Life is a big canvas...

Come to the edge.
We might fall.
Come to the edge.
It's too high!
Come to the edge!
And they came,
and he pushed,
and they flew.
-- Christopher Logue

Bonjour all!

It has been widely acknowledged that an individual is in need of two things: Love and the pursuit of happiness.

Of course, that being said, one could say that Love is such an over exaggerated concept in the world of today... love is not some song on the radio or written on some sappy card... it is the raw emotional equivalent of what makes your heart flutter, and what you long for long after its gone- either momentarily or forever.
In my words, it is perfectly caught in one of my favourite films of all time: Pride and Prejudice, directed by Joe Wright.

The scene towards the end of the Second Proposal, or The Dawn as some may call it (such as I), captivates all that we crave for.

Particularly when Mr. Darcy approaches Elizabeth and he utters those words that melt all the pieces together: "You have bewitched me body and soul and I love, I love, I love you."

The first time I watched this scene, I rolled my eyes slightly. The second time I viewed it, I cried my eyes out, so to speak.

And yes, why not pursuit one's happiness at the cost of one's life?

After all, we live for such a short amount of time, there are moments that thrust you forward to be enlightened with places and the people around us.

Such is the feeling I felt upon seeing the trailer for this film, "Cairo Time." I absolutely cannot wait to see it.

Actually the topic of travel came about at dinner today with a friend and while satisfying our cravings, we discussed the many different places that we would like to go.

From Rome to Russia, down to where we wish to possibly retire ( I said somewhere in France, he said Spain), and it made me feel the definite need to explore more of the world in a definitive way that when i do come back, I would know what it have felt like to be alive, to feel a sense of wholeness only other cultures, people, places, history and time can lay out.

"He who hath not seen Cairo hath not seen the world. Her soil is gold; her Nile is a marvel; her women are like the black-eyed virgins of Paradise; her houses are palaces; and her air is soft, as sweet-smelling as aloe-wood, rejoicing the heart. And how can Cairo be otherwise, when she is the Mother of the World?--"A Thousand and One Nights"

Egypt is another place that I wish to travel to... I will give myself a time frame that by the time graduation comes, I will be off..but even before then, possible plans in the upcoming summer to go abroad is in the works...hopefully more details soon about that!

As for now, that's all, ciao!

To live the decadent empire...

"Happy are those who dream dreams, and are ready to pay the price to make them come true." -Leon J. Suenes

Bonjour all,

Today is the birthday of H.G. Wells.

I have read science fiction as far back as my younger days, on those that Wells have written, and alongside that of Jules Verne, not the typical average cheesy science fiction one might see and can pick up in some general store nowadays, for example.

His works involve The Time Machine, The Invisible Man, The Island of Doctor Moreau, The War of The Worlds. I particularly favour The Time Machine and The Invisible Man.

As well, I'd like to note the passing of an influential figure, Irving Kristol, an American columnist, journalist, and writer who was known as the "godfather of neoconservatism".

He had a significant impact within the intellectual and political culture of the last half-century.
He was a man who said "What rules the world is idea, because ideas define the way reality is perceived."

On Travel.


Many of the different aspects of travelling which I enjoy apart from taking in the culture, the history, the art history of that country, are the unique experiences of European Hotels which instantly takes you back to the golden age.

Onwards to Italy, where Villa Feltrinelli is located. An interesting tidbit about this villa is that from 1943 to 1945, German forces imprisoned the Italian dictator Benito Mussolini. Hand-painted frescos, alongside many furnishings dating back to the villa's incarnation, bring forth a stunning place to visit indeed. I know I would cozy up with a good read and attending to midnight snacks in the pantry.

Within the Lanseborough's Library Bar, one can sip a 1770 vintage cognac for just ($7,000 Cdn.) per shot.

From London to Istanbul, the Four Seasons at Sultanahmet was once home to Turkish prisoners in this neo-classic building...if you look closer, you can see the watchtowers of Istanbul's Old Town. Very interesting...always have wanted to go on a trip from London to Istanbul. Reading The Historian brought an itch to travel for historical means, haha.

Even better, to ride on the Orient Express... travelling by train to destinations is a far grander appeal than just travelling or doing things in such a fast pace.

In Prague, the Mandarin Oriental Hotel has a very lovely appeal. Dominican monks once resided there, whose buildings go back seven centuries. If you wonder around, you might just bump into one of the monks which still resides there.

And that's all for now, ciao!!

Oh, what a fine web we weave....

