In spite of the continuous rainfall that would grace the city for the remainder of the day, I was determined to make like a Vancourite and brave the trip to Aberdeen.
The bus to Brighouse pulled up to the shelter shortly as I arrived. A fellow backpack-wielding resident had waited alongside me - proof that precipitation would not be sufficient in halting daily operations.
The bus to Brighouse pulled up to the shelter shortly as I arrived. A fellow backpack-wielding resident had waited alongside me - proof that precipitation would not be sufficient in halting daily operations.
Richmond's Chicha San Chen had been on my radar since a local food enthusiast informed me of its opening. There was a distinct determination to confirm whether it fared better than the Burnaby outpost and Toronto's compact rendition on the edge of Chinatown.
The interior was largely reminiscent of the Burnaby location, featuring artificial shrubbery on the ceiling and a large mirror to give the illusion of depth. Seating was minimal, spanning no more than a single round table by the entrance. This outpost was slightly smaller than Metro Vancouver's first location and appeared to focus on takeout and food delivery orders - reasonable in consideration of its proximity to Richmond's primary transit hub, nearby condos, and Richmond Centre.
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Two girls that had disembarked the 410 bus with me followed my footsteps, eventually reaching the cashier before me as I paused for photos. Approximately four staff members could be seen behind the counter, each adopting different roles as cashier, barista, and inventory stockers. In contrast to the downtown Toronto location, there was no lineup whatsoever.
Production speed was relatively consistent, for the operating parameters of the tea brewing apparatus were fixed. Despite the backlog of drink orders and sluggishness of the girls before me, I received my Ding Dong Oolong Milk Tea with Konjac in a matter of minutes.
The beverage was delightful and as refreshing as could me. That said, its selling price was astounding: even at just 5% tax, the drink rang in at around the same as Toronto's 13% HST, indicating a higher base price.
The beverage was delightful and as refreshing as could me. That said, its selling price was astounding: even at just 5% tax, the drink rang in at around the same as Toronto's 13% HST, indicating a higher base price.
Striding across the bus loop towards the SkyTrain platform, I evaded a sizable political protest enforcing that "Taiwan is not China". This topic was long considered taboo back home and actively avoided in work situations. Most amusing about this stunt were Caucasian participants calling out the protest chants in muffled Mandarin.
In a matter of minutes, I arrived at Aberdeen. Northbound trains enabled a direct connection to Aberdeen Square; meanwhile, southbound trains from Waterfront required exiting the station entirely and routing into the Aberdeen buildings at ground level.
In a matter of minutes, I arrived at Aberdeen. Northbound trains enabled a direct connection to Aberdeen Square; meanwhile, southbound trains from Waterfront required exiting the station entirely and routing into the Aberdeen buildings at ground level.
As per tradition, I desired nothing more than a post-arrival lunch - albeit a late one - of Saboten from the food court.
Katsu sandwiches had been pre-packaged in reusable white plastic containers and positioned by the cashier for easy access. This equated to a non-existent wait time and near-immediate gratification. Sliced into thirds, the sandwich embodied the ideal proportions of crispy, tender katsu and fluffy, crust-less shokupan with smothered with a thin layer of tangy katsu sauce.
I happily munched away at the specimen, drawing sips of my Chicha milk tea in the process. In contrast to my drink of choice, ten dollars for a katsu sando no longer seemed pricey.
I happily munched away at the specimen, drawing sips of my Chicha milk tea in the process. In contrast to my drink of choice, ten dollars for a katsu sando no longer seemed pricey.
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It was with awe that I gazed about my surroundings: the food court boasted a scarcity of seating even after peak lunch hours. Most of its vendors were long-time occupants of the space, though a few unfamiliar names are seen from time to time. Bubble Waffle Cafe, a Richmond staple, started their legacy with a modest kiosk at the edge of the food court and has since expanded to countless outposts throughout Richmond and the Greater Vancouver Area.
