In Appreciation of Sue Johanson

Johanson gave no-nonsense advice about sex and relationships

On social media there's a lot of outpouring of appreciation for Sue Johanson, who gave the straight-up talk about sex to young people in the mid-80s for over 20 years. She died yesterday in Thornhill, Ontario yesterday at the age of 93.

I found out about this woman on the TV guide and had to watch her show. I was thankful -- like many other young people -- that she gave us the information we needed to know (or wanted to know) about sex, relationships, and sexual identity.

She enjoyed making O'Brien blush on TV

Here was this grandma figure who took callers' questions with a straight face, didn't judge them and answered them the best she could. Johanson gave tips on how to apply condoms, and birth control, what to do with bad boyfriends and sex toys. 

Her daughter Jane Johanson said: "She never brushed people aside. She treated everyone absolutely the same. She was never judgmental, nor was she condescending or disapproving of any question that came her way... I think everybody felt like they had another mother or another grandmother with Sue."

Johanson trained as a nurse in Winnipeg, and later opened a birth control clinic at a Toronto high school for two decades. 

In 1984 she began hosting a Toronto radio show called Sunday Night Sex Show and later had a TV show. Then viewers in the United States got to know her on Talk Sex with Sue Johanson from 2002 to 2008.

During that time there was a lot of fear around AIDS and she gave the medical facts around it, which is why she was insistent that people use condoms. She also was sympathetic to young gay people who were discovering their identities and Johanson gave them support and resources to make them feel less alone.

Johanson talking to host Jay Leno

"It didn't matter who you were, what your sexual preference was, how you identified, what you might be dealing with in terms of the time of AIDS -- like, she embraced everybody and who they were. And that just... made me so proud. We are so proud of our dear Sue, my mom," Jane Johanson said.

I'm seeing on YouTube she made several appearances on Late Night with Conan O'Brien, making him feel uneasy as she pulled out numerous sex toys and demonstrating how to use them in a no-nonsense way. In one she shows how to test out a vibrator by holding it under your nose. 

While O'Brien may have thought this was entertaining (at his expense), it was informative for millions of viewers who wanted to know more.

"She loved what she did. She cared about people's sexual health, sexual information, and she just wanted to be of assistance to people in that way," Jane Johanson said.

"She just invented a niche for herself and did a beautiful job teaching people about sex and sexual health."

Last year a full-length documentary about her, called Sex with Sue was released. Hope to watch it one day.

Review: Ponyo

Sosuke finds a fish and names it Ponyo

Following its successful launch of showing films by Studio Ghibli during spring break, the Vancouver Film Festival has restarted the series with a part 2 and I saw one of my friend YTSL's favourites -- Ponyo!

Before her obsession with Funassyi, the pear fairy, YTSL was in love with Ponyo, a red goldfish princess that magically transformed into a little girl. YTSL even carried around a Ponyo plushie around and took many scenic photographs with her while traveling.

But I digress.

They are both thrilled by their noodle dishes

I finally saw the movie the other day and enjoyed it very much. Director Hayao Miyazaki really understands children, how they think and act which makes Ponyo a delight to watch. 

We meet her as a goldfish under the sea, escaping from her wizard father Fujimoto, who feels obligated to teach humans how they have destroyed the natural environment. As if by fate she meets a little boy, Sosuke who finds her and really cares for her as a fish in his green bucket.

There is another story about the Sosuke and his mother Lisa, and how his father is constantly away as captain of his ship. While Sosuke is an obedient child and helps his mom, she gets frustrated that her husband often breaks promises.

Lisa works in a senior's home that's conveniently next door to the primary school that Sosuke goes to; the seniors who live there are a hoot, and even better when one of them is voiced by Betty White!

Lisa passes out after drinking beer

Amidst all this Ponyo arrives and on top of that becomes a little girl. The scenes of her discovering how things work are just as one would imagine a real child reacting to things they had never seen before. 

But then one day the seas become extremely rough, causing Sosuke's father to wonder if there is a tsunami; there is a disturbance in the equilibrium of the earth, and only Ponyo and Sosuke can make it peaceful again...

