Caring for my Dog ( Collaboration)

My family has a dog named Toffee that's mixed with German Shepard and he is quite the handful to deal with. He's fairly large in size but incredibly mischievous however he's so spoilt he gets away with about 95% of his naughty habits. As you can see in the picture, he loves to jump on my mother's bed and the little bugger gets away with it all the time!

In collaborating with Gaitree of The Happy Paws I've been learning how to better care for him. She has been extremely helpful in explaining the various types of food that we cannot feed Toffee and reasons as to why it is dangerous to him. I was completely unaware as to how dangerous chocolate could be as well as meat bones and salt.
I also learned about how to care from Toffee during Divali which was much better this year for Toffee after following her suggestions. He was calm and playful this year which we were very grateful for.
Check out Gaitree's blog for informative and interesting knowledge to care for dogs and appreciate man's best friend even more.

Must Visit South Korea (Collaboration)

South Korea has always fascinated me and earlier this year I became deeply interested in their culture, food and language. In collaborating with Adina of Let's Talk About Books, she introduced me to the Korean Dramas, which I've become super obsessed with but due to school I haven't gotten a chance to watch any new show.... at all... like nothing at all!
I recently came across this book series called Gilded Trilogy written by Christina Farley. It's three books called Gilded, Silvern and Brazen that is about a Korean-American teen with a family curse that awakens when her father decides to move back to Seoul, South Korea.

 She battles an evil demigod, Haemosu, who wants to take her soul and make her his princess. The legend of Haemosu is an actual Korean myth. The main character was pretty awesome since she had learned the art of tae kwon do and archery. 

These books definitely added to my hopes of visiting South Korea soon. I recommended these books to Adina who also read them and did a review on them. You can head over to her channel and check it out. 

St. Lucia

I visited St Lucia in August 2014 on the weekend of my 20th birthday. My mother, her cousin,two of her aunts and myself went on an all inclusive trip. It was absolutely amazing! We stayed at Coco Palm Hotel located in Rodney Bay. The accommodations were excellent, the food was scrumptious with non-atop drinks at the bar with friendly staff and a beautiful pool to relax in. 

We arrived on Friday night just in time to enjoy dinner before the kitchen closed. There was a live band performing that serenaded me for my birthday while my relatives danced and had the time of their lives.

The hotel was conveniently, located just a minute away from a street filled with bars and the malls were also mere minutes away from the hotel. At the hotel I had this drink that I've not been able to find anywhere else and I really wish I could try it again. It's called 'Hurt It' and it was divine! Three of those and I couldn't walk straight anymore... Silly me. Saturday was spend at the nearby malls checking out the stores and then we took an evening stroll on the Reduit Beach. 

Sunday was spent exploring the island. We made arrangements with a taxi recommended by the hotel who was super friendly and charged us $120 US to drive around the entire island. We had a quick stop at Pigeon Island. It was beautiful. 

Our next stop was at a lighthouse but I cannot recall exactly where it was or what it was called. 

I tried Cassava Bread from this little cute shop on the side of the road. It was interesting but I wouldn't have very often. 

Next we visited Toraille Waterfall. The water was cold and it took me quite a while before I stepped in. 

Black Water pool was next on our tour. Here is some information on Black Water pool taken from their website: "The waters flowing within the park and within the pools are ranked as highly as the waters of the Baden Baden in Germany, Yellow Stone Geysers and Hot Springs in Wyoming, USA and Onsen Ryokan, in Japan and are world renowned for their ability to reduce stress, cure rheumatism, psoriasis and other skin ailments.  In fact, in 1784, under instructions from King Louis XV1 of France, samples of the mineral saturated water emerging from Sulphur Springs were analyzed in France and found to possess similar medicinal properties to the waters of the Aix-les-Bains.  Consequently, baths were built by Baron-de-Laborie, the French Governor of St. Lucia (1784 to 1789), at Diamond Estate, 1 km north-west of Sulphur Springs Park.  The original Diamond Baths were destroyed during the Brigand War that followed on the heels of the French Revolution (1789-1794), but, were rebuilt by the owners in the early twentieth century.  These baths today sit within St. Lucia’s largest and best kept botanical gardens and are themselves a tourist attraction."

The day ended at another lighthouse at the top of this high hill that gave us a beautiful view. We were lucky to witness a stunning sunset to end a magnificent day exploring the island. 

