Ormand Does Vancouver BC

**ormand** · 11-14-2009, 04:42 PM

Ormand Does Vancouver BC
by Ormand

So I went to Vancouver BC on 11/5 for 9 days for work. I've been in Canada before many times but never BC and never Vancouver so this would be an exciting trip Actually, Vancouver is one of a handful of places I am looking forward to going to either for work or personal in the future that I have never been to before (among others: Seattle, Las Vegas, Alaska, etc.) There would be a lot of work so I wouldn't get a LOT of time to sight see but it is what it is...I'll try to make time as always

As it turns out, I really like Vancouver...a LOT. Not quite as much as San Francisco (only because of the weather) but VERY VERY close. The 2010 Olympics will be in Vancouver so there was a lot of new construction and cleaning going on while I was there. I will definently go back for a personal trip either before the Olympics this year, next year summer or next year winter. I would consider relocating to Vancouver (along with San Francisco) as soon as I have the moolah ...Viviane, your hood has competition!

For this trip, I asked for a Canadian-specific car (even if it is shitty) but couldn't get one so Toyota Corolla it is. How boring! (sorry Bhudda lol) A car is actually very inconvenient to have in Vancouver...more so than San Francisco and in some ways, worse than even NYC. There aren't really any parking garages since nobody there really has/needs a car so you have to find metered parking which is hard and it isn't cheap - about $4 CAN for 1hr.

The exchange rate for this trip was roughly $1 US/$1.06 CAN. I used US cash for everything and "conveniently" only received CAN change back so everywhere I went, they made an extra $0.06/$1 US. For the whole trip, I think I lost probably $30-40 just from the exchange rate alone (I spent over $500 US while there). My credit card charges 3% on every international transaction and I hate using credit cards so it's whatever. I should have exchanged money at the airport but its ok.

The weather was SUPPOSED to be cold - 60s to 40s and it was. What I didn't factor in was how damp it would be...wet and muggy. It was pretty nasty and frankly depressing...

Here are some pics from my hotel room...notice the foilage:

Standard CAN Chocolate...ohh deelish!

Here are random pics I got on the way to downtown...don't mind the rain

There really aren't too many offices or corporations in downtown Vancouver. I'd say there are way more condos and probably more housing than there are jobs lol. Most of the people that can afford these condos ($$$) live somewhere else and this is just a second home, so they don't need work in Vancouver. A lot of Asians (Japanese and Chinese) are buying up these things. It makes sense because after they are done with them, they can be converted into hotels. And vice versa

This BTW is on Cambie Bridge. There are 3 bridges you can use to get into downtown from southern Vancouver - Cambie, Burard and Granville or something like that. No tolls!

Here's the Olympic Countdown Clock in the heart of downtown

93 Days til Olympics 2010 as of 11/12/09! I wonder what happens to the clock when it reaches 0?

WASSZUP.

Maple maple maple!

I was very tempted to have a seat on this lion but I didn't want to make a scene or an international incident :D

It's buttocks.

TAG YO SHIT.

ANARCHY IN THE BC.

HAWT.

This is Pacific Street which is where the beaches and waterways are between Upper and Lower Vancouver.

Cool car

Told ya the weather sucked lol

Perhaps ADVRIDER?

There were lots of baller cars in Vancouver...the R8 is just one. I saw a few ferraris, a LOT of porsches and a variety of other cars.

**ormand** · 11-14-2009, 04:42 PM

Here I am at the airport

My pre-flight meal at the airport. It looked better than it actually tasted...dried up rice and old food for sure. Sushi and Japanese food is plentiful in Vancouver and is appropriately cheap and deelish :nod: I found California Rolls for as cheap as $2 CAN for 6 rolls and bento boxes for $7 CAN

The chicken was gross.

The End.

Doug · 11-14-2009, 08:33 PM

I love how you take a lot of pics on your trips. Looks like it was fun!

SexualChocolate · 11-14-2009, 10:14 PM

Did you go to UBC? How about Richmond? All of those places are very familiar to me. My cousin lives there and her firm is in downtown Vancouver.

