I actually can’t recall a day of my life in Vancouver, from 2006 to 2012, when Russ and Guss weren’t there. They were there for my birthdays, my social events, but also my important life milestones.

To pick me up from the airport, whenever I would return to Vancouver from a trip. They took me for dinner when I completed my second Blogathon.

Russ was always fond of Mexico, and he was also very fond of my mother, and I am grateful that he got to spend some time with her and me while she visited me every summer in Vancouver.

So many memories of my life in Vancouver are marked by Russ’ friendship, laughter, cooking abilities, martini-making prowess. But more than anything, I remember Russ as one of my closest confidantes, someone who mentored me and suggested ways in which I could approach life. Whenever I would feel down, Russ and Gus would call me over and invite me for dinner. Our brunches at Crave on Main Street were a staple of my weekends.

Russ and Gus made wonderful celebrations of my family-less Christmases, in fact instituting themselves into my Vancouver family. Russ was the epitome of a loyal friend. He would take his time to get to know someone, but once you got into his inner circle, you were in there for life.

The last time I got to see Russ (luckily, this year), he came down to Aguascalientes to spend some time learning Spanish (his passion for, and abilities with languages) and also to visit me. He got to see my recent accomplishments first hand, and he celebrated my success in person.

I will miss you, my dear friend. I love you.

Yet, whenever (and this happens rarely) I check my Twitter feed, by chance I come across bloggers’ non-ethical practices. Amongst these, a lack of disclosure of their financial connections, aka not disclosing when they get freebies. This disgusts me.

So I decided to stage a comeback. Not because I need more PR pitches (God knows I still receive hundreds of pitches a day and I still dump them in the trash bin), but because my travel and lifestyle blog was also my personal blog, one where I mused about stuff I was thinking, one where I wrote about my international travels, and one where I would talk about the stuff I have enjoyed for others to peruse. So, while it won’t be the same type of “travel, food, drinks and lifestyle magazine” blog that it used to be, I will be writing here about my travels, the food I’m eating, the restaurants I’m visiting, the things I am doing, on my own time, and on my own terms.

And thus, on the week of my 8th blogiversary, I’ve decided that I’m back.

LHB are the duo Giles Barton and Lee Wilson-Wolfe whose debut for a major, Tell ‘Em Who We Are, has the potential to be one of the biggest-selling dance records of 2002. There is nothing particularly new or out of the ordinary about their style but the skill and creative ideals used to successfully blend so many different genres of dance in every song are rare talents.

I am now obsessed with this song. For your listening pleasure.

Crees que es tuyo solamente, pero es una farsa
y te convences que esto acabará, te equivocas…
Tu papel es el de ser esa mujer que el se cansó de ver,
que ya no toca más, que ya no quiere más…

En cambio yo, tengo sus noches y su pasión,
sus fantasías y su obsesión, aunque te duela soy
la que en tu cama probó su amor, tú eres rutina
por eso yo, prefiero ser su amante, su amante…

La intuición no se equivoca cuando sientes celos
no estás loca, y enterate, yo soy la otra…
El de ti ya esta aburrido y a mi me persigue como
un niño, soy un dulce que siempre le sabe bien…

En cambio yo, tengo sus noches y su pasión,
sus fantasías y su obsesión, aunque te duela soy
la que en tu cama probó su amor, tú eres rutina
por eso yo, prefiero ser su amante, su amante…

Yo tengo sus noches y su pasión,
sus fantasías y su obsesión, aunque te duela soy
la que en tu cama probó su amor, tú eres rutina
por eso yo, prefiero ser su amante, su amante…

Yo tengo sus noches y su pasión,
sus fantasías y su obsesión, aunque te duela…

Su amante, su amante, SOY YO

The lyrics, taken from MetroLyrics are here

Walking with my head down
Counting every step
Hoping that the next one
Brings me closer to the man I was

Cause I was way better
Maybe its because
We were together

[Refrain]
I said I’m looking for myself
And I still can’t find me
That’s why I’m looking for myself
Who am I? Someone remind me
I’m looking for myself
All my life
I’m searching
I said I’m looking for myself
And somehow I ran right into
Youuuu (looking for myself)
Youuuu (I, I I, I I I)
Youuuu (looking for myself)
And somehow I ran right into you

Escaping on the tightrope
Trying not to fall
If I don’t keep my balance
I know, I will lose it all
I should have known better
And it’s all my fault
That we’re not together

[Refrain]
I said I’m looking for myself
And I still can’t find me
That’s why I’m looking for myself
Who am I? Someone remind me
I’m looking for myself
All my life
I’m searching
I said I’m looking for myself
And somehow I ran right into
Youuuu (looking for myself)
Youuuu (I, I I, I I I)
Youuuu (looking for myself)
And somehow I ran right into you

I was on a journey,
Tryin to figure out who I really was
Then I realized that,
When you’re not here,
Half of me is gone
So in order for me to find me,
I had to find you
You know? (youuuu)
And I got a funny feeling that
You won’t know who you are
And unless you find me
It’s like…
You look in the mirror
And you see the person that you truely love

[Refrain]
I said I’m looking for myself
And I still can’t find me
That’s why I’m looking for myself
Who am I? Someone remind me
I’m looking for myself
All my life
I’m searching
I said I’m looking for myself
And somehow I ran right into
Youuuu (looking for myself)
Youuuu (I, I I, I I I)
Youuuu (looking for myself)
And somehow I ran right into you

Usually, on Canada Day, I would spend most of the day with Minna, or with other Canadian friends of mine. Other years I’ve done the Canada Day at Canada Place programme, as I’ve been invited as one of their blogger partners.

Of course I miss Canada. I miss it terribly. It was my home country for more than 16 years, on and off. I fell in love with Canada, I fell in love IN Canada, I had two Canadian-born partners, I did one of my Masters, and my PhD in Canada. I was a faculty member in one of Canada’s top universities, and I taught hundreds of amazingly bright Canadian students. I blossomed as a person, a social media darling, and I do owe Canada a big debt. Canada and Canadians taught me about following the rules, about privacy, about doing things “by the book”. Some of my best friends are, and will always be, Canadian. And I will always be a Canadian too.

