First Day on the Job at the Prison Museum.
Monthly Archives: January 2012
Let your feelings be your guide
The next time you pick up the pen..remember..the mind brings the words forward but it is the heart that breathes life to the words you write..share what you feel and let your story take a life of it’s own..
-Andy1076
The journey begins in the heart
It doesn’t matter where we are or even where we are headed..the journey begun the moment we set our hearts to it..never mind reaching the destination..it’s the memories we make that truly matter in the end..
-Andy1076
Banana Leaf Malaysian Restaurant
The other day, i brought a friend who was Visiting Vancouver to the Banana Leaf Malaysian Restaurant It is by far the most authentic Malaysian restaurant in the entire city, as well as the most friendly staff in any restaurant I’ve been to, from the prompt service the moment you walk in the door to how comfortable they make you feel the moment you enter.
If you go at around the lunch hour, be ready to be stuck listening to the noisier crowd. I highly recommend the evening hour, when you don’t have to almost shout to talk to the person on front of you and if you go with someone special? it’s got kind of a romantic setting to the place. The food also arrives pretty fast, the dishes are very well laid out too. The first dish we ordered, was the appetizer sampler.It starts off with a salad plate which includes fresh tomatoes and very sweet pineapple over lettuce.
The second part of the appetizer sampler includes two spring rolls, calamari and Roti with dip on the side. Everything was still perfectly warm and the spring roll was crispy, there was no oil spilling onto the rolls. Not even when i picked it up with chopsticks, how often does that happen? shortly after this platter arrived, the satay chicken skewers followed as part of the appetizer sampler.A must have when going to a Malaysian restaurant. Again, no crazy dripping oil, it was perfectly tender and slid off the skewer easy. All this was only $8 dollars, great value!
A few minutes after we finished our delicious appetizer, the main course arrived. We ordered Kari lamb rice and Singapore Laksa, there are two variations of Laksa but this is my favorite.
The Laksa dish itself was not only huge, but it was hot and very nicely laid out. It was super tasty and the chicken wasn’t dry at all, in fact. The taste blended perfect with the soup, even the tofu wasn’t too hard. I swear i could eat this all day! within a minute or two of this dish arriving the Kari lamb rice arrived.
When i ordered the Lamb, i expected it to have the usual gamey taste to it. To my surprise though, it didn’t have that taste and it was perfectly tender. The rice was perfect too, it was fluffy and really added to the taste of the curry. After an hour or so of enjoying our dishes and chatting, we decided to order a couple of drinks. My friend enjoyed the Malaysian milk tea and i tried the Malaysian style coffee, unfortunately before i could take a picture my friend already started sipping on the milk tea. So, i will feature my drink which not only came really quickly but it wasn’t piping hot either. Which i can super appreciate, i hate having to huff and puff to enjoy my drink.
I absolutely wanted to keep the cup, it’s adorable! i am so glad they didn’t use a white porcelain cup as most restaurants do. If you are in town? i super recommend it for it’s friendly staff, great food and most importantly? incredible value! 
Random Post..Morning Sunrise..
There’s something about seeing the world through the camera lens, somehow it gives us more appreciation for the world around us. What might seem like something we walk past every day, suddenly becomes a subject for photo shot or a blog idea.
We are always in such a big rush trying to get somewhere, that we miss all the interesting things around us. The world of photography in the past few days have taught me a valuable lesson. That we need to slow down and take a look at what’s around us, to really appreciate where we are.
An attempt to save a picture
I was going through a number of pictures in my collection, trying to decide which one to feature next. Then, i noticed that one of the pictures turned out blurry and it was my favorite picture too! ahh! so i tried to save it with Snapseed for iPad along with an app called Dynamic light. The right side picture, is the blurry photo and then on the left is my attempt to save it.
So what do you think? too much editing? too little? lost cause? feel free to be honest, I’m trying to recover some of the pictures that were taken with much lower quality to feature on the blog. Thank you!
Lessons from nature..the flower..
The flower..it blooms from within.. as it’s colors reveal themselves ever so gently ..so much beauty to share..yet ever so graceful..
