Barbecue Picnic at Second Beach

Summer 2007 was in its final throes. The days were getting shorter. The mornings and evenings were getting cooler. Since the Fuentes family never had a real picnic this summer, Lyn thought of having one, especially after having a gorgeous barbecue picnic the previous week with churchmates at Second Beach in Stanley Park.

Initially, lunch was supposed to be longanisa and rice with tomato and balsamic vinegar. It didn’t sound very “picnicky” though. Fortunately, Ronnie remembered seeing a portable yet disposable barbecue grill which was on sale at the supermarket. It came with mesquite charcoal, steel base and mesh, and paper starter. They bought two just to be sure.

Raf chose the meats for grilling. He went for the marinated ribs and chicken drumsticks. Chocolate cookies and fruit cups were for dessert. Of course, what’s a picnic without pop and chips?

The next day, Saturday, the family headed to Second Beach in Stanley Park. Lyn wanted a nice spot under the trees while Ronnie wanted the same one where their churchmates had barbecue last week. Unfortunately, most of the picnic grounds and the picnic tables were already occupied by members of the Hare Krishna sect, who was having a religious celebration there.

However, there was a lone picnic table a few metres from the festivities. It was right under the trees, which provided some shade. But the constant drum beats and “Hare Krishna” chants blaring from the speakers compelled Ronnie and Raf to scout for another. Raf found a nice one a few metres from the seashore and immediately reserved a table.

Always the homemaker, Lyn daintily set up the picnic table with a checkered tablecloth. Soon after, Ronnie was firing up the barbie. In 20 minutes, they were grilling chicken legs, pork ribs, hot dogs and veggies. All agreed that food tasted better when it's cooked with fire.

After lunch, Raf snuck into the tent and caught up with his reading while his dad went to the seashore nearby and took some pictures. His mom, as usual, was cleaning up the mess left by them. In case they got hungry later, she put the leftover meats inside an aluminum container and placed it on top of the grill to keep it warm.

As the afternoon went by lazily, a strong wind started to blow and the temperature began to drop. This was the trio's cue to pack up and call it a day. Besides, the sea breeze was driving the smoke from a neighbouring barbecue their way.

Contentedly lugging their backpacks and bags, they walked to English Bay and stopped by Starbucks to get warmed up before heading home. •

Canada Day Celebrations in the Sunshine Coast

It was the first long weekend of summer, and Lyn, the family’s official holiday planner, wanted to go out of Vancouver and do something special on July 1, Canada Day. Since she wanted to go to the beach, Ronnie suggested White Rock, which was only an hour away by transit from their place. Of course, Lyn shot down his idea immediately, for what she had in mind involved one with ferry rides, like going to Bowen Island or to Gibsons or Sechelt in the Sunshine Coast.

Because the family hadn’t been to Sechelt before (although the city was a few kilometers away from Gibsons, which they already visited two years ago), they decided to go there and catch the first ferry trip at 9:35 a.m. the next day.

Though all woke up early for a quick breakfast, they weren’t able to catch the bus that would take them downtown to catch another bus that would take them to Horseshoe Bay in West Vancouver, where the ferries were. Fifteen minutes later, another bus came and Ronnie, Lyn and Raf where on their first leg of their long day trip to the Sunshine Coast.

After 40 minutes, the adventurous three were in downtown Vancouver waiting for another bus that would take them to the ferries. The second leg of their journey would soon begin in 20 minutes. The Blue Bus to Horseshoe Bay was jam packed with holiday travelers.

The trip to the ferries was lengthy. Although there were still 15 minutes to spare before the Queen of Surrey left for Langdale in the Sunshine Coast, the family dashed toward the ticketing office and to the docks. The traveling trio was the last to board the vessel before the crew closed the gate. (If they didn’t make it on time, the family would have to wait for two hours for the next ferry at 11:45 a.m.)

The traveling distance between Horseshoe Bay and Langdale was 9.7 nautical miles. During the 40-minute trip, Raf was having his second breakfast of the day at the ship’s cafeteria while Lyn and Ronnie were simply lounging around in the passenger deck.

From Langdale terminal, the group hopped on a bus that would take them to the town of Sechelt, which was 23 km away. It was another 40-minute ride, where Lyn managed to doze off.