The version I watched was the English one, dubbed with the voices of Liam Neeson as Ponyo's father Fujimoto, Noah Cyrus as Ponyo, and Tina Fey as Lisa. Fey's voice was not recognisable to me, while Neeson and White were.

Nevertheless the dialogue especially of Lisa was funny, reflecting the stress of marriage and relationships. Most hilarious was her irate messages to her husband via signalling lamps.

However, one did have to suspend reality to believe a goldfish could become a little girl, but Ponyo is such a cute character that viewers are keen to watch what happens next with her and Sosuke. 

Cute underwater scene with sea creatures too

Miyazaki purposely chose Sosuke to be a five-year-old boy -- not too young to take on some serious tasks, and not too old to dislike girls. 

Meanwhile the animation, particularly under the sea in the opening scene is so imaginative; later on there's a scene of a huge flood and an octopus finds its way into the entrance of Sosuke's home.

Ponyo is an enjoyable film that hardly feels like 101 minutes, that has themes of love, the environment and relationships all rolled up neatly into this story.

Ponyo

Directed by Hayao Miyazaki

101 minutes

Fact of the Day: US$108M for Klimt Painting

Gustav Klimt's last completed painting before he died in 1918

Some Hongkongers still have deep, deep pockets to splurge in the hundreds of millions at an art auction.

One of the last paintings by Austrian artist Gustav Klimt was sold to a Hong Kong collector for £85.3 million (US$108.4 million), making it the most expensive artwork ever sold in Europe.

Entitled Dame mit Facher (Lady with a Fan) sold to a Hong Kong client after a 10-minute bidding war between four people at Sotheby's in London.

The sale price far exceeded the presale estimate of £65 million (US$80 million).

The painting was the last portrait Klimt completed before he died in 1918. It shows an unidentified woman against a resplendent China-influenced backdrop of a phoenix, peacock and lotus blossoms.

It was last sold in 1994 for US$11.6 million at auction in New York.

Talk about a beautiful investment after 29 years...

For the rest of us plebeians how long before we get to see this painting again?

105 Keefer Gets Development Approval

This vacant lot will have a nine-storey condo building

Six years after its proposal was rejected, developer Beedie Holdings Ltd's controversial plans to build a nine-storey building with luxury condos in Chinatown were approved this afternoon.

The decision on 105 Keefer Street by Vancouver's development permit board was unanimous -- but with some conditions, including adjustments to the building's facade, and improving the building's relationship to nearby "cultural significant" features, such as the Chinatown Memorial Monument, and the Dr Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden.

Architect's rendering of 105 Keefer development

Rob Fiorvento, managing partner of Beedie, said the company was "obviously pleased" with the decision and "we look forward to working with city staff and community groups to move this project forward."

However, to say those who were vehemently opposed to the project were upset would be an understatement.

When the announcement was made, Melody Ma of #savechinatownyvr tweeted "The @cityofvancouver is on the wrong side of history".

Jade Ho is an organiser with the Vancouver Tenants Union that opposed the condo project, and said the decision marks a "singularly appalling moment" in a city that continues to prioritize "profit over people."

"The decision that they made today is going to exacerbate displacement and it's going to accelerate gentrification in a neighbourhood that is already increasingly unliveable for low-income seniors and residents," she said.

More than 140 people went to City Hall to voice their opposition to the project, a hearing that took three days to complete. Many complained the condo building's design was not cultural sensitive, that it was right next to a memorial square, and the neighbourhood's residents would be unable to afford any of the units there.

Many elderly seniors strongly opposed the project

However, several business groups in Chinatown supported the development of the land, now a parking lot, a move that has polarised the neighbourhood, with groups like Vancouver Chinatown Foundation and Vancouver Chinatown Business Improvement Association, Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Vancouver, and Chinese Benevolent Association of Vancouver for the condo development.

Ironically back in 2017 these groups opposed Beedie's proposal, but now -- despite no changes to the plans -- they have changed their minds and are keen for any kind of development in the belief that it will help revitalise the neighbourhood.

But while the city has approved this project in the hopes of increasing its housing stock, it could be years before these condos will be built -- if ever. There are still many hurdles ahead, not to mention getting enough capital to start digging up the parking lot. 

