Some random photos from the trip to Toronto
Some photos. Not a lot of commentary because I have to go and pack for Hong Kong as my flight leaves this afternoon :)
I noticed that Air Canada has weird pods in first class and business class. Not that I stayed in first class or business class, it's just that walking through it looked as though people were being incubated - especially when they were lying down :)
Each seat has a handy USB port. So useful because one of the pains of travelling is that my iPod battery always goes flat on the long journeys. Air Canada not only provides powerpoints in most seats for your notebook computer, but also provides the USB port.
The headsets have strange plugs. Almost every single person who gets them spends 5 minutes looking around for where to plug them in because there are two prongs but only one hole!
Until you figure out that you're supposed to push one of the prongs aside :)
Sleeping in flight can be so tiresome. One can just never find a comfortable position. 2 people asleep and slumped forward at their dinner trays
I was lucky/unlucky. I had an aisle seat and one empty seat between me and a Chinese lady. The problem was kept being inconsiderate and lying down with either her unwashed hair in my lap, or worse - her feet :P
Worse for me was that at Christmas someone gave me a Kathmandu scarfy thing. I didn't try using it till the day I had left but it was very snug and warm ...
The problem was, I was severely allergic to it so the skin on my face became red and itchy. Aiieeeaaa. So uncomfortable. So filled with woe. I wrote to the Canadian that: "As soon as I clear customs in Vancouver I am looking for antihistamines and pinetarsol. You will not be able to hug me for the ointments. I suggest you do not try to pick me up at the airport. I will find my own way to your apartment. *wail*" :)
The journey was 12 hours and incredibly uncomfortable. Partly because of my inconsiderate neighbour, partly because of my allergies, partly because Air Canada wasn't really showing anything worth watching ... The Dark Is Rising was pretty awful. I knew that they had changed the story but I had no idea that very little of the original Susan Cooper story had remained.
When we finally arrived in Vancouver at 12.30pm Vancouver time, after what was, I think, a 12 hour flight, I was incredibly exhausted and uncomfortable. I was originally supposed to fly out of Vancouver at 3.30pm and I was going to have to collect my luggage and check it in again for the domestic Toronto flight.
Upon landing, my first email on my blackberry was from The Canadian who wrote:
Oh no! 100 cancelled flights at Toronto airport today due to the snow ... Fingers crossed!
Another email from him said:
Toronto had a snowstorm overnight with about 10cm of slush and we're expecting another 10-15cm tonight. There have been a lot of cancelled flights from the airport but so far Air Canada says flight AC102 from Vancouver is fine. I'll be checking it for updates throughout the day, obviously ...
Then:
Uh oh, now it says you're arriving in Toronto at 2.20am. It's no problem for me, but poor you!! I'm just really hoping it doesn't get delayed much more ...
...
Sorry about the snow and the flight delay! As a Canadian I take full responsibility :(
Then, part of the email with the subject: "7 hours to kill in Vancouver airport":
It looks like your flight to Toronto has been pushed back 3.5 hours. Leaving 7pm Vancouver time. Almost as bad as my delays the first time I went to Beijing - I feel your pain!
Then The Canadian sent an update email to Papa Koala and my brother:
Koala asked me to pass on the message that she's landed in Vancouver. Due to the big snowstorm in Toronto, however, her next flight has been pushed back about 3.5 hours.
...and before I could even figure out the timezone math for the new arrival time, she's changed flights. She'll be flying out of Vancouver on AC132, which departs at 5:30pm PST (8:30pm Toronto time) and arrives here just before 1am (Toronto time). Sorry, the snow has made my brain stupid and I can't figure out the Canberran times right now. She'll land 9 hours from now.
- The Canadian (profusely apologising for the snow!)