-Andy1076
White Rock BC
The other day, before all the snow decided to pay us a visit. I wanted to find a place to kick off my photo blog idea, so i went to White Rock. It’s almost an hour drive from Vancouver, well worth it too so i could visit Crescent Beach. This place is well known to tourists and residents for it’s incredible ocean views, as well as a place for couples to go for a walk by the beach. Surprisingly enough? year long!
At the time i took this picture, there were a few hours before sunset so i decided to walk down the dock to see if i could get a good angle of the houses facing the water, i have to be honest. I’d give anything to live in one of those homes, just imagine waking to the sunrise and being able to see the sunset in the ocean every night!
As i walked around, i noticed a child pointing at something in the water. So, i walked over to the dad who was explaining what he saw, he was explaining to his son that he was pointing at some sort of sea kelp. Although, to be honest? it looked more like something out of war of the worlds! yikes!!
This stuff was everywhere around the dock, i think i saw some fish nibbling on it though so it’s safe to assume it wasn’t an alien invasion of some sort. After taking a picture of it i walked back to the other end of the dock, seeing as it was almost the magic moment i searched for the perfect angle to take a picture of the sun about to set.
It took me a few tries to get this angle, i apologize for the bad lighting. I am still very new to the whole photo journalism hobby. The moment sure was very surreal though, not only was it so peacefully quiet around me. But, it was easy to tell that everyone enjoyed it as well as they sat down to watch the sleepy sun enter it’s slumber. There was one more gift the sun had to offer before it bid goodbye though!
I had to find a way to get in perfect position to get the complete picture of the sunset, so i climbed over some rocks that were on the side. Hoping i wouldn’t end up going for a swim, once i got good footing i took this picture. It doesn’t seem like it in this picture, but the sunset really does happen faster than you would initially imagine. Within the hour, the real reason i came to Crescent beach revealed itself at last. the perfect picture of the sun in all it’s beauty!
When we let ourselves break
Sometimes..when it becomes too much..we come to a breaking point..where we feel the cracks splitting our very soul..the longer we hold on..the more it hurts..this is when we realize that..as much as it hurts to accept..we need to let ourselves break and let the wounds heal on their own..because it is in these moments..that we see where it all begun and how to avoid letting it all happen…again..
-Andy1076
Versatile blog awards for the chinese new year!
This has been an awesome week for me, I’ve started experimenting with a new Untitled Photography section which i had lots of fun making. Then, i received two wonderful awards! from three incredibly creative bloggers! The Ilongga and Moonlighted Way. As well as Mortal Hearts With Mortal Souls. I never thought i’d have such a wonderful start to the chinese new years! i highly recommend you all to take a visit, their writings are both inspirational and fun to read
So, according to the rules of accepting this award? i have to do the following.
- 1. Thank the blogger who gave me the award
- 2. Post a photo of the award (I received two awards woot!)
- 3. Share 10 things your readers don’t know about you (Disclaimer made muahaha)
- 4. Present six people to give the award to
- 5. Let six people know they received the award
Now it’s time to share 10 things you really don’t want to know about me. Hah!
- I love 80′s music far more than modern music these days
- I love arts and crafts although i can’t draw worth squat
- I super enjoy road trips
- If i had a way i’d spend years travelling the world back to back
- I have an addiction to photography but can’t afford a DSLR
- I have to eventually take a break from blogging to get back to school full time
- I have an addiction to electronics and new gadgets
- I edit way too much than i really should
- To my new blog follows i am a single dad to a beautiful daughter
- I am hoping to continue the field of first aid and with luck work with paramedics
Now, if you are still reading this post? i would like to share 6 blogs who are very worthy of these awards! 
1) Aurora Morealist – I met her at Daphnee’s blog a couple or so months back, ever since then I’ve super enjoyed all her work. Art and poetry at it’s best, I love it!
2) D.. – We met at Tokyobling’s blog when we both commented on a post that still sends shivers down my spine every time i look, since that day, she’s been coming by my blog and making me smile every time. A true sweet friend!
3. Hot Chocolate And Books – Exactly what the title says, book reviews and fun photos! i super recommend you drop by for a visit over hot chocolate, it’s quite the experience to visit
4. Details in the fabric – I love this blog! wonderful pictures and really fun posts, pretty sure she’s not having her Yoda cat make me say these things! mmm!!
