Downtown Vancouver

Robson cor Burnaby Streets
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After a tiring 12 hour plane ride I finally reached Vancouver airport. I didn't know why I agreed to exchange seats with the big guy who wanted a bigger leg space. Oh well, it was a nice deed. I couldn't remember anything about the airport since I was too disoriented from my flight. After going through immigration with a bunch of tourists from all over the world, I went to the carousel to pick up my luggage. It was amazingly quick and I got out to meet my friend Chester and his girlfriend Ginger.

The Central Library
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We visited my high school friend Gen in Richmond. She was pregnant at that time and gave birth to a healthy baby girl a few days after I've arrived. (Congratuations again!) I had a pizza at their place, took pictures, chatted a bit then left to head to my hostel. I like my hostel a lot! (see my review) It's relatively safe and it's in a quiet neighborhood.

A Multicultural City. It's kind of like Taipei but bigger!

My first day in Vancouver started out an action packed day of sightseeing and walking. I ventured into downtown by boarding the Big Bus which is about a minute walk away from my hostel. The Big Bus is for tourists who want to see Vancouver’s major attractions like Stanley Park, Robson St., Granville Island, Canada Place, Library square, Gastown, Chinatown etc…. You can hop on and hop off at any stop. I got my ticket at the hostel so I paid 27 CA dollars for 3 full days instead of 2. We first passed by Stanley Park but I didn't get off since I already went there with my friend Grace the day before. Instead, I went straight to gas town to see the Steam Clock.

The Big Bus
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Well, there was nothing special, it's just a clock giving off steam. I walked towards the Storyhouse, went inside, took a couple of pictures and left. History isn't one of my strong subjects in high school so I don't think it was worth it for me to see the show there. I left for Chinatown to visit the Sun Yat Sen Chinese Garden. That was a daring feat for me. My goodness. I saw some junkies, some homeless people on the street and a lady shouting on top of her lungs ready to pound on this guy (probably didnt sell her the "stuff" that she wanted). The east side of downtown is not safe. Do not walk in that part of town especially at night. I didn't know what I was doing. I was kind of scared at one point but I tried to act cool and plastered a smiling face all the way to Chinatown. I avoided all eye contact. It was only about a 7 minute walk from Storyhouse to the Sun Yat Sen Gardens but it took forever. Oh and as you might have guessed I did not take any pictures of that area!

Canada Place - a view from the above.
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Sun Yat Sen Chinese Garden - not much to see. Of course I didn't expect much. I mean I live in Taiwan. Anything about the Chinese, I've probably already seen it here.

I went on to see the BC Place Stadium and the Terry Fox memorial shrine in front of it. Then I went to the Library. It's spectacular! It's like looking at a part of the Colloseum in Rome. I like the design of the Library. I took about 10 shots outside (the guard won't allow me to take pictures inside the library) and had lunch at a Japanese restaurant called Ebi (? not sure). I miss Japanese food!

Different types of cheese at Granville Island
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I proceeded to Harbor Center and went to the top floor (probably at the 42nd or 52nd floor? I forgot how high it was) to have a 360 degree view of Vancouver. I only paid CA$3 dollars by showing my (expired) student ID and my hostel card. What a bargain! It's cheaper than a child's fair which was CA$4. I spent about an hour taking pictures of Vancouver's skyline then went to Canada Place.

Canada Place looks like Australia's Sydney Opera House because of it's white sails. Inside it's actually a convention and exhibition center and there's also an IMAX 3D theater. Some floors belong to the Pan Pacific Hotel so if you've got money to spend this would be the best place to stay in my opinion. I saw a big luxury cruise ship there, probably going to Alaska.

Rose Garden in Q.E park
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The Waterfront Station terminal is just beside Canada Place. I took the Seabus at the terminal when I went to North Vancouver to see the Capilano Bridge on Wednesday. (see my review)

I got to my hostel to wait for my friend, Gen, and her husband to pick me up for dinner. They took me first to Babies R' Us so I can buy clothes for my nephew. Then we went to Richmond. We had a delicious Japanese meal! I had my favorite dish, Unagi! Their Salmon sashimi was also good!

The next few days were pretty much the same, all alone, taking the big bus touring in downtown :( It wasn't bad but it would be better if someone was there to take my pictures hehehe.

UBC
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I took the ferry boat and went to Granville Island. I like the market! It was my first time to see different varieties of pasta and cheese!

I went to the Vancouver Art Gallery for free at 5pm on Thursday. Only the 3rd floor was open that time. I think they were doing renovations of some sort. I saw paintings of Emily Carr (a famous Canadian artist and writer). No pictures allowed so nothing to share here.

Wednesday night was wings night at Flying Beaver Bar and Grill somwehere in Richmond. My friend introduced me to some of his friends from church and we all went out for dinner. I love wings! I don't know how much I ate but I'd say probably more than 15 wings. I think we ordered about 100 pieces of wings for 9 people? I have to confirm this with my friend. As always, I went home with a full stomach.

Hockey game @ BC Place Stadium
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Thursday was "Bard on the Beach" day for me at Vanier Park. I watched 2 Skakespere shows that day. In between shows, I took the ferry to Yaletown, Granville Island and back to Vanier Park. I bought a day pass so I can get unlimited ferry rides.

Friday I went out with my co worker's daughter, Jennifer. She took the day off so we can hang out. We went to Deep Cove in North Vancouver, took some pictures then left. We dropped by Capilano Mall to do some shopping.

Saturday Whistler (see my review)

Sunday through Wednesday I joined the Moose tour to the Rockies. The sceneries were magnificent! (see my entries) My trip to the Rockies was fantastic (not counting the grueling 13 hour Greyhound bus ride from Banff to Vancouver)!

My last weekend in Vancouver was spent with friends. My friend Chester took the day off on Friday to drive me around town. (Thank you!) I visited Gen and her newborn daughter and since I was in that area I also went to Richmond Center to do some shopping. I visited Lynn's friend in UBC who's studying Law. I took picures at the beautiful Queen Elizabeth Park and the Blodel Conservatory. I went window shopping at Robson St. and bought souviners for friends and family, I watched my first hockey game at the BC PLace Stadium. And on my last day Grace took me to the 2nd biggest Mall in Canada - The Metrotown before having dinner at Gen's. I was glad that I was able to see all my friends on my last day before going to the Ariport.