Only fools stage the Taming of the Shrew?

Looks like every city has its production of Shakespeare in the park in summer. Ottawa's contribution this year is "the Taming of the Shrew", a play so sexist that the first reaction most audiences have is why??? Well, we need not look further than the name of the group staging the production for the answer. The aptly named "Company of Fools" were impressive in their stagework. With only four actors, the convincing casting of over 10 characters through the use of puppets required no more suspension of disbelief than any other production would have warranted. The simple but deliberate use of costume and puppetry made it easy to follow the many characters intertwined in Shakespeare's plot of deception. I thoroughly enjoyed my evening for it was as humorous and entertaining as any other Shakespearean comedy I've seen.

Performances start at 7.30 pm and are currently at Strathcona Park but will be moving to other locations around town in the weeks ahead. www.fools.ca

Calgary to Ottawa on Westjet

I appreciate the humour exhibited by the Westjet crew, "In the event of cabin depressurisation, the panels overhead will open up, releasing Donna's* phone number." ... laughter ... "So I see you're listening after all, but of course the oxygen masks will..." It sure does give the impression that they love their job, which is always a good thing.

*(name of other flight attendant, not her real name.)

The only problem on this flight was that the satellite TV system would fail above 30000 ft (it worked on take off and on the final descent... duh!), and they had charged $1 for the headset. I was almost tempted to be a prick and return it for my precious loonie, but I figured I might be able to use an extra headset around the house anyway. www.westjet.com

Quality Inn - Calgary North (Airport)

Decided to take a risk since I was staying here only one night.

Pros:
(1) Cheap.
(2) Near airport.
Cons:
(1) Bathroom has no ventilation fan, not even a passive vent.
(2) Cleanliness tolerable but not what I would expect of an establishment bearing the Quality nameplate.
(3) Only one layer of windows (and not even well sealed). This is not quite acceptable in Canada as it does get drafty.

Langano Skies Ethiopian Restaurant

I found this Ethiopian restaurant along Whyte (82nd) Avenue at 99th Street. It's not inexpensive, but not pricey either. I suppose it's a good way to get educated on what Ethiopian food is like. One scoops up the meat/vegetables/sauce with injera, which is a white flat-bread that is somewhat fluffy (for the Singaporeans, think murtabak with softer skin). One eats only with hands, and all from the same plate. On the menu are wot and tib amongst others. The beef curry we got tastes a lot like beef rendang from back home but better. I think they added assam, but I will need to get my hands on the recipe to confirm. The chicken drumsticks were yummy.

The Canopy Christian Community

If you are in Edmonton and looking for a church but not your regular run-of-the-mill place, check out the Canopy Christian Community. Refreshingly unpretentious, arts/creativity-oriented, pastor dresses casually, friendly and relaxed, innovative. Trust me on this one. www.thecanopy.ca

Isaiah 55:10-12

10 "For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, And do not return there, But water the earth, And make it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower And bread to the eater,

11 So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

12 For you shall go out with joy, And be led out with peace; The mountains and the hills Shall break forth into singing before you, And all the trees of the field shall clap their hands."

(New King James Version)

Alberta Place Suite Hotel - Edmonton

Looks like the upgrading trend continues. Got upgraded from the studio I booked to a 1 bedroom suite. We stayed here 4 nights. The suite is large and functional, reasonably clean, and a really good deal for downtown Edmonton as it comes with free indoor parking. The view (we were on the 16th floor) was good. The daily maid service was excellent but I am not sure if that is due to the tip I left or not. Even though the price was reasonable, there are lots of places outside of downtown to stay in Edmonton so unless you have a reason to stay there, one might be better off further out. But this time, the fact that the Society of Arts in Healthcare conference was nearby tipped the balance.

I had to check in before getting access to the parkade via the alley in the back. Some care had to be taken to avoid scrapes going round the corners. It amused me a little that Hertz was in fact using this parkade. Somehow Hertz seems to have all these locations where they are just asking for damage to happen to their cars (like the Crowne Plaza Hotel car park in Ottawa for example).

The only complaint I have is that the small and purely functional hotel lobby smelled a bit like a greasy kitchen no doubt because the adjacent cafe served bacon and eggs (i.e. greasy breakfast) and chinese food (i.e. greasy lunch) from a kitchen that was not well ventilated enough. www.albertaplace.com www.societyartshealthcare.org

Best donairs in Canada?

