Van - Last day

Hello All:

This is it. Well, not quite, I'm still gonna blab some more, but I'll update the blog after I'm off the ferry.

Back at Starbucks with free wireless Inet and listening to some 80's tunz (real surprise, right?) - How does it get any better? Yesterday I visited Chinatown (again)and check out the ONLY authentic Chinese garden outside of China - right in the heart of downtown Vancouver! It's a masterpiece of engineering, and esthetics. The Garden was encircled by a very carefully planned colonnade and bisected with an awesome watercourse. In the middle of the garden is a mountain with a shrine on top. It is said that the shrines act as refuge for spirits that are looking for a place to rest. This garden acts as the scholar's private sanctuary. It is quite beautiful.

P.S. The tour is worth the $8.00 CAD

After the gardens, I hung-out at the library. This place is a work of art. Modeled after a roman coliseum, the library truly stands out as a tribute to the Roman Empire.

After the library I picked-up the dweebs at the Van Arts Institute, we dined at the Granville mall and pretty much called it a night after that.

Today (Friday), I dropped the n00bs at the school and headed to Chinatown again. I picked up one of the huge rice pickers hats - kinda like a sombrero, but different material and country:) Cherie will love it. Did I mention that I picked-up these awesome chopstick cheaters! Ha. Anyhow, took some more pics of Chinatown - one of the oldest in Canada. It's 2:00pm and I'm gonna sign off now.
I'll give you may comments of the week after I get off the ferry.

See ya for now,

FMF

Vancouver - Day 3

I sit here in Starbucks with this free wireless internet connection looking at all the different people that walk by. People of all colours, dress, language and I assume religion. What puzzles me most is - why do we get along? Now, I'm sure there are millions of other people all around the world that are "getting along", so what is it that keeps us from hauling off and smacking someone in the head? Is it morals, rituals, common sense (doesn't seem so common these days) or is it laws?

It goes back a long way. A really long way. Many people use the phrase "reason to live" or "purpose in life" to give our "reason" for existance some validity. In fact, our raison d'etre, or more specifically our motivation, is really quite simple. Survival - The ability to stay alive. We make this choice everyday. It also seems intrinsic that most of us prefer to be happy and sad. The fact that people realize aspects of thier existance - and how it affects others - proves that we CAN make a difference in this troubled world. It is quite evident that peoples of the world must be educated - educated with knowledge that is fact based and not merely here-say. This is one of the most important steps needed to open the doors to humanity's endless potential (until the meteor hits earth and decimates all life on the planet):)

Cheers,

FMF

In Vancouver - Day 1

Day 1
I'm in Vancouver takin' in the sights and sounds (and smells). I popped into this internet cafe (Roberto's Netplace on Seymour St.) to take a look around when the sales person told me that it wasn't a place to look around but a place for those who want to use the internet. Bad move. I promptly said thanks and left. So for all you folks looking for a web connection in Vancouver - stay away from Roberto's Netplace on Seymour St. - it might be net friendly, but it's not people friendly.

I'll keep you posted as my week progresses.
The Dog