In 2003, I travelled to Thailand for an 11-day whirlwind of stunning views, coconut curries, and near-death adventures. I think I almost used up all of my nine lives during that one short trip. Sure, I was young and healthy, but when it came to travelling, I was naïve and inexperienced. My travelling companion, Rachelle, and I did silly things like trek—ankles exposed—through jungles that were home to poisonous snakes. We blindly trusted a taxi driver who took us (far) off the beaten track to watch his daughter perform at her school event. (I’m still not sure how we got ourselves into that one!) And to save a few bucks, we opted for the rickety old ferry rather than the shiny new one. We did this and much, much more sans travel insurance—I didn’t realize just how silly that was until I lived to tell about it. Of my several…

One of this year’s featured exhibitions, Snowbirds, is a glimpse at a community of retired Quebec residents who spend their winters in the Florida sun. The good news is you don’t need to claim Quebec as your birthplace to enjoy this social documentary of life in a trailer park in the “sunshine state.” Snowbirds from all over the country can enjoy seeing themselves reflected in these photos of winter escape. The artist, Mika Goodfriend, was born in Montreal, yet always felt somewhat distanced from the Quebecois identity. His works are unique in that they explore what “being a Quebecois means to him.” Goodfriend is currently completing a Masters in Fine Arts at Concordia University. For more information about Snowbirds, visit: http://scotiabankcontactphoto.com/featured-exhibitions/1492 Or drop by College Boreal, Wednesday to Saturday, 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm. You have until Saturday, May 24 to catch the exhibit. Don’t miss it!

With over one billion people around the world actively using Facebook, it’s no surprise that this particular platform is popular with all demographics—and those aged 45 and up now make up 33 per cent of Facebook users. While it’s an easy way to share good news and great photos, collect tips and ideas, and catch up on the latest gossip, we tend to forget one important thing: The majority of our Facebook “friends” aren’t really our friends at all. (Would you invite them over for tea?) So do you ever worry you are sharing too much? You just might be! When it comes to announcing travel dates or posting pics from far-off lands, that is. Read on to find out which status updates you should keep to yourself—and save for your real friends. “10 more sleeps until we board the plane” Announcing how many days are left until your home…

I’ll never forget that time when I ate a living, breathing fish. I was well into my third year of life in Japan. And it was a special occasion, so my dining companion and I decided to order the most expensive dish on the menu. We shelled out 5,000 yen (over $50) for our favourite type of raw fish: hamachi. Although I had never seen hamachi alive until that night, I always thought it made for a stunning piece of colourful sashimi. The white meat always seemed to shimmer and sparkle, and the multi-hued red meat would create a rainbow of colour along the ultra-enticing edge. But on this particular evening, its beauty was magnified. The whole fish was resting on a platter decorated with yellow flowers, hills of green wasabi, and petals of pink ginger. Mouth-watering sashimi squares were artfully displayed along its body, like a patchwork quilt to…