Reaching Langdale town proper, the bus driver dropped the three near where the action was: the Canada Day Parade. It was half way through when they got there. The procession wasn’t that entertaining for big-city folks like the Fuenteses, but they found it a pleasure to see the small community (population as of 1996: 7,343) displaying their civic pride.

After the parade, it was time to explore what “the Land between the Seas” had to offer. Lyn discovered that the shops here were a lot better than the ones in Gibsons; however, almost all of them were closed, including the restaurants. “I wonder how the city looks like on a weekday,” she told Ronnie, who was checking the map for a good place to eat. “It’s a virtual ghost town, especially after the crowds have left,” he noted. “It’s a sleepy town,” Raf remarked.

Tired and famished, they eventually found a Greek eatery, which was packed with hungry tourists and sightseers. An order of lamb and beef souvlaki and halibut and chips with some iced tea revitalized the three day-trippers.

And to help their system digest their heavy meals, they walked to Trail Bay and meandered along the seawall. Then they were off to Gibsons, where other Canada Day activities were happening, before taking the ferry back home.

At the “Gateway to the Sunshine Coast,” the family rested for a short time at Winegarden Park to listen to the interesting riffs of a jazz band. Afterwards, they checked out Molly’s Lane to see what’s new. Finding nothing much had changed since their last visit, they decided to go home and catch the 5:15 p.m. ferry to Horseshoe Bay.

And like their ferry ride to Langdale, Ronnie, Lyn and Raf were the last foot passengers to catch the trip — again. •

Granville Island

Finally, after almost being cooped up indoors every Saturday because of the rain and wind, the Fuentes family was set free — thanks to the sunshine and seasonably mild weather! After eating one heavy brunch of pancakes, eggs, bacon, ham and wieners, off they went to Granville Island.

You don't need to ride a ferry to reach this urban oasis (though you can get there on a boat, too). Because it's in the middle of Vancouver, you can take the bus, drive the car, bike, jog or walk. Nestled under the Granville Street Bridge in the shores of False Creek, Granville Island is a popular destination among tourists and locals. Plus, you can find unique stuff here you can't see in other stores in the city.

One of the must-see spots in the area is the Kids Market, which is right at the entrance. As soon as they arrived, the three split into two groups. Lyn went to the Umbrella Shop (if you live in Vancouver, you should at least own two brollies: an umbrella-friend [payong kaibigan] and umbrella-brother [payong kapatid]) while Ronnie and Raf proceeded to the Kids Market. She caught up with her big boys at the Granville Island Toy Company, where Raf bought a nose flute (a small plastic contraption you place on your nose and blow) and Ron was browsing for action figures to add to his growing collection.

There were more shops upstairs, and checked them out the three did. The first to caught their eye was Clownin' Around, where they sell novelty items like joy buzzers, fake dog poo and magic paraphernalia. A big fan of practical jokes, Raf got himself a bag of extra-strength itching powder, a pouch of liquid solidifier and a pack of candies that taste like smelly feet. However, his parents opted for real treats that actually taste good; so, they got some sweets at Ribbit's Candy Corner. (If you're into collecting PEZ candies, then this is the place to go. They have huge PEZ candy dispensers!)

It was getting hot and humid inside Kids Market. So, they decided to go out and get some fresh air while walking to the Granville Island Public Market to grab a bite. On the way to the market, they got sidetracked by Tallulah, a street performer. Her juggling act was not that spectacular, but it was her adlibs that got the audience's attention. She was really funny and had everyone in stitches.

When the performance was over, Lyn dragged her two boys to Net Loft, which was near the public market. You'll find more unique and hard-to-find stuff here like custom eyeglasses, head gear and unusual stationery. Raf didn't want them to stay long here because he had already digested his brunch and was eagerly looking forward to dinner.

Dinner was supposed to be at the public market's fast-food area, but it was too crowded and noisy. So, the family decided to try the small café near the entrance to Granville Island, which was known for its fish and chips. •

The Polar Express at the CN IMAX Theatre

Watching a Christmas classic like Chris Van Allsburg's The Polar Express in a theatre is okay. Watching it in 3-D on a screen eight storeys high with 12,000 watts of digital surround sound is awesome!