My brother replied:
Thanks for the update. If this was a movie she would decide to catch a ride with a kind rather fat jolly stranger which would result in finding out fat jolly stranger is REALLY irritating within 5 minutes of the movie, the car breaking down within 15 minutes of the movie, ending up staying the night at some dodgy hotel, eating in dodgy roadside diners and bonding, finding fat jolly stranger has a 5 year old daughter he misses and she helps reunite him with his child whilst finding compassion in herself.
Being in Canada, it would be a Canadian movie and thus there would have to be a moose or a crazy French guy somewhere.
Tell koala to stay in the airport and not to go by road:)
Papa Koala replied (to my brother)
You either have read too many romantic sci fi books or have had too many vegie chips to eat (note the article I sent you this morning about cyanide residue in the new cassava/tapioca vegie chips), anyway your imaginary scenario was very impressive. should talk to JK Rowling about it.
I like The Canadian's apology for the snow.
Anyway, Vancouver Airport is really nice. Proof that I had finally arrived
Tired was an understatement. It was 8.34am Beijing time on Thursday and I had not slept since 10 am Wednesday, Beijing time - I had closed my eyes a few times inflight but not managed to sleep.
I tried to tell the Canadian not to come to the airport since it wouldn't get to Toronto until well after 1am but he insisted.
Interestingly, the signs at Vancouver airport were in three languages - English, French and Chinese. Also when we arrived, an old Italian-looking woman was calling out instructions and throwing in the occasional Cantonese word to guide the aeroplane that had just arrived from Hong Kong. It was so cute.
I had been to Canada before but this time, after having worked in China for so long, the contrast was just really, really dramatic. I always feel this when I go back to Australia, but Canadians are even more polite and even more friendly than Australians :D Even airport staff who are usually kinda grumpy. I found them all very helpful and cheerful. Now and then I'd accidentally bumble around and people would help me out. Once I accidentally cut into a queue and the guy let me in front of him anyway.
I should add that some of the French Canadian staff were a wee bit surly though by comparison ;)
I was so tired that I went and checked myself into the Fairmont Hotel at Vancouver Airport just so I could have a shower (I felt gross!), medicate myself and lie down for 2 hours.
Some more snaps of around Vancouver airport
Our plane was delayed in leaving Vancouver airport. When we were about to land in Toronto, we were told that the runway was iced up and we were going to have to go to Ottawa. This email exchange sort of says it all: :|
----- Original Message -----
From: The Canadian
To: koala
Sent: Thu Feb 07 1.19am
Subject: Re: I am onboard
Oy! You've been delayed an extra 15 minutes! Boo!
There appears to be a big queue for taxis, and they're grouping people together when possible. Seems strange because I think we can walk down farther and snag a cab there? In any event, the queue is indoors.
----- Original Message -----
From: koala
To: The Canadian
Sent: Thu Feb 07 2:09am
Subject: Re: I am onboard
I am in ottawa :(
I mentioned that I found this sofa to lie on for a few hours:
The Canadian hung around Toronto airport until 3am or so and then went home at my request. I was luckier than this couple:
Or these people at Tim Hortons at 4am. All around me people were sleeping on benches and the floor.
We were snowed in something chronic.
Then finally after I got to The Canadian's apartment and lay down to fall asleep, he sent out this email:
----- Original Message -----
From: The Canadian
To: bro; Papa Koala
Sent: Fri Feb 08 01:31pm
Subject: Finally here
After touring half of Canada's major cities over the last 30+ hours, Koala has finally decided to spend some time in Toronto. She's sleepy but otherwise safe & sound.
This is the Canadian's rather cool-looking computer
The very snowy streets of Toronto
Toronto subway
Toilet rebate
At the Royal Ontario Museum. If you look hard you can see us in one of the photos ;)
Grisly bison head
Cool shoes and evil necklaces
Totem pole
Ugly child
Pretty roof of the ROM
In the China exhibit, a rather unlucky Chinese man had to stand around in silk robes. I wonder if he enjoys his job.
