Tea Therapy: The Great Chasen Hunt and Matcha Latte

I am the type of person who learns to like the most random things at the most random times. And when I become invested (or so I think) on something, there is just no forgetting it unless, of course, something more interesting grabs my attention. In other words, I am very impulsive. But it's never an issue as long as I become productive at or with it. I try my best..

Yesterday, I bought 50g of Matcha (green tea) powder from David's Tea when we were at Metrotown in Burnaby. David's Tea has nice, cheap teas; the friendliest staff; and the prettiest merchandise. The interest sparked last Thursday when my uncle and I were at Teavana looking for a secret santa gift and I came across a small tin can of the green powdery goodness that is Matcha. But, I've always liked green tea or just tea in general. Anyway, my problem was- I didn't have a chasen (bamboo matcha whisk) to do the ritual with. I'd use an ordinary whisk or a frother, but I can be very meticulous. Plus, it's part of the Japanese culture and it's just right to respect that. PLUS, my uncle (we have the same, exact personality type: INFJ) is also big on culture and detail and wants me to use the real thing. We went to Daiso at Aberdeen Mall in Richmond but they phased it out. Imagine my disappointment missing out on a $2 chasen! But I guess buying a cheap chasen isn't 'the real thing' (?) Izumi-Ya, also in Richmond, doesn't carry it either. I called several small Japanese retailers this morning and not one of them has it. Nikaido in Steveston, Ming Wo in Lansdowne has it for around $15. I decided to go with the one Teavana sells, which costs $12.95. I went to Daiso to purchase a cheap frother ($2) because I wanted to make pretty latte. The frother doesn't look nor feel cheap.

I failed to create latte art.

Textured bowl w/ Matcha & Teavana's bamboo whisk

 Finished product! Not bad for a first timer, eh?

Yes, the green motif was intentional. No, flax milk does not froth. I used 2% milk. Yes, I will most probably make another one tonight because I gave the first one to my dad.

Yay.

Tea is my therapy. Preparing it relaxes me, drinking it relaxes me. Tea is the best thing ever...next to a lot of best-thing-evers.

I had forgotten how much I love being by the water watching the tide come in and waiting for the sun to set. I had forgotten how serene it is when the current has finally reached the calm and the tiny ripples that give life to it are like a blanket covering life that never ceases being in motion. It never stops - life, that is - and most days and most nights, we long to pause it simply because we wish to look at what we have done and what we have yet to do, and have time to appreciate it without worrying that the time we spend pondering on the small things, could be time spent on something else - something that isn't in the now. What ever happened to living in the present?

Outta Time - Oasis

#Oysters / Rodney's Oyster House

The other day, I was browsing hashtag #oysters on Instagram (yes, I do that) and tortured myself with photos of beds and beds of oysters. I had been craving it for months. I am aware that there are several oyster bars in Vancouver but none of them ever appealed to me for some reason. I never bothered to go. But upon seeing the torturous photos and reading that they were taken in Yaletown, Vancouver, I jumped to my feet and knew I just had to go. Luckily, that Friday, my uncle and I had planned to meet downtown and do another photo walk. Luckily, my uncle, an extreme foodie like me, had been craving the same for months now.

We went to Rodney's Oyster House along Hamilton St. in Yaletown and was guaranteed to be seated in 30 minutes. We went to the waterfront and took a few photos, then excitedly walked back.

We started with their New England Clam Chowder (around $7.50) and it was good. It was very filling. The clams were plentiful. The cream is quite rich, but is contrasted by fresh ground pepper that adds a little kick. I also had been craving for this specific chowder since all of the places I go to only have the Manhattan one, which is a tomato-based chowder. Not my type.



We tried the Scallop Galette (around $12) which features potato encrusted scallops, a salad with vinaigrette, and plum sauce. I love love love scallops so this was excellent for me. Also, the greens were a nice touch. The plum sauce was a bit sour than I expected, but still good.



Nobody should say no to these babies - their Pan Fried Oysters (around $12) was really good. They were fried perfectly and not at all overwhelming.



And of course, what we came for, raw oysters. Beautiful. If you come during their low tide (3 - 6pm Mon to Sat), their raw oysters come at $1.50/pc. Not bad at all. It's only been two days and I'm craving for more already!

