Distractions, reflections

Distractions, reflections

David Ing, at large … Sometimes, my mind wanders

Monthly Archives July 2010

2009/06/30-07/02 YYZ-YVR-Sydney-Macquarie Park: planes, trains and buses

July 31, 2010
On a family vacation to Australia, we flew Toronto – Vancouver – Sydney, to figure out the CityRail and Sydney bus system all the way up to Macquarie Park.
With a 2009 conference in Australia, our family planned a once-in-a-lifetime vacation.  We would spend almost three weeks in the land down under, beginning with seven days in Sydney.  To reduce the possibility of misconnections with Eric returning from Beijing, we had him travel from Toronto so that we could all leave together, five days later.   Airport check-in was slightly complicated as we discovered that Noah’s electronic travel authorization to enter Australia had not been processed properly with the rest of us.

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Air Canada suggested that we board the flight from Toronto to Vancouver, and get the e-visa just before boarding on the next leg.  At the Maple Leaf Lounge at YVR, the airline had to try the online application multiple times before achieving success.  In the meantime, we were still catching up on being a family of six again, and enjoy the complimentary food and beverages.  During the layover, our sons had time to taste all of the snacks, and sampled the variety of beer, wine and liquor (offsetting for my many years of non-consumption in airline transfers).

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Vancouver to Sydney is about 15 hours on the plane.  Crossing over the international date line resulted in us completely missing Canada Day.  I did my usual strategic sleeping and watching movies.  The flight wasn’t completely full, so we rotated into two-seat sleeping positions.  From my previous trips to Australia, I expected the aircraft disinsection procedure just before landing — flight attendants on a 2-minute walk down the aisle with insecticide aerosols — and recommended that our family stay with heads under blankets until they were done.

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The airport in Sydney is south of the city.  Our hotel was north of the city, across the harbour.  We bought tickets for the airport link and a 7-day orange travelpass for trains, ferries and buses.  From the airport terminal, the first train took us to Sydney Central station.

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We had left Toronto on an early summer evening flight to Vancouver, connected outbound from Vancouver almost at midnight, and boarded Sydney trains just after rush hour of a southern hemisphere winter morning.  I drew attention wearing summer shorts and sandals.  Donning a jacket and socks wasn’t quite warm enough, so it would be long pants for the week in Sydney.

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We would ride the CityRail Northern line frequently in the days to follow.  Sydney’s transit maps are relatively straightforward. Continue reading “2009/06/30-07/02 YYZ-YVR-Sydney-Macquarie Park: planes, trains and buses“

2010/07 Moments, July 2010

July 31, 2010
Toronto, Ontario; Chicago, Illinois; Waterloo, Ontario.

Jari and Kirsti say that Lake Ontario is colder and clearer at Bluffers Park than at Cherry Beach, having started waterfront tour way west at Sunnyside. They say the great lake is the size of the Gulf of Finland (Toronto, Saturday) 20100703 1700
Jari and Kirsti say that Lake Ontario is colder and clearer at Bluffers Park than at Cherry Beach, having started waterfront tour way west at Sunnyside. They say the great lake is the size of the Gulf of Finland (Toronto, Saturday) 20100703 1700
Harbourfront Centre Sirius Stage: Beats, Breaks and Culture final battle between Ground Illusions and FAM. Noah Ing taking the stage (Toronto, Sunday) 20100711 1750
Harbourfront Centre Sirius Stage: Beats, Breaks and Culture final battle between Ground Illusions and FAM. Noah Ing taking the stage (Toronto, Sunday) 20100711 1750
The Bean (Cloud Gate) at Millenium Park, installed in 2004. Much better use of the parklands thab in the 1980s when I lived in this city (Chicago, Thursday) 20100715 0930
The Bean (Cloud Gate) at Millenium Park, installed in 2004. Much better use of the parklands thab in the 1980s when I lived in this city (Chicago, Thursday) 20100715 0930
Debora Hammond taking questions after her talk on Food Policy for a Resilient Future, with Ockie Bosch moderating session (Wilfred Laurier U., Waterloo. ON) 20100721 1000
Debora Hammond taking questions after her talk on Food Policy for a Resilient Future, with Ockie Bosch moderating session (Wilfred Laurier U., Waterloo. ON) 20100721 1000
Markus Schwaniger causal loop diagram on the Culture of Fear associated with an economic downturn at ISSS 2010
Markus Schwaniger causal loop diagram on the Culture of Fear associated with an economic downturn at ISSS 2010 (Waterloo, Ontario) 20100722
Jennifer Wilby taking the role of president of the International Society for the Systems Science. A transition from the role of VP of Administration, revisiting bylaws developed by G.A. Swanson with a renewed emphasis on the ISSS council (Waterloo, ON Canada) 20100723 1200
Jennifer Wilby taking the role of president of the International Society for the Systems Science. A transition from the role of VP of Administration, revisiting bylaws developed by G.A. Swanson with a renewed emphasis on the ISSS council (Waterloo, Ontario, Canada) 20100723 1200

Acupuncture mannekin in Dr. Lam’s treatment room. This show the position for needles in the back, where I had eight needles formed in two rows. Hours later, I am still feeling heat on my back. (Toronto, Monday) 20100726 1630
Acupuncture mannekin in Dr. Lam’s treatment room. This show the position for needles in the back, where I had eight needles formed in two rows. Hours later, I am still feeling heat on my back. (Toronto, Monday) 20100726 1630

2009/06/25 Eric’s return from China

July 31, 2010
Friends and family greeted Eric on his return from China.
With Eric returning after over 20 months in China, our family went out to the airport to meet him.  His friends were there before us.

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When Eric showed came through the international arrivals doors, our sons jumped over the divider in a rush to greet him.

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After Eric’s long flight, he had a few words with his friends and made appointments to see them later in the week.

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To celebrate, we knew our sons would enjoy a good dinner.  Our usual preferences is for Asian buffets, but since Eric hasn’t had good western food in a long time, he opted for Jerusalem Restaurant. Continue reading “2009/06/25 Eric’s return from China“

2009/05/04 Waterloo, the Grand River and Elora Gorge

July 1, 2010
After a quick tour of Wilfred Laurier University, we made stops at multiple banks of the Grand and Irvine Rivers to see the Elora Gorge.
Leaving Tennessee, Jennifer and I were on different flights to Chicago, but met up at the connection for the same final leg to Toronto.  Jennifer had crossed the Atlantic from the UK not only to visit with G.A., but also to stop by Waterloo to plan the ISSS 2010 meeting.  With Allenna, visited the Wilfred Laurier University campus.  It’s a compact site, as viewed from the residence across the street.

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Since the university tour only took to midafternoon, I suggested that we do some sightseeing.  The Grand River by the Elora Mill Inn is scenic.  We drove south over the bridge from the centre of the village to oversee the mill.

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We walked a little farther west on the south bank for a better look of the dam.

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Looking east, there’s some traditional-looking buildings on the north side, and the Metcalfe Streeet bridge.

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Viewing the gorge itself requires driving back north over the bridge, and west to Victoria Park.  There’s a long set of stairs down to the level of the water.  The stairs curve, so only part of the route is visible from the top. Continue reading “2009/05/04 Waterloo, the Grand River and Elora Gorge“

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