Mayor Ken Sim and his ABC Vancouver majority in City Hall are sympathetic to developers and 105 Keefer is proof of it, along with other concessions to these firms in the hopes that they will build more housing. But more checks and balances need to be made to ensure completion of these buildings otherwise nothing will have been achieved.

Okanagan: Dining at Tinhorn Creek

The view of the rolling hills from Miradoro at Tinhorn Creek

Another winery we visited was Tinhorn Creek in Oliver which is near Osoyoos. It's up on a hill with its terraced vineyards, and wine production, sales, and restaurant all on this big complex. 

The restaurant, called Miradoro overlooks the rolling hills that are reminiscent of Tuscany; but the day we went the skies were overcast so temperature-wise it was on the chilly side.

Butter lettuce salad with goat cheese, radish

Nevertheless we looked at the menu which would appeal to most diners, from savoury doughnuts with garlic, honey and parmesan, to beef and pork meatballs, pizzas, pastas, pork chop and halibut. Most of the ingredients are local, within a short distance of the winery.

We started with the north Okanagan butter lettuce that came with torn bits of goat cheese, chives, pumpkin seeds and radish with a preserved lemon vinaigrette that was lovely. The leaves were so fresh that the dish itself was a pure expression of the local produce.

This strong start made us anticipate even better things from the main course of Yarrow Meadows duck tajine. However, we were surprised to discover the duck leg on the plate was very dry! How could that be, when duck is quite a fatty meat? 

Nevertheless the rest of the dish was a savoury treat, from the chickpeas and olives braised in a tomato sauce, along with large cous cous, an heirloom carrot, mint and cilantro. 

The bafflingly dry duck leg with cous cous

For dessert the Basque cheesecake topped with a rhubarb compote was a creative way to use the vegetable, and the espresso tiramisu jolted us to attention. 

While these dinners in the wineries we tried are good value, they are strong on local ingredients, but fall short on execution in some cases. Offering pastas and pizzas seem like a cheap way to fill up diners' stomachs, and not very sophisticated.

I'm still baffled by the dry duck leg and the only explanation was that it was pre-cooked. Not something you would expect from a winery's restaurant... or would you?

Miradoro at Tinhorn Creek 

537 Tinhorn Creek Road

Oliver

(236) 216 2342

The Astronomical Price of Living in Kelowna

Kelowna's downtown is right by the lake with clear water!

Uber launched its service in Kelowna on June 6 so I was keen to try it out while I was there. On the way to downtown Kelowna, the driver, a Caucasian man in his 60s said the city was growing so fast that infrastructure could not keep up, and so Uber met the need.

He said public transportation didn't help and not everyone has a car.

A shop window motto to live by

We changed the topic to the weather and he said the best weather is now, as May it's still rainy, but gets very hot in July and August. Two years ago where there was a heat dome and 619 people, mostly elderly died in British Columbia. 

The driver said temperatures in Kelowna shot up to over 40 degrees. I remarked that no one must have gone out those few days and he said it was pretty quiet.

On the way back, a South Asian man in his 30s picked me up in his Rav 4 hybrid and he said the city was becoming more and more unaffordable. He said he arrived in 2017 and rented a two-bedroom apartment for C$700 a month. Now the same place costs a whopping C$2,200 to lease.

He said a four-bedroom house six years ago would have cost C$800,000, but now is C$1.5 million.

I asked how people could afford to live, and he said they had to work. Although I pointed out that salaries weren't going up as fast, he didn't have an answer. Perhaps for him, driving for Uber helped pay his bills.

When I asked about the population in Kelowna he said it was 300,000 but officially it's 156,800... but one can see the construction of numerous condo buildings on main streets densifying the city.

Some giant inflatables for kids to play with

Highway 97 is the main highway that goes through the city and everything is about a 15-20 minute drive away which is very convenient. Our hotel is near Orchard Park, a very large shopping mall, and it took about 15 minutes to get there by foot. It seems daunting to cross the road, particularly the highway, but as long as you're patient to wait for the light, then it's safe to cross the intersections.

