During my second week in Vancouver, I met a few friends and we updated each other. All had interesting stories.
I went to a victory ceremony with one friend. During that ceremony, the always funny-looking Shaun White from the US was given a gold medal for snowboarding. Also, Christine Nesbitt (a Canadian), got a gold medal for speed skating. Being a Canadian, she got the crowd going crazy when she accepted her medal. After the ceremony, I had dinner with my friend and we talked about Life (career, love, cities...) until 1am. I thought she looked better than ever and was disappointed when she told me she now has a boyfriend as I wouldn't have minded at all to be hosted in her Yaletown condo...
The next day, I had lunch with some old co-workers from Nexon in Gastown. I then visited the new game studio where they now work. After that, I went in the Oakridge area of Vancouver to check out a guest house for a friend who'll be staying in Vancouver for a month to look for a property to buy.
Given that the friends at whose places I thought I would be staying in Vancouver after my time at my first host's place sort of flaked out on me and given the fact that I didn't want to overstay my welcome at my first host's place, I decided to move to the guest house. My property-buying friend will be staying for a month and by including my stay as part of her reservation, I get to pay for the time I stay at the monthly rate rather than at the daily rate.
Guest houses are one of Vancouver's secrets. There are basically houses owned by a family in which people can rent rooms or suites. One can easily rent a room for under $40 a day (even during the Olympics) in guest houses. The reason many people don't know about them is that they are run mostly without permits and whatever revenue they generate goes undeclared. Most of them cater to newly landed immigrants from China. If a guest house has a website, it is likely to be in Chinese only. Google "family guest house" Vancouver or family house hotel Vancouver and you'll find the sites of a few that have English versions. The one where I'm now staying is conveniently located next to a SkyTrain station and a shopping center; offers free Internet and cable TV and has all the amenities you would expect to find in your house. It website is located at http://www.linsinn.com/ . Use Google Translate to understand what it says.
After checking out the guest house, I went back downtown to walk a bit with a friend around Stanley Park and then eat some Japanese food. Then, I took the SkyTrain all the way to the suburb of Surrey to attend a free Sam Roberts concert. When I got there, the show had already started, but the best songs had yet to come and it turned out to be a great concert. The crowed was very much enthused and the sweet smell of weed was all over the place.
After coming back downtown, I walked a bit on Robson and Granville streets. The streets were PACKED. I've never seen Vancouver that excited and exciting. It felt like a Canada Day party gone out of proportion. People drinking on the streets, shouting "Go Canada!", flaunting they stuff or just walking around to "bathe" in the crowds.
I met two girls that were very suggestive in their way of dressing and their attitude. I had a few drinks with them and then walked around downtown with them. They were funny, but not nearly as funny as noticing guys' stares in their direction and blatant sexual interest in them. Life as a sexy girl must have many benefits.
Speaking of lovely ladies... Vancouver is chock full with them. Not only is there a dazzling variety of Asians, but the Caucasian girls here make me renew my interest for white girls. Amazing blondes, slim anglophones, fitness enthusiasts and rich ladies from all over the world visiting for the Olympics. People in Vancouver are not afraid to wear shorts and flip-flops all year round. So, it comes as no surprise that despite this being February, the array of tight leggings and bare legs I saw in the past two weeks beats months of Montreal's "Winter Collection".
Not only is Vancouver a city I enjoy living in, but it also provides all these beautiful, educated and affluent women. Maybe Vancouver truly is my destiny.
At any rate, this Saturday, I met some more friends and we basically wasted our time waiting in line for events we never got to attend (the venues were full). Then, on Sunday, I had a Nippo-Korean all-you-can-eat experience at Shabusen on Granville street with John (an Amazon co-worker) and his wife. Then, I walked some more downtown and came back to my place to rest a bit.
2010-02-21
2010-02-16
The Games Are On
Last Friday, I went to a venue with large screens to see the opening ceremony. To get the privilege to stand in the rain to look at those screens, I had to wait in line for an hour. And that's because I'm lucky. Some waited over two and a half hours and did not even make it in.
After two hours of watching the ceremony, I got tired and exited the venue to join an old co-worker and some of his friends nearby.
The next day, I walked around the downtown area some more and went to see the Olympic cauldron with its flames near the convention center.
I got tired of Vancouver's winter weather (rain). Ever since I got here, it has been raining. The city has been constantly enshrouded by thick, dark clouds. Imagine, in the middle of the afternoon, your camera will automatically turn its flash on when you take pictures outside. Wet and depressing.
On the other hand, I've never seen Vancouver so busy. For Montrealers out there, imagine a bunch of events in numbers surpassing the Montreal Highlights festival and crowds like you'd find during the Jazz Festival. Bars, stores and restaurants strategically located are making a killing. I even saw people lining up to go inside a liquor store on Robson Street.
On Saturday, the gods were with us and we got a gorgeous, sunny day in Vancouver. The weather hovered near 15 degrees Celsius. I went to Chinatown to see whatever activities were happening there due to the Chinese New Year. I didn't see much that changed my life. I then basked in the sun for a good hour wearing no coat in this charming park. I then walked all around False Creek to look at the various pavilions. I tried the new streetcar to go to Granville Island.
