A Trip to Chinatown and Sun Yat Sen

It was exciting for me to be able to ride the bus with the kids for their field trip in Chinatown. Pretty apt as it was Chinese New Year and this garden is a perfect place to know more about the Eastern culture.

Unlike before, where we just go and look around on our own. The kids are going on a tour to get to know about some interesting facts about the garden and it's features. 

* Sun Yat Sen in stone

There is two Foo Dog guarding the entrance and it always comes in pair. I've always thought that these were lions or dragons but now I know better hehe! 

* Tour guide Wendy explaining that there is a male and female

* Female Foo Dog…

The female apparently differs from the male in one aspect. The female one is doing something quite maternal and you can see that one paw is holding a baby while the male foo dog's paw is holding a globe.

The tour started outside the garden and into the streets of Chinatown...

* Busy streets of Chinatown

* A pair of dragons perched on the street signs

Next on the tour was going to the store where different medicinal plants and herbs were sold as an alternative medicine for different ailments. A strong smell greets you as soon as you open the door. It brings back memories when I used to go to these stores with my dad while I was a kid.

* A tray of sweets in a tray near the entrance

We also passed by lanterns adorning the stores. Red and golds… these are colours you can see everywhere during Chinese New Year.

* Lanterns

* A large abacus. Calculator of the past

* Gateway to another world

A break between tour was the lunch time which took place at Tinseltown Food area of the mall...

* Photo opportunity for the whole 1st graders…

Inside the garden, it was like being transformed to Old China. The garden was in the middle of the house and other areas were placed around the garden.

* Entrance to the Garden

 

 

A bit of story on how the zodiac animal got it's placement...

* Tour guide and Mrs Taylor act out the story with puppets

* Chinese Calligraphy

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DR SUN YAT SEN 

CHINESE CLASSICAL GARDEN

Vancouver, B.C.

Van Dusen's Festival of Lights

One of the best place to experience a Canadian Christmas Tradition here in Vancouver is the Festival of Lights at Van Dusen Botanical Garden. 

I actually haven't been here yet and this was also my first time to see it with millions of lights lighting up the garden. I wish to go back there in a different season to see the garden itself.

It was Kenzo's birthday that night and I was urging hubby to celebrate it somewhere other than at home. So begrudgingly, he agreed to go outdoor even though it was cold that night. The kids were dressed in layered clothing and bulky jackets to ensure their warmth as they walked through the garden.

* Van Dusen Indoor Main

I was glad we went there early as there was already a long line outside for tickets. It was also good timing since as soon as we walked out of the ticketing we saw Santa Claus walking to his room and we had the opportunity to take a picture with him before he went on his way for storytime.

* Picture with Santa

There was a toy train outside Santa's Living Room which unfortunately, wasn't working that time. Kenzo was still sleeping at this time and we had to make do taking pictures of the surrounding and us three.

* Toy Train 

We chance upon Santa doing his storytelling to the eager kids.

* Santa Claus telling a story about the reindeer

It was hard to take a picture of the lights but I had to try and see if I can capture the festivities around us.

* This is the first part we saw from where we came from

* TREE-io

* Papa with his little princess

* Exquisite lights...

* From the Walking path...

* A Walk further down the path...

* Dancing Lights

* I wish this is an outdoor ice skating... would be so magical...

There was a Make A Wish Candle Shrine further down the garden...

* Kimi making a wish

* Wish...granted?!

.... hunger finally strikes and we went to try the Whistler Wood Fired Pizza

* Little helper taking orders

* Little hands ready to grab a bite

* Birthday boy finally smelled the food

Going around once again to take some pictures with Kenzo...

* Papa and Kenzo

* Little Chuas

Finally, a lady saw me doing all the shooting and volunteered to take a shot of us as family... 

* There is me! :)

Hubby couldn't take a hint.... Oh well...

  

* Another one of me.... Woohoo!!!

Other Photo Friday (Travel Photo) via Delicious Baby

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FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS

Van Dusen Botanical Garden

Vancouver, B.C.

Busy Sunday...

September 14, 2008

We spent last Sunday in the heart of downtown to join the celebration of mooncake festival inside the picturesque garden of Dr. Sun Yat Sen. The private garden was opened for the public for this special occassion and offered various activities like storytelling and arts/crafts. There were free slices of mooncake upon entering the private garden while a flutist serenading you with his hypnotizing music.

DR SUN YAT SEN CLASSICAL CHINESE GARDEN

578 Carrall St., Vancouver

THE SIGN OUTSIDE

THE GARDEN...

FAMILY FUN @ EDMONDS CITY FAIR

Right outside our house, Richmond Park is also celebrating Edmonds City fair which features a mini carnival and various displays of gift/ novelty items from different countries. There is also a Mc Donald tent and ice cream van for those hungry kids as well as $0.50 food choices (hotdogs, corn on the cobs, drinks...). The Fair is from 1:00 - 5:00pm. We almost missed the whole fair because we got there at 4:30pm. A lot of the tents are already closing down as well as the rides but I got to share a popsicle stick with Karl under the hot sun and was able to watch a couple of talents being showcase for that day...

THE RIDES

KIMI... UP ON GRANDPA's SHOULDER...