The summer sales were in full swing when we checked out the mall yesterday and did our part in buoying the economy. One store selling children's clothes were up to 75 percent off, another shop had T-shirts half off so they were C$6.99, while a pair of pants at Baby Gap were supposed to be C$30 and was now $8.99.

It was interesting people watching at the mall. The girls who hung out together wore similar styles of clothing so they looked like twins, but no one dressed particularly well... which is probably what happens when you live in a relatively small city.

Meanwhile the downtown core is not too big and easily walkable. It's also conveniently located right next to Okanagan Lake, where residents and visitors can walk around part of the lake for exercise, or kids can play on the numerous playgrounds, basketball courts, fountains and even the small strip of beach, and there are several washrooms around too!

Sails by R. Dow-Reid

There's a memorial for the soldiers who died in both World Wars and the Korean War, and further down the waterfront is a giant white sculpture called Sails by R. Dow-Reid, installed in 1977.

Near there is the main street downtown where there's a Lululemon, banks and many cafes, fast-food outlets, and restaurants. We tried one called Bohemian Cafe that served mostly healthy food like roast chicken sandwiches, soups and rice bowls. 

We had the soup of the day, Moroccan Stew that was hearty and had a slight kick, as well as a banh mi -- well their version which was a flattened baguette with roasted chicken, cilantro and lime, pickled carrot, onion and jalapeno. I asked if the jalapeno could be taken out, but they said it was already mixed in. Mixed in?

When the sandwich arrived, the filling was indeed all mixed together, not the individual ingredients placed in the baguette in layers. But it was still delicious, also with a fresh chilli finish. 

How did people afford to live in this city when prices were almost comparable to Vancouver? How do they afford Lululemon and pay their rent or mortgage? It was quite baffling.

 

Okanagan: Sunset at Peak Cellars

The sun sets on the vineyards at Peak Cellars in Lake Country

Another evening was spent at yet another vineyard, this time O'Rourke's Peak Cellars winery, about 25 minutes' drive from our hotel.

Massive fresh salad with greens from the garden

Walking in, on our left is the wine shop and nearby another room where the massive stainless steel tanks are fermenting the grape juice into wine. To the right is the Garden Bistro, where guests can have a close-up view of the vineyards, which straddle both Okanagan Lake and the much smaller Wood Lake.

The menu has many delectable options from salads and poke bowls, to baked brie and a charcuterie board for starters. For mains, there are large pizzas to share, as well as burgers, pastas and seafood.

I shared the Peak garden salad and my was it huge! A massive plate was covered in greens picked from the estate's garden, like lettuce, cucumber, endive, peas, and radish lightly tossed in dressing and some croutons. Three people could have eaten this appetiser!

Large portion of BC salmon with veggies

While the salad was voluminous, it was light and so fresh, pretty soon we had consumed it all down to the last bite of greens.

The spring asparagus soup was delightful, also light from the lemon yoghurt foam, seasoned with crispy lardons.

For mains the BC Kuterra salmon featuring a large fillet with a roasted skin, that came with wilted broccolini, fingerling potatoes, tomatoes and a tarragon hollandaise that was a bit too rich. The salmon was just slightly overcooked, but still acceptable.

Shortcake with cream, strawberries, blueberries

Others ordered the 8oz sirloin steak with fries or salad, but the steak seemed a bit on the tough side. On the other hand the thick cut fries looked tempting...

For dessert, we tried the shortcake that wasn't too sweet, but quite crumbly, and in the middle was cream, strawberries and blueberries. 

This portion was too big for one person. An intriguing one to try was the vegan pot of chocolate with coconut cream and strawberries. 

The dark chocolate was made from cashews and you could taste the texture as it wasn't completely smooth. Nevertheless it tasted rich without the fat and was quite filling too!

By the time we finished our meal the sun was setting behind the hills and it made for wonderful pictures and memories of the place.

Vegan chocolate made from cashews

O'Rouke Peak Cellars

2290 Goldie Road

Lake Country, BC

(250) 766 9922

Okanagan: Dining at Cedar Creek Winery

Sensuous sculpture by Henry Moore in front of Home Block

Yesterday on the longest day of the year, we went to Cedar Creek Estate Winery for dinner and it was quite the treat. The drive there is an easy 25 minutes down a mostly quiet winding road. No only are the vineyards there, but also several buildings housing the fermentation tanks, processing the grapes, a tasting room and restaurant called Home Block.