5. The Laughing House Wife – What do i look forward to more than anything at the end of the day? her posts! she ends the evening just right with her hilarious cartoons and jokes, no matter how bad your day ends she will always give you the best reason to smile.
6. Hodgepodge For The Soul - Poetry, pictures and inspirational posts. What more can you ask for in a blog?
7. Chicpress – She is one of my biggest inspirations to write, poetry by itself is a collection of heart and thoughts but she takes it to a whole new level. Be sure to visit, you’ll be moved in so many ways in your heart.
8. The Braxtyn Files – Elle and i are both parents to our own little ones, her love for her little Braxtyn is heart warming and sweet!
9. Jodie’s Journey – A truly versatile blog, from personal views and thoughts to topics that make you go hmmm!!
10. Pudding Girl – Great book reviews and colorful pictures, what more can you ask for?
Congratulations to everyone and keep up all your great posts!
One last time..
One last time..
Let’s have this dance..
One last time..
Let’s remember the moments..
One last time..
Let’s remember the love we had..
One last time..
Let’s fill the memorable nights..
One last time..
Let’s remember how we begun..
One last time..
Remember how..
I still love you..
Joke 303
I went to buy some camouflage trousers the other day but I couldn’t find any.
*
LOL online shopping just went south!
To see the full picture..
Sometimes the only way to know if we are about to make the right choice..we have to take a few steps back so we can see the full picture..It is then that we feel at peace and move forward in the right direction..
-Andy1076
I will be there to take you through the night..
In the darkness of the nights..
I will be your beacon..
In the silence of the nights..
I will share with you the thoughts in my heart..
In the cold winter nights..
I will embrace you with my love..
If you feel ever feel doubts in the nights..
I will be your stepping stone guiding your way..
Even if the sun ever fades from the sky..
I will never let you fall or forget how much you mean to me..
- Andy1076
When it is a balance..
Love can feel like a balance..when your instincts give you every reason to leave..yet..your heart gives you every reason to stay.
-Andy1076
Make the best of what you have
We can’t take back what we lose, but we can always make the best of what we still have. Then with it, create something even better than we ever thought existed.
-Andy1076
Changing it up! ^.^
In the past few days I’ve browsed through a lot of photo blogs full of incredible pictures, from both Rubicono who i have to say is a master with his iPhone. His work is absolutely amazing! I’ve also been further motivated to start photo blog thanks to the wonderful pictures from Tokyobling and his journal of all the wonderful places in Japan. So, i decided to go to Stanley Park. It is Vancouver’s jewel, it is absolutely massive and full of nature. I just walked around looking for pictures to take. Both with my iPhone and a camera in tow. Until i came to a spot called Prospect point lookout, it is a favorite spot for tourists looking to get an amazing view of the Lions Gate Bridge which is essentially an artery that links to the mountain side of Vancouver. Upon arrival at the nearby cafe though, i was greeted by three very unexpected friends.
Turns out! they had a wonderful idea for my blog! they suggested i start a photo blog of my own, i insisted that i loved writing poetry more than anything. But! as you can see the one on the right gave up trying convince me and the one on the left was very exhausted from trying. But, how can i say no to them right? so! i agreed! i told my new friends that i would give it a try. As thank you? the one on the far right had a change of heart and let me take a test shot with my iPhone.
The little bandit sat still long enough for me to play with my app to get the right shot, wish i had something to give for this little one. But, there was a very clear sign that i am not allowed to feed animals so! i bid farewell and moved on to my next subject which was the lions gate bridge.
This bridge is just massive, there was a period of time when it was badly in need of some structural work. But, they knew that it would be chaos trying to tell over 80 cars to go to another bridge 10 miles away. So! they came up with a way to work on the bridge with traffic still moving through it, engineers sure are amazing! after taking in the view i decided to look at the water. Every so often, i can catch a glimpse of cruise ships travelling towards the port towards Canada place. Instead though! the big man upstairs decided to give me a treat, take a look what he turned normally green waters into!
It was really amazing to see this, i know these ships have on board radars and the captains surrender the boat to the local port authorities who send a pilot to navigate our waters, they know the port better than anyone after all. But, this looked almost like a scene out of a hollywood movie so it was really cool. Now, one might think that it is pretty amazing anyone can travel through that pea soup. But nope, next came this wee little speed boat.
