Happy New Year everyone!

We left Ottawa on Tuesday for some fun in Toronto.

In Toronto, the New Year’s Eve party is downtown, in Nathan Phillips Square, at the corner of Queen and Bay. There is a small skate rink (small by Ottawa standards—remember, we have the 7.8-kilometer-long Rideau Canal!) and skating seemed to be the number one activity. That and eating junk food. I had never seen so many much cotton candy, poutine, hot dogs, waffles and sausages!

It wasn’t cold, just a bit rainy. We walked around downtown for a few hours and followed the crowd to Nathan Phillips Square around 11:30 p.m. It was quite fun and the small fireworks were a nice touch to the celebration.

So, what are your New Year’s resolutions?

Yonge Street
Yonge Street
Pop Corn and Cotton Candy
Pop Corn and Cotton Candy
Bay and Queen
Bay and Queen
Ice Skating
Ice Skating
Hot Dog Stand
Hot Dog Stand
Queuing For Food
Queuing For Food
More Hot Dogs!
More Hot Dogs!
Umbrella For Rainy Night
Umbrella For Rainy Night
CityTV Party
CityTV Party
Look at the Crowd!
Look at the Crowd!
Fireworks
Fireworks
Fireworks
Fireworks
Fellow Photographer In The Crowd
Fellow Photographer In The Crowd
Going Back Home
Going Back Home

Get the latest story, cultural shock and travel pictures right in your inbox

I don't spam, promise.

I literally don't have the time to write ten stories a day.

Visited 62 times, 1 visit(s) today

19 Comments

  1. Lizz January 2, 2010 at 11:06 pm

    There’s something about cotton candy that I find so fascinating. It feels like it instantly makes something festival and special, and that plus popcorn just makes my day. The fireworks photos are awesome, by the way– love the way the smoke backlights the sparks.
    .-= Lizz´s last blog ..B.B. Cream Review: Skin79 Diamond Crystal Pearl Lightning 3D =-.

    Reply
  2. Graham January 3, 2010 at 7:02 am

    Heyyyy HAPPY NEW YEAR to you Zhu xxxxxx

    I just lurve looking at your photographs! The colours are truly vibrant and you always manage to capture the moment so perfectly. I am glad that you enjoyed the party.

    I have made lots and lots of resolutions (including to get back into photography and blogging in a BIG way!). I have given up alcohol for a minimum of one month, but maybe for much longer. I also have committed to myself that I am going to finish decorating my house. I have lived here for about 12 years but have never actually finished all the work I need to do to it (typical male eh? lol!). Finally, I intend to travel much more often this year. I haven’t done too much travelling over the past few years and really want to find my spirit again.

    Take care and have a great year

    Graham xx
    .-= Graham´s last blog ..A Christmas Trip To The City Of London – Part 2 =-.

    Reply
  3. Cornflakegirl January 3, 2010 at 7:21 am

    Wow, Toronto is just breathtaking! During this year, I will travel to Canada, although Vancouver is the main point, I´m still wandering if I could drop by Toronto as well.
    .-= Cornflakegirl´s last blog ..Summary & Resolutions =-.

    Reply
  4. Tanya January 3, 2010 at 12:30 pm

    To learn how to take gorgeous photos like yours!

    Reply
  5. Bluefish January 3, 2010 at 3:07 pm

    I don’t have any new year resolution except lose more weight, I guess. I can barely recall what I’ve been doing the past new years…It seems like parts of my memories have been erased for good.

    I’ll be working on my New Year photos as well.

    Reply
  6. Rémy January 3, 2010 at 4:01 pm

    Bonne année Zhu!

    No good resolutions for me, they don’t last very anyway 😉

    Reply
  7. London Caller January 3, 2010 at 7:51 pm

    Happy New Year! 🙂
    Wonderful photos!

    Ha ha… By the way, it’s “candy floss” not “cotton candy”! The Queen told me so, she’s not happy now! Ha ha… Just kidding, of course!! ;p

    Re: Shy cherub / 害羞的小天使 / Kerubian yang malu / 恥ずかしいチェラブ – Ha ha… I like the idea of being a naturist, actually. But it’s far too cold to think this at the moment.

    Re: No snakes at the Gallery / 画廊里没有蛇 / Tiada ular di galeri / 画廊に蛇がいない – The weatherman said that we might get some snow this week. Thanks to the wind blown from the Artic!

    Re: September promise / 九月的承诺 / Janji September / 九月の約束 – Ha ha… That’s not fair! I am wearing your clothes but you’re not wearing mine.
    .-= London Caller´s last blog ..Shy cherub / 害羞的小天使 / Kerubian yang malu / 恥ずかしいチェラブ =-.

