Rediscovered this wonderful song - had to share

Lying in my bed I hear the clock tick,
And think of you
Caught up in circles confusion--
Is nothing new
Flashback--warm nights--
Almost left behind
Suitcases of memories,
Time after--

Sometimes you picture me--
I'm walking too far ahead
You're calling to me, I can't hear
What you've said--
Then you say--go slow--
I fall behind--
The second hand unwinds

If you're lost you can look--and you will find me
Time after time
If you fall I will catch you--I'll be waiting
Time after time

After my picture fades and darkness has
Turned to gray
Watching through windows--you're wondering
If I'm OK
Secrets stolen from deep inside
The drum beats out of time--

You said go slow--
I fall behind
The second hand unwinds--

Time after time...
Time after time...
Time after time...
Time after time...

Being Too Sharp

"You're too sharp. That's your trouble. You're like a drawn sword. Sharp, naked without a sheath. You cut well. But good swords are kept in their sheaths." 

 ~ Kurosawa's "Sanjuro (1962)"


Can't help but pause at this quote.  It hits home to me in so many ways.  Sometimes I feel like I am a drawn sword, always ready to cut for fear of being attacked - no - expecting to be attacked...no wonder I am weary.  Strangely, I have more than a few friends who also fit this bill.  Kurosawa's films are so enlightening.  He was so much more than a film maker.

Thoughts - Random Nothings

Someone wrote:

I have been living in some places of the world and no matter long or short native or foreign, the meomory was cherished forever. Same with the people I have been with. Nobody was wrong because I believe it was just not the right time with the right person.

I choose to be simple after the complexity I had been through. I choose to let it be even though I have the capability to see it through. I choose to smile out of the sadness and ugliness. 

...not the right time with the right person.  Pretty deep.  

My 2012 Winter Road Trip - Day 2

I didn't sleep well.  The bed was comfortable enough, but these pillows are soft as mush and I am not used to it. Also, since the work out I did in Toronto before I left, my back has been really sore so these two factors did not contribute to a good sleep.  However, as always, when I am on vacation, I wake early.  Rolled out of bed at 730am, changed into my gym stuff and went down to the gym for a morning work out before breakfast.

The gym is nothing impressive.  Two bikes, one treadmill, an olympic squat bar and dumb bells.  I brought my rope and rubber band just in case they didn't have any weights.  There is complimentary bottle water service in the gym which is a nice touch.  I am so out of shape - I couldn't even ride the bike for 30 minutes.  Got off after 4 minutes!  

Came in to my room to take a shower and guess what?  No hot water!  The front desk sent up a room key next door for me to use its shower.  After going into the next door suite, I am a bit disappointed.  That room is 25% BIGGER than mine, is a corner unit with two large windows for more of a panoramic view of the river and it has a bathtub in addition to the shower.  It was empty and available, obviously, and yet I was given this one.  Probably because I was only paying $109/night where as the others are paying the standard fare of $170+.  Next time, it'll be the corner room 725 for me.

I ate breakfast at the hotel restaurant downstairs - it was unimpressive.  Nothing to write about, really.  I won't be eating there again.  Tomorrow I'll walk around and look for something at a small quaint cafe.  Speaking of walking, I did that all morning.  My face was frozen and I couldn't feel my cheeks.  It's not that cold here (-12/-19) but the wind really burns you.  

Quebec City can be done in three days - thoroughly.  That's why tomorrow, I'm taking the Ferry across the river to Levis and spending the morning there - possibly lunch too, depending on how friendly they are to English speaking tourists.  Levis is a part of Quebec that will be completely new to me.  Let's see how it goes.

After hours of walking and touring, I was tired - yes, I'm old.  I came back to the lower part of old Quebec and had a classic French bistro lunch - prix fixe menu.  Here's the picture story of the meal.

This restaurant is 1 minute walk from my hotel.  

The interior was very French - the floors and chairs are a dead giveaway as to the restaurant's menu.

I sat by the window - my view from my table looking out.

The starter:  spiced, herbed soup of some sort - the menu was in french so I am not certain as to what this was but it was excellent and definitely homemade.  The bread too was excellent.  The quality of ingredients was obvious.  The bread was cut exactly how I like it - thin and uniformly.  After walking in the cold for over two hours, this felt so good!

The main:  Chicken breast.  I almost didn't get this because the waiter was recommending the Ris de Veau.  A quick look up on my iPhone google translator let me know it was "Sweet Bread" he was pushing on me.  I am quite the adventurous gourmet, however, I felt for something more filling than five pieces of cow brains.  Yes, for those who don't know, "Sweet Bread" is the gourmet euphemism for yucky brains.  I am glad I ordered the chicken breast because it was absolutely delicious.  This is one of the best chicken breast dishes I've had anywhere.  The cream sauce was full of flavour and not overwhelming.  Everything was balanced.  This was truly a delectable dish; and one that I savoured.

