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This blog site derives from the original version of Planet Earth & Humanity, but will be more WE than ME. The coverage will remain similar, but perhaps these postings will seem to come from a parallel universe, or maybe even Purgatory. But truth and reality will prevail, with dashes of whimsy and levity to help make your day.
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WE ARE IN VANCOUVER
We decided to find a place to have lunch in Vancouver. Walked around quite a bit and was greeted by my Blue Bar Pigeon.
We tried Kirin, a Chinese restaurant, but it was 2:10 PM and it was to close at 2:30. Nearby was Din Tai Fung. Same thing happened our previous trip this past October, when we were in Seattle to catch the Norwegian Encore, stayed a few nights in the city, walked around, and stumbled into another Din Tai Fung.
I've written about this restaurant many times. Here is another posting from 2021. One of my favorite chains in the world. Here is another article from 2016.Forbes called it the world's greatest dumplings. Originated in Taiwan.
Like Seattle, this is one of the giant versions, and very popular. At 2:15PM, there was a huge group waiting to get seated.
So I walked around and filmed the restaurant.Wow, this is interesting. To download this video this long, then transferring it to You Tube so that you can see it, took an hour on the ship. In this hotel, less than a minute. Anyway, DTF specialized in Shanghai Soup Dumplings, or Xialongbao.
I specialize in enhancing these dumplings by placing one in a small bowl. Note the glass of Johnny Walker Black Label Whiskey above to the right. I turn the dumpling upside down, cut a small hole, pour a small amount of the scotch (cognac works fine, too), add sliced ginger and hot sauce, plus a dark vinegar. Slurp the concoction into my mouth. If I know I'll be having Shanghai Soup Dumplings, I always bring my own small bottle of whiskey/cognac. That small amount of JWBlack was $12 because the cheapest cognac was Hennessey at $14.
The noodle bowl was a pork ramen. We added garlic green beans, which alone, cost $18. You can imagine how much this lunch cost.
The Marriott Pinnacle Downtown Hotel is now similar to most Marriotts in the USA and Canada. Their executive club charges for drinks, Cheapest is $12 per shot. Appetizers are also served, but relative to those in Asia, very mediocre. We'll now only travel in the Orient. I can imagine that the free breakfast here will also be paltry. Those Marriott buffet breakfasts in Bangkok, Singapore and anywhere in Japan are so spectacular that this is almost always the best meal of the day. And it is free for platinum members.
Walked 7415 steps today, and will probably exceed this tomorrow when we have a Chinese lunch in Chinatown, visit Stanley Park, and go wherever the Big Red Bus takes us.
Hawaii today celebrates King Kamehameha the First Day as a public holiday. Next Monday, June 19, or Juneteenth, is a Federal holiday. However, 22 states, including Hawaii, do not recognize this as a public holiday. Four of these will begin to honor this day next year, not Hawaii. Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery. Here are the Hawaii holidays, and note three that only we have: New Year’s Day: 1st day in January Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day: 3rd Monday in January Presidents’ Day: 3rd Monday in February Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole Day: 26th day in March Good Friday: Friday before Easter Easter: Calculating Easter Memorial Day: Last Monday in May King Kamehameha I Day: 11th day in June Independence Day: 4th day in July Statehood Day: 3rd Friday in August Labor Day: 1st Monday in September Veterans’ Day: 11th day in November Thanksgiving Day: 4th Thursday in November Christmas: 25th day in December There are 11 paid Fede...
The first presidential debate of Donald Trump and Joe Biden ended up in a near tie. Both lost. However, it was an unmitigated disaster for Biden, who just might be too old to win this re-election. For Trump, it was a reinforcement of what he does all the the time, lie. There will be significant calls for the Democratic Party to work out "something" to replace Biden as their presidential candidate. Suddenly, Kamala Harris, Gavin Newsom and Michelle Obama are added to the spotlight. But what can "legally" occur at the August Democratic Convention? The situation is different on the Republican side, as Trump is the Republican Party, and no matter if he gets 4 years at his felony sentencing on July 9, or even if the Supreme Court determines he is not immune next week or later, he will be the presidential candidate. Trump is a damned boastful liar and convicted felon, but that is the only option for Republicans. His vice-presidential choice now become...
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