Thursday, September 18, 2008

Pasalubongs from Home

Grandparents are coming back here in Canada tomorrow after a 4 month long vacation in the Philippines! It was supposed to be just for three months, but at last minute, was extended a month further because an aunt passed away. And since they're coming home tomorrow from my hometown, I am looking forward to a couple of stuff I asked my family to send.

First and foremost: My new Ipod Nano. When I decided to buy a new ipod, I wasn't aware that Steve Jobs' was about to release a new line of Ipods! All I knew was that he was going to have one of his usual talk. And just when I asked Chase to get me one, Steve Jobs announces his new line of iPod! But I've already bought mine! But then again, no regrets... this may not be the latest version, but it still does what it's suppose to do - entertain me!

Next that I'm really looking forward to getting are my Filipino DVDs. Where I live here, we don't have any Filipino channel, TFC or PinoyTV. And I really miss watching my Filipino shows! And so my brother and mom got me some! Meron yatang One More Chance!

I think my mom got me some more stuff. Can't wait for tomorrow!

Saturday, September 13, 2008

Dinner at Stone Grill

These pictures aren't the best of quality as I only used my cellphone camera.

Anyway...

My aunt and I had dinner last September 11, 2008 @ Stonegrill restaurant. Stonegrill is an upscale restaurant near downtown Vancouver and boasts a different type of dining experience. The idea is, you eat your food while it is cooking over a 400 deg. heated slab of stone. The stone's heat lasts for about an hour.

New Your Steak and Prawns
My order - New York steak and prawns.

Halibut
My aunt's order - Halibut

Like for me, I ordered the New York steak with Prawns and when it was served to me, everything was raw. What I really loved is that you have the freedom to eat it how you want it. Let's say, I cut out a strip from my steak and cook it as medium rare, and then try another one and cook it well done.

New York Steak and Prawns
Here's another look after I turned the steak over. See that the other side is cooked already. As for the prawns, they've turned orange already.

For me, it's the whole dining experience that makes it unique. Plus, our table was seated with a grand view of the harbor and Granville Bridge (or was it the Burrard Bridge?).
Sunset view from my seat

Price for each entree is pretty steep. Thank goodness my aunt was there. It was her treat for me anyway! :)

Monday, September 8, 2008

The weather factor

The weather here these days is pretty sunny. But two weeks back, it was really gloomy and rainy. They said that here in Vancouver, it rains a lot. And now that Fall season is coming, we'll be experiencing a lot more of those gloomy days. When I got here last June, the sun sets at around 9pm. And these days, the sun sets around 6 or 7 already.

Still, with the days getting shorter, and the sky getting gloomier, one can't help but feel really sad. They say that here in Canada, they experience the rainy/gloomy days around 7 months of the year. And with this type of weather, it's just so depressing. No wonder people here get depressed easily. Weather is definitely a factor.

For instance, a couple of weeks back, it was raining, and in the morning, the sky was dark and I felt... really sad. For some reason. Although I cannot compare myself to those who already live here, but I really missed my family all of a sudden. It was depressing so to speak.

Compare it to the Philippines, where it's always sunny, you don't feel sad unless you're really sad due to some circumstances.

Of course, I cannot compare it directly since I'm here, my family is back home. It's a different scenario. What if I actually live here? Would I still encounter that sudden depressing feeling when I face one of those rainy days? Will weather still be a factor when it comes to how one's feeling? I think it still is.

Or maybe, it's just the homesickness creeping in once in a while.

grouse grind attempt 3

I had my third grouse grind last saturday, in an attempt to improve my last one's time of 1hour 40 minutes. And hard work paid off, I did it in just 1 hour 26 minutes. It's still far from my target time of doing the grind in just over an hour, but it definitely is a big improvement from the previous attempt made around 3 weeks ago. I think my regular walking exercise has paid off (at least 10 minutes of it anyway). I'm gonna start doing stairs on my way to the 13th floor of my building in another attempt to help me shape up for my next grouse grind (either this coming weekend or the following weekend).