This week I have been receiving many great news, all of which have happened ever since I moved away from Canada. But that doesn’t mean that I don’t feel enormous gratitude for Canada. It’s been my home, my country, and I’ve loved more Canadian people than I have any other country’s population in the world. I’m proud to be Canadian, I’m proud to have represented Canada in the occasions I’ve done so. And yes, Vancouver is and will always be home for me.

But right now I’m in a different place, in a different space and I have a completely different outlook on life. I’ve moved on, and while Canada will always have a special place in my heart, I am now looking forward to the changes in my life. And I’ll always be a son of Canada, no matter what.

On July 1st, I too will be celebrating Canada Day. Happy birthday, my beloved country, Canada, eh?

I travel quite a lot, particularly with work, but also because I do a lot of media/press trips (after all, the vast majority of my blog is focused on my travel writing). I almost always have to download and upload thousands of photos, and other online material at airports, as I have another professional life that does not include writing about my travel. Thus, I am always on the look for spots that offer free internet access via wireless (free wifi). Fortunately for me, many of the international airports, including Vancouver International Airport (YVR, for more than a decade my home airport), and several domestic ones (such as Kelowna) do offer free access to wireless. But this is not always the case, as my tweet indicates.

So far, @Atlanta_Airport is the only airport I have been to that has NO FREE WIFI. @NRT (Narita, Tokyo) @DCA_Airport and @DFWAirport all do!

— Raul (@hummingbird604) June 9, 2013

I have to say that I find it a little bit bewildering why airports wouldn’t offer free wifi. Even more amazing, Dallas Fort Worth Airport (DFW) offers free internet connection via ethernet cable, and free power charging for Apple products such as an iPod, iPhone or a MacBook Pro, as can be seen on my photo below. This, of course, in addition to free wifi.

So my question to you, my dear readers is… do you think airports should have free wifi? Hartsfield Jackson International Airport in Atlanta doesn’t have it, but it says that it is slowly moving in that direction (and given that I travel with Delta Airlines quite a lot, an airline that has Atlanta as one of their major hubs), I hope they do move soon in that direction.

The Encounter description from the CK website describes it as:

masculine. intriguing. seductive. ENCOUNTER Calvin Klein redefines modern, unapologetic masculinity. a distinctive sensual woody fragrance, ENCOUNTER combines an addictive blend of freshness, warm cognac and sensual woods.

Strangely enough, Calvin Klein’s website doesn’t provide the actual notes of the fragrance, but Fragrantica does:

Calvin Klein launches a new fragrance in September 2012 – mysterious, seductive and masculine Encounter. The composition is developed by Firmenich perfumers Honorine Blanc and Pierre Negrin. It opens with aromas of mandarin, cardamom and rum. Pepper, Egyptian jasmine, patchouli and cognac from the perfume’s core, settled on woody nuances of oud, Atlas cedar and musk.

While I found Encounter less of a Calvin Klein cologne than I have found before (most of the CK fragrances I’ve had are more citrusy rather than, in this case, more woody), I have been using it to go to the office and I feel quite comfortable. However, I would say that Encounter by Calvin Klein is more of a night cologne (e.g. for “going out” than it is a day one). And yes, it does smell what you would call “traditionally masculine”, although I sometimes object to those descriptions.

Encounter by Calvin Klein can be obtained at most stores. At Sephora it retails for $72 Canadian dollars.

Disclosure:I bought a 100ml bottle of Encounter by Calvin Klein on my own dime at the duty free shop in Dallas. I have no financial connections to Calvin Klein and I was not given a free bottle for review. As always, I retain full editorial control over anything published on my blog.

The Cerro del Muerto (Dead Man Mountain) is named that way because it resembles a dead (or sleeping) man (see the photo above). While the hike isn’t considered an easy one, and we didn’t go all the way to the top, I really enjoyed it.

There are two pathways (you need to take the highway to Calvillo and then stop almost right at the intersection with the highway that takes you to Mexico) that go uphill.

There is a chapel in the first 200 metres as you go uphill, and to be quite frank, hiking that far up did not make me even work up a sweat. But the rest of the hike seemed quite daunting and I was out of shape as I hadn’t been exercising enough so I didn’t want to risk it. The next time I have some free time, I’ll have to check the Cerro del Muerto again.

From the Asakusa Wikipedia entry:

For most of the twentieth century, Asakusa was the major entertainment district in Tokyo. The rokku or “Sixth District” was in particular famous as a theater district, featuring famous cinemas such as the Denkikan. The golden years of Asakusa are vividly portrayed in Yasunari Kawabata’s novel The Scarlet Gang of Asakusa (1930; English translation, 2005). The area was heavily damaged by US bombing raids during World War II, particularly the March 1945 firebombing of Tokyo. The area was rebuilt after the war, but has now been surpassed by Shinjuku and other colorful areas in the city, in its role as a pleasure district.

Of course, while shopping was the main target, I did get a chance to visit the Sensō-ji, an anciest Buddhist temple, located also right besides the Asakusa Shrine. While I am not any more knowledgeable about Japanese religious history (something I did read about years ago), I felt a strange connection to the temples I visited.

The purification before entering the Shrine was something I was completely unaware of until I visited Mishima-shi, and something that I took up quite quickly as a routine. I also had my fortune read at Asakusa Shrine, and apparently I am due for lots of success (I wonder if this happens to many people!)

Overall, I really enjoyed shopping in Asakusa and visiting the temple and shrine. I really think Japan deserves a more thorough visit and I will have to come back soon (well, as soon as next year, 2014).