Egyptian make-up. The Canadian wondered how the women put on their cosmetics without bumping their hair :)
Fig stuffed with chocolate given to us by one of the Canadian's friends :D
Nearby park
Scariest thing about Toronto. Scary slush
I never knew where to put my feet. I always misjudged and ended up with a shoeful of show and the hems of my jeans soaked in icy water. I forgot to take a photo of my salt-encrusted shoes :)
Huge puddles to wade across and when cars went fast, they'd splash icy water over unfortunate pedestrians.
It was sometimes hard to cross a road and the Canadian had to guide me across.
People would slip on ice like this patch.
Union Station, on our way to watch the ice hockey game.
Fans munching away before the Maple Leafs game. It's because you're not allowed to bring food into the game that hasn't been purchased at the Air Canada Centre :P The Canadian is very orderly, he didn't want to put Mrs Fields Cookies in his bag but he did, and was busted so smuggled them in in the pocket of my coat :P I can't help it, years of smuggling in candy NOT bought from the cinemas into the movies has hardened me.
Entrance to the stadium
Stalls at the Air Canada centre.
I bought an ice hockey jersey fro my bro.
Some images from the game :) The Leafs won :)
A short video clip of the Leafs being introduced.
The Canadian took me to look at some cooking stuff at Williams-Sonoma.
Because I was so bad with the cold, he took me underground where he could using the PATH system and by subway and cab. All appointments factored in Slow Koala Walking Time and 'delays caused by finding a warm, relatively sludge/puddle-free path for Koala to tread'
I saw ads around for a new Canadian show called "The Guard". I'm downloading the first episode to see what it's like.
One time, The Canadian, his younger bro and friend Cherie and I had dinner at Terroni. We were lucky to get there before the massive dinner queue. We also had dinner at Spring Rolls.
Then this was brunch at The Foggy Dew which was most delicious.
Mini muffins. Hee!
While at the Foggy Dew, it started to snow! Egads. Here is a short video clip
OK we had dinner with The Canadian's parents once and I had this for dessert. "Apple Crumble a la mode". I didn't realise that the 'a la mode' bit signifies 'with ice cream' so I asked if it came with ice cream :)
Another time James, Marie, The Canadian, his older bro and me went to an Italian place with really nice food - the place was closed when we got there but we must have looked cold and pitiful so they let us in early. :) It's a pity I couldn't stay longer because Toronto is a really nice city and the food is very impressive :) I'll definitely be visiting again but hopefully when it's warmer.
Then when I left, the Canadian had helped me to prepare for the journey ahead by: (1) giving me an iPod cable; (2) downloading lots of episodes of Ugly Betty for me and converting them to iPod format; (3) giving me Cadbury mini eggs :)
At the Toronto airport, I loved this sign: to 'Asia' via Vancouver
Tim Hortons again. They must be the most successful chain store in Canada. We watched a 'timbits' ice hockey game during one of the breaks at the Leafs game and they were so cute. I think they were about seven years old and when the ref threw the puck, the Canadian described them as scrambling for it like ducklings :) They hadn't learned how to maintain position yet. He also mentioned that the ref had to carry the goalie out to the goal since it was such a long way for him to skate for such a short game :)
The flight to Vancouver was very painless and I emerged feeling a bit sleepy but quite comfortable, albeit hungry, The Canadian knows I hate the cosmetic aisle in department stores. I hate the glowy, white lights. I hate the fact that when I'm feeling tired and exhausted, I'm swarmed by women in lab coats and surrounded by bright lights and mirrors. So from Vancouver airport, I sent him a photo of a "Hell" Shop
Sock-Eye Salmon. What a strange name.
Vancouver airport
Canadian souvenirs at the airport
'Moose droppings' i.e. chocolate covered almonds :)
At one point, I was sititng there drinking a coffee thinking: "Hmm, I should find a board to see what time I should board". I looked up and saw this. Hee!