They will also give you this nice array of sauces to put on the oysters. They are placed from mildest to hottest. The hottest, the last one called Back From Hell, is INTENSE. It will take your taste buds off, but if you're some daredevil then you'll enjoy this treat.

I honestly did not enjoy the sauces because I thought they overpowered the oysters. But don't get me wrong, they are all excellent. Your server will let you in on the best sauce combination. I just opted to squeeze lemon and pour a bit of vinegar on mine. Unlike myself, my uncle just can't take the thought of slurping these babies right off the shell. I love it. I like the taste of the ~sea~



Halfway thru our meal, we decided we needed something to wash down the taste. We asked our waiter (such hunk, btw) for their white wine selection and he recommended the Babich Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand ($11/glass). Yeah....it's poured into this tiny glass (full to the brim) but still quite pricey if you ask me. It was very very good though.

I had to crouch down to take a sip before I could move the glass without spilling.



It was a very good meal. To think that the only carbs we consumed were the potatoes in the chowder and the complimentary sourdough bread, we were very full and happy. I would recommend this place to anyone who enjoys oysters and who isn't meticulous dining in quite a rowdy place (especially during hockey matches. Go Canucks!). If you aren't a fan of raw oysters, they have other goodies too. Check out their menu here: http://rohvan.com

They have a Maritime Room hidden at the stern usually used as a function room, but is also opened to the public during busy hours.



Have a photo of myself in zombie mode.

Photo walk photos to be posted soon!

Rodney’s Oyster House
1228 Hamilton Street, Vancouver, BC V6B 6L2
604.609.0080

Earth Day Birthday and No Tulips

Let's grab something (a lot) to eat and let's go photograph tulips! 

That was yesterday's agenda. It was my uncle's birthday and so I decided to take him out for lunch. We went to Boston Pizza and ordered food enough for three, enjoyed devoured by two. We both got cocktails because well, it's his birthday; and we don't drink as often anymore so why not have a glass on this special occasion? Candy-coloured cocktails for the win? I think so. Better than beer? Let's just say we wanted it light.



We headed to the closest park to photograph tulips, supposedly. There were none; none at all. It was like a dead tundra.

On our way back to the centre we walked past a couple of tulips (almost in full bloom), cherry blossoms and japanese magnolias. I didn't take many photos, and the few I did manage to take didn't thrill me at all. Here are three okay ones:



None of them have the sharpness I was going for, but I guess that's because I used a 75-200mm lens to take these.

Anyway, I didn't know it was earth day yesterday until I came home last night! Tell me how timely our photo walk was.

Yesterday was a good day!

{ RAW PHOTOS }

Steveston Trail Near Garry Point Park

using a Canon EOS 600D

Manual; No flash

I lose my head and panic

Just when I thought I  would be able to write, words escape me. It's like I want to say so much, that I don't know where and how to start. Maybe it's all in my head - a voice telling me not to talk about it. I don't want to talk about it right now. But I feel like I have to - one way or another I feel the need to release the stress. 

( Photo taken at Davie St in Vancouver ) 

My sun sets only to rise again –

and it is going to shine brighter than ever. 

We all feel alone sometimes. I, probably more often than most people. Or I'd like to believe so. I am one of those people who can stand being alone in a public place, or in a crowded room but when things get heavy, I wish there was someone I could talk to. I know many people are just a message away but I have this fear that they won't get me. I could always try but being judged for reasons such as being misunderstood or shallow is another thing. 

The sun sets only to rise again; it's always been clear that things get better and that everything has a purpose but I can't help but feel like it gets tiring. It gets tiring to think of what could happen, what awaits and how to survive the days until that certain purpose comes.. Who am I kidding? This isn't why I am writing right now. Although it's all true, that's not why I am wide awake at 2 am writing this. 

Knowing myself pretty well, I should be stressing over this and that but surprisingly, I am not. Have I gone tired of putting myself through senseless (although not entirely senseless) crap? Have I finally learned to loosen up and stop thinking so much? Or again, have I just perfected the art of diversion that I can simply turn and run away from the things that bother me? Whatever it may be, I know I'll have to face them all eventually. I also know that it will all get better. It will all be fine. 