"A time will come when a politician who has willfully made war and promoted international dissension will be as sure of the dock and much surer of the noose than a private homicide. It is not reasonable that those who gamble with men's lives should not stake their own. "H. G. Wells

Bonjour all,

The past couple of weeks have been pre-occupied with my academics, and as such, I was not able to update on here.

In short, I have retrieved my status as a student once more, opening the realm of learning all that is possible within my five credit course load. Of course, I would acquire French and German and perfecting Mandarin which I have on a language exchange program which I am engaged in... they say that the best form of learning takes place outside the classroom.

I say why not both, one should not limit themselves to one output.


This weekend I had the opportunity to attend a JHR (Journalists for Human Rights) conference in the city... the media is a very useful tool to portray such aspects as that of human rights, Rights Media as it is coined.

To be able to let people aware of their full rights as a human being to me, should be upheld as highly as possible. For example, not many people pay much attention to that of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, yet they affect us in an immense way throughout all levels of order. They set down a way where we have the freedom of expression, life, liberty and security. Aspects which at times sadly, we take it all too granted.

If you were to look at many other nations, women are seen as inferior, abused, stripped down of the right to be able to live a full life with potential on their side.

Something to put in the backyard of your mind.

On another note, as fall has arrived, so has interesting films that I have come across. One of them being on the life and works of one of my favourite historical figures alongside that of Leonardo da Vinci and so forth, and that is that of Charles Darwin.

Darwin is the most important figure in our understanding of the natural world. This majority of the first week of September I've dived attention into his The Origins of Species. A fine read which I can attest to it.

The film is called Creation and it stars Paul Bettany and Jennifer Connelly. Both good actors in their own right and its seems as if there could be Oscar potential- still early days. Looking forward to the premiere date. Films like these instill excitement within me as that of a 17 year old with Twilight, but cut the insanity by half.

And that's all for now, ciao!

Doubt that the stars are fire, doubt that the sun doth move...

John Milton's Paradise Lost, Book 2:

Into this wilde Abyss,
The Womb of nature and perhaps her Grave,
Of neither Sea, nor Shore, nor Air, nor Fire,
But all these in their pregnant causes mixt
Confus'dly, and which thus must ever fight,
Unless th' Almighty Maker them ordain
His dark materials to create more Worlds,
Into this wilde Abyss the warie fiend
Stood on the brink of Hell and look'd a while,
Pondering his Voyage; for no narrow frith
He had to cross. — Book 2, lines 910–920



Bonjour all,
Updating the last form of pictures I had of the final weeks of summer. Then afterwards, onward to more academic topics in the upcoming weeks to come!



I had indeed taken upon a nice Broccoli quiche while I was at the Distillery District two weeks ago with a couple of friends.


That week was especially nice in terms of weather and we all decided to go there as none of us had gone in a long while...while we were there, it seemed that there was an Art Fair going on with tents of artworks and jewellery being displayed for sale... came upon this exhibition which literally had me spellbound.

When I entered the room... all along were exquisite dolls which for me were so fantastic, given that they were so unique in such a Victorian/Alice in wonderland sort of air.

These figures I adored, for they seemed as if they belonged in an interesting animated film.

I loved the intricate details of this one... it's something I would imagine only in the furthest back of my mind.

Absolutely wonderful.

Of course the first thing we popped into before this exhibition was Cafe Balzac.

As it was particularly warm that day, especially inside, we all took to getting sodas.

The inside felt as if I stepped back through time... I'm really glad there are places such as these that we can relive such times.

There were interesting art sculptures as well.

These were taken while I was visiting a friend in Mississauga ...the place around this area was very modern and nice, with Square One and nearby theatres and Chapters.

As well, I finally fulfilled the small goal of attempting to go to the Toronto Islands, which was a good decision indeed.

The scenery alongside the ferry was lovely.

I remember those fighter jet planes roaring overhead for the Canadian National Exhibition for a show that they do...they drifted over the sky and around.

If you look closely you can see for of them grouped together... shot this in such a grand moment.

We arrived to the grounds and from there, headed to Centreville...where we saw giant swans! With people on these giant swans! *gasp*

Mother Goose came along to tell us a story, and brought a pal along as well.

This was on an aerial view shot as me and my friend took the Sky Ride...couldn't miss that shot of opportunity.

For a mere minute if I eliminated the fact that we were held by cable wires..it looked like we were under large umbrellas with seats.. floating above...

And that's all for now, ciao!