It has always been my hopes and dreams to see my childhood idol on stage performing her hit songs. When I was younger, my mother won the chance to see Janet Jackson in concert through a radio competition. I was too young at the time, so she took a family friend with her. I was disappointed that I couldn’t go that time because I knew Janet would never make her way back to Australia ever again! It’s always a rare opportunity to see good artists in Australia in concert so I had the feeling that I missed my one and only chance.

When I moved to Canada, I always hoped that I could see more concerts since artists travel to Canada more often as it is much closer for them and their fan base is probably much bigger. When I heard Janet Jackson was coming to Canada I was soooo excited but at the same time I was so disappointed that she would hold a show in Hamilton of all places! But my boyfriend offered to take me all the way to Hamilton which was 1 hour away from Toronto.

So on August 3, 2011, Janet’s one and only show in Canada, my boyfriend drove me all the way to Hamilton. It was a crummy of an evening – dark and rainy but I was so happy to be able to get to see Janet! She performed all her hits, and all my favourite songs. It brought back all the great memories of my childhood. I love Janet!

Janet Jackson #1s World Tour in Hamilton, Canada Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxiXYGXoPhs

Janet Jackson #1s World Tour in Hamilton, Canada Photos

Related posts:

1. Cherry Blossoms (Sakura Trees) 2011 at High Park
2. Diddy Dirty Money “Coming Home” Tour at Koolhaus in Toronto
3. Samsara for IIFA 2011

In 2009, I went Tree Planting with the Canadian youth of Soka Gakkai International  (SGI) in Caledon, Ontario. It was a great experience to be with fellow youth, making a direct positive impact on our environment. I decided to go again in the fall of 2011 and it was again a wonderful enriching experience.

I believe we planted over 250 trees that morning, and we could see the progress of SGI’s tree planting over the years. This is because we go to the same conservation area every year and we can see all the trees SGI Canada has planted. It was really nice to be in nature and trying to do something for our environment. Don’t get me wrong, it was hard work but a great workout and it was lovely to be in the sun.

SGI Tree Planting 2011 Photos

Related posts:

1. SGI Tree Planting 2009
2. High Park Cherry Blossom (Sakura Tree) Walk 2010
3. Canadian Tulip Festival 2011

About the Canadian Tulip Festival in Ottawa

The Canadian Tulip Festival is held for 3 weeks in May of every year in Ottawa and Gatineau, Canada. I had the great opportunity to visit this year, although it was unfortunate that it rained throughout the whole weekend I was there. I still managed to get a great first hand glimpse of the beautiful flowers that decorated around Parliament Hill. The festival features over 1 million tulips and receives over 500,000 visitors annually. This is a really enjoyable event to visit in Ottawa if you ever get the chance to go.

Canadian Tulip Festival 2011 Photos

Related posts:

1. TD Toronto Jazz Festival 2011
2. Chinese New Year Festival 2011 at Crown Casino
3. Cherry Blossoms (Sakura Trees) 2011 at High Park

The Toronto Jazz Festival has become one of North America’s premier jazz festivals and takes place annually during the summer in June and July with most events located at approximately 40 locations around the Toronto downtown core. It began in 1987 and now attracts more than 500,000 people over 10 days, with 350 performances and 1,500 musicians.

The core of the Festival is located at Metro Square, the heart of Toronto’s Entertainment District which offers free events to the public. I visited Metro Square on June 25, 2011 for some free jazz music. It was so lovely to enjoy the summer with some jazz music along with fellow Torontonians in the middle of the city!

TD Toronto Jazz Festival 2011 Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5MktPf2xP4

TD Toronto Jazz Festival 2011 Photos

Related posts:

1. Canadian Tulip Festival 2011
2. Samsara for IIFA 2011
3. Chinese New Year Festival 2011 at Crown Casino

Every year Toronto hosts Canada’s largest street weekend festival: Taste of the Danforth which welcomes over 1.3million people to the event. The Danforth is home to Canada’s Greektown and is closed for the event. There are dozens and dozens of food stalls for you to taste the flavours of Greece! Because so many people attend the event with their hungry stomachs, be prepared for super long lines for every stall! Food prices range from $3 to under $10 so it’s easy to walk along the Danforth and saviour a few items.

