On an awfully rainy, yet utterly typical West Coast, morning, we made our way to Burnaby again. Frequent and endless are my gripes about poor connections in the GVA area, but weekday mornings post rush hour made for a ridiculously smooth commute.

I witnessed an atrocious lack of professionalism once more. For a province that prides itself in connecting with nature on a spiritual level, its population has failed to overcome the countless physical challenges associated with rainfall in a manner that demonstrates respects to civilians. Though perhaps all of my woes would be eliminated with the introduction and application of common sense.

​Hearts heavy but stomachs light, the party headed towards The Jade for dim sum lunch. The restaurant's relocation from central Richmond (Oh, the infamous Alexandra Rd!) to Bridgeport had been an amusing choice.

Consistent was its location on the second floor of the building. Visitors could either climb the lofty flight of stairs leading to the reception area or wait for the sluggish elevator on the opposite side of the entrance.

The party of six (myself included) took to an assortment of steamed and braised dim sum dishes, incorporating a handful of rarer items on the basis of nostalgia:

• 晶瑩鮮蝦餃
• 安康燒賣皇
• 豉汁蒸排骨
• 煎臘味蘿蔔糕
• 香茜牛肉刮刮陽
• 西米黑芝麻焗布丁
• 黃金流沙包
• 籠仔梅菜蒸油菜
• 乾炒牛河

​Har Gow (蝦餃) and Siu Mai (燒賣) have never been items to tickle my fancy. They were always forgettable, no matter the innovation behind each rendition.

My picks lay with the Custard Lava Buns, which were scalding hot yet utterly delectable, and the Black Sesame Sago Baked Pudding, which took an eternity to emerge and led to nothing more than disappointment. Bland, boring, tacky, and unharmonious, I could not believe that the crunchy topping was the only acceptable element of the mid-day dessert.

All other selections were passable. While others may beg to differ, I tend to find Chinese cuisine in Vancouver to be more intricate and generally tastier than in the GTA. Prices will vary based on restaurant prestige and surrounding demographic, but there is greater probability of sustaining value for price paid on the West Coast - speaking exclusively for Richmond, though.

Later that afternoon, I finally made it to Little Pisces. Quite dismayed I was to not have been able to stop by their first location in Burnaby last year, the taiyaki specialty shop became a priority stop for the current trip (and possibly last trip on the foreseeable future).

Not even a week would pass before I tired of the mucky, grey scene outside. Another day, another downpour. Beyond suppressing any desires to venture out into the world, it further worsened already appalling driving conditions.

The day started with a Staples run, wherein parking spaces were few and drivers wielding their ungodly wide SUVs traversed down the centre of the drive aisles instead of adhering to the right. Basic driving training was an obvious void. Had I had not been equipped with ample driving experience, inclusive of 401 rush hour defenses, I'd have declared it dangerous to maneuver about the 2 km radius. 

At Staples, I was reunited with the World's Softest Plush, still beautifully rosy in hue and huggable as ever.

​We then headed towards Costco, as per my proposal. The route, despite being just seven minutes long, wasn't intuitive by any means. Unclear signage led me onto a freeway ramp, hence doubling travel time. Driving during daytime hours with precipitation was tragic enough, but, once darkness settled, it was at least three times worse.

​Thankfully, the odd Thursday saw acceptable visitor volumes. I secured a ridiculously convenient space in close proximity to the entrance. After carefully checking both ways for incompetent drivers, we scurried into the warehouse for some indoor window shopping therapy.

​Plenty of the Kirkland-branded inventory were also available at my home stores. However, several snacks were not. Exclusive products included strawberry-shaped gummies, locally produced beef jerky, various types of bird's nest products, and more. I struggled to resist the gargantuan bag of Caramel Popcorn Turtle Chips, eventually succumbing to its allure before confirming availability of luggage space. The same sentiment extended towards a pack of Loaker Tortina, which had seen prices settling in at $5 per 63 g box - essentially double that of the 2023 Eataly sale!

​The sheer abundance of samples was another staggering revelation. From prosciutto to crackers to coffee, the varieties were seemingly endless, and plentiful as well! I had never seen intact slices of crackers or meat being provided in the GTA.

​Once the transaction for snacks had terminated, I meandered over towards the readymade food section.

Not seeing any exclusives, we decided to share a Vanilla/Chocolate Ice Cream Cone, just like the good ol' days. Gargantuan cone in hand, we shifted towards the standing dining area. Picnic tables were not present at this location. A mother and daughter duo later casually 搭檯ed without so much as a respectful salutation. ​We didn't mind much, but I did wish they had presented some basic manners in the interaction instead of leaning into our table when negative reactions were not expressed.

