Day 9: Richmond Delights + 17,500 Steps | AB-BC Trip 2023 Series

Richmond + Vancouver, BC • August 7

Today is their cousin Gab’s birthday kaya sya yung nag-prepare ng itinerary por today’s bidyo. Ang first activity ay brunch, but since 11AM pa yun at medyo maaga kami nagising, nag-breakfast na lang din muna kami. Tsaka ang dami ko pang tira na food from yesterday’s dinner.

From eight canelés, it’s down to three haha. Matagal akong nag-contemplate kung anong flavor yung next kong titikman. I chose the nutella one and I think eto yung least favorite ko. Ang tamis na kasi nung canelé tapos sobrang tamis din nung nutella. Sweetness overload masyado.

Happy birthday Gab!

🍽️ Chef Tony

Gab chose a dimsum place at naaalala ko kung pano kami paulit-ulit ng pagsasabi kay Gab na, “Great choice!” Sobrang sarap kasi nung food! Best dimsum place everrrr. Hanggang ngayon naaalala ko pa rin kung gano kasarap yung truffle pork and shrimp dumplings. Masarap din yung salted egg steamed buns pero mas unforgettable yung dumplings. Masarap lahat yung food pero ngayon ko lang talaga na-gets kung anong meron sa truffle kasi ang sarap talaga nung combination nya sa siomai. Sarap!

Grabe sa sarap

📍 Aberdeen Centre

Next up ay pumunta kami sa isang mall. Kala ko makikisabay lang ako sa kanilang magikot-ikot pero parang ako pa ata yung pinakamadami yung nabili. Di ko in-expect na dito ako makakakita ng mga journaling stuff. Ang daming cute na stamps, nakakita ako ng Shachihata ink pads (!), tapos may binili pa kong maliliit na travel organizers, Japanese snack, scalp massager, basta kung ano-ano.

At nung napunta kami sa isang Japanese store, bumili rin ako ng skincare products, nipple tape, heat packs, etc. Nag-enjoy tuloy ako dito sa mall na ‘to kasi easily accessible yung mga Japanese products na nabibili ko lang pag uuwi akong Pinas or may pupunta dito galing Pinas, kasi nakaka-order ako sa Shopee.

Yung mall na ‘to ay mostly Asian stores so puro Asians din yung mga taong namimili. For a while feeling ko nasa Korea or Japan ako. Feeling ko ito ang selling point ng BC for me, yung masasarap na Asian food at accessibility ng Asian products.

🍽️ Bubble Queen

They wanted to get boba so nag-search sila ng masarap na boba place nearby and dito kami napunta. Hindi pa ko tapos sa aking mango craze kayo yung mango cube slush ang inorder ko. Pero nung natikman ko yung hot sesame milk tea ni Kenneth, sobrang sarappp. Dapat yun na lang. Kasi ang ordinaryo lang nung inorder ko, parang mango shake lang yun at madali lang gawin.

Back to Vancouver

Lahat nung activities above ay sa Richmond at yung remaining ay sa Vancouver na. So nag-Uber na kami ulit papunta sa next stop.

📍 VanDusen Botanical Garden

The whole garden was so huge at nararamdaman ko na yung pagod from all the walking. Admission fee was $15 and I think yung favorite part ko ay yung hydrangeas kasi ang gaganda at ang dami. Plus fun din nung pumasok kami sa garden maze tapos hindi namin ma-figure out yung center at almost nag-give up na kami. May nag-motivate lang samin na mamshie kasi sabi nya, “You’re almost there, I can hear you.” so nagpursigi kami at nakita na rin namin. Tapos ang weird kasi parang wala pang 1 minute nakalabas na kami. Haha ba’t ganun.

So pretty 🤍

A meditation garden sounds nice, but seeing this in person, I wouldn’t want to meditate here

The rest of the park wasn’t as memorable. I think masyadong mataas yung sinet na standard ng Garden of Morning Calm nung pumunta kaming Korea. Tapos autumn pa nun so ang gaganda talaga ng colors. But it was a good exercise kasi ito siguro yung record breaking number of steps ko in a day. I did 17,564 steps that day.

📍 Sea Vancouver

I think Sea Vancouver is a company that organizes boat tours at located sya sa may Granville Island. At nung nalaman ko na babalik kami sa Granville Island, I immediately thought of getting more canelés! Though hindi rin nangyari kasi wala silang plano bumalik dun sa public market area.

We purchased a 90-minute city and habour tour (around $75) at buti na lang fun yung boat ride kasi mabilis yung takbo tapos nag-s-swerve. Basta para syang adventure ride. Kaya ko nasabing buti na lang, kasi di ko masyadong na-enjoy yung sights. Maganda lang yung simula kasi kita yung malalaking buildings ng downtown pero the rest, puro industrial na. Puro cargo, basta puro metal and machinery. Kala ko medyo nature-y man lang. I saw the head of one seal and that was cute. But in terms of the sightseeing component, I was disappointed.

Fancy dinner

🍽️ Chambar Restaurant

Hindi kami ni Kenneth nagpupunta sa mga ganitong types of restaurant kasi bukod sa uber mahal, yung overall vibe medyo intimidating for me. Pero na-amuse ako kasi French yung menu. Ang una kong thought, yay baka ma-practice ko uli ang French ko. Kaso yung server namin hindi pala French speaker. Kala ko mapu-put to use ko na yung mga role playing namin sa French class na kunwari ako yung customer, tapos oorder ako ng food sa server (our French teacher).

Bukod sa overall vibe, medyo intimidating din yung menu kasi kakaiba yung pagkain. Ito yung snippet ng menu nila.

I ordered the last one kasi yun yung familiar: essentially it’s steak and cornbread

Weirdly, the peppercorn jam on cornbread mushroom toast combo was surprisingly gooood

It was a fun experience at okay naman yung food. Tapos may pa-free mango jellies pa sila kaso sobrang tamis naman. Eh sumasakit na yung lalamunan ko from all the sweets kaya kumagat lang ako at binigay kay Kenneth yung the rest.

Ang last activity ay pumunta sa bar to get a few drinks pero hindi kami pinapasok gawa ko. Nakakahiya kay Gab huhu. Kasi hindi ko nadala yung ID ko so ayaw ako papasukin. Sabi ko they can go ahead at uuwi na lang ako pero hindi na rin sila tumuloy. Sabi nila pagod na rin naman daw lahat. So yun naguwian na kami. Sabi ko nga ito yung record breaking number of steps ko in a day kaya totoong pagod na rin talaga ko. Paguwi namin natulog na rin ako agad to get ready for tomorrow. Super excited ako bukas!!