Short Story : In One Moment [Page 10]

In One Moment [Page 10] by Tobin Cheung

However, one has a sharp piercing voice; the other a low and raspy voice while the third simply has an odd way of articulating. 

“Check out the way she’s dressed,” exclaims the sassy girl to one of her friends, “It looks like she just got off the subway.”

 “Yeah, she looks like the girl who works at the Second Cup around my corner, the one with black hair and no makeup other than black eyeliner.”

“You mean the Goth, lesbian, punk thing. Totally. I’m surprised they let her on stage. Isn’t this supposed to be the jazz festival?”

“This doesn’t sound like jazz, it’s dark and choppy. It’s not smooth at all. There’s no way you can dance to this.” 

“I know, it’s like the Alterative subcategory of Jazz,” laughs one girl.

    “An alternative chic playing jazz, talk about fusion, she should glamour up a bit and pick a color. What’s with the low rise hip hugger jeans?”

    “And that second hand store, two sizes too small t-shirt?”

    “That armlet around her bicep.”

    “She’s muscular.”

    “She needs to tame that hair,” one chime’s and all three giggle.

The man in front glances over his shoulder and a forced cough is heard from behind.

“Artists and musicians are all the same, they’re weird,” whispers her friend.

Perception is such a peculiar thing. It’s as boundless as ones imagination. To me; she’s alluring, captivating and absolutely enchanting. Her heel worn runners, the tattoo, the little scraps of paper sticking out her back pocket are all clues into her personal life, each begging for a story to be told.

Anyone keen enough to notice these things will be fraught with curiosity. I know I am. Are those bits of paper airline stubs, hotel receipts, or a composition in progress? How many stages, how many bars; how many downtown sidewalks have those worn shoes danced across? 

Her performance is honest and real. She doesn’t hide behind a stage persona. She is a straight forward no games kind of gal. The type that would know which one of the many anonymous pizza bars found in and around the city serves the best gourmet pizza. She is the kind of person that cannot be fooled by presentation alone. Gourmet food can be purchased by the slice. The single aisle of chairs, the uneven floors and the deafening drone of the air conditioner is all part of the charm. These are the sort of characteristics that help flavor her music.

A slice of pepperoni and cheese will not suffice, not a chance, not for this girl. However long it takes, the wait for a freshly baked pizza is worth every bite. Topped with feta cheese, chicken, spinach, sweet onions and green olives, it’s like eating exotic food for the price of fast food. Two slices and a Pepsi please, she would ask.

After washing down the last few bites, she bursts out of the doors. She is late and running down the street. With the sugary liquid sticking to her throat she pushes through in time to meet the third beat. Gasping for breath she ascends the final step to greet the audience. No burning incense, drinking blood or any other superstitious rituals before a show. The knowledge of being true to her music, gives her all the confidence she needs.

My imagination comes to a halt as she dances across to the far side of the stage. A pivot, slide, double step, and tap. My eyes follow her sway. I am surprised at my sudden attraction to this strange girl. My heart beats chaotically and the blood drains from my...

[To Be Continued...]

Short Story : In One Moment [Page 9]

IN ONE MOMENT [Page 9] by Tobin Cheung

Occasionally the scent of sausages grilling on the barbeque wafts across the venue to stir everyone’s appetite.

The sound of a quadruple tap and double thump, pumps into our chests. The monotonous drone of mindless chattering dissipates to silence. The beat continues unaccompanied. Soon our head and feet unconsciously move to its syncopated rhythm. Once everyone’s ears have been tempted, the bass player inlays a melody to produce a haunting prelude. Together with the drummer, they set the mood for the audience. I am certain the crisp tinny tsk, tsk, tssssk of the cymbals can be heard echoing throughout the city as it ricochets off windows lining all the skyscrapers. When the guitarist shuffles in with his chords, the ambience becomes complete. A dark eerie vibe is established through minor keys while the timing of each note asserts an inherent groove. It’s as though we were in a back alley club of a shady foreign city. I feel of both excitement and nervousness.

