Gung Haggis paddlers trade paddles for snowshoes, skis and snow boards - photo Todd Wong
We have a great bunch of people on the Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team. Many people have really built some good friendships. Everything we continue to do, somehow seems to revolve around or include eating.
In December we met 3 times. On Friday, December 15th, some of us met to see the new James Bond movie. Afterwards we then met up with more team members at the Bacchus Lounge at the Wedgewood Hotel. This is a fabulous piano bar, and we were almost right next to the piano, which featured a very enjoyable pianist who sounded like Harry Connick Jr. When we first walked in, he was singing "Fly Me to the Moon" - one of the special songs that I share with my girlfriend. Perfect timing!
We had 12 people (enough to paddle a dragon boat) crowded around a table in the dining room - right next to a couple having a romantic dinner. Not to worry - the couple was very nice, and offered up their table to us. And it turned out that the fellow was a film maker who had been researching dragon boats. I quickly told him that our team had been featured on CBC Newsworld last year, French public broadcasting program Thalassa the year before, and CBC French Telvision this year!
The Bacchus Lounge was a great place to celebrate some of our team members' birthdays. Christine and Daming in December, and Wendy's upcoming birthday on January 1st. We ordered 2 appetizer platters and 2 pizzas. All were very good! Yum Yum!
Wendy and Jen ham it up while Jonas helps Dan with his snowboard - photo Todd Wong
The next day, some of us tried out snowboarding for the first time on Grouse Mountain. Jonas had offered to teach beginners. I was the only skier, but was also able to help the neophyte boarders too. During an eating break, I tried out Jen's board and boots. I fell lots, and it took me 3 tries before I could get to the top of the Paradise beginner hill rope tow. It had been 12 1/2 years since my only other snow board try. Now I remember why I have stuck to skies. It's easier, and I can still do my old free-style tricks.
Some of our team members went snow shoeing instead. We decided this would be a great way for people not interested in skiing or boarding to join us for a winter activity day. Saturday, January 6th is our planned snow shoeing day. While on Grouse we also went for a sleigh ride - pulled by a snow tractor. It's a fun way to see some of the sights on Grouse Mountain, especially for tourists.
On the winter sleigh ride with Jen, Tzhe, Todd, Wendy and Jonas - photo - Todd
Winter Solstice, December 22nd
The gazebo features panels telling the story of the Moon Goddess and her Jade Rabbit, created by Jamie, the new Marketing coordinator for the Gardens - photo Stephen Mirowski
We met at the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden to take part in the Winter Solstice Lantern Festival which is part of the city wide festivities organized by the Secret Lantern Society. It is very magical to see both the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Park and Gardens lit up by lanterns. There is also live music played in the Park gazebo, and the new Hall of One Hundred Rivers.
Leaves that fell off the tree in Autumn were saved, made into lanterns, then placed back on the original tree theat they first fell off of. - photo Stephen Mirowski.
A highlight for me was meeting the new marketing coordinator for the Gardens, Jaime, who lived 10 years in Beijing and speaks fluent Mandarin. He even has Scottish heritage, and his wife is Chinese. Imagine that! We had a great chat about Gung Haggis Fat Choy, and look forward to finding a special role for him!
A paper lantern crane is lit up, next to blue LED lights in the courtyard of the Hall of One Hundred Rivers - photo Stephen Mirowski.
After taking pictures, sipping tea, walking amongst the lanterns, we then spent lots of time (and money) checking out the wonderful items in the gift shop managed by my friend Alexis. Alexis first came to the Gung Haggis Fat Choy dinner back in 2002 and LOVED it! It was 9:40pm and we headed up Pender St. in Chinatown, making our way to Hon's Won Ton House. More food! Duck, Shanghai noodles, Fried Rice, vegetables and pot stickers... yum, yum, yum. It's true, our dragon boat team identity and culture is rooted in food. I don't know of another dragon boat team with a food word in it's name.