    Reply
  8. Soleil January 3, 2010 at 9:57 pm

    Looks like Toronto was a blast! New Year’s Resolutions… don’t really make them, but always to be a nicer person. Other relevant thoughts will be on the blog at some point. Happy New Year!
    .-= Soleil´s last blog ..Happy New Year! =-.

    Reply
  9. Seraphine January 4, 2010 at 12:10 am

    it looks like you had a FUN new year’s eve. i met a friend for lunch, then spent new year’s eve at home, but we went with friends to a movie friday and to a dinner party on saturday. lots of celebrations.
    and no new year resolution.
    .-= Seraphine´s last blog ..Goodbye Danielle =-.

    Reply
  10. Tulsa Gentleman January 4, 2010 at 1:06 am

    This all looks like fun. I like the fireworks. When I was a kid we set off all kinds of rockets and firecrackers and had a great time with no more than a singed finger. Now all the good stuff ic contraband, whats the deal?
    .-= Tulsa Gentleman´s last blog ..Sunday Jigsaw Puzzle – New Grand Child =-.

    Reply
  11. Seb January 4, 2010 at 2:09 am

    Looks like fun!!! Happy new year Zhu!!! This will be your 1st year starting off as a Canadian 🙂 woohoo!!!
    .-= Seb´s last blog ..This is not a pipe-smoking fox. =-.

    Reply
  12. Seb January 4, 2010 at 2:10 am

    As for resolutions: I resolve to take over the world. I’m sort of an ambitious person.
    .-= Seb´s last blog ..This is not a pipe-smoking fox. =-.

    Reply
  13. Nisha January 4, 2010 at 2:58 pm

    Hi Zhu,
    Wish you a very Happy new year 2010. May you travel more and click more gorgeous photos to show us.

    You have captured very lively mood of your city.

    Reply
  14. Zhu January 4, 2010 at 10:08 pm

    @Lizz – Cotton candy reminds me of fair in the spring and in the fall. The smell brings me back several years back!

    @Graham – You started the year by traveling, which is always a good choice! Your pictures of London are just great mate 🙂

    @Cornflakegirl – Toronto is such a vibrant city… I find it unique. I hope you get the chance to visit it!

    @Agnes – Thank you!

    @Tanya – 😆 It’s really just practice and masochism (standing outside for hours)

    @Bluefish – I don’t even make resolutions! You must have great legs from all the biking!

    @Rémy – I thought of you in Toronto, we saw tons of people wearing Canadian Goose jackets! So I guess it’s a Toronto thing… so funny, it wasn’t even cold (by Ottawa standards) and everyone was wrapped in these super warm coats 😆

    @London Caller – Candy floss is a good way to remind you what to do after you eat these candies!

    @Soleil – Toronto was great, a nice little escape. Waiting to read your resolutions girl!

    @Seraphine – It was fun indeed! NY eve at home is cool too. I don’t usually party much actually.

    @Tulsa Gentleman – Feng was the same, growing up in China he played with firecrackers and fireworks a lot. He keeps on telling me they are not that dangerous…!

    @Seb – Eh, you are right, I didn’t even realize it!

    Taking on the world is a great resolution. Totally achievable with an army of bears like you have.

    @Nisha – Thank you so much!

    Reply
  15. Nigel Babu January 4, 2010 at 11:13 pm

    Resolutions, hmm, I took an ironic resolution to not take any resolution, 😛 seriously, its not worth the heartbreak since I rarely meet any. 😉
    .-= Nigel Babu´s last blog ..Pushing 150 kg =-.

    Reply
  16. Linguist-in-Waiting January 5, 2010 at 11:32 am

    Wow. People are all over the place happy! I hope that 2010 is a good year, although I am not sure about that.
    .-= Linguist-in-Waiting´s last blog ..Gadgets to Go =-.

    Reply
  17. RennyBA's Terella January 7, 2010 at 3:57 pm

    Resolutions: Like you, no big resolution… I don’t keep them anyway! 😆

    Looks like you had a great trip and celebration in Toronto – I like my own shoot up firework even better though 🙂
    .-= RennyBA’s Terella´s last blog ..Oslo Blog Gathering at First Millennium Hotel =-.

    Reply
  18. Celine January 23, 2010 at 8:01 pm

    My New Year resolution is to dream day and night. Because dreaming permits me to be quietly and safely insane every moment of my life…

    Just kidding. I don’t make any resolutions.:D
    .-= Celine´s last blog ..2009: Another Year of Travel =-.

    Reply

Leave A Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *