A quick browse around Chinatown

Bamboo Village Folk Art and Craft is a both a tourist trap and a treasure trove of curiosities. If you're looking for just the right piece of oriental antique furniture, army helmet or Chinese Propaganda poster, then you've arrived at the correct place.

Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden is a serene little oasis in the heart of Chinatown. We only toured the free bit, which is very pretty, because I couldn't justify the $12 entrance fee. I'll have a look at the other side when there's an event and report back.

While Vancouver's Chinatown remains the largest in Canada, it is now overshadowed by Richmond's Golden Village for all things authentic, delicious and Chinese. Although Chinatown is a popular tourist attraction, as it is one of the oldest Chinatowns in North America, it is also where many lower income Chinese residents live as opposed to the more affluent Chinese who have built many Asian-theme malls in Richmond to service their needs. I'm told by the connoisseurs that the finest Chinese food is not to be found in Chinatown, but in Richmond. I can't attest to the veracity of those claims but I can tell you that I had a very disappointing curry bun from a Chinatown bakery.

If anyone can help this girl satisfy her childhood craving for delicious curry buns, please drop me a line!

All Photography by Shehani Kay

Lunar Fest Fish, Lights, Love Lost and New Beginnings

This year's ocean themed Lunar Fest features a lantern aquarium inside tents outside the Vancouver Art Gallery. I had intended to see this exhibition last Saturday but the queue proved prohibitive so I decided to try again yesterday. No line up!

These sky fish lanterns in the ocean heart section were made by children from across the lower mainland.

A Jelly fish at the coral castle.

Swimming with the fishes in the paper fantasea section of the exhibition.

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I've had a strange week. On Wednesday, my heart was broken by someone I love and my dreams were trod upon by a heavy stomping foot. The very next day, I had to put my smile on and my heart back in my chest — excitement about my new job writing for a gaming company really does deserves the full attention of my plump, beating heart. Doors open. Door close. Other doors open. "Fearless though in pain, I travel on." (William Blake)

As for the boy who had love in his hands but threw it away... As. You. Wish. I said a little prayer for you, and now I let you go.

All photography by Shehani Kay

Friday's Photowalk

All photography by Shehani Kay. Taken along the streets and alleys that run parallel to Main between 48th and 26th ave.

A quick photo stroll in Little Punjab

Between 48th and 51st avenue along Main Street you'll find Vancouver's Punjabi Market. Also known as Little India, this stretch of road contains all manner of Indian fashion, fabric, bangles, jewelry, religious icons and doodads, sweets, restaurants, Bollywood DVDs, and Indian groceries.

This is the place to visit if you discover yourself in need of a good curry, followed by some Gulab Jamun and Jalebi, and a spot of excellent sari shopping.

All photography by Shehani Kay

A Winter View of Queen Elizabeth Park

Nicknamed "Little Mountain," Queen Elizabeth Park is 500ft high, and boasts panoramic views of Vancouver and the North Shore Mountains. This 130 acre park, is also the second most visited in the city.

Having far from glamorous origins, Queen Elizabeth Park started out as a basalt quarry and was the source of foundation rock for early Vancouver roads. The quarry was permanently closed in 1911 and the scarred land sat idle until 1940 when it was dedicated as Queen Elizabeth Park after the much lauded 1939 visit of King George VI (the stuttering King) and his consort, Elizabeth (the Queen Mother) .

In 1948, Deputy Superintendent William Livingstone and the Park Board horticultural staff undertook the task of transforming the park by reclaiming the gullies left by the quarry operation and using them as the backdrop for plants, trees and shrubs, and for the placement of ponds and other water features.

In December 1969, Prentice Bloedel donated $1 million toward the development of a new plaza, covered walkways, fountains and the triodetic domed Bloedel Floral Conservatory, pictured below.

There's a posh restaurant called the Seasons and a host of activities, ranging from frisbee golf, tennis, Tai Chi to lawn bowling and regular golf, that's also available in the park. For more information, you can visit the park website.

I spent a lovely couple hours here on a sunny day last week, writing at a bench overlooking the city and the mountains. The sunken gardens, while still pretty, need to be better explored in the spring when the flowers burst to life.

All photography by Shehani Kay