Canada travel tips are basically meant to inform travelers about various necessities which they have to have before entering the country. The following are some Canada travel info:

Registration

Travelers should register to the State Department so that they receive assistance in the situation of requirement. Free online registration facility is being made available by the government wherein travelers can register their travel plan. The registration helps as when the traveler is at some emergency, the government contacts with the family members.

Possess Valid Visa and passport

A valid passport and Visa has necessarily to be carried along so that in case of any inquiry the same can be furnished. Additionally, there should be proper information about who to contact in any emergency.

Family should know about tour plan

Travelers are advised to have briefed their family members about the travel so that they are able to contact for any purpose.

Checking overseas medical insurance coverage

Travelers should check whether their medical insurance has cover to their overseas ailments or not. If there is no medical insurance for overseas country, please make it sure that you have some kind of medical insurance to cover during your outside stays.

Know law of the land

Travelers are expected to be law abiding citizen and comply with the local laws. In order to be a decent traveler, one should familiarize himself with local conditions and laws.

Avoid being a target of crime

It is better to avoid target of crime. Though Canada is an advanced country and has low crime rate, travelers are expected to wear minimum jewelries. Travelers should not leave their baggage unattended in public place.

Language

English is an official language in Canada. However, French is spoken widely.

Smoking

Canada is cautious about the harmful effects of smoking. Some states in Canada such as British Columbia ban smoking at public places.

Measures

Officially, Canada uses the metric system wherein distance is measured in kilometers, speed signs are in kilometers per hour. Petrol/gas is sold by the litter and temperature is measured on the Celsius scale.

Taxes in Canada

The country has a regime of taxes imposed on travelers. In Canada the Goods and Services Tax (GST) of 7% applies throughout the country and is added to most purchases and services. However, basic groceries have been exempted from it. In British Columbia, a Provincial Sales Tax (PST) of about 7% applies to retail merchandise and services with certain exceptions – such as food, books, children’s clothing, restaurant foods and personal services. Canada taxes hotel rooms too at the tax rate of 8-10%.

Tipping

As always, tipping is a personal subject matter and can be paid at restaurants, bars and pubs, taxis and hairdressers, etc. Travelers should remember that it should not exceed to 15% of the total cost.

Alcohol

Drinking alcohol in public is prohibited by law in Canada. A person must be 19 years of age to consume or purchase alcohol in the province of British Columbia. However, the minimum age varies from province to province.

http://www.hyatt.com/hyatt/place/specials/select-lto.jsp?icamp=hp_lto2_2010_

hppsa

Get 30% off the Hyatt Daily Rate when you book between May 3rd and May 7th
for stays between May 28th and July 5th. Upon your arrival, you can relax in
our spacious guest rooms furnished with a plush Hyatt Grand Bed?, a Cozy
Corner sofa-sleeper and a 42-inch HDTV. Wake up every morning to a
complimentary continental breakfast and access free Wi-Fi throughout the
hotel. You’re welcome to experience all this and get 30% off, only at Hyatt
Place?.

Award:
Up to 13,500 Miles

Dates:
April 30 – September 30, 2010

Offer:
Wyndham Rewards members will  earn 3,000 bonus miles when they stay at three separate times between April 30th  and September 30th, 2010 at participating Wyndham Family of Brand  Hotels – Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Wingate by Wyndham or Hawthorn Suites by  Wyndham.

AA link：http://www.aa.com/viewPromotionD … 0.xml&_locale=en_US
wyndham link：http://www.wyndham.com/specialof … rican.wnt?cid=14798

Another Ramada promotion similar to their 50% off promotions earlier this year, for hotels in the US, Canada, and Latin America.

Use Promotion Code SDM to price, or click through the link at http://www.ramada.com/Ramada/control/just_for_you1

Decent deals, including $30-$40 type rates, with no real capacity restrictions that I can tell.

From Serena Saitto, Brian Womack and Tim Mullaney, Bloomberg:

Google Inc. is in talks to acquire ITA Software Inc., a maker of travel programs used by companies including Orbitz Worldwide Inc. and Microsoft Corp., three people familiar with the matter said.

ITA Software, based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, may seek about $1 billion, said two of the people, who asked not to be identified because the discussions haven’t been made public. The talks may not lead to a transaction, said the people.

With tools that help users find flight information online, ITA Software may help Google compete with travel-search features offered by Microsoft.

