling down grassy hills after having a few drinks! haha and walking to see the full moon at the harbour..all good times.

Full moon, low tide. Wolfville Harbour Mudflats

  

All in all, Nova Scotia, whether youre in Annapolis Valley, or Cape Breton Island..it really is a magical place. Some say its all the amethyst there that creates this relaxed and happy energy, but who knows.
While I was there, I had some of the best seafood in the world, and met what Im sure are the friendliest, and most genuine people Ive ever met. AND the ultimate goal, I learned A LOT about all sorts of farming! From working on this organic tofu farm, to Richards organic apple orchard, to a local winery- I tried it all...and I loved it all.

A New Way to Perceive, A New Way to Live

Here are some of my all time favourite quotes from Buddha that I feel really help you understand his view on life, and his message to people all over the globe.

• in the end, these things matter most: how well did you love?
  how fully did you love?
  how deeply did you learn to let go?
• Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.
• Even death is not to be feared by one who has lived wisely.
• In the sky, there is no distinction of east and west; people create distinctions out of their own minds and then believe them to be true.

If you are trying to see things from a new perspective,
Try starting with this "upside down" map of the world. It could very
well be that someone, somewhere, sees things exactly this way!

http://4.bp.AAAvw/o1E2zYC7-04/s1600/China_map.jpg

The Path to Enlightenment

Gautama Buddha was an actual person. He did not claim to be God, but said that he had found a Path to Enlightenment, and he shared it with the world. His teachings are based on the belief of three universal truths and four noble truths.

Universal Truths                                                                        

• Nothing is lost in the universe
• Everything changes
• Law of cause and effect

Four Noble Truths

• the Noble Truth of Suffering
•  the Noble Truth of the Accumulation of Suffering
• the Noble Truth of the Elimination of Suffering
• the Noble Truth of the Path that Leads Away from Suffering

The path to enlightenment includes
The Eightfold Path.

1.Right understanding   
2.Right Aspiration
3. Right speech            
4. Right action             
5. Right Livelihood
6.Right effort              
7.Right mindfulness     
8.Right concentration

These efforts together are said to bring peace, and lead you to the Path of Enlightenment.

The 2nd Most Beautiful Island in the World!

Welcome to

Cape Breton Island!

Rated time and time again, as one of the most beautiful travel destinations in the entire world!

And rated 2nd Most Beautiful Island in the World by National Geographic!

The island is surrounded by the

• Gulf of Saint Lawrence
• Northumberland Strait
• Cabot Strait
• Atlantic ocean

Talk about relaxing!

The interior of the island also is no stranger to large bodies of water to catch the eye and calm the mind. Dominated by one of the world’s largest salt water lake “Bras d’Or” (Arm of Gold – in English), the interior holds one of the most unique aquatic ecosystems. (1) If you are seeking a place of natural beauty, and harmonious seclusion, this is it! i did!

If you go in the Fall you can attend one of the largest Celtic Music Festivals in all of Canada!

The island is really special and unique place because all of the areas disclose different geological details, as well as a variety of heritages from Scottish, to Miq'mak, Acadian, Irish, and English.

 The cultural influences permeate the language, the food, the villages and hamlets, the music, the people- as is primarily recognized for its Scottish Gaelic heritage.(6) It is not uncommon to hear Celtic music at festivals or in the bars! You definetly dont have to go far to be part of an authentic cultural experience and to see some of the most stunning and unspoiled seaside ecosystems in the world. In fact, this island was rated the 2nd most beautiful island in world by The National Geographic in 2002/03, and rated 3rd by others travel organizations(4)

Here is Baddeck, Cape Breton- at the beginning point of the Cabot Trail. It is right off of the main Lake, The Bra's D'ors.Home to a Yacht Club (with a wonderful and friendly barmaid), The Big Hill Retreat,  Baddeck is the ultimate pit stop for Cape Breton villages- especially in the summer!

Above is a great map of Cape Breton Island, actually one of the same maps I had with my while working and travelling there. The yellow line shows the Cabot Trail, and the French flags show where the Acadian communities still exist, even after their expulsion by the English over 200 years ago. Many of the places mentioned in this blog can be seen here.

Some great spots I stopped a long the way:

Myself with Terry-owner at Big Hill Retreat, and 2 woofers from France, Vincent and Vivien.
Usiban Ban Falls, Fall 2009.

• Usiban Falls( pronounced Ush-ka-ban): A beautiful waterfall to see, great hike in the Fall! There are 2 trails provided, one a bit longer than the other. This is close to Baddeck, at the beginning and end of the Cabot Trail- Very nice for a day trip and close to Big Hill Retreat.

Check out this video I foundon youtube of a hike to this waterfall!

• Meat Cove: If youre looking for an adventure, try going off the beaten path a few kilometers north of Lone Shieling. To get there we found our GPS telling us we were on "Unnamed Road"! which then went from paved.. to gravel.. to dirt... to potholes in dirt.. to..well, a huge rocky cliff in the most Northern community of Nova Scotia overlooking NOTHING but the Atlantic Ocean! 