Anyway I should finalise my packing, I have to head off to the airport for Hong Kong in about an hour.
I noticed that Air Canada has weird pods in first class and business class. Not that I stayed in first class or business class, it's just that walking through it looked as though people were being incubated - especially when they were lying down :)
Each seat has a handy USB port. So useful because one of the pains of travelling is that my iPod battery always goes flat on the long journeys. Air Canada not only provides powerpoints in most seats for your notebook computer, but also provides the USB port.
The headsets have strange plugs. Almost every single person who gets them spends 5 minutes looking around for where to plug them in because there are two prongs but only one hole!
Until you figure out that you're supposed to push one of the prongs aside :)
Sleeping in flight can be so tiresome. One can just never find a comfortable position. 2 people asleep and slumped forward at their dinner trays
I was lucky/unlucky. I had an aisle seat and one empty seat between me and a Chinese lady. The problem was kept being inconsiderate and lying down with either her unwashed hair in my lap, or worse - her feet :P
Worse for me was that at Christmas someone gave me a Kathmandu scarfy thing. I didn't try using it till the day I had left but it was very snug and warm ...
The problem was, I was severely allergic to it so the skin on my face became red and itchy. Aiieeeaaa. So uncomfortable. So filled with woe. I wrote to the Canadian that: "As soon as I clear customs in Vancouver I am looking for antihistamines and pinetarsol. You will not be able to hug me for the ointments. I suggest you do not try to pick me up at the airport. I will find my own way to your apartment. *wail*" :)
The journey was 12 hours and incredibly uncomfortable. Partly because of my inconsiderate neighbour, partly because of my allergies, partly because Air Canada wasn't really showing anything worth watching ... The Dark Is Rising was pretty awful. I knew that they had changed the story but I had no idea that very little of the original Susan Cooper story had remained.
When we finally arrived in Vancouver at 12.30pm Vancouver time, after what was, I think, a 12 hour flight, I was incredibly exhausted and uncomfortable. I was originally supposed to fly out of Vancouver at 3.30pm and I was going to have to collect my luggage and check it in again for the domestic Toronto flight.
Upon landing, my first email on my blackberry was from The Canadian who wrote:
Oh no! 100 cancelled flights at Toronto airport today due to the snow ... Fingers crossed!
Another email from him said:
Toronto had a snowstorm overnight with about 10cm of slush and we're expecting another 10-15cm tonight. There have been a lot of cancelled flights from the airport but so far Air Canada says flight AC102 from Vancouver is fine. I'll be checking it for updates throughout the day, obviously ...
Then:
Uh oh, now it says you're arriving in Toronto at 2.20am. It's no problem for me, but poor you!! I'm just really hoping it doesn't get delayed much more ...
...
Sorry about the snow and the flight delay! As a Canadian I take full responsibility :(
Then, part of the email with the subject: "7 hours to kill in Vancouver airport":
It looks like your flight to Toronto has been pushed back 3.5 hours. Leaving 7pm Vancouver time. Almost as bad as my delays the first time I went to Beijing - I feel your pain!
Then The Canadian sent an update email to Papa Koala and my brother:
Koala asked me to pass on the message that she's landed in Vancouver. Due to the big snowstorm in Toronto, however, her next flight has been pushed back about 3.5 hours.
...and before I could even figure out the timezone math for the new arrival time, she's changed flights. She'll be flying out of Vancouver on AC132, which departs at 5:30pm PST (8:30pm Toronto time) and arrives here just before 1am (Toronto time). Sorry, the snow has made my brain stupid and I can't figure out the Canberran times right now. She'll land 9 hours from now.
- The Canadian (profusely apologising for the snow!)
My brother replied:
Thanks for the update. If this was a movie she would decide to catch a ride with a kind rather fat jolly stranger which would result in finding out fat jolly stranger is REALLY irritating within 5 minutes of the movie, the car breaking down within 15 minutes of the movie, ending up staying the night at some dodgy hotel, eating in dodgy roadside diners and bonding, finding fat jolly stranger has a 5 year old daughter he misses and she helps reunite him with his child whilst finding compassion in herself.
