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Out & About #488 | Collective September Visuals

9/30/2018

 
​"The next evening appointment will be in mid-October. Is that alright?"
October?! I gasped in shock.
"Next week is October." the receptionist replied matter-of-factly.
Oh. Right.

The first month of the academic year has passed in the blink of an eye. My schedule has been congested for majority of its duration, and vacation images have yet to make their way here. Meanwhile, take a look at some of my pre- and post-trip munchies instead.
​1) Tsujiri
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​Tsujiri's Black Sesame Cake was positively fragrant and absolutely lovely.
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​2) Berto's on Dundas served decent, but pricey Halo Halo.
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​Like Somethin' Sweet 4 U, the restaurant served the typical selection of sauce-laden Filipino dishes. The environment was casual and the interior filled invisible clouds of grease and peculiar odours.
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​According to a friend of a friend, Berto's supposedly carried the "best halo halo" in the city. While the flan and ube ice cream was delicious, the portion was meager. Majority of the plastic cup was filled with rapidly dissolving ice flakes, bean paste, and Rice Krispie-like puffs that gradually grew soggy. Seafood City's version was unmistakably better in terms of both diversity and economics; I've yet to discover an establishment capable of dethroning Quiapo Quiapo's lasting impression.
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​Might I add that Berto's washroom is not for the faint of heart. Situated immediately behind a flimsy wooden door near the cashier, I constantly lived in fear while carrying about my business. The connecting back door didn't provide much assurance either.
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3) A late evening visit to CoCo's new location was made following the Halo Halo mission.
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It was here that I reunited with Mr. Teddy. I cannot speak on his behalf, but I sure was glad to see him. (No pun intended.)

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Out & About #487 | Cafe Bora + Revisiting Onnki Donburi

9/27/2018

 
Colour is a phenomenon with bountiful beauty and can only be thoroughly appreciated with full exposure to the entire spectrum. It's a shame that colourblindness exists in this world, for the world that lies beyond red-green pigmentation deficiencies is as every bit as breathtaking as nature itself.

All colours evoke a specific feeling: red is loud and proud, while green is organic and free-spirited. But amongst them all, purple holds a special place in my heart.
It's sophisticated, yet whimsical.
It's timeless, yet modern.
It's comforting, yet exuberant.
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​Just hearing its name is soothing:
Purple
むらさき ('murasaki')
보라 ('bora')


And, on that note, how could one possibly resist a café depicting the precise penumbra of preferred purple? Moreover, it was one of the few spots from which I had failed to try signature items during my LA expedition last summer.
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Toronto's Cafe Bora was located in a cramped, basement-level sliver in Yorkville - a distinctive indication of its price range. Despite having only been in operation for a few weeks, it appeared that Yelpers had sought out the congested dessert bar and emerged with very divided opinions. Some claimed it a wonderful destination, while other complained of the desserts' lack of "sweet potato-ness".
The common correspondence was certain though: these violet visual creations came with a steep tag.
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My dining partner for the afternoon had visited on an earlier occasion, and was quick to deem the Soft Serve unworthy and the hot rendition of the Latte interesting. For the sake of variety, we opted for the Bora Bingsu and Bora Tiramisu, which rang in at $9.95 each before tax.

​Fond was I not of the microscopic portions and XL bingsoo bowl prices. The Bora Tiramisu was exactly as others had described - minimal in both depth and boldness. A traditional tiramisu is comprised of strategically placed layers of syrup-soaked sponge, a dense or crunchy addition of some sort, and a house variation of infused mascarpone cheese (or other creamy alternative). Sad to say, this rendition was not only shallow, it dared to consist of only a single, stale layer.. Sheer disappointment swept over us as we discovered the lack of syrup, extensive height of the sponge cake layer, and overall absence of sweet potato flavour. At one point, I had contemplated drizzling a dash of condensed milk on top, only to stop myself with the sight of the tiny, unsealed container.
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​The Bora Bingsu, on the hand, was quite delightful. Extra-fine flakes of milk snow had been pressed into a stone dish; accompanying the dessert was a three-tier condiment set of sweetened condensed milk (runny, if I may add), purple sweet potato paste, and several small pieces of dried sweet potato chips. Customers had the opportunity to modify the ratio of fillings to snow ice. Although tasty, I could not justify the cost since uptown options exist.

