A Dim Sum Lunch at Miliken Park ,Markham, During the COVID19 Pandemic

Since the beginning of March, 2020, Canadians have been asked to stay at home to save each other from the COVID19. Unlike our neighbour south to the border,  Canadians are more compliant and we trust our government more as we feel that they have the best interest of Canadians at heart.

We make sure we listen to our public health experts who advised us to stay home Therefore, we have not been out to restaurants, bars or beaches for a long time.

Our first visit to a Toronto public park since the COVID 19 Pandemic

A couple weeks earlier, our cities were starting to easy some of the lock down restrictions and we were able to venture out to some parks that were opened to us. Upon hearing this news, we called my mother who has been cooped up in her senior apartment for months. One of the most favourite things to do is to enjoy some Chinese dim sum dishes at the local restaurants.

Our first take out meal eaten in a Toronto Park

 



Since the restaurants were not opened yet for indoor dining, we figures a way to have my mom enjoy her favourite restaurant dishes.


I packed my picnic basket with a table cloth, some napkins, plastic cutlery, cups and a drink for us. Then called my mom and told her to prepare to stay outside for a little while.

My mom loved the dim sum lunch in a park and was all smiles!

We ordered a number of take out dim sums dishes. We jumped into our car, picked up my mom, and then the take out order.

We chose a nice park with easy trails and public facilities and planned to have a picnic Chinese take out lunch there.

My mother just loved it! She missed her favourite food, social time with her loved ones, the open space and fresh air.








At an old ripe age of 94, and walking with the aid of a walker, she was  nimble on the walking trails. I had to keep reminding her to slow down.

Mom enjoying her ice cream at Millikan Park , Markham, Ontario

We went out every week for the past three weeks on Thursdays and she was absolutely delighted at the thought of our picnic lunch in the park.

Mom and me at our first  outing to a Toronto park

We were so glad that we were able to do something for mom and help her to enjoy the nice sunny weather during the COVID 19 pandemic.












We are lucky that we still have our mom around and she is healthy! 



R.T.
Toronto

What to Do While Staying Home in Toronto During COVID19?

Living in Toronto, a metropolitan of about 7 million people including the greater Toronto area, we often spend much time driving and getting stuck in traffic. Following the Canadian government's stay home directive, most Canadians are staying home, or working from home, therefore, the traffic on Toronto streets are significantly lighter during the COVID19 pandemic.

Taking a walk in our neighbourhood ravine

While some people may find it difficult staying at home doing nothing during the shelter in place order, we didn't find it too difficult. In fact, we kind of enjoy this quieter time in our lives.

During normal time, we are quite busy with many volunteer, church and family commitments. It is a change for us this time as we cannot carry out our obligations and responsibilities.

Taking our time to observe our surrounding.

We have more time to deal with the chores which we didn't have time for before.

In order to avoid the feeling of boredom, it is important to have a schedule so that we'll have a balanced day for healthy living during this shelter in place time.

We have developed a relaxing and enjoyable schedule during COVID19's stay home period. Below is our daily schedule:

With a more relaxing schedule, we can slow down to appreciate nature's beauty

9-10am - Wake up and morning routines
10am - 11am - Prepare and enjoy a nutritious breakfast
          - Tea in hand, a walk in our garden and watch for new spring buddings

A small creek at the ravine near our house

11am - 1:00 pm  - Renewing our strength with bible reading or online bible study class
  -  Calling loved ones and connecting with friends and family members

1:00pm - 2:00pm - Prepare and enjoy a nutritious lunch

Keeping our social distance while taking a walk

2:00pm - 4:00pm

Out for fresh air in our backyard or a walk in neighborhood ravine while keeping our social distance from others.

Picking up some groceries or medications as needed. But we don't do this everyday. May be once a week only.

Our daily walk helps to keep us in shape during COVID19

4:00pm - 5:30pm - Working on chores or organizing our house

5:30pm - 7:30pm - Dinner preparation/ dinner time while PBS Newshour is on

7:30pm - 10:00 - Paperwork, reading, checking emails













10pm - 11:30pm - Watching nightly news on TV while doing stretching exercises before bedtime

PBS News Hour has broadcast a segment on Songs of Comfort started by Yo Yo Ma. They have invited their viewers to upload their music or art to  #songsofcomfort

Maybe I will practice a song or two and send it to them as well!,

R.T.
Shelter in Place
Toronto, Canada

How Toronto Responds to Social Distancing & Attending Church During COVID19

This is our second week of self isolation living in Toronto, Canada.

Besides going out for our necessities such as grocery shopping and refilling our prescriptions at the pharmacy, we listen to the directives of our government and have been staying home since last week. 

During this COVID19 period, my husband and I show great respect and appreciation to our fellow Canadians who also heed and obey our government's directives for social distancing measures. For example, we went to our bank for some banking business yesterday and  found a line up outside the bank with everyone standing at six feet apart.  No one was there telling us what to do but everyone just did it keeping the recommended distance between each other.

We are OK with the social distancing, staying home and keeping away from our friends and neighbours.

However, it is hard for my 94 year old mom and we have missed seeing her.

My mom lives in a senior apartment by herself and the management has implemented strict visitation policy by asking all visitors to come through the front office entrance so they can screen all visitors such as delivery, home care workers etc. Number of visitors are limited and visitors are expected to hear masks  It’s their effort to disallow entry to people who might have travel outside of Canada or may be symptomatic with the flu or possibly C-19!