Being in Canada, it would be a Canadian movie and thus there would have to be a moose or a crazy French guy somewhere.
Tell koala to stay in the airport and not to go by road:)
Papa Koala replied (to my brother)
You either have read too many romantic sci fi books or have had too many vegie chips to eat (note the article I sent you this morning about cyanide residue in the new cassava/tapioca vegie chips), anyway your imaginary scenario was very impressive. should talk to JK Rowling about it.
I like The Canadian's apology for the snow.
Anyway, Vancouver Airport is really nice. Proof that I had finally arrived
Tired was an understatement. It was 8.34am Beijing time on Thursday and I had not slept since 10 am Wednesday, Beijing time - I had closed my eyes a few times inflight but not managed to sleep.
I tried to tell the Canadian not to come to the airport since it wouldn't get to Toronto until well after 1am but he insisted.
Interestingly, the signs at Vancouver airport were in three languages - English, French and Chinese. Also when we arrived, an old Italian-looking woman was calling out instructions and throwing in the occasional Cantonese word to guide the aeroplane that had just arrived from Hong Kong. It was so cute.
I had been to Canada before but this time, after having worked in China for so long, the contrast was just really, really dramatic. I always feel this when I go back to Australia, but Canadians are even more polite and even more friendly than Australians :D Even airport staff who are usually kinda grumpy. I found them all very helpful and cheerful. Now and then I'd accidentally bumble around and people would help me out. Once I accidentally cut into a queue and the guy let me in front of him anyway.
I should add that some of the French Canadian staff were a wee bit surly though by comparison ;)
I was so tired that I went and checked myself into the Fairmont Hotel at Vancouver Airport just so I could have a shower (I felt gross!), medicate myself and lie down for 2 hours.
Some more snaps of around Vancouver airport
Our plane was delayed in leaving Vancouver airport. When we were about to land in Toronto, we were told that the runway was iced up and we were going to have to go to Ottawa. This email exchange sort of says it all: :|
----- Original Message -----
From: The Canadian
To: koala
Sent: Thu Feb 07 1.19am
Subject: Re: I am onboard
Oy! You've been delayed an extra 15 minutes! Boo!
There appears to be a big queue for taxis, and they're grouping people together when possible. Seems strange because I think we can walk down farther and snag a cab there? In any event, the queue is indoors.
----- Original Message -----
From: koala
To: The Canadian
Sent: Thu Feb 07 2:09am
Subject: Re: I am onboard
I am in ottawa :(
I mentioned that I found this sofa to lie on for a few hours:
The Canadian hung around Toronto airport until 3am or so and then went home at my request. I was luckier than this couple:
Or these people at Tim Hortons at 4am. All around me people were sleeping on benches and the floor.
We were snowed in something chronic.
Then finally after I got to The Canadian's apartment and lay down to fall asleep, he sent out this email:
----- Original Message -----
From: The Canadian
To: bro; Papa Koala
Sent: Fri Feb 08 01:31pm
Subject: Finally here
After touring half of Canada's major cities over the last 30+ hours, Koala has finally decided to spend some time in Toronto. She's sleepy but otherwise safe & sound.
This is the Canadian's rather cool-looking computer
The very snowy streets of Toronto
Toronto subway
Toilet rebate
At the Royal Ontario Museum. If you look hard you can see us in one of the photos ;)
Grisly bison head
Cool shoes and evil necklaces
Totem pole
Ugly child
Pretty roof of the ROM
In the China exhibit, a rather unlucky Chinese man had to stand around in silk robes. I wonder if he enjoys his job.