A gust blows in from across the lake foretelling an arrival. The band continues with their groove. Goose bumps form on my arm and magically the soloist appears center stage as if she had always been there. She stands erect, cool and confident.

In one blow, she commences by spurting out an electric sequence of notes, catching the attention of many. She seems young, not young and pretty, but young to be an accomplished trumpet player.
The chorus is gently executed, allowing us the pleasure of savoring the tune. With each pass, she makes slight variations to the melody giving it an added touch. It is also an indication that she is ready to break free, itching to unveil a monologue. The band members can sense her restlessness and the tempo is taken to the next notch. All eyes are on her.

Drawn by curiosity, flocks of people continue to gather along the perimeter. They are captivated with anticipation, anxious to see what a female trumpet player can do. I hold my breath hoping she would meet the expectations of true jazz aficionados. She does not. The fact is, great trumpet players have always been men. Everyone has heard of Miles, Dizzy and Faddis, but very few people can give name to a female player. The trumpet is an instrument that is gender bias. Subsequently, the young lady on stage will not be judged in accordance with the standards applied to men. Jazz critics already have a bell curve in mind and the audience is ready to cheer her on regardless of the technical elements in her performance.

This girl of mid thirties does not perform to our projected level. She is here to put the best of the best to shame. Once she was set free of the chorus, her talents took flight. Within the first three bars she was immediately recognized as a soloist and not a smooth jazz player. A gasp is heard from the people around me, not from being surprised but from being shocked. Jazz enthusiasts straighten in their seats. I am caught in mid-motion, forgetting why I extended my arm. Whatever the reason, it no longer matters. After a moments pause, my arm lowers on its’ own.

Her arpeggios flow undetectable and work together with her phrasing in harmony. She is a fluid player achieving an unrehearsed and impromptu feel. What she plays tells a story, what she does not play makes a statement. Musicians graced at birth with natural ability do not play notes. They make noises, a screech, a wail, a squawk that become notes. She has that magic and I am under her spell. Caught up in her performance, I relish in every sound, until the girls seated to my left broke out in a loud and opinionated conversation. Hoping to ignore them I pretend not to hear. 

[To be continued...]

Travel Feature : Santorini, Greece

Everywhere you turn is euphoric, absolutely picture perfect. Santorini (Greece) is so beautiful, that there is no such thing as a bad photograph. Put the camera on burst mode and spin, do a 360 degree, three pictures per second rotation. Walk one block and repeat, that way you can be certain that this is not all a dream.

But before we talk about the island itself, let’s talk about getting there. If you are traveling to Santorini from another Greek island, chances are, you will be riding the Flying Cat 4, a high speed ferry that looks like something right out of a James Bond movie. It is huge, bright red and when it pulls into dock, you know James Bond's arch nemesis has arrived. It just sounds evil, emanating a high pitched whine from its dual turbine engines it can be heard miles away, as you stroll along the cliffs of the island.

 The day we boarded the Flying Cat 4 it was cold with high winds and rough waters, so much so that the passengers departing looked sickly and rather ghostly white. The skies were gray and the huge cowl mouth of the ship was bobbing up and down against the water. The crew was rushing the four hundred passengers into the ship, almost yelling at them, ordering them to go to the right, go to the left, grabbing their luggage and piling them up onto the back of the ship. The wind whipped by like a harsh Canadian winter as you climbed the stairs onto the ship. Meanwhile the smell of diesel fuel hung stagnant in the air as the turbines wailed its high pitched whine. It felt adventurous with the rough waters, the overcast skies and the ultra cool James Bond style ship.

The town of Fira is where many famous photos of Santorini are taken. The sculptured white huts along the cliffs overlooking the ocean below and the orange and red sunset sky above, never seem real from the photographs. Once you are there, walking within the maze of fine restaurants, high fashion stores, art galleries and luxury villas, it appears even more fictional. Imagine awakening from a satisfying slumber in an ultra plush bed surrounded by exquisite décor and then stepping out into a quaint private pool that reaches out to the horizon.

