Ye`s Café

Ye’s Café

[caption id="attachment_413" align="alignleft" width="300"] Ye's Café[/caption] I have finally gotten the opportunity to get back to blogging, and ...

Flabellina

Flabellina

The Red Flabellina nudibranch is one of the most majestic things that you can see in the waters of British Columbia.  I love shooting these little guy...

road_warriors_2_sm

Night Market….

The past few nights I have been using the Night Market as my choice for dinner.  There are many many street venders which are there to cook you pretty...

Sunset_1_sm

Look Where I am…

[caption id="attachment_261" align="alignleft" width="300"] Sunset on The South China Sea[/caption] From the small town streets of Ontario Canada, ...

Ye’s Café

Apr. 26 Café no comments
Coffee and Tea House Vancouver BC

Ye’s Café

I have finally gotten the opportunity to get back to blogging, and for a change it is not about scuba diving which is nice for a change!  I found myself down near Arbutus and West 12th in Vancouver today.  I have been having a difficult time in the city of late.  I find the ruddness of the general public has been getting to me, though today was a refreshing change.  I ended up sitting in a quaint café, that serves all day breakfast, and some excellent coffee!  The found was extremely good, and the young lady who was my server, actually had a genuine smile and seemed like a very friendly young lady.

The Café serves all sorts of lovely items from Asian, to East Indian and yes some old fashioned North American food as boring as that can be.  If you are looking for a nice place to go, had some good coffee and people watch out the window, this is certainly the place to go.

Ye’s Café Coffe & Tea House can be found at;

2797 Arbutus St
Vancouver, BC
(604) 714 – 5540

Don’t forget to “Like” them on Facebook as well!!!

Flabellina

Jan. 09 Featured, General, Photography Comments Off

ThFlabellinae Red Flabellina nudibranch is one of the most majestic things that you can see in the waters of British Columbia.  I love shooting these little guys while I am on Macro Photography dives.  You can see more of my pictures here are Uw Explorers Photo Gallery.

Beauty found in the depths.

Night Market….

Dec. 04 General, Photography, Tradition, Travel Comments Off

road_warriors_2_smThe past few nights I have been using the Night Market as my choice for dinner.  There are many many street venders which are there to cook you pretty much anything you would or could possibly want for your dining pleasure.  My first night back in Cambodia, Mike and I went there for a pitcher of beer, and some food. It was good…but it took me a few weeks to make my way back down there.

A couple of nights ago, I wandered through, and started checking out some of the dishes that are offered.  BBQ’s pork, beef, chicken, Eel, Sting rays, beetles, noodles, and some of the most amazing home made fruit shakes.  Oh and of course, the chicken in the egg…steamed, which I have not had the fortitude to try…but I have heard it is very tasty.[singlepic id=30 w=240 h=320 mode=watermark float=right]

As I wandered to work this morning, I thought I would check and see what the aftermath is like at the night market.  Sure enough, work is where many live, tarps and cots, but there is the odd shop open and willing to serve the crazy bald guy with the camera.  This morning, I watched my favourite stall owner, loading what I thought was bottles of gasoline, but it turned out to be used water bottles, funnel, and a cup or so of home made Rice Wine.  He is filling the bottles so it can go on ice and chilled for this evenings business hours.  Of course, I was offered a taste, or bottle free or at a price, I could tell I recognized enough to be treated as a friend, and welcomed to take pictures and ask questions.

The Night Market should not be missed….the food, drink is good…and the cost is out of this world…dinner being $5,000 Riel, or $1.25 USD, though the chicken wings are no where near as good as the Ripe Tides in Campbell River!!

Look Where I am…

Dec. 02 Confessions, General, Travel Comments Off

Sunset on The South China Sea

From the small town streets of Ontario Canada, to world travels in the Navy, and now, here I am spending many days on this small relaxing tropical Island in the South China Sea…who could imagined.

Back in high school I can remember my guidance counsellor Mr French, explain to me that I would amount to nothing, I was a dreamer, and I needed to settle down and get my career path picked, which of course meant that big house, wife, 2.5 kids, and bills and bills.  Well I tried it Mr French and it was not for me.  Actually I tried two wives, the first did not last, and the second well she drove me into the ground…as she continues to try, which will be another story.  But needless to say, I think I am doing ok for myself.

