Bed and Dresser (Irene, you wanted to see my room!)

Mi Casa

On the street where I live

I LOVE the fact that they have bicycle lanes here. Of course, they're not really operational during winter as you can barely see the track. But wow, there's no need to constantly worry abou pedestrians or fast-moving cars! I really wish they could implement this in Singapore.

The "You-can-cross-the-road-now" White man. Equivalent to Green Man in Singapore. And after some time, a red hand flashes and then tells you to stop. The photo of that didn't come out very well coz I was walking while taking it.

The pavement. All that stuff on it is slush (usually it's more brown and gross looking).

While walking back home from UW

HUGE pileup of snow! Taken in front of the Physics building

AAAAH! Heaven! (Appa, good thing we didn't come here when you were in Canada. You wouldn't have left the store! Even I was dragging my feet when we had to leave.)

This one's 'specially for Appa :) Chapters Book Store! (Burlington)

At the carpark/passenger pick-up. It's called a Kiss 'N Ride. Neeraja had explained that it's coz you Kiss one goodbye, and ride away! The GO Train is in the background, in case the double-decker-ness wasn't obvious in the previous photo :P People here are so SO helpful! I was carrying a little suitcase up the stairs and people asked me if I needed help carrying it up. How nice of them!

ANDDDD the trains were DOUBLE-DECKERED! This photo was taken from inside my train which, as I'd mentioned earlier, was very brightly lit. And the windows were incredibly clean and shiny. So whenever I tried to look out, I could only see the reflection of the interior. So sadly, I couldn't get any nice scenery shots during my journey. But I digress. How COOL is a double-decker train! :D

Inside a GO Train. So beautifully, brightly lit and very very safe!

Just when my subway-excitement died down a little (and I successfully took it alone without getting lost), I entered a GO Train Station (downtown Toronto). And I got totally hyper again! A proper train station, with all these specialty cafes and newsstands. And there are signs everywhere! (Ok, these things may be very NORMAL for you all, but you know, I'm a public transport fanatic. So well, I got very excited. And impressed!)

Yindian yinfluence in Canada! Both screens decided to become Indian just when I looked up to take a photo. Perfect! (Btw for those who can't tell, that's Aishwarya Rai)

Me outside Eaton Centre. It got dark so soon! All we had time for was gallivanting inside Eaton alone! No time for anything else downtown! Never mind. After exams, I get my next chance with Pallavi. (Can't wait pallu!)

Flying geese in Eaton Centre! (Suspended of course, but looks pretty realistic eh?)

The famous Eaton Centre in downtown Toronto. I went completely nuts here! Shoppers' Paradise! 5/6 levels of just SHOPPING! (I was never this bad a shopaholic in Singapore. Canada rocks :D)

Inside the subway. I'm pretty sure the doorways are red coz we were taking the Red-Line. But Neeraja's not too sure. When we changed to the yellow line, the doorways were yellow! If it's true, it's a pretty good way of knowing you're on the right track (OMGGG PUN! :D :D :D).

The TTC (Toronto Transit Commission) Subway! I got so hyper when I saw it coz I've been under the impression that North American public transit is pathetic. But this is exactly like our MRT trains in Singapore!

Grinning baekkishly with the CNY decor. I was feeling cheesy taking photos with all the lil kids. But at least I didn't go up on stage.

The lion about to eat the lettuce! (I find this so ironic. Putting up Lion Dance photos in Canada!)

Apparently this is a CNY custom. I didn't even know about it till Neeru told me! Most of these shops have a bunch of lettuce hanging at their doorways. The lion has to dance and finally eat up the lettuce. So the poor lions had to stop and dance in front of every shop!

In Pacific Mall. A mall with ONLY Chinese shops and LOTS of Chinese people. Managed to catch the Lion Dance there coz it was Chinese New Year. So I didn't miss anything from not being in Singapore on CNY! (Got the holidays too since it was Reading Week :D)

Neeraja, Me and her Mom, Lata Aunty. After their friend's Homam.

Neeraja and her very very nice family who put me up ! Her brother had gone out.

Doesn't differ much from Singapore eh? Except for the emptiness I guess. This photo was illegally taken by the way :P

Guruuuu ka poster! In Canada! :D :D We very nearly went to watch it but tickets were tooo expensive! So ended up watching Bond instead. (Anyway Namratha's got the Guru DVD now so YAY! One more session of cooking and movie!)

AMC Cineplex. We went to watch Casino Royale (finally!). Ooh WHAT a movie :D

Delectable variety of SWEETS! :D :D :D

Where we went for lunch. A-1 restaurant. Fully vegetarian Punjabi cuisine. DELICIOUS! And beside the restaurant, a whole lot of Indian shops! Scarborough has HUGE population of Chinese and Indians. In fact I think I only saw 4 or 5 Canadians here!

Shirdi Sai Baba

With Neeraja's family at the Shirdi Sai Baba mandhir in Scarborough/Markham (can't remember which area! But they're both suburbs of Toronto).

At Chicopee Ski Resort. That's our poor instructor who had to rescue me about 50 times in the one hour that he taught us! Skiing's definitely not my thing.

Hailin, Margaret, Artemis and me, just before our skiing lesson. Our instructor was really nice and offered to remove his gloves and take a photo for us! Note how my skis aren't even parallel. Hopeless! Couldn't even STAND properly on them!

Namratha and her awesome family which let me stay there for 2 nights and make me feel so at home! :D

Singing Maara Vairi (Naasika Booshani raagam)

All the kids! Wide range of ages, and ALL of them sang solo!

Swetha, her sister Sandhya, Nammu and me :)

Happily discussing prior to Maithreem Bhajatha

The Mridangam player - Mr. Prakash.

All of us singing Jagadanandakaraka

Gomathi Maami, the leader of the Pancharatna Kritis, me, Shailaja giving Sri Thyagarajar's history, and Namratha

Subramaniam Maama doing the deevaardhanai. First time I saw/smelt karpuram since I came here! I LOVE the smell!

2 Maamas chanting slokams.

Pre-Thyagaraja Aradhana. And Nammu's dad testing the mic.

Our hearty dinner while watching Guru on YouTube. Pita bread (naan), potato curry and moor! This is THE life! :D (I'm not being sarcastic, btw.)

Potato Curry looks pretty good eh? :D

Namratha putting molaga podi Chandramukhi style (note the expression of glee while overly putting chilli powder!). I'd just missed her "laka laka laka".

Nammu caught the "eww gross, I'm in the kitchen" expression on my face while I was emptying the potatoes into the frying pan