The Chinese believes that the most ethereal beauties are often found in the most remote places where the pristine environment nurtures the body and soul. Far from being an ethereal being, I however fully took in the benefits of good air, clear water and rolling hills covered by cedar and pine trees in Canada.

I spent a good couple of days in the valleys of British Columbia where little towns were almost like a movie set complete with modern amenities. It was utterly different from the mountain regions in China where living condition tends to be a lot more ‘rudimentary’. Driving across the region, I was stunned by the sheer volume of trees, mountains and lakes. And there were so many stars scattered across the sky that they almost seemed chaotic.

Of course, I couldn’t miss a trip to the sacred land of Canada: the Hockey Hall of Fame where the meaning of the sport became alive for me. I bought a special champion’s edition puck of the Detroit Red Wings. Why don’t we have a table tennis hall of fame in China?