2 April, 2006 (Sunday)

An excuse to go to Kelowna. Sunday night Sushi. Finding Champagne Charlies. Drinking it up Irish style.

Sunday night is the night
Sunday night is now sushi night. Jae has had a hankering for months and finally a means to satisfy it. Tonight we’re going to hit the town and eat raw fish! (Picture: Jae - "Oh the excitement")

We pick up Emily and Sean around half-past 5. It’s my first extended drive in Canada and the car feels different. Partial four-wheel drive is on because it’s feeling a bit icy. My head is light. It was a long day in the Village. I concentrate on the road. Sean provides a soundtrack for me – Smash, by the Offspring. The road winds down the hill.

There is old snow and dirt banked up on the sides. Spring is coming. Half-way down a cop car starts tailing me. It’s a white sedan with the trademark lights over the roof. I keep strictly to the speed limit, try to keep to my side of the road and before long it gets bored and overtakes.

Downtown Kelowna is quiet of a Sunday but it takes a few circles around the block before we find parking. The sushi place is a little brightly lit storefront right next to Gloria Jeans (not Starbucks!) on the main street. We walk in and stare hungrily at the sushi bar. Jae and Sean order a mega sushi platter. Emily opts for Chicken Udon. I can’t resist the chirashi donburi – raw fish on boiled rice.

Conversation kicks off, the topic? Flatulence. One of Emily’s favourites. Jae regales us with tales of roadtrips taken with baked beans and the power windows locked. We discuss social mores and English prudishness, or is it just good manners? We talk about travel. We talk about why all the sushi places seem to be run by Chinese and Korean chefs. Apparently our particular eatery is Korean. Jae is thrilled.

Three pots of Japanese green tea later the sushi arrives. Jae and Sean’s platter is enormous. My chirashi donburi looks nice and fresh and Emily is straight into her udon. Conversation pauses for eating. (Picture: Jae, Moi, Emily, Sean - Sushi has arrived)

Somehow or other Jae and Sean polish off their sushi platter. Our server seems impressed. Apparently it’s usually presented to a group of between 4 to 6, although one particular Japanese customer has been known to eat the whole selection himself. Both Jae and Sean look sated though.

On the way out our server guesses not only where we are from but our ethnicity. Pretty impressive. Apparently he’s a New York native so he’s familiar with a bit of cultural diversity. Jae grabs his email address. Is there something you’re not telling us Jae? ;)

Looking for Champagne Charlie’s
Kelowna city streets are quiet of a Sunday. It’s now 9pm and almost nobody seems to be about. Sean has work at 12 so the cinema isn’t an option. We start to wander down the street, stopping at the tattoo parlour to peer through the window. It’s where Emily got her maple leaf tattoo. Jae scoffs at why we’d want to go in if we aren’t going to get anything. What about the t-shirts I ask?

We keep on walking. Champagne Charlie’s? Sure. I’ve never been to a strip club. Jae seems to find this unbelievable. I’m an innocent – really! Sean was there last week, but as we wander the streets we can’t seem to find it. Cheetah’s, the other local strip joint is closed. Another night perhaps?

We end up at the Irish pub, although the upstairs bar won’t serve us because Emily forgot her ID. Typical. Instead, we get a downstairs booth and a jug of Shaftsbury between the four of us. The conversation turns toward ages. Emily guesses Jae to be the eldest of us three guys, and myself as the youngest. Guess again. The topic moves onto why neither Jae, Sean or myself have been hitting on the mountain. Is it opportunity, are we too nice, or are we just lacking the required equipment?

The night finishes and I begin the drive back home. It’s been a long day. As we hit the highway Jae asks if I want to let Sean drive, since he’s due on shift and should be (nominally) awake. I happily acquiesce.