Egyptian make-up. The Canadian wondered how the women put on their cosmetics without bumping their hair :)
Fig stuffed with chocolate given to us by one of the Canadian's friends :D
Nearby park
Scariest thing about Toronto. Scary slush
I never knew where to put my feet. I always misjudged and ended up with a shoeful of show and the hems of my jeans soaked in icy water. I forgot to take a photo of my salt-encrusted shoes :)
Huge puddles to wade across and when cars went fast, they'd splash icy water over unfortunate pedestrians.
It was sometimes hard to cross a road and the Canadian had to guide me across.
People would slip on ice like this patch.
Union Station, on our way to watch the ice hockey game.
Fans munching away before the Maple Leafs game. It's because you're not allowed to bring food into the game that hasn't been purchased at the Air Canada Centre :P The Canadian is very orderly, he didn't want to put Mrs Fields Cookies in his bag but he did, and was busted so smuggled them in in the pocket of my coat :P I can't help it, years of smuggling in candy NOT bought from the cinemas into the movies has hardened me.
Entrance to the stadium
Stalls at the Air Canada centre.
I bought an ice hockey jersey fro my bro.
Some images from the game :) The Leafs won :)
A short video clip of the Leafs being introduced.
The Canadian took me to look at some cooking stuff at Williams-Sonoma.
Because I was so bad with the cold, he took me underground where he could using the PATH system and by subway and cab. All appointments factored in Slow Koala Walking Time and 'delays caused by finding a warm, relatively sludge/puddle-free path for Koala to tread'
I saw ads around for a new Canadian show called "The Guard". I'm downloading the first episode to see what it's like.
One time, The Canadian, his younger bro and friend Cherie and I had dinner at Terroni. We were lucky to get there before the massive dinner queue. We also had dinner at Spring Rolls.
Then this was brunch at The Foggy Dew which was most delicious.
Mini muffins. Hee!
While at the Foggy Dew, it started to snow! Egads. Here is a short video clip
OK we had dinner with The Canadian's parents once and I had this for dessert. "Apple Crumble a la mode". I didn't realise that the 'a la mode' bit signifies 'with ice cream' so I asked if it came with ice cream :)
Another time James, Marie, The Canadian, his older bro and me went to an Italian place with really nice food - the place was closed when we got there but we must have looked cold and pitiful so they let us in early. :) It's a pity I couldn't stay longer because Toronto is a really nice city and the food is very impressive :) I'll definitely be visiting again but hopefully when it's warmer.
Then when I left, the Canadian had helped me to prepare for the journey ahead by: (1) giving me an iPod cable; (2) downloading lots of episodes of Ugly Betty for me and converting them to iPod format; (3) giving me Cadbury mini eggs :)
At the Toronto airport, I loved this sign: to 'Asia' via Vancouver
Tim Hortons again. They must be the most successful chain store in Canada. We watched a 'timbits' ice hockey game during one of the breaks at the Leafs game and they were so cute. I think they were about seven years old and when the ref threw the puck, the Canadian described them as scrambling for it like ducklings :) They hadn't learned how to maintain position yet. He also mentioned that the ref had to carry the goalie out to the goal since it was such a long way for him to skate for such a short game :)
The flight to Vancouver was very painless and I emerged feeling a bit sleepy but quite comfortable, albeit hungry, The Canadian knows I hate the cosmetic aisle in department stores. I hate the glowy, white lights. I hate the fact that when I'm feeling tired and exhausted, I'm swarmed by women in lab coats and surrounded by bright lights and mirrors. So from Vancouver airport, I sent him a photo of a "Hell" Shop
Sock-Eye Salmon. What a strange name.
Vancouver airport
Canadian souvenirs at the airport
'Moose droppings' i.e. chocolate covered almonds :)
At one point, I was sititng there drinking a coffee thinking: "Hmm, I should find a board to see what time I should board". I looked up and saw this. Hee!
Anyway I should finalise my packing, I have to head off to the airport for Hong Kong in about an hour.