Vancouver Ventures | DAY 2: Mornings in Downtown, Roaming Richmond Centre + BC Liquor

Crashing into bed around 10:30 PM PST, I awoke briefly some 5 hours later around 3:30 AM, then continued dozing until 5:45 AM. Although still slightly jet-lagged, I had managed to muster a grand total of seven hours of sleep.

Sunny blue skies were observed outside - a utterly different scene from the day prior. However, these pleasant conditions were not predicted to last past 9 AM.

Moreover, temperatures were distinctly cooler than usual, hovering about the low teens and well below the seasonal average for early June.

​Making my way to towards Richmond-Brighouse once more, I found dew from the persistent showers of the day before and an overall dampness that had descended onto the city.

There was a tranquility that hovered about the quiet morning hours, detected in the hushed rustle of leaves against the bus shelter and the hums of passing vehicles. Rush hour had yet to begin.

​For the first time ever in my years of Translink usage, I encountered fare inspectors just beyond the fare gates. The uniform-clad duo operated in a similar fashion to GO Transit's Revenue Protection crew members, verifying fare payment on Compass cards with tap devices.

​I boarded the SkyTrain into downtown, planning my disembarkment at Vancouver City Centre. About three stops along the way, my once-perfect view of heading into the metropolitan district would be obstructed by a lady who decided to sit on the window ledge instead of taking a seat. She appeared to be a newcomer, or, at least, a non-local to Richmond's predominantly East Asian community.

As the forecast predicted, grey clouds moved in around the 9 AM mark, with precipitation following shortly afterwards. Precipitation levels were lighter than the previous day, but intermittent drizzles still required an umbrella.

​Observed in my surroundings were downtown trekkers equipped with moisture-repelling backpacks, hoods, and durable outerwear. The style was urban casual, with mini bags shed in favour of larger packs with pockets and wide, baggy bottoms swapped for more functional straight cut or fitted ones. Suffice to say, I felt a sense of belonging: my usual attire conveniently aligned with local trends.

​Following my one hour commute, I needed the bathroom direly. Having wandered far from Pacific Centre and with other retailers yet to commence operations for the day, there were few lavatory options available. Eventually, I found 49th Parallel and a Lucky Donuts pop-up at the base of a commercial building. Washrooms were very clean and spacious, but required members of security to unlock the door for the general public. (My hunch is that the imposed measure prevents homeless invasion.)

​The building also featured an automated umbrella station. It enabled app users to locate umbrellas in the vicinity and return them after use, operating similar to bike-share, but with rain protection gear - a splendid idea and absolutely fitting for Raincouver, I must say!

​On my quest to maximize my intake of local fare, the shared space of 49th Parallel and Lucky Donuts presented a great opportunity to experience a renowned West Coast roastery and fan favourite donut shop.

Approaching the merchandise spread, 49th Parallel coffee bags were learned to be smaller than most other roasters and even pricier for filter coffee (vs. espresso blends). The price alone had averted my curiosity.

​Lucky Donuts had apparently ranked the highest next to Lee's, however their glazed appearances and excessively cloying-looking flavourings did appeal to me in the slightest, especially when I am not very affectionate towards donuts to start.

​Before even reaching the cashier, I had abandoned the queue and began walking northbound along Robson. Most, if not all, apparel retailers were still closed.

Soon, I found Paul Bakery, a sleek, European-style café offering both indoor and patio dining.

​The interior boasted warm tones and dark accents that contrasted with the tiling and furniture. Along the walls were framed photos of Paris, under which café-goers could enjoy their morning coffee and type away on laptops uninterrupted. At the back was a well-illuminated dining hall with chandeliers and dedicated waitstaff for brunch service. Oddly enough, the space still embraced a laidback West Coast vibe as opposed to the modern and chic foundation of European culture.

​Hankering for an almond croissant, Paul's baked goods selection was not nearly as extensive as I had hoped. The various laminated pastries were priced on par with local, independent Asian-inspired bake shops; none particularly stood out to me.

In line before me was an elderly man who questioned why he had been incorrectly charged a higher price for a pastry when the product description was notably lower. He stormed out in fury, leaving the counter attendant stunned but not at all remorseful. This older member of staff was evidently unfamiliar with the product range, as well as their prices. She struggled with answering customer inquiries, such as providing additional details on specific pastries, lacked observation, and requested assistance from the young, French-speaking barista many times.

​Originally pointing to the Canelé, I swapped to the Hazelnut Cruffin at the last minute. The $7.50 viennoiserie would be placed into a paper bag, then slid over to me on a black plastic tray bearing the bake shop's logo. Similar to Hadrien Verrier, the interior of the bag was lined with a protective coating, as to prevent grease seepage.

​Expectations for the icing sugar-topped specimen were decidedly low, given the lackadaisical nature of the staff within. However, upon sinking my teeth into the tennis ball-sized mound, I was graced with phenomenal textures and indulgent chocolate-y accents.

