The flight was on time, actually arrvied 5 minutes earlier than scheduled. As I was filling the custom/health form, I realized that exactly 7 years ago, I said goodbye to families at this airport and started my journey in Canada by myself..

 

Weather in Shanghai is really weird. As the plane was landing, saw this red orange Sun trying to shine from behind the thick grey clouds. Suppose to rain - thundershower.  The air was fairly warm. High 25 celsius degree & low 20 - historically high for the month of November.

 

Stayed home for the first night, enjoyed a delicious crab feast! Thanks to Aunti Haixia. Finally I am home at the right season (November is the best season for Crab) YUM YUM!

 

Will take a short break today and will travel to Lijiang, Yunnan province tomorrow with my folks. Just for 4 days which is not enough to visit that area. We are just gonna focus on the old town of Lijiang and have a taste of this acient little town -  full of history, rich cultures & tourists from all over the world..  em.. exciting!

Plan to back on Saturday, if the flight is not overly booked! Look forward to getting together with friends and families after the trip!

 

BTW, Cannot link to facebook. @_2

 

 

Such a rainy day today, not the best day to travel. Fallen leaves blocked the street drain, so the streets turned into little river..
Taxi driver said that it's gonna rain the whole week till next Sunday..em..good thing I picked the right week.

Did not take the new Canada Line to the airport, with a 30kg luggage, that would not be fun. But station at the airport is really convenient, a short walkway takes you right into the airport terminal. Gotta try next time when fly domestic!

 

Waiting to be boarded, suppose to start boarding in 8 mintues, but no remarks on the information board yet, so hopefully there is no delay (How I hate delays, have no paitents for it..good thing I don't need to make any connection.

 

Super slow wireless internet connection at YVR, maybe should not conplain as it's free..

 

anyway, hope to be home in 15 hours.. (my back won't like sitting for 13 hours for sure..@_@ at least I have pain-killers ready@_@

 

Often hear people say I wish there is more than 24 hours in a day... nothing is impossible...today, we have 25 hours.
Every 1st Sunday of Nov, the Day Light saving ends, we need to adjust the clock 1 hour backwards, so we gain an extra hour today.

 

Did you do anything special today? One more hour to take advantage of...em..I walked around the neighbourhood. Can't say it's something special, but I haven't done if for a while after my back injury.

 

Fall is definitely my favorite season, especially in Vancouer...The leaves start to turn into two colours - yellow, actually golden yellow and red - firebrick red. The city all of sudden is surrounded by these vibrant colours. Anywhere you look you can find a priceless picutre of nature.

 

 

Even better, it's a full moon night. The sky is crystal clear with no clouds. You can easily see the dark spots on the moon.

 

 

It's ture that you can discover something new everyday, if you try to look for them.

Did not know the lovely but deadly mushrooms could be find in this area...Aren't they pretty?!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A perfect Halloween Night starts with...

 

Dark Couldy Sky + Pale Moonlight....@_@

 

And then.. Crime Scene waiting to be "investigated"

 

 

Our Leading actor - Little Pirate Owen (The pirate hat was bothering him, so..he took it off.. as a two-and-half years old, Owen can certainly make his own decision..!)

 

Then all neighbours in this block gathered at the end of the alley - together we enjoyed a firework show while having yummy hot apple cider & "bloody Finger Cookies"..

 

The firework was very small scale, nothing compare to what we have back home; but I enjoyed so much. Being with all these people at this cold night, with teens running around the firework, little kids' scream & cries in the background, it brought all my childhood memory back...about the firework, about my neighbours, about my friends..friends that I haven't seen in years.

 

Definitely very grateful to my childhood friends, because of you, I have this memory to cherish. Also very thankful for tonight cause it will become another memoriable moment in my years here.

 

.........................................................................................................................................
Never grab your DC without checking the battery....
Just before the block party started, my DC battery died...ai e ya..@_@.....

 

 

 

 

 

 

Went to Bard on Beach and saw OPERA & ARIAS: Così fan tutte on Sept 7th, 2009 with Steph.

 

Così fan tutte literally means "Thus do all [women]" but it is often translated as "Women are like that".

 

Not  a big fan of Opera, prefer musical a lot better. However I actually enjoyed the show very much so. The story was very funny, highly improbable rather. The characters are exaggerated, beyond my expectation. The stage was bralliant - in an open-ended tent against a spectacular backdrop of local mountains, sea and sky. You can also see the seanplane flying over. The music was so great and linked the story together. 

 

 

Backgournd on Bard on Beach:

Bard on Beach is a fully profesional, non-profit theatre company provides people in Vancouver with affordable, accessible fine quality Shakespeare productions. The plays are staged in VAnier Park on Vancouver's waterfront in open-ended tents.

Got invited to a friend's parents' 50th Wedding Anniversary two weeks ago.

 

Saturday Aug 29, 1959 - Saturday Aug 29, 2009 - 50 years, to the excat day... How lucky and cute!

 

The whole dinner was filled with love and warmth. Relatives and close friends shared their personal stories with the lovely couple over the past 50 years.

