EAT! Vancouver 06

Lina, Lili, Martin, and my new mom headed over to BC Place for a food show.


Iron Chef winner Rob Feenie was there. Didn't see him.
TV chef "Surreal Gourmet" Bob Blumer was there. Didn't see him.
Meh, oh well. At least there's food and we stole some glasses from the wine tasting area. We even got probably a months worth of food for Snowie!! haha we win.

man, I'm loving the new counter!

the Betrothal (Wedding #2!)

A WHAT!?!? you ask.

betrothal:
n 1: a mutual promise to marry [syn: troth, engagement] 2: the act of becoming betrothed or engaged [syn: espousal]

Today is that day for me. Actually, it's happening RIGHT NOW as I type up this blog. (11:52AM of May 21st) Now, why am I doing something so trivial on such a special day for me.. you ask? Well, traditional the groom is NOT to be involved with the actual betrothal event at all. Only the preparations. And boy, were there preparations!!!



This event is called "gaw dai lai". That's betrothal in chinese. The main elements of this crazy scavenger hunt was the roasted pig(WHOLE!) and the bridal cakes.

There were:
- entire roasted pig on customary platter
- bridal cakes in customary boxes
- 60 in total
- 4 are which must be dragon/pheonix cakes
- pairs of male and female poultry
- 2 old coconuts (these symbolizes something..I forget what. NOTHING phallic, I don't think!)
- 2 bottles of wine (XO)
- 2 boxes of tea
- 2 boxes of seafood each: ($$$!!!)
- shark fin
- abalone
- other wallet draining items
- all kinds of weird nuts and herbs which had to be of certain requirements (age, with or without the seed, etc)
- And of course... CASH!



And of course every item had some sort of meaning and symbolism. Of which I have no idea what they are... through thousands of years of traditions being passed down, I personally think some of this stuff has lost a bit of translation. I bet somewhere down the centuries, there was a comedian that "made up" a tradition or two of his own. (old coconuts?!? now come on!) And just passed it on to his heirs. He's laughing it up right now I bet!!

Since I'm not allowed to see the bride all day today, it is customary for me to send all this stuff with a family friend of ours. An older generation that is respected must carry this stuff for me. REPRESENT!

I wouldn't be able get all of this stuff without the help of my grandparents and uncles!!! PROPS to em!!!! w00t w00t! 8D

Well, Lina is having a big party right now with all my stuff. Hope they're enjoying it.

Babee, if you're reading this and showing this blog to your family right now... don't forget the rest of the tradition... save some of the good stuff for me!!!! I'm hungry.

You can find more pictures here.

Movie review: Millions

This was a pleasant surprise. Was flipping though the channels and came up with this little gem. Too bad we started watching this 10mins in. It was interesting enough to keep our attention right away.

It's quite refreshing to watch a PG movie that turns out to be both visually satisfying and emotionally sophisticated. (for a non-Pixar movie anyways) Danny Boyle(Trainspotting) directs this fantastical tale of two British brothers and a large sum of money literally falling from the sky. Now, what would two young boys do with all that cash? Buy a pack of baseball cards? New bike perhaps? With millions... only good times. Sequences of events move the story with equal hilariousness.

Damien(Alexander Nathan Etel) portrays the seven year old brilliantly. It's a simple story with questions about morality, spirituality and family duty. I recommend this as a rental!

Sport Compact Nights 06

Absolutely NO guy can blame me for hanging on to what I still have after marriage. Cindy had her first big show.. Sport Compact Nights at BC Place. This was really a last minute invitation from SCI(my Skyline dealer). I was able to wash the car half hour before I entered the car into the show! No wax, no engine cleaning, no tire dressing, nothing. Naked like most of the import models there. Our booth had 10 skylines! Cindy still had the most attention.hehe..

Best part, Lina was big enough to ask one of the models to pose with Cindy!!! wow.. what a wife! That sure put a smile on my face!!!!! 8D

EDIT: Cindy is my car. I have no idea what the model's name is.

You can find more pictures here.

Hitched!

Well, officially Lina and I already got married. As far as British Columbia and Canada is concerned. But, the weddings are not over. That's right, that's PLURAL. This is gonna be a 4 part series!


1) Civil Ceremony (May 7th) -DONE-
2) Traditional Chinese Wedding (May 21st) -DONE-
3) Banquet in Vancouver (August 20th)
4) Banquet in Chicago (August 26th)

Until August 26th of 2006, I won't be completely married. On the 27th, both my feet will be firmly (and permanently) planted beyond the doors of marriage.

Now, we just got to agree on an anniversary date. And NO, we're not gonna celebrate ALL of em!