2010 February | The Land That Ugly Forgot

18Feb/100

2010 Olympics Expo

Walking around the Olympic venues in Vancouver reminds me of Expo 86. I really wanted to see inside Russia House (pictured above), and I arrived there about 5:30. I was met by a "open to the public between 12-5pm" sign posted out front, so that was a Nyet. The Quebec and Saskatchewan pavilions (below) make a striking appearance at night on the waterfront.

Tagged as: Attractions, event, globe, Night, Olympics, People, russia, Sports, tourists, venues, water, waterfront No Comments

17Feb/106

What’s In a Name

I found these products on the shelves of the Ethnic section in my local Superstore (a Loblaw grocery retailer). If I were a buyer for Loblaws Grocery I would ask that all products with this branding be renamed to the option shown on left. Sometimes things don't sound so good when they're translated.

Tagged as: branding, ethnic, Food, Humour, import, lightbox, loblaws, rooster, Shopping, superstore, translation 6 Comments

16Feb/102

Asimo in a Lightbox

I'm having fun with my homemade lightbox. Above is a miniature toy Asimo I detached from a key chain and photographed as exploring the outer space of a celestial-themed scrapbooking piece of paper.

He is quite miniature, as seen here in relation to an AA battery:

My Asimo remained upright, unlike Asimo in real life who has been known to take a spill on occasion ->

Tagged as: asimo, battery, celestial, Honda, lightbox, Macro, miniature, night sky, outer space, robot 2 Comments

15Feb/100

Build Your Own Lightbox

Inspiration from Strobist's How To: DIY $10 Macro Photo Studio article is what kept me occupied last Sunday afternoon. After visiting the local dollar store and re-purposing one of my moving boxes, I crafted together a do-it-yourself lightbox: Cut out large windows in the sides and top of the box then tape some tracing paper or any other white transparent material over the windows. Hang white cloth or white paper from inside the top of the box and let it drape to bend out and cover the floor of the box. The box itself might not be pretty what with its visual aesthetics rivaling that which a kindergartener would fabricate together between sandbox and nap times, but it gives a cool effect with my favourite hot beverage:

Tagged as: crafts, cup, DIY, hobby, lightbox, Macro, photobox, Photography, project, starbucks No Comments

14Feb/101

Clean-Up In Aisle 4

I guess he must spill a lot.

Tagged as: aisle, cart, grocery, Humour, paper towels, People, retail, shelves, Shopping, store 1 Comment

13Feb/100

Explore Fort Langley (but don’t forget your wallet)

Fort Langley existed before Vancouver and Victoria were built and functioned as a Hudson's Bay Company trading post in the early 1800s. I was anticipating "walking in the footsteps of British Columbia's early adventurers and exploring the actual site where British Columbia became a colony" until I got to the walls of the fort here and made my own epic discovery that it costs $7.80 to do so.

Tagged as: Attractions, colony, historic site, settlement, tourists No Comments

12Feb/100

These Umbrellas Aren’t in the Drinks

This lighting is a nightly occurrence courtesy of Brown's Social House in Langley's Walnut Grove. Eventhough the umbrellas are red, I highly recommend the beverage Mr. Pink - and their original version. Why are originals always better than their successors?

Tagged as: bar, cocktails, dining, dinner, drinks, illumination, Night, planters, restaurant, sidewalk, supper, umbrellas, urns No Comments

11Feb/100

Langley Leg of the Olympic Torch Relay

Because I somehow feel it's my duty to see the torch in person or else I won't be considered a true Canadian, here it is on the route passing through Walnut Grove in Langley.

Tagged as: Attractions, celebration, Olympics, parade, People, relay, Sports, torch No Comments

10Feb/100

OXO Knockoff

I enjoy shopping in the asian grocery stores. Essence of chicken? How does that work? The only thing I can figure is it's the asian import equivalent of OXO. But are you really supposed to enjoy it as a drink while having a picnic in the park with Mom and Dad?