One of my favourite questions is ask new acquantainces is: "Are you a summer person? Or a winter person?". Majority of the time, I receive a response that's directly related to their birth month (ie. summer birthdays make summer-loving people).
This isn't always the case, but it describes my situation undeniably accurately - I'm a summer baby with no aptitude whatsoever in winter sports. (Let's refrain from questioning my Canadian-ness now.)
While many youngsters raised on maple syrup tend to take advantage of cold weather to engage in skating, skiing, snowboarding, and the like, I must confess that I have never once experienced such an urge.
This isn't always the case, but it describes my situation undeniably accurately - I'm a summer baby with no aptitude whatsoever in winter sports. (Let's refrain from questioning my Canadian-ness now.)
While many youngsters raised on maple syrup tend to take advantage of cold weather to engage in skating, skiing, snowboarding, and the like, I must confess that I have never once experienced such an urge.
That is, until I wintessed the adorable meeting of Gong Myung and Jung Hye Sung on WGM! (Side: it is highly recommended that you tune in every Saturday to see their entertaining interactions.)
I had reached out to a friend several weeks prior regarding a potential meet-up to shoot fireworks on New Year's Eve. As it turned out, he was attending a ski/snowboard reunion that day, so I casually inquired about being added to the roster as a guest.
We left at the crack of dawn (very painful indeed), before the sun even made its appearance, and arrived at Mount St. Louis at approximately half past nine.
I had reached out to a friend several weeks prior regarding a potential meet-up to shoot fireworks on New Year's Eve. As it turned out, he was attending a ski/snowboard reunion that day, so I casually inquired about being added to the roster as a guest.
We left at the crack of dawn (very painful indeed), before the sun even made its appearance, and arrived at Mount St. Louis at approximately half past nine.
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The trip itself was a pricey excursion, with beginner packages exceeding $90 and the cheapest of cafeteria-quality food items marked at a base price of five dollars before tax. And this didn't even include the cost for renting grit-filled lockers and a so-called "rental insurance". Sigh.
Originally, the day's plan involved my enrolment in a beginner class, followed by lunch and some form of group activity. But this was, in fact, not the case at all, for I was abandoned for the Black Diamond slope and blatantly excluded from any sort of interaction. It was heartbreaking to say in the least, and more reminiscent of a solo trip than anything else.
Originally, the day's plan involved my enrolment in a beginner class, followed by lunch and some form of group activity. But this was, in fact, not the case at all, for I was abandoned for the Black Diamond slope and blatantly excluded from any sort of interaction. It was heartbreaking to say in the least, and more reminiscent of a solo trip than anything else.
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Alas, majority of the pain was actually derived from the numerous downward plunges that I caught myself unwilling falling into (no pun intended). I dipped both forward and backward, smacking limbs against unforgiving friction-filled surfaces in every location possible. Arms and wrists curled in odd directions, neck muscles were tugged at in painful ways, legs exhibited signs of spasm, and my head was thrown into shock from the severity of one particularly nasty fall.
I knew that I would be experiencing soreness of a lifetime the following day. It would be an inevitable collection of pulled muscles (why had no one told me to stretch?!?) and even the tiniest movements resulting in waves of crippling pain.
I knew that I would be experiencing soreness of a lifetime the following day. It would be an inevitable collection of pulled muscles (why had no one told me to stretch?!?) and even the tiniest movements resulting in waves of crippling pain.
Perhaps the experience would have more enjoyable had I had not struck the landing platform face-forward when attempting to remove myself from the ski lift (whatever happened to "Hold onto me"?!), or perhaps more experienced individuals had made efforts to assist a major rookie instead of deserting someone from a sheer lack of consideration.
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Most importantly, I realized the physical demands associated with snowboarding - strength and endurance requirements that I did not possess. As an extremely taxing activity on my body, I can vow that I will not be advancing with the sport.
Besides the incredulous amount of equipment needed to engage in the sport, costs and location availability are two other signficant constituents affecting this decision. As with the B.A.P concert, the pricey journey was weightier in stress levels than fun factors.
At least climate conditions had treated me kindly.
Besides the incredulous amount of equipment needed to engage in the sport, costs and location availability are two other signficant constituents affecting this decision. As with the B.A.P concert, the pricey journey was weightier in stress levels than fun factors.