All good things seemingly come to die in Toronto. The same can be said for Cafe Bora.
Not only were the desserts unreasonably ritzy and unjustified, dining space was scarce, and the bathroom was poorly kept. Urine stains and a seat in direct contact with paper towels (for post-handwashing) did not fair favourably in my books. The overall experience was negative; a second visit shall not be made.
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A dimming sky was looming above us, signalling the coming of nightfall and the need to consume dinner. Neither of us were particularly ravenous, but supper was not a meal to be skipped.

We aimlessly trudged about the area until it hit me: Onnki Donburi wasn't too far!
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My last visit was almost one year ago. Within that period, menus were modified (and prices inflated). Sake Lover was subject to a fare increase of sixty cents, while the Buta Fire series both increased by one dollar.
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< Pictured above and below: Sake Lover and Ebi Don >

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Maritimes Madness | DAY 7: (Pt. 1) Exploring Downtown Halifax Cont.

9/24/2018

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​Our final day on the East Coast was not marked by a roadtrip, but an on-foot adventure about the downtown area.

​With a return flight slated for early evening, there was just enough time to prance about like a local before making our way to Stanfield once again.
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​Being a weekday, the food court in Scotia Square was in full operation. Nearby coffee shops were also open for business.

I took to a solo expedition in search of a caffeinated pick-me-up, eventually arriving at one of Dalhousie's campus buildings. Along the way, souvenir shops were visited and horse-pulled carriages were spotted.
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​The intention was to find coffee at Chimneys Cafe, but, when it came to the exchange of funds for goods and services, it was discovered that I had not a single cent on me. Oh, the crisis associated with switching bags!

Apologizing and then bidding farewell, I trekked back to retrieve my wallet. At the same time, I did a quick search for potential lunch destinations. Dora-Q looked promising, and so the suggestion was thrown out for voting. The response was positive.
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​In the name of time, I opted to hop on local transit for my second outing. Buses along Barrington and Spring Garden from Scotia Square were very frequent (on weekdays anyway), so it wasn't long before I found a suitable route.
To a certain extent, the Halifax buses did not differ too greatly from Miway or TTC. The layout was similar, but the degree of cleanliness was far beyond my anticipation. There was no griminess to be spotted here, nor dust-incrusted seats. Moreover, the floor was spotless.
I later learned this to be a result of strictly enforcing unsealed beverages. Commuters were not spotted feasting mid-transit either.
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View the full album HERE !
​Route 7 Robie travelled parallel to the waterfront for some time, then turned sharply onto South Street. This area was unique in that it as equal parts residential and commerical; its proximity to the Halifax rail terminal also suggested convenience for post-secondary students studying away from home.
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Maritimes Madness | DAY 7: (Pt. 2) Departure + Afterword

9/24/2018

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Read Part 1 HERE !
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The 7-day Atlantic roadtrip came to an end.
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Venturing to the East Coast was a first for two-thirds of the party, and I quickly came to the realization that despite having lived in the country for my entire lifetime, I had rarely stepped out of Ontario and British Columbia.​
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​We retraced our initial path at Stanfield to reach the domestic gate. But this time around, we caught sight fresh lobsters near the baggage drop.
Other souvenirs such as caramel popcorn and alcohol were also spotted, thought swiftly deemed unnecessary.
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​Having arrived at the airport on weekday afternoon, one would anticipate majority of the shops and dining kiosks to remain open. Lo and behold: the East Coast was not so different from Richmond; Booster Juice closed its gates just as we settled into the waiting area.
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​A solid hour-and-a-half had been allocated for exploring the post-check-in area, however, it turned out that there wasn't a great deal that bedazzled us.

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Maritimes Madness | DAY 6: (Pt. 2) Digby Cont, Yarmouth + Shag Harbour

9/23/2018

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Read Part 1 HERE !

​​Following lunch, the party engaged in a stroll along the Digby waterfront.
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​Clear skies, minimal wind, and ripples upon ripples of brilliant Bay of Fundy waters accompanied our southbound trek on Water Street
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​Only a handful of pedestrians were spotted during our stay: a few dog-walkers (presumably local) and a small group of camera wielders (presumably tourists such as ourselves).
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View the full album HERE !

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Maritimes Madness | DAY 6: (Pt. 1) Annapolis Tidal Plant + Digby

9/23/2018

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​At 6 AM the next morning, I meekly pried open my eyes at 6 AM sharp. "Morning Flower" sounded a bit different.
I heard faint tapping noises, which I presumed to be rainfall at first. But the sound reverberated from within the room, not on the other side of a glass panel.
For a millisecond, I contemplated the possibility of it being the tapping of laptop keys. But no one else was awake.

