This blog posting covers the day of July 22nd, 2022. While on this adventure I went off to Richmond to visit another place of interest, one noted on my checklist. Took the Skytrain to Lansdowne Centre (better than Downtown Ottawa) to visit a specific Japanese import store. I sadly missed having a Japadog, though did visit a Best Buy to purchase an adapter hub for my Steam Deck and an extra microSD card to hopefully transfer things onto. My friend was also let off work earlier allowing him to visit me halfway into my journey. Funny how I even spotted two Ferrari vehicles at Lansdowne Centre area.
Trip Index:
[Prelude/Prologue] – [Day 1] – [Day 2] – [Day 3] – [Day 4] – [Day 5] – [Day 6] – [Day 7]
I was even looking for a Sushi bento, a small one being $24 Canadian. What the hell?! Unless it’s made with pure proper ingredients it has no right being that expensive. Sushi in Vancouver is insane, especially in Darumaya.
My friend told me to wait up, so I did. I went to a nearby park, unknowingly elevated and next to Walmart. I relaxed, even took pictures of Renge while waiting. I even enjoyed the planes flying over to which my friend later commented for my reason being there. Purely coincidental, though he was joking. I need to let him have his joke.
So glad we were able to track each other via Google maps. Saw my friend park, tried to meet up with him to find he was in a Walmart getting gum. I followed him in to get new pants (finally), among other clothing. Found that Walmart to be neat with its funky and neat upper floor.
With my friend off work we were able to explore areas noted on my checklist even further. We were able to explore other cool parts of Vancouver, something I’m highly grateful for, hence why I’m sharing it.
While venturing through this pathway we came across a Wreck Beach (nudists), one of which was an old dude with his sausage out. My friend was disgusted while I doubled back trying not get a glimpse of his sausage. The dude took his time causing me to try to follow my friend back to double back again. Bastard. We concluded not to fly the drone here, only to get a picture of boats. I even realized the Japanese guy on the phone we came across at the start of the pathway may have also been a nudist. Each to their own.
>Took a few drone shots, they’ll be shared in the second half below under the drone section.<
After a few painful navigations to a parking spot later, we finally reached Nitobe Memorial Garden. We came late, though thankfully allowed entry. I had to make the most of it through tons of images.
If I’m not going to be allowed to travel to Japan then the next best thing is to go to a more Japanese oriented location in Vancouver. That is why I came to Vancouver in the first place, after all. A two-birds in one stone to also take in both Japan and Vancouver vibes. My friend wanted to take me here regardless, today being the best day to do so. It’s out of my reach via the Skytrain needing my friend’s assistance in getting here. They need to consider extending the Skytrain to this location. This is what I mean, less fake-political focus and more actual infrastructure focus……
DONE! Time ran out. Yes, I took tons of images solely for the fact we were on a time-limit. Had to capture everything while I was there because who knows when I would be allowed back next, let alone if I’ll return to Vancouver again.
A few folks annoyed me when I was leaving, and then again trying to take figure photography. Even spotted another person after having done the figure photography realizing I was cursing out loud, and at myself. Too much social awkwardness.
While leaving this area I thought I saw a Squirrel. Maybe a genuine one, maybe a figment of my imagination. Maybe the Japanese spirits are playing a prank on me. I was unable to get a proper glimpse of it, let alone snap a picture of it. I say this in the context of having not seen any Squirrels in Vancouver while also wondering if Vancouver genuinely had any Squirrels.
Damn. Seeing all these Go Karts I really want to do actual proper Go Karting. Actual Karting on roads and such. Free of time-limits, free of any barriers. Just pure Go-Karting on roads.
Peeved I got cut by a long prickly weed plant sticking out on a long branch. Very thorny. Stung a bit. I was also still highly curious as to why I haven’t seen a Squirrel, even though Google noted they reach as far as British Columbia. Were they killed? Pushed back? Seasonal? I’m confused.
Video – A380 British Airways (Speed Bird):
My friend put on live ATC to try to listen to what runway this plane would come from (if not this one, the previous one) allowing us to track where it would land. We rushed here as quickly as possible to even swiftly park, I ran and I made it to a mound seeing other people capturing the same plane as I had. Glad to have caught this rare sight, and a rarer one by each passing year. You could sadly hear my heavy breathing having rushed to this mound trying to capture this A380 in a video. This A380 is another one checked off on my list for the 3rd or 4th time by now. This second and third attempt being the most successful.
Always interesting to note how this, and other planes, were delayed. This A380 being late by many hours. After we finished recording and capturing shots a person who works on the A380 would come up to us to note how the terminal was specifically built for it, and how he worked on it not finding it all the special. Nobody really does, everything is taken for granted. It’s probably something he’s seen so many times making him used to it until it’s forever lost. You really cherish something when it’s rare or lost.
After the A380 was caught we headed straight to Gary Point Park to fly my drone. Not before we had to help a guy boost his old RV truck. My friend had to go all these awkward ways to park and jump the guy’s truck. We spent a good 10-20 minutes trying to boost his truck while other people were around observing. I noted his helicopter hat being from a tour company. Neat.
We found a semi-secluded area, I took the drone off and had fun capturing stuff. An old Chinese guy was busy capturing the sunset in a time-lapse for his Youtube in a very professional manner. We shared a few moments talking about the pictures, viewed the pictures, and just acknowledged his artistic touch. Great times.
Drone Shots:
I actually enjoyed how an old Chinese photographer was taking still time-lapse images posting them on Facebook. Very professionally done. When people are honest and true themselves is when we can really connect with one another, can admire each other’s rewards, and have fun doing what we love. That is what I love, why I share to connect with like-minded folks who are still “down to earth”, genuinely creative, love their hobby naturally, and just are honest with themselves. You live and learn, learning from how they have done things.
And with that, it ends the day. More rewarding things to enjoy, praise for my capture of the Lufthansa 747, how I explored Aberdeen Mall, and reflecting back at the needlessly pricy Japanese restaurant (the $7 ice cream scoop). Was nice seeing what I was allowed to see, able to see, an had fun with whatever I managed to have fun with. Was cool talking to various people who wanted to be talked to.
Time to rest, to prepare for more craziness.