Attedning a Sunday Mass at the St. Francis Catholic Church, Xian, China

This was our first Sunday in Xian for this trip and we looked for a Christian church to attend an Englsh service. However, we couldn’t find an English Protestant church advertising its Sunday Service anywhere. The only English Sunday Worship we did find was a mass conducted at a Catholic church at the St. Francis Cathedral at 3:30p.m. (Wuyi Lu Catholic Church / 五星街天主教堂) located in the Wuxing Lianhu District, Xi'an.

  I was happy that J. would come with us to church.

We went from our hotel together, and arrived by Didi at the St. Francis Catholic church a little after 3:00 PM. We were surprised to find that the church was fully packed and there were no seats left. Fortunately, the ushers brought out some plastic stools so that we could sit at the very back of the church where we had to try very hard to see what was going on.

  This church was quite different from the other ones we visited before. Sitting there, we admired the beautiful combination of European Gothic and traditional Chinese architecture.

At this mass, the church was filled with many young people which was a rare thing to see nowdays in church attendance. I enjoyed the nice hymns and the scripture readings. Though not a Catholic by upbringing, I do like the way the Catholic church organizes its sermons and weekly scripture reading which helps people to learn a lot about the bible and gives the congregants a good foundation of the scriptures if they come to church and follow the reading every week.

At the end of the mass, the Father announced that the church would be holding a welcome party for the university students at 5pm today. I was wondering if J. might attend this activity and that if he would he might be able to connect with the young people there. The mass finished shortly after 4 and we had sometime before the 5 pm meeting.

We went to a famous dumpling restaurant close by and had some very nice dumplings. But we were a few minute late for the 5pm welcoming meeting and the activity had already started.

  Though J. managed to take part in a group activity later, he said that he was not interested in joining the actitivites in the future regularly. Well, we could only try our best to bring people to church but we can't force people to go.

  We went walking around the city wall after dinner and it was really fun discovering so much gong in near the foot of the city wall! Xian is such a beautiful city with so much to see and do! We couldn't wait to explore it further in the next few days!

  RT, Xi'An, China, Autumn 2026

Awed by the Terracotta Army at the Terracotta Warrior and Horses Museum, near Xian, China

We have made a new friend, Ms. Z., in Xi'An, China, introduced by a good friend from Canada. We got to know eah other on Wechat and she asked me to contact her if I ever visited there. I did; I gave Ms.Z.a call as soon as we arrived to the city. She was gracious and asked us what our plans were for the next few days. We told her the main thing we wanted to see this time was the Terra Cotta warriors and we would like to see it before the Chinese Golden Week when millions of Chinese would be on holidays and visiting this place.

  Right away she offered to drive us there but I didn't want to bother her. She insisted and I agreed for her to pick us up at our hotel the next day at 10a.m. I was glad that J. could join us on this day trip too.

  It was our first time meeting with each other in person but we clicked right away and we had a lot to share and talked about. The car ride was long because the holiday traffic had already started. With lots of vehicles on the roads, our normal one hour ride took almost two hours before we arrived at our destination.

The Emperor Qin Shi Huang's Mausoleum Site Museum - commonly known as the Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum, near Xi'an is widely regarded as one of the most astonishing archaeological finds of the 20th century (often dubbed the "Eighth Wonder of the World")

  We were advised to buy our tickets online in advance. We were glad we did. With a swipe of our cell phone showing our tickets, we were admitted to the museum with no hazzle while those who did not had to queue up for the tickets.

In order to save time and get the most from our time at the museum, we hired a tour guide for our visit. The tour guide was good as she took us to the best spots for pictures and helped us to navigate in this famous museum consisting of a number of buildings situated in a huge park.

  The first building we visited was Pit 1, discovered accidentally by a group of farmers digging a well in March of 1979. It was opened to the public officially in October of 1979. It is the most famous pit containing over 6000 infantrymen and horses!

There were a lot of people and we had to wait patiently and also be quick to squeeze into the front row as soon as someone moved away from their spots. The Pit One museum - looking like an airplane hangar-sized cavern was massive with terracotta soldiers lining up in rows.

