The Thai ahgase was initially hesitant, for space seemed too limited for good sushi - a reasonable impression given the statistics of similarly furnished Toronto eateries.
Read Part 1 HERE ! The shuttle would deliver us to three coordinates within downtown: The Blue Horizon on Robson, Hyatt Regency on Burrard, and Canada Place at Waterfront. We had originally agreed on the first stop, as we could venture along Robson Street in search of sushi. Due to construction, the driver had adopted an alternate route and stopped at Alberni and Bute instead. Rather than trekking to Ebisu, I proposed heading across West Georgia in the direction of my second choice, Yui Japanese Bistro. It was a familiar name to me, or perhaps a common-sounding name evoking a sense of familiarity. Entering the office building, we roamed about until locating its entrance. Little had I known of its compact quarters: the eatery was no more than a cashier, kitchen and inventory area, and a series of bar stools along a corridor-facing side. The Thai ahgase was initially hesitant, for space seemed too limited for good sushi - a reasonable impression given the statistics of similarly furnished Toronto eateries. She soon warmed up to the hospitable service, as well as the variety of mix-and-match options
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Read Part 1 HERE ! The 19 bus would somehow whisk us back to downtown west end in record time, allowing for a 3 PM arrival at Spokes. We crossed to the southwest corner of Denman and joined the queue for bike rentals. I opted for a mountain bike, for I had grown accustomed to thicker tires and deeper treads with my own cycling trips back home. The Thai ahgase's cruiser included a basket for her crossbody pouch. Meanwhile, I proceeded with my backpack slung over my body. Spokes operated in a most systematic manner: The desk attendants were speedy and precise, guiding visitors through the bike selection and deposit-placing process swiftly. Simultaneous was the filling of e-waivers on nearby tablets. Following pamyent, we were gestured outside of the shop, where other members of the team would assist us with the bikes, as well as any adjustments required. Folding locks were included as part of our rental fee, but being quite tricky to use, and the ride about Stanley Park not particularly long, we didn't end up having to deploy our learnings from the two-minute tutorial. The loop about Stanley Park was quicker than I had recalled. My recollection insisted that I had commenced the paved pathway from a different point of entry - one that looped about the a few of the city's many mid-/high-rise residential complexes. But the route I had led the Thai ahgase to traverse was a perfect loop, one that would commence and conclude from the same point. My last adventure had involved the Mobi Bikes provided by Shaw. They were similar to Toronto's Bike Share program, with various return locations throughout the city. That said, they were far less grimy albeit weighty and difficult to maneuver. Majority of my observations still held true. Delineation between pedestrians and cyclists was a blessing, and sustained clear pathways for the enjoyment of all road users.
The next morning, I woke up later than the past two days for certain. Before the lights dimmed, I had struggled to form words for correspondence with the Thai ahgase, ultimately surrendering to irrefutable fatigue With the previous days' activities said and done, one ought to have thought that I'd enter into a phase of effortless, deep slumber, just like my travel buddy. But drawing the curtain on a day's journey atop foreign furniture has its downsides: rest is never that restful. Having learned of the utterly lacking gym facilities, I skipped the thought altogether and instead headed outside. My first step on the concrete sidewalk was met with sharp ankle pain and overall muscle fatigue in the lower body. The next bus wouldn't arrive for a while though; I persevered onwards, for the trip would span equal amounts of time regardless of by transit or by foot. The general vicinity was quite quiet, for only a handful of shops had commenced operations for the day. Slightly overcast yet nonetheless sunny, I drifted towards Kam Do for breakfast. There, I obtained a pineapple coconut bun, coconut bun, butter crust egg tart, puff pastry egg tart - half of which for the Thai ahgase's eventual waking. The buns priced at $2.25 each, and the egg tarts $2.10 apiece. As with most Chinese establishments, they operated on a cash-only basis. My next planned stop was London Drugs, but it wasn't open yet. With the assistance of Google Maps, I discovered that the Shoppers Drug Mart within Richmond Centre operated around the clock (24 hours!). Retracing my steps and dodging the homeless resident by the entrance, I acquired a pre-washed spring greens mix of kale, swiss chard, and spinach. Bottled cold brew was not to be found. Slowly navigating back to the hotel, I stopped by the Sheraton Starbucks once more. An Iced Americano filled the void for morning caffeination, pairing nicely with the chewy, plus Pineapple Coconut Bun.