Butter lettuce grown on the property

The winery and the restaurant pride themselves on being as sustainable as possible in that the vegetables are grown on the property or nearby, chickens are raised there, honey is made locally, and cattle and salmon are local too. The back of the menu shows the ecosystem as proof that the restaurant is really "terroir to table".

Home Block is a lovely high-ceilinged space that alludes to the architecture of a barn, with wooden panelling on the walls, and a spare minimalist look, easy to maintain polished concrete floors and an open kitchen where chef Neil Taylor is barking out the orders.

The three-course meal is C$74 per person, and C$95 including wine pairings. There are one or two dishes which have an additional charge, like Italian burrata and ribeye steak.

Crispy parmesan cod fillet with pea puree

I tried the baby lettuce salad, and the dish arrived in a vertical presentation. The lettuce is harvested on site and are dark green and crunchy, covered in dukkah or a mixture of crushed nuts and sesame seeds, feta and half an avocado, dressed with sherry vinegar and smoked paprika.

For mains I was originally going to try the special, bass with wilted spinach and black lentils, but by the time our waiter put the order in, they were sold out, so I had the crispy parmesan crusted cod fillet instead. 

The cod fillets were covered in a relatively thick crust on a bed of pea puree and a wedge of seared romaine lettuce. Half a caramelised lemon helped keep the cod light, while the caper aioli gave the fish more flavour.

Pretty rhubarb and custard tart with pistachios

I was already pretty full by the time dessert came around, but could not resist trying the rhubarb and custard tart. When it arrived it was too pretty to eat -- a round tart with the outer edge decorated with seared meringue, the middle with the rhubarb puree and custard underneath, decorated with crushed pistachios. The dessert would have been best shared by two people as a portion, but the flavour was balanced with the sweetness of the meringue with the tartness of the rhubarb.

There'a also some art in and around the restaurant. Just outside was a bronze by Henry Moore which must have cost a fortune. Meanwhile where we sat was a giant painting of a yellow duck! As we were leaving, the hostess told us the yellow duck gave people luck!

Did she know the meaning behind the yellow duck for Hongkongers?

Will this yellow duck give us luck?

Home Block Restaurant

5445 Lakeshore Road

Kelowna, BC

(250) 980 4663

Okanagan: Farmers Market Haul

A nice day for a visit to the Farmers Market in Kelowna

This morning I checked on the map where to walk and found a Farmers Market nearby. I thought I had lots of time to check it out when I realised it closed at 1pm and would not open again until Saturday morning!

So I walked over there, which took about 15 minutes. Kelowna is an easy town to drive around, but is definitely not for pedestrians, who need to wait a long time to cross the street.

Some wonton soup with your bubble tea?

At one point I followed a young woman wearing a peach-coloured long sleeve top and black leggings and she periodically looked behind.

At the crosswalk she asked if I was going to the mall -- Orchard Place across the street.

"I'm going to check out the Farmers Market," I replied.

"Oh thanks for reminding me! Are you from here?" she asked.

"I'm from Vancouver," I replied.

"Oh this is our biggest mall and you probably have all those stores," she said before walking across the street to the mall.

A short time later I found the outdoor market in full swing with a decent turnout considering it was a weekday. 

Large jars of apple ginger and grape juice

Some stalls sold honey, cherries, and vegetables, while a food truck offered samosas, butter chicken, and naan bread, another wonton soup, steamed buns and bubble tea. There were also people selling ceramics, jewellery, cleaning solution for laminate in camper vans, and even French crepes, both savoury and sweet.

One stand was selling Italian-style sausages and it turns out the sausage maker is from Cinque Terre. He makes the sausages with pork, beef and bison varieties, and doesn't use many preservatives so the sausages are frozen. 

I looked at their salami selection and was intrigued by the truffle salami (C$19.80)! There are tiny black dots in it, the bits of truffle in there and the saleslady promised me it was delicious when thinly sliced. So I got one to try and she was excited to hear I was from Vancouver. They do sell their products in Metro Vancouver -- in New Westminster...

