Week end in Vancouver, Canada

I spend a weekend in Vancouver to visit my cousin James, Dora and Warren and their new house in Furry Creek. Furry Creek is about an hour north of Vancouver, an hour a half north of Richmond and two hours south of Whistler. Furry Creek is one of the latest gate communities. (…more inform @ Squmish. and near by fishing locations...)

Vancouver is one of my favorites cities due to number of reasons. For example; weather, environment, safety issues and most importantly - food and restaurant. Within the weekend we tried six different restaurants. Mui Garden Restaurant, they are located on 5960 Minoru Blvd., Richmond. Their have spicy Satay and Curry. Their curry cooked with coconuts sauce; therefore, it tasted and smelled good. Kam Do Restaurant & Bakery @ #1140, 8391 Alexandra Rd, and Sun Chim Noodles @ 8611 Alexandra Rd, Richmond. They have delicate and affordable Hong Kong Style Tea Break. Three adults and a baby out the door price were less than twenty Canadian dollars. Beside these three restaurants, there are some good restaurants nearby Bayview Street, Steveston; the historic fisherman harbor. Our goal next time is to try their Japanese buffet and dim sum.

There are numbers of shopping malls in Vancouver and Richmond. In fact, you don’t need to speak English in Richmond due to high number of people whom immigrated to Canada. Those stores in Hong Kong are also available in Richmond. However, shopping in Canada might surprise you, their sale tax, GST is at 14%..Compare to SF at 8.25%.!

Direction from 4^th Street - Richmond to Furry Creek --- Going north on Oak St. Bridge (Highway 99), then north on Granville St. (Highway 99), take the Pacific Blvd. West exit.?Pacific Blvd will change to Demman St., take Lion Gate Bridge Rd. to North, take the Marine Dr. West exit, then turn right at Taylor Way toward north (Up hill), take Upper Level Hwy. 1 West, then take Furry Creek exit.

Second route from 4^th Street ?Richmond to Furry Creek --- Going north on Knight St. then Knight St. Bridge, then take the S.E. Marine Dr., then turn left at Boundary Rd. toward north, then turn north to Second Narrows Bridge, then take Upper Level Hwy. 1 West. Then take Furry Creek exit.

Remember to obey traffic law; especially the speed limit in Vancouver is Kilometers/Hour instead of Miles/Hour.I had a hard time driving in Vancouver. For example, the speed limit for Lion Gate Bridge is only 40 Kilometers Hour, which is about 25 Miles/Hour. Moreover, the speed limit change along the Upper Level Hwy. 1, from 90 kilometers/Hours change to 50 Kilometers/Hour, then go back to 80 Kilometer/Hours, and then go back to 60 Kilometer/Hour.

Short Trip to Macau

Macau is the oldest European City in Asia, which urban planning based on Portuguese style. Take a walk through Inland Macau especially Largo do Senado. You'll find everything from classic European architecture to Mediterranean-style street cafe. Escape to Taipa Village (an island right next to Inland Macau) and discover some of Macau's finest restaurants and souvenirs shops. You'll also find a market selling local crafts on every Sunday. Don't leave without trying Macau's current favourite: pork chop in a bun and Portuguese snacks and drinks.

For additional information please visit Tourist Information Center @ Macau Ferry Terminal, Arrival Harbor or Tourist Information Center @ Macau International Airport, Arrival Hall.

Routing;

1) HK to Macau Ferry by Turbo Jet, then went to Ruins St. Paul and Macau Museum (see #19 on the map) by Taxi (~ HKD 14). Next stop @ Largo do Senado (see #40 on the map), (Walking distance @ 4 blocks).

2) Dinning @ Restaurante Safari, Inner Harbor. Enjoy a traditional Macanese lunch and experience a unique combination of Portuguese and Malay cuisine.

3) Shopping XXX along Av. Almeida Ribeiro. Spend a few hours browsing around for souvenirs and local handicrafts.

4) Taking public bus #11 (Adult @ HKD 3.3) to Taipa Island. Routing covers A-Ma Temple (see #31 on the map), Maritime Museum, Taipa Village (Food Street), University of Macau and Coloane Hac Sa Beach.

5) Dinning @ XXX, Taipa Island. Taste the food and enjoy the Mediterranean atmosphere of traditional Macanese cuisine

6) Taking public bus #22 (Adult @ HKD 3.3) back to Inner Harbor. Stopped @ Dr. Sun Yat Sen Memorial House (see #15 on the map), Lou Lim Iou Garden. Afterward taking bus #17 (Adult @ HKD 2.5) to New Yaohan Department Store through Guia Fortress and walk back to ferry terminal (see #1 on the map) and return Hong Kong.

Pictures took inside of the Dr. Sun Yat Sen Memorial House

Reference By; www.mapart.comCopyright by Shiu On Yee.