Lightning!!!!!!

All right, this is the coolest subject matter that has managed to elude me for the longest time. The night after I came back from Orlando, it was thunderstorming late that night. I was up until about 2am and spent about half an hour trying to do this. Requires so much patience! I missed what would have been an amazing shot: the lightning bolt starting from the clouds and right down to the lake!!! This was the best one that I caught. Too bad my window was all dewy from the rain... but I'm so happy with this!

Taken on August 20, 2005:

Downtown Disney, Orlando

Last week, we had a training in Orlando. We got there Saturday evening and pretty much spent most of our time indoors during the entire training in freezing cold convention rooms. Therefore, most of my pictures either turned out fuzzy (in the dark) or I just didn't have any pictures at all. One of the ones that turned out really well and that I really like (although nothing special) is this one...

Taken on August 13, 2005

Chicago skyline

On a Wendella Lake and River cruise, I finally got a chance to get the FULL Chicago skyline. It's very difficult to get a good shot... especially with tons of people milling around as well as the bobbing of the boat. My Toronto skyline picture from Centre Island was so much better but of course, it was a different time of day. I get a silhouetted skyline here but I did my best with my trusty S400!

Taken on August 7, 2005:

Miss Saigon, Toronto

Located near College in Toronto's Chinatown is probably the best Vietnamese cuisine I've ever had. Of course, it helps to be friends with the chef! He used to have all sorts of new things for us to try, crab using various sauces, grilled meats, chicken stuffed with sticky rice, those giant prawns... the list is endless. No doubt their rare beef pho is top notch. But my absolute favourite thing there is the grilled beef on salad. The salad is absolutely refreshing and drenched in that freshly-grilled beef juices. The beef itself is seared to perfection on the outside and left pink and juicy in the middle. Absolutely the best!

Taken on July 2, 2005: the beef is near the bottom of the picture


Taken on July 24, 2005:

Auberge du Pommier, Toronto

The most memorable thing about this restaurant that's tucked away in the middle of North York was the wonderfully decorated little house on the corner.

Taken on July 21, 2005:


The service was splendid despite what I have heard about them being sometimes rather snobbish (as with any upscale places when they see young professionals walk in). Their chilled pea soup with creme fraiche was very unique and their desserts (cream cheese cake and chocolate tort) were both very rich. My entree was an upscale chicken pot pie but if you go, you must have what Hongsa had, the cold poached Atlantic salmon. I've never tasted such excellent and fresh poached fish! Must try :)

Taken on July 21, 2005:

Tundra, Toronto

It's Summerlicious week so obviously, I tried to take advantage of it. Iris and I went for lunch at Tundra located inside the Hilton Toronto. It was a light lunch but tasty nonetheless. Their yellow tomato gazpacho with grilled shrimp was extremely flavourful and their crab cake salad was most excellent!

Taken on July 20, 2005:

Fred's Not Here, Toronto

I cannot believe I tackled this monster (and ate about 2/3 of it too!)

Taken on July 16, 2005: Crackling pork shank (osso bucco) w/fire cracker apple sauce


It was a very nice place for a 312 reunion dinner minus Trung (in Vancouver) and Roger (in Scotland). We missed you guys!

Vong's Thai Kitchen, Chicago

This is absolutely, one of my most favourite restaurants in Chicago. It's located just north of the River and fairly close to the tourist areas. Unfortunately, this means ridiculous prices... they have the most expensive pad thai I have ever had (at dinner, it's US$13.95). I've never heard of pad thai that's that expensive but for some reason, I got it anyway. It's AMAAAAAZING! It's almost worth that $14... If you go during lunch, it's much better (at US$7.95 I believe). Their satay combo appetizer is also very good (the beef is just so succulent!)

Taken on June 13, 2005:


Taken on June 13, 2005:


Their, again, super expensive (US$4) bubbletea special that day was excellent too... it's like a strawberry slush but it's got good quality bubbles. I've tried bbtea at so many places and most have been disappointing to say the least.

hmm...

I guess I haven't really figured out how to organize this. As of now, I have two blogs... this one, and the other one that's more for where I like to rant and rave. This one, I was thinking of using, primarily, for my nice photos of travel. I think I'm going to throw in restaurants there too.
So here it is, this one is all about things I like. The other one is all about how I think and the things I do? Yeah... that sounds good :)