​Different eating times can lead to disagreement, possibly even stronger conflict than with those without a strict eating schedule (or the need to eat at all!). When opinions conflict, the easiest resolution is to go your separate ways - an option that my browsing partner refuses to execute, thus causing all parties to grudgingly be dragged along for the sake of togetherness. (But that's a separate complaint.)

Priority for reviewing Taiwan photos led to a late lunch secured via UberEats. Consistent with previous remarks, ordering food delivery in Vancouver remains superior to the GTA. Beyond the plethora of options and $0 Delivery Fee, delivery is always swift (usually 15-30 minutes) and portions are exceptionally generous at their given price points. Any outing for sustenance usually spans a minimum of 90 minutes, as travelling between eateries is painfully slow even with a vehicle within reach. Locals can also confirm that travelling short stretches (4 km or less) along No. 3 Road can require twenty minutes or more, though they are unlikely to gripe about the distance travelled per hour unlike frequent highway users. As a small eater, one of the best things about order UberEats is the "benefit" of takeout containers and plastic/paper bags being provided without the excruciating eco fees tacked onto the bill. For at least half a decade, the cost of containers have been passed onto the consumer, now at a whopping fifty cents per unit!

​And so, ordering the item of my cravings via the platform was the informed decision. In spite of the excessive $5.70 "Service & BC Courier Fee", the bill remained well under $50 even after tip!

From JOHN 3:16 Malaysian Delights, I requested Hainanese Chicken Rice, Satay Chicken, and a Hot Teh Tarik, otherwise known as Malaysian milk tea.

Four lengthy skewers of Satay Chicken set me back $12.05, plus another $0.60 with the addition of peanut sauce. Admittedly, not having to fret over potential peanut intake was liberating! Unveiling the box, I was incredibly surprised to find two containers of the condiment. Had the request been tacked onto an Uber order back home, the portion would be puny and unjustified.
The sauce paired delightfully with the tasty and tender chicken. The skewers were flavourful: seasoned comprehensively and glazed/charred to perfection. To combat greasiness from gradual loss of temperature, I dunked the fresh cucumber chunks into the peanut sauce. Raw red onion pieces were, of course, discarded. 

​After hunger-related qualms were solved independently, a snack time outing could be facilitated with ease. We headed to Lansdowne Mall in search Bubble Waffle Café. While there are numerous outposts of the egg waffle hotspot, each location is priced differently. Based on the demographic, I reckoned that the Lansdowne location would not only be most economic, but involve the shortest wait time.

Strolling towards the food court, I passed by a baby boutique stocked with Jellycats as well as Van Cheong's familiar storefront. 

Fresh Elements has been a longstanding occupant of Richmond food courts. Since their 2014 days in Yaohan Centre, the BOGO deal price has been steadily climbing from $3.99. At present, eleven years since the summer that changed everything, a basic milk tea with pearls rings in at $7.49 before tax.

Bubble Waffle Café was situated in one of the corners of the food court. We took to an Original, now costing $4.95. Payment was settled in cash, at which point we were instructed to return in fifteen minutes to retrieve our order.

It isn't uncommon for West Coast winter mornings to be dreary and overcast. That said, when paired alongside dusty construction sites and constant drizzles, the sight quickly grew depressing - sickening, even.

I was hesitant to set foot into the outside world, until the skies began to clear around lunchtime. We deemed it fitting to venture out for a mid-day meal, gleefully soaking in the rare sunny blue skies.

​McArthur Glen Outlet featured some of the best - and perhaps only! - Christmas décor in the vicinity. The installations ranged from nutcracker figures to poinsettia orbs to garlands edged with shiny, scarlet spheres identical to those adorning the strangely symmetrical tree.

Parking was also less troublesome than I had envisioned; the expansive asphalt lot offered plenty of options in the proximity of the main entrance as well as the Templeton SkyTrain station.

On my fifth day, I was determined to break the trend of greasy Chinese food loaded with sodium. When provided the privilege of cuisine choice, I hesitated not in proposing Japanese, or some form of it, at least.

In the past year, the Richmond-Brighouse area had welcomed an abundance of new mixed-use residential complexes, complete with at-grade retail establishments. At the base of one of the new buildings was Sushi Lovers, a colourful eatery with budget finds and basic offerings.

Striding in, we were welcomed by a strong whiff of cooking fumes. The waitress gestured to a table immediately next to the door. While I wouldn't have minded the location normally, its proximity to the open concept kitchen and corresponding cooking odours had me silently wrinkling my nose in disgust. We requested for one of the booths along the windows, only to receive the grumpy response of "There are only two of us working today. I can sit you there." The waitressed shoved us back towards the original table assignment in utter disregard. Her complaint towards waitstaff scheduling also took me by surprise: Why should I care that there are only two people?

