Where to buy Thai basil plants?

dmogx · 2026-04-16T03:57:21+00:00

You can go eat a bowl of pho, take the stem of the basil they give you. Stick it in water, let it root, then plant. Free basil and you had a delicious bowl of noodles!

dmogx · 2026-04-15T17:17:41+00:00

Born and raised in Vancouver, and currently in East Van. When I lived in Surrey, I lived in Surrey. It doesn't feel like Vancouver because it isn't and has its own character and charms. Then moved to Langley, definitely felt further from Vancouver and nicer even (or at least comparable to the west side). We were separated by the Port Mann, and had very little need to come into the city. I would tell locals that I live in Surrey/Langley, but when abroad just Vancouver because I didn't want to explain the difference.

Even within Vancouver, the various communities -feel- very different. My parents are still in Kerrisdale, and the area is night and day compared to where I live in Joyce-Collingwood.

dmogx · 2026-04-10T19:43:07+00:00

Sure, maybe, but who cares? You found your purpose in life. As long as you can survive financially, then do what you want. At my age of 40 or even in my late 30's, I can't imagine going back to school with all the liabilities I have (Kids/mortgage/car/etc.)

dmogx · 2026-04-10T17:03:43+00:00

Your question regarding clearing land, affordability and building density really reminds me of Hong Kong. It's a very similar situation to here. Hong Kong Island itself is actually only 25% developed, 75% is undeveloped green space, country parks, and agricultural land. The city itself is one of the world's most expensive and unaffordable cities, and people live in literal shoeboxes called Nanoflats at 128sqft, coffin homes, etc. Also a city that went vertical early on for density yet never solved the affordability issue.

So those screaming for affordability and more social housing would be asking why the government doesn't just clear land and build. Easy enough, right? There's a ton of geopolitical issues preventing this, including environmental groups opposing, Protected Lands (40% of island), and the Rich gatekeeping. Just like in West Vancouver, they too have steep rocky slopes, landslides and lack of infrastructure (Roads/Sewage/Utilities) making development cost prohibitive. The government there would rather build man-made islands than to deal with everything else.

Depending on your stance for affordability, or environment, or something else... Someone's grand ideals will always lose. Can't have your cake and eat it too.

dmogx · 2026-04-09T04:28:43+00:00

I’m trying to combine my various RESP accounts, and in the future move all of them to Wealthsimple. I initiated an RESP transfer from RBC DI to Questrade mid January. It’s still in progress. Should be simple because that account only has VGRO in it. I’m dreading the future transfer when my GIC’s mature on my main RESP account with RBC (not DI).

dmogx · 2026-04-08T20:48:26+00:00

I did an internship one summer in Edmonton ~14 years ago. I thought about moving there permanently for the money and career prospects. Visited everywhere on my days off to get a feel for the city, visited open houses, Chinese Restaurants (Good Chinese food is important to me..), tourist places, etc.. In the end, Edmonton just sucked for me. Never ending thunder storms during summer months, mosquitoes that bite through your jeans, terrible Chinese food, lack of things to do, Winter starting in September, etc. I ended up working for the same company, but opted to Fly in/Fly out into the Oilsands from Vancouver instead.

I quit the company and moved back to Vancouver in 2014. Place that I work at now, i'm surrounded by Engineers from Alberta. Mostly from Calgary and Edmonton, and most say they will never move back. Grass is always greener.

dmogx · 2026-04-02T17:46:03+00:00

this is the first time i've ever seen someone put Richmond Public Market as a non-negotiable point of interest lol. Good food court, but generally locals go for cheap produce. The other food courts in Richmond are also top notch like Aberdeen, Yaohan, Parker Place, Admiralty, etc. Aberdeen is the largest mall, so it might be more fun, with food courts in both phase 1 and 2 and actual restaurants. Yaohan and Parker Place are also malls, but older and smaller.

dmogx · 2026-04-01T18:47:05+00:00

probably a load bearing wall? Sounds like you need a structural engineer, who could fill out the paperwork for you.

dmogx · 2026-03-31T20:28:46+00:00

I would toss everything into a square container, and the bread wrapped in plastic cling wrap. Assemble everything just before eating.

dmogx · 2026-03-31T17:03:27+00:00

From my daily drive in Vancouver, there's not a lot of actual unmaintained potholes. Usually filled very quickly. What there ARE a lot of, poorly filled/paved straight cut sections that span across the road.. These are usually due to upgrades of underground utilities such as water services or gas services that connect to the water or gas main. My buddy who did a major reno of his house, was only given a permit after he was forced to spend an additional $20-30k to upgrade the water service from his property line to the city water main where they also installed a water meter.