Take a good look at this picture.  Some of you may see just a cup of coffee and a plastic container of cream and milk.  If that is what you see, you need to open your eyes and try again.  Look deeper.  This should be made into an art photo.  To me - that photo artist who came up with this composition (hee hee hee) - this photo is French cuisine.  It represents the French attitude towards dining.  It's a simple cup of coffee, albeit, a great, flavourful cup of coffee, but just coffee.  That is how the French cook:  using simple ingredients.  Notice the cream container is double the size of the ones we get in Ontario?  The French use generous amounts of cream - for sure.  And yet, they are no where near as fat as the Americans, why?  The answer lies back in the coffee.  Focus for a moment on that cup of coffee.  This is a classic bistro cup of coffee.  The American sizing is about four to five times this size; just like their serving portions when compared to the French.  The meal is balanced between butter/cream with serving size using simple ingredients.  I will frame this photo and sell it to some art fiend for $500 when I get back.

When my dessert arrived, I was afraid to eat it.  It looked so sweet and I am not really into overly sweet desserts.  That's why at home, I eat a simple crepe with jam.  

The dessert was amazing.  The chocolate was not strong, but rather very understaned.  The flavour actually came from the berries.  It was rich from the use of cream but sugar was nowhere near the level of being as offensive as they are in desserts back home.  It was a perfect way to finish a French lunch.

After the meal I came back to my hotel, stripped and jumped into the shower for a good solid 20 minutes of just standing under the rain shower head in extremely hot water.  I am now in the hotel robe - look rather sexy and dashing, if I do say so myself - typing this blog entry on my bed....my eyes are getting heavy so it's time for a nap.  Don't you just love vacations?  You wake when you feel like it, sleep when you feel like it....this is the life.  

I'll send you guys the sexy pose pic of me in my awesome white Hugh Heffner robe separately.  The youtube videos for today will be sent separately as well.  If I missed anyone, just email me and I'll send it out.

Nappy time for now, then wake up and go out for dinner and a night stroll.  Hopefully, I'll find myself a nice cozy pub/bar where I can enjoy a warm single malt scotch before calling it a night.

My 2012 Winter Road Trip - Day 1

I arrived in Quebec City at my hotel at approximately 8pm.  The drive from Toronto took 8.5 hours.  This includes me stopping off at Walmart to buy an iPhone charger, buying a sub at Subway for lunch, stopping for gas and making two pit stops.  The drive was easy.  No real traffic issues - oh yea, I went off course in Montreal because the signs were not very clear.  Good thing I have an iPhone, I was able to use my google map app to track myself back on course.  Looks like I didn't need your GPS units (A and T)!  I left them at home.  And, yes, T, you can thank me for fucking up your GPS because now I'm going to get you a better one to make up for messing up the firmware.  Damn it, I should have just bought one for myself.  Oh well, lesson learned.

This hotel is amazing.  It's not your standard hotel.  It's chic, without being pretentious.  The staff are these young, good looking men and women who are so friendly - and when I say friendly, I don't mean fake.  These kids are quite genuine; so much so, they almost seem Amish.  It's weird because in Toronto, if you work in an establishment like this, it's almost accepted the staff will give you the "up and down" while they generously dish out unwanted attitude.  Not so here.  Friendly as a warm plate of apple pie with haagen dazs vanilla ice cream.

I wrote a long review about the hotel on Trip Advisor, but I can't access it until they approve the damn thing.  I don't feel like rewriting everything again so I'll post it up once they approve.  For now, check out my pics of the room.  It has a loft feel to it because of the high ceilings.  Small but quaint and really cozy.  I don't want to leave my room!

Here's my reivew from Tripadvisor.ca:

I am at this hotel right now as I type this from my room over looking the river. As recommended by the reviewers on here, I requested the river view and the hotel was able to oblige. That was a nice start to the first day of my vacation here. 

First Impressions:1) Location Wow, wow, wow. The location of this hotel is truly beautiful. Situated just inland of the St.Lawrence River, it is on Rue Saint-Pierre, a beautiful street that reminds me of the European roads I walked along in London, England and Paris, France - it has that intimate feel due to the narrow roads and its beautifully maintained buildings. You can have a beautiful hotel, or you can have a beautiful hotel and make it more beautiful by having it close to water - in this case, the St. Lawrence. The location of this hotel is just perfect.