Pitter patter. It was unmistakably water droplets.

And it sounded as if it was taking place in the general area of my most valued possessions.
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​Scrambling with the daunting realization that I may never be able to access the sole device that enabled consistent connection with the world, I grabbed my glasses and a flashlight.

Lo and behold, the sight was jarring: the lightweight, yet heavy duty camera bag I had researched so extensively was soaked to the core, dampened by what I can only presume to be nasty, used bathwater (and whatever foreign material utilized in ceiling tiles).
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Somewhat gratefully, the droplets had only missed the rest of my equipment by a mere centimetres. Two cameras and an unsheathed, charging laptop had barely avoided the calamity. The contents of my backpack, though, were tell another tale.

Desperate attempts were made to remediate the inflicted damage. However, the irritable musty smell persisted.
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​And just when I thought it was all over, crashing down with a bang were the permeated fragments of tile.
My first concern was the potential asbestos content of the tile; it is not uncommon for old materials to rely heavily on the cancerous substance, and once made friable, residents of the room would have been directly exposed to its hazards. Had the piece not given way due to dampening, the compact quadrants would be immediately become a zone of invisible danger.

More alarming was the very fact that these droplets could have easily saturated an area with a live current, and consequently resulted in an explosion with energy contributed from neighbouring electronics.
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​The overall mood at breakfast time was grim - and could you blame me? I settled for the Matcha Custard Mini Gangs acquired the previous night, then took to the streets of Downtown Halifax once again for coffee. Alas, it was Sunday, and few cafes in the area had opened for business.
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​We then set off for another adventure shortly afterwards. The trip involved routing through Dartmouth, which involved crossing the Angus L. Macdonald Bridge. It was my first time coming across a toll bridge; Hwy 407 is the only P3 method of transportation involving tolls (or at least that I've used anyway). The fee for the Macdonald Bridge was only a loonie though, making it signficantly more economic than tolls back home.
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​Our primary destination was Digby, a town on the southwest coast of the province renowned for scallops. En route was Annapolis, where we stopped for a quick tour of the Annapolis Tidal Plant.
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The renewable energy plant was grand in scale, and even featured an information seminar and interactive presentation on the upper floor of the Interpretive Centre.

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Maritimes Madness | DAY 5: (Pt. 2) Exploring Downtown Halifax

9/22/2018

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Read Part 1 HERE !

We rolled into Halifax just before 6 PM, which granted us a brief slot for exploration prior to dinner.
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I was first to abandon the car. The road trip had been a lengthy one - too lengthy, if I'm completely honest - and since we had returned to civilization (and data reception!!), there was no longer a reason to avoid using our lower limbs.

​​The streets of Downtown Halifax weren't so different from that of walk-able suburban neighbourhoods back home. Objectively speaking, they were cleaner. Shop variety was as about as diverse as The Danforth, with about as much pedestrian traffic as Bramalea City Centre at 7 AM, and closed as early as major malls in Richmond.
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Students in sweats made up the bulk of the citizens wandering the streets. This group became more prevalent nearing Barrington Street and Spring Garden Road. Located at the T-intersection was Saint Mary's Cathedral, a large commercial building, and restaurants featuring an outdoor patio.
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The odd Cantonese bakery was also discovered while heading downhill towards the waterfront. At this point, many eateries had shuttered for the day; Kee Heong was no exception.
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​Traversing the waterfront trail, I came across a jewellery boutique specializing in pewter, COWS' ice cream-only kiosk, a playground of abstract attractions, a 360 experience dome, and an open historical exhibit. This journey was accompanied by perpetually breathtaking perspectives of the harbour.
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A new multi-level building was in the midst of construction just north of Prince Street. To accomodate pedestrian and visitor traffic, a Seabridge had been laid in place. The boardwalk permitted a beautiful view of the waters, unobstructed by boats and sailing equipment; on the south side of the bridge were orange pillars, each baring a snippet of information regarding the city and its history.
Small bulbs had also been wound about each side of the bridge, providing a soft glow after nightfall.
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View the full album HERE !

