Americans often consider Canada to be America's hat. Visually on a map, there's a resemblance. But in practice, I prefer to think of Canada as America's brains (although I don't have any solid proof to justify this claim). Well, that's just me - I might be a little biased, eh!
Growing up in Toronto, on the edge of Lake Ontario, in southern Canada, and coming to Hong Kong three years ago, taught me the value of fresh air. It is ironic: Toronto's air quality is among the worst of any city in Canada. Yet compared with Hong Kong ...
Like any destination, there are the touristy places that everyone knows and hidden gems. Good places to visit include the Eaton Centre shopping complex, the CN Tower communication and observation landmark, Harbourfront - offering a mix of parks, boating, theatre shows, craft studios and galleries - the Royal Ontario Museum and the Gothic-style Casa Loma house and gardens.
If your 'T-Dot' stay is short, skip these (or simply zoom by for the obligatory photos) and head to Tim Hortons, the proudly Canadian coffee shop serving the best coffee around. Order a coffee 'double-double'. They'll understand!
Street vendors in Toronto make some of the world's tastiest hotdogs. My favourite is in my old stomping grounds at the University of Toronto. Countless hotdogs made by a Greek lady (people call her 'Mama') are wolfed down on the sidewalks lined with students. She splits the sausage (no we don't call them frankfurters - just sausages or wieners) lengthwise, down the centre, and makes angled cuts so it cooks evenly on the grill, and allows more room for toppings.
Our pho (noodle soup) restaurants serve authentic Vietnamese-style noodles. I've been to Vietnam and tried the pho in Hong Kong. But, really - it's a bold statement - there's no comparison.