Friends in Vancouver

The trip to Canada was meant to catch up with old friends just as much as sight seeing.

The Lo's moved to Vancouver more than twenty five years ago in 1992 when their third child, the only son was barely two years old. Now, that "boy" is a married man!

Taken on 17 August 2017 after the Lo 

family took us for a dinner before 

we left Vancouver for the Rockies.

Right to left: Elaine and Cheryl.

Taken on 11 November 1983 during 

Sam's 1st birthday attended also by the 

Los' and daughter Cheryl (behind Elaine) 

and Elaine (in blue dress)

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The Chee couple, Frankie and Teresa (husband and wife) were once my classmates in Lok Yuk Secondary School in the 1960's. They moved to Vancouver earlier than the Lo's. The last time we met was in February 2014 when  they went back to KK to spend their Chinese New Year in Sabah (Read here). I had hoped that some of our classmates would take up the suggestion of a reunion in Vancouver, but that had not happened. I did promise the Chee's in the February 2017 gathering that I would visit them one day, which I did!

The Chee's took us to an extraordinary sumptuous Dim Sum. I could never forget this culinary experience because I had never seen such huge size of Siew Mai, Meat Ball etc in all their servings!

The Chee's took us to an extraordinary
sumptuous Dim Sum!

In front of the Chee's residence.

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I could not recall when I last saw the Voo's (Daniel and wife Carol). I believe it was in the early 1980's just before they moved to Canada. That's more than three decades ago! But surprisingly, they have not changed much.

Daniel Voo at 2nd from right and wife
Carol at right.

Daniel, Carol and my wife.

Colorized photo.

With Carol at 2nd left taken during the 
Basel Church Central Youth Convention in 

Sandakan probably in 1970

Friend in Vancouver: Leslie

If not because of Leslie Chong's brother in my Church who gave me his address, the meeting with this old friend would not have materialized.

I first got to know Leslie way back in 1971 when I was doing my Upper Six in Sabah College. I, Leslie and three other Upper Six students were selected by Shell Brunei for a scholarship interview in Seria, Brunei. At that time, there were only four schools which offered A Level in Sabah. They are Sabah College, La Salle, All Saints in KK and St Mary in Sandakan. 

For the scholarship, only two among the five would be selected to undergo a Bachelor Degree in Engineering in university in UK

At that time, it was a big thing to be given a chance to fly overseas. I remember I had to make my first passport for my first ever flying experience in an airplane. Seria at that time, was the oil town where Shell Head Office was based. When we landed in Seria, we were taken to their staff quarters, a very nice and well equipped building complex in today standard. The facility was complete with staff canteen and swimming pool, an enviable thing! We felt like being treated as VIP throughout our stay!

In the end, unfortunately or rather fortunately, both I and Leslie Chong were not selected. I said fortunately because had I gone to UK, I would have led a totally different life and would not have met my wife in University of Malaya! 

Leslie eventually went on his own to do a degree in Electrical Engineering. In my case, due to financial difficulty, I had to work for over a year in 1972 before I was offered a scholarship in early 1973 by Borneo Development Corporation to undergo a degree in Civil Engineering in University Malaya. BDC as it is known is a Government-Linked-Company (GLC) jointly owned by the Sabah and Sarawak State Government. In that year, BDC only offered two scholarships for UM degree courses. The other recipient, Vincent Gadalon, a Kadazan was offered to do a degree course in Economics.

For George Chin, a classmate of mine in Sabah College, he was offered the Shell scholarship to do a Civil Engineering degree course in Strathclyde University UK. He eventually returned to work in PWD. He is now living in Adelaide, Australia. Damain Lee, a student from La Salle moved on to become a successful businessman securing a PhD in Business Management later on.

Leslie is still working full time with the Canadian Government. Unfortunately, I did not manage to meet up with his wife during my visit to Vancouver. His wife, a medical doctor by profession attended Sunday worship service in my Church before they moved to Canada. As Leslie told us, his wife had stopped working in her medical profession after moving to Canada.  She is now more occupied by the grand kid.

Leslie took us for Japanese food with the 

Lo's in Kawawa Japanese Restaurant in 

Metropolis Metrotown,Vancouver on 20.08.2017. 

From left: George Chin, Damian Lee,
Leslie Chong & me in Seria, Brunei
- 1971.

Colourized photo.

From left: Me, Another student from La Salle 

whose name I can't remember, George Chin, 

Damain Lee and Leslie Chong taken next 

to the swimming pool of Shell Staff Quarters, 

Seria, Brunei - 1971.

Vancouver Island: Duncan & Chemainus

Duncan, a small town in Vancouver Island is best remembered as a town of  totem poles. One can find totem poles of all shapes and sizes planted in every corner of this town. For a small town with practically nothing to offer, this is a clever way to create something unique to market to tourists.