2) StaffAs soon I arrived, I was met at the door by a handsome, tall young man who assisted me with my luggage. He was well groomed and had a very sincere, friendly face. I am quite sensitive to nuances and vibes received from people in the service industry. This young man was genuinely nice. I felt like tipping him even though he didn't do anything - that's how nice he came across. I was led to the front desk where I checked in. The young, pretty girl there was all smiles and so friendly I was starting to feel awkward. Yes, awkward. I'm a hardened Torontonian who is use to the coldness of the big city where people - even those in the service industry - don't treat you this way. Generally, I'd have to go to a small township in Ontario to receive such smiles and attention. She catered to me in English without attitude and this made me feel less guarded. I really want to speak to her in French (attempted French) next time as I think French is a beautiful language, but I am so embarrassed at my poor English accent...I'll try tomorrow. Anyway, the staff interaction so far has been fantastic! This is only day one so let's see how things go tomorrow.

3) RoomThe physical size of the room is quite small compared to other hotels I've been, but not small enough that you are disappointed. When you walk in, the room (Superior) is basically a square - this is where you have the platform bed + side tables; a single, red, velvet couch chair in the corner; a desk + flat screen television on top; and a small, low-rise table for your luggage. The beauty of this room does not lie in its dimensions. If that were the case, it would fail miserably since other hotels have larger suites. The "wow" factor of this room lies with it's decor. It is so well done that you are captivated and find yourself walking around like a kid touching everything; all with a big silly grin. The room is cool, chic, and fun - all rolled up in one! I hope I am making it absolutely clear that, although it's not the biggest standard room I've stayed in, this is definitely one of the most charming rooms I've ever stayed in. That's quite the compliment coming from me, a person who's been to New York, London, Paris, Tokyo, Seoul, Mexico City, Havana, and Boston. I guess what really appeals to me is that when you walk in, you don't feel like you're in a hotel. Hotel 71 has created a room that doesn't have the standard generic hotel bed, and hotel furniture. It's feels more like staying at a rich friend's house who's parents are interior designers/decorators. Comfy, fun, and yes, I am smiling as I type this - oh, now I am looking out my window over night scene along the river and all the lights along it. Sigh...all I am missing is my single malt scotch and two beautiful young Quebecois women massaging me - one at my shoulders and the other at my feet. Ha! Ok, the long drive here from Toronto is making me delusional. Time to wash up and sleep. 

Summary:A classy, elegant hotel that is welcoming, unpretentious while still being chic. The thought occured to me as I was roaming around the hall ways and checking out the amenities: this hotel is not just a place for accommodations, but a tourist attraction in its own right. Yes, it's that nice. Check it out for yourself.

I have also uploaded the video of me taking you on a guided tour up to my room on youtube.  The link is private so if you want to see that video, just email me and I'll send you to the link.

I can't wait to start my day tomorrow!  This will be a good trip.

My 2012 Winter Road Trip

I haven't done a road trip like this in some time.  The last one I can recall was when I went over to NB, NS and PEI with my long time friend, A.  This should be interesting as this time around I'll be driving in winter conditions.  I'll be updating my blog on this trip every night (when possible) and upload pictures, so for those who are interested in my daily activities while I am gone, just check back here.

Off I go!  Wish me a safe and fun journey, everyone!

This looks interesting - I might check this out at the TIFF Cinematique

Wow, wow, wow

This 15 year old Korean girl blew my mind with her performance on Korean national tv (similar to American Idol).  Wow.  See for yourself.

Kpop Goes Global

Pop Quiz #1:  Which all girls music group shares the same label as Lady GaGa; had a hit song produced by the same producer as Michael Jackson; and made $300 million USD over 50 days for this hit song in Japan alone?

Answer:  Kpop Group - SNSD/Girls Generation.

I am not making this up - here's the source:

Pop Quiz#2:  Which band won MTV's 2011 World's Best New Band award as voted online by fans from all over the world?

Answer:  Kpop Group - 2NE1

Source:

In November of 2011, Sydney Australia played host to some of Korea's biggest Kpop names with huge success.  The turn out was massive and the screaming fans were one of the most diversified I've ever seen.  I have always made fun of these boy bands for their somewhat questionable attire and hairstyles, but this video (see below) clearly shows screaming, young teenage girls of all ethnic backgrounds who are enamored by the Kpop boy band appeal.  I must concede and admit I was wrong.  If the mass of screaming female teen fans isn't proof enough, I actually saw a mid-30-something white dude in the audience singing along - this did it for me;  I am convinced.  Kpop is no longer just an Asian phenomenon.  It's now gone global.