December in Vancouver

I went on my third trip in December of 2013. My mother and I went to spend Christmas with my aunt and her husband. It was a family trip to heal. My grandmother had lost her battle with cancer In October of 2012. No words could describe the heartbreak my family had to once more experience. We had lost the glue that held it all together and we were desperate to try to keep it all together without her.

I was extremely thankful for this holiday for my mother to spend time with her sister. They had lost both parents, three of their brothers, a nephew and my father. The courage, strength, faith and hope shown by these two women were what helped me to believe that I could carry on. Now I began to really appreciate the fun we had together from my first trip.

We visited of my favorite places, Stanley Park and I met a furry friend while there. A raccoon lazily appeared out of the bushes and was picking at scrap he found on the floor. He seemed so unbothered by all the people walking by. 

Most of the holiday was spent shopping and I loved every moment of it! I was in heaven with all the new clothes, shoes, accessories and even the new iPhone that I got! Some days we would be up to 10 hours in a mall just shopping and having an absolute ball. My Canadian uncle is truly an awesome guy to have be so patient with 3 ladies loose in a mall every other day and.

I always enjoy trying new food and one of my most loved memory from this trip was trying sushi. I loved it! My mother on the other hand almost puked. She preferred tempura instead. I enjoyed the pure green tea that we had too. The leaves were placed at the bottom of the cup and hot water was poured over it. 

We were lucky to experience snow for only one day while we were there. It was winter wonderland for my mother and I as we frolicked in the snow. 

Although this trip wasn't filled with much exploring, it was very much needed and consoling. I was able to forget all the troubles than life may have and I reminded myself of how much more there is out there to see and how important it is to live with arms wide open. I had the power to determine the outcome of my life and although I was again devastated inside, I can't let this define who I am. Just as there is night with the moon that rises, there will be a new day with the sun that will also rise brightening up the world with hope that things do turn around for better.

Grouse Mountain

As we continued our summer fun, we planned a visit to Grouse Mountain. I was always eager to get dressed and hit the road. The day started off with breakfast at iHop. It was packed with people and the menu had my head spinning with so many options to choose from. 

After we made our way to Grouse Mountain. Known as both a resort and an attraction, Grouse Mountain is a popular North Vancouver year-round mountain playground about 15 minutes away from downtown Vancouver. 

"Grouse Mountain is one of the North Shore Mountains of the Pacific Ranges in the District Municipality of North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Exceeding 1,200 m (4,000 feet) in altitude at its peak, is the site of an alpine ski area, Grouse Mountain Resort, which in the winter season overlooks Greater Vancouver with four chairlifts servicing 26 runs. In the summer, Grouse Mountain Resort features lumberjack shows, a birds of prey wildlife demonstration, a scenic chairlift ride, and a 2.9 km (1.8 mi.) hiking trail known as the Grouse Grind, as well as helicopter sightseeing. Year-round operations include a 100-seat mountaintop theater and a wildlife refuge. Public access to the mountain top is by a Swiss Garaventa aerial tramway, or the Grouse Grind hiking trail (Open for hiking May-October.)"

I was a little afraid to go on the tramway but reminded myself that I didn't come all the way here to waste this opportunity so I ignored my fear. As we rose into the air, the view was amazing. I just loved how green it was. On one side was water and land on the next side.

The story about how grouse mountain came to be is an interesting one. According to their website "Grouse Mountain was named by the first recorded hikers to reach the summit in October 1894. In those days, climbing Grouse Mountain was a three or four day epic journey - there was no bridge across Burrard Inlet and no road to the base. The hardy group of hikers slogged through snow, scrambled over rock and up through the dense forest. Along the way, they hunted a Blue Grouse and honored the plentiful game bird by calling the Peak "Grouse Mountain".

We walked around checking out what was on display and took loads of pictures. 

In 2001 The Grouse Mountain Refuge for Endangered Wildlife was launched. Grinder and Coola, two orphaned grizzly bears, were the first to call the Refuge their home.  Grinder was found in Invermere, BC. He was wandering alone on a logging road, dehydrated, thin, weak and weighing only 4.5 kg. Coola was found orphaned on a highway near Bella Coola, BC. His mother had been killed by a truck and, of her three cubs, Coola was the only one to survive. Now the bears are taken care of at Grouse Mountain and visitors can get to view them as they go about playing in water and running in the grass. Unfortunately I don't have a decent picture of the other bear.

We were too early for any shows yet so took the chairlift ride to get to the other attractions. That was another hell by itself! I was really afraid again that I might slip from the ride but my I wasn't a coward either and this trip was all about fun.