Totem poles are monumental carvings consisting of poles, posts of pillars carved with symbols or figures. Each pole is carved from a tree and every pole has a story to tell. Totem poles are part of the culture of the indigenous people of Canada. These days, the proper term to address these people is the "First Peoples" or the "First Nations".

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Duncan also boasts of having the world's largest hockey stick and puck. It weighs 28.118 tonnes and is 205 feet long. Quite a massive structure!

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The story of Chemainus is fairly similar to Duncan. The place first started as a logging town in mid-1800's. Then in 1980's, timber industry experienced a major slump. Chemainus, being a small community was having a tough time to face this recession.

Karl Schutz, originally from Germany came up with the idea of painting murals to re-vitalize the economy of Chemainus. Ten years after he floated the idea, Mayor Graham Bruce finally hired Schutz to carry out his arts economic stimulus project. The first mural was painted in 1981, two years before the sawmill closed. His plan proved successful. Today, Chemainus is painted with more than 40 murals, the vast majority of which depict scenes from the town's history.

Chemainus is a success story. Sometimes, no matter how good an idea one may have, it would remain an idea until someone sees its potential and is ready to finance and help to market it! The Chinese has a phrase for it: Your fortune might change for the better if you meet a noble (貴人)! Karl Schultz found Mayor Graham Bruce!

This painting by Paul Ygartua with images 

of the First Nations faces is considered 

the mural to see first by visitors.

Water Wheel.

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In this small town, we found two tiny churches within walking distance to each other. I spent quite a while appreciating the architecture of these tinny buildings.

The Chemainus United Church.

St. Michael & All Angels Anglican Church.

Canadian Salmon

We were taken to Gold Stream Provincial Park soon after visiting Hatley Castle in Vancouver Island. This is one location where visitors would be able to see first hand the annual return run of spawning salmon.

Salmon born in the river head off to the ocean for four years to grow. They then return to the home river to reproduce. Three species of salmon namely Chum, Coho and Chinook return to the Goldstream River to lay eggs on the gravel in the river bed. This phenomenon normally begins in mid October and lasts about nine weeks. We were one month too early and therefore did not manage to see any salmon. 

The only consolation is to walk in the mossy forest and admire the huge trees in this Park. In the end, we have a fair bit of idea of the kind of environment salmon are accustomed to in their return run.

Chum

Coho

Chinook

Vancouver Island: Butchart Gardens & Hatley Castle

We decided to explore Vancouver Island by way of joining a local 2D1N tour. Our tour bus driver after picking up all the tour members, drove straight to the Ferry Terminal at Tsawwassen. Once the loading process of all vehicles into the ferry was completed, all passengers disembarked from the vehicles. We had a simple snack at the ferry restaurant before we chose a comfortable spot in the indoor lounges to relax. When confronted with pleasant sea view, we moved out to the balconies to enjoy the scenery. The 1 hour 35 minutes journey across the Strait of Georgia was quite a pleasant experience. The ferry finally berthed at Swartz Bay Terminal of Vancouver Island and after unloading, we proceeded straight to the first destination - the Butchard Gardens.

Almost everyone who comes to visit Vancouver would make a stop at Butchart Gardens. Every year, a million visitors come to see this Gardens.

Butchart Gardens has a history dating back to the early 1900's. In 1904, Robert Pim Butchart first set up a limestone quarry and built a cement factory at the current garden site. When limestone was exhausted, his wife Jennie began to create something of beauty out of the massive dug pit. She organised the pit to be filled up and eventually the quarry was turned into the now famous Sunken Gardens.

The Gardens was later on given to the grandson, Ian Ross during the latter 21st birthday. For 50 years, Ian was deeply involved in the upgrading and improvement of the Gardens. He introduced outdoor symphony concerts and a variety of stage show. Ian died in 1997.

Ian's son, Christopher, a gifted dancer added new features to the Gardens. He designed, produced and executed firework shows choreographed to music. This tradition is maintained and kept to this days.

In 2009, the current owner, Robin-Lee Clarke, great granddaughter of Jennie Butchart continued the good works of her ancestors. One of her contributions is the Children's Pavilion in the Gardens.

 

 

 

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The next day, we went straight to Hatley Castle after breakfast. Hatley castle was built in early 1900's by the Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia, a Scotsman, James Dunsmuir and his wife Laura as their family mansion. The castle was occupied by the family and James' descendants until the death of Laura in 1936. It was then sold to the Canadian Government in 1939. The Canadian Government had since then sold off portions of the land. Beginning 1995, the property has become the premise for the Royal Roads University. By then the Castle has been accredited as a Classified Federal Heritage Building. It is simultaneously being used as the University administration building. Because of its current usage, we were only able to appreciate the castle from the outside.