Hello from Vancouver

I originally posted this on September 14th, 2007.

When I finally arrive in Vancouver, BC, I'm tired and hungry. I'd traveled about 15 hours - thanks to a delayed connection in London, UK. Another disappointment was finding out the plane didn't have personal entertainment systems built in into the backs of the chairs (like I'm used to on transatlantic flights). Fortunately, there is one movie I found worth watching; "Meet the Robinsons".
Check in goes quickly, and after freshening up I find myself checking out the neighborhood of 395 Kingsway, SoMa (that is SOuth of MAin). With the help of my Lonely Planet guide I find a nice little sushi place around the corner (about a 10-minute walk away) called "SushiYama".
Also around the corner and across from SushiYama there's Kingsgate Mall, with a library, a Shoppers Drug Mart (yay!) and a couple of other stores.
The next morning I'm wondering how to get in touch with my friend Kelly, when she calls me. Perfect timing. Even though she's not a morning person (neither am I) she agrees to meet me for breakfast. How sweet is that? Since I'm staying at a hotel that is on her way to work downtown we first meet in my room.
She's taller than I am. Slightly lanky. I give her a box containing Dutch sweets/delicacies. (I know she loves "stroopwafels"!)
We have breakfast (or rather; brunch) at a little place close to the hotel, and after that we walk to Chinatown (a 30/40-minute walk). We visit Dr. Sun Yat-sen's classical Chinese Garden. It's very nice and tranquil there. Kelly finds a beautiful red Chinese dress, and buys it with the intention of wearing it to the cruise on Sunday... (She also shows me where she works, so I know where to wait for her to come out, then.)
detail of the public library
Kelly suddenly remembers she needs to be in for her shift earlier than she thought, so our get together ends rather abruptly.
On my way back towards Broadway I pass RX comix on Main St where I buy the last TPB of Strangers in Paradise (and later on I'd stay up late just to finish it).
I set off to Lotus Land Tattoos on W Broadway. I had looked it up at home and according to Google Maps it was just 5.5 K away (about an 1-hour walk). However, after walking for an hour and a half I was about half way! And I was starting to think the 5.5 kilometers were more like 5.5 miles :(
Later, I have crispy duck for dinner at "King & I" on E Broadway. It wasn't bad, but I've certainly had better than that.
The next day I have a little brunch at "Our Town" on the corner of Kingsway and Broadway; the vegetarian breakfast burrito is delicious and the cranberry tea is heavenly! That totally made my day already :) I like the relaxed atmosphere, friendly service, the diversity in people. Thank you Kelly for recommending me the place.
I spend some time in here updating my travel journal. I notice I'm a bit sore, and I suspect it's because my bed's too "bouncy"...
My friend Kelly
Kelly and I meet for dinner at a sushi place in Main (near Broadway). I settle for udon noodle soup with beef and egg. It's nice and filling. Also, I find food is cheaper than I expected. Another plus for this great city.
After dinner we take the Skytrain to Gastown (I didn't get a ticket *gasp!*) and we make it to the steam clock in time to hear it chime like the Big Ben in London.
Steam Clock
Kelly wants to show me the night market in Chinatown, only to find out after roaming about for an hour that we just missed the last Night Market of this year. Shucks!
We then wander off to Davie St, where all the gay boys party. Kelly tells me she sometimes go dancing at Celebrities, and a few other spots when she wants to have a good time without being hassled by men.
We then go to the Bubble Tea Shop (on Expo Dr. if I remember correctly) of a friend of Kelly's. I marvel at how much she's remembered about me - me and my bad short term memory :(
We sort of got lost, a bit, and ended up at the marina. Where all the wealthy folks of Vancouver live with their yachts out front ;p
I have a yummie honey green tea with tapioca pearls, and Kelly and I continue our way back to SoMa, while enjoyng our drinks. When we get to BC Stadium a pre season game (I don't know who the Canucks were playing against) had just ended...
I arrive at the hotel around 1 in the morning, and this being a Saturday night I find people all dressed up in the lobby while I head for my room. To get some sleep. Kelly was tired, too. Fortunately, she lives a 15-minute walk from the hotel.
My Lonely Planet lists a tattoo place called Ink Bomb on Main St - not far from where I'm staying. I decide to check it out, despite the drizzle. I quickly find out the place isn't there anymore, so I decide to go for a very late breakfast (at was close to 3 in the afternoon) at Slickety Jim's on Main St. A funky little place. And I'm seated at a table by the window with a type writer. I settle for a "Mean Teen Queen" and a grapefruit juice.
I arrive at Costco early, and there are a few other colleagues of Kelly who are waiting for her, too. When she finally comes out she looks goood.
Keith Urban is playing at the stadium, so we dodge his fans on our way to the boat.
The food was very good (Kelly and I loved the chocolate cake) and people were having a good time. Too bad the sun wasn't out; that would've made it even better!
I was holding back on the booze (just a couple of JD on the rocks n' Coke, and a Jager Bomb offered by a colleague of Kelly's), but Kelly got a bit tipsy. She's cute when she's tipsy.