Illegitimate Sun

Archive for July, 2005

The abbreviated version: Joshua went to UBC Campus with Amy & Dan. We got a small tour from Amy, met several of Amy’s friends, ate sushi, Amy & Dan went to conference, Joshua went to a nude beach and was hit on by old, fat, gay men – again.

The long version: (Being entered when expedient)

Today was the start of Amy’s conference – our real reason for being here – so we packed up our gear and headed to the westmost tip of Vancouver – the University of British Columbia.

Campus is huge – it includes not only classrooms, libraries, and classrooms, but also the largest university bookstore in the country and two golf courses. Surrounding this campus is an area of land that is being consumed by the university. Houses and land are endowed to the school, which threatens to engulf the whole peninsula.

Today’s sites were the Kitslano Area – a strip of quaint shops and restaurants and Queen Elizabeth Park.

The Queen E Park is built on two old quarries overlooking Vancouver. Plants rise out of a open area carved into the mountain, a little waterfall tumbles down it, and a biodome filled with tropical plants caps the area. It was peaceful and tranquil use of the space.

Plus, there was a giant rubarb literally bigger than three Amy’s. I have pictures but will have to post them later.

Tonight, I swung out to the airport by myself to pick up Dan – labmate and conference attendee. He’s staying here at Casa de Lee. Amy & I took him out to dinner. We had an amazing meal of sushi and Korean barbecue. We ordered both a spicy marinated pork and a medley of seafood – including mussels, cuttlefish, salmon & shrimp. The beauty of the meal was that you cooked the food over a gas grill built into the center of the table. Amy & Dan took turns cooking bits of the meal, refusing to let me play with the fire. Despite that, it was still a great meal that immediately made us all sleepy.

Off to bed,

Joshua

Sorry for missing a day, but Amy & I were out late last night.

After a late start on Sunday, we headed out to Lonsdale Quay – a shopping district across the inlet in North Vancouver.

Following that, we spent the evening eating sushi, drinking sake, and a variety of other odd dishes at a Japanese restaurant on Robsen Street – a famous shopping district.

Today was spent in the ScienceWorld. It’s a science museum and Imax theatre built for the 1986 World’s Expo. The top is a huge globe – like in Epcot in DisneyWorld. At several times, we had to reprimand kids and parents who kept butting in front of us in lines.

Tonight we head out with more of Amy’s friends to see the town.

Joshua

Today’s pictures involve Amy showing me her strange scientist ways:

Finished up last night having dessert with Amy’s long-time friend Tram. It was great to meet one of the Amster’s friends.

Today started with Amy’s entire family taking me out to dim sum at Sun Sui Wah. It’s a famous restaurant in Vancouver and rightfully so. So many dishes pased across the table. Corn beef meatballs, calamari, spicy rice paper, barbecue steam rolls, shrimp fried in almonds, shrimp dumplings in bamboo shoots, pork riblets in plumb sauce, sticky rice and chicken steamed in lotus leaves. I ate until I could eat no more.

It was a pleasant honor to share this meal with Amy’s family.

Afterwards, Amy and I invited her younger sister – Jocelyn – to the Vancouver Aquarium in Stanley Park.

Dolphins, beluga whales, otters, and one giant sea lion framed galleries of tropical and north-western sea life.

After that we took a walk along the sea wall to Burrard Inlet. There I got some good pictures of several local statues, but missed the characteristic totem poles that mark the area. I’ll have to go back.

Lastly, I attended the Night Market – a large, outdoor market the carried a variety of products (and found a way to put Hello Kitty on most of them). My favorite touch was the live band that sang in both English, Cantonese, and Chinese.

More proof of my adventures:

Joshua

Today started off with Amy and I trudging in the pouring rain. Apparently, Vancouver is working its way through a small, but lingering cold front.

Thankfully, we had planned some indoor activities for the morning.

We started out in the Vancouver Art Gallery and their visiting exhibit on the works of Rodin.

We also saw the permanent exhibit on the works of Vancouver-native Emily Carr. In my view she has a style that combines the brush work and color sense of Picasso with the sweeping style of Georgia O’Keefe.

Following a brief visit to the mammouth Vancouver Public Library’s Central Branch, Amy headed home and I continued exploring.

My all-go no-stop method of touring is not for everyone as several people can attest. I’m just so intent on making everyday count during my visits.

As proof of this, I then hit Harbor Centre with its 360 view of Vancouver’s harbor, Gastown – the historic birth place of the city. It’s know for two highlights, a statue of its founder Gassy Jack and a steam-powered clock on the street. I was fortunate enough to walk up as the clock sounded the hour; it plays the same tune as the clock in my grandparents home. That tune always brings a smile to my face.

From there, I meandered into China Town. Tons of shops filled with exotic foods and imports surrounded. I walked by and found the Chinese Cultural Centre and its traditional garden. Bamboo, willow trees, and lilypads surround a traquil courtyard.

There I had my picture taken with some officers in the Mexican Navy.

I lead a weird life.

Hope your day was as strange,

Joshua

6:35 Canadian Time

Proof of my claims: