Vancouver Ventures | DAY 13: Macu Tea + Richmond Errands Feat. Deposit Return + Kam Do

The sheer magnitude of my planned activities often doesn't dawn on me till much later, when all schedules have been completed and I crumple into an exhausted mass, recapping the hustle of it all. Back-to-back happenings of the previous day had resulted in greater levels of fatigue than anticipated. I fell into a deep slumber, then continued dozing until 9 AM the next morning.

Gradually, I eased into the day and even accomplished a bit of packing.

​Lunchtime would see unveil of the instant carbonara ramen packets obtained from T&T (Vancouver Ventures D1 P2?). Four packs of the seemingly popular Thai convenience food would be sealed within the intriguing pink packaging. I ripped open one of these squares, discovering a seasoning oil that smelled like cheese and a flavouring powder with what appeared to be bits of dried bacon.
The noodles themselves were typical of any instant packet. Straying from the directions slightly, I didn't drain enough of the cooking liquid before incorporating the add-ins. The sauce emerged looser than intended for carbonara, and boasted a very synthetic - but bland - aftertaste overall. Before transferring the concoction to a container, a splash of half & half cream was mixed in with the aim of adding richness, followed by a cornstarch slurry for improved texture. Nevertheless, the results were disheartening.

Consumed alongside the instant noodles was my own pork belly shabu, which proved much more flavourful and hearty. Blanched choy sum and a soft-boiled egg served to round out the otherwise dismal, nutrient-deficient meal from Oriental Kitchen.

​In the early afternoon hours, I was offered the opportunity to select an afternoon snack. Macu's King of Mango Smoothie immediately came to my mind - Would it live up to the hype?

​Two cups of the King of Mango Smoothie (楊枝甘露 2.0) would appear in time to constitute an afternoon pick-me-up. Despite the City of Richmond's intensive ban of single-use plastics, the bubble tea shop had prided themselves in their use of sturdy, clear plastic cups to showcase the various layers and toppings forming their best-selling beverage.
A vibrant red drink carrier with the Taiwanese tea shop's name printed would replace individual drink bags. This embellished strip of eco-felt, while making for easy handling and sleek presentation, would not accommodate storage of napkins nor possess the ability to contain spills, should they occur.

​I was quite happy to note the presence of plastic straws, however, as paper straws often fall short in encounters with thick smoothies/slushes featuring an abundance of toppings.

The tall, narrow cup delivered a formula icier and sweeter than preferred. Quintessential elements of grapefruit pulp and sago had been omitted; while I didn't mind substitution of sago for slippery jellies, I was appalled to find such drastic variances embodied in a creation proclaiming itself to be a drinkable Mango Pomelo Sago. The freshness of mango was missing, as was any sort of flavour profile in the jellies.

Overall, the lineup-inducing beverage was decent, but inconceivably worth its given price point, supposed 20-minute wait time, and loyal following.

​In the early afternoon hours, I set out to complete the last of my suburban errands while the rental vehicle remained available for use. Deposit returns at OK Bottle Depot would not be excluded.

The same miserable middle-aged man was on site, sorting through cartons and cans and restacking mould-infested plastic bins with hatred. My appearance with a faulty light bulb and mixture of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beer cans sent him in a frenzy. He angrily tossed the light bulb into a bin at least 20 metres behind him, causing it to land with an ear-shattering clang. It was almost as if I was inconveniencing him, though prior research had indeed confirmed acceptance of e-waste at this location. He then reprimanded me for not separating the alcoholic and non-alcoholic aluminum cans, pointing to the label with his soiled glove-clocked index finger and reading it aloud to me. Again, his attitude implied irritation and condescension, as if I wasn't fluent in the English language or it wasn't my first time returning both.

​​Exiting the foul-smelling facilities some few minutes later, I continued with errands in the vicinity. Cravings for carby snacks would lead me to Kam Do.

​A delectable Cocktail Bun would be enjoyed while quickly strolling the nearby mall, while a Pineapple Bun and Sausage Bun would be reserved for subsequent days.

​Upon exiting the bakery, a group of bystanders were observed. Three cops had succeeded in pinning down a pan near the bus stop waiting area. Given no other paths back to the car, I quickly routed around the scene, hearing one of the police convey into a walkie-talkie: "The knife is seized." As he stood up, I could clearly see a scythe in his hand - a mini version of the Grim Reaper style spear. The suspect was an Asian male bearing shades and long dreadlocks. His outward appearance wasn't exactly menacing, considering his colourful backpack and average height (perhaps no taller than 5" 6'), though one can never judge a book by its cover.

Two police cars continued to be present at the east entrance of the mall even after the suspect was detained and removed from the scene.

Within minutes was Richmond Hospital, where we'd spend the next 3ish hours due to extenuating circumstances.

​The trip would mark my first visit ever in a Vancouver hospital, as well as the first instance of traversing through both the Emergency/Red Zone and Medicine/Yellow Zone. Previous medical appointments had, thankfully, only involved a walk-in clinic and radiology facility - and a blood collection centre many years ago. Admittedly, hospital operations were noticed to have advanced from my baseline knowledge of BC healthcare. That said, I do not believe in the sector recovering its radically deplorable reputation in my eyes any time soon.

​T&T's Ora store would mark my final stop of the day. Discounted unagi don and a $2.99 portion of BBQ chicken leg were procured with the aim of tying me over for the remainder of my stay. In spite of flavourful sauce and tender rice grains, the unagi don included stiff slabs of marinated eel that were hardly tasty.

The single BBQ chicken leg was passable in terms of size and taste, though comprised primarily of bones rather than fles

​I concluded the day with further indulgence in Dare gummies, editing, and relaxation - a wholly rare activity for me in any situation.