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Wanderful is an ongoing feature where I throw a hypothetical dart at the Vancouver map and travel there – by foot or by transit, and attempt to capture some of the cool and interesting details that make that particular neighborhood unique. From sidewalks to back alleys, gardens to graffiti, I’ll become a wandering tourist in my own backyard. Armed with only a camera and very little natural sense of direction, it’s an journey of modest proportions, and an opportunity to see more of what makes this city AWESOME! |
Have you ever passed through an area so often that it almost slips off your radar, it's so familiar? I regularly ride a bus or skytrain through Chinatown to get to various other places around the city, but rarely do I actually stop and explore. When I do finally make a trip, I'm reminded of what a neat part of Vancouver it is: the hustle and bustle of the busy shops, the vibrant shades of red and gold, the ornate dragons sitting atop the lampposts. Everywhere you look, you find culture and history.
From the World's Narrowest Building, to endless opened doorways leading up steep staircases, the heritage architecture is really unique in this area. Although there are a number of run-down buildings in this part of town, it also seems like a lot of new shops and restaurants are beginning to move in, adding to the diverse feeling of the neighbourhood.
On this particular visit I discovered the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Park that sits at the corner of Carrall and Keefer. It's one of those places in the city I must have walked by a thousand times, but I never realized it was there (and free to the public). (Apparently I was the only one... it's obviously quite popular among tourists). It's a beautiful spot, with lush and shaded pathways, small bridges spanning pools of lily pads, and koi fish swimming through reflections of nearby glass highrises. Like some of the other community gardens in Vancouver, it makes for a nice place to just stop for a few minutes and catch your breath.
Some of my favourite moments during this project have been when meeting friendly individuals off the beaten path. I'm a huge fan of exploring all parts of the city, and side streets and alleys add such interesting narrative to the story of Vancouver. This time I came across a man who was feeding peanuts (?) to a quickly growing flock of crows. You could tell that they were well acquainted with each other. People are so fascinating, and what better way to get a feel for any neighbourhood than to talk directly to those who live in the area?
When you think of Chinatown, you can help but think of food; it's a destination for people who love to cook, people who love to eat, and photographers who like to capture both. BBQ chickens hang glistening in steamy windows, fresh fish lay on chipped ice, exotic spices and ingredients are fragrantly piled in open bins along the sidewalk. It's amazing to take it all in, and so distinct from other parts of the city.
There is no shortage of things to see, and if you haven't visited this area recently during one of the many festivals or Night Market evenings, it's definitely worth making the trip. Noteworthy parts of my day: enjoying New Town bakery's sweet coconut buns, the colourful paper lanterns at Bamboo Village, and being buzzed into the 104-year-old Tosi's deli for some of the best olives I've ever eaten. So many hidden gems to discover in this neighbourhood. What are you waiting for?