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Maritimes Madness | DAY 5: (Pt. 1) Keltic + The Dock

9/22/2018

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​East Coast is analogous to West Coast in that you'll never know what weather conditions await you the next day. Some days are bright and sunny, while others grey and dreary.
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​While we had checked into Keltic with clear skies over our heads, the clouds had rolled in around the late evening hours and camouflaged the sunset altogether. The next morning was an extension of this drabness, but with the inclusion of pelting rain pellets and brutal blasts of wind.
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I roamed about the estate first thing in the morning, seeing as there was little else to see and do in the visible two-kilometre radius. For majority of this solo stretch, it was nothing but humidity and havoc.
It wasn't until closer to breakfast time that I discovered the Middle Head trail. 
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​Guided tours were supposedly held at 10 AM each day; the "hike" - if one could call it so with its relatively flat elevation - required a few hours to make the round trip. Had my stomach not been empty (and had I not promised to return within the hour), I would have gladly taken on this adventure. Most of the trail consisted of uninspiring shrubbery, but the tip of Steering Island would have certainly resulted in a stunning view of the surrounding coves.
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Maritimes Madness | DAY 4: (Pt. 2) Rusty Anchor + Green Cove

9/21/2018

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Read Part 1 HERE !
Eventually, we pulled into the parking lot of Rusty Anchor.
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​Time and time again, it was proven that restaurants could exist wherever tourists left their mark. Sustenance is in constant demand while on the road, and it appeared that many earned one's keep by partaking in the fulfillment of such a need, offering their own version of local specialties.
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​Rusty Anchor was part gift shop and part eatery. The reception area was brimming with monogrammed apparel bearing the restaurant's name; behind it was a dining hall furnished with nautical decor and plastic tablecloths. Several windows situated about the interior provided illumination.
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​Drinks were served in mason jars and diner-style gradient glasses. It was a nice touch, should you ask me, and possessed a cohesive vibe to its surroundings.

​The party took the Seafood Wrap and Lobster Roll, which came with sides of chips & salsa and spinach salad respectively.
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​An all-round mediocre dish, the Seafood Wrap was filling but exceptionally fishy in stench. Little can be uttered in regards to the tortilla chips and salsa, for they were clearly storebought and easily replicable.

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Maritimes Madness | DAY 4: (Pt. 1) Cabot Trail Road Trip

9/21/2018

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​The night before had been dreadfully cold, averaging a mere four degrees once the sun had vanished. Stargazing and attempts at streaming V Live replays had been benumbing pursuit.
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Though the chilliness did carry over to the next morning, clear blue skies and plenty of sunshine welcomed us into the day.
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​Breakfast was devoured at the Glenora Pub, which was located adjacent to the dining hall we had visited the evening prior. The menu was simple, and the offerings decidedly standard. However, the ambiance was another story altogether: blinding UV rays penetrated through the windows, then were partially refracted by blinds, filling the space with a warm, comforting glow. Interestingly enough, this was also a spot where the Wi-Fi connection remained resolute.
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​A cup of piping hot black coffee and PB&J toast later, we returned to the suite to re-assemble our belongings yet again. This was a zone of zero signal, so I stood outside for an additional few minutes to ensure all the necessary communication had been made.
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​We then commenced on what would be remembered as the most scenic road trip of a lifetime.
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​Cabot Trail was a two-way path that wound around the perimeter of Cape Breton. It curved around mountainous regions - sometimes at very sharp angles, might I add - and featured consistent variation of elevation levels.

​Given the spectacular weather conditions, we were able to embrace the entirety of the route while being well-informed of the upcoming twists and turns. (During times of dense fog though, one would consider it perilous to attempt the trail without a shred of familiarity.)
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​The scene that lay before us was absolutely breathtaking. 
Stretching from front to back, then side to side, the sky was a seemingly endless wash of vibrant blue. Paired alongside luscious green forestry and hilly paths, it was a snippet of nature that someone from the metropolitan regions of the nation would not witness on an everyday basis. Moreover, indications of civlization were essentially nonexistent. There wasn't a telephone pole nor streetlamp in sight to interfere with the drive. Mind you, this also meant disconnection with the rest of the world.

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    Who Am I?

    Formerly an avid owner of several interest-based portals, Random Thoughts of a Quirky Blogger presents precisely the elements expected. From experiments in the kitchen to miscellaneous musings, from IGOT7 reflections to developments in transportation infrastructure, it's all consolidated here. Welcome to the raw, unfiltered side of Quirky Aesthetics.



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WHAT DOES "QUIRKY AESTHETICS" MEAN?

Quirky =  a term that commonly refers to something/someone distinctly different and unique
Aesthetics = the visual aspect of things



Together, Quirky Aesthetics refers to the things, events, and happenings seen and perceived by this blog's creator - quirky perspectives in a visual form.

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