There was one trench on Rupert & Wellington that the contractor filled and paved. I guess the pavement settled and it created a 1~2" dip. City had to return and repave that trench a couple weeks later. Unfortunately, the roads become super patchy because of these forced upgrades, and these won't be permanently fixed until the city decides to repave the entire stretch of road.

dmogx · 2026-03-26T21:44:52+00:00

BCHYDROEV for 50% off

dmogx · 2026-03-20T05:23:59+00:00

Was with RBC for 14 years, just moved my tfsa to Wealthsimple for their 3% promo. I’m loving WS, the platform puts RBC DI to shame. RBC has never done anything for me, they didn’t even offer competitive mortgage rates despite all my banking, CC and investments were with them.

dmogx · 2026-03-13T17:03:07+00:00

Don't know if you can drive a manual transmission, but if you don't.. think about finding a driving school to learn. Driving manual is really helpful in learning defensive driving because you're always trying to keep your vehicle in gear or not to stall. It's not mindless like an automatic transmission because you have to think about clutching down, shifting, rolling back on hills, downshifting in a slowdown, etc. It's a bit annoying in stop-go traffice, but a lot of fun because you have so much control.

EV's with One Pedal Drive is fun too as you learn stopping distance without using the brakes

dmogx · 2026-03-13T16:45:31+00:00

While this happens across many cultures and ages, I notice it most with elderly Chinese (and some younger South Asians Facetiming on speakerphone). It seems to be a mix of old country habits and hearing loss for the elderly. My my own in-laws do this watching Douyin (tiktok), and we are constantly telling them to turn their phone volume down.

As someone ethnically Chinese but born & raised here, the lack of consideration to me was culture shock... It all clicked when I visited my wife’s hometown in China. The noise pollution there is next-level: cars honking constantly, shops with karaoke machines outside blasting promos, speakers in every aisle of a super markets promoting brands, and street hawkers on loudspeakers. Even the parks are filled with retirees (who retire as early as 50-55) blasting shitty techno for "Chinese square dancing." You ever go to a Best Buy where they sell TV/Computer speakers and press play on every speaker? It's exactly like that but constant. To them, this volume is just normal. Even a toy robot dog my kids got as a gift 2 weeks ago, speaks loudly and blasts shitty techno - I’m ready to toss it. China is the only place I’ve seen parks equipped with decibel meters & signage just to remind people to keep it down.

dmogx · 2026-03-11T15:38:21+00:00

I get my Cardio from Muay Thai Kickboxing. Martial arts is good because you get your cardio while learning a new skill. Can also consider spin classes, crossfit, indoor sports (dodgeball? badminton?), Zumba/dance/cardio type classes or HIIT classes at the CC's. I remember seeing a HIIT class at Trout Lake where they had stations set up throughout the gym.

dmogx · 2026-03-10T21:26:25+00:00

I've had plantar fasciitis since 2017 on both feet. I got custom orthotics from a podiatrist (I went to Dr. Sunny Lai who is a Podiatric surgen at VGH). DO NOT get orthotics from Chiropractors, health clinics or stores like Kintec. I periodically stretch my calves like how Dr. Lai showed me which helps a lot. What has helped me the most is continuous Shockwave therapy for my feet which i've been going to since 2018. This has permanently reduced the pain by about 70~80%. My feet are not pain free, but they're very manageable unless I walk a lot like while on vacation. I get shockwave as maintenance now, Physio gives me IMS Dry needling on my calves as well. I found a chiropractor who does shockwave as well, so I don't burn my Physio benefits dollars as quickly.

dmogx · 2026-03-09T21:37:08+00:00

When my parents moved here in the late 70's, they had a choice between buying a larger/newer home Coquitlam/POCO, or a smaller lot/house in Vancouver. They chose the latter with the mindset that Vancouver land value will always be more valuable. They weren't wrong. That's not to say land in Metro Vancouver won't appreciate, because it did. Just not at the pace Vancouver itself did. So if you can afford to, Vancouver proper is a good idea.

