February 15, 2010 | 2010 Olympics >
Vancouver, Art Galleries & Artists
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In downtown Vancouver for some shopping at The Bay, and Pacific Centre mall, I took a stroll along Granville Street to see the Cultural Olympiad’s LunarFest. Different installations all link Canada culturally with Taiwan, starting off with the Lantern Forest. Steel trees support thousands of brightly-coloured lanterns that are designed by schoolchildren from both countries. At night they’re all lit up like big fireflies.
Next to the lanterns are sculptures called Love, Life and Light. Again these are transformed into neon brilliance at dusk. Brue Voyce’s mythical creation, ‘Confusion Fusion’ is made from recycled materials like pop bottles. And artist lu Ping-Cheng has built an elaborate umbilical cord, symbolically connecting Taiwan and Canada.
Further down the street, people are posing for photos inside sculptural cut-out shapes of Olympic skiers, skaters and boarders. I can’t resist.
February 15, 2010 | 2010 Olympics >
Vancouver, Festivals & Events
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“QUAAAAATCHIIII!!!! SUUUUUUMIIIIII!!!! MIIIIIIGAAAA!!!!!” Hysterical fans of 2010’s cuddly Olympic mascots were screeching their heads off just for a chance to pet or hug the giant furry creatures. I thought I might be the only big kid at Robson Square’s GE Plaza in Vancouver but no, ‘kids’ of all ages crammed around the ice rink to meet their idols. You’d have thought Madonna or Brad Pitt was in town – such was the level of excitement.
The ice rink had been transformed into an enchanted forest and other skaters in leafy green outfits twirled in formation around the stars. A commentator gave us the lowdown on the Winter Games Mascots: Miga (black and white) is a sea bear, which in First Nations mythology is part Orca whale and part Kermode bear. A snowboarding fanatic, she normally lives in surf capital, Tofino. Quatchi (huge and fluffy with blue ear muffs) is a Canadian sasquatch from the Great White North – and he loves ice hockey.
Mascot to the Paralympic Games, green Sumi loves skiing. He wears the hat of an Orca, flies with Thunderbird wings and skates on furry bear legs. Their sidekick marmot, Muk Muk was absent, maybe marmots just don’t skate?
At the end, we all did get our moment with the mascots as they glided around for big hugs, and putting wide grins on little faces. And afterwards it was time to put on skates (rentals are $3) and make the most of the free ice rink.
February 14, 2010 | 2010 Olympics >
Richmond, Sightseeing Tours
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Complementing the myriad of shows, installations and games at Richmond’s Olympic OZone complex is BC Street. I took a stroll along its collection of stalls showcasing British Columbia’s diverse communities, from log cabins in the Cariboo Chilcotin Coast to alpine peaks in the Kootenay Rockies. All offered competitions to win awesome holidays in the province.
At the Comox Valley tent, I delved back into pioneer history on a virtual heritage walk. Exhibits at the Vancouver Coast & Mountains stall included guest ranching, scuba diving and winery touring. I made the most of their free samples of local honey and cheese.
Vancouver Island’s Sooke demoed its ‘Wild by Nature’ side, with a killer whale replica and mock marina, complete with lighthouse. Also coastal and wild, Tofino’s booth proved a real hit, taking photos of visitors on green screens, then superimposing them onto surfing or salmon fishing scenes. My husband can now boast he caught the Tyee (the “big one” in Aboriginal parance).
February 14, 2010 | 2010 Olympics >
Richmond, Festivals & Events
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Catching the sleek new Canada Line Skytrain to Richmond’s OZone for more Olympic fun, I got through the gates just in time to see crowds massing around the Main Stage for the Chinese New Year celebrations: the Double Dragon Dance.