(I’ve) hung around with big shots
Never knew love was in the sights
I guess I missed the target
Caught up in a different line of fire

But I know since I’ve been aiming
For the sweetness in your soul
Your name is on the bullet
And it’s gettin’ ready to explode
There’s been a change inside my life
And I just wanna let you know

I’ve got my finger on the trigger
Love is in control
I’ve got my finger on the trigger
I ain’t lettin’ go

Bass Line:
Baby, let’s have some fun
A won’t cha be my, my
Number one

Mama used to tell me
Girl, you better load your gun up right
She said ya, ya gotta come out smokin’
Hit it with your best shot every time
Well I didn’t understand her
’til you walked right into range
I saw your love at twenty paces
And I new I’d won the game
You better raise your heart up high
Or love will blow you right away

I’ve got my finger on the trigger
Love is in control
I’ve got my finger on the trigger
I ain’t lettin’ go
I’ve got my finger on the trigger
Love is in control
I’ve got my finger on the trigger
I ain’t lettin’ go

Leave off that safety catch
There ain’t no risk
We’re gonna have some fun
I’ve got cha, love’s begun
So stay with me
Until the mornin’ sun

You’re superbullet number one

Bass Line:
Baby, let’s have some fun
A won’t cha be my, my
Number one
There’s been a change inside
My life
And I just wanna let you know

I’ve got my finger on the trigger
Love is in control
I’ve got my finger on the trigger
I ain’t lettin’ go
I’ve got my finger on the trigger
Love is in control
I’ve got my finger on the trigger
I ain’t lettin’ go…

—
I found an extended version that has a little bit better audio.

Everyone who is in some way or another close to me always asks me “are you sure you made the right move?“. And my answer, one year later, is still emphatically YES. I’m glad I moved to Mexico, and I’m glad I left Vancouver behind. You’ll see: I left behind a group of very lovely friends, and someone I loved very much and with whom I shared many, many years. I moved away from one of the cities I have loved the most (I lived for more than a decade in Vancouver), a gorgeous, exciting and vibrant city. I left behind a position that was highly glamorous and socially popular as the socialite editor-in-chief of Hummingbird604.com

At the same time, I also left behind a number of things that were negative about Vancouver that I did not like, and that I put up with as part-and-parcel of living in one of the most beautiful cities in the world, surrounded by stunning natural beauty.

I left behind the snarky online fights of some members of the Vancouver’s social media scene. Yes, even with my personality (which is for the most part, gregarious, open, and always honest), there was always someone who disliked me, and always someone who would not like how I participated in the online realm. I have not received negative comments on my blog in months, nor have I been the subject of online attacks. Why not? I have a hypothesis: I’m no longer the competition. With one of the top Vancouver bloggers out, the field becomes less competitive (becomes more competitive among the ones who stay, of course, but I’m no longer a competitor nor am I on the same market).

I left behind incredibly expensive real estate. Of course, I loved my shoebox one-bedroom apartment in Mount Pleasant, and I miss it terribly. But I also left behind having to commute everywhere by bus, and getting soaked wet or snowed in. I have a three-bedroom, 2 stories house with a yard and a back terrace here. And I pay $50 Canadian dollars LESS than I did for my shoebox in Vancouver.

Of course, with leaving the bad behind, comes also leaving the good behind. I miss the forests and the beaches. I’m someone who needs to be close to nature all the time, and the cities where I spend most of my time in Mexico are incredibly urban with a very low green-area-to-inhabitant ratio. Water is scarce in central Mexico, whereas it is abundant in Vancouver.

I left behind a number of amazing friends and some of the best collaborations I’ve experienced, including my book co-author (Arieanna Schweber and her family), the co-founders of The Network Hub (Jay, John and Minna), and of course my Vancouver-based friends I met online and then became my offline friends (Airdrie Miller, Isabella Mori, MJ Ankenman, Kimberly Bowie, Gus Fosarolli and Russ Benger, Jordan and Alex Behan, Cassandra Anderton, Monique Sherrett, Ava Naves, Mark Robins and David Hannigan, just to mention a few of them – there’s still a tonne of close friends of mine I left behind in Vancouver, and the list would be incredibly long to mention them all here – you know I love you all).

But the truth is: I made the right choice. Living in Vancouver was a choice, and one that I made having JT as one, if not THE, primary reason why I stayed. But my priorities changed as my parents got older, and I had to make a decision, and I’m perfectly happy and content with the one I made. IT WAS THE RIGHT ONE. Living in Mexico is also a choice and one I’m very happy I made. I’ve had friends of mine come and visit me and spend time with me here, and I think that on closer look, they can see why I love being here so much.

Yes, I miss Vancouver. And yes, I loved every minute of my life I lived there. But I love my life here, and I have absolutely no complaints at all. Professionally and personally, this was the best decision I could have made. Sometimes I wish I had made it earlier, but everything comes in due time. But I’ll be back in Vancouver some day. I just don’t think I’ll ever move back. But as they say, never say never!

So I hear that @twitter put @CalgaryPolice in #TwitterJail – If that's true: @Twitter: You. Are. Stupid. Morons.

— Raul (@hummingbird604) June 21, 2013

I complained earlier that Twitter put the Calgary Police Twitter account in #TwitterJail, and low and behold, it happened to me too. Something I find completely stupid. I have a pretty sizable followership (10,800 followers), my blog and Twitter are widely read in Canada, in Alberta and Calgary. You would think Twitter would be able to discern that the reason why I am tweeting and retweeting so much stuff with the #yychelps hashtag is because, you know, I’M TRYING TO HELP.

So now I’m completely useless to a series of communities that I really want to help, simply because Twitter and their stupid algorithms to put people in Twitter Jail. I. Am. Floored. Read my friend Gillian Shaw’s blog post (Gillian blogs and writes on Digital Life as the Vancouver Sun Tech Reporter) on Twitter and the Calgary Police case.

Fair warning: though cute, the rooms at the Tokyo Plaza Hotel are SMALL. Not microscopic, nor coffin-like, but definitely small for my standards. They did come with two beds, so I assume that if I were travelling with my (now former) partner, I would be able to stay here comfortably, if not luxuriously.

The bathroom is tiny, and the seating area made me feel crammed even though I was there by myself, but I think it’s a good choice, and it’s not all that expensive (about $100 USD per night, considering this is almost downtown Tokyo, which is a bargain!). It also had a few added cute quirks, like the fact that it provided plenty of shampoo, face soap, body wash and individually-wrapped razors, toothbrushes with toothpaste and hair combs/brushes.

