I grew up in the city of Windsor, Ontario, Canada and from the time I was somewhere between twelve and fourteen years old I was intent on getting out. Windsor was a dusty, grey hole - its only redeeming factor was that it bordered Detroit, Michigan, USA. That says a lot, as at that time in history I believe Detroit was the murder capital of the U.S. Back then, I thought, "Well, at least Detroit's interesting. And has great bands". Windsor had air that tasted like fertilizer and various Tim Horton's littered throughout the city. It took a decade or two for me to realize the incredible in Windsor. I grasped this mostly while away. For a city of a little over … [Read more...]
CANADA
Welcome. This is exactly where you'll find Canadian photo series, local travel recommendations and Canadian adventure travel stories.
A July Update
There's a blackout in my building. Thunder. Tiny explosions of water on the balcony. A distant mechanical hum. Today is a lazy day for me. The blinds are drawn and the white light of my laptop brightens the room. It's time for an update. I've been in Toronto, Canada for over a month now. This wasn't the plan. I arrived in late May to attend a conference for a number of days. Protocol was then to move to the city of Peterborough to live with three girls I'd never met. The thought of being surrounded by cottage country was appealing. It was there I planned to write my book. It can be crazy how life unfolds and if … [Read more...]
Doing Toronto with Mr. Everywhere Mark Strong
This year's Travel Blog Exchange (TBEX) Toronto is up at the end of the month and the city's Mr. Everywhere Mark Strong was kind enough to answer a few questions about traveling to Toronto. Some info on Mark: Mark Strong is the co-host of G98.7 FM's morning show Mark And Jem In The Morning, the in arena host of the Toronto Raptors and the in stadium host of Toronto's Argonauts. He's also the host of NBA XL. Mark's previous endeavors have included being the live voice of The Juno Awards (Canada's music awards) and Canada’s Walk of Fame. He was the warm-up talent for TV's Deal or No Deal (with host Howie Mandel), Are You Smarter than a Canadian 5th Grader (with host Collin Mochrie) and … [Read more...]
Author Shawn Micallef Discusses Engaging with the City of Toronto for Travelers
In anticipation of the 1,000+ attendees of this year's Travel Blog Exchange (TBEX) to be held in Toronto at the end of the month, I thought I'd touch base with the remarkable Shawn Micallef in search of advice for those traveling to the city. Some background on Shawn: Shawn Micallef is a senior editor and co-owner of the independent, Jane Jacobs Prize–winning magazine Spacing, and the author of Stroll: Psychogeographic Walking Tours of Toronto and co-author of Full Frontal T.O.: Exploring Toronto’s Architectural Vernacular. He currently writes a Friday column in the Toronto Star about the city, is completing a book in the Coach House Books Exploded Views Series, The Trouble with … [Read more...]
The Next Chapter: Windsor – Toronto – TBEX – Peterborough
I'm currently writing you amidst piles of my possessions. I'm downsizing. Again. I arrived in North America from Asia with two suitcases and two carry-ons and I've decided to drop back down to one suitcase and two carry-ons. I tend to find the process of collecting my items and my thoughts in anticipation of a change of locations as though I'm preparing for a little death. I make peace with my present life, I appreciate those around me and I get ready for a new chapter. In roughly two and a half weeks I'll board a plane and arrive in Toronto, Ontario, Canada for TBEX (Travel Blog Exchange). The conference offers a venue for bloggers, writers, new media content creators … [Read more...]
Working Class Kids: Early 90s Skinhead Portraits
The following is Part II of a two part series of portraits found in a box under the stairs in my parents’ basement. All shots were taken with a Canon AE-1. I originally developed a number of these by hand. Part I, Antisocial: Early 90s Hardcore Portraits may be found here. I had a radio show entitled Hold Your Ground, that I believe began in roughly 1993 and lasted for approximately 7 years. I played punk, hardcore, oi!, streetpunk, seminal punk and anything of the corresponding lineages. The show won a couple of awards, I was featured in George Marshall's Skinhead Nation, and I met a lot of great people because of it. Here are some of … [Read more...]
Antisocial: Early 90s Hardcore Portraits
Spending some time in my hometown of Windsor, Ontario, Canada is eliciting some serious nostalgia. The following is Part I of a two part series of portraits found in a box under the stairs in my parents' basement. Part II, Working Class Kids: Early 90s Skinhead Portraits may be found here. All shots were taken with a Canon AE-1. The last photo was the only not taken by me (and I have no idea who did, but it was with my Canon). I originally developed a number of these by hand. I grew up listening to punk, hardcore, oi!, streetpunk, seminal punk....I lived in a house with three brothers, two of them being record geeks who listened to the above incessantly. … [Read more...]
Photo Series: Approaching All Hallow’s Eve, Toronto
The following photos were taken at Neutral Night Club in Toronto, Ontario, Canada days prior to Halloween. The night featured a performance by Glenn Love, a Toronto based industrial / dark electronic musician signed to Sonic-X Records. It was my first taste of Halloween festivities since returning to Canada from years spent in Thailand. Halloween wasn't celebrated or even discussed in the Thailand I experienced; the night in Neutral's black basement was a great introduction back. For more information on Glenn Love, visit: Glenn Love on Reverbnation Glenn Love on YouTube Glenn Love on Facebook Neutral Night Club's … [Read more...]
Re-Entry Shock: Over Ten Weeks In
I had left for Asia, thus the commencement of my nomadic life in early 2009. In mid to late 2010 I returned to my native country of Canada to clear up some loose ends and finalize the selling of my condo in Toronto. As memory serves me, the transition was easy. I flew in, I hung out for approximately one month and I left elated. However, in August 2012, roughly ten weeks after I landed on North American soil, I'm writing you, feeling like a freak (in my parents' basement...which doesn't help matters). In a previous piece, Re-Entry Shock: Feeling Like A Foreigner In Your Native Country, I detailed my experience. What I didn't realize at the time was how long this … [Read more...]
Culture Shock: 7 Brain Sweeps Returning To North American Life
Thirty days in North America and the following squished and/or continues to squish my brain: 1) Despite spending the month of June split between southern California and the most southern city in the entire nation of Canada, during the day, I've been caught running around in jeans, a shirt, jacket, scarf and gloves while others run amok in beaters (vests) and shorts. In air conditioned homes I sip hot water to not have to walk around in a blanket. I currently sleep in thermals. 2) I dug deep, got in touch with my internal cheeseball, made peace with her and began to (occasionally) wear sunglasses indoors. My brother, with whom I was crashing with in California returned home at … [Read more...]