"We can wait." I told her, pointing towards a table with stacked dirty dishes.
"Alright" she replied, grudgingly.

​I cast quick glances around the room. For a Monday afternoon, the dining floor was quite busy, but not unmanageable. Each booth included a minimum of one soiled furry friend, likely to fulfill the role of companionship. We were gestured towards a window seat some few minutes later. Yet another onigiri occupied the seat - this one slightly less tarnished.

​Scanning the laminated menus, Sushi Lovers was discovered to be extremely affordable. I raised an eyebrow at the Wagyu, O-Toro, and Chirashi mentions, doubting their authenticity given the establishment's overall aura. Between three people, we opted to share a Salmon Goma-ae ($11.00), Oyako-don ($13.95), and Chirashi Don ($22.95). In being informed that the spinach-based appetizer was unavailable, the waitress redirected our attention towards the pricier $12.95 Sashimi Salad.

​Having entered the premises with high hopes, I must admit that the presentation of the requested items incited disappointment. Components of the Chirashi Don were practically identical to that of the Sashimi Salad: sliced instead of finely chopped, muted instead of vibrant and visually attractive, and utterly devoid of decorative garnishes besides a single shrivelled shiso leaf.

I rarely have issues adjusting my sleep schedule, for physical exhaustion holds the reins to periods of rest. Usually, I succeed in aligning my routine with the local time zone within one day. Slumber may not always be restful, however, which makes early mornings quite common.

​The fateful day finally arrived.
​I set an alarm for 7:30 AM to ensure punctuality, though awoke ten minutes earlier. Breakfast was quickly assembled: coffee and a Pineapple Bun from Kam Do, which was bready with a crumbly, saturated (and probably yolk-based) cooking topping.

By some miracle, I shed only a few tissues' worth of tears. I almost expected bursting into uncontrollable wails, but was also thankful to not have.

​The party, all clad in black attire, then returned to Richmond for lunch.​

Although I enjoyed the jellyfish starter, Continental Seafood Restaurant (幸運海鮮酒樓) was generally rowdy with strictly average fare and a frigid bathroom reeking of coolant. The Coconut Sago dessert was similarly passable, but the Ma Lai Goh (馬拉糕) utterly depressing and devoid of distinct layers.

In the late afternoon hours, I ventured out for a quick stroll about Aberdeen Centre. The weekend parking situation is typically tragic, but locating a space within Aberdeen Square two hours before closing remained a simple task.

​The mall corridors had been decorated with garlands, gold orbs, and an incredible amount of flickering string lights, much to my surprise.

Near the fountain was an even grander display comprising of two giant reindeer, an illuminated tree, and a medley of colourful, floating orbs.

The second day provided a breather before further scheduled items.

I devoured an original Salted Butter Bread Roll from The Seoulful as breakfast. Being a two-day-old pastry, the salted butter had penetrated the creation comprehensively, causing the specimen to be quite salty overall. Reheating the roll in the toaster also unleashed an ungodly amount of greasy fumes, which regrettably lingered until the late afternoon hours.

​Raising the need for a trip to Shoppers, we decided to briskly walk the corridors of Richmond Centre while there.

​In stark contrast to the festive displays in the GTA, Richmond Centre hardly featured any seasonal decorations. Even the sole Christmas tree on the premises was bare and depressing.

I knew that the conclusion of my Taiwan trip was synonymous with an inevitable return to reality - minus the work stress portion.

Landing in Vancouver felt comfortable and familiar. Yet, deep down, I knew that it could be my last time undertaking the visit for the foreseeable future.

​My short-lived stopover enabled the last few balcony-based sunrises and sunsets, for BC's overcast, drizzly climate didn't often yield glorious gradients.

Breakfast comprised of coffee from Costco Taichung and a Fresh Milk Cream Salted Butter Bread Roll from Richmond's newly opened The Seoulful. The carby component was consistent with Korea's general approach of maximalization, combining an abundance of salted butter and rich, stiffened cream in a sturdy bread roll.
Suffice to say, salt bread is best enjoyed on its own, as it was intended.

An $18.95 lunch combo from Tsim Chai Noodle was received around the 1:25 PM mark. Scrambled Eggs with Cha Siu Rice (滑蛋叉燒飯) and a Hot Milk Tea appeased my minimal hunger, only to later result in stomach queasiness (and repeated visits to the bathroom) due to greasiness. Beyond harnessing an incredulous amount of oil, the toppings were also extremely salty.

Bracing myself for the impending series of sorrow-inducing events, productivity levels were correspondingly low. Leading up to the first event of the series, it seemed only fitting to prepare mentally - and physically, with purchase of two boxes of lotion tissue.