Day 91 - Vancouver
Tuesday, November 09, 2010
Sunday 7th November
After watching the sunrise (as per my previous post) and breakfasting at the hostel, I caught the sky-train to the Metropolis at Metrotown mall, about 20 minutes away. The sky-train was interesting - as I mentioned before, there were no staff about - vending machines disbursed tickets, and a line on the ground demonstrated where the 'fee paying users' area was. Whilst on the train, I managed to catch a glimpse of Stanley Park and the waterfront - with all this shopping, there was no chance for any sightseeing!
The mall was MASSIVE, bigger than any mall in Australia with over 450 stores. I'd read that you should be prepared to spend the whole day there - and half of Vancouver seemed to as well. After yesterday's purchases, my list was a little narrower, but more specific. Whereas yesterday's had been more like 'jeans', 'tops', 'jumpers', today's was based around what the gaps were from yesterdays purchases. For example, I'd bought 2 pairs of jeans but no jumpers; and I'd bought the boyfriend blazer but didn't have a top to wear with it.
HIgh on my list was pyjamas. I'd researched the mall during my sleep-deprived night, and decided to start with Old Navy, a cheap unisex clothing store. Score: blue flannel pyjamas and a fluoro red top, as well as a hoodie, for under $60.
One thing high on my list was a 'pea coat', which reached just below my waist. It was the kind of thing you need if you were walking around the shops - you don't need a snow jacket; you don't want a winter woollen coat; and you want more than a jumper. But do you think I could find one? (Insert answer here: no!)
I found another hoodie at American Eagle - I'd actually tried it on yesterday but abandoned it, thinking I'd find others (I didn't). By the end of the day, with a few more items purchased, I found Forever 21, a massive clothing store. I'd visited this in Singapore, but the Singapore one was completely different. The clothes here were amazing, and sooo cheap!! I purchased a dark purple, metallic skirt and a luxurious gold print t-shirt for only $40 (for both), ticking off the 'nice outfit' requirement off my checklist.
I was so tempted to get a taxi back to the hostel but I reminded myself that I'm poor, and took the Metro home instead. Walking out on the nearby eating streets, I ended up at one of the burger places (I am not kidding, every second store is either a burger joint or Starbucks). The vegetarian burger was listed on the menu at $5.95 - not too bad I thought. "What would you like on it?", the server said. "What does it come with?" I replied. "Nothing - you select whatever you like to go on it.? By the time I added on the basics, the whole meal ended up being more than $18!! (Fries and 'pop' included).
I spent the remaining hours of the day (literally - I fell asleep bang on midnight) playing on the internet on my iPhone and writing lists - what to do tomorrow, how to get there, what was left to buy, where I needed to go in Whistler. Tomorrow was to be another busy day ...
After watching the sunrise (as per my previous post) and breakfasting at the hostel, I caught the sky-train to the Metropolis at Metrotown mall, about 20 minutes away. The sky-train was interesting - as I mentioned before, there were no staff about - vending machines disbursed tickets, and a line on the ground demonstrated where the 'fee paying users' area was. Whilst on the train, I managed to catch a glimpse of Stanley Park and the waterfront - with all this shopping, there was no chance for any sightseeing!
The mall was MASSIVE, bigger than any mall in Australia with over 450 stores. I'd read that you should be prepared to spend the whole day there - and half of Vancouver seemed to as well. After yesterday's purchases, my list was a little narrower, but more specific. Whereas yesterday's had been more like 'jeans', 'tops', 'jumpers', today's was based around what the gaps were from yesterdays purchases. For example, I'd bought 2 pairs of jeans but no jumpers; and I'd bought the boyfriend blazer but didn't have a top to wear with it.
HIgh on my list was pyjamas. I'd researched the mall during my sleep-deprived night, and decided to start with Old Navy, a cheap unisex clothing store. Score: blue flannel pyjamas and a fluoro red top, as well as a hoodie, for under $60.
One thing high on my list was a 'pea coat', which reached just below my waist. It was the kind of thing you need if you were walking around the shops - you don't need a snow jacket; you don't want a winter woollen coat; and you want more than a jumper. But do you think I could find one? (Insert answer here: no!)
I found another hoodie at American Eagle - I'd actually tried it on yesterday but abandoned it, thinking I'd find others (I didn't). By the end of the day, with a few more items purchased, I found Forever 21, a massive clothing store. I'd visited this in Singapore, but the Singapore one was completely different. The clothes here were amazing, and sooo cheap!! I purchased a dark purple, metallic skirt and a luxurious gold print t-shirt for only $40 (for both), ticking off the 'nice outfit' requirement off my checklist.
I was so tempted to get a taxi back to the hostel but I reminded myself that I'm poor, and took the Metro home instead. Walking out on the nearby eating streets, I ended up at one of the burger places (I am not kidding, every second store is either a burger joint or Starbucks). The vegetarian burger was listed on the menu at $5.95 - not too bad I thought. "What would you like on it?", the server said. "What does it come with?" I replied. "Nothing - you select whatever you like to go on it.? By the time I added on the basics, the whole meal ended up being more than $18!! (Fries and 'pop' included).
I spent the remaining hours of the day (literally - I fell asleep bang on midnight) playing on the internet on my iPhone and writing lists - what to do tomorrow, how to get there, what was left to buy, where I needed to go in Whistler. Tomorrow was to be another busy day ...
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