Wearing brown slippers on pink benches
Friday, January 12, 2007
I saw Jeff today, one of a couple of good friends from Newfoundland who was visiting Montreal and Quebec for a couple of weeks. It was great to see him. Chatting with him and Isabelle, his Quebecer friend, for a couple of hours was great because we had discussion on a range of topics varying from the difference between the Newfoundland Progressive Conservative Party [which he is so fond of] and the federal Conservative Party [which I am not so fond of], to his plans for the next couple of months before he begins his journey of being a law school student in England.Isabelle, his friend, was also great. I really enjoyed meeting her because she seemed extremely energetic, friendly and approachable. I need people like that in my friends' circle. Besides, her English was better than my French and since she is a reason for jealousy, that's all the more reason for her to be a friend. You see, if she continues to speak English that well, I will become super-stubborn and determined to speak French just as well that someday, I will actually do it.
We met at Orienthe , a tea shop that screams relaxing atmosphere. The place is super-welcoming, warm and most of all homey. They play Middle-Eastern lounge music along with Far East tunes. The space is small but well-used with pink and multi-coloured cushions. Buddha sculptures greet you in two windows there and a fake palm tree [which I think they should remove because it's in utter disharmony with everything else in the room] stands behind you on one of the benches. I know because I had a fight with that palm tree while trying to get a picture taken the first time I got here with Mandy, a friend from Labrador.
The staff, aside from being attractive [are they hand-picked?], are really friendly and welcoming, as well, so it's a good mix. They let me take a few pictures and they seemed patient when I was adjusting my camera for what seemed like centuries of time.This is a paradise for the tea lover. The choices range from Japanese green tea [what Isabelle had] to Celtic tea [what Jeff had] to Medina Marakesh [what I have every time I go there].
The cute thing about Orienthe is that you go around wearing slippers that look like made for some Ottoman emperor, so you, too, can feel imperial, that is, only if you want to feel that way.The Montreal Orienthe, though unique here, has its sister shops in Lyon and Aix-en-Provence in France.
I think I will make frequent visits to Orienthe from now on and base my "search for Mr.Right" headquarters in the tea shop. There, where happy straight couples come to kiss, eat baklava and smoke hookah , I will be at peace and able to plan my Mr.Right search strategy better. If only the cute guys serving other guests wouldn't distract me every now and then...
P.S: They have a Turkish evil eye amulet in the shop...I was surprised to see it :)
