3 days BootCamp @ Vancouver - Day 1

Date: June 9, 2008 (Monday)
Place: Vancouver, Canada
Day 1

i just came back from my 3-days business trip to Vancouver.. it's actually an orientation program offered by my company (& they called it "bootcamp").. our head office is in Vancouver & that's where our "bootcamp" was held..

i booked my flights & accommodation through my company designated travel agency.. i'm not familiar with the Vancouver area so i asked the travel agent to book the hotel that is closest to my Vancouver office.. & to my surprise, the hotel room was very nice..

i stayed in Westin Grand for 3 nights.. it's located right on Robson Street.. & i believe the travel agent booked a Superior One Bedroom Suite for me (not just a hotel "room").. i was very surprised as i just joined the company & never anticipate that i could stay in a Suite for my orientation trip!!

it has a separate bedroom & living room.. the living room has a 2-seat sofa & a 1-seat sofa, with a spacious work desk & a tv..


there's also a fully stocked kitchen, with microwave, dishwasher, & cookware.. & with Starbucks coffee & coffee cups..

a queen-sized bed (they called it Westin Heavenly Bed®), with extra pillow in the closet, & 2 bathrobes & lots of hangers.. there's another tv in the bedroom.. & a safe in the closet too..

the bathroom is called Westin's Heavenly Bath® with granite counters.. they do have hair dryer (a strong one), iron & iron board..



this was the night view from my Suite.. i could see the B.C. Place Stadium from there..




i had dinner with my aunt & a friend on my 1st day.. & we had Shanghai food..

寧都飯店 Ningtu Restaurant
Address: 2130 Kingsway Street, Vancouver
Phone: (604) 438-6669

my aunt said this is the best Shanghai restaurant in Vancouver.. & the food were really great..

(left) 雞絲粉皮 Shredded Chicken with Noodle
..the mixture of sauce with chicken & noodle (粉皮) was just right.. 粉皮很有彈性..
(right) 小籠包 Steamed Dumplings Shanghai Styles
..it's only $5 for 8 pieces.. 有肉汁, 皮略厚..

醃篤鮮 Salted Pork with Tofu Soup
..the waitress explained the word 「醃篤鮮」: 「醃 」指豬肉 pork, 「篤」是指筍, & 「鮮」是指 湯的鮮味.. as its name, 很有鮮味..

(left) 賽螃蟹 Surimi with Broccoli
..there were shrimp & crabmeat chucks in it..
(right) 苔條黃魚 Deep Fried Yellow Fish with Seaweed
..i love this one.. i usually don't eat fish but this one tasted good.. it's made with Seaweed & Yellow croaker (黃花魚) & it was great!


we went to have cheesecake afterwards.. & to visit Michael, the owner of Cheesecake Etc.
Address: 2141 Granville Street, Vancouver
Phone: (604) 734-7704

Michael played piano for a while that night.. it was nice meeting him again, & the 3 of us had a great chat..

i tried their special, Tiramisu Cheesecake (1st left) & their Mocha.. we also had their signature Cheesecake too!

it's my 2nd visit to Cheesecake Etc. (& i've another post on this here)..