From cooked to raw foods

Learning how to cook while living on my own … school edition

Cucumber with smoked salmon or chili Thai tuna

Chili Thai pan fried potatoes with herbs + spice

Kale and lettuce with sprouts and mushroom dressed in homemade Cesear inspired sauce

Raw chocolate mousse – made from avocados, cacao powder, and honey

Stir fried eggplant with basil

Stir fried chicken breast with frozen veg

Ethiopian inspired lentil and onions + lots of spice

Spinach and Kale with carrot and beets

 
Kale and spinach with shrimp and mushroom

    
Bruschetta on whole wheat bread

Oven roasted sweet potatoes

 
Greens, tomato, feta, and balsamic vinegar

Shrimp and mushroom stir fried with spice

Stir fried chicken with spice and Thai chili

 
Dragonfruit

 
Salad with fruits

Oven roasted kale chips

 
Pork chop with mushrooms

  
Shrimp taco with Greek yogurt and veg wrapped in corn tortilla

Green curry with rice

 
Carrot soup

Mango shaved ice with matcha powder

Korean style potato and carrots

Perfect 10 guacamole from YouTube

 
Sushi with smoked salmon

Rice noodle with ground beef, cheery tomato and smoked salmon

 
Rice noodle with ground beef and chili

 
Curry potato soup

Udon noodle with stir fried egg and onions

 
Pizza with salmon and spinach

 
Banana leave with sticky rice and dates

Green tea latte

Green tea frappacino

 
Chicken leg drums with Korean spicy sauce

Fried rice with Korean spiced tofu with cabbage

Insect Taxonomy Field Course OUPFB 2011

For the past 2 weeks, I went to the Queen’s University Biological Station to do a Field Course on Insecta – it was mind-blowing. The experience was phenomenal and inspirational. Marvin (prof) and Dave (TA) made the course so fun + engaging. I learned alot and played a lot at the same time. It definitely brought back a lot of childhood memories of me capturing insects in my courtyard with my friends.

For anyone that wants to take  a biology field course, I highly recommend this one – you will NOT regret it. Marv and Dave will show you the wonderful world of insects and my fear for those creatures definitely disappeared. I truly appreciate their beautiful existence.

Below are some of the pictures that I captured of …
- us capturing insects on the field
- food that we ate at QUBS
- my insect collection: physical + digital, which included
- Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae,  Formicidae, Vespidae
- Diptera: Syrphidae, robber fly,  Tachinidae
- Odonata: Libellulidae,
- Homoptera: Cercopidae (Froghopper)
- Lepidoptera: Noctuidae (Simyra insularis -Cattail Caterpillar), Lymantriidae (Orgyia definita – Definite Tussock Moth), Notodontidae (Heterocampa, Walnut, Datana ministra ), Arctiidae, Geometridae,  Sphingidae, Milkweed tussock caterpilla,  Papilionidae,  Saturniidae (Automeris io), Monkey slug
- Hemiptera: Aphids,  Belostomatidae
- Orthoptera: grasshopper
- Neuroptera: Chrysopidae
- Mantodea: Mantidea (Praying mantis)
- Phasmida: Phasmatidae
- Hemiptera: Assassin bug, Pentatomidae
- Coleoptera: Hydrophilidae,  Chrysomelidae, Cerambycidae (long-horned beetle), Coccinellidae (Lady bird beetle), Meloidae (Blister beetle), Cicindelinae (Tiger beetle)
- Araneae: Araneidae (Orb-weaver spider), crab spider
- Opiliones

Global Health Leadership

Today was a great day, and I don’t say that often. Aside from the usual MCAT torture, I attended a special event held by UofT on Global Health Leadership with Professor Jim Lavery & Professor James Orbinski.

As I start to scratch the surface of the Global Health world, I am becoming more familiar with people’s names, but I have known the name of “James Orbinski” for a while now. When I was “younger”, I’ve heard of his work with the Doctors without Borders/MSF and watched his documentaries. For a big chunk of my life, he has been one of my most admired idols … almost celebrity-like … actually alomost god-like. Today, I was privileged enough to listen to him talk (and sat very close to him O.M.G.)

