Category: Vacation - Random Thoughts of a Quirky Blogger

Vancity Blitz | DAY 7: Return to Toronto + Recap

3/12/2020

Just as I despise evening movies, I'm not a fan of afternoon flights heading east. Surrendered to the natural phenomenon that is geographical time difference is productivity - a factor that I relentlessly strive to harness in this eternally advancing world.

I booked my return trip around the late morning hours, and proceeded to hop on an Uber after a frenzy of egg-boiling, laundry-doing, and last-minute packing. All was smooth sailing until I arrived at baggage drop-off; my bag refused to join the others on the belt.

"Your bag is too heavy! You need to take some things out and carry it." piped a middle-aged lady in a thick European accent.
She pointed to the repacking area, where I somehow managed to rearrange my belongings to meet the threshold precisely.

Thankfully, there were no issues at security. I had made the boarding call with time to spare, munching on cookies on RITZ as the Zones were called up, one by one.

A Grilled Chicken Summer Salad, several short shut-eye sessions, and a quick round of mahjong tied me over until I was back home at the chillier end of the country.

Vancity Blitz | DAY 6: (Pt. 1) Cafe L'Orangerie + UBC

3/11/2020

Of all the stops along the Canada Line corridor, Marine Drive was one at which I had never disembarked since the completion of the SkyTrain. It had mainly served as a transfer point in its first few years of operation, until shops and services began forming what is known today as Marine Gateway

Development around the station had been observed during previous years, while en route to Downtown. And, with the lunch destination suggestion of a local Vancourite, I was able to peruse the area (with its unopened shops and all their eerieness) at long last.

There wasn't much to see at the early hour of 10:30 AM. Steve Nash was open, and so was Timmy's. But the Marine Drive bus hub primarily served as a transfer point for those heading east or west from the grade-separated rapid transit system.

Vancity Blitz | DAY 6: (Pt. 2) Gastown + Kokoro Tokyo Mazesoba

3/11/2020

Read Part 1 HERE !

At the 4 PM mark, I unloaded my first package of baked goods and bid farewell. My next order of business was to head downtown. First on the to-do list was a Compass card from the Stadium-Chinatown service station. It was an odd request from a certain transit-abhorring prehistoric creature, but nonetheless a manageable task to attain in between social activities.

I dreaded the neighbourhood and all its foulness. Personally deemed to be "Homeless Central", it's not a far cry from the poverty-striken pits of DTLA. Brimming with sleazy, smelly souls hunched from overdose and intoxication, the only elements missing are tents.

Having endured my twenty-minute wait at the service counter, I then maneuvering swiftly to International Village's Oomomo for more cookie cutters. International Village was not far from Jackson Square's odd retail attachment, except not even Hamilton had garbage taking joyrides on coattails of the wind.

Thankfully, there are alternate routes to remove oneself from the heinous hoodlum turf and ease back into the calming confines of Gastown.

A Torontonian-turned-Vancourite met up with me and gladly assumed the role of a tour guide. From within Herschel's West Coast flagship, one could partake in retail therapy in addition to appreciating a panoramic perspective of Canada Place and the Vancouver Cruise Ship Dock.

Suppertime crept up slowly, and we proceeded to the pre-determined location of Kokoro Tokyo Mazesoba.

Vancity Blitz | DAY 5: Metrotown + Matcha Cafe Maiko

3/10/2020

My former Scarborough suburbanite of an Uber driver had been correct: the city gets a bit grouchier during rainy climate.

I awoke to grey, overcast skies, demonstrating not even so much as a streak of sunlight. There was little incentive to go out, unlike the previous day, where the climate had essentially beckoned me from the other side of the glass.

I took to my partially planned baking endeavours instead. After all, eggs and heavy cream were now in possession (at long last).

First was Sunday Baking's Basque Cheesecake. The concept of the cake was ridiculously straightforward, as are most cheesecakes; obtaining the signature charred surface was the trickiest aspect. Between the "Convection Bake", "Gentle Bake", and "Surround (Bake)" options, I made do with a mixture of the latter settings, then let the cake cool overnight as directed.

Re-attempting smitten kitchen's sugar cookies were another tale altogether. Summarized by an excess of baking powder, insufficient matcha, and a too-tiny oven (that resulted in baking tray burns), the cookies fell short of the brilliant green profile and satisfying bite that I had achieved the last time around. A softer shortbread finish emerged instead.

Vancity Blitz | DAY 4: Granville Island + Revisiting Mister

3/9/2020

Opulent azure skies and beaming rays of sunshine overlooking ceaseless, mellifluent ripples is a honestly sight I could never tire of.

Each morning spawned a different view of the waterfront: some hazy, some cloudy, and some offering a crisp prospect of snow-capped mountains in the remote distance.