Small but sweet strawberries locally grown

Next to the Italian sausage stand was a South Asian woman selling strawberries (C$5 for a small box). They looked a bit overripe, but since we had bought so many cherries, I thought strawberries would be a nice complement. They were on the small side, but sweet.

Another stand sold large glass jars of fruit juice, in particular apple variations as well as grape. The original flavour one had some riboos tea in it and as promised, it did taste like the liquid form of apple pie. I also tried a sip of the apple and ginger juice. It sure had overt ginger tones in it, which would be nice to sip on, but not gulp down!

One guy was selling his own handmade chocolate with cacao beans he imports from various places like Uganda, Haiti, Tanzania and Belize. He admitted he liked eating the 100 percent dark chocolate one which was strongly bitter, while the ones with 70 percent were pretty good. 

People could try bits of chocolate before buying

The 70 percent one from Tanzania had a cherry after finish, the one from Belize more of a raisin flavour. He also makes bars with nuts and other flavours, but a chocolate purist would just buy the chocolate bars (C$10), so I got one each of the Tanzania and Belize. 

Now the trick is to try to prevent myself from eating everything too quickly, though the strawberries need to be eaten in the next day or so...

Okanagan: Chinese-Canadian Cuisine in Penticton

First time trying ginger beef, a dish not found in Vancouver

This morning we set off from Osoyoos to Kelowna. It's about a two-hour drive, but we broke it up with a stop in Penticton for an early lunch.

After a few days of Western food we went in search for Asian cuisine and on Penticton's Main Street we found Wild Ginger.

It occupies what was probably previously a Western restaurant as it as an open bar near the entrance and contemporary decor that has no hint of Asian-ness.

Cantonese-style chow mein that hit the spot

The restaurant opened at 11.30am and we walked in soon afterwards, and already there were several tables occupied by Caucasians. 

The waitress was very busy running around in a black knit top and skirt with matching runners, giving people water and taking orders, while a young man in a white T-shirt and navy apron served large portions of food to customers and then ran back to the kitchen each time.

Hearing us speak Cantonese, the waitress was thrilled to be able to talk to us in her native tongue. She later explained she came here to learn English and got married. The young man also chatted with us. We were impressed he was born and raised in Penticton and his Cantonese was pretty good. He also spoke the Toi Shan dialect.

The menu is Asian in the sense of Chinese, Thai and Vietnamese. There's pho and spring rolls, wonton soup, Thai coconut prawns, chicken potstickers, Thai red curry chicken, kung pao chicken, and pineapple fried rice to name a few.

As soon as I saw ginger beef on the menu I had to try it. It's not something you find in Vancouver -- it's an invention in Alberta, where beef is plentiful. Originally the chef was trying to create a beef snack to go with beer, and thought of something slightly crunchy, savoury and sweet. While it's called ginger beef, it's a misnomer because there is no ginger in it.

Singapore noodles with prawns and char siu

It came in finger-like pieces, deep-fried and then enveloped in a sweet-and-sour sauce with some peppers. The texture is slightly chewy and meaty, and would go best with some white rice. But we had also ordered other carbs -- Cantonese style chow mein, where pan-fried noodles came with pieces of chicken, beef, shrimp, and vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots.

We also had Singapore noodles -- a Hong Kong invented dish that had bits of char siu, prawns, peppers and bean sprouts that gave it a nice fresh crunch. Another dish was pineapple sweet and sour pork, the pieces of pork that were on the small side, making it more crunch and less meat.

Nevertheless we enjoyed having our "Asian" fix and the warm hospitality at Wild Ginger. The two hours we were there the restaurant had a steady stream of customers which was impressive, a testament of its culinary appeal to the community. The cheap prices might also have something to do with it too!

Wild Ginger

340 Main Street

Penticton, BC

Okanagan: Haynes Point Provincial Park

The stillness of Osoyoos Lake resulted in stunning reflections

Today I continued my exploration around Osoyoos Lake by going the opposite direction, a more scenic route.

