Posts Tagged: photography

Tommy Thompson Park in Early Spring

On April 15, 2025 0 Comments - Toronto

An accidental nature refuge

Tommy Thompson Park is a 5km long spit of land that stretches into Lake Ontario at the south east end of Toronto. It is entirely manmade, consisting of silt dredged up from the harbour as well as construction and demolition material produced over the last 75 years as the city grew. The shores of the park are made up of mostly broken concrete, tile and brick which have been eroded by wind and water over time. Shanks of twisted iron rebar jut out from the shoreline like rusty branches. Although it doesn’t sound so picturesque, it is actually quite beautiful.

Nature has taken over as this pile of dirt and rubble has sat here mostly undisturbed. It is now home to indigenous plants, animals, birds and insects. Some rare migratory birds make Tommy Thompson Park an annual nesting ground and there are areas of the park that are closed off during most of the year to allow them to nest in peace. Cars are not allowed. Even dogs are not allowed as the permanent residents of the park see them as predators.

Because it is remote from the city and protected by environmental laws, it is a great place for spotting beavers, minks, martens, coyotes, geese, swans, all types of ducks, birds of prey, insects, turtles, snakes, frogs…. Even Snowy Owls and Bald Eagles make stops here.

Since there are no cars it is also an ideal place for a walk or bike ride when you feel like escaping from the noise and hustle of downtown. For more detailed info here is the official website.

Photos and sounds from an early spring visit to Tommy Thompson Park

Leslie Lookout Park
Brand new Leslie Lookout park with white sand beach overlooking part of the harbour and city skyline. This is on the way to Tommy Thompson Park.
Couple walking in Tommy Thompson Park
Haraboji and Halmoni out for a Sunday walk (I heard them speaking)
Cycling in Tommy Thompson Park
City bikes are available to rent. Walking the whole park takes hours so bikes are a good alternative for a quicker tour.
Fishing in Tommy Thompson Park
Fisherman trying the ponds that form between sandbanks of dredged silt.
I spotted a little Mink (a type of weasel) eating a fish hidden in the grass near shore.
Sand banks in Tommy Thompson Park
Naturalized sandbanks host many nesting birds
Don’t assume anything…
Birds nest hung in Red Dogwood branches in Tommy Thompson Park
You can spot last years bird nests in the bare branches.
Tommy Thompson PArk shoreline with water and broken brick
Shoreline made up of naturally tumbled concrete and bricks.
Lake Ontario beach sounds…also the sound of nature eroding all the construction debris
Dry flower with shadow
Concrete, brick, stone and flower
Toronto skyline viewed fro Tommy Thompson Park
Skyline from the silt ponds
Red dogwood in early spring
Leaf buds are not quite open yet but early spring has its’ owns colours..the dogwood branches are bright red against the brown vegetation of last year.
Red Osier Dogwood and Sumac

I expected it to be noisier, but except for birds quietly nesting and people cycling and chattering away, it was almost silent. Below is a sound sample from late summer. In contrast, the sounds of cicadas, crickets and bees is LOUD! You can also hear a Porter Airlines or Air Canada Dash-8 flying over. This is a typical sound of the park which is at the end of one of the Toronto Island Billy Bishop Airport runways.

This park changes dramatically with the seasons…let’s come back later and see what’s going on.

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Mission to China

On March 22, 2025 0 Comments - Commissions, Travel

Let’s Go!

Many years ago I was invited by the Oysterlicious Group to work in Shanghai, China.

I had never traveled to Asia before and my first question was: “WHY? Why would I want to leave my home? Why would I want to go half way around the world to a place that I knew nothing about?” I couldn’t even speak the language.

But, after some time, my thoughts changed to: “actually…WHY NOT? Here I am with an offer of a free flight, accommodation and a job in a place that I would probably never think to visit on my own. This is an opportunity, not a problem”.

So began an adventure that would open doors to an exciting future. I packed my bags and set off on a journey that would change my life forever, a journey that has still not come to an end.

The beauty of Shanghai

Suzhou river in Shanghai China
The Bund in Shanghai China

Before coming to work in China, it seemed like a mysterious place, an unknowable place, maybe an unwelcoming place. But, from the moment I stepped off the plane, I was greeted with kindness and hospitality. I witnessed the beauty of natural landscape blending with space age architecture, ancient culture alongside ultra modern technology. Everywhere I looked there was something new and exciting to experience. Sights, sounds, smells and tastes that were exotic and irresistible. I was hooked on day one.

Work and Play in Shanghai

Work friends in Shanghai China
Chef at work in Shanghai China
Friends in Shanghai China
After work meetings in Shanghai Chian
Visiting the Great Wall of China

I was tasked with training a crew of young Chinese cooks. An exclusive oyster bar and restaurant in Shanghai would be my new workplace. At first, I was anxious about teaching them, especially since we didn’t speak the same language. But, my worries were short lived. These men were dedicated and hard working. They were eager to learn anything I was willing to teach them. With the help of our smart phones and sign language, communication became easy. We taught each other food words in Chinese and English and soon language was no longer an issue.

Outside of the kitchen, I was able to share time with the cooks and Oysterlicious hosts, eating and exploring Shanghai. China is a country where social connections are the greatest currency and it is not difficult to make friends over a good meal.

Street food in Shanghai China
Dumplings and Vitasoy in Shanghai China
Snails for sale in Shanghai China
Oyster promotion at work in Shanghai China

My kitchen mates often took me out to eat and drink at their favourite local places. These were real Anthony Bourdain style food adventures, memories I still hold dear many years later.

As a foreign professional, I was also sought after to promote oyster culture in Chinese media. I was a minor celebrity overnight!

