Green Tomatoes

Tomatoes consume large amounts of water, direct sunlight and heat. So the best place to grow tomatoes is against the south facing garage wall. The sun rises in the east and hits the south facing wall from the morning until late afternoon. Training the tomatoe vines by twist tying them to a fence lattice allows you to grow vines that are 8 feet tall. Prune off the third leaf and the result are large tomatoes the size of your fist. By the middle of September before the first frost the tomatoes start to ripen on the vine. I currently have 10 kilograms of green tomatoes that I have picked beacuse the frost came but they are slowly ripening in the basement. To make the tomatoes ripen just place an apple with the tomatoes and the ethylene gas created by the ripening apple will help turn the tomatoes turn red.

Apple Picking

It has been one year  since my friends from China have immigrated to Canada. In past blog posts you saw their first Thanksgiving, and their first Christmas Party. Today, both parents have full time jobs and have purchased a house. September is another first as I invite them to pick apples from my apple tree. I have a macintosh apple tree that I created by grafting macintosh branches onto a crab apple tree 10 years ago. This year I harvested 10 boxes of apples.

Six Province Tour Of China

Six Province Tour Of China is a photo book that I just created on Blurb.ca.  If you want to see what our tour group experienced on their 18 day tour of Northern and Southern China, all you have to do is click on the following blurb link.

Click On This Link:  Six Province Tour Of China

China Tour 2012 :July 21 to August 8

I just completed taking 19 Canadians on a Six province tour of Northern and Southern China. I added Sichuan Province on the tour this time. The City of Chengdu which was the epicentre of the 2008 earthquake has been completely rebuilt. In the earthquake there were 67,000 people killed, 180,000 missing and a million homeless and yet in a space of four years the city has been rebuilt into a modern city. An hours drive from Chengdu is the World Heritage Panda Reserve that is a world class centre for the preservation of the endangered Panda. 
Here is a brief itinerary of the 18 day tour.

Day01 Depart Calgary (or Vancouver) for Beijing- crossing International Date Line

Day02 Arrive Beijing,
Arrive historical Beijing，capital of People’ Republic of China, also a modern metropolis now with a population of 19 million! met by our professional guide at the airport and transfer to our hotel to check in & rest. Dinner at local restaurant. (D, dinner)

Day03 Beijing
Full day Beijing tour: today’s first stop is to visit Temple of Heaven, sacred place where ancient emperors worshipping the heaven.and praying for a good harvestaft; later we’ll tour to Beijing’s old residential area the Hutongs, and enjoy a nice rickshaw ride tour into the alleys; lunch with local family; also some shoppings, to visit a fresh water pearl workshop and an eyeglass store where you could get glasses made; return to hotel. (BLD: Buffet Breakfast at hotel, Lunch/Dinner at local restaurant, same for below).

Day04 Beijing
Full day trip to Great Wall, a symbol of Chinese ancient civilization, climb the wall as much as you can and enjoy the breath-taking view; lunch at a Cloisonne Factory on the way; later today pay a visit to National Stadium at Bird's Nest ,main statium of the magnificent 2008 Beijing Olympics; afterwards visit to a Traditional Chinese Medicine Center, have a basic idea of TCM and enjoy a free traditional foot massage there. (BLD)

Day05 Beijing-Xian (overnight train, sleeper berth)
Some free time at hotel this morning and check out from hotel, then visit Tiananmen Square, walk on this largest city square in the world and from here we could walk to the outer court of the Forbidden City and take some pictures of it; after lunch, we’ll go to see a local free market and also for some fun bargaining shoppings; after dinner transfer to station and take overnight train to Xian. (BLD)

Day06 Arrive Xian
After 10 hours ride; arrive Xian in the morning. Xian, the ancient capital of China and the cradlle of Chinese civilization and center of Chinese culture, art. Met by our guide and transfer to our hotel for breakfast & check in if rooms available. Then visit to Xian Stele Museum, a very unique museum for displaying works of calligraphy, painting and historical records from various dynasties; return to hotel. (BLD)

