Chinese New Year

This weekend was Chinese New Year. This year it is the year of the Bore. I decided I would go down to China Town on Saturday. It was overcast, but not raining and very mild.

First I went to a doctor's appointment (on a Saturday) to get some perscriptions refilled, and to the bank (also on a Saturday) which was open and serving Chinese desserts and coffee .




I passed a soccer game on the way over at a park near my Building.

Soccer season must have begun because every weekend there are men's games to watch on this field.
I also passed the Roundhouse which is a leftover from when trains passed though Vancouver. The building has been converted into a community center, but they've kept the mechanism which allowed them to turn the Engines that were housed in the garages you see here.

The path in the middle used to rotate to moved the engines onto the desired track. There is also an old engine which you can view in the museum part of the building.



Most of the New Year festivities were taking place in the International Village which is the China town mall.

There were food vendors, all sorts of things for sale, entertainment, demonstrations and prizes.




One of the main things for sale were these little trinkets which the Chinese hang around their home, work, car, etc.

Most of them are supposed to bring either good luck or fortune. I bought a couple that were made out of metal coins which are supposed to mean good fortune, I also got a little stuffed pig for the year of the bore.

There were a large number of clothing vendors selling traditional Chinese garb. From pajamas, to slippers to jackets like this one, they all had one thing in common.

Everything is made of colorful silk.

This vendor was selling decorative swords and other assorted weapons.

He was also demonstrating their razor sharp blades on various pieces of unlucky produce.

It was difficult to get to this booth, due to it's popularity.

There were also many fake and real orchids for sale.

I've been thinking of getting a purple one like the one seen here, but I don't think it would last long under the care of me and my black thumb.

Here is some of the entertainment that was going on.

There were many child dancers and singers. I couldn't believe the voice coming out of one pint sized diva.

I am pretty much tone deaf, but even I could tell that she was Star Search material for sure.

I picked up some jewelry, my trinkets, and tried some green tea gelato.

On my way back I discovered a salad bar right
near our place. I love salad bars and it is something that we didn't have in Fredericton.

Basically you pick a container size and you go around this salad bar with all these bins of fresh fruit, vegetables, nuts, shredded meat, cheese, croûtons, dressings, etc. and you make your own healthy lunch.

Then you pay by the weight at the counter. I had fresh watermelon, honey due melon, grapes, raisins, pineapple, strawberries, blueberries and jello all topped with cottage, cheese and raspberry yogurt. Soooo good.

Chris and Rain had invited us over for dinner so I picked up some cappuccino cheesecake for dessert. Here is Rain cooking up a storm in her kitchen.


For dinner Chris and Rain actually made homemade Fettuccine noodles. Rain cooked scallops and shrimp and made a delicious cream rose sauce.

It was scrumptious. Chris and Rain are such good cooks!


We brought Tala and Unos as Uncle Chris and Auntie Rain insisted that we did. The dogs love them especially when they buy them delicious presents.




Sooo spoiled! Here Unos has stolen both the bones for himself.

So we had a delicious meal with our great friends. Next time, our place for sure!

I can't guarantee that it will be as delicious, but it will certainly be a fun time.

Today was another gorgeous day.

I made sure I took advantage of it and took both dogs for a walk, then I took Unos to the park in front of our building for some off leash fun.

Here he is chasing a ball with two of his friends.

He is in front and you can barely see him. He is such a great dog. He plays so nicely and fetches back and forth and back and forth...and back and forth and back and forth.

Here is a nice action shot of him bounding for the ball.

After he got his exercise, I took a seat on one of the metal lawn chairs they have on the look out over the park and Unos chilled out on a towel I brought for him and watched the dogs from a bird's eye view. I read a book and soaked up the sun.

Happy Chinese New Year everyone!