more Barb and Paul

Just popping in to show you some more pictures from Barb and Paul's wedding from last August. Everything about this day was absolutely perfect! You couldn't have asked for a better setting!







photo credit: Kim Christie Photography

London - Day 21

We are homeward bound this afternoon. Leaving London around 2pm Wednesday and arriving in Seattle around 4pm Wednesday. Wierd huh? Jet lag is usually easier going home, so fingers crossed.



There hasn't been much blogging since we returned from Belgium. Mostly due to us still recovering, but mainly due to us just taking it easy the last few days.



Heartfelt post coming soon with why we were in London. In the meantime, if you are wondering what these pictures are, they are upholstery shots from the tube.

Belgium - Day 12-16

The last time I was in Belgium was almost 20 years ago as part of my whirlwind family European adventure. It was one of those 20 places in 21 days kind of tour where we went from England -> Belgium -> Netherlands -> Germany -> France -> Italy -> Austria -> Monaco -> Switzerland -> Luxembourg -> Liechtenstein and back.


(cheese shop!)

Arc de Triomphe

I was so excited to go back to Belgium! It was going to be a trip filled with visits to the Grand Place (my favourite), croissants, fresh bread, waffles, mussels and frites! Oh yes, a romantic holiday for two. In reality, we both came down with the flu and were sick beyond belief... high fever, body aches, headache, tiredness, dry cough and unmentional visits to the loo. To weak to spend more than half a day exploring the city. Too sick to eat any of the tasty delights above. Sadly, we also missed our day trip to Bruges and Ghent. We just couldn't do it.



The famous Manneken Pis at one of the many chocolate shops in Brussels.


Check out how the trees in the park walkway are trained to grow across!

These are all the images I mustered to take. We will return one day! Not to worry!


The Atomium.


Outside of the royal residences. Somebody had just left in a police escorted motorcade.


Grand Place ...




Every two years in August, the Grand Place is covered in a flower (begonia) carpet that covers 19,000 sq ft.




I was finally healthy enough to enjoy some frites on our last night in Belgium. With mayo of course!

London - Day 11

So, I fell off the blogging wagon for a bit. Somewhere between Cambridge and Belgium, I caught the flu. No, not swine. I checked. Yes, I was THAT sick. Of course, Rob caught it too and we were down for the past 4 / 5 days and still have not had a proper meal. I'm feeling so much better now, but still have a stubborn cough (that is killing me I may add). Being so sick in a country that speaks another language was quite frustrating. Good thing for high school french! Medication in Belgium are listed in 3 different languages plus Braille, but not english! Anyways, will tell you all about it in the Belgium post.

In the meantime, back to Cambridge for day 11! A fourty-five minute train ride outside London, Cambridge is absolutely beautiful and a lot less people!


Can you imagine going to school in these beautiful buildings and surroundings?


Feel like punting? You can either rent your own boat or sit back and take a ride with a guide.


Cambridge town map


Walking towards King's College Cathedral....



Loving the door within the door! (Although the small door looks tiny in relation, it would have fit a regular person, so you can see how large the big door actually is).


Side view of the chapel




Back in town ...


Weekend market ...


I can't remember the details of this church (sorry), but love the shot with the spider web.


Zoom in. Does the fake man on top of the pie shop remind you of anybody?


Trinity College was founded in 1546 and is the largest college in the University.


Today, the College consists of a Master; about 160 fellows, most of whom are teachers; about 320 postgraduate and 650 undergraduates.


It was closed during our visit, but they have the most amazing looking dining hall (pictured on the website). Apparently, the one from Harry Potter was based on this.


After our tour, we walked along the Cam river bank


Tons of boats along the canal - both recreational and homes.



... and what was at the end of the walk?! Our first pub food of course! Unfortunately, they ran out of Sunday roast lunch as we didn't arrive until almost 4pm. So fish & chips and steak & frites for us! nom nom nom ....

London - Day 10

Everytime I come to London, I get sick. New place. New bugs. So it shouldn't surprise me that I feel like I am coming down with something. Feeling a bit run down today and have a nasty cough. Blech.

London day 10 and day 11 was spent in Cambridge, about an hour by train from London. Thanks to E & M for hosting us this evening. We had a great time including our first pub, scone and Indian food experience! Yes, it was quite a weekend.



At Kings Cross waiting for the train... still can't believe the amount of people in London!



Looking out the train window...



E & M picked us up from the Waterbeach station and we headed to the small town of Ely for lunch and a quick walk through.

The cathedral ...


The downtown market that takes place every weekend ...


While we were in town, our friends had to pick up a few things at the local Tesco.


An american cheeseburger anyone?


For some reason, produce here always has so much packaging. Really? Is it necessary?

London - Day 9

We hopped onto the Victoria line and made our way to Highbury and Islington where the Make Lounge was located. It is a fantastic new area that we discovered and definitely off the tourist path.

We stopped and had lunch at a fantastic bakery called Euphorium in Islington. Delicious sandwiches and hot mochas!



Had a brief, but fantastic meet and greet with Jennifer from the Make Lounge! Her workshop space includes three studios over two floors and the retail shop (opening soon) is over two rooms.


Thanks to Deidre for a copy of Uppercase Magazine that we passed to the Make Lounge.


Fantastic store sign made to look like grosgrain ribbon.


Highland and Islington is near Camden Town, so we made the mandatory stop. I come here each visit and it just doesn't seem the same anymore. We were there on a Friday instead of the weekend, but it just seemed to be packed with young tourists and transients. A lot of the vintage and furniture shops seem to be gone and replaced with new fashion and food stalls.