Apparently the road used to be used for moose hunting, and you will see this by all the moose antlers along the roadside. I guess it has lost it's popularity and when the road deteriorated about 50 years ago, noone replaced it! Makes it feel really rustic, and raw. And you can see that mother nature is reclaiming the land. VICTORY!  But, you have to be a particular kind of person to enjoy your stay there. Don't expect a tropical beach with fry carts and motels. This is off the beaten path completely. I have to say, I quite enjoyed myself- but be careful! The roads are high on the mountains and close to the water. It can be very dangerous- and stunning!

If you want to see what I mean about this road along the coast, up to Meat Cove,

 check out this video!

• St. Anns Bay: The East Coast of the East Coast! Great for fishing.
• Ingonish: My favourite beach on the island!! Absolutely beautiful, Big round pink rocks, turn to the softest sand youve ever touched with bare feet! <3 I LOVE THIS PLACE!
• Lone Shieling:  A great place for a long interwoven hike through a 400 year old forest. Be prepared to possibly encounter mountain lions, and coyotes, and from what Ive heard from the locals - Black Pathers! Apparently years ago Cape Breton had a really high population of coyotes, so two black panthers were set free to..."hunt them out"..Years later, rumour has it that the locals have spotted pathers on the island still! Also, I should mention there is a definite lack of people in this area after the peak season, so its not a good place to lock your keys in the car!(I learned this the hard way!) Don't get me wrong- I would still highly recommend and urge you to visit this spectacular place, as long as you are responsible and prepared.
• Pleasant Bay: Yet another breathtaking beach, the difference? A small harbour is nestled onto Pleasant Bay where you will see whales spouting water off the shore! You will also find 3 huge concrete cubes, which have been creatively spray painted to resemble 3 matching dice. We had our fun taking pictures with these dice- the simple pleasures of life! The island life!

Sources

(1)http://www.worldinterestingfacts.com/nature/top-5-most-beautiful-islands-in-the-world.html

(2) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canso_Causeway

(3) http://transcanadahighway.com/novascotia/CansoCauseway.htm

(4)Cape Breton Highlands National Park

(5)(http://www.capebretoncottages.info/)

(6)  http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Cape_Breton_Island

(7) http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Cape_Breton_Island

(and we can't forget the Cape Breton Locals!)

The Skunks Are Really Missin Out!

 Cape Breton Island is technically part of the province Nova Scotia, but lies North-east of the     mainland and is separated by the Canso Strait. (1)   To artificially connect Nova Scotia to the island, the Canso Causeway was built, and completed in 1955. (7)The origin of the word "Canso" is thought to come from the Nova Scotian Native Tribe,'Miqmak' word kamsok, meaning "opposite the lofty cliffs." (2)

It is the deepest causeway in the world! 65 metres deep, and more than 1,000 metres long!  The causeway not only connects road and rail traffic to the island, but also allows marine traffic to pass.



 The Causeway prevents ice from entering the strait, making year-round navigation possible for even the largest ships(7) It seems only the skunks couldn't make it over the causeway! Although skunks populate Nova Scotias mainland, there are NO skunks on the island!....no complaints here!                                                                                                                                                  

John Cabot (his real name was Giovanni Caboto) reportedly visited the island in 1497. This would make him the first Renaissance European explorer to visit present-day Canada. However, historians are unclear as to whether Cabot first visited Newfoundland or Cape Breton Island. (7) This alleged discovery is commemorated by Cape Breton's Cabot Trail!

I have had the pleasure or touring this trail, and I can say-it really speaks for itself! It's really something else. I think anyone who goes there will have a great time, and leave with a feeling of renewal. Being in a place such as this rekindles the connection you feel to all around you, and will remind you of life, and living. 

Sources

(1)http://www.worldinterestingfacts.com/nature/top-5-most-beautiful-islands-in-the-world.html

(2) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canso_Causeway

(7) http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Cape_Breton_Island

(and we can't forget the Cape Breton Locals!)

You Are Like A Hurricane..



This is what two people flying to a hurricane look like.

The day we left Halifax for Toronto, ...

there was a hurricane brewing!

All of the weather stations, and airports said the storm would hit Halifax at about 9:00 a.m., and since we were leaving at 7:00 a.m. the belief was that chance was on our side. We decided to take that chance. (Im still in shock about this decision-but here I am, alive and well!)

When we first got on the plane, we could not see out the window! At the time this picture was taken the fog was so thick you could not even see the wing of the plane, let alone any sky beyond it. It Between the turbulence and air drops I was intimidated, humbled, and afraid! We put the window blind down because it was just a haunting reminder of what we were trying to ignore!

Once we flew West for about an hour and a half, the turbulence decreased, the air cleared, and our confidence in surviving this flight was revitalized. I was so happy when I could see out the window again!! And I was able to get some really cool shots!

  

 

The perfect highway!







Feeling a bit better as we headed West and

the skies started to clear up..or was that the 9am Tangueray?

"THANK YOU unmentioned airline company,..

 for your support at this difficult time."







   

This is one of my favourite photos that I've ever taken! This is getting framed, and when people
come to visit I will tell them I was once an astronaut and this was taken from my space shuttle!



City Skies VS. Country Skies!





Flying over Quebec!

                                      



Touching Down in Toronto!






"No chains around my feet,
But I'm not free, I know I am bound here in captivity..
    Won't someone help me? 'Cause I -sweet life-

    I've got to pick myself from off the ground

    must be somewhere for me, in this a concrete jungle!"