Apr 10, 2011

Faces

Faces in the Window
Faces in the Window
Day of the Dead Face
Day of the Dead Face and Test Tubes
Day of the Dead Faces - portrait of a mother and daughter

Here are some of the eye catching faces I saw this weekend along Main Street.

Mar 23, 2011

Random Scenes From My Life

I've been roaming about my days with my eyes open snapping these scenes from my new life.

Below are murals I see from the bus every day.
Rise
profiles
screeching bird
A bird on a sunny day on the sea wall
Bird in the branches
A flock of birds that swoop outside my window at work.
Flock of birds from my window at work
Sunset over English Bay
Sunset and boats on English Bay
Laughing Statues at English Bay
Laughing Statues at English Bay
Jukebox from the bus
Juke box
"Clowns were the first hippies" scrawled on a wall on East Hastings
Clowns were the first hippies
Spring blossoms outside my window at home.
spring blossoms

Mar 11, 2011

Orpheum Theatre

Orpheum sign
Orpheum stage
Orpheum lobby
Orpheum ceiling & canderliers
Orpheum lovers
The opulent Orpheum was built in 1927 as a Vaudeville house, used as a movie theatre in the 1930s, restored in 1977 as a civic concert hall, acoustically upgraded in 1995 and refurbished in 2009. Home to the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Vancouver Bach Choir, Vancouver Chamber Choir and Vancouver Cantata Singers, the Orpheum has been a designated National Heritage Site. One of Canada's largest concert halls, it seats 2,688 patrons.

Click here for more information about this theatre's rich history.

All photography by Shehani Kay.

Mar 5, 2011

Stuff I see on the street on my way to work

A Monocled man with a knife
Monocled man
A dancing cat
Cat Dance
Doorways to other worlds
Doorway to another world
An Ent
Gastown Ent
And on East Hastings
<3 on East Hastings
All photography by Shehani Kay

Feb 20, 2011

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.
Propaganda poster I
Propaganda poster II
It's Mao O'clock
Joss sticks

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.
Pagoda and Dome
Festoon of red lanterns
Bicycles & red umbrellas

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

Feb 11, 2011

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!

Sky Fish @ Lunar festival
These sky fish lanterns in the ocean heart section were made by children from across the lower mainland.

Jelly fish @ Lunar festival
A Jelly fish at the coral castle.

Swimming with the fish @ Lunar festival
Swimming with the fishes in the paper fantasea section of the exhibition.

***
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)

A Prayer for Love
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

Feb 5, 2011

Friday's Photowalk

photowalk 04.02.2011
All photography by Shehani Kay. Taken along the streets and alleys that run parallel to Main between 48th and 26th ave.

Feb 4, 2011

A quick photo stroll in Little Punjab

Cross roads - Main & 49th
Lady in white with her sitar
All Indian Sweets
Punjabi Shirts
Punjabi couple
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

Feb 2, 2011

A Winter View of Queen Elizabeth Park

"Squeeze in more" Sculpture at Queen Elizabeth Park
"Family Portrait" Sculpture at 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.
View from Queen Elizabeth Park
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.
Ah Bliss - Asian inspired Garden with wooden bridge, tranquil pond and stone ornament
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.
Triodetic dome

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
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