Here's the full video of the Sydney concert.  Enjoy.  Perhaps you'll see the mid-30-something white dude I was mentioning.

For those of you who have never heard of Kpop (Korean Pop [music]), I am sure you're wondering why this Korean "wave" has traveled outside the geographical confines of Asia and exactly how it makes its impact in other parts of the world.  Well, Bloomburg Monocle inquires and reports on this very big question mark.  This is a very interesting video report.

Although I am far from being Korean, it still makes me proud to see so much success Korea is having exporting it's popular culture.  We all know Samsung, LG, Hankook Tires; but, the acceptance of Kpop - and Kdramas - all over the world from the unlikeliest of fans is both flattering and and honour because it validates the Korean culture as one that is pretty damn cool!

Rants from Abu Dhabi - Part 4

Here is the long awaited part 4 of the Rants from Abu Dhabi series, as described by my friend D.  Enjoy!


**email cut/paste start**

So gents, I'm in a cab right now heading down to dubai for the day. Gonna run some errands and hit the mall.

Anyway, thought I would take this opportunity to tap out another email update for your friday easy reading. 

The topic today, which I know I've covered before, is cabs (sorry).
So, I have yet to buy a car here and frankly, I really have no motivation or incentive to. I literally cab it everywhere I go. The cabs are cheap. It's about a CDN$4.00 dollar cab ride to my work (that's about the cost of parking for the day if I had a car). Plus, I'm too lazy to drive. 

The cab service is the most efficient thing about this place (nothing is effin efficient here, trust me). There are a bazzillion cabs and I call for one in the morning and it's at my place in 5 mins.
Anywho, I've had whole lots of different experiences in cabs and made some observations, which I thought I'd share with you guys. They are set out below:

1) The thing here is that local men here generally sit in the front seat beside the driver. Dunno why that is. I suspect it's based on the idea that local women are supposed to sit in the back, and men in the front. I think the locals think that sitting in the back is subordinate somehow..it's like calling shotgun in the cab.  I thought that was interesting. Anyway, I always sit in the back.
(Note that in Saudi Arabia, women aren't even allowed to take cabs without a male family member with them..but that's a topic for another day.)

2) As soon as you call for a cab and the system books one, the cabbie gets your cell number and you get his. I always thought this was interesting as you guys know, this would NEVER EVER FLY in Canada. Noooo way would folks allow for some cabbie to have their cell. Neh enh. But it makes sense here. Makes it real easy for me to call up the cabbie, and ask where the heck he is.

3) Cabbies here are mostly either, Indian, Pakistani or other middle eastern nationality. I once had an Egyptian cabbie that was real animated and funny and he started going into his views on Indian and Pakistani drivers. He went on to imitate them for me.."Indians he said drive like this". He then put both hands on the top of the wheel, leaned in and pushed his face up against the windshield and proceeded to drive, break and start, break and start, break and break.. Guess they're the nervous nellie type drivers. He said that in his company, the most accidents were caused by Indian drivers. 
He then said, "this is how Pakistani's drive". He then leaned back, pressed down on the peddle and GUNNED it, then swerved into the next lane then sped past this truck and swerved back and gunned it again. The difference too me was interesting. I thought this must have something to do with the problems between those two countries. 

In fact, when I mentioned in an earlier email, that some of the cab drivers I've had, have 'insanity in their eyes', I was actually referring to some of the Pakistani drivers. Seriously, I'm not being racist. Those are just some of the ones I've encountered. I'm actually convinced some of the Pakistani drivers I've had are ex-Taliban. I'm pretty sure that I had one the other day who had a picture of himself taped on the dashboard..of him back home...holding a rocket launcher.

Was interesting actually. Had a Pakistani driver the other day, and when we were at the lights, this guy gets out of his truck (he was wearing the traditional Pakistani long white collared shirt that goes down past the knees) and comes up to my driver's window and starts asking my driver directions in Pakistani. They're talking for like 2 mins super fast in Pakistani. All I hear though, interspersed throughout their convo, is blah blah blah, "left!" blah blah "Left!!" Blah blah blah "Right!" "Left! Right! Right! blah blah "left!"

I thought, hmmm, I guess there's no words for left and right in Pakistani.

Then, at the very end as the guy was about to get back into his truck, he yells out "Thank you!" And, my driver is like "you welcome!". I was like wtf?!? No words for thank you and you're welcome in Pakistani???

My cabbie right now is this dude from Nepal. A real gentleman. He drove me last week, so I called him to drive me again. Real nice dutiful type. Way too smart to be a cabbie (as so many I've dealt with are).

Anyway, like in Toronto, the cabbies here have their names and pictures on their licenses.
My cabbie the other night was named, Mo-boob (not lying).
I concurred with his name.

