Home away from home

I spent this past weekend at Whistler - not to play, unfortunately, but to work. Though I did get some beautiful shots of the mountains and of the village.

And I got to stay at The Sun Dial, a posh boutique hotel just off the Village Stroll, steps away from the Peak 2 Peak gondola.

The two-bedroom suite I shared with my colleague was just as big, if not bigger, than your standard Vancouver condo. It even had a fully equipped kitchen. I guess most people can't wait to leave their kitchens behind when they go out of town. I, on the other hand, have discovered that having a home away from home with a kitchen to putter around in makes me a happy camper.

Our kitchen at The Sun Dial featured this long, tall, marble-topped iron piece that doubles up beautifully as a work island and dining table. I'm not a fan of high chairs in restaurants (not for adults, anyway) but I think they add a cosy and companionable element at home when they're drawn up to an island like this.

Family and friends can sit and watch you cook, or help out by chopping veggies or grating cheese. The marble top can be wiped clean and set for dinner in seconds, and meals can be served straight from the stove. What a simple and beautiful solution for today's small spaces and busy lifestyles.




Home away from home




Climb every mountain

They don't call the 99 north of Vancouver the Sea to Sky Highway for nothing. It slices its way through the mountains, sometimes running along the water, other times through gorges, always with breath-taking views at every twist and turn. It only gets better as you go higher and higher and start catching glimpses of mountain lakes as clear as glass, rough and tumble rivers, and snowy peaks thrusting mightily to the sky.

Funny thing about mountains. As you leave the city behind and start climbing, everything shrinks to its proper proportion, including yourself, and you get a fresh new perspective of the world you live in.

I first noticed this phenomenon when I lived in North Vancouver a few years ago. Every day after work I would take the bus over the Lion's Gate Bridge, and I would watch as the buildings downtown got smaller and farther away. Going home up the mountain was almost like a mini-retreat I got to do every day: a time to get refreshed and energized for the next day of work in the busy world.




Climb every mountain