More than 18 months after the tsunami devastated the Indonesian province of Aceh, the survivors are starting life anew, adopting a more philosophical outlook and a determination to move forward in order to cope with the traumatic experience.
“Life is how you take it. We must learn to accept things as they come or we will forever be prisoners of our tragic experience and feel more sorry for ourselves,” says Darnita whose well kept, carpeted, transitional house is equipped with appliances, goblets, fancy plates, bright flowers and family photos smiling down from the wall – all indicating her positive outlook on life.
Darnita, 38, lost her home during the tsunami. Since then, she and her family, like many others, have lived in tents for more than 18 months. (more…)
THE ANNEX
featureThe Annex apparently has one of the world’s highest concentrations of folks with PhDs; perhaps not coincidentally, it also has one of the highest concentrations of bars and patios in the city.
OLD STANDBYS Forget about a pub-crawl. You can spend a night at The Madison Avenue Pub (14 Madison Ave, 416-927-1722) doing a patio crawl. This monster pub is home to five different patios. Countless evenings have been spent hanging around the piano bar, listening to Ryan Luchuck sing.
Along with The Black Bull and The Wheat Sheaf, Ye Olde Brunswick House (481 Bloor W, 416-964-2242) is one of the oldest bars in the city. The place is over 120 years old. We know it has a rep as the place your parents drank at, but hey, you can’t beat beer and foosball. Now go buy your mom a pint. (more…)