:O)

Have a great weekend gents!

**email cut/paste end**

"Somebody That I Used To Know" - Gotye (Feat. Kimbra)

Now and then I think of when we were together
Like when you said you felt so happy you could die
Told myself that you were right for me
But felt so lonely in your company
But that was love and it's an ache I still remember

You can get addicted to a certain kind of sadness
Like resignation to the end, always the end
So when we found that we could not make sense
Well you said that we would still be friends
But I'll admit that I was glad that it was over

But you didn't have to cut me off
Make out like it never happened and that we were nothing
And I don't even need your love
But you treat me like a stranger and that feels so rough
No you didn't have to stoop so low
Have your friends collect your records and then change your number
I guess that I don't need that though
Now you're just somebody that I used to know

Now you're just somebody that I used to know
Now you're just somebody that I used to know

Now and then I think of all the times you screwed me over
But had me believing it was always something that I'd done
And I don't wanna live that way
Reading into every word you say
You said that you could let it go
And I wouldn't catch you hung up on somebody that you used to know

But you didn't have to cut me off
Make out like it never happened and that we were nothing
And I don't even need your love
But you treat me like a stranger and that feels so rough
And you didn't have to stoop so low
Have your friends collect your records and then change your number
I guess that I don't need that though
Now you're just somebody that I used to know

Somebody;
I used to know
Somebody;
Now you're just somebody that I used to know

Psychology Today - Why We Hurt The Ones We Love

This article was beyond interesting.  I shared it with some close friends.  Here I share the highlights with you.

"You always hurt the one you love, the one you should not hurt at all;
You always take the sweetest rose, and crush it till the petals fall;
You always break the kindest heart, with a hasty word you can't recall;
So if I broke your heart last night, it's because I love you most of all." (Mills Brothers)

I do not want to say, as Oscar Wilde did, that "each man kills the thing he loves"; however, hurting one's beloved is frequent. Since the beloved is a major source of happiness, this person is also a major threat to our happiness: more than anyone else, the beloved can ruin it.

Hurting the beloved on purpose indicates the presence of conflicting perspectives, such as short term and long term perspectives, or partial and comprehensive perspectives. Cancelling a date with a married lover may hurt her in the short term, but might be beneficial in the long term, as their short-term separation could facilitate their long-term relationship. In such cases, the hurt caused to the beloved at this moment for the sake of her comprehensive well-being in the future can emanate from love. 

Hurting the loved one can also be a last resort which the lover takes to bring this dependency to its appropriate proportion. Mutual dependency has many advantages, stemming from the fact that two people are joined together in an attempt to increase each other's happiness. However, a sense of independence is also important for each person's self-esteem. Sometimes lovers hurt their beloved in order to show their independence. Other times, however, hurting the beloved expresses an opposite wish: the lover's wish for more dependency and attention. Indeed, a common complaint of married women, far more than of married men, is that their partners do not spend enough time with them. Hurting the beloved by stopping, for example, communicating with him, may be the last alarm bell that warns of the lover's difficulties; it is an extreme measure signaling urgency. If the relationship is strong enough, as the lover wishes it to be, it should sustain this measure. 

Lord Shin Recommends: Indie Artist - Gotye's "Somebody I Used to Know"

I was shown the cover of this song - the cover was performed by a Canadian group called Walk Off the Earth.  The song they were singing hit a chord with me.  I had to listen to the original by the composer and singer, Gotye - and I am so happy I did.  What an awesome song.  It's just so...deep and yet musically catchy...hear it for yourself.

See below for the two top covers I've found for this song:

This one is my favourite of the two covers.  The artist is Ingrid Michaelson and she is living proof that I am right when I say artsy chics are smoking sexy/hot! ;-)

Here, in 3rd place, is the cover version by Walk Off the Earth:

Zara - Asian Fit!?

Source:http://www.zara.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product/ca/en/zara-W2011-s/163081/489512/CHECKED%2BSHIRT%2BWITH%2BCONTRASTS 

I couldn't sleep so I was surfing for dress shirts for work on Zara.ca when I noticed the shirt I was viewing was categorized as "Asian Fit".  What the hell is an "Asian Fit" shirt?  I know Oakley has Asian fit glasses - for obvious reasons, but seriously, Asian Fit button down dress shirts?  When have you ever heard me bitch and complain that I can't find shirts that fit me b/c they just don't make "Asian Fit" cuts?  Last I checked Asians come in all sizes and shapes, like any other race...so what gives us this "honoured" distinction of needing an Asian Fit label?  Why is there no Afro-Fit line, I wonder?