There are so many stores, so much fashion and jewelry that it is dizzying. After a few hours of shopping, pick the highest roof top lounge available and have an exuberantly expensive drink. The view will be worth every penny. In fact you may walk half a block and have another exuberantly expensive drink just for the view. In the evenings, picking a restaurant is just as baffling, between the décor, the food and the perfect view.

 Another thing to do in the city is to take the cable car that runs down the cliff and ride a donkey back up. After a couple days of bopping around town and your senses are on overload, rent a car and head out to the beaches. If you are a fan of white sand there is a beach with beautiful powder white grain, if you want something more exotic there is also a beach with red sand. A drive along the countryside is refreshingly scenic, the windy roads and the ocean air is a wonderful change from suburban or city ambience.

While on your exploration be sure to drop by a winery, test some dessert wines and go for a tour. Art Space is a winery dating back to 1861 that is now a museum, modern winery and an art gallery. The old wine cellars are now caves to display contemporary art making it an amazingly unique gallery.

The perfect ending to a wonderful day is in the village of Oia, 11 km away from Fira. It is the most picturesque village with the most breathtaking sunsets in the world. Walking through this town is like being in a dream state of serenity, tranquility and beauty. Simply let time stall and absorb the surroundings.

Photos + Words : Tobin Cheung

Short Story : In One Moment [Page 8]

SHORT STORY : IN ONE MOMENT [Page 8] by Tobin Cheung

Since the invention of cell phones everyone is always in contact but no one is actually together.

Realizing that I am alone, I plop myself down by creating space between strangers set aside for personal comfort. The girl to my right is expecting. She’s indifferent to my presence, used to having her space infringed. She’s a mommy and about to give birth to her third baby, I can tell. Mommies can be distinguished from Mothers. Mommies have a certain appearance that set them apart. They are open, easygoing and can express the joys and laughter that only a child is thought able to show. A Mother, on the other hand, usually has one child. This particular evening, the Mommy seated next to me, is having a girl’s night out, a break from the duties of motherhood and wife. Her single friends, having missed her, are happy to be in her company.

The girl seated to my left is in her prime. She has a mid-twenties prettiness, a post-graduate education and an ego to match. With a drive that worships capitalism and a claim to serve humanity, she is complicated. I made the mistake of giving her a smile before I sat down, forgetting that I was alone. I got no response. She automatically assumes that I purposely squeezed beside her and am about to make an absolute nuisance of myself. Her body language is immediately on the defensive, the clutch of the purse, the crossing of the legs, and the not-so-slight tilt of the shoulder as she sways towards her girlfriends. Her voice becomes noticeably louder. She begins laughing more frequently, displaying her sassiness with witty anecdotes. I’m way too much for you to handle is what she’s saying. I agree completely. Her good looks are easily achieved at her age and require very little refinement. And so, she believes herself to be a low maintenance carefree gal. Don’t get me wrong, it is fabulous to be in the company of such women, so long as you don’t expect them to stick around for very long. There are simply too many men promising them everything under the sun.

“Do you know when the band comes on?” I ask, attempting to strike up a conversation with the Mommy to alleviate the tension building between the girl and me.

“They should start in five minutes but don’t hold your breath, they never set up on time. It’s all part of the master plan,” she taunts. “The longer you wait the better they sound.”

I watch her make a comical smile and raise an eyebrow as if to say that it’s all in good fun. Attitude free, she is open to some friendly banter.

“Isn’t this the perfect night for an open air concert? With the city as a backdrop and the lake behind us, it’s like we’re at a Gatsby’s party.”

She laughs.

“Oh definitely, it is the most perfect warm summer evening for live jazz. I just wish I could toast it with a glass of wine,” she says patting her little protruding belly.

 “…..and we would like to thank everyone for coming out to enjoy an evening of music. Jazz is an evolutionary style of composing, incorporating blues, rock, flamenco and many other genres into its compositions. It is music for everyone. Please welcome tonight’s first band, Azzuries.”