He talked with such sincerity + his messages were simple, but concrete … none of those big words public health jargon BS.

[Usually, at these formal gathering, speakers often try to outdo each other or impress the knowledgeable audience with their thesaurus-like speech, but this wasn't that.]

After the event, I continued scratching the surface with the GH Foundation Course and had a 2-hr session on Refugee Health (perspectives have once again been turned up-side-down). This month has been one of those pivotal periods in my life and today topped it! So, today was a great day

(Dr. James Orbinski sharing his knowledge with us)

———– summarized notes from the event on Global Health Leadership ———–

“When you think you’re leading, you’re being lead”. To be a leader, you must share the conviction, but not have the desire to be in charge.

You might be conscious of burden of leadership, but not be daunted and not underestimate the task

“In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock.” – Thomas Jefferson

Humour:
- shows reality because it allows us to see problem in a different way + allows us a way into the problem
- invites others to engage dialogue

Most powerful is Dialogistical Ethics
- It is conversational
- It’s about being in relation to others
- “I am because you are” = root of community concept (polity)
- Being the “best” of self

Thus, the reason we pursue knowledge it to honour dialogue

Who / what are the enemies of Global Health?
The enemy of improvement = ignorance and arrogance
So collaboration = core way forward

In order to meaningfully and purposefully change … FRIST, you need to understand the way the world is —> Question – what is reality?

Answer – On a planet of 7 billion people, 1.2 billion go to bed hungry, 3.0 billion live on less than $2 a day, demographic shifts (80 YO life span inc, 40 YO life span dec), climate change affects food field (already 20% decrease  in sub-Saharan African, predict 50% in other parts in the future), etc

BECAUSE people fight over decrease access to small amount of resources (land, water), THUS climate change = most important global health threat

We must see the world as it is

Professor Jim Lavery & Professor James Orbinski

Food for Survival II. winter ed.

Eggplant and chicken with soy sauce + noodle with meat and spices (pepper, vinegar, curry powder)

Noodle with meat and spices (pepper, vinegar, curry powder)

Giant genetically modified strawberry

Microwave dinner

Stir-fried chicken with special non-fat bread crumbs that came in a package

SPICY Korean sauced shrimp

Microwave dinner with mango smoothie

Pork with lettuce and dill

Stir-fried chicken with vegetables + Pan-fried leek pie

Kingston’s Green Tray
Pan-fried leek pie

Stir-fried eggplant + lettuce

Kingston’s Kame
Rainbow roll

Kingston’s Kame
Ebi katsu don

Kingston’s Arisu
Pork bone soup (gamjatang)

Kingston’s Kame
Spicy salmon

Kingston’s Arisu
Chicken yaki noodle

Baked chicken with a bunch of spices

Kingston’s Arisu
Chicken donburi

Sushi extreme II.

Wednesday farmer’s market – potato cake (Paulina’s Curry)Kingston’s Arisu
French Kiss

Booster Juice – Matcha
Kingston’s Arisu
Rainbow sushi roll + appetizers

Kingston’s VIP Chinese Food – lobster sauce on rice

Kingston’s Rahim’s Cuisine
Aloo Baingan

Kingston’s Royal Angkor
Thai Green Curry

Tasty aloe drink but $$ tooKingston’s Tommy’s Diner
Choco milkshake

Kingston’s Sushi Q
Sushi Love boat

Kingston’s Kame
Chashu bento

Kingston’s Kame
Kame U-Don (fish paste)

Costa Rica Day 6 – Monteverde Canopy Tour (Sept 2)

After a very interesting morning at the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, we quickly rushed back to our hostel to be picked up by Selvatura Adventures company for a canopy tour.

When we arrived at the canopy tour, the guides gave us a short demonstration and on how to break on the rope. Breaking on the canopy was quite difficult, especially when it rained 1-2 hours earlier – the ropes were much more slippery and dirtier than usual. Thus, the ride was FAST … woot adrenaline!