Suddenly Miami Vice theme came to mind, i have no idea what this guy was thinking but let me tell you. That boat was speeding along mighty fast, but hey he gave me a picture to take so i wasn’t about to complain. My apologies for the lousy watermark, i have no idea how that happened. I hope you enjoyed this post, i will be mixing up my poetry here and there still with a side of photo blogs. Thank you so much for your support, i hope everyone’s having a great week
Lessons by nature..water..
Water..so gentle yet so resilient..what it can’t go over it goes through or around..it will not be stopped so long as there’s a way..
-Andy1076
Weekend with my little lady
This weekend was special, my little lady wanted to go shopping at Aberdeen Centre Mall. She said she needed some supplies, so after her Kumon classes we went straight there. Then after spinning around the mall parkade forever we finally found a parking spot and went straight to Daiso, i love this little Gem. Everything in there is roughly $2 bucks to $2.50 on a two for one deal for snacks, they also carry everything from household supplies to school supplies too. Unfortunately my camera battery had gone next to nothing, so i couldn’t take a lot of pictures. I wish i had it better charged, because they had decorated the entire mall into the Chinese New Year Theme, it was neat!
We also spent a great deal of time chatting about my blog, as it turns out. She had been a huge fan of it and had been keeping up with my current posts, she didn’t ask me who my poems and quotes were for but enjoyed the posts about her very much. How do i know? because this lucky dad got a kiss on the cheek and a very loving hug for the posts! reading my blog reinforced her interest in writing and in creating stories at school, i see someone quickly becoming quite the blogger here! never too early or late to teach a child the art of expressing one self either on a diary or blog
Aberdeen Centre Mall
Dancing water fountain (Goes with music)
Chinese new year decor at Aberdeen
Hello Kitty Overload!
Lady & The Tramp + Puppies
Ducks!
What love defines..what love gives..
Love is fair and does not judge.. it does not waiver and does not fade..it is defined only by our feelings alone..no love is ever the same again..it is a journey through fire of love and the cold of loneliness..that brings us together to where we are now..in each other’s loving embrace..
-Andy1076
Versatile Blog Awards
Recently, i received the wonderful award from my friend and fellow blogger Jenine Silos and my long time friend D... Thank you so much! i am so honored to have received this award and ever so grateful for all the support you have given me. Words can’t describe, how happy i am to receive this. I super recommend everyone to visit their blogs, they are so much fun to read and discover
So, as per the tradition of such a wonderful award goes, i would like to pass this award to the bloggers below. Their stories are both fascinating and their posts ever so creative, i am confident you will all enjoy it as much as i do!
2. VidalNYC
4. Irenmonkey
6. Theilongga
9. Write i am
10. The Hobbler
11. Loveniki
13. Ramblings of a knitting goddess
14. Micah
15. Talinforali
Congratulations to everyone and pass on the award if you wish!
Random day quote
As writers, we often look downwards at our notebook searching for something to write. But, every so often we need to look around us. See the world for how it is, so we can draw out inspiration from within it all.
-Andy1076
Faith in yourself
When you’re so sure that everything has come to an end, ask yourself if this is truly what you believe or is there a chance that you need to have more faith in yourself. We are often the ones holding ourselves back, from something that could be so much greater.
-Andy1076
Some feelings never spoken..
For every laughter from her sweet voice..
His heart knew only joy..
For every tear she shed..
His heart remained silent so as to listen to hers..
For every word she spoke..
He only listened silently..
For every time she felt her world fall apart..
He caught every piece and held it together..
For every time she spoke of the one she loved..
His world shattered but his deep love for her sustained him..
Some words are never said..
Some feelings never shared..
His wish for her happiness..
Before his own..
-Andy1076
Time goes by so fast…
I was going through pictures of Alina over the years, as i was chatting with a friend of mine about what’s to come and how they would all fit into future plans. Funny thing is, if you were to ask me 10 years ago if i would ever imagine myself being a dad. I would of said yes but i would never have imagined how fast time flies, Alina has grown so much over the years.