At least climate conditions had treated me kindly.
Dinner was held at Pho Queen City in Cooksville - a restaurant choice that had not resided with me.
Plastic chairs and tables and minimal decor made up the bulk of the interior; laminated menus, napkins, and fixed utensil containers were neatly placed at each table. It was clear that the spot was a popular late-night joint for high schoolers and nocturnal wanderers alike.
A password-secured Wi-Fi connection was an unexpected bonus feature.
Plastic chairs and tables and minimal decor made up the bulk of the interior; laminated menus, napkins, and fixed utensil containers were neatly placed at each table. It was clear that the spot was a popular late-night joint for high schoolers and nocturnal wanderers alike.
A password-secured Wi-Fi connection was an unexpected bonus feature.
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The menu was written in both Vietnamese and English, with (low-res) photos on the side for added clarity. We marked our orders on a lined sheet of order paper before helping ourselves to chopsticks and ladles - which I desprately hope to be well-washed - from the utensil fixture.
As the odd one out, I order a small size of Fresh Rolls with grilled lemongrass chicken and a Fresh Ripe Mango Milkshake instead of Beef Pho, simply because, dare I say it, I'm just not fond of pho.
As the odd one out, I order a small size of Fresh Rolls with grilled lemongrass chicken and a Fresh Ripe Mango Milkshake instead of Beef Pho, simply because, dare I say it, I'm just not fond of pho.
Service was prompt and friendly; in less than ten minutes, our items were delivered to the table with cheerful expressions.
Candidly speaking, the Fresh Rolls weren't exactly as fresh as I would have liked. The grilled chicken was Sahara-like to the point where I found myself questioning whether I was munching on pork, whereas the rice paper wrapper retained a toughness on par with industrial rubber bands. The Fresh Ripe Mango Milkshake, on the hand, was sweet, milky, and much more satisfying, even if it wasn't entirely crafted from fresh ripe mangoes.
Candidly speaking, the Fresh Rolls weren't exactly as fresh as I would have liked. The grilled chicken was Sahara-like to the point where I found myself questioning whether I was munching on pork, whereas the rice paper wrapper retained a toughness on par with industrial rubber bands. The Fresh Ripe Mango Milkshake, on the hand, was sweet, milky, and much more satisfying, even if it wasn't entirely crafted from fresh ripe mangoes.
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The dining area appeared decently clean, if not just a tad more orderly than the bathroom stalls. (I shall not question the presence of rice noodles on the toilet seat.)
My order totalled $10.05, which I unfortunately could not handle with plastic. The cash-only establishment also charges extra for splitting bills on individual pieces of paper, therefore no receipts were provided for individual items.
We depart the friendly pho joint with sufficient time to make the drive to Downtown Brampton in time for 9:00 PM fireworks. To my dismay, I was unable to obtain a clear shot of the light display within the short period of time it was held. There was a second chance though: the official countdown at midnight.
My order totalled $10.05, which I unfortunately could not handle with plastic. The cash-only establishment also charges extra for splitting bills on individual pieces of paper, therefore no receipts were provided for individual items.
We depart the friendly pho joint with sufficient time to make the drive to Downtown Brampton in time for 9:00 PM fireworks. To my dismay, I was unable to obtain a clear shot of the light display within the short period of time it was held. There was a second chance though: the official countdown at midnight.
The period of time between the two displays were spent at T by Daniel (1, 2), as per my recommendation. A few had brought board games to play in the meantime, which we participated in whilst sipping away at gloriously flavourful cups of Lion Chai.
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Crowds poured onto the streets as the clock neared 11:45 PM. We had managed to secure a decent spot for capturing the entirety of the display, only to be rendered helpless when high winds thrust several of the most attractive bursts behind the giant LED screen in the square.
The entire celebration lasted several hours, but the fireworks show lasted only a mere five minutes long. As the last bang rang throughout the dark sky, I waved my white flag and began to hoist my tripod up.
The entire celebration lasted several hours, but the fireworks show lasted only a mere five minutes long. As the last bang rang throughout the dark sky, I waved my white flag and began to hoist my tripod up.
At least McDonald's Peppermint Hot Chocolate exists for fruitless photo nights like these.
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