The weather was not as windy as yesterday, and this time I brought a hat with me to spare my head and face from the sun's rays.

The view from the north side of the lake

I walked across the Osoyoos Kettle Bridge and then turned left at Kingfisher Drive. After walking past a residential area there was a small beach area called Legion Beach Park. Even though it was almost 11am there was no one there, but then again it was Monday. 

After taking a few pictures, I continued on my way, walking up the hill on Oleander Drive where the road is not near the waterfront -- those areas were taken up by homes with a "lake view".

Before Oleander Drive ended, I then walked along Jasmine Drive and then left onto 32 Avenue where there was a small plot of land where grapes were being grown, but no indication of which winery... or perhaps it was a farmer growing them to sell to wineries later.

Right by this fenced off plot of land is Haynes Point Provincial Park. It looks like residents in the area like to walk there for exercise, while many visitors like myself ventured in to take a look. It's a long thin strip of land that had stunning views of the lake and I couldn't stop taking pictures every few metres. I spotted two mallard ducks resting nearby (and took no notice of me), and a mother duck taking her ducklings for a swim.

The end tip of Haynes Point Provincial Park

Near the entrance are parking spots for those intending to spend the day there, while those who are camping for a maximum of seven days can reserve their own camping area bordered by bushes, and have their own uninterrupted view of the lake. 

Each spot had a wooden marker in front and if there was a piece of paper tacked on it, then it was reserved and paid for by someone, or otherwise it was already occupied with campers or tents along with their vehicles.

The campers who were there sat in their chairs and took in the view -- while it's gorgeous, I couldn't sit there all day, which probably makes me a terrible camper! There are also no showers or bathrooms, so again not my cup of tea!

After making a loop around the park I walked back to the hotel, tired but really glad I made the trek. After finishing some lunch I had a long nap!

Two mallard ducks enjoying the view too!

Haynes Point Provincial Park

32 Avenue

Osoyoos, BC

(778) 437 2295

Okanagan: Road Trip to Osoyoos

Osoyoos is surrounded by hills and water, ideal for fruits, wine

Yesterday we drove east from Vancouver to Osoyoos for a few days before going on to Kelowna, both small towns in the Okanagan, a region best known for its wineries and orchards, as well as fruits like cherries, apricots, peaches, and apples. Only the cherries are for sale at the moment and they are delicious!

The drive takes about four hours but we broke it up into three sections: Vancouver to Hope, where we had a bite to eat at a well-known diner called Home Restaurant. I had the all-day breakfast of two eggs, a large German sausage, a giant heap of hash browns and rye toast. The pies on display looked amazing, but we were too full even for a bite. 

There are many colourful murals around

Then I took the wheel from Hope to Princeton, where the roads were quite winding and many hairpin turns that required slowing down and steady handling of the car. Luckily there weren't many cars on the road, and when there were passing lanes available, I was more than happy to let those speeders go past me!

Princeton to Osoyoos didn't have the hairpin turns, but many parts were single-lane traffic before arriving in the small town. There are big hotel chains like Holiday Inn and Best Western, while many others are private operations. I was surprised to see that they promoted having a "sandy beach" -- that meant Osoyoos Lake was at the back of the property, and while there was soft sand, it was only a few metres long, and no shells, just pebbles.

Nevertheless, the natural scenery is stunning, with Osoyoos in the bottom of a valley surrounded by hills. No wonder it's an ideal place for growing wine grapes, and the place is usually the hottest place in British Columbia in the summer.

Luckily for us temperatures haven't hit the peak yet, and instead the sun's rays are cooled by blustery winds. 

This legion stands out and very patriotic

Today I went for a walk around Osoyoos Lake, which looks like a slithering snake that is split in half almost in the middle by a small bridge. There's lots of green space around the lake, as well as the aforementioned "beach". People are either hanging out and sitting on benches enjoying the view, or out on the lake in their boats.

Walking into town there are several murals. One that caught my eye was the one for veterans, and pointed out they had served in both world wars, the Korean War as well as in Afghanistan, and as peacekeepers. By the lake there is also Veterans Park paying tribute to these soldiers.