**ormand** · 11-14-2009, 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SexualChocolate

Did you go to UBC? How about Richmond? All of those places are very familiar to me. My cousin lives there and her firm is in downtown Vancouver.

No time to really go anywhere other than what the pictures show I will go back sometime though either this winter or more likely next year summer or winter and be sure to check out all the stuff I missed.

You should come with me and then we can goto Moxies Scooter meet @ Tim Hortons.

**ormand** · 11-14-2009, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doug

I love how you take a lot of pics on your trips. Looks like it was fun!

Thanks. I haven't really posted any travel pics/threads since my vacation to San Francisco in March 09, but I did take lots of pics everywhere I went. Nowhere extraordinary though.

I'll be in Vega TX (near Amarillo, right off of rt66) this Tuesday - should be weird lol

Red08GT500 · 11-18-2009, 01:08 PM

Sweet pics Ormand, I'll be going to Vancouver next week any suggestions on where to eat or anything to check out worth it?

Gonzo

**ormand** · 11-18-2009, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Red08GT500

Sweet pics Ormand, I'll be going to Vancouver next week any suggestions on where to eat or anything to check out worth it?

Gonzo

YES!

EAT: You *must* eat at Banana Leaf (malaysian)...try the Kung Poa Chicken, the Chicken Curry and the Beef Ragadan (sp). Also, if you park at Cambie/Broadway, on Broadway East Bound side before Cambie, you will see a bunch of ethnic restaurants...try the Japanese place for cheap/good bento boxes ($7!) and across the street, try the japanese place next to Mongolie Grill for SUSHI ONLY - the hibachi meats suck. Also, you have to do Moxies or Cactus Grill for a good Alberta-beef steak

SIGHTS: Definently check out the Olympic Clock on...oh, I forget the cross street but its Georgia and something. Also, check out the skiing place north of Vancouver, Chinatown, Vancouver Island...

Kinny knows more about what to check out than I do...but definently eat a LOT of sushi/japanese food! Its cheap and great Take lots of pics! Oh and you DO NOT NEED A RENTAL CAR AT ALL...youd be inconvenienced to get oe. Just use the bus system...its awesome.

Red08GT500 · 11-18-2009, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ormand

YES!

EAT: You *must* eat at Banana Leaf (malaysian)...try the Kung Poa Chicken, the Chicken Curry and the Beef Ragadan (sp). Also, if you park at Cambie/Broadway, on Broadway East Bound side before Cambie, you will see a bunch of ethnic restaurants...try the Japanese place for cheap/good bento boxes ($7!) and across the street, try the japanese place next to Mongolie Grill for SUSHI ONLY - the hibachi meats suck. Also, you have to do Moxies or Cactus Grill for a good Alberta-beef steak

SIGHTS: Definently check out the Olympic Clock on...oh, I forget the cross street but its Georgia and something. Also, check out the skiing place north of Vancouver, Chinatown, Vancouver Island...

Kinny knows more about what to check out than I do...but definently eat a LOT of sushi/japanese food! Its cheap and great Take lots of pics! Oh and you DO NOT NEED A RENTAL CAR AT ALL...youd be inconvenienced to get oe. Just use the bus system...its awesome.

Sounds good man, I'll try and take pics but my camera is kinda weaksause

Gonzo

**Kinny** · 11-20-2009, 08:37 AM

Looks sweet man!

