Meeting More Cousins

This past week, I've been spending a lot of time exploring around downtown Vancouver. I'm pretty sure I can get any where now, without getting lost.

Vancouver is an amazing city. There is so much to do, and so many things to see, I barely have time to do anything! Last week, my aunt was working a lot, so I had a chance to hang out with a lot of my other family. I met up with my cousin Salina, who, if y'all remember Sabrina from Arusha, is Sabrina's older sister. She is my age and we had a great time at this delicious dessert place called True Confections. They have the biggest and best cake slices I've ever had. Every time I go, I always get the toasted almond cake slice.

Toasted almond cake and a white chocolate martini! What more could I ask for?!

Salina ordered a flour less Belgium chocolate cake with hazelnut and a Bailey's hot chocolate. Yummy!!

She and I had a great time together. It is so nice to have a cousin who is the same age as me and living just a 10 minute walk away!

On Thursday (March 20th) I spent the entire day with my cousin Tamiz. He picked me up in the morning and took me out to breakfast.

Salmon eggs benedict. 

Then we went to tour the UBC campus. Oh my gosh. It is huge! It's a city within itself! And such a gorgeous campus. It seems like a great place.

 While we were in his office, he showed me all the records he has. Look what I found...

I may or may not have freaked out. Way too cool!!

After he showed me the ins and outs of being a professor and all of UBC, we went to hang out at the beach. It was such a nice day (which is pretty rare since this is the season for rain) and we couldn't let it go to waste. I got some gorgeous pictures of the beach and the scenery. Vancouver is such a beautiful city. But it's hard to appreciate all the beauty when the sky is grey and the entire city is drowning in rain.

It is crazy to think that only three months of the year, do people really come out to enjoy the beach.

After spending the day at the beach talking and catching up, we headed back to his condo to have dinner with his wife Jamila and their cute son Zak.

The last time I had seen Zak he was only a couple months old. Now he is 3 and so big!

He is almost as big as me! And only 3 years old!

He is such a cutie! And I am now known as "Auntie Kash", hehe!

We had a great dinner, and I was so happy to meet up with my cousins and see Zak!

Well, I'm in Canadia!

Hey y'all.

So, I've been missing for a while and that is because I made a very spontaneous decision to buy a one way ticket to Vancouver, B.C. I wasn't really sure how to start this blog post. But there ya go! I'm in the Great White North.

Now, this trip isn't just for no reason. I'm in Vancouver to tour UBC (University of British Columbia) and to visit all of my family up here. Most of my cousins I haven't seen in years and I'm really excited to finally see them again!

I've also decided to be a bit more touristy while here. I've been to Canada (or as I like to call it Canadia) almost every year since before I can remember. (I'm a dual citizen and most of my family lives up here).

I arrived Friday night (March 14th) and was picked up by my aunt Salma and my cousin Isiah. We just hung out and got every thing settled. I love her apartment. It is the coolest place ever. Right in the middle of downtown Vancouver and with an amazing view!

The view from her apartment. So amazing!

On Saturday, we went out to Burnaby (which is just east of Vancouver) to do some grocery shopping and walk around in this huge mall called Metrotown. Holy moly, that place was intimidating. It just didn't seem to end. 

While we were shopping, my cousin and I decided to take some selfies.

Yep, he is a cutie. And so funny! At one point, I told him that I was going to introduce him to rap music and he said (and I quote) "who is rap? - is he a friend?" Yeah, I know. He is the best!

Under the number sign, to the right…are the buns! 

On Sunday, we walked to Chinatown and got the most amazing coconut buns I have ever had. It was at this hole in a wall bakery, and man oh man are these things delicious! We got there at the perfect time too because right after we ordered a dozen, the bakery was full of people and there were only three buns left! 

There they are. In all their glory!

So good. Every time I come to B.C. I always crave any kind of Asian food because they have the most authentic! (Apart from actual China, South Korea, Vietnam, or Thailand…hehe).

Then, we dropped off Isiah to his dads and went to explore the downtown mall with my other aunt Shaira. So much shopping! And walking! My feet were dead. 

Monday, I just hung around and made plans for the rest of the week. I was also researching what to do for next week since Isiah will be home the whole time with us! 

But today, I took the sky train down to Richmond, which is suburb in Vancouver to meet up with my aunt Shaira. We took a drive to Steveston Village, which is where Once Upon A Time is filmed. We walked around and then had lunch at this amazing sushi place. 

That's about all to Steveston Village

The sushi we had was delicious. We had arrived just in time because the restaurant was closing at 2. We ordered and got our yummy "boxes", which had quite a bit of food.

Tempura, salad (the white square bowl), sushi, sashimi, chicken and miso soup.

All with complimentary tea. We had gotten there so close to closing that by the time we were done with our food, we were the last ones in the restaurant. The place was completely empty.

Like a ghost town…um, restaurant...

I also got a picture of the guy behind the counter making the rolls, but he doesn't look too happy hehe. He saw me taking a picture of him and then when my aunt told him I was from Texas he smiled and said "welcome to Canada!"How wonderful.

Not too happy, eh?

Once we finished, Shaira dropped me back to the station and I took a ride home. I even saw a guy wearing a Texas jersey. I was going to approach him but up here people freak out when you randomly talk to them. 

But so far, so good! It hasn't been too cold and it's only rained once (if you don't count misting).