Then, I met this Mexican girl. She wanted to "hook up" because it was Valentine's Day and she's going back to her country soon. I felt bad, but I had to turn her down even though this would have been so easy. There was just no connection nor attraction. Mark this down as another crappy Valentine's Day, for the both of us.
After that, I went to Richmond for "the biggest Chinese New Year celebration this side of Beijing". I saw a traditional lion dance, martial arts demonstrations, singers and fireworks. One kid doing a martial arts demonstration busted his knee while not landing correctly from a jump. He must have felt awful. First, to bust a knee is never cool. But to do so in front of a humongous crowd is even worst. I bet he's scarred for life.
I met an old Amazon co-worker and his wife at the celebration. We talked a bit and they brought me back to where I'm staying.
Every night, there are fireworks in Vancouver for the Olympics.
Going around all over the metro area like this makes me re-discover just how beautiful this city is. I don't want to go back to Montreal. I feel more at home here. It's quite possible I'll move back to Vancouver. Remains only to figure out when and under what circumstances...
After two hours of watching the ceremony, I got tired and exited the venue to join an old co-worker and some of his friends nearby.
The next day, I walked around the downtown area some more and went to see the Olympic cauldron with its flames near the convention center.
I got tired of Vancouver's winter weather (rain). Ever since I got here, it has been raining. The city has been constantly enshrouded by thick, dark clouds. Imagine, in the middle of the afternoon, your camera will automatically turn its flash on when you take pictures outside. Wet and depressing.
On the other hand, I've never seen Vancouver so busy. For Montrealers out there, imagine a bunch of events in numbers surpassing the Montreal Highlights festival and crowds like you'd find during the Jazz Festival. Bars, stores and restaurants strategically located are making a killing. I even saw people lining up to go inside a liquor store on Robson Street.
On Saturday, the gods were with us and we got a gorgeous, sunny day in Vancouver. The weather hovered near 15 degrees Celsius. I went to Chinatown to see whatever activities were happening there due to the Chinese New Year. I didn't see much that changed my life. I then basked in the sun for a good hour wearing no coat in this charming park. I then walked all around False Creek to look at the various pavilions. I tried the new streetcar to go to Granville Island.
Then, I met this Mexican girl. She wanted to "hook up" because it was Valentine's Day and she's going back to her country soon. I felt bad, but I had to turn her down even though this would have been so easy. There was just no connection nor attraction. Mark this down as another crappy Valentine's Day, for the both of us.
After that, I went to Richmond for "the biggest Chinese New Year celebration this side of Beijing". I saw a traditional lion dance, martial arts demonstrations, singers and fireworks. One kid doing a martial arts demonstration busted his knee while not landing correctly from a jump. He must have felt awful. First, to bust a knee is never cool. But to do so in front of a humongous crowd is even worst. I bet he's scarred for life.
I met an old Amazon co-worker and his wife at the celebration. We talked a bit and they brought me back to where I'm staying.
Every night, there are fireworks in Vancouver for the Olympics.
Going around all over the metro area like this makes me re-discover just how beautiful this city is. I don't want to go back to Montreal. I feel more at home here. It's quite possible I'll move back to Vancouver. Remains only to figure out when and under what circumstances...
2010-02-12
Olympic Fever Starts Rising
I did lots of walking around downtown Vancouver. Went back to many places that have some significance to me. Although, one could see the Olympics were coming, the city wasn't as bustling as I expected.
Then, Thursday night, I went outside to see the Olympic flame makes its way in downtown Vancouver. So many people were outside waiting for it.
I got to see it from pretty close. People were definitely excited. As soon as the flame would be past a group of people, they would start following the runner. By the time we got to David Lam park, where the flame was to reside, the crowd was huge.
After a cauldron was lit with the Olympic flame, there was some music, some fireworks and visuals.
Today, I haven't gone out yet, but I know there is more action going from the constant buzz of the helicopters ahead.
I'll head to the Yaletown Livecity venue in David Lam park for the opening ceremonies in a few hours.
Vancouver is shedding its sleepy nature for a while!
Then, Thursday night, I went outside to see the Olympic flame makes its way in downtown Vancouver. So many people were outside waiting for it.
I got to see it from pretty close. People were definitely excited. As soon as the flame would be past a group of people, they would start following the runner. By the time we got to David Lam park, where the flame was to reside, the crowd was huge.
After a cauldron was lit with the Olympic flame, there was some music, some fireworks and visuals.
Today, I haven't gone out yet, but I know there is more action going from the constant buzz of the helicopters ahead.
I'll head to the Yaletown Livecity venue in David Lam park for the opening ceremonies in a few hours.
Vancouver is shedding its sleepy nature for a while!
2010-02-10
Back in Vancouver
I landed in Vancouver Tuesday night. I quickly felt a poignant mix of emotions. I was sad to have left this city in the first place but glad to be back. Many memories came to surface. Hints of couldas, shouldas and wouldas. I took the new SkyTrain line straight downtown and arrived to the apartment of the first friend to host me during the Olympics. It's in the West End, close to where I used to live. The nostalgia was mixed with curiosity for all the new things, including a crazy dancing set of spotlights in place for the Olympics.
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