 

They went through difficult times, conflicts, illness, and nearly lost each other, yet when you meet the couple in person, you can feel nothing but love and positive towards each other and life.

 

Of course, everyone at dinner was wanting to know the secret of the longevity of their marriage...

 

"Tolerance ... and a sense of humor!"

 

How simple :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Was not sure if I should watched the Movie Departures (Okuribito) or not this afternoon. Worried the sadness would make a sunny afternoon a bit too blue. Still did regardless, and really happy that I did spend the afternoon watching this movie.

 

The movie talkes about death, so can't help tearing a bit, but the director also demonstrate the struggles and harsh reality about this unique "job" in a very humoros way. Reflecting to all "ordinary" jobs that people do not pay attention to, they are "invisible" in the society, but the society cannot function without them. I remember a documentary called "Sleepless City" that I watched years ago - a city that the 9-5/ Mon-Fri people do not know.

 

Does not matter what kind of job one has, if he/she is earnest, then peace will come.

 

Departures (Okuribito/入殮者）
Directed by: Yojiro Takita
Written by: Kundo Koyama
Music by: Joe Hisaishi

 

Finally went to the beach, for real, 1st time this August.

 

Walked along the sandy beach, let the waves from the ocean cover my feet softly...

 

Several groups of people were playing beach volleyball. There was also a guitar man singing to the ocean all by himself.

 

Cheers, laughters, melody along with the sound of waves, the ocean takes away everything, but truly leaves you a moment of peace.

 

Sunset at 8:19pm.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Doctor, Physio, Chiropractor...all of sudden become the places that I visit every week..

 

Never though I would need to use the health card this often..and thanks for the the company's good extended health plan, otherwise..my wallet is not gonna like me:(

 

Trying to change my focus onto other things, but the pain keeps reminding me that I need to look after myself more.. sigh..I think I am just aging too fast.. @_@

 

The Uganda mission is over, friends are gonna come back soon. So jealous, but base on my condition right now, it was very wise for me not to join the team to Africa (one day I will be there though, the motherland of the earth).

 

Got a new camera and was not sure whether I like it or not. Being a very faithful customer of Canon, I did not even look into other brands. It's a semi-pro digital camera, has a ton of great functions, however, I really don't like the shape of it, plus the pop-up flash kinda bothers me a little. The quality of picture is great though. Should not complain too much.

 

Lynne is away this week, so I gotta the job to look after the backyard garden.

 

The little strawberries from the garden taste like the ones that I picked myself at the strawberry farm when I was 8 - the true strawberry taste. (I know this sound weird, but you will undersand if you've tried the california strawberries in the supermarket - I am sorry, they taste like plastic...@_@ )

 

Have been thinking about the beach for weeks, the weatherman just said this is the perfect week to hit the beach.. em.. maybe Thursday evening..(Should I trust the weatherman?!)

 

Last time I spent a day in Seattle (shopping trip not included) was about 4 years ago. 

 

Nothing has changed much really, the Pike market is still busy, with all those lovely flowers tha I love; the space needle is still the landmark of the city; the first Starbuck Coffee shop is still crowded with tourists who have cameras ready in hands while ordering their coffee for the day.

 

Maybe this is the beauty of this city - Stable and comfortable. It's not a city full of excitement, it actually has a vein of melancholy in the air.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One of the neighbour fertilized the lawn or backyard garden this afternoon, as a result, the whole neighbourhood was covered by the smell of manure. Not a very pleasent smell I have to say, but somehow it triggered my memory of my childhood.

 

Dad very often took me to the City zoo near the airport on Sundays if he was off duty when I was young. Biking was the form of transportation we chose, in fact it was the only way to the zoo. (The closest bus depot was by the Zoo, no public buses went into the airport at that time.. when I was about 3 or 4). He knew the shortcut to the Zoo, but we had to cycle through this pig farm...the smell, one could only imagine. We always did a little countdown and speeding through this area while trying to hold our breath for as long as we could. Somehow I, a 4 year old then, found this entertaining and always ended up laughing half way. That's probably why I remembered that smell and associated it with fond moments and happiness.

 

I miss home tonight..

 

Watched the special one hour - Jon & Kate Plus 8 and heard Jon and Kate's Separation Announcement. When I first watched the show, the sextuplets were only one year old, could not talk nor walk. Now they just celebrated their 5th birthday, but mom and dad are no longer together. There have been rumors everywhere, I tried to ignore those and thought it was just a strategy to attract more viewers. Saddly, it is the reality now.

 

When two people in a relationship all of sudden have completely different goals in life, then it would be hard to continue. Relationship is not all about how much you love each other, really, it is more about whether you shared the same fundamental views in life, whether you still feel the companionship. One friend is going through divorce right now, another friend just broke up with her BF...June is the month of separation?

 

Oh well....

