2012 May Taiwan Trip - Day 3 - Point 14 - 西嶼東臺

西嶼東臺 is one of the two cannon batteries that protected the island during the war time. It overlooks a beautiful coastline and the giant rock protrusion called 牛心石, Cow Heart Rock.

Although not in used now, it is still maintained for tourist visits. Slightly creepy because of the history, but you have to admire how people in this place once fought bravely to protect the island.

My 30th Birthday at Work

This year is my 30th Birthday, and the tradition at work is on your milestone birthday, you get a cake and a customized humiliation - haha~ I mean having your cubical decorated. The cake is from Valley Bakery on Hastings, North Burnaby. Very nice, decorated beautifully, and definitely tasty. Highly recommended to those who hate overly sweet and greasy cake. 

 My friends decorated my cubical in a "baby shower" theme... because I am the youngest/baby of the department. Very thoughtful, very cute, and I still havne't take down all the decoration after a month. Thank you!

Of course, everyone who walks by my cubical thought I am "having a boy", and I have to explain that I don't even have a girl friend yet, not to mention a son...

Happy Halloween!

This year I figure I'll get into the spirit and celebrate Halloween. So I decorated my cubical and pulled out my wear-once-a-year shirt. But unfortunately on the day of Halloween I was stuck at my desk working on numbers coming from unreliable sources and getting the blame, while all the excitement happens just steps away from me. Oh well, such is life, SSDD.

A Wall to Remember and Thank Steve

I made a trip to Apple Store this weekend and saw on the wall of the newly opened Metrotown Apple Store, people wrote thank you notes to Steve. Being the true Vancouver culture, the notes are in so many different languages. Mr. Jobs really changed the world.

Burnaby Metrotown Apple Store Grand Opening

Same as all other Apple Store opening, hundreds and thousands of people lined up to be one of the first to enter the store. The energetic Apple employees sure made the opening an exciting event. Even though I only arrived 5 minutes before the store opened, I got in within 20 minutes. Not sure this is good or bad, cus this would mean people didn't buy anything? But never the less, all the shiny new Apple products sure are pretty! And I got my free Apple T-shirt! Out of the 4 Apple stores opened in lower mainland, I have been to two grand openings. Do we really need 4 Apple Stores?

Invader from Another Land

Okay, I lied, there is lots happening in Nanaimo. New houses are being build every day. And where did they find the land to build them? Cutting down trees of course. So now the creatures of the forest have nowhere to find food other than people's yard, in the middle of the day!

Can you see this mama deer is not alone in this photo? Find her kid!

 

So this is what happened to our cherry tree, apparently cherry leaves are one of their favorite food.

What's Growing in Nanaimo

So I went back to Nanaimo to visit my parents this past weekend, and oh my, there is lots happening - with the plants, not with the retired residents of Nanaimo.

The fig tree is budding with fruits. The Japanese pumpkins visibly grow larger and larger everyday. My dad's pride and joy pear tree is overloaded with fruits (as always). But it is not a good year for prunes and plums - it took me a while to actually found any fruits on the two-floor-high trees. Too bad, I like plums...

Sidewalk Cellist - Clara Shandler

In an effort to understand how music and life work together, I ventured out and seeked out this "Sidewalk Cellist" on the busy street of Commercial Drive. It was not a glamourous show, it did not attract hundreds or thousand of fans, but it was a close, friendly, personal, and genuine performance - very Vancouver. The thing that attract me to seek her out is the interesting fact that there was almost no advertisement - the only advertisement was the chalk writing on the sidewalk (how fitting!).

Sorry these photos looks like I was spying on her (well, I guess I was kinda, I wasn't sure if I could take pictures/video). So for the videos you will need to turn the volume way up.

It was really nice to sit in the shade, enjoy her music, and just read a book on my iPhone. Hearing the wind blowing, leaves shaking, having acorns falling on my head(?!). Even though the streets of Vancouver is still busy like usual - garbage truck backing up, fire trucks wizzing by - but it is nice to have a corner where you can really just chill.

For more information on Clara, just google "Sidewalk Cellist". She will be performing free cello concerts every Saturday to the end of August in the Napier Greenway (Napier St. and Commercial Dr., Vancouver by the Britannia Community Centre) from 2:00pm to 4:00pm.

Hope you enjoy her music as much as I did.

Finally, some green

Should I Stay or Should I Go?!

Confusion at the Super-Duperstore...

Now that I have this song stuck in my head...

I know at least two of my friends would get a kick out of this one, you know who I am talking about ; )

My First... Squeeky Wheel Experience

I think this is my first time of receiving a bouquet of flowers, and it is because a co-worker had gave all the ladies in the office peonies but left the guys out. So I jokingly said "where are my flowers?" And the next day, beautiful flowers from her garden. Of course I got some "you are one of the girls now" jokes, but I can take it, it is worth it.

But I have to say I do feel really bad, because this is a "squeeky wheel experience". I have always hated the saying "the squeeky wheel gets the grease" with passion. This saying is encouraging people to complain and whine about their life, and expecting someone else to fix it for them. I've always been taught to be modest, hardworking, and maintain a positive attitude of life, so I always mutter less than nice words under my breath when I hear people complaining without attempting to create a solution.

None the less, the flowers are beautiful. I guess you ask, and you shall receive!

One Week After

One week after the Vancouver riot, things seem to be back to normal. The story is still news-worthy since businesses would start to press charges. But downtown Vancouver, even with the fences and plywood, feel just like the way it always has been.

Reading the messages and the scribbles on the wall doesn't really lessen what I feel about the riot, till I saw these paper cranes that symbolize wishes and hope.

It seems like Bank of Montreal have their glasses installed today - 3 vans from a glass company leaving just as I walked pass by. Things are getting back to normal.

But the black marks are still left on our city, and they will not be easy to erase.

near skytrain entrance at Seymour and Georgia

the parkade near Richards and Georgia

For some reason the flags in front of the library is at half-mast... seems kinda appropriate but I am sure it is for some other reason.

Vancouverites are Vancouverites, one riot does not change anything, we are who we are. It is up to those who have been here and seen who we are to make their own judgement.

The Sad Truth after the NHL Playoff

These photos are taken in the car lot of a famous local dealership. They show the same car, but before and after the NHL Playoff.

Sad, but true.

We Live in a Free City

At Granville and Georgia... Good to know we are free to jaywalk anywhere else in Vancouver.

賀！臺灣建國壹佰年！

Congratulations to Taiwan's 100's Birthday!




(網路轉載圖片)

Flying pork... I mean pigs

Yup, definitely count on Refuel to do something creative with pork.