The much-needed update

1) Trip to Vancouver, Canada went well. (see photos here).

The highlights of the trip:

- People in Vancouver are used to beating the red light
- it reminds me of downtown Seattle only they have better night life
- they dress well at least those Asians do
- the panhandlers are really *get this* courteous and friendly. Unlike in WA state, they start by asking you, how's your day THEN begs for money, finally ends it with a THANK YOU and ENJOY YOUR STAY IN OUR COUNTRY! How sweet, eh?
- Their interjection, "Eh" tickles my funny bones.
- During our first day, we exchanged US$200.00 only to get CAN$200.50 back! Worse exchange rate!



2) Nin-teen-duh's Annual Company Picnic (see photos here).

Stories worth sharing:

- it was first time for my co-workers to see me in shorty shorts
- I am allowed to invite only one adult guest. Since neither RyanBoi nor my sister can make it to the picnic, I tagged along my work assistant (Francisco) instead. Come Monday, rumors that we're a couple, spread at work. I say, Yikes, That's BS! =p



3) I will be moving in a 2 bedroom/2 bath apartment (located in Bellevue) with my eldest sister. The costs of living in a decent 1,000 sq ft Eastside apartment? US$1, 420/month excluding utilities! Pamatay, diba?!



4) My Philippine-issued passport will expire this coming Oct. 7. Instead of going home to Manila, I'll just fly to the Philippine Consulate in San Francisco, CA.



5) Tell me what's wrong with me - I easily get along with male co-workers than females. The former thinks I'm cute yet has a mean streak.

Oh Canada!

Four more days before I head up north to Vancouver, Canada. The itinerary has not yet been finalized. We don't intend to purchase a Smartvisit card due to time restraints. Since we can always go back there anytime, only some of the major historical landmarks will be prioritized:



The Lookout (Vancouver's answer to Seattle's Space Needle)
Gastown (known for its Steam clock, cobblestone street)
Chinatown (We can't get enough of the F4 err.. Asian fever)
Stanley Park (not really a fan of national parks but oh well)
Robson Street (must feed my shopoholic habit - kidding!)
Fraser Street ("Little Philippines" of Vancouver)


Tentative:

crossing Lion's Gate

Grouse Mountain
Capilano Bridge

With regards to our Filipino culinary adventure, I'm torn among these three restaurants:


Goldilocks
Sandy's (Daza) Cuisine
Rekados


What do you think? Help!


Our hotel:

Renaissance Vancouver Hotel Harborside
(booked for 3days/2nights)


Mode of transportation:

Car. Approximately 2hrs, 30min drive from Kirkland. Actually I've already booked/paid our airfare*:






but Ryan will not receive his passport in time (read Passport Horror stories) for our spur-of-the-moment trip. As you all know, US Citizens flying to Canada are required to have a U.S passport.


*The airfare tickets were purchased in priceline (no refunds, not transferrable..yikes!).




Special event:

July 1 = Canada Day and Ryan's 25th birthday






Related Entry:

My trip to Victoria, British Columbia
(video) (pic in Butchart Garden)

Independence...

Happy Independence Day to:


All the Filipinos around the globe


and to


myself, for being romantically-free.....coincidental eh?