We stood there at the front row awed by the mind - boggling scale and scope of this massive terracotta army created over 2,200 years ago ( beginning around 246 BC) for China's very first emperor Qin Shi Huang, the underground empire was built to protect the emperor in the afterlife. It was incredible looking at these life size soldiers all decked out in their fighting armours, each with different facial expressions and distinct hairstyles indicating their ranks in the army.

As huge crowds were standing there vying for the front row spots to have a good look at the warriors, people started to move away slowly walking from the centre out and going to either the left and right direction. The further we moved away from the centre of the viewing platform, the thinner the crowds became.

Besides seeing the thousands of warriors lining up in their formations at the front of the museum, we also had a glimpse of the procedures which archaeologists followed in order to perform their repair work on these broken clay warriors at the back section of the museum.

We saw how these warriors were marked and sequenced to be repaired and how they were identified as to which stage of the repair each was at. Very interesting and meticulous procedures!

  After we finished at Pit One, there were a few other buildings we could visit such as Pit 2 and Pit 3 which were opened to visitors in 1989 and 1994. Knowing that it was impossible to see everything on one visit, we went to see the exhibitions on weapons, army formations and battle tacties which were interesting. We noticed many of the soldiers' fists were half clenched, yet there were no weapons in their hands. Though the terracotta soldiers were originally equipped with tens of thosuands of real, functional bronze weapons including swords, spears, lances and crossbow triggers,historical records and archaeological evidences suggested that after the dynasty fell, the tombs were raided. Because metal was extremely valuable, the rebels likely stripped the weapons from the soldiers' hands to resue them.

  My husband, a retired engineer, found the manufacturing and interchangable parts of the arrows most interesting and could not stop talking about how clever the designs were.

Though the Terracotta Soldiers were found mostly broken and archaeologists had to put them back painstakingly piece by piece, there was one that was found in perfect condition even with some of the original red colour on its back.

The soldier which was kneeling down avoided being crushed by the collapsed roof.

  Visiting the Terracotta Warriors was a fascinating experience and we were glad we had the opportunity to see them this time before the crazy monsterous size Golden Week crowds descending on this place!

After this visit, Ms. Z. took us to have some authenic Xi'An dishes at a local resturant. It was a fantastic dinner which we never had before! We are overwhelmed by the warm hosptiality of our new friend. She has welcome us in China with open arms, enthusiasm and such generosity. It is incredible how warm and welcoming the Chinese people are when we visit China!

 

 

  RT, Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum, near XI'AN, China, 092026

Fulfilling Wishes on Our Must Visit List- Travelling Again!

There are a few things which my husband are I would like to see and do while we are still mobile and are able to travel independently. Having travelled in Asia and Europe for the past few summers, we have decided to travel to these countries in cooler climate - in the autumn months when it will be more comfortable!

  There are a few places which are on our must see list in China, one of which is the Terracotta Warriors. Therefore, with the weather getting cooler, and a 30 day visa free stay allowance for Canadians, we took a direct flight from Toronto and flew to Xi'An, China - a 15 hour flight with 4 hours layover in Hong Kong. Our flight departed at 1 a.m., and we arrived the next day in China. It didn't seem long at all.

  J. came and met us at the airport and we took a cab to our hotel in the old city of Xi'An. Being close to the Old City was convenient as we could go and explore on our own the next morning. There was a mall not too far from our hotel and we went looking for a China Mobile store to buy a SIM card for our cell phones. This gave us an opportunity to do some window shopping in the Paradise Walk Shopping Mall.

I like the shopping mall, very modern, spacious and with many nice shops. I particularly like the idea that there is a whole floor dedicated to children's items - clothes, furniture, books, toys, games, music lessons, and even entertainment for kids etc. A mom can easily do her one stop shopping at the mall and she can get everything she needs for her child!

We met up with J.,and had an early dinner with him. It was easy grabbing a western meal such as a pizza or a hamburger in Xi'An, no problem at all!

After dinner, we walked around to get ourselves familiarized with the neighbourhood and our surrounding. We walked by a green space located under one of the city's highways.