Checking out Whyte (82nd) Avenue in Edmonton on a Friday evening after the play. But why a donair? Because we had an early dinner, want something to eat but don't want to spend too much, and I'm tired and need to go to bed soon.

This place is a few shops west of Chapters on the north side of the street. Now I was pleasantly surprised at how delicious it was. If this is any representation of donairs in Edmonton, with enough time I am quite sure I'll find a worthwhile challenger in this town to the King of Donairs out east. I won't be staying in Edmonton long enough to find a new sovereign though, and for now the crown for the best donair remains in Halifax (tasted and verified one year ago by yours truly). www.chapters.com www.kingofdonairs.com

Love's Labour Lost in Edmonton

As the clouds were looming overhead, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that the amphitheatre at Hawrelak Park was a real theatre (i.e. with seats and roof) and could be described as semi-outdoor. I was expecting something along the lines of the amphitheatre in High Park (Toronto) where you sat on steps/sloping grass under the open sky.

The production was modern, fun and entertaining. However, at times the cast seemed to speak to each other more than they did to the audience, almost as if they were staging for television instead of theatre. Perhaps this had something to do with the fact that they were miked up, as opposed to using a traditional low-tech set where you had to project your voice. Nevertheless, this highly musical presentation of "Love's Labour Lost" kept the action up and the audience captivated. Though true to the original, the production took lots of liberty in interpretation, which is something I enjoyed. Given their highly energetic and physical style, I was regretting not being able to catch their performance of "Romeo and Juliet" (they switch plays on alternate evenings), which could have been quite an experience.

All in all, really worth watching, but not as good as the perfomances I've seen in Toronto of "a Midsummer Night's Dream" and "As You Like It" by CanStage. www.rivercityshakespeare.com www.canstage.com

Calgary to Edmonton drive

I'm feeling like... this must be the most boring drive in the world. The highway is as straight as it can get, and the terrain as flat as it can be. The speed limit is 110 kph and there are traffic cops plying this stretch. There are not even that many cows to see. The good news is that it's only 3 hours long.

Banff Boundary Lodge - Harvie Heights

We stayed here 3 nights. Looks like the offer I got from Expedia.ca was worth it after all. It turns out I got upgraded from a 1 bedroom to a 2 bedroom suite, which made for a really comfortable stay (we did not have to use the sofa bed anymore). The rack rates for this place are high in my opinion, and I would never pay that much with the online booking systems offering so much less.

This is a good place for a family, especially if you are the independent sort (i.e. make yourself at home but don't expect to be served). The rooms are clean and the kitchen well-equipped (includes dishwasher). You get lots of space, free coffee and tea, and the beds are comfortable. The bathroom has an effective (though rather loud) ventilation fan. There is a convenient coin operated laundry room for the use of all guests. If you are interested, there are also a shared outdoor hot-tub and barbeque that you can use. The location is extremely convenient, just outside of the Banff National Park gates, and 5 minutes drive from shops and restaurants in Canmore. Not as convenient as staying in Canmore itself where you can walk to the shops, but close enough.

However, you have to be happy with some quirks and limitations. For example, check-in time is 4 pm. The front desk is open only from 3 pm to 10 pm. So checking in before 3 pm or after 10 pm is basically impossible (don't try it, I saw some people arriving at 10.30 pm and not being able to reach anyone). Most of the units require traversing about 6 to 10 steps, so this is not the place for you if you are unwilling to carry your luggage up that number of steps. The door/door closer/door frame to our unit was tight/heavy/well-sealed so it requires a decent shove to get open. The place is just off the highway so if you are looking for complete peace and quiet, this is not possible. Nevertheless, I found it reasonable quiet, but I do come from a city. Since the units share common walls (or are upstairs/downstairs of each other), you also run the risk of having noisy neighbours although we had none during our stay there. There is no daily maid service (unless you stay 1 week or more in which case a maid will come mid-way through your stay), although you can request one for $30. Towels will be replaced if you put them in the specified basket and leave them by your front door before 11 am. If you need supplies such as soap/shampoo, just walk over to the front desk during opening hours and you will be given more than you need (but you do have to walk over). There is no air-conditioning in the rooms, which is fine for this time of the year, but perhaps not in mid-summer. www.banffboundarylodge.com

Nice lakes along the Minnewanka Loop

I'm very glad I did not leave out the Minnewanka Loop. There are some really nice lakes on this stretch.

