Thursday, May 1, 2014

Walkabout....Victoria's Chinatown.


Your sensitive and thoughtful comments and emails continue to surprise and amaze me...
I am grateful and truly humbled.

Now moving forward after that anonymous rant and getting back to the business of blogging.
Blogging in the manner to which I am accustomed.

My Volvo was in being serviced at the dealership and so I had a few hours in town to do some exploring.
My first stop was Value Village as I do love to peruse the books and china tea cups...I found myself looking at handbags and found a vintage Furla leather bag in chestnut brown leather.


It's a bit of a monster in size but I do like a bag with lots of room for a book and a bottle of water.



I like the tied handle details...



I've been looking for a bargain bag in brown to go with my watch strap for several years.


Our local Value Village is a vast warehouse full to the brim with all kinds of goods.
I find it an amazing place to find everyday basics and clothing.
You'd be surprised at the quality of some of the items...
I think a lot of people, myself included, declutter and are too lazy to have garage sales!


I am on maintenance at WW and went to their new location in Royal Oak for my monthly weigh in and was down half a pound...so far I have not fallen off the wagon!


Salads are so satisfying especially when they have some protein added like the blue cheese and nuts here.
This combination was delicious...apples, blue cheese and nuts atop of baby romaine lettuce.
A simple vinaigrette which I sparingly drizzled over top.
I ordered a decaf Americano coffee to go with the salad from The Grindstone across the street from Value Village.
Lunch out is a treat and I don't mind dining alone.

After lunch I decided to take a walk in Chinatown.

There are guided tours of chinatown which are really interesting.
 On the tours you visit the Mah Jong parlour and go inside the temples and some of the buildings and the shops.
I highly recommend going on a tour if you are visiting Victoria.


The Gate of Harmonious Interest
the entrance to Victoria's Historic Chinatown.


Fisgard Street is chock full of shops, cafes, markets, temples and buildings.









One of my favourite spots to browse...
there is a resident cat that frequently snoozes in the window but he was not there this afternoon or I would have taken a picture of him as he is quite a handsome and very large feline.







There is a sweet little garden out through those french doors...
if they had been open I would have stepped out and taken a picture.








I popped into Silk Road Tea Company on Government Street which is around the corner from Fisgard.


They were serving Lullaby Tea a new blend which is a sleep tea.
The roller ball of aromatherapy oils is reported to induce sleep as well.
It smells lovely!

It seems that many women suffer from sleep issues.
I do not want to rely on any pharmaceuticals so I am experimenting with these.

I also picked up a tin of Japanese Sour Cherry tea...it is a particularly refreshing tea served over ice in the hot weather.

It's another glorious day here and I must close for now as I am going to take a walk.
I'll see what I can find to share with you as I wander about in the neighbourhood.

Do something nice for someone today...
you'll feel better for it.

24 comments:

Jen Lawrence said...

It's a trip down memory lane for me: particularly Chinatown. Great VV find. Well done!

Deb said...

I never comment on blogs but I read yours every day you post .I wished we lived near each other because I would just come over to that bungalow and hug you. Keep writing and sharing your world! We all learn from each other, especially at this time of life.

Susan said...

Leslie, My husband and I visited your city 38 years ago on our honeymoon. I very cute photo was taken of us at a restaurant in Chinatown by some fellow tourists at the next table. They actually asked us if we were on our honeymoon. I guess it was obvious. You are so fortunate to live in that beautiful city! Thank you for these photos today! Have a wonderful weekend.

Madame Là-bas said...

Did you read White Jade Tiger when you were teaching? I always thought that the role of the Chinese in B.C.'s history was interesting. I enjoy Victoria's Chinatown as it is much less "touristy" than Vancouver's. I have not had a salad since I left Paris and your picture is making my mouth water.

Pondside said...

You've chosen one of my favourite walks! Aren't we lucky to be able to stroll and shop for the freshest ingredients in a fabulous atmosphere.
I've just caught up with your last posts. What a nasty comment. Anonymous must be dealing with some very hard issues to have lashed out like that. I hope you don't change your blog one iota!

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

Thank you Deb...I am your newest blog follower!

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

Oh what a great memory! You've been married almost as long as my husband and I have...we are going to celebrate our 40th this July! Our honeymoon was short and sweet. We went up island for a couple of days and could not wait to get back and set up housekeeping as a married couple! If you ever come back to Victoria I hope that we can arrange to meet up as I feel I know you...

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

I love Julie Lawson's books and she is a very gifted and talented authour. I have been fortunate enough to meet her and hear all about how she writes a book. She lives in James Bay and is an avid walker so I see her frequently in my travels.
I also love Marilyn Bowering's novel To All Appearances a Lady...which takes place locally...so many great books out there to read! I just got two new mystery novels from the library by Rebecca Tope...she writes Cotswold mysteries....hope they are as good as Louise Penny's stories.
Enjoy your time in Bath...I am living my travel fantasy vicariously through you right now!

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

I wish there was something I could do or say to anonymous that would ease his or her pain...life is often very challenging and we all need support and encouragement when things go amiss.
A magic wand would come in handy right about now!
Isla had hers out when I was there today...she kept chanting bibbidy bobbity boo!
Isn't this weather glorious? We should book our Abkhazi Tea and walkabout....I am well enough and don't think I am contagious...I'll email you.

Jeannine said...

What a lovely day you had. The salad looks delicious. I, too, don't mind dining alone. Thanks for the book recommendations in your comments. I'm going to check out the books by Rebecca Tope. I love a good cozy British mystery.

Pam said...

what a wonderful story you shared with us today love your new purse...Chinatown is my favorite place to visit

Sheila said...

Oh, I wish I could have joined you today on such a beautiful sunny day! I need to go through Chinatown again soon.

emma said...

I love Fan Tan Gallery! We always buy our soap there when we visit Victoria. And pat the cat on the cushion!

Unknown said...

I'm enjoying your colorful images of your walk about and your salads are making me hungry. They look delicious! Happy weekend!
xx, Heather

Northmoon said...

I hope to come out to the west coast later in the summer. Your photos of Victoria's Chinatown have convinced me it should be on my list of places to visit!

Deborah Montgomery said...

Great photos from Chinatown. Congrats on your weight maintenance, that's wonderful. I like your VV bag, too.

Sunday Taylor said...

Lovely post. You had the perfect day!

Anonymous said...

I enjoy your blog posts , they have a calming effect on me . I feel at peace when I read them . Donna

Jo-Anne said...

Fabulous post! Your sole detractor is DUST!! I live in Victoria too and your pics of Chinatown are spot on! Well done. :)

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

Perhaps we can connect when you are here if we are not on holiday as we have some plans for a family reunion and the usual boating holidays.

No Sacrifice Bags said...

Your post has given me courage and resolve to stand up to the "anonymous" people who have commented on my blog, and I just opened it back up.
I have always been grateful for your kind comments on my blog Leslie, and I do hope you'll visit again.

Cheers,
Donna

No Sacrifice Bags said...

I love your photos of Chinatown. It brings back memories of a dinner there ten years ago. My son is half Chinese, and our family always has to check out every cities Chinatown. lol.

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

Good to hear Donna...I will see if I can link up to your blog now...

KSL said...

I love you blog - it's just such a beautiful slice of life, with just enough inspiration thrown in.