It was the last day of the movie's limited holiday screening when the family watched this Tom Hanks-voiced film at the CN IMAX Theatre in Canada Place. They almost missed the 4 p.m screening if not for their neighbours who bought advanced tickets for them. Otherwise, they could have ended up waiting for the next screening, which was at 7 p.m.

The bus ride to Canada Place normally took them a half hour. But it was the last Sunday before Christmas and thousands of people were out doing their shopping. Plus, embarking passengers with baby strollers and in wheelchairs and tourists looking for directions prolonged the trip.

There was already a long lineup at the box office when the three got there. On the P.A., someone was announcing that the 4 p.m. showing was already sold out. The family was really thankful that they already have reserved tickets on hand. Unfortunately, they didn't get the best seats in the house as they were seated at the far-left side of the screen. But with the gigantic screen, they didn't mind it and enjoyed the first full-length movie ever converted into IMAX 3D.

The 96-minute-long feature was about a skeptical boy who takes an amazing train ride to the North Pole and to eventual self-discovery, revealing to him that the magic of Christmas never fails for those who continue to believe. For Roger Ebert of the Ebert & Roeper fame, "... the best 3-D viewing experience I've ever had. If there's a choice, try the IMAX version. Or go twice. This is a movie that doesn't wear out."

Or just buy the DVD, which Lyn is planning to next Christmas. •

Festival of Lights at the VanDusen Botanical Garden

It has been almost three months since the Fuenteses had done anything worth blogging about. Finally, they did something! On the last weekend (of shopping) before Christmas, Ronnie, Lyn and Raf went to the Festival of Lights held at the VanDusen Botanical Garden.

The 22-hectare garden is located in Vancouver and very popular with locals and tourists from around the world. Opened in Aug. 30, 1975, the VanDusen Botanical Garden has more than 7,500 different varieties of flora gathered from all continents (except Antarctica). Unfortunately, the family didn't see much of these plants because they went there at night.

That evening, everyone in the city seemed to have the same idea of taking in the sights of a million Christmas lights in the garden. Traffic was already building on Oak St. when they took the bus heading to VanDusen. And there was already a long lineup at the entrance when they got there.

While the family was finding their way to buy tickets, a volunteer asked them if they were choir members who were scheduled to sing Christmas carols for tonight. Ronnie said no and they were redirected politely to the box office. Apparently, they were heading straight to the performers' entrance. "We almost have gotten inside for free and saved us money," Ronnie remarked. "Yeah, and it could have been like an episode from Mr. Bean," Raf added, referring to the scene where Rowan Atkinson was mistakenly handed a conductor's baton and mischievously played around with a musical quartet.

Finally, the three got in. Being surrounded by myriads of Christmas lights, they felt disoriented at first. Plus, maps weren't available and the lights themselves obscured the directions to certain routes. So, they just followed the crowd wherever it was going. The atmosphere was festive with carollers singing live in the background. Because the temperature was chilly (-3 C), the paths were frozen and some still had snow from a week ago.

The shivering multitude lead them to a path where at the end was a kiosk selling kettle corn (corn popped in a bucket) and hot beverages. For Raf, the nippy weather condition was ideal for noshing fresh popcorn and sipping a steaming cup of hot chocolate. However, his parents told him not to because they're having dinner after.

But the three simply couldn't resist the sweet smell of chestnuts roasting on an open fire (yes, just like the song). On their way to Santa's Living Room, they spotted a cart hawking this edible nut. The aroma brought back memories of the Christmas tiangge (flea market) at the Greenhills Shopping Center in San Juan back home.

Santa's Living Room was packed with kids and their parents. Since Raf was too big to sit on Mr. Kringle's lap, Lyn just snapped some pictures of him talking with the little guys. After a picture or two, she decided to call it a night, which was okay for her boys because they were cold, tired and hungry. •

Playland at the PNE

It was autumn's first weekend and, amazingly, the sun was out with temperatures in the double digits. The family still had tickets to Playland at the Pacific National Exhibition (PNE) grounds that they haven't used in the summer. So, it was the perfect day to redeem those and enjoy the outdoors while they still could (because for the next nine months, it's going to be miserably cold and soggy).