Alina with her first ever slip on big comfy shoes at 3
Every day, i feel like i’m learning something new. But, parenting skills really isn’t something we can prepare ourselves for. It’s all learning by the sit of our pants, There’s no manual or a big emergency manual that you break the glass for. It’s either you do it right or wrong specially in the early years.
Her very first tri-cycle at 6
In the end though, Alina developed quite the personality. She listens when spoken to and anything i say would be final, she wouldn’t go against my request even if her aunts (my sisters) say otherwise. My friends often tell me that this is how she will be for now, that i should be ready for when she’s grown up and she will be making her own decisions. I hope, that somewhere along the way when she’s all grown up. That my lessons will still be there.
Alina and her friend Kaylin during her 10th bday
They say, that parenting a child is taking a journey back to one self. To see how life begins and how precious it is, i couldn’t agree more
If you ever wonder if you got enough space at your home?
I was looking around at my Google+ circle of friends when a fellow blogger Nenskei commented on a video, so i went to take a look and all i can say is WOW! one question though, what if you need to go to the washroom in a hurry? ahh!!
The candle lighter award
The other day i received this wonderful award from my friend and fellow blogger Mellifluousmurmurs. I do apologize for not having posted this sooner, it’s been busy at work and a number of things kept getting in the way. Which is why this award is so special to me, when things at work were getting really busy i wondered if it was the sign of another unpredictable week beginning, but then this made my day! thank you for making the beginning of my year a wonderful one
Some of you may be asking, what is this award and what are the rules. There is none, the award is given to blog writers that bring light into this world. It is the reason so many of us write, because we want to move people’s hearts and bring inspiration by doing what we love most, writing. So, i would like to pass this award to the following blogs that are very deserving of this award. In no particular order, because i enjoy them all? here they are
Candle Lighter Awards Recipients
If you have yet to visit these blogs, i highly recommend them. They have moved my heart and inspired me to write more, i know you will enjoy them as much as i have. Thank you all for your kind support and smiles
30 Thought Provoking Life Questions You Should Constantly Ask Yourself?
My dear sweet friend Daphnee posted something that caught my eye the other day, i found it interesting and wanted to give a try. There are quite the number of interesting questions! so here goes
1. What great thing would you attempt if you knew you couldn’t fail?
To be the best parent i can to my dear Alina, her love for me as a daughter leaves no doubts so how can i fail?
2) What would you do if you were ten times bolder in your relationships, work, family, and spiritual life?
I would go on a cross country hike in Asia knowing my loved ones and my family are supporting me, in search of peace in my heart and hopefully find where i belong.
3) What would you be doing if you had all the money in the world?
I would take give it to to a reputable charity knowing it would make a difference in someone’s life, I’ve lived my life so it’s only fair to give someone willing a second chance right?
4) If you could teach something, what would you want to teach?
I would teach anything and everything i know, knowledge isn’t something you keep to yourself but something you pass on.
5) If you left this life tomorrow, what message would you leave behind for the next seven generations?
Keep learning and never stop discovering, don’t ever look down when everything is always around you.
6) How short would your life have to be before you would start living differently today?
Life is already short enough, i don’t have enough time to redeem myself for my past sins.
7) When was the last time you went someplace you had never before?
Back in 1998 when i went to Singapore, best travel idea i ever had! what a fun place!
8) What is your biggest dream?
For my daughter to one day read all that I’ve written and do something incredible with her life
9) Can you describe your life with a six-word or less sentence?
Life isn’t just about breathing, it’s about constant discoveries
10) When was the last time you tried something new?
June last year, i came to WordPress! love this place!
11) What makes you come alive?
Hanging out with my little lady and listening to her stories
12) How much control do you have over your life?
I am in control of my emotions and on the path i take, so i guess pretty good control!
13) How would your life be different if you knew you weren’t judged or criticized?
I wouldn’t be where i am now, i’m a different person from the days i had to fight in court for the rights to Alina
14) Why do you love what you love?
I love writing, it’s not only my way to release my thoughts and emotions. But, it feels great knowing others feel the same way.
15) When you’re much older, what type of stories do you want to tell?
The kind of stories that would inspire the will of discovery
16) Beyond color, nationality, job titles accomplishments, sexual preferences, or labels given by others… who are you?