Minnewanka Lake is the only lake in the Banff National Park where motor boats are allowed, and does look like a really nice place to take your boat out for the evening to watch the stars from. But I don't have a boat. Some sheep were crossing the street just as I was leaving the car park.


Two Jack Lake is very pretty, extremely idyllic and calm, and looks like a great spot to picnic or for a little paddle. But keep a watch out for the wildlife! Elk all around while I was there.



The nearby Jackson Lake is a little further off at the end of a cul-de-sac and seems rather popular among hikers. I've heard that the trail around the lake is good for wildlife sightings, although we did not have time to explore much.

Lake Louise vs. Moraine Lake

Lake Louise is overcrowded with tourists most of the time. So I decided to pop in at sunset to give it a chance against its less hyped little sister Moraine Lake (at noon) which was crowded too, but more more pleasant at any time of the day. The blue hue and the closeness of the mountains make for good photos at both of these lakes, but in my opinion there are nicer lakes in the Banff National Park, Bow Lake for example, and many others not accessible by road I presume. Well, one has to visit the 2 most photographed lakes in the region, no?

Lake Louise:





Moraine Lake:

Most Spectacular Roads Driven

(1) **new** Banff to Jasper via Icefields Parkway- Alberta - Canada (June 2005)
(2) Samos to Marathokambos (loop) via Karlovasi and Pythagorion- Samos Island - Greece (August 1998)
(3) Torquay to Port Fairy via Great Ocean Road - Victoria - Australia (December 2001) www.greatoceanrd.org.au
(4) Queenstown to Te Anau via Manapouri - South Island - New Zealand (June 2002)
(5) Victoria to Port Hardy via Nanaimo - Vancouver Island - Canada (July 2002)
(6) Halifax to Liverpool via Peggy's Cove and Lunenberg - Nova Scotia - Canada (July 2004)

Little grizzly but where is mum?

Young grizzly sighted along the Icefields Parkway, but where is mum? By the way, this bear stopped over 10 cars, uhh... I mean over 10 drivers stopped their cars to get a closer look at this bear.

Toronto to Calgary on Westjet

Some observations on why Westjet is successful:

(1) High staff morale. They can be quite funny and it does help to brighten up an early morning flight.
(2) Monetisation of the smallest things, e.g. the cups are sponsored by Coke, the napkins have Travelodge ads on them.
(3) Cool leather seats and satellite TV system.

And a tip: When asked whether you want the pretzels or the cookies, go for the cookies (assuming you like shortbread). I asked for pretzels the first time, only to feel a little outclassed holding on to an unnamed package of pretzels vs. Peek Freans shortbread cookies. www.westjet.com

Yorkdale Mall on a Saturday

I take back what I said about it being nice to be back in Toronto. It's been quite a whlle since I saw so many people and cars getting in each others' way! While waiting (how can anyone be early in this traffic?), I talked to this guy who is studying in Winnipeg (originally from Bangladesh) and also waiting for someone who's delayed in traffic. Looks like he finds Toronto overcrowded as well, and despite calls from his relatives and friends in Toronto to move there after he's graduated, he doesn't think he will... www.yorkdale.com

Federicks Restaurant - Scarborough - Toronto

It's good to be back in Toronto again. I was visiting a friend in Scarborough and we decided to go to Federicks Restaurant first introduced to me three years ago. I do miss the food there. A typical non-fancy chinese eatery cum take-out best described as a Hakka-Chinese-Indian-Malaysian restaurant. The mee goreng and the butter chicken are among my favourite dishes. You can find it at 1920 Ellesmere Road. It's part of a little row of about half a dozen shops with private parking (free).

Where to fill up along the 401

I usually stop at Kingston (Division St exit) for some fast food and a toilet break en route to/from Toronto/Ottawa, and to fill up the gas tank. But I learnt something new today from a more experienced 401-weekend-commuter. While the Division St exit is still the most convenient place for food, the most inexpensive place for gas is the Flying J at Napanee. Apparently this normally saves you about 4 to 5 cents per litre, and in today's case, a whopping 9 cents per litre.

Went swimming for the first time this year

I was swimming for the first time this year at a friend's condo pool. It has been so hot the past few days that a swim after tennis was very much a no-brainer. Summer is most definitely here! It's early this year (it technically does not start till the solstice on June 21 2005, 2:46 A.M. EDT (06:46 UT)). That's rare for Canada :).