There were about 11 stations in total on this canopy tour . The last trek was the longest – 1km long. I videotaped the last trek. It was rainy and very humid on that day, so the camera lens often had water drops on it. http://www.youtube.com/user/LindaSummerSun?feature=mhum#p/u/9/bUraPXCtuW8

The entire canopy gliding activity took about 4 hours – exhausting, fun, fast and SO SCENIC. Riding on the tops of the rainforest was magic!

After the ride, we had the option to do a tarzan swing … which was literally dropping yourself from a high platform and swing. Too scary for moi, but Andrew did. Brave boy! Here is the video to the tarzan swing: http://www.youtube.com/user/LindaSummerSun#p/u/5/nkJ9mHg_KEU

Ready to glide!

So scenic!

Magical!
What a sexy outfit … helmet, rainboots, poncho plus dirt!On the way back home we stopped at an ice cream shop for some macadamia ice cream, suggested by Diego from the El Trapiche Tour. It was delicious! Banana tree outside of our hostelBanana tree flower blossoming!

————————————————————

Itinerary:
Day 1 – Arrival at San Jose
Day 2 – San Jose
Day 3 – Volcan Irazu + Turrialba white water rafting
Day 4 – La Fortuna – Arenal National Park + hot spring
Day 5 – Monteverde – coffee/sugar cane tour + serpentario
Day 6 – Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve
Day 7 – Playa Hermosa for snorkeling
Day 8 – Playa Negra and Playa Ostional
Day 9 – Barra Honda caves
Day 10 – Carara National Park + crocodiles
Day 11 – Manuel Antonio
Day 12 – Departure

Costa Rica Day 6 – Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve (Sept 2)

After a relatively comfy sleep in our hostel, we woke up at 6am to drive up to the Monteverde Cloud Forest for the 7:30am tour. Here are some pictures of our hostel adventure A map that located us … in the middle of nowhereSanta Elena was SO COLD at night due to its elevation. I put on everything I had when sleeping, including the socks … with the pants tucked in. Thus, my PJsYes… cold and miserableOur ghetto doorOur outside viewGood morning view! It rained last night … did you know?

Monteverde Cloud Forest Tour

On the guided tour, our guide carried a long telescope and made various bird calls. We found a small bird nest up on a tree – it was the humming birds’s nest with 2 baby hummers in there! Other things we saw: various flowers, fig parasitic tree, stick insects, thorn bug, various birds, beetles, moth … but not that much wildlife. A puma was spotted once 2 years ago, but I guess we weren’t that lucky, so we didn’t encounter it.

Ticket for 2 students (estudiantes) please!

Big Moth … before the guided tour began!Mushrooms and fungi everywhereSpikesSymbiotic relationship

Little bug Giraffe treeBlack bird with red lips (if you know the speices, please comment)

Ferns

plants by mini-fall

Moss on treeHummingbird’s nest with baby chicks (shot through telescope)Horizontal tree rootLong pointed leaves that are adapted to get rid of water on water in an extremely humid environmentThe cloudy cloud forestBee-fly creature that stings The map that saved us while in Santa Elena/Monteverde

———————————————————————-

Itinerary:
Day 1 – Arrival at San Jose
Day 2 – San Jose
Day 3 – Volcan Irazu + Turrialba white water rafting
Day 4 – La Fortuna – Arenal National Park + hot spring
Day 5 – Monteverde – coffee/sugar cane tour + serpentario
Day 6 – Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve
Day 7 – Playa Hermosa for snorkeling
Day 8 – Playa Negra and Playa Ostional
Day 9 – Barra Honda caves
Day 10 – Carara National Park + crocodiles
Day 11 – Manuel Antonio
Day 12 – Departure

Costa Rica Day 5 – Snake Serpentarium (Serpentario Sept1)

After a LONG + BUMPY + WINDY + MUDDY + RAINY drive, we finally got to Santa Elena. However, because the ride took so long, we weren’t able to make to the guided tour at Monteverde Cloud Forest. Thus, we had to entertain ourselves in the small town for the day.