I am but a just a man, nothing more nothing less.
17) Are you settling?
Uhm, wha? am i settling for chocolate cake or vanilla? am i settling for tea or coffee? wha?
18) What does your joy look like today?
Happy!! every time i read people’s posts about how happy they are!
19) Finish this sentence: When i think of love, I think of…
The unconditional love my daughter has for me
20) What did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be a cop, but i then realized i want to be a paramedic instead. I want to help, to heal as much as i can.
21) What could you say was your defining moment?
Facing the judge in family court, speaking without a script or planning ahead and just speaking my mind
22) How do you define “soul”
The voice within that speaks volumes, when you have no one else to turn to
23) When did you become so fearful as an adult?
When i had to face a judge for the first time in court, i don’t have much faith in our legal system
24) If you could go back and do something again, would you have made the same choices?
Yes, it is because of my past actions that i am where i am today.
25) If you were God, with the absolute power of creation, how would the world look?
A world of constant wonder, discoveries and creations
26) What are some things worth fighting for?
This may sound cliche, but things like love and faith are all worth fighting for
27) What is the most important thing to teach a child?
Tolerance, in a world with little to none
28) Where is heaven to you?
In my heart, it is where i know peace
29) What do you want your future self to say about your present self?
Wait, for the right one.
30) If you were God, with the absolute power of creation, how would the world look?
It would be a world of tolerance, less spite where everyone could support each other physically and emotionally.
Mid-Week…Thoughts?
Last night, I had a really fun chat with someone I consider very close to my heart. We aren’t in a relationship or anything, but since day one we always felt that we’ve known each other forever. I guess somewhere along the chat I lost track of time and I ended up sleeping at around 12:30am, so I set the usual alarm time and hoped to fall asleep and that my insomnia would give me a break.
Sure enough, I woke up an hour later than I should and bolted out that door with a chocolate bar in my mouth! I had 15 minutes to run to that metro station and hop onto that train! by god given miracle I made it whew! I hate starting mornings like these,
Normally I would be pretty irritable but you know what? If I could do it all over again? I would. Life rarely gives us chances to spend time with the ones closest to us, to really connect and catch up on everything. Don’t let it pass by, who knows how long it will be before it comes again. I hope you are all having a great mid week
A thought..
Sometimes we can’t quite accept what we see, it’s not denial but rather something we simply weren’t prepared for. It hits us hard, but then you have to ask yourself. How will you handle it? are you going to let it get the best of you or will you take it with grace and see the full picture? yeah, I know. It’s not the first time you heard this, but notice how easily it’s forgotten in the heat of the moment? something to think about..
-Andy1076
Movie date with my little lady & my first ever movie review
This past Saturday, i invited Alina to join me in an adventure into my childhood. When i was around her age our family moved from Chile to Vancouver, i barely spoke English without a really strong Spanish accent so one day i decided to practice reading. The first book i pulled out of the library? was the adventures of Tintin, the book was in fact titled “Tintin and the secret of the unicorn” i remember i had the hardest time reading the book but in time i found myself borrowing book after book to read, the author was an absolute genius! his stories were creative and easy to follow and not to mention hilarious!
So, when i saw this trailer at the movie theater i knew i had to take Alina to watch it. Initially she just wanted to see snowy in action, but slowly she started to really enjoy captain Haddock’s hilarious drunk moments. I don’t want to spoil the movie of course, but the characters were so well designed you would think these were real live characters acting. All the way from expressions to the intense action, Spielberg left nothing out just like all his movies. Trust me, your eyes will want to be stuck to the screen like glue because it’s constant suspense and action. There were even couples who went to watch it together and they didn’t look at each other once through it all, be warned though! for everyone who do read the comics? be ready for a very loud high pitch singing familiar face! again, i’m not spoiling the movie <wink>
Good Morning / Afternoon!
The year has begun, it’s time to put the book of the past away and start writing a new chapter in your life.
Whatever happened in the past, stays in the past because like all books. Once you have written a story, there’s no space for more lines. No space for more chapters, the story is finished.
This is a time to celebrate renewal and start fresh no matter where you now stand, if you hold regrets it’s time to let go and turn those regrets into hope. You only live once, make it a good one!