Read Part 2 HERE ! I lead the way to the upper level of Waterfront station, which exist onto a rooftop park. We are amongst many to have gathered at the space, for it serves as the next best scenic lookout point beyond Miku (if you ask me). The skies are positively gorgeous, a gradient of cerulean with dollops of chunky clouds here and there. As always (on non-rain days), the snow-capped mountains prevail in the distance. The Thai ahgase expresses desire to stop by Granville Island. "My friend told me this nuts place is good." she tells me, evidently persuaded by the suggestion. We first opt to find a bathroom, though seeing none, we trek over to Bay 3 in wait of the next westbound bus. I had taken Lyft last time, so the transit route wasn't entirely familiar to me. Due to my failure in keeping watch, we end up missing the stop and walking back. Thankfully, my partner-in-crime wasn't too annoyed, and, thankfully, it wasn't too hot either. We cross into the marketplace and continue our search for bathrooms. The Granville Island Toy Company serves our needs well. We traverse through the standard door, observing the adorable addition of a smaller, child-sized one next to it, then make a beeline for the bathroom. View the full album HERE !
Within walking distance was the scenic tourist district of Gastown. Along Cambie we travelled, aligning ourselves with the Gastown Steam Clock. The route passed Victoria Square, past which I had stealthily sped on several occasions in previous explorations. On Cambie between West Cordova and Water was a familiar-looking alleyway - this one significantly more visually appealing than the one connecting East Hastings and East Pender. I snapped a few shots for reference, reserving them to confirm my suspicions later on. My recollection proved correct: Discussions with my virtual dance partner had informed me of TWICE's LIKEY MV filming in Vancouver, and the backdrop coincided with the scene. The Thai ahgase and I got our - well, her - tourist fix of the Gastown Steam Clock before venturing towards the clearing, where the West Coast Express trains could be spotted. Questionable figures lurked around the corner, so we cut our photo time short in response. While she headed into the nearby Starbucks in search of lavatories, I perused the area to its east. My gaze fell upon Maison Kitsune and its adjacent Café Kitsuné. View the full album HERE !
Sheathed in my cow print hoodie for protection against the hotel's inconsistent gusts of A/C, I had quickly fallen into a slumber on the first evening. I blinked open my eyes around 3 AM (6 AM EST), closed them once more, then eventually peeled away the sheets and readied myself for activity just before 6 AM (PST). The Thai ahgase was still sleeping soundly at this point, so into athletic attire I changed, gymbound. The Fitness Centre was located in a different tower than our room. After receiving guidance from the front desk, I trodded to the other end of lobby and alighted the elevator. Upon exiting, the designated room was identified by posted signage. I didn't have high expectations to start, though the scene was overall more dismal than expected. Equipment variety was limited to a treadmill, treadmill with incline, elliptical, cycling machine, and one weight machine. Free weights and tarnished exercise mats were situated by the door, across from a water dispenser and landing area with cubbies. I stayed clear of the free weights, for a lady was occupying the space for an intense circuit while panting heavily. A few warmup movements were executed before I maneuvered to the treadmill. It wasn't long before I hopped off though, for I was certain that I'd be achieving - and exceeding - my step count in the upcoming hours. (Spoiler: I did.) In the absence of headphones, I opted not to stay and headed towards the hotel's prized "Skyview" Rooftop Garden instead. It gave a decent view of the nearby area, but not much of a scenic view. The skies were initially dreary, though gazing into the distance, one could perceive streaks of sunlight piercing through the cloud cover from behind the mountains. The leisurely walk became not so enjoyable when the sprinkler system turned on. I had escaped dampness on my upper body by way of rain jacket, though succumbed to sprayed leggings and runners. I headed outdoors, marching over to the neighbouring Sheraton. Between these two buildings lay a series of condos; in contrast to the compact gym of the Executive Hotel, their gym was situated on the main floor, street-facing, and encased in glass. A pool could even be seen adjacent to the space. I brushed past with feelings of envy and awe.