From: http://www.businessinsider.com/henry-blodget-google-in-talks-to-buy-huge-flight-search-engine-ita-for-1-billion-2010-4#ixzz0lmOXssHL

Ingredients:
1 package egg roll wrappers (4 1/2″ by 5 1/2″)

Filling:
1 pound fresh pork (or barbecued pork)
1 medium onion (sliced)
2 stalks celery, cut diagonally
1/2 pound fresh mushrooms, sliced
6 water chestnuts (fresh if possible), sliced
1/2 pound suey choy (Napa Cabbage), sliced thinly, 1 inch lengthwise
2 green onions, diced
1 pound fresh bean sprouts

Pork Seasonings:
1 teaspoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon oyster sauce
salt and pepper to taste
a bit (less than 1 teaspoon) cornstarch (corn flour)

Gravy Mixture:
4 tablespoons water
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon soy sauce
2 teaspoons oyster sauce
salt, pepper, accent (if desired) to taste

2 tablespoons cornstarch mixed with 2 teaspoons cold water*

Oil for stir-frying
2 to 4 cups oil for deep-frying

Directions:

Mix seasoning ingredients together. Cut the pork into thin strips, add the seasonings and marinate the pork for between 10 and 15 minutes.
While the pork is marinating, prepare the vegetables, and the gravy mixture.

Heat wok and add oil. When oil is ready, add the celery and onion and stir-fry. Taste and add salt and sugar if desired. Remove from wok. Add the pork to the wok and cook until well done (place cover on wok). Remove. Clean the wok and stir-fry separately the mushrooms, water chestnuts, and bean sprouts. Check the seasoning while stir-frying the bean sprouts and add salt and/or sugar as desired. Stir-fry the suey choy, covering and cooking for approximately 1 minute, again adding salt and/or sugar if desired. Combine all the ingredients in the wok. If necessary, drain some of the juice from the vegetables out.

Add the gravy, pushing the vegetables up against the sides of the wok to form a “well” in the middle for the gravy, and stir to thicken. Mix thoroughly. Add green onion. Set the filling aside to allow to cool before wrapping.

Wrapping: Mix the cornstarch and water, slowly adding the water to the cornstarch until you have a “glue” which will be used to seal the wrappers.

To wrap, lay the egg roll wrapper out with the short (4 1/2″) side directly in front of you. This will be the dry side. The two long sides will be called sides 1 and 3, and the other short side directly across from you will be called side 2. Place approximately 1 tablespoon of filling in the middle of the wrapper, spreading it out but not getting too close to the edges. Using your fingertip, spread a bit of the cornstarch/water glue along edges 1, 2, and 3. Fold over the dry side, then take side 2 and fold it over, making sure the two sides overlap. Press down firmly on sides 1 and 3, making sure they are well sealed.**

Deep-frying: When oil is ready, slide each egg roll carefully into the wok one at a time. Deep-fry until they are golden brown, then drain on deep-fry rack or paper towels. Keep on a tray lined with fresh paper towels until needed. The egg rolls should not be stacked. If possible do not reheat in the oven, as this can dry the eggrolls out, but if necessary, reheat them on low heat for 10 minutes on each side. Serve with Sweet and Sour Dipping Sauce.

*If desired, instead of cornstarch and water you can substitute beaten egg or egg white.

**Most recipes use the “envelope” method for wrapping. I prefer this method: not only is it easier to learn, but you can put more filling in each egg roll, and the rolls tend to be crispier.

BURNABY, BC, April 16 /CNW/ – Motorcycles are economical, convenient and fun. And, when it comes to getting from point A to B, more and more British Columbians are discovering less is more and are switching from four wheels to two. BCAA Insurance recognizes the steady growth in motorcycle riding throughout the province and amongst its members, and is responding to motorcyclists’ calls for more choice when it comes to insurance coverage.

“Our motorcycle-riding members have been telling us they want more insurance options such as lower deductibles, higher coverage for riding gear, and year-round coverage that protects their bike even when it’s stored away for the winter,” says BCAA Auto Insurance Product Manager, Heather Prizeman.

To provide motorcycle enthusiasts more convenience and coverage that suits their particular needs, BCAA now offers Advantage Motorcycle Insurance. Advantage Motorcycle is optional vehicle insurance that complements ICBC’s mandatory Basic Autoplan coverage.

Designed for cruising, touring and standard bikes, some attractive features of Advantage Motorcycle include:

– No hassle 12-month annual policy (rates are based on the fact that motorcycles are not used all year). – Low deductible options for collision and comprehensive. – $1,500 motorcycle riding gear coverage at no cost with the option to increase the limit up to $3,000. – Trailer and sidecar coverage under the same policy. – Discounts for BCAA members. – A discount for drivers who have completed recognized motorcycle training programs.