Travel time in China

Guillin China vacation from work
Guillin China travel vacation from work

Being a cook is hard work anywhere in the world and China is no exception. But, it wasn’t all sweating and grinding away. There were also opportunities to relax and travel. The beauty, mystery and cultural richness of China went beyond all my expectations. And the Chinese people I was lucky to meet always treated me with kindness and patience.

This fateful trip was the start of a long and deep relationship with Asian culture. I have traveled back to China may times to see the friends I made on this first journey and I have traveled to Japan and Korea as well. Without the initial offer and encouragement I received from the Oysterlicious Group, I would never have had the opportunity to enrich my life in such a profound way.

Why go to China?? The reasons are endless. Better to ask: “Why not?” And then pack your bags.

Check out the Oysterlicious Instagram for more information.

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서울 안녕 / Seoul Annyeong

On March 17, 2025 2 Comments - Korea 2025, Travel

Why do i keep coming back?

I have been to Korea many times and each time I come here, I like it even more. By now, there is nothing really difficult about travel here and it is starting to feel a bit like a second home. I am always happy to arrive and a little sad to leave. Over the years I have gathered up more and more friends with every visit and I always look forward to seeing them. This month long trip was evenly divided between Tokyo and Seoul. My two weeks here felt much too short. There were a few people that I wanted to see that i wasn’t able to connect with this time around. All the more reason to come back soon : )

These are a few images that I like which didn’t really fit anywhere else:

Colourful Buddhist temple in Seoul Korea near Namdaemun
One of my favourite pictures that i took of Seoul. It is a tiny Buddhist Temple (용궁절) on a bridge on Sowol Ro near Sungnyemun (Namdaemun) Gate. The back-turned golden Buddha, the deflated red lantern, the spikey trees and the smiley face on the wall next door, the sunshine on the building and the blue sky above. To me this is perfect.
View of different rooflines stretching across Seoul Korea
The angles and random level changes of a city haphazardly built. Old crushed together with new. Ultra modern and futuristic alongside little islands of ancient wooden gates, stone walls and palaces. 5 star steel and glass hotels with crumbling 100 year old restaurants in the alleys behind them. Seoul is a city that seems to be hiding a secret, a new discovery, around every corner. It is what I like the most about it.
A cute snowman slow down sign walking down from Namsan Tower
천천히: If it rains, or if it snows…slow down, at least to enjoy it for a moment. Good advice.
A flower market in Jongno Seoul Korea
I have walked by here a hundred times and never noticed the Jongno Flower Market. A happy discovery on a sunny weekend morning.
Seoul Station, a major travel hub in Seoul Korea
The massive Seoul Station at night looks like a space colony.
A demonstration on a Saturday night in the streets of Jongno Seoul Korea
This is a photo of a Saturday night demonstration against the impeached President Yoon. I like it because Brad Pitt is chilling with his DeLonghi coffee in the middle of it. He looks like he doesn’t have a care in the world while the shouting protestors march by.
A colourful truck stacked high with boxes at night in Hwanghak-dong Seoul Korea
Sleeping Hwanghak-dong Market late at night
A fruit cart rolling through Hwanghak-dong carrying apples melons and tomatoes
Hwanghak-dong fruit cart passing through the market on a busy Saturday afternoon
An orange cat perched on a temple roof at Beomeosa Temple in Busan Korea
The cutest temple kitten at Beomeosa in Busan
A couple taking photos in Hanbok at Changdeokgung Palace in Seoul Korea.
Couple in hanbok doing a photo shoot at Changdeokgung Palace
Red pine tree next to roof detail in Chandeokgung secret garden Seoul Korea
Red pine tree, one of my favourite trees here. They are very common but, to me, the colour of the wood and the shape of the canopy is beautiful. In Gangneung, these trees line the beaches making it one of my favourite landscapes in Korea: red pine, sand and sea.
Overhead coloured light at dusk in a lower area of Itaewon
Itaewon in the evening. I had never been to Itaewon so I went to have a look and take a few pictures. We passed by the Hamilton Hotel where 160 people were crushed to death in the Halloween crowd surge in 2022. It just looked like any little street on a hill, like nothing remarkable had ever happened there. No more memorials remained but I felt sad seeing it.
Man in Hongdae Seoul Korea selling egg bread from his street stall
계란빵: steamed egg breads, great snack to warm you up when it is chilly outside. I think this is Hongdae.
Pair of carp resting near the sandy bottom of Cheonggyecheon stream in Seoul Korea
Carp in Cheonggyecheon stream
We were on the 19th floor in our building so I was forced to watch this advertisement screen to the point where I actually developed a favourite..this was it. I really don’t like elevators but this stupid ad made me laugh every time.
Woman petting kitten near Naksan Park Seoul Korea
Naksan kitten
Up the old city wall near Dongdaemun

Travelling Partner:

Father and daughter travel together and share a meal with friends in Busan Korea
I normally take these long trips alone. There are very few people that I can think of that i would want to spend a month with in planes trains and tiny hotel rooms. But, traveling together with my adult daughter has made this trip so much easier and so much more fun. I am good at traveling solo but this time having someone along to share all the adventures made the time away even more precious. We probably won’t get this opportunity again in the future so I am so grateful that we had this time to share together. I have learned a lot from her and I hope I have passed along some knowledge about how to get along on the other side of the world. Sumi took this picture of us in Busan.

Our trip here was long and exhausting with many many flight delays and bad weather. So far we are starting our trip back with only a 2 hour delay. Hopefully it won’t get any worse! Wish us good luck.

한국 안녕! 다음에 또 만나요

If you plan to travel to Korea, check here for ideas.

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