11-14-2009, 04:42 PM	#1
ormand Administrat0r Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Houston Texas Posts: 3,058 Rep Power: 10	Ormand Does Vancouver BC Ormand Does Vancouver BC by Ormand So I went to Vancouver BC on 11/5 for 9 days for work. I've been in Canada before many times but never BC and never Vancouver so this would be an exciting trip Actually, Vancouver is one of a handful of places I am looking forward to going to either for work or personal in the future that I have never been to before (among others: Seattle, Las Vegas, Alaska, etc.) There would be a lot of work so I wouldn't get a LOT of time to sight see but it is what it is...I'll try to make time as always As it turns out, I really like Vancouver...a LOT. Not quite as much as San Francisco (only because of the weather) but VERY VERY close. The 2010 Olympics will be in Vancouver so there was a lot of new construction and cleaning going on while I was there. I will definently go back for a personal trip either before the Olympics this year, next year summer or next year winter. I would consider relocating to Vancouver (along with San Francisco) as soon as I have the moolah ...Viviane, your hood has competition! For this trip, I asked for a Canadian-specific car (even if it is shitty) but couldn't get one so Toyota Corolla it is. How boring! (sorry Bhudda lol) A car is actually very inconvenient to have in Vancouver...more so than San Francisco and in some ways, worse than even NYC. There aren't really any parking garages since nobody there really has/needs a car so you have to find metered parking which is hard and it isn't cheap - about $4 CAN for 1hr. The exchange rate for this trip was roughly $1 US/$1.06 CAN. I used US cash for everything and "conveniently" only received CAN change back so everywhere I went, they made an extra $0.06/$1 US. For the whole trip, I think I lost probably $30-40 just from the exchange rate alone (I spent over $500 US while there). My credit card charges 3% on every international transaction and I hate using credit cards so it's whatever. I should have exchanged money at the airport but its ok. The weather was SUPPOSED to be cold - 60s to 40s and it was. What I didn't factor in was how damp it would be...wet and muggy. It was pretty nasty and frankly depressing... Here are some pics from my hotel room...notice the foilage: Standard CAN Chocolate...ohh deelish! Here are random pics I got on the way to downtown...don't mind the rain There really aren't too many offices or corporations in downtown Vancouver. I'd say there are way more condos and probably more housing than there are jobs lol. Most of the people that can afford these condos ($$$) live somewhere else and this is just a second home, so they don't need work in Vancouver. A lot of Asians (Japanese and Chinese) are buying up these things. It makes sense because after they are done with them, they can be converted into hotels. And vice versa This BTW is on Cambie Bridge. There are 3 bridges you can use to get into downtown from southern Vancouver - Cambie, Burard and Granville or something like that. No tolls! Here's the Olympic Countdown Clock in the heart of downtown 93 Days til Olympics 2010 as of 11/12/09! I wonder what happens to the clock when it reaches 0? WASSZUP. Maple maple maple! I was very tempted to have a seat on this lion but I didn't want to make a scene or an international incident :D It's buttocks. TAG YO SHIT. ANARCHY IN THE BC. HAWT. This is Pacific Street which is where the beaches and waterways are between Upper and Lower Vancouver. Cool car Told ya the weather sucked lol Perhaps ADVRIDER? There were lots of baller cars in Vancouver...the R8 is just one. I saw a few ferraris, a LOT of porsches and a variety of other cars.

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11-14-2009, 04:42 PM	#2
ormand Administrat0r Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Houston Texas Posts: 3,058 Rep Power: 10	Here I am at the airport My pre-flight meal at the airport. It looked better than it actually tasted...dried up rice and old food for sure. Sushi and Japanese food is plentiful in Vancouver and is appropriately cheap and deelish :nod: I found California Rolls for as cheap as $2 CAN for 6 rolls and bento boxes for $7 CAN The chicken was gross. The End.

11-14-2009, 08:33 PM	#3
Doug I'm here Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 22 Rep Power: 0	I love how you take a lot of pics on your trips. Looks like it was fun!

11-14-2009, 10:14 PM	#4
SexualChocolate ///M-Classic Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 219 Rep Power: 4	Did you go to UBC? How about Richmond? All of those places are very familiar to me. My cousin lives there and her firm is in downtown Vancouver.

11-18-2009, 01:08 PM	#7
Red08GT500 m0derat0r - Fashion Squad Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Scarsdale Blvd Posts: 847 Rep Power: 4	Sweet pics Ormand, I'll be going to Vancouver next week any suggestions on where to eat or anything to check out worth it? Gonzo

11-20-2009, 08:37 AM	#10
Kinny SUPER m0derat0r Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 2,601 Rep Power: 6	Looks sweet man!