Attending our church's Sunday Worship at home via our cell phone

Today is Sunday. This morning, we went online and attended a Sunday service broadcast  live by our church.

With technology, each person involved in the church service was doing his/her part from home .  We were able to sing hymns and listen to our minister's message.

However, for the first time we could not take part in the communion at church.


Though we travel a lot, we always manage to find and attend a local church service wherever we go and take part in their communion service.

Rev. Chan performing a communion service via the internet

Obeying the Ontario government's directives of social distancing and no gathering of more than five people, we could only stay home watching Rev. Chan performing the communion service from his home this morning, We were unable to physically be a part of it.











I felt very sad and broke down in tears. Things which we have taken for granted - freedom of religion, freedom of attending church services, freedom of movement can be so easily taken away from us, this time by a virus, a pandemic.

Though we have freedom, but we cannot see our loved ones, cannot get together with friends or attend a church service.

However, we need to be grateful and appreciative. My most sincere thank you to all the front line health care workers  and essential service people who keep going to work serving us . Words cannot express our thanks and deep appreciation to what you are doing. May God bless you and keep you safe!

We are living in an unprecedented time with many uncertainties ahead of us. It is my sincere wish that while spending more time at home, we will reflect more on the fragility of life and come to realize that our only hope and trust can only be found in our almighty God!

R.T.

Toronto, Canada

Colour of Uganda From My Recent Visit

I just returned from Uganda with two members of our team.

It was a trip of a life time!

I had a fantastic experience  in Uganda!




















I was able to meet and interact with a few local Ugandans.

I tried  and enjoyed the local food.


I also loved the vibrant and colourful plants and flowers.














As we visited Uganda during its dry
season, we had blue and sunny sky everyday!

The biggest regret I had was not having the opportunity to visit an African safari.

I do hope that I would return to the African continent in the future and go on a safari!



R.T.
Pictures of Uganda flowers
from a recent visit

A Review of Two Friends Resort in Jinja, Uganda

After spending almost a week in Kampala, we
travelled to Jinja, another town closer to the school where we would volunteer for the following week.

We checked into the 2 Friends Resort in this town.









We arrived late in the evening and had dinner in the restaurant attached to the resort.
The restaurant was busy therefore the service was slow that evening.

Located in the heart of Jinja and just a short walk from the Nile, this charming hotel has a tranquil and serene atmosphere 

There were five of us. Val and Laura stayed in one room while I stayed with Rose and Elaine in another. This was supposed to be a family setup.

I found it a little too crowded for the three of us. 











I really enjoyed the nice patio with reclining chairs outside our room.

In fact, there was this nice area outside every room at the resort.  















The complimentary morning breakfast buffet was elegantly set up in the spacious open style dining room. 

There was a great selection of fresh fruits, dairy, hot and cold food from which to choose.




















The area all of us enjoyed tremendously was the outdoor sitting area shaded by huge umbrellas.

This was the place where we spent most of our time relaxing, enjoying a refreshing cold drink and a good read.
















We could also go online and checked our emails.

This area was beautifully decorated with sculptures and  art pieces done by local artists and craftsmen.















Not having opportunities for exercises on this trip, I took advantage of the nice swimming pool at the resort.

The pool area was adorned with works by local sculptor and lined with high bamboo trees and shrubs.

The Two Friends Resort was a beautiful and more upscale guest house than the others.















We enjoyed our stay there totally!

Friendly service at the 2 Friends' Resort, Uganda

With friendly service and warm ambiance,
this is a place where I would not hesitate to come back and stay.

I was glad that we stayed there for three nights!

We were sad when it was time for us to leave this nice place.


R.T.
2 Friends Resort
Jinja, Uganda
















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Review of Kaliro Country Resort, Kaliro, Uganda

 Kaliro Country Resort, Uganda, Africa

We spent our second week in Kaliro so that we could be closer to the school where we would be volunteering for the week.

Spacious ground at the Kaliro Country Resort

In 2014, the Uganda national census put the population of Kaliro at 16,796.

There are a number of points of interest in Kaliro. The two places that interested me most were the Kaliro Central Market where we did some shopping for essential items. I was also interested in the National Teachers' College Kaliro, one of five government teacher training institutions for secondary school teachers. However, we didn't have an opportunity to visit.

  In Kaliro, we stayed at the Kaliro Country Resort. Kaliro Country Resort has spacious ground.

Rose & I stayed in this 1 bedroom cottage in Kaliro, Uganda

Our group occupied the three cottages for the whole week.

We enjoyed the spacious living room 

Each cottage has one bedroom, living room and a kitchenette.

The one bedroom has a king size bed, and a single bed.

However, only the king size bed had a mosquito net, not the single bed. So my roommate and I had to sleep in the same bed.

Unfortunately, the mosquito net was not big enough to cover the entire bed so we tried to make sure it

 was inside the bed. 

It took me a little while to fall asleep which was not easy as there was no air conditioning nor a fan in the room.

The complimentary breakfast was simple but decent. Everyone was served the same food – omelet and pancake. I have come to love Uganda tea served with hot milk, our first  morning there, I had the tea with marsala and cinnamon; my first time drinking tea with marsala. Delicious and interesting!

R.T.
Kaliro Country Resort
Near Jinja, Uganda
Africa


R.T.