Overall, I really enjoyed it. If you do book with the Tokyo Plaza Hotel I do recommend Booking.com or Hotels.com, as the website is entirely in Japanese and Google Translate doesn’t work really well. Unless, of course, you do read and speak Japanese! Bonus points: front desk folks are fluent in English, and western-style breakfast is fully included. The only problem is, if your flight leaves early from Narita (like mine did), you have to eat breakfast elsewhere. Overall, I’m pretty satisfied with my stay at the Tokyo Plaza Hotel and I would definitely recommend it!

Disclosure: My stay at The Tokyo Plaza Hotel was sponsored very generously by the organization that brought me to Japan for work purposes. I wasn’t paid to write this review, nor was I required to do so either as I have no financial ties nor interest or stake in the hotel. The purpose of this blog entry is just to describe my experience at the hotel. In any review I write or publish on my site, I retain editorial control at all times. Should you have any questions/concern feel free to contact me via e-mail through my contact form.

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I found the West Inn Fujiyoshida one of the most welcoming hotels I’ve been to. While quaint and not incredibly big, it was a little bit larger than the Comfort Inn Santa Fe, another hotel in Mexico City where I stayed that has very small rooms. But it had everything I needed, TV included (even though I would not watch it as I was busy all day).

The room was large enough for me, and even for two people if I were travelling with someone else. The only problems are (1) you have to pay for your stay in cash and (2) the staff does not speak much English (in fact I found that in Fujiyoshida rarely anyone actually spoke English, something I found frustrating). The location is pretty superb, about a 4 minute walk from the Fuji-Q (Fujikyu) Highland Bus Station (which is where I arrived from Shinjuku Bus Station).

The hotel has a restaurant, Gourmand, although I cannot really vouch for the food quality as I did not eat there. I do love their free wifi included with the room price (about $120 USD per night). Overall, my experience was great and I would strongly recommend it. I think if someone comes to Mount Fuji to visit and climb, it would probably make sense to stay closer to the mountain, but if that is not too much of an issue, I would recommend to stay at the West Inn Fujiyoshida.

Disclosure: My stay at The West Inn Fujiyoshida Hotel was sponsored very generously by the organization that brought me to Japan for work purposes. I wasn’t paid to write this review, nor was I required to do so either as I have no financial ties nor interest or stake in the hotel. The purpose of this blog entry is just to describe my experience at the hotel. In any review I write or publish on my site, I retain editorial control at all times. Should you have any questions/concern feel free to contact me via e-mail through my contact form.

Experience breathtaking country views of Washington DC when you select our charming DC hotel near Georgetown. Savoy Suites Hotel is just moments from Georgetown and offers stunning views of the Washington Monument, the U.S. Capitol building and Potomac River.

Access is everything in Washington and from this vantage point all of DC is at your feet! With an ideal hotel location near Georgetown and close to several of the city’s most prestigious neighborhoods including Embassy Row, Cathedral Heights and Chevy Chase, Savoy Suites Hotel is also convenient to DC’s prominent business districts and Capitol Hill. Explore our Glover Park neighborhood and you are sure to stumble upon the National Cathedral, Georgetown University, American University and the National Zoo, along with the premier homes of the world’s leaders such as the Vice President and Embassy officials!

I requested a single-bed room, but the room size was spectacularly big for what I expected (and not all that expensive at $149 USD per night). It had a full kitchenette with fridge, hot plate and microwave.

This hotel is definitely suited to longer stays (and I spent almost a week in Washington DC, so I needed to have access to cooking facilities (particularly because Washington DC is so incredibly expensive). Being within the Georgetown neighbourhood also facilitated my life.

In many ways, the Savoy Suites Hotel reminded me of the Magnolia Hotel in Victoria, British Columbia in Canada. Both are boutique hotels with excellent customer service and fantastic rooms. I will definitely stay again at the Savoy Suites Hotel. I did obtain a discount (20% if you book 2 nights) but they offer those discounts to every single customer, so I did not receive any special treatment.

Disclosure: I paid for my hotel room on my own dime. I wasn’t paid to write this review, nor was I required to do so either as I have no financial connection to the Savoy Suites Hotel. The purpose of this blog entry is just to describe my experience at the hotel. In any review I write or publish on my site, I retain editorial control at all times. Should you have any questions/concern feel free to contact me via e-mail through my contact form.

First off, I found the seats much more ample than in other airlines. Secondly, the drink sizes are MUCH larger. Thirdly, while we did not have full meals, the snacks were much healthier and nicer than in other airlines. And fourthly, but very importantly, the flight lengths were just about right. To get to Washington DC from Mexico City I flew less than 3 hours per leg (Mexico City International Airport (Benito Juarez)-Hartsfield-Harrison Atlanta Atlanta International Airport and then Atlanta-Washington Reagan National).

The flight was affordable for high-season standards (less than $500 USD). My only complaint was that the online wifi was not working on the way to Washington DC, but I could make it work on the way back. Overall, I was pleased with Delta Airlines and would probably fly with them again.

Disclosure: I paid for my flight to Washington DC via Delta Airlines on my own dime. I have no financial stake nor interest on Delta Airlines, I just wanted to share my experience of flying with them.

Oh, how wrong was I NOT to have done any research. Seriously. I did not realize that:

• I would have to use practically ONLY CASH just about everywhere.
• I would need to speak Japanese (or do some sign language!) as English is not as widely spoken in Japan as I thought it was. Thank God for my rudimentary Japanese.
• Japan was so expensive in some ways and so inexpensive in others. Seriously. Hotel rooms for $500 Canadian dollars? You have GOT to be kidding me.
• Toilets are a case of its own. I really loved hotels that had Western-style (sit-down) toilets.

I was terribly unprepared to travel to Japan this time, but now I do have a basis for next year when I’m in Yokohama. The first thing I can recommend is: try to take as direct a flight as possible. I flew Mexico City-Dallas-Tokyo and I landed in the Tokyo-Narita International Airport, but given that Tokyo Haneda International Airport is a much nearer airport IN Tokyo itself, I probably should have done that.

While I knew how to get to Shinjuku City in the Tokyo Prefecture (there are buses, which I took, and there’s also Japanese Rail, JR), it took me a little while to figure out how to navigate the JR train system (which very much like Paris’ metro system, is kind of confusing due to the fact that it involves several routes and different companies). I stayed in the Shin-okubo area of town, although I did go shopping to Asakusa and from a geographical standpoint, it probably would have made more sense to stay in Tokyo in the Asakusa shopping district.