As if on cue, the sun dips below the horizon and the sky glows a final red and orange. If we are lucky, the moon will shine through and become a spotlight for the stage. City lights begin to come on, little sparkles here and there acting as man-made stars. Behind us, the rumble of a cigarette boat idles by bringing with it a sample of the snappy lake air.

[To be continued...]

Product Feature : Tube Amp

The work week turned out alright, having accomplished more than expected. It feels good to finish off on Friday without unresolved issues waiting for Monday morning to come around. Feeling good, I return home to my condo to celebrate. A good work week may be a small feat, but to quote Harvey Pekar, “Ordinary life is pretty complicated stuff.” It’s time to put on some good tunes, bask in the groove and break out a few dance moves from the private collection.

The expensive computer speakers and sub hooked up to my Mac Book doesn’t quite do the trick when you are in the mood to listen to some serious music. For Youtube and movies they are awesome, but there is only so much 2.5” speakers can do. The range is very limited.

What kind of sound system suits the condo living lifestyle?

Perhaps, a bookshelf stereo. It is compact, great for space saving and some actually sound decent.  Unfortunately, most bookshelf stereos have a gawdy plastic look that will quickly cheapen the decor, especially when the room is not very big. Making the best use of space is vital when living in a condo, so a full component sound system with floor standing speakers may not be a great idea. No doubt it will get your feet hopping but the neighbors will also be pounding from above, below, and both sides.

Nowadays, most music is stored on a hard drive as mp3 or lossless flac format. LP’s are for nostalgia, cassette tapes are forgotten and a CD collection takes up too much space. Considering that the average condo size is 650sq ft and a 2TB of hard drive space is less than $100.00, why take up valuable space, when you are paying over $400.00 per sq ft.

With everything digitally recorded, digitally stored and digitally played, the musical experience can become somewhat harsh, thin and metallic sounding, rather than a full-bodied tone. Instead of plugging in the iPod into a solid state transistor amplifier, try a "Tube Amp".

Note that the source of the music needs to be good, meaning flac or 320kb/s files. Tube amps are known to produce a warmer fuller tone. The reason for this is because of harmonic distortion. All amplifiers whether solid state or tube add distortion to the signal fed to them. Distortion from a tube amp is mostly low order, even second, forth, sixth and eighth harmonics. In other words, they represent octaves that are musically related thereby blending in the harmonic distortion with the music being played. Solid state amplifiers, however, have high order odd harmonics in addition to the low order even harmonics. High order odd harmonics are seventh, ninth, eleventh, and thirteenths, which are not musically toned and does not blend well with music. The higher the frequency of harmonic distortion the easier it is heard, which is why solid state amps can sound harsh and metallic. 

A small amount of low order even harmonic distortion in a tube amp may go completely unnoticed, whereas the same amount of harmonic distortion, but in high order odd harmonics can make the listener cringe his eyebrows. This is why many claim tube amps to have a warmer, fuller sound, the even harmonic distortion blends in with music.

If you are looking for something that sounds good and looks cool in your condo, have a listen to a tube amp and see if the sound suits you.

Photo + Words : Tobin C

Short Story : In One Moment [Page 7]

IN ONE MOMENT [Page 7] by Tobin Cheung
 
My waving arm goes unnoticed. She has her blinders on again.

I stand off the main path, curious to see what will proceed, wanting to learn how a man’s man makes his opening moves. I’m rather shy when it comes to picking up women. In fact, Liz was the one who picked me up one autumn night in an underground jazz club. In my zone, oblivious to the dingy surroundings, I was grooving, swaying and jiving to a “lady” down from New Orleans. He was blowing funk so smelly that my body parts were jerking and jolting without consent. He had flair, the kind that told you that jazz was his birth right and not a learned skill.

