This year is my second Christmas after moving back to Vancouver. My friend from Singapore was in town with her family and memories of Christmas in Singapore came rushing back.
The famous Orchard Road is always decked out with Christmas decorations, each year a different colour and theme. Lights overhead, Christmas scenes and characters on the streets, and massive Christmas trees in all the major malls. I used to walk Lou along Orchard Road for photo ops and then a morning coffee and breakfast. Just down the street from my apartment was Tanglin Mall. Its annual winter wonderland event got to be quite a thing. Bubble machines blow out “snow” onto festive scenes and children laugh and run around.
My friend Anne-Marie and her family drove up from the US, stopping in Vancouver before heading up to Whistler. She was one of my first friends in Singapore and it was so great to see her, her husband, and her fast-growing kids. I remember Chinese New Year being an especially festive and fun time at her mom’s, where there was plenty of food and games going on.
Dinner at CinCin
I was delighted to be invited to dinner with them. Ed is Eurasian and has Italian ancestry and it’s always fun having Italian meals with them. Anne-Marie, a restauranteur from a family of restauranteurs, passed on simple cooking tips while I was still living in Singapore. Those have been helpful.
Located on Robson in downtown Vancouver, CinCin was close to where Anne-Marie and her family were staying. It is also an award-winning Italian restaurant in Vancouver. The restaurant has a warm atmosphere. which reflected our friendship and reunion that evening. We were seated at one of the tables that line the wall. Over wine and delicious food, we caught up like no time had passed.
Dessert at thierry – alberni
After dinner, we walked to Thierry on Alberni, just a short stroll from the CinCin. It was quite the feast for the eyes. Many people had already gathered on this cold winter night. We found a table outside and so I ordered a hot drink to go with the desserts.
It was quite a night, a beautiful night with friends. I also really enjoyed walking downtown, something I hadn’t done for a very long time. I stopped to see the ice-skating rink. It was all lit up. In parts of the city, I could also smell herb. There’s something about Vancouver.