Date : June 20 - 21, 2009

Event: Easter Seals 24 Hour Relays for Kids with disabilities

Location: Swangard Stadium

 

The event is to raise money to send kids with disabilities to go to special summer camps. Eoungh money was raised on June 20/21 to send 800 children to have fun!
($1200 per kid)

 

Went to the Swangard Stadium after work, did one lap with Steph, Jennifer, and Young-long at 1:00am. It was fun to walk around the central park with life vest on in the dark. Can't get healthier than this...maybe should make this a daily rountine..@_@

 

Sunday morning news says that between the 24 hours, all the relay teams raised $1,147,708 in total -enough to send 800 children to the speical summer camp ($1200 per child). Hope they will have lots of fun at the camp!

 

 

 

Cannot find empty spot on my May calendar, do not get home everyday till 9:30pm, including weekends. Either at work or doing things for the rotaract/rotary or at my chiropractor...maybe because I am getting old, or I really over booked myself, have to admit that 5-hour sleep really isn't enough for me (Can't figure out how I was able to function with 3-hour sleep per day in university)

 

May 14th - Zenith
The year long project - Zenith Youth Conference is finally finished! (Still owe the co-chair a brief report to end this year though...@_@) As much as I like the fact that finally I get my Sunday back for the summer (the executive team was meeting almost every Sunday starting Sept 2008), I do feel sad to say bye to the Zenith team.  Had lots of fun using the walkie talkie and "ordering" people from one spot to another! It was such a busy day that I actually forgot my camera on my desk (I usually don't leave my house without it..) Luckily we have volunteer "photographers" helping us documenting the event, so will upload photos later..

 

May 16-17th -Vernon
As a reward to myself, spent the weekend after Zenith in Vernon - a nice little town in the Okanagan Valley - the famous Wine Country. Visited the Davison Orchards - where you can find the most oganic apple juice (Yum!), Honey Factory, O'Keefe Ranch - the first family moved to Vernon, and of course the winery. Thanks to Steph's parent letting us stay at their house, at the bottom of turtle mountain. Was joking with friends that I found my new goal in life - owning a million dollar house on the top of Turtle mountain (my parents would love that I am sure!)

Yummy Oganic Appy Juice                                               View of Vernon from the top of Turtle Mountain

 

May 23 - 24th - Victoria

Attended the Rotary district coference in Victoria. I was debating whether I shoud spend the money for a 2 day trip. Really glad that I went. Not only because the Rotaractors' Presentation at the conference was brilliant, but also get to see the Treasures Exhibition from The British Museume at Royal Museum. Getting to hold a coin from Tang Dynasty (1400 years ago) was quite exciting.

 

 

Venue: The Empress!

 

 

Ladies are getting ready for the Gala Event!

 

Countless bunnies at UVIC

 

Spectacular sunset at Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal

 

 

 

 

 

 

I like randomness in life...cannot plan, do no need to expect

 

The same road that I drive everyday,

mistakenly turned left instead of right one day,

So annoyed at myself..

then a lovely little field covered with small yellow daisies appeared...randomly..

 

Talking about randomness,

This afertnoon, a saw a guy shaving while driving a Hummer..@_@)

 

 

 

Backpack - Packed

Clear bag for gel items - Check

ID - Check

Online Check-in - Done

Taxi - Booked

Room - Cleaned

Alarm - Set for 4:00am

 

Escape from the city - destination Rimbey, Alberta.

 

 

 

 

Mom called me this morning...

 

Mom - " did ou hear the news about the earthquake in Italy last nigh?"

 

Joyce - "Just watched it on the moning news -central Italy..why?"

 

Mom - "Guess where your Dad is?"

 

Joyce - "...em...."

 

Mom - "Milan..flew there yesterday.."

 

Joyce - "@_@..."

 

1994 - Northridge, California, Earthquake -  Magnitude 6.7 - Mr. Fan was in L.A.

2008 - Sichuan Earthquake - Magnitude 8.0 - Mr. Fan was doing training courses in Chengdu, Capital of Sichuan Province

 

Speechless...

 

 

  

 

 

Date: March 9 - 13th, 2009

Location: Three Elementary Shcool in South Burnaby

Project: Bag'Em Green - Eco-bags were given to students to paint and to express their green messages to the community

 

About a month of organization, a week to carry out the project.

 

Had lots of fun doing it, met many people who believe in projects like this, also received a lot of support.

 

I know there are still friends or people around me not 100% agree what I believe in. My ideas and passion are too ideal for them.

 

I still thank their support for letting me be me:)

 

Big THANK YOU to Uncle Wang who kindly donated all the plain eco-bags to us!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Has been busy lately, has been lazy as well. Thankfully, my DC is with me at all time (and the batery is quite strong, consider I don't charge it very often) which allows me to record every touching and happy moment..

 

Keri's wedding , on top of Burnaby Mountain.

The cutest couple!

 

 

 

 

Tonight is Keri's last night at this house... I remembered the day she moved in - Canada Day 2006. Her whole family was here and Keri was being very shy.

 

Two and a half years, lots of memory shared. Can't ask for a better roommate, really.

 

Now she is entering another stage of her life - marriage. So happy for her cause she has found the one and only - her roommate for a life time. :P

 

Best wishes to you!!