The night is deafening
when the silence is listening
and I'm down on my knees 
and I know that something is missing 
because the back of my mind is holding things I'm relying in 
but I choose to ignore it because I'm always denying them 

Nature Love

Last Sunday, after hearing mass and eating good Pho, my dad, my uncle and I went to this park in Richmond. I honestly thought that Minoru Park was just the field / stadium, running track and the small playground for children. My uncle brought us farther and there was a quaint chapel (no photo because a couple was having their pre-nuptial shoot) and a huge garden. Since Spring has arrived, almost all the flowers are already in full bloom and the ducks and geese were back from migration.

Being easily overwhelmed by the beauty of nature, I just had to take photos.

(Taken using a Canon T3i / 600D MF)

Aren't they lovely? I extremely think they are especially the white Cherry Blossoms!

The Things We Owe

Do you ever experience that sudden burst of sentimentality, even without any reason, whenever it rains? I do. Always. And it's one of those moments, too, wherein you play slow alternatives, sit by the window and pretend you're in a music video or something. I don't really imagine myself in being in a music video though. Instead, I listen to music and I begin to write. For some reason, it's when I am in that sentimental mood that gets me writing.

It's a Saturday afternoon. A dark, rainy one. And I am here thinking of writing on a topic that will suit the photos I took a while back.

I haven't been thinking deeply; hence, I haven't really had any realizations on life, on everything that we can all actually benefit from. I am so busy with school, I feel so drawn away from everything else. Quite frankly, it's actually nice. I don't know. Sometimes I feel like detaching from some things. My girlfriends knows that. I tell her my sentiments even the most nonsensical ones, and she's really great for keeping up with me :) She tells me I shouldn't mind it. But to myself, I always think of starting anew. Or something to that effect only less tiring and complicated.

I might not know the implications of what I am about to say and maybe I am out of my mind for saying this but sometimes I think to myself, I just want to grow up. I love being 19, young, and totally free to grab any opportunity that comes my way - may it be good or bad - but I just don't enjoy it that much as other teenagers. I dislike childish acts. I know I am guilty of that sometimes, and I despise myself for that, but I just want to keep all of that aside. I can't really explain it here, nor will I want or be able to explain it to anybody.

I guess I just want to change. or be better. What's difficult is the process - pulling away from the many things that have been with me for a while - progressive or not - and not regretting it. This isn't something that bothers me so much, just something that crosses my mind from time to time. I don't know. I want a quiet life. A quiet life with my girlfriend, working our way up our dreams ♥

In other words, maybe, I want to be more of a private person now, but I have gotten so used to being so public, so open I don't know how to pull away. I don't regret any of it though. I am actually grateful.

I don't worry so much. But yeah, it's something I'd write about.

Here's a song I have been listening to all afternoon. It's a really nice song.

Takida "The things we owe" from Johan Bååth on Vimeo.

Oh Lovely Steveston

When you wake up to a sunny day during winter, you don't just stay home, sit by the window and watch people enjoy it. You just don't torture yourself with envy. Although today, despite the beautiful weather, I wanted to just stay home and rest. But my dad kept making obvious comments he wanted to go out since it was really pretty outside. He even asked my if I had many things to do. Since it's only a Friday, I decided to put everything aside and ask him if he wanted to go to Steveston. He has only been there once and that was in 2010. He loved the place and I am sure he'd love it again now. I personally love Steveston. It's really nice out there when it's sunny. It's a quaint ole place where everybody seems so pleasant. It's like being in Stepford except for the whole being replaced with a robot thing. And the food's really good too. I used to go to Steveston every weekend with my mom, but when I came back last month, the weather never permitted me.

I didn't bring my backpack today. Hooray for a first! Instead, I brought my camera bag and my tripod. I took a few shots and found some of it to be lovely.

Taken using a Canon 600D; Macro: Manual. F4.0 ISO 3200.

None of the photos above are post-processed (edited), only copyrighted.

We ate at this small burger shack near the wharf after our walk. I had Salmon Burger. It was really good. And their onion rings? Heavenly <3 I would go there again. The shack is called The Village Burgery.

Today was a nice day. Thank you, Lord.