I promised myself that I would blog about my trip to Japan in detail, particularly because I think non-Japanese folks may not be aware of the subtleties and intricacies of travelling within Japan. Unfortunately I can’t say that I have the time, but I’ll be blogging about it as I find little pockets of time. Overall, I loved my time in Japan, and it taught me great lessons. In patience. In openness. And in checking incoming cars from the opposite direction!

But what I can do, in my very limited time, is to show you how much progress I have achieved with the braces. In six months. If you remember my lower arch, I had the most crooked teeth you could get. And if you see the photo above, my teeth are almost straight! I am quite proud of the fact that I NEVER eat anything my orthodontist says I can’t eat (anything hard to bite like an apple). My nieces and nephews who have braces (and who are rather amused that their uncle has braces) eat everything. I am very wary of doing anything that could jeopardize my teeth’s straightening progression.

I can’t tell you how happy I am. Having straight teeth really will do wonders for my self-esteem and my diet. And everyone who has seen me with braces, from Air, to JT, to my former professors, to my former students, all think that the braces look cute. So who am I to disagree

Admittedly, what I loved about Star Trek (beyond the stunning visuals, action-packed sequences and eye candy) was the progression of Chris Pine from gorgeous-eyes, “hey-look-at-me-all-handsome-and-a-born-leader” James T. Kirk to a more subtle, nuanced James T. Kirk. I saw Chris Pine actually showcasing a broader range of emotions, something that demonstrates that the actor himself has grown. I saw James Tiberius Kirk about to shed tears twice (one of them while being given a stern pep talk) and that was moving. Plus, who can fault those beautiful blue eyes… ok, fine. I digress.

While feminists may feel a bit let-down by the lack of involvement of female crew members in the action-packed sequences, Uhura and Carol Wallace (Alice Eve, in a very convincing role) do actually get to do some some butt-kicking. Not as much as I would have liked, to be quite honest, but at least that’s a start.

I enjoyed Star Trek: Into Darkness because it gave me a better look of a more human Mr. Spock and a more human James T. Kirk. Their friendship is tested (and yes, we all know that it survives and thrives). Witty quips, snarky remarks and comebacks are a dime a dozen in this movie, but that’s to be expected of *any* Star Trek. I loved the action sequences, and I wanted to see more and more.

Of course, it was stunning to see Benedict Cumberbatch being a superpowered human with an amazing superbrain. I also liked seeing Spock touching more on his human side. All in all, I would recommend seeing it if for nothing else, for two and a half hours of action-packed fun.

Disclosure: I paid for my ticket to the movies on my own, and I have absolutely no financial or material ties to the producers/actors/director of this movie. I am just reviewing it for fun. As always, I retain full editorial control over anything I publish on my site.

Not expensive (any dish is anywhere between $90 pesos and $170 pesos, close to $9-17 USD), and really abundant, I went there with my colleagues for lunch to celebrate our day. I ordered a couple of Tacos Bonita (soft flour tortillas filled with spicy shrimp cut in pieces, $30 pesos), and a Salmon a la Diabla (which was $170 pesos, and amazing if I may say so myself).

Oh, and who can discount the most excellent tamarind Margaritas ($50 pesos)?

The decor is cute, with a Mexican coastal flavour, and there’s plenty of space of kids.

Overall, it was a fantastic experience and I would definitely recommend it and come back again. And desserts were just as amazing. The service? Top notch.

Disclosure: My institution treated us to lunch. As always I retain full editorial control over anything I post on my blog.

There are a lot of activities in Aguascalientes during the Feria Nacional de San Marcos, although the problem for me is that because it’s so crowded, it becomes really overwhelming. Nevertheless, I think it’s worth visiting.

* Lyrics in Spanish in case you’re interested (Source: Music dot Com)*

Pasa y siéntate, tranquilízate
al fin ya estás aquí, qué más te da
Imagínate, que yo no soy yo
que soy el otro hombre que esperabas ver

Un desconocido que te ha escrito verso
y te dibujó la luna, en un trozo de papel
Un amante improvisado,
misterioso, apasionado
que te dió una cita, en este hotel

Desnúdate ahora
y apaga la luz un instante
y hazme el amor, como lo haces
con esos amantes
Te juro que hoy es la última vez
que te burlas de mí
que me engañas

Y fueron mis manos
las que te escribieron la carta
Han sido mis celos
los que te pusieron la trampa
y es mi corazón
el que llora de pena por dentro
Pero te dejo y me marcho, para siempre

Imagínate, que yo no soy yo
que soy el otro hombre que esperabas ver

Un desconocido que te ha escrito verso
y te dibujó la luna, en un trozo de papel
Un amante improvisado,
misterioso, apasionado
que te dió una cita, en este hotel

Desnúdate ahora
y apaga la luz un instante
y hazme el amor, como lo haces
con esos amantes
Te juro que hoy es la última vez
que te burlas de mí
que me engañas

Y fueron mis manos
las que te escribieron la carta
Han sido mis celos
los que te pusieron la trampa
y es mi corazón
el que llora de pena por dentro
Pero te dejo y me marcho, para siempre

Desnudate ahora y apaga la luz un instante
y hazme el amor como lo haces con esos amantes
Te juro que hoy es la última vez
que te burlas de mí
que me engañas y me hieres
Y fueron mis manos
las que te escribieron la carta
Han sido mis celos
los que te pusieron la trampa
Fue sorpresa para ti,
hallarme en el cuarto
en lugar de tu amante
palideciste y te pusiste muy nerviosa
Desnudate ahora y apaga la luz un instante
y hazme el amor como lo haces con esos amantes
Es mi corazón el que llora
de pena por dentro,
pero me marcho para siempre, para siempre
Y fueron mis manos
las que te escribieron la carta
Han sido mis celos
los que te pusieron la trampa
Imagina que soy tu mejor amante
hazme el amor y luego adios

One of the things that I was told was a must-see was to travel north-west of the city of Aguascalientes to a little town called San Jose de Gracia, which is the home to the largest dam in central Mexico (the Presa Plutarco Elias Calles). From the outset, when you arrive to San Jose de Gracia (you need to drive north towards Zacatecas and turn left once you arrive to Pabellon de Arteaga and drive towards San Jose de Gracia), you would think that the dam is actually a reservoir or a lake. But once you are almost in the midst of it, you can totally see the wall of the dam. It is within this dam that the island of the Broken Christ (el Cristo Roto) is located.

