As this is the last day of summer (for students like myself), I’ve decided to dedicate this blog post to recapping what I did this summer. I have to say, this summer was one which will hold the most memories.

(06.26.09 – 07.04.09) My summer started off with a bang, jetting back to the iconic New York City that I hadn’t seen in 3 years. While there, I walked down 5th, saw West Side Story on Broadway, walking past the Pride Parade that one Sunday, and even going all the way to Greenwich Village to see the Friends apartment (I know they didn’t even film in New York).

(07.07.09) Soon after arriving back in Vancouver, I was among the first group of people to see the VIP screening of the new 4D Theatre at the Vancouver Aquarium. I’ve seen the same thing 3 times already and quite frankly, I’m sick of it (until the next “movie” comes out). I do have to say, it is a very entertaining (and scary) 12 minutes.

(07.17.09) Before I knew it, I was gearing up to host my summer party for about 20 friends. We ate and talked and chilled until the sun set and we all had a ball.

(07.29.09 – 08.01.09) Now, what’s summer without going to the beach and waiting for hours on end for the spectacular fireworks? This summer was actually the first year I’d gone to the fireworks, and I must say, I am impressed with the outcome of my photos (most of them, at least).  It’s unfortunate I didn’t see South Africa’s, which I really liked after seeing it online.

(08.03.09)And it’s right back to the Aquarium for the sea turtle encounter. I was able to feed Schoona the green sea turtle and touch her shell.

(08.04.09) One of my friends told me about Teen Shakespeare’s Macbeth at Granville Island so a bunch of us went to see that.

(08.06.09) I decided to check out the track and field portion of the Police & Fire Games. It got pretty boring after a few hours so off to Granville Island I went for some fish and chips.

(08.07.09) Well that was a fun day, driving up to North Van to the Capilano Suspension Bridge, getting clogged in traffic on the Lions Gate Bridge, and going up to the Vancouver Lookout with a friend from the States.

(08.09.09) Seeing as I could get into Grouse Mountain for free, I took advantage of that and took the Skyride up to Grouse for a day of looking at grizzly bears and birds, and watching a (really lame) lumberjack show. It wasn’t the best day to go, but it wasn’t horrific either.

(08.11.09) Maplewood Farm was another place I could get into for free, not that it’s that expensive to get into anyway. Cute animals there.

(08.12.09) I’d never been down to Steveston (in Richmond) before, so I went to check it out on a nice, sunny August day. I also checked out the Buddhist temple close by.

(08.22.09) Of course, there was the PNE the first day it opened. Can’t forget about the annual two-week event, complete with Superdogs, concerts, and tons of people.

(08.23.09) With the Canada Line opened for about a week, I went to ride it for my first time to Aberdeen and the airport. Definitely new and modern, but full of delays that day.

And that about wraps up my summer. I mean, of course, there were other random outings in between, but that’s the gist of it.

Now, I’m about to start a whole new chapter in my life. Not sure if I’m excited or nervous about it. Indifferent at the moment, I suppose.

I have to say, I really liked South Africa’s despite not actually seeing it live. Their fireworks may not have been as creative as China’s, but their music was incredible. The Pirates of the Carribean theme song always gets to me. I could watch that minute and a half over and over again. UK put on a great show as well. It’s unfortunate they didn’t leave their big blast for last. And as for Canada, well… after watching it online, complete with music, I didn’t find it all that great. The Wizard of Oz music was never meant to accompany fireworks. The fireworks were just blasting away however they liked and the music was just there for the sake of being there.

Nevertheless, I’m glad I went to the fireworks this year. Being out in the summer night, driving (aka idling) in the fireworks aftermath, chilling with friends, ah. Will look forward to next year’s fireworks.

Enjoy the following photos. And South Africa FTW!

Onion rings look-alike much? This is actually fried calamari from Watermark (the restaurant @ Kits Beach). Needless to say, they look remarkably different from last Saturday’s fried calamari. Apparently, they changed things around to be all Ocean Wise, thus the new look and way of cooking and taste. All I can say is… yuck. (Sigh, and they changed it because of something the place I volunteer at started.) Fried calamari isn’t the same when there isn’t a crispy surface.

Market Greens

They redeemed themselves (sort of) with their delicious (and obviously overpriced) Tiramisu Cheesecake.

The view of Kits Beach from Watermark

Last night’s sunset was the fastest I’ve ever seen in my life. You could seriously just sit there and see the sun move behind the mountains within minutes.

And now, time for the fireworks photos themselves. (Fireworks mode FTW again.)

And that pretty much wraps up the Celebration of Light 2009. I’m hoping South Africa will win, but part of me doubts they will. I don’t know when the winner will be announced, but I do know I’m already looking forward to next year’s fireworks (hopefully they won’t be briefly cancelled again like they were this year).

Last night was also the discovery of fireworks mode!! They really make the photos pop. Check them out.

First, a sunset photo from Kits Beach.

Before I discovered fireworks mode. Doesn’t it just look kinda… blah? But I’ve gotta say, the view this time was much better than on Canada night. I like the silhouettes of people.

Everything following this photo will have been taken using fireworks mode.

I believe this last photo here was @ the 20 minute mark. Awesome.

Well, that’s 3/4 Celebration of Light nights. China night, the final night, will be this Saturday. Looking forward to it!

The day was looking pretty good actually, nice and sunny, maybe a few clouds here and there. No one would’ve expected a thunderstorm. The weather forecast mentioned no such thing. But sooner or later, the sun disappears and the clouds turn grey.

Nevertheless, my friends and I made it to Kits Beach and ate dinner @ the Watermark Restaurant. Check out the food.

Fried Calamari

Seafood Chowder

Classic Caesar Salad w/ Chicken Breast

Herb Chicken Breast

Delish. Soon after we left the restaurant was when it started raining. Then the thunder and lightning started. Yet we still walked along the beach in search of a spot not too gross, but after maybe half an hour of sitting and standing around, having rain blown in our faces and seeing large strikes of lightning and claps of thunder, we decided it wouldn’t be worth it to wait another two hours for a 25-minute show. And despite the fact I’ve heard that the fireworks were so worth waiting in the rain for and that the lightning made it that much better, we went on to have an absolutely awesome night. Plus, South Africa’s Tapestry of Colour show is viewable online, so I was able to watch it in the comfort of my own chair sitting right at home, and you can view it too!

This is Global BC’s video feed showing raw footage of both Canada and South Africa’s shows: http://bit.ly/woWte

Also, check out this time lapse video of Saturday, July 25: http://bit.ly/e2vgJ Take note of 0:50. Seeing that was my favourite part of the day.

Next up will be the UK’s fireworks show tomorrow (July 29)! It should be a steaming hot day tomorrow. That’s summer for you.

The Celebration of Light is an annual fireworks show, basically, and is free to watch from beaches and parks. This year, there are 4 teams in the competition: Canada (July 22), South Africa (July 25), UK (July 29), and China (Aug 1). The shows start @ 10pm on the night of and last about 25 minutes long (at least Canada’s did).

This Wednesday was Canada night, and Canada’s fireworks display had the theme of The Wizard of Oz. Music can barely be heard on Kits Beach (will bring a radio tomorrow) but the fireworks were still a sight. And the ending was awesome, complete with loud blasts and colourful poofs of sparks and light.

I don’t have very spectacular photos of the fireworks. Just photos.