We made our way towards the Eye of the Wind. "British Columbia’s wind energy icon and newest technological marvel, the Eye of the Wind is the world’s first wind turbine with a one-of-a-kind panoramic viewPOD at the top of the tower. The viewPOD is accessible by elevator – providing visitors with a close-up view of wind energy at work plus a 360-degree view of the Lower Mainland."

Once more the view was breathtaking. It was green for as far as I could see. The entire pod spun as the turbine's blades moved with the wind and the floor had glass a glass ceiling. 

We also saw the Birds in Motion show. They had a golden eagle, red- tailed hawk and peregrine falcon. The birds were majestic fearsome animals that caught their meals with huge claws. 

The lumberjack show was hilarious as the men performed cool stunts, climbed logs and did silly things teasing each other. While the show was going on, fog began to surround us. It was strange and alluring to me.

It was a fun day at Grouse Mountain and I cannot wait to spend another summer exploring the mountain soon.

Summer fun in Vancouver

Vancouver is without a doubt a beautiful city! I love how green it is and in tune with nature. I'd be lying if I didn't be completely truthful and confess how much I was in love with Vancouver. The houses were of different color and styles reminding me of back home. Toronto the houses were generally the same style and color and the city felt like a concrete jungle to me. 
We didn't waste anytime in advantaging the warm, sunny day and headed to Stanley Park. At the park it was buzzing with families, joggers, cyclists and tourists snapping tons of photos. I reveled at the site of all the colors of flowers, the different plants and trees.

This was my first time visiting the park at summer time and it was so beautiful. There were butterflies around, squirrels running in the trees and raccoons digging through the trash. 

The view of the mountains was like nothing I had ever seen before and it took my breath away. Vancouver really made me have a deeper appreciation and develop a great love for nature. 

We drove around after to downtown Vancouver and I was like a kid in a candy store. My eyes were wide with excitement as my head spun in all directions looking at all the huge, tall buildings, the multitude of ethnicity of people all over the city and the First Nation people. The beach was packed with people all having a good time soaking up the sun. 

It was a great start to the two weeks we were about to spend together. It was a blessing to spend this time with my family and share laughs together to create memories that would last a life time.

Family time in Vancouver

After spending two weeks in Toronto, my uncle and I went to Vancouver to visit my aunt and her husband. My aunt and I have always been close and she's like a second mother to me. No matter the time or where I could always turn to her in times of sadness and for advice. Her husband has always been an extremely loving and selfless person who I admire and look up to immensely. It's always a wonderful time when we are all together. 

This holiday with her came at a delicate moment in the family's lives as we all struggled to cope with the loss of Vinayak just 6 months before and during my grandmother's battle with cancer. I was happy that my uncle had this chance to have a vacation with her too since this was his first international trip. 

It lifted me out of my mental state of depression. I don't think I had ever admitted to anyone exactly how devastated I was left from Vinayak's loss. I had days I would just get home from school, change and lay in bed with my iPod and listen to music without eating or drinking much. At one point I became sick and my mother had rushed me to a doctor. I ended up developing stomach issues.

I had stopped reading books which was my most loved thing to do. Before I used to read a book in about a day or two, I always used to get in trouble for reading during classes and during recess I would've been deep into a book. After Vinayak's death I just lost all motivation for anything. He was our joy and source of happiness and even though he was going through chemotherapy and had lost his hair, he was the most cutest kid I had ever known. His smile could've lit up the entire room.

I had days when I hated god and wished I could dream Vinyak just to have some kind of sign from him that he is happy wherever he is and our sweet baby still remembers us. Wishful thinking..... but I had to remind myself that it would be selfish to still want him here on this earth where he was suffering and in pain. 

I remembered all the days we had to hold him still while up to 50 needles pierced his arms and legs for a vein for an IV as he screamed in tears. As much as I grieved for him, he was in a better place with his father, my dad, his two uncles and his grandfather. I had to be strong for my family around me and for my own sanity.

In Toronto I was doing alright but to face my aunt weighed heavily on my mind. This holiday with my aunt was a way for me to heal myself. My heart was barely holding together and my mind urged me to carry on and be the pillar of strength that my mother needed. I knew it would be difficult to look at my aunt and not think of my family back home but I had to. I was blessed to still be alive and I told myself I have to live to the fullest and carry on Vinayak, my dad and my uncle's memories.