Everything about today seemed to be super or super-size; from the sunshine, the sheer size of the OZone complex – to the 100-metre long Chinese dragon, held up by hundreds of volunteers. Along with its partner dragon and a couple of lions, the fiery creature swirled, ducked and circled spectators, sending whoops of delight among us all, before bowing in respect to Richmond’s mayor and councilors on the stage.
A mass Tai Chi performance followed, creating a flowing red sea of bodies around the dragons – truly graceful.
Aside from bands and shows, the Ozone is packed with activities. I got a chance to try the outdoor skating rink (perfect on a sunny Sunday afternoon), learn about the Richmond Oval legacy which promotes sports for youth, and take a virtual bobsleigh ride in the 2010 Games Dome.
On the way out I took in the Ice Gate - a colourful, jagged ice sculpture by BC artist Gordon Halloran. It reminded me of Vancouver’s mountainous skyline at sunset – something I had a great view of on the way back to the Skytrain.
February 14, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Richmond, Dining
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On the way to the Olympic OZone venue in Richmond, my husband and I decided to celebrate Chinese New Year with authentic dim sum. Just over the Fraser River from Vancouver and a hop away from the airport, Richmond's large Asian community offers some of the best Chinese food this side of Beijing.
On a reliable recommendation we plumped for the Continental Seafood Restaurant (11700 Cambie Road) and were soon seated in a huge banquet hall among hundreds of extended families welcoming in
the Year of the Tiger and catching the Games on flatscreen TVs.
Smartly uniformed staff wheeled trolleys laden with steaming delicacies for diners to pick. We loaded up on char siu buns filled with barbequed pork, choi sum greens, sticky rice and prawn dumplings, washed down with jasmine tea. Somehow we still found room for sweet egg buns - just as tasty as the ones I used to eat growing up in Hong Kong. Gung hay fat Choy indeed!
February 14, 2010 | 2010 Olympics >
Vancouver, Festivals & Events
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By now, I’ve learnt to leave a couple of hours to get into Vancouver’s free Olympic events – at least the big ones. So my friends and I joined the line around David Lam Park early to see alt-rock Chicago band, Wilco perform at Livecity Yaletown. And surprisingly we all moved pretty fast, getting in to see today’s Games highlights on the big screens. Canadian Jenn Heil’s silver medal win at the Women’s Moguls at Cypress Mountain was going down a storm, with US fans jubilant over Hannah Kearney’s Gold.
Award winners (of the Grammy kind), Wilco got everyone rocking enough to forget about the pouring rain. I got chatting to Steve from London, UK who’s a big fan, but even more psyched about his Olympic snowboarding tickets. “It’s one thing watching the Games on telly, but way more special getting to see them live,” he admitted.
As the band drew to a close, we checked out the rest of Livecity Yaletown, stalls offering global street food, 3-D videos in the Panasonic marquee and computer games in the Samsung tent. Coca-Cola’s tube-shaped pavilion showcased bottle designs through the ages, interactive games, a giant polar bear and video footage of the Olympic torch relay.
Trooping out, we were just in time to catch a spectacular firework display over False Creek.
February 13, 2010 | 2010 Olympics >
Vancouver, Historic & Heritage Sites
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Curious about the Vancouver Winter Olympics’ Four Host First Nations - the Lil’wat, Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh – I headed over to the Aboriginal Artistans Village. It’s housed in the Vancouver Community College near the 2010 Aboriginal Pavilion and the unmistakable architectural landmark that is the Vancouver Library.
Big smiles and warm welcomes ushered in the crowds and I spent a good hour absorbed in beautiful hand-made Aboriginal crafts. Cedar wood carvings of eagles and Orca whales jostled for space beside intricate basket-ware, beaded mittens, and hand-spun grey, cream and black Cowichan sweaters. Presiding over huge glass carvings of salmon runs was Jody Broomfield. He explained how his Coast Salish motifs were chosen to adorn Olympic lanyards, gift boxes at the Opening Ceremony and even an Olympic-themed coin. “I was so proud sitting up in BC Place last night, seeing my designs everywhere,” he said.