The best part of all: I was separated from such breathtaking grandeur by a mere pane of glass, and could easily dive into this scenic dimension at my heart's desire. It essentially beckoned me forth.

"Come enjoy me! You know you won't get the same treatment back home."
And that was an aspect I could not deny.

I suited up for an outdoor run along the river - an act completely out of character. Hiking underneath the shield of forest cover amasses great fondness, though the same can rarely be said, if ever, in regards to sunny sprints. Alas, with such a stunning landscape caressing my vision, the opportunity simply could not be turned down.

Post-shower and post-stretch, I came to the conclusion that weather conditions were too optimal to remain house-ridden for the rest of the day.

A Lyft ride later, and I crossed onto Granville Island, experiencing the breath of the creek and gusts of the dock.

My last trip had entailed only a swing by Steveston. Meanwhile, my most recent memory of the tourist-friendly attraction was so vague I could barely recall the setting, let alone season of visit. Sauntering about the district enabled re-familiarization; the single element that persisted in my mind was the busking area, a space of minimal evolution.

Vancity Blitz | DAY 3: Nature Republic (Aberdeen) + Baker & Table

3/8/2020

"Beautiful British Columbia" - there's tremendous validity behind this description.
Foreshadowing a sunny afternoon was a mysterious blue cloak overlooking the Fraser River. Streaked with a breathtaking glimmer of pink, it very nearly emulated light at the end of the tunnel.

In wait of sunrise, I began to assemble breakfast. But something felt lacking.
I took to another iteration of smitten kitchen's Banana Bread recipe, swapping out vanilla extract for 24 g of honey. Roasted peanuts were also incorporated into the mix, but ultimately discovered to be too big and not as suitable as walnuts.

Observing the oven from a distance, I proceeded with my scheduled blogilates/Zumba program - in bursts, if you will - before munching on some greens and readying myself for some much-coveted katsu.

Dosanko would have been the ideal choice. Alas, the closest outpost in the vicinity was Aberdeen's Saboten.

By no means is Saboten mediocre - since there really isn't "bad food" in this part of the country - however it wasn't a seamless alternative either.

Heavy hankerings for a katsu dish devoid of rice, I earnestly expressed my request to the boy behind the cashier. He turned to evaluate the options on the menu board behind him, then turned back to face my inquisitive gaze. "There isn't one without rice." He went on to suggest one of the sets, for they supposedly "contained the least amount of rice."

Vancity Blitz | DAY 2: Gym, Groceries + Kyabia

3/7/2020

Having somehow sustained the chaos that was a 23-hour period of activity, I expected absolute annihilation by fatigue. Yet, the body was met with a jolt of energy come the next morning.

Weather conditions were unbelievable, in the most wondrous, exercise-encouraging manner. With potential plans in the late morning though, I resorted to heading downstairs to the gym instead.

Post-activity stretching took place while overlooking the beauty of the Fraser River.

Pangs of hunger began to externalize soon after, so instead of gearing up for the arrival of the next bus, foodora's services were summoned.

Vancity Blitz | DAY 1: Arrival + Eric Nam Before We Begin (Vancouver)

3/6/2020

I've never one to be a last-minute packer, or a last-minute anything-er, as a matter of fact. Howbeit, I've found myself asking others time and time again whether certain tasks are "really all that urgent" - whether they deserve the "p" word (that I've learned to distinguish as "priority" and not "please").

Six hours of tossing and turning later, I was airport-bound. There, the lengthiest domestic security check was endured, and I soon came face to face with the new terminal's retail and gating developments. The restructured appearance came as an utter surprise; remaining consistent was my old friend, who greeted me with a smile, as if three-and-a-half years had not elapsed at all.

In my daze, the Kashi bars were forgotten. Just like my sunglasses. And just as my Theta V.

A banana, apple juice-ginger ale hybrid, and a foamy airline Breakfast Sandwich tied me over until arrival at YVR.

Whilst awaiting the buzzer of the baggage belt, I ventured up to the Departures floor, where a Vanilla Latte was secured with much glee. Ahhh, coffee.

I then proceeded with my surprise landing plans. Lugging four pieces of luggage across the pedestrian overpass, onto the SkyTrain, transferring, then rolling back onto the vehicle was no easy feat. Eventually, after far too hefty of a fare deduction, I made it to Aberdeen.

An Ottawa Awakening | DAY 2: (Pt 2) Biking about Parliament + Kichesippi Brewery Tour

8/31/2019

Dated: August 31, 2019

Read Part 1 HERE !

Desperately wanting to walk off the meal, we proceeded to venture about the market - this time acquainting ourselves with the district's historic and political elements.

Sussex Drive was the west limit of Byward, along which many a government institution could be observed beyond secured gates.