The Broken Christ has an associated legend with it (notes in Spanish from the Wikipedia page) and a poem as well. Legend says that around the independence of Mexico time, when the image arrived into the church in San Jose de Gracia, it arrived broken, and that it spoke told the would-be seller to leave him broken so that he would always have a reminder to think about his brothers and sisters without opportunities, without limbs. While I’m not really religious anymore, I found the inscription incredibly motivating and humbling.

To get to the Broken Christ island, you need to take a little boat (I took Airdrie when she visited me and JT when he came down just a couple of weeks ago as well as my Mom, so in total I’ve visited 3 times).

The area is well staffed and transportation is really inexpensive ($28 Mexican pesos or less than $2.50 USD per person per trip). Obviously you can also rent cabins, and a longer ferry trip which costs about $200 pesos per person or so. There is a restaurant (Las Playas) and several smaller places for food. There is also a little bit of an artificial beach, and the Island of the Broken Christ is considered a must-visit in Mexico when visiting Aguascalientes.

Overall, I enjoyed visiting the Broken Christ Island, and so did every single one of my guests. So I would strongly recommend that if you visit the city of Aguascalientes you take a chance to come visit. You can also get to San Jose de Gracia by small van or “pesera” as they are called in Mexico.

For many years, I’ve had the same conversation with many Mexicans who either want to immigrate to Canada or simply want to leave Mexico. Some of them, live in Canada in conditions that I would call below the poverty line. The housing situation in Vancouver is absolutely insane (read my friend Melissa’s blog, The Thirties Grind, just to read more absurdity of real estate prices in Vancouver). Why would some people choose to stay in Vancouver as opposed to move elsewhere to make a better life is NOT beyond me. I loved Vancouver. I lived there for more than a decade, and I was happy. VERY HAPPY.

But my life here is incredibly fulfilling and rewarding, and I feel that my standards of living are much higher here than there. For one, I can’t stand the rain. I tolerated it for more than 10 years, but I suffered extremely profound SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) which affected my productivity. Here, I have sunshine. I have family, friends. Obviously I miss Vancouver, and as I blogged before, I have always lived grand wherever I’ve been. For two, I can’t stand Vancouver’s incredibly expensive status, and terribly low salaries. For three, I now can offer visitors who come and visit me a much nicer experience than I could offer when folks visited me in Canada.

I do feel a substantial increase in my standard of living since moving back to Mexico. Of course, I miss my friends. I miss the water. I miss my social life and some times (not often, though) the status I had as a “social media celebrity”. But overall, I am pretty happy here and I feel that I have moved up, instead of moving down. I am happy I moved.

Generally speaking, I love the food, and while it’s on the higher end of the scale in terms of pricing, it’s not unaffordable (probably $150-$200 Mexican pesos per entree). This time I played it safe and had a pasta Diavolo Duo, fetuccine with shrimp and salmon, and a touch of pomodoro sauce.

The restaurant is very spacious and the service is very solid, although it took them a really long time to bring us the bill. It also has a separate room for when you have a larger group, although it’s not very private as it is like a fishbowl, everyone can see into the room (it has glass all over). Mamatango also has a small area for children to play in.

Overall, I would definitely come back to Mamatango, whenever I have a lunch that is more or less official or when I have to treat a friend to a nice lunch.

Disclosure: My friend treated the both of us to lunch and he paid on his own dime. As always I retain full editorial control over anything I post on my blog.

Even though I tried really hard, I’m not 100% certain that my photos do justice to the gorgeous decor of Cafe Casa Vieja. The coffee is great, don’t get me wrong, but I think it’s the atmosphere and absolutely beautiful decoration that makes the place.

This is the kind of place where I would very happily bring a foreigner (and so far I’ve brought 2, one Canadian and one American) to have a coffee and just chill.

My frozen capuccino was delicious, although it was also super sweet. But overall, the one thing I enjoyed the most was the atmosphere and ambience. It’s an old house, certainly, but the owners have done their job in maintaining it.

Disclosure: I paid for both my coffee and that of my friends who have visited Cafe Casa Vieja with me.

What makes Grandmas Tea House and Crochet very unique is that it’s not only a tea room. It also sells knitting supplies and they offer lessons. Yes, literally. Like you were asking your grandma for advice on knitting. Or as though you wanted to bring your grandma here to have tea and knit.

I found the rooms spacious, was delighted at the quirky display of knitting supplies (yarn, needles, everything). I also found out my colleague does know how to knit (several men I know DO know how to knit, now that I come to think about it).

I just couldn’t get over the yarn supplies. Seriously, this is a fantastic place to learn how to knit (something I don’t know how to do to this day).

There is a number of quirky mementos here all related to knitting.

Overall, a nice place where to bring people for tea and cookies, and maybe learn to knit. I had a juice and my friend had a coffee, and overall, the experience was super sweet. Next time I come I need to check out the knitting lessons.

Disclosure:As always, I paid my dinner off of my own pocket. I did not get any special treatment nor any freebies

You’d probably be right to think “why would Raul decide to eat bagels if he’s pretty much unable to chew because of his braces?“. Yeah, you were right. And I wasn’t thinking straight. The mere thought of eating a bagel the way I used to do in Vancouver just got the best of me. And the fact that this lovely “New American” restaurant, Los Bagels, is located very near to my house (a 2-3 minutes drive).

So yeah, I ordered a bagel and I proceeded to destroy it. But at least I took pretty pictures of it! Pretty inexpensive (maybe on the higher end of pricing for a Mexican place, about $55 pesos), and filled with delicious chicken, I was thrilled to find out that, had I not had braces, Los Bagels would be my new favorite place for lunch. The bagel was cooked to perfection, the chicken was well seasoned, and it was an abundant portion.

Overall, a lovely place. I will have to come back in well, about a couple of years when I get the braces off.