What a clever idea of turning an unattractive dark space into a public park being utiized and enjoyed by the area residents. We saw senior citizens gathering for conversations, for card games and for dancing exercises. The seniors in China seem to have a lot to do to keep them busy and they look happy!

  RT, Xi'An, China, Autumn 2026

Having My Favorite Piece of Jewellry Fixed for Free at the Repair Cafe - Toronto

For the past many decades, we have been buying all sorts of things for our house, for ourselves and for our children. We have accumulated a lot of things. We have so many things in our house that we are starting to declutter and get rid of some of them. The first thought was to trash them and junk everything which we no longer need or want.

  But then, my sister introduced me to the Repair Cafe in Toronto. I never heard of it until my sis told me about it.

Inspired by the original global Repair Café movement that started in Amsterdam, Torontonians Wai Chu Cheng, Paul Magder, and Fern Mosoff started Repair Café in Toronto and the first event took place on May 25, 2013.

  Recently, I found out when the next Repair Cafe was in Toronto and took my most favourite piece of costume jewellery that was broken to the event and hope that it would be fixed.

There were a few tables set up at the Scarborough venue; volunteer fixers and professionals such as electricians, seamstresses and other specialty craftspeople were there on this Saturday morning donating their time and skills dedicated to fighting our throwaway culture and reducing waste.

 These wonderful volunteers are there regularly at the Repair Cafe events scattered thoughout the city trying their best to fix broken or damaged household items brought in by resdients. They offer their service for FREE so that the items could be fixed free of charge!!!

  I was happy that a volunteer jewelry expert who used to teach in the Jewelry Makig Department at Seneca College for thirty years was there spending his time and fixing my neckpiece for me. He was patient, careful and meticulous!

In about 15 -20 minutes, my neckpiece was restored like new! I was grateful to this professional jewelry expert who did an excellent job fixing it for me. This piece holds significant sentimental value for me and I am happy I can wear it again!

  Thank you from the bottom of my heart and two thumbs up to the Repair Cafe in Scarborough, Toronto!

  RT, Repair Cafe, Toronto, 092026

The Beaches International Jazz Festival, Toronto, Canada

We love living in Toronto - a beautiful and peaceful city with great infrastructures as well as many interesting neighbourhoods. One of our favouite neighbourhoods is the Beaches, often locally referred to as The Beach, located in the eastern part of the old city, right along the waterfront of Lake Ontario.

  We love visiting the Beach as we enjoy strolling on the continuous boardwalk and relaxing in the sandy beach parks.

 

One of our favourite summer festival in Toronto is th Beaches International Jazz festival founded in 1089 and has been running in the city for almost forty years. We have two jazz festivals in Toronto, a Toronto Jazz Festival and this one. The Beach Jazz Festival is a very popular event though it had a humble beginning. Started by a restaurant owner and a group of local jazz artists who wanted to put on a small community event at the Kew Gardens Bandshell, the first festival lasted for two days and drew a couple of thousand people.

  Today, it has grown into a massive month-long summer celebration attracting hundreds of thousands.

Also happening at the same time as the Beaches Jazz Festival is the Streetfest. For multiple nights, a long stretch of Queen Street East is completely closed off to motorized traffic. Numerous bands line the sidewalks, and thousands of people dance in the middle of the street, turning the neighborhood into an open-air street party!

Despite growing into one of the premier jazz events in North America, a vast majority of the festival's core outdoor events and park performances remain free to the public, making the event accessible and affordable to anyone wishing to take part and to enjoy. At this year's Beaches Jazz Festival, we saw many local musicians, youth bands and community groups performing in the Streetfest and thus giving off the neighborhood block party vibe.

We go to the Beach often; whenever there are special events happening or just any day of the week when we feel like a stroll along the water and a desire to feel the sand under our feet.

On another summer afternoon we went to the Beach just for some walking exercises. We hung around until the evening visiting shops and having a bite to eat. After the sun went down, we were treated to a free movie in the park under the stars!

