Tag: Culture

FREE isn't forever.

Today was the last official day of the 2010 Olympics and Paralympics (and the free stuff events around the city). Vancouver has graciously received visitors from all over the world and the city has a few new ‘green’ buildings, a important transportation line/link, and progressive ideas for the future. From the Richmond Olympic Oval, the … Continue reading FREE isn't forever.

Fresh air, snow, and mountains

Whistler is a great place to visit, especially if you’re a tourist. There’s lots of shopping, food and a different way of live 2 hours by bus north of Vancouver. I went up to visit my brother and to catch one of the paralympic events at the Whistler Olympic Park. We had free tickets to … Continue reading Fresh air, snow, and mountains

There’s still more Olympics to go… up next, the Paralympics!

Canada comes out of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics with the most number of gold medals of any country! Even though I couldn’t catch most of the games while I was in Bangkok, I was glad to catch the biggest gold medal won during these games – Canada’s 3-2 overtime victory over the USA in … Continue reading There’s still more Olympics to go… up next, the Paralympics!

Going for gold… the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics

It’s almost showtime!  If you didn’t know the 2010 Winter Olympics will start on Friday, 12 February in Vancouver, Canada. It’s one of the biggest events that has come to the city in a long time, and while there are concerns over urban displacement, indigenous issues and budget/debt after the games, the excitement leading up … Continue reading Going for gold… the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics

Going for a stroll

For some reason taking photos in Timor-Leste isn’t as relaxed as other places – well that’s what it seems for some of us amateur photographers. After spending over a year in Timor, I’ve chalked up approximately 5 rolls of film and probably a total of 500 photos from friends. To get out and take more … Continue reading Going for a stroll

Addiction to technology vs. common sense

One thing about Timor is that there isn’t that sense of technology addiction that has been plaguing the rest of the world… from Blackberry’s, iPhones, to other gadgets that seen to distract people from reality, there isn’t much of that in Timor. Of course, there are the technophiles who just loved to keep up-to-date on … Continue reading Addiction to technology vs. common sense

Comforts cost

Cost of living in Timor-Leste is expensive. The currency is US Dollars, but coins are Timorese – it’s a weird combination. A typical meal in a restaurant can range from USD$5-20, and that’s in the “expat” types of places. In typical Indonesian or Timorese-style restaurant that serves usually serves pre-made buffet-style food, the price drops … Continue reading Comforts cost

After 5 minutes, can you trust your gut?

It’s a weird feeling… not the conjunctivitis I caught in late May, but you know the one; where within 5 minutes of meeting someone you either like them or not. There’s not too much of a problem if you like them because you can just continue talking to them, trading stories, exchanging ideas or cracking … Continue reading After 5 minutes, can you trust your gut?