Disclosure:As always, I paid my dinner off of my own pocket. I did not get any special treatment nor any freebies

(The actual address is: Prolongación Zaragoza 210 in Plaza Privilege, Col. Fatima. I recently went there with 3 colleagues and we ordered a few sushi dishes. As I normally do with anything that is sushi-specific, I went for California rolls and spicy tuna rolls. The latter were disappointing not because of the flavor but because they are not done the way Canadian ones are. I am heading to Tokyo later this year so I’ll compare. The California rolls were very flavourful and I loved them almost as much as Momo Sushi in Vancouver (which is high praise!)

I ordered an additional roll with an external cover of cucumber, which although was nice, I wasn’t completely sold on. But still, this is perhaps the best sushi place in the entire Aguascalientes. I am totally becoming a fan. It’s also relatively close (5-7 minutes drive) from my house.

Disclosure:As always, I paid my dinner off of my own pocket. I did not get any special treatment nor any freebies

So why do I make such a big deal of having braces? After all, most teenagers had them at one point (though it’s deeply refreshing to read friends of mine who got braces installed after they became 40!). Well, because to me, having braces is a daily reminder that I MATTER. That I care about myself. That I am my own priority. And I live a transparent life. If my braces hurt, I’m going to tell you if you’re riding with me while I drive us somewhere. I am going to tweet about it, I’m going to post about it on Facebook.

Getting braces will improve my physical appearance, will fix problems with my eating habits, and will make me feel way more self-confident when I smile. So, as painful as they are, and as much cutting I’m getting inside my mouth (OUCH) and as much as I am not able to eat just about anything (the list of things I can’t eat is way longer than the list of things I CAN eat), every time I spend 20 minutes brushing my teeth, using all sorts of contraptions to clean up each bracket, etc., I remind myself of the fact that I love myself enough to force myself to go through the process of getting braces. I am also paying for my braces on my own.

So, please forgive the frequent Facebook, Twitter and blog posts about braces. Braces are my new reality, and a demonstration of self-care. A daily reminder that I matter, and that I am my own priority.

We walked through the property and visited the vineyard. Obviously we didn’t see actual blooming vineyards (and couldn’t taste the grapes), but when the time comes, I’ll probably come back to check it out.

We did walk around the property and enjoyed a quick walking tour of the facilities for wine production.

You can purchase a full tour and a 3 glasses-flight tasting for $200 Mexican pesos (less than $20 USD) or a 6 glasses’ flight for $100 Mexican pesos (you can then add on top the tour). We only got a 3 courses’ flight (which was $75 Mexican pesos) as I was driving and I really couldn’t drink that much.

The architecture was absolutely lovely, typical of the colonial Mexico I have known and adored. The Hacienda de Letras even has a chapel!

I can’t recommend visiting Hacienda de Letras enough. It was fun, entertaining and something out of the ordinary. And really not expensive nor time consuming, gas included. You do need to check and look closely for the entry to San Luis de Letras, the little community where Hacienda de Letras sits.

Disclosure:I paid for both of our tastings. The owners did not know I blog, nor did we receive any special treatment. As always, I retain full editorial control over everything I publish on my site.

A few days ago I noted on my Facebook personal page that I was terribly bored of social media. No offense to anyone I follow or with whom I’m friends with. It just doesn’t have the same appeal to me as it once did. I’m specifically talking about my personal outlets, not the professional ones (which I have religiously maintained up until this point). I have also had zero interest in blogging (although admittedly that has been the case because I am incredibly busy and have no time to blog personal stuff).

I suppose that the best way to get words out is to just get them out, and while some people criticize other bloggers for blogging about blogging, this time I had to blog about NOT blogging. Will I ever resume my regularly scheduled writeups? I seriously doubt it. I don’t have the time to put any effort into my personal blog, although a part of me never gets tired of the idea of blogging. But that’s because I am in love with the idea of having time to blog. I don’t particularly have the time to do so!

One thing that may actually get me to write more and to carve some time to blog is something I commented with my friend Air: I want to continue doing travel writing. My professional activity makes me travel a lot, so therefore I have an incentive to write about the places I travel to. We’ll see how I manage to maintain a professional life while travel writing on the side, on occasion!

The Jay-Z influence is completely recognizable and you can tell Timberlake was having a lot of fun with this song. Another reason why I identify with this song. I’m having a lot of fun only blogging when I feel like it and when I want to, not when I feel obligated to. Hope you enjoy the ride along the way.

[Intro: Justin Timberlake]
I be on my suit & tie, shit tied, shit tied
I be on my suit & tie, shit tied, shit
Can I show you a few things?
A few things, a few things, little baby, cause
I be on my suit & tie, shit tied, shit
I be on my suit & tie, shit tied, shit
Let me show you a few things
Let me show you a few things

[Timbaland]
Wait a minute. You ready, JT?

[Verse 1: Justin Timberlake]
I can’t wait ’til I get you on the floor, good looking
Going hot so hot, just like an oven
And owww, burned myself I just had to touch it
But it’s so fire and it’s all mine
Hey baby, we don’t mind all the watching
Cause if they study close, real close, they might learn somethin’
She ain’t nothin’ but a little doozie when she does it
She’s so fire tonight

[Hook: Justin Timberlake]
And as long as I’ve got my suit and tie
I’ma leave it all on the floor tonight
And you got fixed up to the nines
Let me show you a few things
All pressed up in black and white
And you dressed in that dress I like
Love is swinging in the air tonight
Let me show you a few things
Let me show you a few things
Show you a few things about love
Now we’re in the swing of love
Let me show you a few things
Show you a few things about love
Hey

[Verse 2: Justin Timberlake]
Stop
Let me get a good look at it
Oooh so thick, I know why they call it a fatty
And awww, shit’s so sick, got a hit and picked up a habit
But that’s all right, cause you’re all mine
Awww, go on and show ’em who you call daddy
I guess they’re just mad cause girl they wish they had it
Oooh my killer, my thriller, yeah you’re a classic
And you’re all mine tonight