That autumn night under the red and gold lights, alone and unencumbered, I drowned myself in the music. Perhaps, that is what captured Liz’s attention, my uninhibited dancing, my movement of pure freedom; my lapse from reality. That night, I was feeling euphoric, even dazed. She took me by surprise, when she grabbed my arm and asked my name. I was in a trance. My state of consciousness was engulfed in the music, leaving no one in charge of reality. Needless to say, I don’t remember much.

“Thank-you and welcome to the 25th Annual Jazz festival. Tonight’s lineup will feature the legends of tomorrow. You will hear the influences of the greats:  Duke, Dizzy, and Davis, all playing their part in tonight’s repertoire of performances. And I must say; these are the most precocious kennel of cats I’ve seen gathered in one place. First a few words from our sponsors.”

    A mob of colours begin shuffling towards the main stage. It is a fashion show, the "artsy" and "sexy" have arrived. These types of events always seem to attract the very hip. One of the things I like to admire among the crowd of people is all the designer eyewear everyone is sporting. It is a trend that has been flourishing more and more over the past few years. I must have counted at least twenty pairs go by.

Tiptoeing on the curb, I peer over the jumble of heads towards the direction I last saw Liz. She’s gone. Without thinking, I drop my heels, and step into a blur, instantly causing a bang. My hand goes down and I manage to keep from crashing into the ground. After regaining my orientation, I search around in a daze, trying to determine how I ended up on the tracks of an incoming express train. Several meters away among the marching crowd is the person who literally ran over me.

“Hey, why are you running like an idiot for!!” I scream in his direction. Raising my hand to curse him out, I suddenly take notice of the ponytail looped high through the official jazz festival cap. 

It’s a girl, yep, that’s a girl, didn’t feel like a girl. “Sorry, didn’t see you there, you know, with the crowd of people and all.” I mumble waving at her. She didn’t appear to be damaged at all. Why would she be, traveling at warp speed? I, however, was beginning to feel a pain in my shoulder.

After a moments’ hesitation, she turns and quickly vanishes.

“And we would like to remind you that for the next week, these talented bands will be grooving in one of the many great bars this city has to offer. So, get yourselves a festival schedule and find out where you need to be.”

Straightening out, I fall in with the one way traffic and bump my way to the stage. All the benches beneath the canopy are already taken by sporadically placed individuals.

[To be continued...]

Music Review : Soulive

The TD Toronto Jazz Festival is one of the big events that start in the summer. As great as it is, the city can be more experimental, after all this is Toronto. We are one of the most multicultural cities in the world, so when it comes to music, we have listeners for all types of musical styles. Torontonians value cultural diversity. This city has the most mixed couples in all of Canada. Walk down the street and you will see a petite Asian girl with a tall Caucasian boy, there will also be a tall Caucasian girl with a short Asian boy. We are not constrained by arbitrary boundaries; instead we embrace all that different cultures have to offer. So when it comes to music and the TD Toronto Jazz Festival, let’s bring it on.

Soulive funked up Toronto this year at the Horseshoe Tavern. As a venue for musical talent, the Horseshoe has some pretty choice bands but as a bar, everything is sticky, everything is black for a reason and the bathrooms floors are wet. But that’s the magic of it, funky music in a funky place, a great band playing in one of the oldest bars in the city.

Photo Credit : Chad Smith

Soulive brought in a Saturday night crowd with a Monday night 9:30pm start time. All types of people showed up for the show, from Humber music students to jazz aficionados. The place was a mob of bouncing heads and waving arms. By the end of the first song there was a heat wave in the bar. By the end of the second song, everyone was soaked through in sweat and not just your own. When the air conditioning came on for the second set, it made no difference; the devil himself would have claimed it to be a touch warm and returned home.