I was told to get off at Mornington Crescent and walk down to Camden Town, but I believe that station is only opened on the weekend. I usually get off at Camden Town and walk down to Chalk Farm (row of houses in Chalk Farm).


Custom designed scooters at a food stall for customers to sit and enjoy their food.

London - Day 8

(image heavy)

I already posted about my birthday, but here are my snapshots of day 8 in London.

The Borough Market is London's oldest food market and has been at it's current site (under London Bridge) for 250 years.

The market is open only on Thursday's from 11:00am to 5:00pm, Friday from Noon to 6:00pm and Saturday from 8:00am to 5:00pm.

This is my first visit to the market. I'm not sure where I first found it, but it's amazing and a definite must go!



We went the wrong way to the market, but did get a beautiful view of the Tower Bridge and the Tower of London.



Beautiful church right next to the market





The market is like the public market at Granville Island, but there are a lot more food vendors ...



such as fresh paella ...




savoury pies since 1853 ...



sausages ...





If you love coffee and cake, Monmouth Coffee Company and Konditor and Cook by London Bridge are a must!




Coffee here is filtered and you can get black coffee or white coffee (aka with milk).



Right next door is Konditor and Cook with some of the most amazing cake ever!




The whole market had vendors selling huge meringues!



To top off the birthday extravagenza, we went to see Wicked at the Apollo Theatre by Victoria station. I have wanted to see this musical for so long, but kept missing the shows in Seattle and Portland. It was worth the wait, but definitely don't miss reading the book.

London - Day 7

We first discovered Canary Wharf and Canada Square on our last trip and decided to head back to take a look. Basically, it is one of East London's financial districts - banking, media, business hotels and other corporate firms and contains UK's three tallest bulidings.

Apparently, 100,000 people work here and trust me, you will find the majority of them at the Jubliee Shopping Center located underneath the district during lunch. This place is packed with people in suits. Every one of them carrying a lunch bag and a take away sandwich. We didn't last long, before we had to get out for some air!


Built by a Canadian real estate developer, you can see how it reminds me of downtown Vancouver.


The wharf consists of a series of dry docks and canals. When we were first here in 2004, you could see a bunch of boats that parked in these waters that acted as floating office space.


Yo Sushi is definitely not the best sushi or the cheapest in town, but one of those things that we do when in town. Trust me, we are completely spoiled in Vancouver! It is conveyor belt sushi where each plate is price / colour coded. You pay for what you eat and you can also order hot items off of a menu. The Yo Sushi at Finchley Place has a robot that drove around on a track offering beverages.




Just off of Piccadilly, we stumbled upon a small market outside of the church. The church was open and had a set up selling holiday cards. It was amazing to see a beautiful, old church with an outdoor market. Too bad, most of the stuff was quite touristy and tacky.


Fortnum and Mason - best known for their afternoon tea, biscuits, tea & coffee selection and their jam and jellies. It's like a smaller version (less crowded) version of the Harrod's food halls. Way better window displays as well!


Further down the road was the Royal Academy of Arts. Work by internationally acclaimed artist and 1991 Turner Prize winner Anish Kapoor.


Us playing around with the camera and our reflection.

Happy Birthday!

It's my birthday and I am the big 3-0. Holy! I'm scared. Hold me. Just kidding - hehe... I think??

A part of the reason why we are in London is for my birthday. We haven't been back to London in 5 years and I knew that I didn't want to spend such a milestone at home. Funny how when I was a kid, I couldn't wait for the big day and would count down the days to my birthday.

Back in elementary school, each year, my aunt would plan a birthday party for me. I was allowed to invite 6 to 8 friends and on the big day, my grandma and my aunt would pick all of us up after school and drive us to party central. One year, we had a pinata, but us weak girls couldn't break it. It took somebody's older brother and my uncle to spill the candy guts before we all went crazy. Another year, I was in love with Tiger Lily after winning 10 tickets to see a live stage performance of Peter Pan through a Vancouver Courier colouring contest.

My aunt would go all out too. We had make your own pizza stations, decorate your own cookies shaped like each of ours hands and the best part? We had fake money that we had to use / earn / trade to buy our fixings! Then, there was the year where I ate to much crap and had to run to the bathroom while everybody sang "happy birthday". Oh, memories!

Now that I am older, birthdays just seem like another day and a good excuse to eat cake. By the way, if you are ever near London Bridge, you need to eat cake at Konditor and Cook. *whisper* Choose the carrot cake (pictured above with the dark chocolate ganache) *whisper*

So, what's next? I have a few things brewing up my sleeve and a lot of roads seem to be opening. For somebody that is quite indecisive, it has given me lots to think about. I'm not ready to reveal quite yet, but please stay tuned.

Thank you everybody for their birthday wishes!

London - Day 6

I am born in Vancouver and have lived there all my life. My Grandma is from Shanghai and my mom was born in Hong Kong, but the whole family came to Vancouver when she was still young (before high school). We all speak English and are completely westernized, but every now and then, I just want to be with Asians and have rice and noodle. :D


It's easier to walk from the Piccadilly tube station to Leicester Square and Covent Garden then it is to take the tube. Although, you may want to rethink it if it's pouring rain out. Chinatown is just around the block from Leicester Square and then if you walk further, you will enter SOHO.


(Rob looking at tasty Asian treats)

Leicester Square is surrounded by cinemas and is also the place where all of the London premieres take place. Over the years, we have seen Ali G, Jude Law and Britney Spears. No, we don't camp out there like some do, we just happen to have good timing! If you follow me on Twitter (lotusevents) or Facebook, I wrote a post about missing George Clooney, here for the premiere of Fantastic Mr. Fox.


During our brief walk through, they were setting up the barriers for the London Film Festival.


One more thing! Leicester Square is also the place to get half price theatre tickets!