They had been to Playland before whenever they went to the PNE every year in the summer, but they never once took a whirl in its rides mainly because Raf was too small then and too scared to enjoy them. Plus, the family didn't want to waste their weekend waiting for hours in long lineups for rides that lasted less than five minutes.

As soon as they entered the gate, the three proceeded to the nearest ride: the Crazy Beach Party. Also known as the Frisbee, this contraption sent Ronnie, Lyn and Raf spinning fast while sitting on a large disc that swung back and forth like a clock pendulum but at an almost 90-degree angle. It was a good idea that they let two hours elapse after eating brunch. Otherwise, they would be saying goodbye to partly digested pancakes, eggs, bacon and wieners.

Their first ride set the mood for Raf's day. After surviving the Crazy Beach Party, he was raring to go to the other attractions. He was no longer afraid of them, unlike before. However, it also determined the condition of Ronnie's stomach: it was queasy all day long. Nauseated, he begged to sit down first before heading off to another one. But Raf was insistent that they should go to the Flume next. Not wanting to spoil their day, Ronnie acquiesced, albeit half-heartedly.

The Flume was a wet one. It took the trio on a comfortable and picturesque log ride that had a calming and soothing effect — until they plunged down a 40-foot drop! It ended with a giant splash, with Ronnie acting as a windshield. Now, he's not only squeamish, he's cold and dripping, too.

Lyn and Raf weren't as soaked, and the two chose to dry off their clothes through the Wave Swinger. Ronnie decided to sit this one out and instead took pictures of the two while they were swinging outwards at speeds of 48 kph (30 mph) while suspended from an umbrella-like top. That would definitely dry their clothes like a washer's spin cycle.

After taking a spin on this German import, Raf figured it's time to give his mom and dad a rest finally — but not for him. He went straight to the bumper cars! Lyn told him to be extra careful, reminding him of what happened to his cousin Nigel in the Philippines, who suffered internal bleeding when he was hit hard riding this amusement park favourite. Did this idea stop Raf from riding? No. In fact, he went riding again — twice! However, he did stop for a minute or two to contemplate what ride to go to next. This time, it's Break Dance.

Break Dance kind of reminded Ronnie and Lyn of the Cups and Saucers in Manila's Fiesta Carnival. But this isn't your parents' (or grandparents') ride, as they say. This mean, spinning machine has 16 cars that twirl around on a huge rotating disc with multidirectional variable speeds and lateral forces. Of course, Ronnie sat this one out again, watching Lyn screaming and Raf laughing at her silly. As if that wasn't enough, the two rode it two more times during their visit here. (But Lyn was really pukish after that.)

Right next to Break Dance was the Wild Mouse. Because it was the smallest roller coaster in the park, it appeared tame and was designed for kids. Lyn and Raf thought wrong — its overly tight hairpin turns made them feel like they were falling off the tracks! These were then followed by a series of steep drops. (It was in one of those ups and downs where Raf banged his nose on the back of Lyn's head. Owww!) And where was Ronnie during all this time? He's still sitting this ride out and taking pictures.

However, he was doing okay when they went to Music Express. It reminded him of the Caterpillar when the perya came during town fiestas. But that was more than 30 years ago. This ride was louder, faster and gave you the impression of almost being ejected off of your seat. There was also the feeling of being crushed, especially when you sit toward the outside like Lyn, with her boys adding extra weight.

As if all that g-force wasn't enough, the three went to Enterprise. But Raf backed out this time. Sitting inside a car that's spinned vertically didn't sound like fun to him. (There went Ronnie's dream of Raf becoming the first Filipino-Canadian astronaut.)

Lyn was very apprehensive when they sat inside a car — there were no seat belts! In this ride, gravity and centrifugal force did the restraining. And like the Music Express, there was also that squishing effect (this time, it's Lyn's turn to crush Ronnie).

Enterprise was the last one for Ronnie. All that upside-down spinning and negative g-force made him dizzy. He went to the nearest picnic table and sat there for a while to gather his bearings. Raf took this opportunity to grab his mom and ride some more on their favourites like Music Express, Break Dance and the Flume.

