It's always interesting when an earthquake has come and gone without you knowing it ever happened. It came to my notice when a friend of mine currently in Tokyo asked me about it. With the way the news media is nowadays, it is often that someone on the other side of the globe knows more about the happenings in one's neighbourhood than someone living here.
Apparently it happened at 8.39 pm on February 24 and registered 4.5 on the Richter scale. I was at Mont Tremblant at the time and felt none of the trembling, even though the epicentre was somewhere between Ottawa and where I was. Close to Thurso actually, where that horrible pulp and paper factory is. It appeared to be operating fine as I was passing by it on the way home on Sunday. The unmistakable odour was as pungent as usual.
According to news reports, someone living a couple of blocks from my place in Centretown actually reported, "The whole house was shaking violently," she said. "It started around 8:40 and lasted a good two minutes ... at least a minute ... we were all holding on to the dishes." Well, when I got home, there were no signs anything had moved an inch.
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
Saturday, March 04, 2006
Mont Tremblant downhill runs: difficulty update
Another fabulous day at Tremblant. I'm what you would call an average intermediate skier, so I have a good feel as to which black diamonds are managable for non-experts at Mont Tremblant. As usual, snow conditions make all the difference when it comes to skiing, so the following information should only be taken as a rough guide.
The black diamonds on the Le Soleil side tend to be a little more difficult that most others, but depending on the snow conditions, Tiguidou is likely to be the easiest of them all. It also provides a more convenient route than the blue Toboggan run to the little lodge halfway down.
South side: the easiest runs are McCulloch, Kandahar, and Taschereau. Attempt the rest only after mastering these three.
North side: the easiest runs are Geant and Duncan Haut. Variable conditions can occur on the other runs so be careful.
The black diamonds on the Le Soleil side tend to be a little more difficult that most others, but depending on the snow conditions, Tiguidou is likely to be the easiest of them all. It also provides a more convenient route than the blue Toboggan run to the little lodge halfway down.
South side: the easiest runs are McCulloch, Kandahar, and Taschereau. Attempt the rest only after mastering these three.
North side: the easiest runs are Geant and Duncan Haut. Variable conditions can occur on the other runs so be careful.
Sunday, February 26, 2006
Condo at Mont Tremblant
It was a weekend well worth remembering. Lots of great fun on Mont Tremblant. And the condo we stayed at as a group was just phenomenal. Jardin du Village it was called. Great location: short drive to the slopes, cross-country trail at the door, ski rentals across the street, skating on the lake just a short walk away, and the local grocery store down the street. Great interior: fireplace, full kitchen, lots of room, what more can you ask for. Well, there was only one shower even though there were two bathtubs and three WCs. Surely it would not have cost that much more to install a second shower.
Sunday, January 01, 2006
Alight at Night at Upper Canada Village
This was probably the only spot open on the night of Jan 1. Anyway, it was a delightfully Christmas-ty thing to do. Singing carols at the old Christ Church and watching the baker put the bread into the old brick oven. Don't forget to get in line early for the bread at 7 pm at the souvenir store, for it sells out fast! The oven is only big enough for 120 loaves, and this particular evening, he made just 80.
The other buildings were closed, unlike during the day in summer, and the ground was just a little icy (no fresh snow). However, for an admission fee of only $4, it was well worth it. www.uppercanadavillage.com
The other buildings were closed, unlike during the day in summer, and the ground was just a little icy (no fresh snow). However, for an admission fee of only $4, it was well worth it. www.uppercanadavillage.com
Saturday, December 31, 2005
Happy New Year! I'm back from the hols.
That was some vacation. First, some observations about Toronto.
(1) You need to queue to get into LCBO on Christmas eve. Someone commented, "This is new to me, I just moved here from Winnipeg." Right, it's new to me too. After all, it is possible to get alcoholic beverages from every grocery store and depanneur across the river in Gatineau.
(2) Best Buy's boxing day sale starts at 7 am, and by 7.30, the queue to get into the building was already snaking round the back. By the time we got in, the Sony wireless speakers were sold out.
Next, some observations about the strike in Mont Tremblant. I had lots of fun despite it.
(1) Rent gear from Yves' Sports in the "old" Mont Tremblant village (opposite the post office) instead of at the "Intrawest" pedestrian village. It's less expensive and there is no queue picking up gear the afternoon before.
(2) Someone commented that Intrawest has been moving people from hotel to hotel as they are short on housekeeping staff. Well, we had our own chalet and did our own housekeeping, so it's irrelevant to us.
(3) The direct-to-lift SkiMax tickets came in really useful. Not only are they cheaper, you don't have to queue.
(4) While the strike is on, the number of people per day is limited to 6000 in order to prevent ski lift overload. That's about a third of the usual number visiting this time of the year. As a result, the queues at the ski lifts were acceptable even though many lifts were not operating.