Day07 Xian
Full day Xian, tour the Ancient City Wall, the best preserved city walls from the dynasties; walking on the Wall; later visit a Jade Carving Workshop, chance to learn Chinese jade culture and pick up some beautiful, quality jade items if interested. Afterwards, proceed to Terra Cotta Soldiers & Horses Museum, one of the most exciting archeologial findings in 20th century and known as the “8th wonder” of the world: see the various pits of the terra cotta figures and also the bronze chariot of the pwerful Qin Emperor, all these dating back to more than 2200 years ago. Return to your hotel. (BLD)


Day08 Fly Xian/Chengdu
Transfer to airport and take flight to our next destination - Chengdu, capital of Sichuan Province & hometown of giant pandas & home of spicy Sichuan Cuisine; Arrive in Chengdu, lunch and brief city tour of Chengdu, tour Riverside Park; check in Hotel & rest. Dinner at local restaurant. (BLD)

Day09 Chengdu
Full day tour in Chengdu, our first stop will be Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding & Research Institute, organization specially engaged in the research of captive breeding, conservation of the giant pandas, and today here you’ll see the most giant pandas than everywhere else in your life; later visit to the Wuhou Museum, learn some history about China’s Three Kingdoms Period; also a stop at Shu Brocade Institute. Return to hotel. (BLD)

Day10 Chengdu-Dujiangyan-Chengdu
Day trip to Dujiangyan Ancient Irrigation System, this ancient water project from Qin Dynasty more than 2200 years ago is really an amazing feat of engineering and construction and it has been benefitting the local people through the history, one hand it’s providing irrigation water to the region’s agriculture and on the other hand controlling the Minjiang River’s flooding; lunch on tour; return to Chengdu in the afternoon. (BLD)

Day11 Fly Chengdu/Guilin
Fly to Guilin, beautiful south China city that boasting to have the best scenery and landscape in whole China; Arrive and have a city tour with stop at a spectacular Karst cave, the Reed Flute Cave at outskirt of the town. Check in hotel; dinner. (BLD)

Day12 Guilin
Full day Li River cruise along the picturesque Lijiang River, enjoy this 4-hour cruise journey and the unrivalled scenery, landscape on the way; lunch served on boat. Disembark at Yangshuo town early afternoon, have some free time in the local market; then drive back to Guilin, on the way make a stop for picture taken of the rice paddies. (BLD)

Day13 Fly Guilin/Xiamen
Today we’ll fly easternwards to China’s coastal Fujian Province, Xiamen City, known as “Garden City on the Sea”, and a home place for many overseas Chinese people. Arrive Xiamen, visit and stroll around the vehicle free Gulang Islet, drive along the beautiful seaside avenue, visit South Putuo Temple, etc’ and also enjoy a dinner at local sea food restaurant; check in hotel. (BLD)

Day14 Xiamen-Hakka’s Earth Buildings-Xiamen
Full day trip by coach to Huan An County to view the unique earth buildings of the Hakka’s people, which is a magnificent architecture work of village houses for its unique style, smart structure and grand scale. In the history the earth building was also a well-protected fortress for the Hakkas to defend themselves from enemies. These houses from the history are still home of local people today. We’ll visit some of these houses today and also the walk around the village, enjoy beautiful country view. Drive back to Xiamen in the afternoon. (BLD)


Day15 Fly Xiamen/Shanghai
Some more leisure time in Xiamen, later we’ll fly to Shanghai, financial, economic center of the country and symbol city of modern China, with a population of 22 million! arrive Shanghai for a brief city tour and then check in hotel; rest. (BLD)