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Exploring the mall led to realizations of a widespread Pokémon comeback, one that contrasted with the Sanrio infiltration back home. Plushies and figurines of the classic 90s animation were now available in dedicated retailers, as opposed to a few merchandise shelves.
Like Daiso once was, OOMOMO has become a pivotal stop of any Aberdeen adventure.
The two-level retailer has since expanded their selection of non-alcoholic beverages, though at a far steeper asking point than T&T back home. It was also later noted that the sale of non-alcoholic beverages had yet to be approved for sale in grocery stores.
A number of items, such as storage bins and accessories, were found identical to those residing at the First Markham Place and Don Mills locations. That said, the Vancouver assortment was comparatively vast, ranging from glassware to gardening tools to serrated knives that started at just $2.75.
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The upper level also featured a Japanese crêpe café, complete with colourful replicas in a display case.
A mental note was made to revisit the stall should snacking needs coincide with future Aberdeen outings.
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I continued to browse the rest of the retail centre, noting cleanser prices at Tony Moly and the presence of Aritaum.
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New dining establishments featuring ramen and tempura were found at the southeast corner of the third floor, overlooking Hazelbridge Way, while a soup curry eatery was spotted tucked away next to Giordano on the first floor, just before the doors to the parking garage.
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Out of curiosity, I entered H Mart to take a gander at grocery prices. Choco Churro Turtle Chips were priced over twice as much as back home! On the other hand, cosmetics were on part with Tony Moly and CIYO, while prepared food items such as Unagi Dons were barely $15.
Instead of routing back to the SkyTrain station (and risking an expired transfer), I strode past Hazukido and commenced my journey to Lansdowne via Hazelbridge Way.
Again, the rain showed no signs of stopping. Thankfully, curb depressions were minimal, if present at all. The sturdiness of aggregate-abundant asphalt had prevented settlement over the years, nixing potential to be splashed by turning vehicles.
My sole POI at Lansdowne was Van Cheong Tea. Reddit users had posted of the Chinese tea retailer's availability of HK tea leaves, piquing my curiosity. A 450 g tin retailed for $15, while 500 g in soft packaging at $16. A Mandarin-speaking lady offered both for $30, though I politely declined and ensured her that I'd return should the tea serve its intended purpose adequately.
The rest of my stay was spent aimlessly roaming.
In the food court, I found Fresh Elements, identified strictly by their BOGO poster. While I'm most familiar with their kiosk in the Yaohan Centre food court, the drink promo tends to be consistent across all locations. One of my fondest memories is taking advantage of the deal to share with grandparents. Naturally, the BOGO offer has increased in price over the years.
In the food court, I found Fresh Elements, identified strictly by their BOGO poster. While I'm most familiar with their kiosk in the Yaohan Centre food court, the drink promo tends to be consistent across all locations. One of my fondest memories is taking advantage of the deal to share with grandparents. Naturally, the BOGO offer has increased in price over the years.
By this point of the afternoon, my phone had reached an all-time low in terms of battery supply. The observation prompted my hasty decision to dart into Miniso for a power bank to last me the rest of the trip.
The day's activities concluded with a trip to T&T, where I found atrociously priced coconut buns ($10.99 for a pack of 6) and a condensed bundle of groceries (eggs starting at $6!!!) for my stay. In spite of all items being purchased on sale, the bill totalled a whopping $100.
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Complimentary shopping bags had long vanished from the West Coast, making cooler bags an utmost necessity. One had the option of purchasing small, reusable brown bags at twenty-five cents per piece, though their awfully small size and susceptibility to tearing failed to justify the case.
Returning home with that evening were new Sikiri accessory storage cases, loose leaf tea, cookie stamps, hair clips, and a NewJeans-esque mouse pad (acquired from THINKA). Fatigue overwhelmed on me around the 9 PM mark in the form of a crippling headache. Exhausted by jet lag and the long day, I took to quickly showering and doing laundry, then heading straight to bed.
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