Vancouver Voyage | DAY 6: Yaohan Visuals + Pizza Garden

A journey to Oakridge was almost in the plans - and I say almost because I even made the effort to consume a substantial breakfast beforehand to ensure that I wouldn't keel over from famine mid-commute.

As a result of being drawn into W (no pun intended) though, my departure time ended up being too close to dinner time, which coincided with the last shuttle bus for the weekend.

Instead, it was simply another day of roaming around the Aberdeen area (1, 2), making quick visits to Parker Place and Yaohan after popping into Nature Republic to restock on pore strips. The EXO x Nature Republic collection was found to be quite adorable, so I picked up a Lime Mint lip balm (Sehun's version) along with my other purchases. Admittedly, I was conflicted at first since I had wanted a different member, but the maknae's character was the single type that suited my fragrance and colour (or rather, lack therof) preferences.

Parker Place was relatively quiet, so I moved onto Yaohan shortly after. Similar to Aberdeen, Yaohan's food court is not be dismissed: it is, singlehandedly, the best spot to grab real fruit shakes and economically priced bubble tea combos.
​fresh elements has a long-established BOGO deal on their Black and Green Milk Teas with tapioca, along with $5.00 specialty drinks. For the first time ever, I try their Mango Pomelo Sago, which is creamier than expected but nonetheless refreshing. Towards the bottom of the drink was a ginormous chunk of mango flesh; interestingly enough, it was bland in comparison to the rest of the beverage - an indication of their heavy dependence of artificial sweeteners.

One of my relatives really enjoys Little Bean, while my mom prefers Juice King over any other spot in Richmond/GTA.

Juice King has resided in the Yaohan food court for as long as I can recall. Their stamp cards have changed several times over the years, but service and wait times have remained very consistent. The cashier attendant will always be rude and condescending, and the wait will never not exceed five minutes.
I've noticed that they added combo options and "Charcoal Oolong" to their menu, along with Fresh Fruit Matcha Slushies and flavoured egg waffles (or have they always been available?). I decided to try the Coconut Egg Waffle, opting to stick to one flavour since others may be a hit or miss.

The eggettes are shoved into a small paper bag with tiny holes and slapped onto the countertop. No numbers were called, and no "thank you"s were uttered. And apparently, that's how Juice King has remained since day one.
But there are obvious reasons why customers would return to a stall with nonexistent customer service: the taste, quality, and price are acceptable enough such that the attitude of the staff members can be disregarded.

This was the exact case for my Coconut Egg Waffles. Juice King utilized a batter that bore strong resemblances to that Bubble Waffle Cafe; undoubtedly, both contain a mindblowing amount of custard powder and cornstarch. Yet the light, crispy shell and spongy interior banish all health considerations. The addition of sweetened coconut shreds is also lovely: an absolutely breathtaking tropical fragrance fills the paper bag in its entirety, while chewy strands of white flesh lend an unexpected twist to each oval-shaped waffle piece. It's definitely a hit in my books!

I then proceeded to pick up a few items at T&T, primarily two bulky bottles of aloe vera juice, and wield them between the aisles of Daiso while in search for a fluffy seat cushion. (In case you're wondering, I wasn't able to locate one deemed suitable.)

Dinnertime was approaching and the next bus wasn't scheduled for another forty minutes, so I turned to Pizza Garden for a quick fix.

The inside of the shop was considerably stuffy, which is to be expected given that the food preparation and cooking area made up three quarters of the shop. Dine-in customers were either provided the choice of one of the few bar seats indoors (and risk leaving with the smell of grease and baked tomatoes deeply embedded in their pores) or the single plastic table outside.
Among the vast options of the Neapolitan-Style Pizza, my selection was the Greek. Other varieties included Spicy Barbecue Chicken, Hawaiian, classic Cheese and Pepperoni, etc., with each individual slice priced at a very reasonable $2.50. Pizza Garden also offered a combo deal consisting of two slices and one soft drink for $6.00.

The slice was incredibly satisfying and less greasy than expected, making for a quick and simple dinner.
Being situated right at the foot of the Aberdeen SkyTrain station also makes it a prime location for hungry commuters. Take note though: bring cash if you want to avoid the service fee.

And thus concludes another day of (exceedingly short) travels!

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