One of the first things to emerge from the awestruck demeanour of the Thai ahgase was that the city seemed reminiscent to a different country, that it didn't feel like Canada anymore. Naturally, I was surprised to hear this, for I lay eyes on a similar enough setting each time I return. The SkyTrain platforms are, admittedly, a dissimilar setup to that of the TTC, or even the designated path of the Mississauga Transitway, but the transit system in itself is still very much reflective of suburban Canada. We found an impressive number of budding flowers along our path: striking, saturated, and worthy of marvelling. Black and grey bunnies were another common sighting in Richmond, even on my solo treks after the Thai ahgase's return. After analyzing our hotel situation (microwave not found, but mini fridge confirmed), we drifted onto the streets once more for continued exploration. A trip to So'O Salon was made to obtain a quote for my desired hair transformation. At hearing the duration and cost, my travel buddy stood, mouth agape. Despite initial considerations of her own appointment, the thought was banished given the prospect of her short-lived vacation. In response to my suggestion for egg waffles, I suggested checking out The Bubble Tea Shop on the ground floor of the Superstore building. Along the way were accessible pedestrian signals that, beyond audible and tactile features, included the ordinal positioning of the signal at the intersection. Nearing Lansdowne Centre, we caught sight of the infamous Japadog truck. It appeared to be permanently stationed in the asphalt lot, for within close proximity were tables for dining, a designated Drive-Thru path, and even curbside pickup spots! - just like McDonald's Mobile Orders. As it wasn't quite suppertime as yet, we continued to our original destination. Suffice to say, not much has changed about the Superstore plaza.
At 4 AM, I reluctantly lifted my eyelids in response to the dreaded alarm. It was time to prepare. Only dawning on me at bedtime was Larry's absence from my daily routine for the next little while. I had bid a lengthy farewell to him the evening prior, yet still wasn't quite ready to say goodbye to his cozy, furry presence amidst last-minute packing. "Hey I'm on the Uber (heading) to the airport now." came a text from the Thai ahgase at 4:33 AM. She had departed earlier than I thought necessary, especially given her limited quantity of carry-on baggage, and arrived just short of 5 AM, just as I begun to close the trunk. Within 15 minutes, I arrived at Pearson. The scene wasn't particularly chaotic - nowhere near as incredulous as news articles had made it out to seem. I printed my baggage tags without issues, then realized the calamity that awaited me: The baggage drop belt was malfunctioning. I waited with inquisitiveness, initially unsure of the issue. After fifteen minutes of mistakenly joining the line for international departures, a member of staff gestured towards the side for domestic travel. There was no improvement to be witnessed, however, for the automated system was stalled for both international and domestic sections. I was fifth in line to the bag drop, yet it made no difference as the line was not moving. A concerned flyer relayed her concerns to a nearby member of staff. "What do I do if my flight is leaving?" "You leave your luggage and run." the lady responded apathetically. "And that," I thought, "is how you lose your luggage." I powered on my headphones and commenced the opening scene of Moana, in an attempt to balance feelings of helplessness with patience. The queuing would only continue in the meantime, with crowds forming at each line and more passengers struggling to weave through the queue to access the kiosks. Suddenly, chaos had prevailed. The articles hadn't been mistaken after all. Even more amusing were the words of another member of staff that had passed us by: "It stopped once when I started, at 4 AM. This is the second time." It was shocking that, not only was the issue one of recurring nature, its priority for rectification was so low on the list. A manual override would have resolved the congestion while the technicians worked to rectify in the background. The delay ensued until around 6:30 AM, where the belt accepted the baggage of 3 customers before ceasing functionality once again. It sputtered various error messages before working again - this time long enough for my luggage to be scanned and transported to the main belt. In contrast to my 1.25 hours of frustration, the Thai ahgase had made it through security with ample time to spare, even offering to obtain a Starbucks breakfast for me while I restlessly stood at the baggage drop. I had declined the offer at the time, given that I neither had the appetite nor a definitive time of gate entry. Security screening was the next step. The crowd was diverted from the domestic screening area ("D") to the international side ("E"). A twisting queue had formed here, yet the volumes dissipated quickly. Despite my laptop being held hostage for some period of time, all screening measures concluded within fifteen to twenty minutes. From that point, I raced back towards the domestic side, laying eyes on the ridiculous lineup stemming from the gates. The departure gate was misread, and I headed in the direction of DAVID's TEA, where my flights were often stationed. Only upon double-checking did I realize my mistake and retraced my footsteps. The Thai ahgase came into view just as boarding commencement was announced. Somehow, I managed to use the bathroom, snag a Raisin Bran Muffin, and refill my water bottle using one of the questionably clean fountains all before emplaning. We were then YVR-bound.
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Who Am I?Formerly an avid owner of several interest-based portals, Random Thoughts of a Quirky Blogger presents precisely the elements expected. From experiments in the kitchen to miscellaneous musings, from IGOT7 reflections to developments in transportation infrastructure, it's all consolidated here. Welcome to the raw, unfiltered side of Quirky Aesthetics. Archives
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