SammyliciousTV: Taste of the Danforth Festival Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1XNF6n1itI

SammyliciousTV: Taste of the Danforth Festival Photos

Lamb from Avli

Ribs from Avli

Chicken Rosemary Pie & Lamb Rosemary Pie

Related posts:

1. TD Toronto Jazz Festival 2011
2. Samsara for IIFA 2011
3. Canadian Tulip Festival 2011

Toronto was lucky enough to host the International Indian Film Awards (IIFA) on June 25, 2011. Many many famous Bollywood stars came to Toronto for the prestigious event and in celebration, Toronto also hosted the Samsara Festival which was full of Indian culture – music, culture and fashion. There was also a lot of Indian food available.. mmm, yum!

SammyliciousTV – Samsara for IIFA 2011

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWo70owHFkw

Samsara for IIFA 2011 Photos

Related posts:

1. TD Toronto Jazz Festival 2011
2. Cherry Blossoms (Sakura Trees) 2011 at High Park
3. Canadian Tulip Festival 2011

It’s that beautiful time of the year again: Spring! I just love Spring, it’s when all the flowers bloom and everyone comes out to play. That’s exactly what the atmosphere was at High Park during the Cherry Blossom (Sakura Tree) Festival, which I also went to last year in 2010. As last year, many came here to catch a glimpse of these beautiful flowers as they do not last long! A full bloom (mankai) is usually reached within about one week after the opening of the first blossom (kaika) and after just one week, the blooming peak is over and the blossoms begin to fall from the trees. If there are strong winds or rain, blooming season will be even shorter.  

Please check out my video below to learn more about the Cherry Blossom Festival at High Park.

Sammylicious TV: Cherry Blossom (Sakura Trees) at High Park 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWu9pZEDIyk

As mentioned in my video above, the Cherry Blossom (Sakura Tree) Festival is a highly celebrated event in Toronto because of the much anticipated spring after a long brutal Canadian winter. Many from all over the city come to enjoy this spectacular sight, from professional photographers to family and friends having a picnic in the park.

The Cherry Blossom Flower Viewing is an old Japanese tradition also known as “Sakura Hanami” and many spend hours viewing and enjoying these flowers on full bloom. The blooming of Cherry Blossoms (Sakura Trees)  typically occur in late April to early May, depending on the winter. The milder the winter, the earlier these will bloom. Because the winter in Toronto of 2010 – 2011 was both long and harsh, these flowers bloomed in early May which is much later than last year when it bloomed in mid-late April. Sometimes, when the winter is too harsh and cold, these flowers may not even bloom at all!

High Park has two Cherry Blossom walks but as last year, we took Walk 1 again which approximately takes 30-45 minutes to complete. This walk offers gorgeous views of High Park’s largest collection of Sakura trees as well as the Grenadier Pond and Hillside Gardens. Please enjoy my photos below!

Photos from the Cherry Blossom (Sakura Tree) Viewing

Here’s Elliott and I.

And then there’s just me! Hahaha..

Chinese Blossoms at High Park

 High Park also has a wide range of other beautiful flowers – just like this pretty pink Chinese blossom (I am unsure the name! If someone knows, please let me know!). Most of them weren’t bloomed just yet, but we found a few that were :)

 Elliott & I in front of the Chinese Blossoms

Kaori & I by the pond

The Canadian maple leaf: What’s a Canadian park without a Maple Leaf, right?

Large tall trees – so beautiful!

High Park Wildlife in the Spring

Mr. Squirrel who lives at High Park, also wanted to come out and play! Helloooo!

I adore High Park, because I love to see these amazingly beautiful birds. Above are two Canadian Geese.

This really cool duck is known as the Wood Duck.. but only the male looks as cool as this, spotting so many colours! I saw shades of orange, red, purple, green, black, white and brown.

 Location & Directions

The most convenient and easy way I find is to take the TTC to High Park station (on the Bloor line) and just as you cross Bloor Street, you’ll see High Park. It’s too big to miss!

If you prefer to drive, there’s free parking available at the Grenadier Restaurant (enter the park from the intersection of Bloor Street and High Park Avenue and follow the one-way loop to the Grenadier Restaurant in the centre of the park) and the lot immediately east of the Zoo (enter the park from the intersection of High Park Blvd and Parkside Drive).

Related posts:

1. High Park Cherry Blossom (Sakura Tree) Walk 2010
2. Snowshoeing at High Park
3. Doors Open: Elgin & Winter Garden Theatre

On the 24th April, 2011 I went to Kramer’s Bar & Grill to celebrate ANZAC Day with fellow Aussies which was organized by YACA (Australians in Canada Association). I also celebrated with YACA in 2009 for my birthday, when I had just moved to Toronto. It’s so good to connect with fellow Aussies and feel at home again!