Founded in 1946, Osoyoos is named after the Syilx (Okanagan Indian) word soo-yoos, meaning "narrowing of the waters". Fur traders first worked here in the 1800s, followed by miners. It wasn't until the early 1900s were commercial orchards established and then growing wine grapes in the 1960s.

The town has a few banks, national chain stores like Shopper's Drug Mart and Home Hardware, and the rest are independent shops from jewellery to books, nail salons and clothing. Oh yes and ice cream shops, and by the lake there's a trailer selling mini doughnuts and frozen lemonade.

A refreshing frozen lemonade

As I reached the trailer before lunchtime it was more prudent to just get the frozen lemonade, which was probably a ripoff at C$6, but what the heck, it was hot and lemonade flavoured shaved ice seemed like the ideal antidote after a warm day in the sun.

Ducking Away Already?

Gone too soon? The double ducks are ducking to the exits

The double duck show is over!

They were eagerly anticipated as Hongkongers flocked to them at Tamar on June 10, but just over a week later they're ducking away with a quickie tour around Victoria Harbour before leaving.

Before the launch, Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman said: "I hope it will bring as much pleasure as it did in the past and in a world where we suffered from a pandemic, wars, and political situation, I think it's the right moment to bring back the double luck."

One poor duckie deflated on the first day

However, on the first day one of them deflated -- organisers say they did it -- apparently because the hot temperatures stretched the duck's material too much.

And now with thunderstorms, and lots and lots of rain (red rain warning), perhaps saying, "like water off a duck's back" doesn't apply to rubber ducks?

Or maybe it was the person who was riding on a junk in the harbour and then jumped into the water to get up close and personal with the feathery friend that got organisers quacking up a fuss? 

In any event, so much for double the fun with double ducks...

One wonders how much the Hong Kong government, or rather its taxpayers shelled out for a publicity stunt that fowl-ed up so quickly...

Canada's New Milestone

As of today, Canada has a population of 40 million

Canada has reached a new milestone -- 40 million people as of today, June 16, 2023 according to Statistics Canada.

The country is now on par with Iraq (40.2 million), a dubious distinction...

The Canadian population made its single biggest jump in 2022 with just over 1 million people or 2.7 percent thanks largely in part to temporary and permanent migration. 

Migration has bumped up the population

A few thousand of those were from Hong Kong, taking advantage of Canada's pathways specifically designed for young people to come here to work and gain permanent residency.

"From an economic perspective, newcomers have been really important both to fill jobs that are here and to connect us with the economies out into the wider world," says Matti Siemiatycki, director of the Infrastructure Institute and a professor at the department of geography and planning at the University of Toronto.

If the current trend continues, Canada could see the number of residents jump to 50 million in 2043.

However, the population will not be able to grow if there is not enough housing -- and affordable housing at that. According to the Canadian Real Estate Association, the average selling price of a home in April was C$716,000... and Vancouver is the most expensive city in the country followed by Toronto.

"We're in a housing crunch. We haven't been building enough units across the country, especially at the affordable levels," he says.

Governments at the municipal, provincial and federal levels have promised to hire more skilled labour in the construction sector, but the wait is excruciating for those anxious to have a place to call home.

Air Canada Flies to Singapore 2024

Flights to Singapore on Air Canada start in April 2024

A Singaporean friend posted on social media she was excited to discover Air Canada will be offering direct flights to Vancouver from April 2024.

The route will operate four times a week between Vancouver International Airport and Changi International Airport, marking Air Canada's return to Singapore after three decades.

Business class will have comfy seats for the flight

It will take almost 16 hours to get there (like flying Toronto to Hong Kong), and this flight will replace Singapore Airlines, as it will stop flying this route in October. 

That means there will be an almost six-month gap between services.

Nevertheless, surely this will be a popular (and profitable) route.

With Singapore emerging as the winner with its rivalry with Hong Kong post-Covid, the Lion City is fast becoming the Asian destination people want to travel to and do business in. 

Vice versa, Singaporeans don't have to fly to Hong Kong before transferring to another flight to their hometown. Win win.

Hopefully the ticket prices won't be as exorbitant as going to Hong Kong at the moment?