The compact creation comprised of beautiful layers of flaky pastry, a creamy hazelnut-laced filling, a sturdy chocolate coating at its base, and a delicate dusting of icing sugar, making for the most fabulous mid-morning treat.

​Pastry in one hand and umbrella tightly gripped in the other, I continued wandering along Robson, passing by the perpetual residents of Kobinya and the Robson Public Market. Before long, I arrived at the Hello Kitty Café, but did not wait for the store to open at noon.

Past the Saku intersection of Robson and Cardero, there was a noticeable decline in pedestrian traffic. The sidewalk was poorly maintained and the neighbourhood appeared less affluent compared to the central downtown section with luxury retailers.

​I opted to reroute upon reaching Denman, hopping on the bus to return to Pacific Centre. Between the mall washrooms, Hudson Bay access point, Vancouver City Centre station on Canada Line, and Granville station on the Expo Line, it still baffled me that there was such little continuity for ease of commuter transfers.
Hudson Bay staff pointed me in the direction of the tunnel connection towards VCC. Within this corridor were a handful of quick-service food vendors, including Bubble Waffle Cafe, and an abundance of security.

It was unmistakable that peak hours (Monday to Friday, 9 AM - 5 PM) had prompted frequent transit service, especially along the SkyTrain routes.
​​One stopover was made at SW Marine Drive to investigate the status of the retailers at the transit terminal. Surprisingly, few developments had occurred over my four-year absence. Construction appeared to be ongoing, with majority of the on-site personnel being construction workers, homeless residents, and sluggish, heavily tattooed tourists. 

​Nothing more to peruse, I hurried back onto the SkyTrain platform to ensure validity of my transfer. Four stops later, I found myself back at the terminus. The skies had cleared to yield sunshine!

​Back at Richmond Centre, retailers had opened for business, though there were not many of interest. I was glad to find Tea Tree Oil in stock at The Body Shop, but dismayed to learn that the rewards program had been temporarily put on hold. It would equate to a nonexistent birthday reward this time around, in spite of making a purchase within 3 months of the date.

​Similar to Aberdeen and Lansdowne, Pokémon had steadily regained popularity in the province. It was a different wave than Sanrio characters back home, for the popularity extended to 90s trading cards and some non-Pokémon Centre plushies (bearing Korean labels?).

​Kam Do had phased out daily specials for member-only deals. I observed steeper prices than back home, as well as a middle-aged lady poking at every single bag of 排包 in sight. The scene was distasteful, and immediately dissuade my intent to purchase. Nevertheless, the bakery still smelled as amazing as ever, perfect to lure commuters within.

​Amongst my many missions was the acquisition of Uji Choya. When my Toronto-turned-temporary-Kerrisdale acquaintances had failed to fulfill their promise, I knew the assignment called for my own competencies.

BC Liquor stocked a broad assortment of Asian exclusives, even greater a number than Hwy 7 and Woodbine's LCBO.

Uji Choya was located with ease, as were the Kokuto (black sugar) and coveted Yuzu renditions. I reached for the dark green bottle, then snagged nearby Bokbunja as well. Beer was decidedly less popular than sake, soju, and flavoured wines/liquors. Market demand, or lack thereof, had caused a limited supply of the fermented concoction to grace liquor stores. This was a stark contrast to the often sizable sections of imported and local craft beer in Ontario.

​The early afternoon hour saw quick stopovers at T&T for the return of unneeded items, then Superstore. Failure to inspect the item list before checkout caused accidental acquisition of two boxes of frozen pizza during a Limit 1 promotion.

I also recoiled in shock at how alcohol purchases were subject to 10% alcohol tax, 5% GST, environmental fees and deposits. In addition, deposits were learned to be the same cost (ten cents) regardless of bottle size. The bill total was abhorrent considering that alcohol orders in restaurants would only be subject to 12% tax, with all fees and deposits would be waived for the consumer.

​​Buying at LCBO back home constituted less hassle, eliminated hidden costs, and provided the benefit of earning loyalty points. In British Columbia, even non-alcoholic beverages would be subject to fees and deposits.

Blanched spinach, pork shabu slices, and frozen udon were served alongside a glass of PC 0% Sauvignon Blanc, which ultimately proved no more than a tart fruit juice stripped of the essence and aromas of wine.

​I also attempted a steamed egg dish in the oven using a newly procured, five-dollar loaf pan from OOMOMO. The formula was as simple as could be: four eggs, scallions, half & half cream, water, and a dash of soy sauce.

In the absence of a proper knife and cutting board, the green onions had been severed using kitchen shears, causing them to be thicker rings than desired. Using soy sauce instead of salt resulted in slight discolouration. Nevertheless, the egg dish was perfectly supple - smooth, jiggly, and delicious.