happylife

Wireless connection

Wireless connection is seemed to be getting popular in Vancouver. For instance, in my apartment room which is located in Downtown, I can see three to eight wireless stations. And some of them are not secured and therefore I can use them without any password. It means that I can connect to the Internet from my room without any contracts and charges. It seems great but there is a problem, that is wireless stations located too densely can cause interference each other. My own wireless network which I'm really paying is sometimes interfered and cut. I have to re-connect my network every time it is cut. It's disgusting!

From TELUS to SHAW

TELUS is the largest phone company in Vancouver. I have been using its telephone and high-speed Internet service for two years but I have decided to stop using it. There are so many problems in the service this company provides. Several months ago, TELUS confessed its unkindness and published an apology. As a customer, I received a letter of apology which says that they become friendlier. But now after several months, I feel nothing has changed. My high-speed Internet is often cut and cannot be recovered for a long time. I sent an email but I haven't received any response. I've decided to change from TELUS to SHAW. SHAW is a cable company and is not providing a telephone service yet in Vancouver. But it isn't a problem to me because I have a cell phone and rarely use telephone. I can also use Skype, an IP phone service, when I need a long distance call. Furthermore, the price of SHAW is a little bit cheaper than TELUS. TELUS says "the future is friendly" but I cannot agree with this phrase.

Hello again!

Mr. Seagull, how are you doing? You look pretty cocking your neck, don't you? But I won't be deceived. I know your true character. You are a kind of dinosaurs. You are badly-behaved pooping in my balcony, crying loudly seeking for foods in the morning when I'm enjoying sleeping, and flying away without any gratitude if I gave you a food. It's a waste of your time to visit my balcony. I'll never give you any foods any more.

Cherry blossoms

Here in Vancouver, at least around my house, cherry blossoms are already past their prime. This cherry tree in Stanley Park was still in flowers, but no one seemed to have special attention on it. Different from Japanese, for most Canadian people, cherry trees are not more than one of a lot of flowers. As I like Hanami, a Japanese custom in which we enjoy outdoor party under cherry trees in flowers, I had a feeling of loneliness looking at this tree. I know that we cannot legally enjoy such parties because drinking in public spaces is banned in Vancouver. But it's simply a waste not to do anything under such beautiful flowers.

Ice wine

Last night, I had a glass of ice wine for the first time in my life. Recently in Japan, I happened to know that ice wine is the specialty of Canada. Ice wine is absolutely different from iced wine. It is wine made of naturally frozen grape which contains less water and so, the taste of it is very sweet and condensed. It is a very precious kind of wine. The one I got at a liquor shop in Vancouver cost $38 for only 200ml! It is almost 8 times as expensive as ordinary wine which I usually drink. It was contained in a thin and long bottle which might disguise itself as if the volume isn't so little. In terms of ice wine, a bottle of wine and a glass of wine indicate the same meaning.

Long time exposure

This picture I took using long time exposure technique in which I put my camera on a tripod and set the shutter speed at 8 seconds and the F number at 4.0. By using this technique, we can see an invisible scene. For instance, the pool-side plants couldn't be seen so clearly and brightly with my own eyes. Long time exposure is a kind of try and error methods and we had to waste many films until years ago. But now, with a digital camera, we can easily take this interesting photo technique without wasting films. We can check the result on the spot and all we have to do in case of an error is just deleting the data. It's quite easy and interesting because we can sometimes get unexpected results.

AirCare

Today I took AirCare in North Vancouver. It is literally a system for checking car emission. We have to take it every year if we want to drive a car in Canada. It is much simpler than Shaken, the Japanese car checking system. All I did was, going to the AirCare inspection center by car, stop my car on a roller, passing the paper and paying the fee. Then the AirCare staff set a measure on the emission duct of my car, ran my car on the roller for a while, and printed out the AirCare report. Fortunately my car passed. It took only 15 minutes and $23. Today I renewed my driver's license and car insurance too. So I can now drive a car for more one year in Canada.

Domino

While I was walking around Vancouver, I found this construction site; an old house standing on just four wood bricks. It seems to be so unstable that just one push would throw it down like a domino. I don't know how the carpenters are think about this house. Maybe they are moving it to other place by a trailer or helicopter, they are making a new basement, or they have found a secret treasure. Anyway, this status of the house seems too dangerous for me who was born in Japan where many earthquakes occur every week. I hope they finish this construction as soon as possible.

Spring has come

Canada is a cold country but Vancouver is exceptional. The sea water protects this city from being over-cooled. I think it is warmer than in Tokyo because cherry trees are already in flower here. Today's temperature was 18 degrees at most, and the sky was absolutely clear. As it was Saturday, I found a lot of people enjoying this weather. I went cycling to Stanley Park after four month break. There were so many people on the cycling road that I couldn't run even at the half speed as usual. But it was really pleasant. The only thing I'm worrying about is my room. It is deadly filthy. I have to do cleaning tomorrow before going out of the room.

Arrived

I have arrived at Vancouver at all. I love this crisp air, bright sun light, and the smile of people here. It was such a long break -- more than four months! And I have so much things to do that I don't know what I should do first. Fortunately there was no problem with my room and car, except the palm tree which I left in my room with no water for four months. It of course died and a few earthworms were dried up to death around the flowerpot on the carpet. I think at first I have to clean my room. But before that, I want to sleep for a while. It's about seven in the evening in PST and I'll say "Good night."