Fashionable Canada Post Letter Carrier

It appeared that everything this Canada Post letter carrier was wearing looked like it was standard issue, but it's the way she put everything together that stood out for me. I was lined up behind her buying a sandwich and I was impressed at how stylish she looked. The fringes of her long jacket reminded me of a dress fringe (you can't tell from the back, but she was wearing short shorts) , and her galoshes reminded me of stockings. She had this industrial, military school girl uniform look. I thought it was so cute. My wife said I should have asked her to take her hood off and look back, but it was rainy. I know she's German, and that she's blonde, but beyond that, I guess only I know how she looks!! But shooting her from the back with the hood on, I think it makes her look more powerful!!

Everyone should try and look good and stylish at work! Go Postal Girl Go!

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Sean the Irish Canuck

Hockey fever is high in Vancouver as the Vancouver Canucks are in the Stanley Cup finals against the Boston Bruins. One of my customers came in with this hairdo this morning, a day after Canuck's 1-0 game one win the night before. Sean was at the game ($1300 for a pair!!) with this haircut and said he had lots of random peeps taking pictures of his head.

I like his intense expression and how his hoodie makes his head look like it's extended forward and ready to attack, like a wild animal (or a crazy Canuck!)

I wonder if he'll do something similar for the Vancouver Whitecaps FC if they make the MLS finals?!?! Go Canucks Go!!

P.S. Canuck is a slang term for a Canadian, typically only used by Canadians to refer to themselves or to a fellow Canadian. Most American's have no idea what a Canuck is. They think it's a First Nations term, or a type of bird, a fish, a plant, etc.

Taken with my iPhone 4.

Train Bridge in Action

I've taken many pics from my daily bike ride trip across 2nd Narrows Bridge, but I've only been able to get this shot maybe 3 times total. I think my serendipitous timing on this shot is my best thus far. Because the framing is so tight in this 4/3 aspect ratio, I couldn't crop it to my more typical 16:9 or wider. I'm still amazed at how such a small tug boat can pull a huge ship!!

Hong Kong at Night

So many taxis in Hong Kong. This is late, late at night, as you can see there's no people around, but still taxis crawling everywhere!!


This is rare to see in Hong Kong. Dead street with almost no cars.....


On the last night in Hong Kong, while everyone else wanted to just pack, eat, and relax, I wanted one more night to enjoy the lights and the buildings and the crazy transportation system (taxi's, trains, buses, ferries, etc.). Here are just a couple of shots.Taken through the window of a double deck bus. You can tell from my shooting angle, as well as the funny way the street lights flares up in the bottom picture.

Graffiti Art in Hong Kong

I noticed graffiti in Hong Kong is a lot like that found in Japan. It seems like it's more artists and pop sub-cultured kids that are using this venue for artistic expression; than it is for vandalism or tagging, or gang turf wars, or what have you here in N.America. They all seem to "sign" their graffiti with a stencil, which is not the case in N.America most of the time. Their tag is their signature. I mean, I've framed this "graffiti" so you can see that you could hang it on your wall as art, or put it in a skate or bike magazine, no? Just my two bits......

Ride On Hong Kong

Many of the working bike riders go against traffic.



Another going against traffic. My wife's uncle said they feel it's safer.



Lot's of older men carrying tanks of propane to and from the hawkers. Looks dangerous. Notice the smaller front wheel to accommodate carrying larger propane tanks in the carrying basket up front?


In an old fishing village. The hats and the old bikes makes time stands still here.



Another bike found in the same fishing village.



Another shot in the same fishing village. I wouldn't call them training wheels to her face though.

I know Hong Kong has a large population of mountain bike riders (due to the abundance of national parks), as well as hardcore road bike guys, and a handful of street riders (fixie guys), but I didn't really see many where I was. I saw the working class guys using it as a means to get product from point A to B. And when I say product, it all looked like dangerous, explosive product. Chemicals, propane, waste product......

They all seem to have the same type of bike too: old, steel, 1940's China style, but has sort of a Swiss Army design (the double top bar gives it away as a Swiss design for me). Obviously these relics were built like tanks because even though they're probably 60 years old, they work fine!! I spent most times in the middle of the city, so it's true you don't really see the hobbyists out riding, and most commuters take the super efficient public transit system. It's also very dangerous to ride a bike in Hong Kong in the city. Too many taxis and buses and trolley trains and people!! It's very different from Japan, where bikes are an integral part of the transportation system, and you see them everywhere, including the city centers (like many modern European cities).

Funny Message on Airplane Movie Screen

Nothing special here, just odd word usage on this error screen on an airplane movie screen. Read the line. I wouldn't have used that adjective to describe an error on screen.

Crocs vs Birkenstock

So back in 2008 during our family visit to Japan for my little brother's wedding in Osaka, we noticed he and future wife were both wearing Crocs when they first came out to meet with us. I thought they were hideous, as I'm a huge shoe guy (I flew in a pair of Allen Edmonds!!) and thought they were meant for the beach or the spa. But the rest of my family thought they were cool. They were the new "in" thing in Osaka at the time. That's the big difference between Osaka and Tokyo I guess, because I didn't see anyone wearing Crocs in Tokyo.

Over the next couple of days, everyone (almost) ended up buying Crocs. At one point during the trip, with an ulterior motive in mind, I told everyone to huddle around so I could take a picture of everyone's 'cool' Crocs. After they all proudly positioned their feet in a perfect 'Croc-circle' formation, and just before I took my picture, I muscled my Birkenstocks into the shot!!

Ha ha!! The gasp from everyone after realizing they were duped!! Okay, I can explain the socks though.....a bit...... I have very cold feet and a cold neck. I always sleep with a scarf and socks on. So at night, I wanted my feet to breath, but it was too cold for no socks, so I put on socks...... hey, I don't need to defend myself!! The point? Crocs vs Birkenstocks. The Germans win! Fashion over Fad!

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Wasabi: It's the Real Thing!

Most don't know this, but what you think is wasabi you're putting on your finely sliced piece of sashami, or your delicately combined piece of nigiri, is actually horseradish with food colouring and wasabi flavoring. Real wasabi, if pre-grated for you, should have some fiber left in it, like when you grate ginger. Here in Japan, many of the smaller, more traditional restaurants will have real wasabi!! The above picture was from a local udon shop near my brother's place that serves all their udon with a fresh wasabi root and a grater. The flavor is definitely different, and better. Not as hot, but more mellow flavor. I haven't been there in over a year, but Shiro Sushi on Cambie in Vancouver used to use real wasabi. But there's nothing like grating it yourself!

Cool Girl in Osaka: 2008

A lot of cool dressed people in both Tokyo and Osaka, both guys and girls. I took this shot in Shinsaibashi area of Osaka back in 2008. One may not agree with a person's fashion style, but you know what? At least they have style. Everyone looks put together, like they thought about what they wanted to project to the world, dressed accordingly, and then went out with a fashion mission. I like that. People here in Canada often seem to not care what they wear in public. People look at you funny for dressing up fine. For instance, in Tokyo and Osaka, you'll never see sweat pants on ANYONE in public. I'm sure Milan, Paris, Barcelona, etc. is the same.Fashion people!! Fashion!! It's important how we project ourselves! Let's do it!