[Hook: Justin Timberlake]
And as long as I’ve got my suit and tie
I’ma leave it all on the floor tonight
And you got fixed up to the nines
Let me show you a few things
All pressed up in black and white
And you dressed in that dress I like
Love is swinging in the air tonight
Let me show you a few things
Let me show you a few things
Show you a few things about love
Now we’re in the swing of love
Let me show you a few things
Show you a few things about love
Hey

[Justin Timberlake]
Get out your seat Hov

[Verse 3: Jay-Z]
All black at the white shows
White shoes at the black shows
Green card for the Cuban links
Y’all sit back and enjoy the light show
Nothing exceeds like excess
Stoute got gout from having the best of the best
Is this what it’s all about?
I’m at the restaurant, my rant disturbing the guests
Years of distress, tears on the dress
Try to hide her face with some make up sex
This is Truffle season
Tom Ford tuxedos for no reason
All saints for my angel
Alexander Wang too
Ass tight denim and some dunks
I show you how to do this young
No papers, catch vapors
Get high, out Vegas
Dussess on doubles, ain’t looking for trouble
You just got good jeans so a nigga trying to cuff you
Tell your mother that I love her cause I love you
Tell your father we go farther as a couple
They ain’t lose a daughter, got a son
I show you how to do this huh

[Hook: Justin Timberlake]
And as long as I’ve got my suit and tie
I’ma leave it all on the floor tonight
And you got fixed up to the nines
Let me show you a few things
All pressed up in black and white
And you dressed in that dress I like
Love is swinging in the air tonight
Let me show you a few things
Let me show you a few things
Show you a few things about love love-love
Let me show you a few things
Show you a few things about love

The 2013 PEP Talks Series brings an exciting mix of world-class speakers to Vancouver. Four thought-provoking evenings featuring some of the top thinkers on the issues every parent faces today. PEP Talks is bringing to Vancouver four compelling speakers over four consecutive months (March through June 2013) to delve into the challenging and sometimes messy world of parenting today’s millennial child.

All shows are 7:30-9pm at the Vancouver Playhouse 600 Hamilton Street, Vancouver, British Columbia. You can buy tickets here. Ticket prices are $130 for the entire series or $35 per speaker, with net proceeds to benefit the Vancouver International Children’s Festival. Call 604 708 5655 for more information.

Other speakers include Sheryl Feinstein (April 10) “The Adolescent Brain”, Deborah MacNamara (May 15) “The Lost Art of Play: Helping Children Grow Up”, and Lisa Bloom (June 12) “Raising Smart Kids in the New Millenium”

I am giving away a pair of tickets to the PEP series speaker of your choice. The first speaker, slated for March 7th looks like a really fun one, Lenore Skenazy, the author of Free-Range Kids: Why Does an Old-Fashioned Childhood Sound So Radical? You can check a Big Think interview with Lenore Skenazy here:

The media labeled Lenore Skenazy “America’s Worst Mom” when she let her 9-year-old ride the subway alone. She wore the badge with pride and went on to found Free-Range Kids: the book, blog and movement dedicated to the idea that our kids are SAFER and SMARTER than our culture gives them credit for. In this funny lecture (she used to write for Mad Magazine) Lenore discusses how today’s parents became so afraid about everything from predators to non-organic grapes (even if cut into quarters!), and how we can regain the perspective that allows us to trust our kids, our community and our own good-enough parenting.

I know several of my good friends are free-range parents (mine were, at least!). And I predict that there will be interest in attending the PEP Talks. Thus to enter my giveaway, I have (as usual) several modes of entry. The first (comment on this blog), I’d love you to give me your best parenting advice (whatever you’ve heard, if you are a parent, or if you have some wisdom to share with other parents). The following modes of entry include Twitter and Pinterest.

Entry # 1) Comment on this blog with a piece of your best parenting advice.

Entry # 2) Post the following on Twitter:

Share w/ @hummingbird604 a parenting advice tip to enter to win tickets to #ParentingPEPTalks I shared mine here http://is.gd/PE9O0V

Entry # 3) Re-pin my Pin of this blog entry.

Entry # 4) Comment on my Pin of this blog entry telling me what item of Q4’s menu you’d like to try.

As always, I’ll draw a winner from the randomized pool of entries on March 4th, at 2pm. (if you do all 4 you have 4 entries into my contest), and each mode of entry you use I will include in my contest (up to 4). Hopefully you will have a chance to enjoy the PEP Talks!

EDIT – One additional thing that makes Joyce Cooling even cooler is that she supports mental health initiatives. Read from her wikipedia entry:

Although Cooling had been a long-time member of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), Revolving Door signaled Cooling’s official involvement with NAMI as a national advocate for the organization. Joyce has performed at NAMI national and regional events across the country and Cooling and Wagner donate a portion of the proceeds from the sale of their CDs to NAMI.

Located in the Barrio de la Estacion, close to where the old train station used to be in Aguascalientes, this unassuming (yet large) restaurant is beautifully decorated and offers excellent food and service. It’s the kind of place I am going to bring foreigners and guests from other cities and states for lunch.

I went there with my friend KNG for lunch, as we were both exploring the city (given that I really haven’t still gotten to know much of it). We were promptly seated and our food was served really fast. I ordered meatballs with rice chipotle style (albondigas al chipotle con arroz) and K ordered enchiladas, which were served almost Guanajuato-style (enchiladas mineras). Our lunch combined wasn’t even $30 USD (less than $300 pesos), tip included.

My meat balls were perfectly cooked and the spicy sauce they were covered in wasn’t overwhelming. Flavourful and filling, I could have gone for an additional food item but I was a bit too full.

I love how the decor is typically Mexican and filled with references to things from Aguascalientes. While there isn’t one particular dish that is considered “from” Aguascalientes, La Estacion offers a very broad variety of dishes that are at the same time delicious AND inexpensive. I couldn’t try many of the delicacies because of my braces, but I think that they cook great food as I’ve read other reviews, and from my own experience here. A gourmet restaurant at very reasonable prices, in my view.

I’d definitely recommend a visit to La Estacion for lunch. I still have to come down for dinner and see what else do they have in store for me.

Disclosure: KNG paid for both of our lunches on her own dime. I have no relationship with La Estacion whatsoever, nor did we receive any complimentary food. We just enjoyed our experience, very much.