The Year of the Tiger

February 14th was not only a big sporting day in the 2010 Winter Olympics, it was also Valentine's Day, as well as the Chinese New Year. I decided to spend my day attending the Chinese New Year Parade. Making my way through the streets of Chinatown, I followed the parade and got to see numerous traditional dancers, elaborate costumes, music, and of course, firecrackers! With all the Olympic hype, I was expecting a much grander production this year, but it turned out to be like previous years (which wasn't a bad thing, as it's great every year); however, this time, the sheer number of onlookers was truly overwhelming!

Welcome to Chinatown!


Gung Hay Fat Choy!


A performer in the midst...


A pair of fans...


Swirling fans...


Fans in action...


These dancers worked so hard...


The man setting off all the firecrackers!


Looking very dignified...


Mr and Mrs Vietnam?


Yes, she did pose voluntarily!


That would be the tail of the tiger...


And that would be the tiger himself...


Gotta love the Carnival Band!


The streets were solidly packed!


The Spidey mitts were a perfect touch!


This kid was pretty cute too...

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A few weeks earlier, I was invited to take a look at a new project in the heart of Chinatown. The Keefer Residences and Bar is one of a few new trendy hangouts popping up in some of the grittier parts of town. I had the priviledge to sneak around before it officially opened for business!

It's actually an heritage building...


The penthouse suite...


Yeah, in case you didn't notice,
the ceiling over the hallway looks
straight up into the rooftop pool!


One of the luxurious bedrooms...


It's a nice bed...


Think East meets West...


Access to the roof...


That's the roof...


This is the view from the roof;
quite different than the posh interior.
I liked the juxtaposing environments...


A bird's eye view of the old powerlines...


A view from below...
(A Chinatown alley isn't complete without its rickety powerlines)


Another pic of the hood...


The competition next door - Bao Bei...


The real competition - New Town Bakery!


It's a hell of a busy place!


The BEST pork with vegetable steam buns!!


The BEST sticky rice in lotus leaf!


Ahh geez, now I'm hungry...

The Olympic Games

Hard to believe, but it has already been a few weeks since Vancouver hosted the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. From the hydraulic malfunction of the Olympic frame structure to the erecting dildos (oops, I mean totem poles) to the fence (minus the cut-out) around the flame to the non-existent snow on the mountains to the melting skating oval to the violent protestors, I can safely say that I was slightly embarrassed to be a Vancouverite.

Then again, there were positive aspects like K.D. Lang's "Hallelujah", the announcer saying "you are not hallucinating, those really are flying beavers and moose", Moir & Virtue's flawless dance routine, and of course, the two golden wins for both Canada's mens and womens hockey teams. The highlight for me though was Russia's performance in the closing ceremonies from the impressive entrance by the Moscow State Chamber Choir to the world's best ballet dancers to the showcase of Sochi itself, the location of the next Winter Olympics Games. It's amazing how within 15 minutes, Russia outshone us with their sophistication and refining artistry!

In all honesty, the games weren't life altering for me like it has been for many Vancouverites. True, for a period of two weeks, Vancouver (for the first time ever) felt what it was like to have patriotism and a sense of community. Unfortunately, after the games ended, everything went back to normal; no more high-fives to complete strangers in the streets, no more fake Canadian flag tattoos on peoples' cheeks, nor more strings holding a community together. As a friend astutely put it, "Vancouver expanded and has now contracted". I wouldn't be able to put it any better than that. The Olympics are something of the past now, and I will not miss waiting in multiple-hour line-ups to various events, to toilets, and to buses.

2010 Winter Olympic Games - Vancouver

All the street lamps were decorated...


Granville Street...


Hudson Bay Company...
(this building used to look like a piece of crap
until they restored it in time for the Olympics)


The most decorated Olympian to have won
medals both in the Winter & Summer Olympics
...and she's Canadian!


The skytrain got a facelift too...


The official count down clock...


Vancouver Art Gallery...
(minus the homeless because they were shipped out)


The resurrected downtown ice skating rink...
(this too started to melt due to unusually warm weather)


Royal Bank supports Team Canada...


Lights, camera...CANADA!


Molson Beer knows what truly speaks to Canadians!


Surrey Olympic Venue...


Opening Night...


That would be Blue Rodeo!!!
(well worth the torrential downpour)


So glad that I came early for the show!
(we showed up in the thousands)


Zip-lining across Robson Square...


A 4-hour wait for a thrill of 30 seconds...


Show your colours...


Vancouver Rowing Club turned into Saxony House...


Saxony House with the Olympic Harbour Lights...


Inside Saxony House...
(We were supposed to win our first gold medal that night - Ladies Moguls)


Can't wait to see what Sochi comes up with!