Photo Credit : Allison Murphy

 Alan Evans is lightning fast on the drums, Eric Krasno grooves at his own pace and Neal Evans is a sorcerer on keys. Combine the three and spells are cast, people are captured, while time becomes forgotten.  Imagine what would happen if Soulive shared the stage with Karl Denson and the Tiny Universe? Throw in the Dirty Dozen Brass Band from New Orleans or the Parliament Funkedelics crew for jokes and the mystery to extraterrestrial beings will be solved as a ring of UFOs will circle the earth to catch the show. The TD Toronto Jazz Festival needs to amalgamate talent. That is what’s missing and is what will put the Toronto Jazz Festival on the map. With such a great diversity and mixture of culture in our city we need the jazz festival to reflect what Toronto is all about by having all different artists showcase their talent on the same stage with each other.

Here's an example from Youtube if Soulive collaborated with Karl Denson:

Words : Tobin Cheung

Short Story : In One Moment [Page 6]

IN ONE MOMENT [Page 6] by Tobin Cheung

I’m not saying that this woman is the "One". I’m not saying that she isn’t either. It’s just that I feel a strange, perhaps lustful desire for her. Her charm is that she appears both strong and personable. At first glance, she looks like management material in her designer eyewear and pulled back hair. By the way she continually twirls a ring around her finger, idling is not one of her strong points. She gives off a take charge, no fuss image with a self assured poise.

After a more in depth look, one can easily see that the hard lines is a mirage for a girl in a pair of jogging pants lounging around on a lazy Sunday morning enjoying the softness of her pillow and the warmth of the sun while listening to her favorite tunes. 

A sudden feeling of discouragement rushes through me, causing me to check for a wedding band. This is of vital importance and utmost necessary if the fantasy is to continue and remain plausible. Unable to see past the two siblings feuding not long ago, now dancing about, I raise my attention to find management looking right at me. It was one of those situations when a stare becomes a form of telepathic communication, where the victim feels the invasion and turns to find the cause. In this case, I am the cause. Caught off guard, my face defaults to a child’s "Oops,  I’ve been a bad boy" expression. She does not look away and I fear that I may be in trouble. Gathering my senses I wield a poker face, then a look of innocence, followed by an "I didn’t do it" to complete the sequence.

She remains expressionless. The only other thing left for me to do is to give her my best smile. To my surprise, she smiles back. And I am put on the spot to interpret the gesture. I wanted it to be suggestive to something more promising, but if I believed that, I would be lying to myself. Realistically, it could be nothing more than a courtesy smile, just meaningless niceness. No, not from her, I couldn’t see her bothering with pointless pleasantries, so I waited. Just as she turns away, she gives me one last look. And I catch the smirk behind those lips. She approves or at least finds me amusing. Regardless, I escape with my ego intact.

“Check, one two, can we have the brass section run through sound check.”

The heat is at last becoming bearable as the evening's breeze slowly begins to infiltrate the grounds. Tonight’s talents are preparing to go on stage. These are the artists of twilight. Performing only under diffused lights, they play homage to the minor tones underlying the voice of jazz. Eyes closed to the audience, concentrating only on the music so that every note is as vital as every breath, the magic they stew is something worth treasuring.

I absentmindedly flip the empty pop can into the garbage. My attention is in the direction of the vendors. I am curious to see if I can spot Liz. It turns out she is in plain view standing on recently manicured grass trying on a pink cowboy hat with an unlit cigarette jetting out between her fingers. The center of attention until she needs to be found, then she is as inconspicuous as an ant.

Posing in front of her is a victim of modern day advertising, a muscular man in full body athletic attire with matching runners. He is holding a light, a flame out for her. She tilts her head and sucks back on the cigarette, blowing smoke out the corner of her mouth. He is not her type, especially with his bald head and ample facial hair. Hair on his face does not offset the lack of hair on his scalp. Jocks never manage to keep her entertained. They pay too much attention to their own bodies and not enough on hers. I try waving my arm to get her attention.

[To be continued...]

Travels : Holguin, Cuba

Has it gotten from busy to overload at work, where one days mess rolls into another and new projects compete for the priority position. Staying late is no longer some random occurrence. Extended hours have become the new lifestyle, as with popping into work on a Saturday morning for a couple hours. A good day versus a bad day depends on the email count. One can only dream about being worry-free and having time for absolute nothingness. It does exist, about four hours from YYZ is a land called Cuba.