(5) An impressively large number of runs were still open, but the "Edge" and "Le Soleil" were closed. There was fresh snow over the weekend, so conditions were excellent for the most part. Later in the week, extra care had to be taken on some slopes as snow making was not operating, and some were not machine-groomed the night before. But there were signs warning you of possible ice for those.
(1) You need to queue to get into LCBO on Christmas eve. Someone commented, "This is new to me, I just moved here from Winnipeg." Right, it's new to me too. After all, it is possible to get alcoholic beverages from every grocery store and depanneur across the river in Gatineau.
(2) Best Buy's boxing day sale starts at 7 am, and by 7.30, the queue to get into the building was already snaking round the back. By the time we got in, the Sony wireless speakers were sold out.
Next, some observations about the strike in Mont Tremblant. I had lots of fun despite it.
(1) Rent gear from Yves' Sports in the "old" Mont Tremblant village (opposite the post office) instead of at the "Intrawest" pedestrian village. It's less expensive and there is no queue picking up gear the afternoon before.
(2) Someone commented that Intrawest has been moving people from hotel to hotel as they are short on housekeeping staff. Well, we had our own chalet and did our own housekeeping, so it's irrelevant to us.
(3) The direct-to-lift SkiMax tickets came in really useful. Not only are they cheaper, you don't have to queue.
(4) While the strike is on, the number of people per day is limited to 6000 in order to prevent ski lift overload. That's about a third of the usual number visiting this time of the year. As a result, the queues at the ski lifts were acceptable even though many lifts were not operating.
(5) An impressively large number of runs were still open, but the "Edge" and "Le Soleil" were closed. There was fresh snow over the weekend, so conditions were excellent for the most part. Later in the week, extra care had to be taken on some slopes as snow making was not operating, and some were not machine-groomed the night before. But there were signs warning you of possible ice for those.
Monday, December 19, 2005
I like house parties
OK. No more backdated posts.
House parties are nice. They're much better than going to some public place like a club or a restaurant. I'm wondering though, if the proportion of house vs. non-house parties increases as one gets older. Go figure.
House parties are nice. They're much better than going to some public place like a club or a restaurant. I'm wondering though, if the proportion of house vs. non-house parties increases as one gets older. Go figure.
Persian food in Ottawa
Still catching up on backdated posts...
December 4
Looking for Persian food in Ottawa? Try Saffron Restaurant (426 Rideau St at Chapel). Went there for D's birthday. I am no expert at Persian food but I like it better than Persian Cuisine Express (340 Laurier Ave W at Bank). Another Persian hangout is the Boofs at a totally out of the way location (730 Industrial Rd).
December 4
Looking for Persian food in Ottawa? Try Saffron Restaurant (426 Rideau St at Chapel). Went there for D's birthday. I am no expert at Persian food but I like it better than Persian Cuisine Express (340 Laurier Ave W at Bank). Another Persian hangout is the Boofs at a totally out of the way location (730 Industrial Rd).
The only place in Toronto where you cannot find good food
Still catching up on backdated posts...
December 6
On the way back from London ON after an interview at the Toronto Pearson International Airport. This is probably the only place in Toronto where you cannot find good food. Well, go with the crowd. Casey's On Stage looks like the busiest. Not too bad after all.
Looks like the couple sitting next to me was thinking the same way. Apparently they missed their connection to St. John NB while returning to Canada from Miami. They were quite excited to hear that I was originally from Singapore as their son has married a Thai girl and moved to Thailand, where they have since visited a number of times.
I also learn that it is possible to watch the Toronto Maple Leafs play in Tampa Bay for only US$20 during the regular season. Wow! That's really cheap compared to the tickets for home games at the Air Canada Centre, or games at the Corel Centre in Ottawa.
December 6
On the way back from London ON after an interview at the Toronto Pearson International Airport. This is probably the only place in Toronto where you cannot find good food. Well, go with the crowd. Casey's On Stage looks like the busiest. Not too bad after all.
Looks like the couple sitting next to me was thinking the same way. Apparently they missed their connection to St. John NB while returning to Canada from Miami. They were quite excited to hear that I was originally from Singapore as their son has married a Thai girl and moved to Thailand, where they have since visited a number of times.
I also learn that it is possible to watch the Toronto Maple Leafs play in Tampa Bay for only US$20 during the regular season. Wow! That's really cheap compared to the tickets for home games at the Air Canada Centre, or games at the Corel Centre in Ottawa.
Sushi Party
Still catching up on backdated posts...
November 19
The best way to get sushi in Ottawa? Make it yourself. A sushi party. What a great idea!
November 19
The best way to get sushi in Ottawa? Make it yourself. A sushi party. What a great idea!
Best Greek Restaurant in Ottawa
Catching up on backdated posts...
November 25
The title says it all. It's Pilos Restaurant on Montreal Road east of Aviation Parkway (876 Montreal Rd).
November 25
The title says it all. It's Pilos Restaurant on Montreal Road east of Aviation Parkway (876 Montreal Rd).
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