Tip – always stop at those tour office/info booth on the road when you’re lost. They have great advice + prices. It’s hassle-free.

Thus, we stop at one of those tour offices, and they recommended that we go to coffee tour and the local museums/biological houses (bats, frogs, amphibians, snake, insects). The coffee tour with El Trapiche was so awesome. Then we chose the Serpentario – best decision on the trip! There were not just snakes, but amphibians – turtles, lizards, and frogs.

There are 40 something snakes that are captured in the glass display. Some poisonous, aggressive, or “regular”. There were specimen, and hundreds of pictures of snake identification cards. Along with pictures of snake attacks. We didn’t see strawberry poison-dart frog in the wild, but I’m glad we saw it there. It is actually SO SMALL (smaller than the size of your thumb) and very colorful. If you touch the frog, then you touch your eyes or mouth, you will die FOR SURE! There were turtles swimming the pond .. but beware, these croc turtles can bite your hand off.

When we were touring the serpentario, another couple came in – Patrick and Daniella. They were the most fascinating people that I’ve met on this trip – they’re plant researchers! They take many trips to the wild jungles, and had so many interesting stories. Their Mexican friends got bitten by Fer-de-Lance (most aggressive snake in CR), and half of his leg muscles came off. Their tip to us is that whenever you encounter a snake in the wild, use a stick of a hat to distract them, because snakes are sensitive to fast movement. They will attack the stick or your hat (by throwing it), because that is the sign of defense.

Being a biology student, this was definitely a very eye-opening, fascinating day. Suddenly, everything we learnt in the class room makes sense! I wish I had more time to visit the other invertebrate/vertebrate places. Enjoy the photos.

(Most of these photos are Andrew, and I was the lighting assistant. My D100 was not up to par due to lack of light)

Serpentario – specimen and educational displays

Redleg tarantula (Megaphobema mesomelas)

Columbian Rainbow Boa (Epicrates cenchria maurus)

Strawberry blue-jean or strawberry poison-dart frog (Oophaga pumilio).

Cute but deadly.

Neotropical Rattle (Crotalus durissus)

Rainforest hognose pitviper (Porthidium nasutum)Fer-de-lance (Bothrops asper).

This is the most aggressive snake in Costa Rica.

Slender hog-nosed pitviper (Porthidium ophryomegas)

Eyelash viper (Bothriechis schlegelii)

Side-striped palm-pit viper (Bothriechis lateralis)

A closeup of side-striped palm-pit viper’s beautiful texture and colourationNeotropical rattlesnake (Crotalus durissus)American Coral snake (Micrurus nigrocinctus)

In order to identify a fake vs. true coral snake, we use the word “RANA”. R = rojo = red. A =amarillo = yellow. N = negro = black. If a coral snake has the strip pattern of red-yellow-back-yellow, then it is a true coral snake. Thus, very very poisonous. If its pattern is not in that order, then it is a mimicry of the true coral snake.

Do you know which one is a REAL coral snake?

Enroute to Liberia (not Africa’s Liberia), we saw a coral snake on the side. These creatures are nocturnal. It was surreal to see a REAL coral snake in front of us, especially after visiting the serpentario. Palm-pit viper (Bothriechis schlegelii)Shedded snakeThe scutes on the turtles’ back blends in with the rocksAlmost look fakeCane toad (Bufo marinus)

Specimen

Look at this lizard’s little hands. So cute.

————————————————————————————————

Itinerary:
Day 1 – Arrival at San Jose
Day 2 – San Jose
Day 3 – Volcan Irazu + Turrialba white water rafting
Day 4 – La Fortuna – Arenal National Park + hot spring
Day 5 – Monteverde – coffee/sugar cane tour + serpentario
Day 6 – Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve
Day 7 – Playa Hermosa for snorkeling
Day 8 – Playa Negra and Playa Ostional
Day 9 – Barra Honda caves
Day 10 – Carara National Park + crocodiles
Day 11 – Manuel Antonio
Day 12 – Departure