Cooking Catch Up

I've been enjoying spending lots of time in the kitchen over the last day or so, and with rain forecast for the next few days, I'm sure this will continue. Yesterday I made some vegan banana bread with spelt flour from the recipe in the Vegan Yum Yum cookbook. Dinner was soba noodles, store bought Korean dumplings and a simple soy broth with edamame, carrots, beans and spring onions which were lurking in our veggie crisper.

Today I pickled some radishes after being inspired by the tsukemono/Japanese pickles at our local Korean supermarket yesterday. Finally I made some granola with almonds, pecans and golden flaxseed, as well as dried apricots, figs and pears.

The Break is Over

It has been a long time since I have posted (almost three months!) due to some difficult times here in Canada. I got a job, but my work permit was denied so there has been much flux in T's and my plans about where to live. T went over to London for a job interview as we thought we would move there instead, and we even discussed returning to Melbourne. But for now I think (it changes minute to minute!) we are staying put here in Toronto. T is going to study as of 10 May, which has the wonderful benefit of giving me an open work permit. So 10 May will also be my first day, as my boss kindly kept my job open for me so I could get a different type of work permit.

Now that that is out of the way and I have moved on from my ongoing battle with the depression demons, I have been trying to figure out how to spend the next few months before starting work. I have many projects in their embryonic stages, but the first is to update this blog, and also my photos on my flickr page. T and I took a short trip to Montreal, Quebec City and Ottawa for my birthday just before Christmas, so they should all be up shortly.

Here are some pics from Montreal - what a place, so wonderful for vegans and just walking around (in -20 degree temperatures!) I am very silly that I didn't take any pictures at our two dinners at Chu Chai - their satay "chicken" and deep fried spinach (drool) was too good for words, so good in fact that I didn't even think to take out my camera before diving in. All I wanted to do was cram it in my mouth as quickly as possible : )

A Great Weekend

+ Seeing A Serious Man

+ Dinner at Live

+ A visit to Algonquin Provincial Park, where we saw a beaver making his way through the water, wood in mouth, to repair his house just before sunset

+ Discovering White Lotus and their delicious vegan spring rolls and lemongrass "chicken"

+ Continuing reading Bicycle Diaries by David Byrne

Last night I saw Growing and Fuck Buttons at the El Mocambo, and am looking forward to seeing some films at the Canadian Labour International Film Festival (CLiFF) at the Bloor Cinema later this week.

The Return

I have spent the last two months or so getting used to starting life in a new country (hence my lack of posting). Toronto has been very kind to me so far: I have number of job interviews lined up, T and I are living in a wonderful apartment right where we wanted to be, and it has been so wonderful being able to see old friends, and get to know new ones. I feel really lucky to be here, and am excited about the possibilities of life in Canada.

Corner View - Out the Car Window

I'm afraid I can't keep strictly within this week's title, as I don't own a car. I thought I would instead post some photos from my recent trip to Belize, in particular Caye Caulker. The only transport on the island were bicycles or golf carts, which also doubled as cabs. The last image is the boat which would take us back to the mainland.

It was a spectacular place. One night T and I watched the moon rise from a hut on the beach while drinking cocktails you had to lift with both hands. Another afternoon, we went snorkelling out near the reef, and swam amongst enormous stingrays.

Other corner viewers looking out their car windows:

jane, ladybug-zen, ian, bonnie, esti, sophie, cele, modsquad, caitlin, joyce, ani, kim, a day that is dessert, natsumi, epe, kaylovesvintage, trinsch, c.t., jeannette, outi, ritva, francesca, state of bliss, jennifer, dana, denise, cabrizette, bohemia girl, isabelle, amber, a girl in the yellow shoes, mister e, janis, kari, jgy, skymring, elizabeth, allison, lise, cate, crescent moon, erin, otli, ida, caroline, lisa, dorte, kimmie, la lune dans le ciel, nicola, malo, vanessa, britta, april, b, kyndale samantha, karen, kristina, goldensunfamily, sophie, janet, mcgillicutty, aimee, sunnymama, jenell, britta, juanita, pamela, inna, daan, myrtille, cris, ibb, susi, jodi, lily, gillian, athena, pienduzz, latisha, clairette, kelleyn, iris, demara, mus, ninja, guusje, di, sammi, theresa, cherry b, victoria, kathryn , lisa, liza, juliette, braja, mulot, anne

The End of Another ATP New York 2009

I'm skipping ahead because I'm so slack with keeping up to date with blogging while travelling - I shall revisit Central America in posts to come. I just wanted to collect my thoughts about All Tomorrows' Parties that has just finished tonight.

My favourite discoveries this year were Panda Bear and Black Dice, while it was amazing to rediscover The Jesus Lizard and Boss Hog. Other highlights included:

+ Watch Jon Spencer and Bradford Cox being interviewed

+ See Nick Cave play piano with the Dirty Three

+ Seeing Shellac

+ Watch The Boredoms perform their 9 drummer Boadrum

+ See Wayne Coyne zorb over the top of the audience at the beginning of The Flaming Lips set

Tomorrow we head back to New York City, and on Tuesday we will fly to Toronto. I'm nervous about arriving in our new hometown, but excited as well.

Antigua to Tikal

Antigua is a pretty colonial town, situated at the base of the Volcan de Agua. Our whole time there was spent pounding the cobblestone streets checking out the many churches and church ruins.

A bus then took us to Guatemala City to connect to a surprisingly comfortable overnight bus journey to Flores, the closest settlement to Tikal. I was a little frightened on arriving in Guatemala City, as the bus station consisted of a small office building and a car park, that had locked doors and was guarded by a man with a shotgun. We were then locked into the building, while the guard continued to wait outside with his gun until our bus arrived.

Tikal itself was pretty amazing - we reenacted this scene from Star Wars: Episode IV at the top of Temple IV.