Johnny Farina not open for lunch on Sundays

We were intending on going to Johnny Farina on Elgin Street for lunch but discovered that it opens only at 4 pm on Sundays. Went to Bravo Bravo for their Sunday brunch buffet instead. $17.90. A little more than what I would typically spend mid-day Sunday at the all-time favourite Manx or on the patio of the Fox and the Feather, but you get more food. It's a buffet after all. Quality is reasonably good. www.johnnyfarina.com www.bravobravorestaurant.net www.foxandfeather.ca

Stony Swamp - Greenbelt West - Ottawa

Stony swamp in Greenbelt West makes for a reasonable hike, as you can extend the route with a choice of paths in the area, or get adventurous and try one of the unmarked trails (created by mountain bikers, no doubt) as we have done. Unless you run into a swamp, you will hit the road sooner or later. The terrain is flat. If you are looking for an easy stroll, you can stick to the main trails and the boardwalks.

We met a couple of girls decked out with elbow pads and full suspension mountain bikes on one of the marked trails. It looked like they were going downhilling. However, I could not see any hills for miles. Perhaps they were going somewhere else later, and since I do not see any photographers around, I'm quite sure they were not part of a shoot for a mountain biking ad :).

Lynn Miles - Westfest - Ottawa

Lynn Miles was on at Westfest this evening. It was humid, and at several points a few drops of rain did come down. But the sky seemed to mirror the melancholic Lynn Miles, crying guardedly, letting only a little fall. I'm going to buy a Lynn Miles CD, which is special since I do not typically spend much of my income on music. Powerful folk-style lyrics and heartfelt storytelling, combined with refreshingly modern acoustic rock guitar. www.westfest.ca

Milestones is open in Ottawa

Went to the new Milestones in Ottawa for drinks. It's at the bottom of the new Claridge Homes' luxurious 700 Sussex residential development. Despite the fact that it's under a condo, it doesn't look that way. Well, with an address next to the Chateau Laurier, it's Ottawa's most prestigious spot. Looks like the Milestones patio (I'd have to call it a terrace) will be vying to be the hottest spot in town. www.milestonesrestaurants.com www.claridgehomes.com

Dim Sum in Montreal

As far as Dim Sum in Montreal Chinatown goes, I vote for Ruby Rouge which takes up the entire second floor of a small mall. www.restaurantrubyrouge.com

Outremont finds - Montreal

The portuguese restaurant that serves both tapas and table d'hôte diagonally across from the Outremont theatre in Montreal is excellent. Very reasonably priced, as is all food in Montreal. The gaspacho is the best I've tasted in a while, and the barbequed pork portuguese style was tender, succulent, and you could just taste the charcoal which just right and not too overwhelming. The oyster bar directly facing the theatre seems really popular too. Not to forget lilloquet down the street, for ice cream.

Parts of 417 between Ottawa and Montreal reduced to 1 lane

I discovered today that parts of the 417 between Ottawa and Montreal are reduced to 1-lane each way due to construction. Basically, while the 2-lane section going one direction is closed to traffic, the traffic is redirected to share the 2-lane highway normally going the other direction. Vertical pylons are placed in between the two lanes (now going opposite directions) in order to prevent overtaking. It's smooth going unless there is an accident but there will always be one car which will slow to 85 kph (the speed limit in the construction zone is 80 kph), even though I personally feel safe up to 100 kph. I have no idea when the construction will end.

There was in fact an accident that caused a jam on the way to Montreal this morning, and despite the fact that I had no map with me, I decided to follow a UPS van off the highway onto the side road which turned out (fortunately) to be a rather convenient bypass of the construction as well as the accident.

2 Kings 19:29-34

29 'This shall be a sign to you: You shall eat this year such as grows of itself, And in the second year what springs from the same; Also in the third year sow and reap, Plant vineyards and eat the fruit of them.

30 And the remnant who have escaped of the house of Judah Shall again take root downward, And bear fruit upward.

31 For out of Jerusalem shall go a remnant, And those who escape from Mount Zion. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.'

32 "Therefore thus says the Lord concerning the king of Assyria: 'He shall not come into this city, Nor shoot an arrow there, Nor come before it with shield, Nor build a siege mound against it.

33 By the way that he came, By the same shall he return; And he shall not come into this city,' Says the Lord.

34 'For I will defend this city, to save it For My own sake and for My servant David's sake.' "

(New King James Version)