Notable buildings were the Embassy of the United States of America, Connaught Building, and the Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica, a non-government building for religious activity.

Across from the basilica was the Maman Statue, a tourist-friendly spider sculpture that resided just beyond the doors of the National Gallery of Canada. We spent quite the duration attempting to capture the statue from varying - and sometimes humorous - altitudes.

Protected bike lanes were a swell addition to the tourist area. While many Ontario municipalities have expressed intent to incorporate cycling infrastructure as part of new development, existing roads are often challenging to modify, particularly in the instalment of barriers and delineation measures. Priority often shifts to pedestrian-heavy areas such as BIA districts, fostering foot traffic while maintaining safe levels of adventurism.

The above is a statement declared as a biker of beginner skill, as well as an outcome of infrastructure planning discussions. One of the grand tasks of the day included renting bikes for the purpose of exploration.

These rentals did not come cheap, though. Several sources were perused before I had finally settled on a hidden establishment underneath the Plaza Bridge of the Rideau Canal.

An Ottawa Awakening | DAY 2: (Pt 1) ByWard Market, Heart & Crown + Bridgehead

8/31/2019

Dated: August 31, 2019

We started the morning off with a ByWard Market visit.

Pavilion vendors had long shuttered by the time we had pulled in late the previous afternoon, so the arrival of sunny, blue skies was our opportunity to peruse the market's very own food court, numerous produce stalls, and several independent artist booths.

BeaverTails boasted a lengthy lineup that hadn't been present the previous night. This lineup extended into the afternoon, and even late into the evening hours; a winding crowd persisted each time we passed by.

There were no purchases made at the market, despite stopping at the sights of mini yellow watermelon and potato bread.

To satisfy the yearn for breakfast, we walked into Zak's Diner upon catching glimpse of its old-school diner furnishing.

After making our way through the double doors, a pair of elderly women in pasty white pixie cuts turned to me. "Excusez." One of the two uttered.
My brows furrowed, my mouth agape. I had no idea how to respond, for I was not standing in their way. The lady changed to English with snooty French undertones, "Excuse." and mumbled something along the lines of allowing "elders" in first. This statement further added to my confusion, since she spoke as if I had purposely accelerated to overtake them. But I had merely walked up to a door - one out of the thousands I've opened in my lifetime - and propelled myself through in the name of obtaining sustenance.

A crowd had assembled by the entrance, which we interpreted as a wait longer than necessary. Perusing the menu, there were zero entries piquing curiosity; the obnoxious, sky-high prices were what had me slightly taken back.

The intent had been to find more unique breakfast options elsewhere, but we were quickly running out of time. As we continued northbound, one of the pub menus caught our attention. On it featured "black pudding". And if you're aware of my fondness for the SORTED crew, you'll know that I'm not the type to easily pass up an opportunity for outlandish English fare.

Heart & Crown was a larger restaurant than we imagined. It housed a total of three patio entrances, and it just so happened that we passed by one. Rather than being seated on the patio though, we opted for a table indoors - specifically one that preserved a sunny perspective of outside occurrences. The booths in the sports-viewing lounge corresponded to this description.

Irish pubs were frequent in the neighbourhood, so the impromptu dining decision wasn't completely impetuous. The assortment on offer included English-style breakfasts in addition to the typical Fish & Chips and beer. Topping the list was the H&C Irish Breakfast, which entailed elements such black pudding and baked beans, nabbing my attention from the get-go.
We resolved for just that, as well as the eggs benedict-containing option of The Irish.

Coffee from Lavazza was served, scalding. Despite the name being a familiar sight back home, I can't say I've been bestowed with the opportunity for trial, especially with more cafés in the core than able to count. The cup was sufficiently tasty with the addition of cream. Its untouched (black) status cannot be confirmed, but the inclusion of a creamer definitely benefitted the overall profile.

Presented in a cast iron skillet, the H&C Irish Breakfast comprised of two eggs (sunny side-up for our prefrences), sausage, black pudding, roasted potato gratin, tomato slices, baked beans, sautéed mushrooms, a potato scone, toast, and a handful of fresh fruit. The sausage was extremely crispy, obnoxiously so, and the eggs decent. Crowned the "highlight" of the dish, I had expected the black pudding to bear similarities to soondae. Unfortunately, it was neither firm nor contained rice noodles for structure. Tacky and gamey was the general consensus. Its soft consistency definitely caught me off guard, along with the peculiar stringiness.

WHAT DOES "QUIRKY AESTHETICS" MEAN?

Quirky = a term that commonly refers to something/someone distinctly different and unique
Aesthetics = the visual aspect of things

Together, Quirky Aesthetics refers to the things, events, and happenings seen and perceived by this blog's creator - quirky perspectives in a visual form.

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