The number of two-wheeled vehicles insured for B.C. roads jumped by 91.8 per cent from 49,000 in 2001 to about 94,000 in 2009. Over the same period, the number of four-wheeled vehicles, including sedans; light trucks and vans; and SUVs increased by only 16.4 per cent (the latest statistics available).

“We want to ensure motorcycle riders have the right coverage for their individual needs so it’s easier and more affordable for them to own and operate a bike,” says Prizeman.

“Convenience and peace-of-mind are important to avid motorcyclists. They want to spend less time dealing with their insurance and more time on the open road.”

As more British Columbians turn to powered two-wheelers as their transportation of choice, BCAA Insurance encourages motorcyclists, especially those new to riding, to speak to a professional insurance advisor about their current policy to ensure they have the right coverage.

For more information about Advantage Motorcycle, visit or call your nearest BCAA location, or visit the BCAA website: www.bcaa.com/motorcycle. Both Advantage Motorcycle and Basic Autoplan are available at any of BCAA’s 28 sales locations throughout B.C.

BCAA is the largest organization of its kind in B.C., with over 100 years experience and gross annual sales of nearly $400 million from its membership, insurance and travel businesses. A BCAA Membership can be found in the wallets of over 780,000 British Columbians and in one-in-four B.C. households. For the past two years, BCAA has received the highest score in Canada for home insurance customer satisfaction in a J.D. Power and Associates study. And, for the past four years, BCAA has been named one the 50 Best Employers in Canada by international HR consultants Hewitt Associates and the Globe & Mail’s Report on Business magazine. to learn more about BCAA’s products, services and member advocacy, visit www.bcaa.com. For more information on the BCAA Traffic Safety Foundation visit www.tsf-bcaa.com.

Peddler’s Hot and Spicy Noodles

Ingredients:

1 lb (500 g) flour noodles
4 tbsp sesame paste
5 tsp sesame oil
5 oz (150 ml) soy sauce
3 tbsp vegetable oil or lard
5 tsp scallions, chopped
2 oz (50 g) Sichuan preserved cabbage, chopped, or fresh coriander (or cilantro)
5 tbsp chili (chilli) oil
1 tsp MSG(optional)               

Directions:

1. Mix the sesame paste with the sesame oil and set aside. Mix together the soy sauce, vegetable oil or lard, scallions, preserved cabbage or coriander, MSG, and chili oil, and divide among 5 serving bowls.

2. Bring a pot of water to a boil and add the noodles. Bring back to a boil and let cook for 30 seconds. Add enough cool water to stop the boiling, then back to the boil. Add more cool water and bring to a boil a third time. This time, boil until the noodles are just cooked. Drain well in a colander and divide among the 5 bowls. Blend the noodles with seasonings, and serve.

Ingredients:

1 lb. egg noodles or spaggetti
1/2 lb crab meat
1/4 lb bean sprouts
1/2 cup bamboo shoots
1/4 lb fresh mushrooms
1 medium onion
2 tbs soy sauce
1 tsp sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1 dash pepper
3 drops sesame oil; more or less
3 tbs oil
1/4 tsp salt

Directions:

Pick over and flake crab meat. Blanch bean sprouts. Slice bamboo shoots, mushrooms and onion.

Combine soy sauce, sugar, salt, pepper and sesame oil, set aside.

Heat wok on high heat add oil. Add remaining salt, then onion; stir-fry until translucent. Add mushrooms; stir-fry to soften. Add crab meat and stir-fry 1 minute more. Add bean sprouts and bamboo shoots; stir-fry to heat through (about 1 minute).

Then combine mixture with cooked noodles, gently blending in the soy-sugar mixture during the last minute of cooking.

Ingredients:

6 ounces vermicelli, uncooked
1 teaspoon sesame oil
2 cloves of garlic, minced
5 cups chopped bok choy (a Chinese vegetable with a white stalk and dark green leaves)
1 cup low sodium fat free chicken broth
2 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
1/2 teaspoon dried crushed red pepper
1/2 cup coarsely shredded carrot
1/4 cup chopped green onion
1/2 cup sliced mushrooms
1/2 cup baby corn
Additional low sodium soy sauce

Directions:

Cook pasta according to package. Drain and set aside.

Coat a wok or large nonstick skillet cooking spray and 1 teaspoon sesame oil. Heat at medium-high temp. (375 degrees) until hot.

Stir-fry garlic for 2 minutes.

Add bok choy; stir-fry for 2 minutes.

Add chicken broth, soy sauce and red pepper. Stir fry for 1 minute.

Add carrots, green onions, mushrooms and baby corn. Stir-fry for approximately 2 minutes.

Add cooked pasta; toss gently.

Sprinkle additional soy sauce (you can decide how much) over entire mixture; toss more. Serve and enjoy.