Do you know how many people wish they were doing what I was doing right now.  I mean really…they spend years saving, skimping and trying to get as much money put away so they can come to places like this and spend days…not weeks and months as I do.  Really….kind of strange when you think about it.   Everyday, I listen to people speak of how much they hate their lives, wish they were free, and able to do as they wished.  They listened to people like Mr. French, prescribed to the house, 2.5 kids bills and bills…now they wish they were free to do as they wanted.  Is that why there are so many unhappy people in the world….yes I think so.

EcoSea Bungalows

If you are looking for a place to get away to, where life is simple…and easy…why not stop by and say hi to the small town Canadian Boy, the one who amounted to little…but is living life large.  I would like to say thank you to Mr. French, he tried to force it on me…and that is why I resisted.

Sights & Sounds of the Orient….

Nov. 03 General, Tradition Comments Off

Cambodian Wedding

There I lay, it’s three O clock in the morning, with the shrill sounds of the orient ripping through the peaceful early morning. Sounds and smells forgotten from what seems like a life time ago. Having spent many months living and working in South East Asia, I have a love for the people and customs though I can hard say I understand everything. I try to stay back and watch, I am that foreign observer who is in the back, watching, listening and inevitability snapping pictures at every thing I can possibly find.

Today’s treat for me is a real Cambodian Wedding and reception right out the front of the very place I am currently living. I am amazed with the traditional costumes, and ceremony that is taking place and as is the case for me at least, the sights of the most beautiful Asian woman, running about fussing with everything in order to make the day a special time for their friends who are joining union.

I fear that where I come from that special time has been overcast with trying to out due one another in costs, and lavish gifts., like everything else that happens back in the world from where I come. A place where people can not afford to live, where the rich continue to get richer and the poor even more poor…where people live on the streets and in their broken down cars because they can not afford the simple things such as rent and food.


Travels….

Oct. 30 General, Travel Comments Off

Phnom Penh Airport

After 28 hours of travel time, I have arrived to what will be my new home for the foreseeable future. Even knowing what to expect has not totally prepared me for what I experienced last evening. Somethings are so familiar and others are totally new and unexpected. Firstly which was a shock was when I arrived at the dive center, there is almost a strip mall where once stood huts made of palm fronds, shocked is the word. Some of the places I would eat, socialize and drink at where there, names that I recognized however they looked foreign to me. The people are as friendly as ever, however my North American guard is still up, cautious as what to say, or whether to look at people as is the way in Vancouver ever fearful…this will revert back to the friendly manner I once had while living in South East Asia.

Surprisingly the temperature is cooler then I would have thought, though a big storm had blown through the day of my arrival so it is rather nice to give me a chance to get use to the temperatures…before they go through the roof. I am sitting on the balcony of my apartment, watching the huge number of scooters go past, amazed once again by the number of people and the various items people are comfortable of traveling with. Hoping one day soon, I too will be one of the masses traveling who knows where in the throngs of people.

The last thing to add is, if you have the opportunity to flight on Korean Airlines do not pass up the chance. I was treated very very well, and the services was extremely well done, even though I was one of the ones in the cattle car. Though it was tight, I made my connection with little troubles, as did all of my luggage.

Be sure to stop back as I up date the blog as well as the photo galleries. Have questions or comments be sure to leave them here on the blog, coming soon will be the Contact Us page.


Day 1 – New Life

Oct. 28 Travel no comments

Cambodia Flag

So far so good.  Things are falling into place like things were meant to be.  Sun was out yesterday, enjoyed dinner with friends, my drivers license made it to me in time.  What seriously…I was told most likely ten weeks, and a short 5 days later, I have the identification in my fingers!

Thinking of traveling to South East Asia, not sure, want information from someone who has done it, well this is my 4th trip to Asia, two with the Canadian Military, and now two post military time.  I am backpacking it, walking, busing, and whatever else it takes to get me where I want to be.

So far so good….hotel tonight, flight tomorrow.  Stay tuned for more!!