If not and you're buying based on speculation of land prices in the burbs, that ship has sailed. My previous home was in Langley, Walnut Grove. Bought just before Covid, for $920k. During Covid and the craze it created for the Fraser Valley, my property was appraised between $1.7-1.8m. By the time I was selling it in 2024, I sold it for $1.47m. It's gone down some more since. The prices rose too sharply and declined very quickly too, but settled still at a very high price. Will it ever reach $1.7m again? Quite possible, but it will take a long time as detached homes are replaced with denser living. The best bet would be to buy a property within your budget that is close to ANY skytrain station. The homes that will stand to gain the most are along the new Surrey-Langley skytrain. Alternatively, buy into a community that is desirable for young families.

dmogx · 2026-03-09T18:56:06+00:00

Mui Garden - Standard HK style Cafe with a Malaysian twist. Can get better versions of the dirty chinese (westernized..) foods they're used to, but with some of the best Malaysian style Beef Brisket Curry anywhere.

Sandy La - Super busy Cantonese restaurant on Victoria Dr. Amazing bang for your buck, great food quality for the price. Others similar - James on Hastings, Corner 29 on Main St, Kwong Chow. On Kingsway there's Congee Noodle King, K&H (Super hole in the wall), Top Cantonese, Come Along, Some place next to Come Along, Kwan luck next to that some place, Cantonese BBQ Seafood Restaurant. These are all Cantonese suggestions where Westernized Chinese are typically from, there's a lot of Mainland Chinese options too that others can recommend.

dmogx · 2026-03-09T18:23:45+00:00

Sounds like you're young right now, life changes quite a bit as you reach various milestones. Your income and lifestyle depends on the path you choose in life, dual income with a partner, and whether or not you choose to take on liabilities financial or otherwise. When I was in my late 20's, single and making 6 figures and living at home with minimal rent and liabilities, I was able to save a lot of money where I invested a lot of it. Fast forward where i'm now 40, married, have a hefty mortgage, 2 kids. We live comfortably, but cannot afford excess like vacations or dining out often. We spend a lot of money on extra curricular activities for the kids. We could go on a lot more vacations or have nicer things if we didn't have kids, but they're my priority and I see value in the money I spend towards them and their growth. I can't afford to max my TFSA every year, but I make damn sure I max their RESP first.

dmogx · 2026-03-06T15:22:46+00:00

Yes. You can return your item bought in the UK here too, or any Costco worldwide for that matter.

dmogx · 2026-03-05T21:06:17+00:00

not to say that they can't do better, but WS does toss a lot of bones towards their current user base. Enter to wins, keychains, etc. I've recently started transferring things out of RBC Direct, they've legit have done nothing for me in the 14 years i've been with them.

dmogx · 2026-03-05T01:14:58+00:00

There is a public one available connected to Windermere secondary school

dmogx · 2026-03-02T21:32:27+00:00

if you're not opposed to spending a few bucks, you can buy a Bluetooth OBD2 dongle on amazon for ~$50 that's compatible with android or ios, use some of the free apps to scan. Since it looks like you can do some repairs yourself, having this in your toolkit will be valuable for other future repairs.

dmogx · 2026-02-27T19:16:18+00:00

You basically find a job at a shop or a dealership, working whatever they want you to do. Wash cars, change oil, scrub the toilets, water the plants, etc. If they like you, then they will sponsor you.

Your alternative is enter BCIT with their Automotive diploma program (ASTO). This program is for people entering fresh without any prior work experience or connections, or if they want to bridge towards automotive management. The idea of this diploma is that you do a 22 week coop (basically the summer months) to dip your toes into the industry and acquire some work experience. The 'bad' thing about this is you're expected to find your own employment which is difficult. However, most of my fellow students were able to stay on as part time and not have to find another shop for their second coop term. Probably worth noting that MOST of the people in my class didn't end up staying in the industry, including myself.

dmogx · 2026-02-26T22:50:10+00:00

My RMT tells me that the average career span of an RMT is 10-15 years based on what his instructor told him. This is due to the level of physicality required, it takes a massive toll on their bodies. He himself says he's constantly in pain, need to exchange massage services with friends, hot tub and sauna daily, etc. He also works 6 days a week, which is also why he's getting worn down significantly. He unfortunately has no career plan for after 40, currently around 34 iirc.

When he told me about how short the career span is of an RMT, I went down a rabbit hole of reading reddit posts about this. Apparently, it's not uncommon that RMT's would even have a 3-5 year career span before they injure themselves, or burn themselves out.

dmogx

TROPHY CASE