Saturday, March 3, 2007

War of the Best - Metro Buzz (Part 2)

Surely, Vancouver has lots to offer. My friends and I were strolling along the Gastown area after having been to Canada Place at around a quarter before seven in the evening. The streets were barren except for a coffee joint which is right across the famous and only steam clock. I am unsure if it was Tim Horton’s, but definitely it wasn’t Starbucks either. It was a small bistro which sat casually dressed yuppies who are clasping paper coffee cups with their hands. While most aren’t dressed for the night, they sure seem to know how to keep themselves warm. Seeing some of them with arms across their chest reminds me of the same age group at Federation Square in Melbourne. Young adults would stand close to a mini cabana that resembles a cocktail umbrella, except that this has a heat-radiating pole which convects those who gets near it. Although this was the only place where I saw such innovation, I really wished that night that there would be one close by while waiting for the steam clock to hit the hour of seven.

I find it really amusing to find two Filipinos–who looked seafarers to me–trying to pose by the steam clock that night. We passed by them and they smiled back, even greeting me “Good evening, sir.” who surprisingly sought a middle-age, short-haired Canadian lady of tattered beige sweater and muddy shoes to take a picture of them. They had two shots taken then sincerely thanked the lady and walked away, who was muttering after having done that. She doesnt appear to be pleased with the two Filipino gentlemen. I brushed the whole scene aside, surely the guys took her for a commoner. Even I would admit, there was nothing wrong with it. We went inside a food joint which was frequented by many a Filipino to grab some food. We decided to stay there for a bit of chat. We were all facing the glass window, giving me a perfect view of the passersby. There was a couple who was pushing a big trolley cum house who tried to buy some food while gesturing their son wait outside with the dog. There also was a young pizza guy who had the pizza box on top of his car while checking out a map. And there was a middle-aged lady asking for pennies who kept cursing if she wasn’t given any. She wasn’t extra special, except that she was wearing a tattered beige sweater and muddy shoes.

Metro police wasn’t very visible in metro Vancouver. I just wonder how they intend to sweep the streets of plastic-bag ladies and a bunchful of reality-detached men. Like in Manila, do they stop working beyond 7 pm too?

Posted by Dexter at 04:32:56 | Permalink | No Comments »