  With countless number of festivals and special events happening all summer long, no smoking choking us from any widlfires to worry about or none of the extreme heatwaves descending upon us, there is no place we rather be in the summer - Toronto, Canada!

  RT, Toronto, Canada - The Best Place to Be in the Summer, 2026 .

Enjoying Downtown Toronto on a Hot Summer Day!

Living in Toronto, we are never bored as there are so much going on in the city! Downtown Toronto is pretty with many different neighborhoods and we never get tired of walking, getting some exercises and just enjoying the city.

One hot day in August, we visited the harbourfront neighbourhood. It was lively! There was a section set aside for kids and those young at heart to have fun. Cool mists were blowing in a designated area where children could just run around and be cooled off in the summer heat. Some parents stood by watching their kids while some joining them and holding their little ones' hands tightly in the mists. Being a kid at heart, I also ran in and out of the cold mists for a few moments; it was nice and cool!

One of the best things about the city is the numerous free concerts accessible to residents. Should we desire, we could be going to musical events and festivals every weekend especially during the summer months. At times, there could be multiple concerts and activities going on the same weekend and we would have a hard time deciding which event we should attend.

After visiting the harbourfront, we walked up to Front Street heading towards the Union Station area. Viola, there was a free jazz concert happening right outside the Station!

  We found a place to sit and ordered some cold drinks. With a cold beer in hand, enjoying and swaying to his most favourite genre of music at this free jazz concert and being outdoor in such fine weather in a peaceful and beautiful city, my husband whispered in my ears - "Stay in Toronto in the summer and don't travel anywhere!"

  I couldn't agree with him more!

  RT, Toronto - the best place to live in the world! Summer of 2026

Capturing the Images of Butterflies & Enjoying the Beauty of the Toronto Music Garden, Toronto

We have been doing a lot of travelling here in North America and overseas. However, for the past few years, we often travelled during the summer months and missed the best time of being at home in Toronto.

For the summer of 2026, we decided that we would stay put so that we could enjoy the fantastic Canadian summer weather and our beautiful garden at home. We also took advantage of the good weather and visited Bellville, Kingston, Ottawa, Montreal, and Quebec City as well as enjoying the many activities and festivals in Toronto. The summer months in Canada are the most glorious time, not to be missed!!

  We have many beautiful gardens and green spaces in Toronto; one of our most favourite gardens is the Toronto Music Garden!

The Toronto Music Garden, located along the city's downtown waterfront, is one of the most unique and creative green spaces in Canada. Several fascinating things make this park special:

  1. It is designed after a piece of classical music. The three-acre park is a physical, landscape-architectural translation of Johann Sebastian Bach’s First Suite for Unaccompanied Cello. It was created through a unique collaboration between world-renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma and landscape designer Julie Moir Messervy.

2. The Music Garden is Divided into Six "Movements" just like the musical suite it represents; the garden is split into six distinct sections, each mirroring a traditional dance form from Bach's composition.

True to its name, the park serves as a live performance venue. During the summer months, on Sunday afternoons and Thursday evenings, it hosts outdoor classical music concerts and at times, dance performances. Audiences can attend these musical events for free and enjoy them on the grassy amphitheater steps and the steel pavilion stage.

We didn't visit on a Sunday, therefore there was no concert to attend. But we had a fantastic time strolling along the winding garden paths, admiring the full colourful blooms, smelling the fragrances of the fresh flowers and listening to the sound of the lake water gently rolling in, and the sounds of laughter of children and families having fun around us.

We enjoyed these peaceful and happy moments! We are proud to be Canadians and love Canada where so many ethnic groups of Canadians, old and newcomers can coexist in harmony and enjoy peaceful life together. We are very blessed!

 

The Music Garden has been purposedly planted with various flowers and plants attracting butteflies. There were a lot of butterflies flying around in the flower beds. We loved watching and trying to capture the images of them flying around and landing on delicate flowers!

  Toronto Music Garden - a great place to visit and relax for everyone and it is FREE admission!

  RT, Toronto Music Garden, Downtown Toronto, Canada, Summer of 2026