Day16 Shanghai
Full day tour in this busy, dynamic town, first stop at the waterfont, the Bund, viewing the beautiful architures on both side of the river, you hardly believe you are in Shanghai; Nanjing Road pedestrian shopping street; in the afternoon visit Shanghai Museum and also shopping at a Silk Workshop, and see how the beautiful silk fabric made out of silk cocoons; return to hotel. (BLD)

Day17 Shanghai
More tours and shopping in Shanghai. Visit Yu Yuan Garden, a beautiful south China style private garden, and then spend time shopping at Old Town Market right outside of the garden. After lunch you’ll have some free time on your own to explore more of Shanghai or additional shopping. (BLD)

Day18 Depart Shanghai/Canada
Time free to relax or finish your last shoppings in Shanghai before drive to airport for flight back home. (B)

Accommodations:

5 Star Hotels
Beijing--Beijing Hilton Double Tree Hotel
Xian-----Xian Shangri-la Golden Flower
Chengdu--Minshan Hotel
Xiamen---Pan Pacific Hotel
Shanghai-Jinjiang Tower Hotel

Calgary Stampede

Relatives from my mother's side of the family came up for a visit from California and Texas. The temperature in Calgary seemed cool in comparison to the heat in the U.S. I toured them around the Stampede grounds where there are a number of free activities. We went to a one hour musical show called TAILS that is a fanciful story of the Stampede originated 100 years ago. The show featured three horses performing to music unbridled , and saddled as they interacted with characters from the Old West such as the first nations, the ranchers, and farmers. In one scene a buffalo charges into the arena and is met by the three horses who charge the buffalo. There are some new bronze horse statues on the park where everyone is welcome to take pictures.

Bragg Creek Fawn

Bragg Creek Fawn I was visiting my cousin in Bragg Creek who has completed a nice house on a five acre acreage. The house is situated between Bragg Creek and the south entrance to Kananaskis Provincial Park. From his window overlooking his pond, a fawn emerged from the tall grass sniffing the air and looking for its mother. CLICK ON THIS LINK AND VIEW THE BRAGG CREEK FAWN

Rotarian Luncheon

I teach in a school where there are 58 different nationalities and 65 different languages are spoken. A Rotarian appeared at our school and was looking for two students to attend a Rotarian Convention that was taking place in Canmore at the end of May. I recommended two students who I have taught to attend the four day Rotarian convention. One student took a computer course and another took a financial management course from me. Both were grade 11 students. There were students representing schools from throughout Alberta and the Rotarians who attended were from clubs from across Canada. The theme of the convention was about leadership. The guest speakers at the convention were individuals such as Craig Kielberger, of WE THE PEOPLE, Amanda Lindhot who was kidnapped and held hostage for 400 days and Samantha Nutt a social activist for the poor. The two students I sent had to make presentations at the convention to the Rotarians on what they could do to give back to society. The two students after the convention were invited to the Coast Plaza on June 22 to give a presentation to the Rotarian Club that sponsored the two students at their monthly business meeting. Using an I phone and the internet the two girls gave a 20 minute presentation on what had transpired at the convention . They projected the presentation using a computer plugged into the internet from which they downloaded their prezi presentation and projected onto a screen with a video data projector. Using their I phone as their notes they delivered a speech that had the Rotarians engaged and in tears. The Rotarians are going to contribute their time and money to help the students with their community project to help young people recognize the symptoms of depression and seek help. As their teacher , I was invited to attend the luncheon where the girls delivered their presentation. In the photo, I am sporting my 100th anniversary Calgary Stampede Commemorative jacket. As a teacher , it is rewarding when you can help students become active participants in community service. At the end of the presentation, the Rotarians gave the two girls a framed certificate for their presentation. One of the girl's is Amerasian and the other girl is Chinese Vietnamese who are second generation Canadians. Many of the new immigrants to Canada have suffered severe hardships before coming to Canada and when they arrive there is the culture shock of learning a new language and trying to earn a living. I am always amazed at the resiliency of the new immigrants when faced with their hardships but they came to Canada so their children could have a better life.