After a busy season of being trapped in a pressure cooker, some serious lounging is necessary to recuperate. The town of Holguin is perfect for leaving all the nonsense of city life behind. It is one of the more beautiful parts of Cuba. Vacationing in a resort leaves you with the luxury of not having to think for yourself (at all), with everything provided for you. Cuba is one of the least expensive vacationing spots available, so pick a resort that suits you. If you can afford to splurge, than do it. Don’t pick a resort just because it is a bargain. Choose one that is huge and read the reviews. Larger resorts usually have more restaurants, bigger entertainment shows, as well as more activities.

Sol Rio Luna y Mares is located on the Playa Esmeralda beach in Holguin. It is a beautiful fine white sand beach with turquoise clear water. The view is breathtaking. Be sure to take time to wander through the hotel, as there are all these interesting nooks that capture the incredible scenery.

The number of activities available at this resort exceeds the expected. Combine them with excursions and it will be fun overload and exhaustion by the end of the day. Included on the resort is horseback riding that wanders along the countryside. The horses are friendly and basically know where they are going without any help. Along the beach are hobby cats, baby Catamerangs that sail along the water. If you are up for a bit of an adventure, wait for a windy day, give a good tip and go flying off the waves and balancing on one platoon.

 A must do excursion is the jeep safari that includes jet skiing. It is not all about motor sport but you will also visit the countryside to meet farmers and coffee-makers, as well as have an authentic Cuban lunch.

 Every night of the week there is a different show. Luna y Mares has a fairly large theater and their shows are quite elaborate with acrobatics and dance. Definitely worth staying up to see no matter how tired from a day of excursions and hobby cats.

There is a flea market not far from the resort: where there are paintings, clothing and wooden crafts available for souvenirs. Some of their toys are particularly interesting. There is also a mini zoo just outside of the resort that is fun to visit. Bring a camera and a bathing suit because there is a cozy private beach.

After all this fun, let’s not forget about the food. The buffets are excellent, with huge variety. You pick what you want and they grill it fresh for you. Don’t be all fussy and enjoy the food, just remember that back home you eat processed fast food, which can't be compared. There is even a 24hr restaurant that will make sandwiches and pizza if by some miracle someone is still hungry. The a la carte dinners are, at the very least, good if not amazing. Having a three course meal with friends or your partner in a fancy restaurant is not all about the food. Enjoy the moment.

Holguin is a great place to escape and indulge. The trick is to capture it all to memory. If only we could make our memories a virtual experience, so that we could re-live a particular moment, anytime we wish.

Words + Photos : Tobin Cheung

Product Feature : Nibot Design

Minimalism For Big City Living

 

Carry Your Essentials In Style With The Modern Clutch For Chic Women

 

Nibot has re-designed the clutch by infusing stainless as material into the purse apparel industry. Its sheen look changes tone with the surrounding ambience, reflecting the color of a dress, the flame of candlelight, or the brush strokes in a gallery. It is a chameleon, looks great no matter what the event. The simple lines are suitable for all occasions, providing a clean and elegant look.

Nibot Design - Akane Clutch Purse

Nibot is the result of years spent doing endless technical CAD drawings, until the point where creativity had no choice but to explode. With all things bound to a third decimal place accuracy, one wonders after years, what would happen if a drawing were simply sketched. Forget dimensions and all this nonsense about tolerance and lets draw foremost for design.

Nibot Design - Kazumi Clutch Purse

The clutch purses are Nibot’s first exciting product launch. The idea is to have a contemporary piece, yet maintain simplicity. The goal is to give a “look” the nudge of attitude that every style needs. There are currently 5 pieces in the collection, with further creativity already underway.

For more information : http://www.nibotdesign.com

To purchase online : http://www.etsy.com/shop/Nibotdesign?ref=pr_shop

Available at : 

Trap Door Boutique

2993 Dundas Street West, Toronto

www.shoptrapdoor.com