Opposite his stall was Corrine Hunt and her exquisite jewelry (pictured). A member of the Raven Gwa’wina clan from Ts’akis, a village on Vancouver Island, Corrine was chosen to design the Olympic medals – and is hugely excited to see them being presented in the first awards ceremony. “Look out for my Orca whales on the Olympic Games medals, and ravens on the Paralympics.”
February 13, 2010 | 2010 Olympics >
Vancouver, Festivals & Events
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Avoiding steep ticket prices to the Vancouver Winter Olympic Opening Ceremony in BC Place, my friends and I joined the majority of Vancouverites and visitors on the streets. Every bar, restaurant and Olympic Pavilion seemed to be showing the ceremony on big TV screens. Livecity Yaletown in David Lam Park was at capacity so we caught the athletes’ entrances, Nelly Furtado performing with Bryan Adams and more on TV at The Hub bar before heading down to False Creek. Across the water, the Athletes’ Village and Vancouver’s globe-shaped Science World were gloriously lit up.
As we passed the backstage area of BC Place, dancers still in costume were streaming out ready to party. A surreal case of art and reality colliding. After stopping for a curry at the Plaza of Nations food stalls, we continued along False Creek to Ontario House at Concord Place. Unforgettable ‘wow’ moments followed as, on the huge outdoor screens we watched Wayne Gretzky light the Olympic cauldron, just as to our left, an enormous burst of red fireworks exploded into the night sky above BC Place. Quite literally, the city went wild.
February 12, 2010 | 2010 Olympics >
Vancouver, Dining
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After catching the Olympic Torch Relay on artist-haven Granville Island, it was time for a spot of lunch. Next to the Aquabus Ferry dock and the Public Market, sits Bridges Restaurant with its bright yellow roof and huge patio (one of the best for al fresco dining in summer). Now converted into the House of Switzerland, it offers Swiss athletes and everyone else, a chance to re-fuel, warm by the fire and catch the Games on flatscreen TVs.
As school groups posed in front of a huge photo of the Swiss Alps, we headed through the restaurant decorated with Swiss flags and memorabilia – to the back deck, where under heat lamps we could watch fishing boats, shoppers and even a Bernese mountain dog, brought in especially.
Bridges are offering a complete Swiss menu in addition to their usual West Coast fare. Depending on the day, freebies include gorgeous chocolate and Ricola sweets, accompanied by live music. We sampled fizzy soft drink, Rivella and contemplated cocktails named ‘Swiss Miss’ and ‘Glacier Express’. Calorific cheese fondues follwed, and we completed our foray into Swiss cuisine with apple strudel. Yodelay!
February 12, 2010 | 2010 Olympics >
Vancouver, Farms & Markets
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Practically racing along Kits Beach’s seawall, with sweeping views of Cypress and Grouse Mountains across the Burrard Inlet, I rounded the corner to see masses of people converging on Granville Island. Phew, just in time. Finding a great vantage point on the dock by the Public Market, I joined thousands of cheering fans as the Olympic Torchbearer made his way through the throng and onto a waiting dragon boat. Helicopters thundered overhead and at sea, police boats allowed only Olympic vessels on the water. “I’ve been wondering where all the people were in Vancouver,” said Carla who’s here from Germany. “And here they are – it’s so exciting!”
Next to me, tears rolling down her cheeks, was Wendy Matsubuchi. Quite overcome, she waved proudly to her mother Esther rowing on a dragon boat team accompanying the Olympic flame. A breast cancer survivor, Esther’s dragon boat racing has taken her all around the world.
As the flame departed across the water to Yaletown on its final journey to BC Place, a huge swathe of the crowd followed along the banks. Tip: take a tiny Aquabus ferry from Granville Island around False Creek to catch great Olympic action. I headed to my fave coffeshop in the market, Petit Amis, where the atmosphere was still buzzing.