At the end, Raf was the only one left standing — and to think he was the one who didn't like going to Playland! As for Ronnie and Lyn, they couldn't wait to measure their blood pressure at home. •

Bowen Island Experience

With both Ronnie and Lyn taking several days off to spend the last days of summer with Raf, the family agreed that now would be a good time to have a day trip outside the city. There were options like Vancouver Island, but they have been there three times already. And besides, you cough up money every time you enter one of its tourist attractions.

Salt Spring Island was another choice. It's only a two-hour ferry ride from Vancouver. However, the ferry leaves around 10 in the morning and returns around 4 in the afternoon, leaving the family just a few hours to take in the sights and sounds of the island.

Then there's Bowen Island in the Sunshine Coast, which was only a 20-minute ferry ride from Horseshoe Bay in West Vancouver. Plus, the ferry from the island leaves every hour by the hour, giving them lots of time to explore the small 51.8-sq. km (20-sq. mi.) haven.

The trip sounded like a plan, so one Saturday, the three woke up in time to catch the early bus that will take them to Horseshoe Bay. The winding drive leading to the ferries reminded Ronnie and Lyn of Kennon Road in Baguio, the Philippines' summer capital.

And West Vancouver's scenic vistas and multimillion-dollar homes will always take the breath away of anyone going to the ferry docks. "I'd like to move here someday," Lyn said wishfully as the three disembarked, heading to the ticket office. "But the mountains ruin the view," replied Ronnie.

It was almost 10 a.m. when the Queen of Capilano arrived. Since the travel time was short and weather nice and sunny, the three decided to enjoy the ride on the sun deck, which offered views of the Gulf Islands. Raf noticed that some of the passengers were wearing colourful clothes reminiscent of the 1960s and '70s, and several vehicles were carrying musical instruments. There was also a group of bagpipe players. Little did the Fuenteses know that Bowen Island was holding Bowfest that day, an annual themed festivity. This year's theme was Flower Power. (Ronnie thought that it was Wear Your Bright Shirt Day, and somehow missed the sign when they bought tickets.)

The ferry docked on Snug Cove a little before 10:30 a.m. The three had no idea where to go to, so they just followed where the rest of the foot passengers were going. They found themselves in front of the old Union Steamship Company Marina building, one of the famous landmarks in the area. You can buy souvenirs, pop and ice cream here, but it was temporarily closed in the morning to make way for the Bowfest parade, which was about to start.

The parade was short but sweet, and it was a big deal especially for this community of 3,500 people. There were bagpipe players, young and old people in Woodstock fashion, mascots, jugglers, belly dancers, young martial artists, and the ubiquitous police cars and fire engines. The procession was over in less than an hour, which was okay because it gave the three more time to check out what the island had to offer.

Artistic Lyn obviously wanted to visit Artisan Square, which was a short 15-minute hike from Viewpoint Trail. Considered Bowen Island's creative centre, Artisan Square is composed of galleries, shops, art studios and cafés. Making the uphill climb to the place wasn't a good idea at first because some parts of the path were made up of loose rocks. However, the views and the quiet were worth the extra effort. From the trail, they were rewarded with a spectacular panorama of Howe Sound and the marina! After surveying the centre, the three went downhill, which was a lot faster (thanks to gravity).

All that walking worked up an appetite. So, it was time to grab a bite. Lunch was at Doc Morgan's Inn along the boardwalk at Snug Cove. According to Lyn, the seafood chowder here was the best she has ever tasted. For dessert, they bought some chocolate chip cookies from a small neighbourhood bakery, and chowed them down by the pier where a Coast Guard hovercraft happened to dock. (Tip: Never stand behind a moving hovercraft; it will blow you away — literally.)

After getting enough wind gusts to last them a lifetime, the Fuenteses joined in in the Bowfest celebrations, but decided to watch the festivities from a distance while lying under a tree. It was also a perfect opportunity for Ronnie to catch some z's.

Ninety minutes of aspiring dancers, struggling musicians and '70s rock music seemed to be enough for one day, so the family figured it was time to head for home. They sauntered back to the dock to catch the 5 p.m. ferry to Vancouver.

Everyone one had a great time, and the family is thinking of visiting the island oasis again next summer. •