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I stayed with my lovely friend Miranda and her family in Vancouver. She picked me up at the airport and in time to go drop off her son Benji at school. We went to Breakfast Table in Granville and shared the Kaarage Hash ($20CAD) & the Pulled Duck Benedict ($20). We walked around Granville Island area. It was fun to go from a Hot summer beach environment to a different type of beach environment of the West Coast of Canada. We stopped by Rain of Shine to pick up Ice Cream – London Fog & Malt.

My first task when we got back to Miranda’s – Laundry. I tagged along to pick up Benji from school and we went to two different parks since it was so nice out. So good to reconnect with this 4 year old. I had stayed with them and met him in 2023 when I came back from my last big trip. Our friend Rebecca joined us for dinner.

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I only really had 1 full day planned on this part of the trip as it was supposed to be a small layover enroute home from Oahu but I extended to have a little more time with my friends. Miranda and myself went to Lynn Canyon for a nice morning hike. Supermarket 88 for their fresh banh mi was such a clutch move.

In the afternoon, we met back up with Rebecca and we went to the Art of Sauna. It is a fun experience where you can go visit different rooms of different types of saunas from different cultures. Dry saunas, to hot steamy ones and even cold plunges. A fun little reset. Grabbed a few sweet treats at Pie Hole including an Apple Pie cookie.

We had dinner at North Noodle House. It’s located outside the skytrain station gate. Shared some hand cut noodles (dry & soupy), dumplings & beef onion pancake rolls. We also grabbed Bubble Tea before I ended up subbing in for Miranda’s Volleyball team.

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I unfortunately wasn’t able to join Miranda to drop off Benji at school but was super happy to receive a video call from him as I wouldn’t be able see him before I left Vancouver that afternoon.

I was able to meet up with my friend Sarita at Matchstick in South Cambie for breakfast before she had to go to work. Since I was in that area, I ventured over to Smithe & Burrard with the Japadog cart which is my landmark for that area. I had lived in Vancouver for a month back in 2013 with my friend.

I made my way back to Miranda’s to say my final goodbyes and grab my bags before hopping on the bus and train to the airport to head home. Short but sweet stopover in Vancouver.