Wal-Mart Halloween Sale: 50% Off Goods and Signages and Decorations

 Walmart usually has 50 percent sales after holidays, and they had it for Halloween, too.

I went on November 1st morning to check their sales.  This year, they did not have much leftovers because they did not import as much to begin with.

There is this farm house decoration below.  It is 5 dollars on sale.  I didn't buy it as I think it should be cheaper.  There is also the "thankful" tray and other decorations on sale.

farmhouse

welcome sign and decorations

Halloween birds and table clothes on sale:

Welcome sign is on sale for 2.5 dollars:

More flower decors:

I think these are 3 dollars. I bought a couple of them.  There is also a squirrel, which is very cute.

These pumpkin signs are 3.5 dollars.  I bought one.

Hello Pumpkin sign

These signs are also 2 to 3 dollars on sale.  I bought the welcome sign and Halloween sign.

Welcome sign and halloween sign

Here are more signs:

The pumpkin sign below is actually in wooden frame, and it was 7 dollars.  It is way too expensive.

Taiwanese Tea and Tea Pot

To make tea is an art in East Asia.
Tea pots are also art objects, which cost from 1 dollar to millions.
In ancient times, it is said that one rare teapot is worth a castle.

Nice Taiwanese Teapots, tea storage, cup

Taiwanese people, like Japanese people, really appreciate good fine tea.
When my aunt came over this January, she gave us really nice tea pot set.
She is very knowledgeable in tea art and culture.  I am totally an amateur.
However, the bottom tray is made of bamboo and worth more than 100 dollars.

Taiwanese Tea pot set

This set is at last worth 500 dollars, which is amazing that anyone would gave it to us.
We really appreciate this.

She also sent us a package of extra fine tea:

High Quality Organic Oolong Tea Taiwan

The maker of this fine Oolong tea owns his own organic tea farm, and is very famous among tourists.
Depending on grades and weight, one package can easily cost over 100 dollars.

Canada Day Celebration in Vancouver Downtown

Almost every year's Canada Day, we go somewhere for the celebrations.  This year, we went to Vancouver Waterfront's Canada Place again to join the crowds.  Around the new Convention Centre, they have a new whale statue made in blocks.

There were also many military personnel and equipments on display.  Fighter jets, tanks, boats, artillery...etc.
We took a picture  with them as usual:

The convention centre was also opened to the public:

It was a fun outing but not as much freebies were out there this year as the olympic promotion period is over.

Flashback: Paris: Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame

We went to the Eiffel Tower last year, too.  It was hot and we did not want to wait inline just to get on the elevator.  Instead, we want to walk around the city to see as much as possible.

We also walked to Notre Dame because the subway system was under maintenance and with a baby, we managed to get there.

Flashback: Paris: Louvre and Opera

We went to the Opera theatre and Louvre in Paris as well.
The Opera is absolutely beautiful with golden statues on the top and the sculptures all around the building.
The interior is absolutely well designed as well.

The Louvre is a gigantic museum with lots of items for display and with lots of tourists.  It was crowded when we visited and you almost need a whole day to really see this place.
One of the most famous paintings it has is Mona Lisa; however, most of the paintings are influenced by religion.  If you want a variety of types of artwork, I would suggest people to visit d'Orsay.

Vancouver Olympics: Northern House

On a weekend, we went to the Northern House at 9 am, and there was still an 1.5 hour wait.  I think it is crazy, but oh well, I am gonna do this once a life time.
Here, we can receive souvenir such as pins, dvd, chances for draw, books, etc.  Unlike some pavilions without exhibits, here they have native performances, art, crafts, sculptures and animal specimen for viewing.

 

  

  

 

Vancouver Olympics: Royal Canadian Mint Pavilion

I have heard that for the Royal Canadian Mint Pavilion, you need 4 to 6 hours to line up to enter and touch the gold medals.  Because I have a family with kid, I decided to wake up at 6 am and line up before 7:30 am, and my wife and kid can join me later.  The wait was exactly 4 hours and part of the reason is that they allowed school kids groups to enter without lining up.  That is very unfair for the people who have been there for hours.
Here are the things I saw:
Line ups:

 

  

Gold medals:

 

  

 

Million dollar coin worth 3.5 million dollars:

 

  

Gold coin art:

 

  

  

Mint Elevator:

 

Big coin Inukshuk:

 

Overall, the experience was more positive than other pavilions we visited, but the wait is grueling.  You also get to do coin exchange for different coins everyday here.

Vancouver Olympics: BC House (Art Gallery) & Leonardo Da Vinci

During the Olympic period, the Art Gallery and the special exhibit  for Leonardo Da Vinci are free to the public.  It features the sketches of human anatomy, which has never been on any medical journal before (on loan from the Queen's Gallery).  We were not allowed to take pictures inside and the security was tight.  However, I was amazed at what Da Vinci observed and drew.

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Vancouver Olympics Monument: Inukshuk

They have erected an Inukshuk at English Bay in Vancouver for the Olympics.  (near the beach)

Vancouver Olympics Artwork 3: Lanterns

I have more pictures to share on the artwork on Granville Street for Olympic display in Vancouver.
Here are lantern displays by Taiwanese and Canadian artists:

 

A nice looking dragon, fish and some totem poles:

 

 

and chicken!

Not sure this one is a sculpture or lantern.

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Vancouver Olympics Artwork 2: Birdman

There is another interesting exhibit in the Taiwanese lantern section beside Vancouver Downtown's London Drugs on Granville Street.

Vancouver Olympics Artwork 1: Laughing Statues

Lots of artwork (statues, paintings, sculptures) have been set up and erected all around Vancouver, and I will go around and introduce some of these artwork.  As usual, this weekend, I went around downtown Vancouver to find interesting topics to post:
Laughing Statues at English Bay (Downtown Vancouver):

They look cute, funny and friendly and really make you laugh.

Musee d'Orsay

One of the best museum or art gallery has to be Musee d'Orsay.  It is famous but many people still do not know about it even when they are from Europe.  (Of course, everyone know about the Louvre)  It is located in Paris, easily reachable by Metro.  It has a large collection of the Impressionist paintings, and also has other styles of paintings including neo classical.  Work by Van Gogh, Monet, Renoir, Pissaro, Cezanne, etc.
The impact of real painting is always more mesmerizing than the textbooks.
The structure of the Museum is also wonderful:

If you ever visit Paris, you have to visit Musee d'Orsay.

Van Gogh Painting and Side Walk Sales

I like the Impressionists and Van Gogh's paintings.  I also like the side walk sales in the malls in BC.
  Last night, we found this book outside Chapters' side walk sale stand and it was a steal!  6 dollars for a brand new book for big Van Gogh illustrations.  I thought it was a great books because I am a fan of the impressionists paintings and have had chance traveling to France to enjoy them.  Viewing them in 3D is completely different than on paper.  The impact is amazing and indescribable.