The Significance of ANZAC Day

ANZAC Day is a very meaningful day for both Australians and New Zealanders. It is a national day of remembrance to honour the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) who fought in Gallipoli in Turkey during World War I. At the end of 1915, the Allied Gallipoli casualties included 21,255 from the UK, an estimated 10,000 dead soldiers from France, 8,709 from Australia, 2,721 from New Zealand, and 1,358 from British India.

ANZAC Day is commemorated by both countries on the 25th of April every year by both Australia and New Zealand and is a national public holiday. It is the most solemn day of the year and marches by veterans, including the Australian Defence Force and Reserves, the Australian Defence Force Cadets and the Australian Air League, are held in cities and towns nationwide. The Anzac Day Parade from each state capital is televised live with commentary. ANZAC Day is also observed in the Cook Islands, Niue, and Tonga.

Kramer’s Bar & Grill

Kramer’s used to be a run-down bar, but has recently been purchased by some Aussies and has been cleaned up quite nicely. The patio out the back was nice to relax and enjoy the company. We enjoyed an Aussie burger, Fish & Chips, Meat Pies, ANZAC Biscuits over some Aussie Trivia (which proved extremely difficult). Kramer’s also offered VB (Victorian Bitter!), Pavlova and Aussie footy was playing on the telly!

Paola, Louise and Grace accompanied me to this event. Thanks so much girls!

Below are the photos :)

Kramer’s Bar & Grill

(Davisville, Toronto, Canada)

1915 Yonge St, Toronto
(North East corner of Yonge & Davisville, 1 minute walk from the TTC Subway station!)

And here’s me reppin Aus! :D

Related posts:

1. Sammy’s 23rd Birthday & ANZAC Day in Canada
2. 25th Birthday at Niagara on the Lake (Part 3: Grill on King)
3. ANZAC Biscuits

On April 19, 2011 Diddy Dirty Money graced the stage at Koolhaus (Guvernment) in Toronto! I was soooo excited about this because I just LOVE Diddy AND Dirty Money. The combination of them on the stage was off the hook! The line up to get in was pretty long.. I think we waited 40 minutes to get in, which is really ridiculous because we already purchased our tickets prior to the event and it was freezing outside! I think it was like 2C at the time.

I managed to get some pretty awesome footage (despite the horrible bassy audio recording) but some even better photos. Please feel free to check out the videos and photos below!

I must say, Diddy Dirty Money rocked the stage but when Diddy did his classics set along with his Notorious B.I.G tribute it sent the crowd wild. It is a must see! I also can’t believe I finally got to witness the “Diddy Bop” live with my own eyes! It made me a very happy girl.

Diddy Dirty Money Videos

Part 1: Diddy Dirty Money

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abWb5rnAUmU

Part 2: Diddy Classics

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2FvlzLAEzw

Part 3: Notorious B.I.G Tribute and Diddy Dirty Money finale

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSr–F1Ux08

Diddy Dirty Money Photos

Related posts:

1. Janet Jackson #1s Tour 2011
2. TD Toronto Jazz Festival 2011
3. Toronto Harbour Tours

On Saturday afternoon of March 19, 2011 at 3pm EST, the moon was at its closest point to the Earth – a distance of 221,565 miles (356,575 kilometers) away. This phenomenon is known as SuperMoon, which was coined by astrologer Richard Nolle in 1979 and is defined as:

…a new or full moon which occurs with the Moon at or near (within 90% of) its closest approach to Earth in a given orbit (perigee). In short, Earth, Moon and Sun are all in a line, with Moon in its nearest approach to Earth.

What does this mean for us? Well at the moon’s peak, the supermoon appears 14 percent larger and 30 percent brighter than lesser full moons (when the moon is at its farthest from Earth).

This is quite a spectacular event (and rare!) as the moon has not been in a position to appear this large since March 1993. In December 2008, there was a near-supermoon when the moon turned full four hours away from its perigee (the point in its orbit that is closest to Earth). But this month, the full moon and perigee are just under one hour apart, promising much better views.

Unfortunately, I fell sick on this day and I woke up at 9pm, saddened that I had missed the moon at its peak! But I managed to catch some pretty cool views of the moon regardless. We went out on my condo swimming pool balcony and took a few snaps.